24:4 The earth 1 dries up 2 and withers,
the world shrivels up and withers;
the prominent people of the earth 3 fade away.
24:5 The earth is defiled by 4 its inhabitants, 5
for they have violated laws,
disregarded the regulation, 6
and broken the permanent treaty. 7
24:6 So a treaty curse 8 devours the earth;
its inhabitants pay for their guilt. 9
This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear, 10
and are reduced to just a handful of people. 11
24:7 The new wine dries up,
the vines shrivel up,
all those who like to celebrate 12 groan.
24:8 The happy sound 13 of the tambourines stops,
the revelry of those who celebrate comes to a halt,
the happy sound of the harp ceases.
24:9 They no longer sing and drink wine; 14
the beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.
24:10 The ruined town 15 is shattered;
all of the houses are shut up tight. 16
24:11 They howl in the streets because of what happened to the wine; 17
all joy turns to sorrow; 18
celebrations disappear from the earth. 19
24:12 The city is left in ruins; 20
the gate is reduced to rubble. 21