⁴ Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,^(A)
a brood of evildoers,^(B)
    children given to corruption!^(C)
They have forsaken^(D) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One^(E) of Israel
    and turned their backs^(F) on him.

⁷ Your country is desolate,^(A)
    your cities burned with fire;^(B)
your fields are being stripped by foreigners^(C)
    right before you,
    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.^(D)

⁵ The earth is defiled^(A) by its people;
    they have disobeyed^(B) the laws,
violated the statutes
    and broken the everlasting covenant.^(C)

⁶ Therefore a curse^(A) consumes the earth;
    its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,^(B)
    and very few are left.