4 The earth mourns and withers;

the world wastes away and withers;

the exalted people of the earth waste away.

5 The earth is polluted by its inhabitants,d

for they have transgressed teachings,

overstepped decrees,

and broken the permanent covenant.e

6 Therefore a curse has consumed the earth,f

and its inhabitants have become guilty;

the earth’s inhabitants have been burned,

and only a few survive.