Isaiah 5

The word "woe" is defined as a word -

"used to express grief, regret, or distress" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

If one lived in the days of Isaiah when there were dwellings and farms that were spacious and productive. An that person was given a vision of our day and the grief, distress, and loss of hope that is apparent in the slums in many of our cities, how would that person describe it? Isaiah wrote -

"Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
11 ¶ Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands." (Old Testament | Isaiah 5:8 - 12)

I do not suggest that all individuals in this type of living are wicked. But in vision, which would suggest a visual overview, it seems prevelant. When men do not regard the work of the Lord nor the operations of his hand, wickedness and misery usually prevails.