2 Esdras 15:1–63

¹ “Behold, speak in the ears of my people the words of prophecy which I will put in your mouth,” says the Lord. (WEB) ² “Cause them to be written on paper, for they are faithful and true. (WEB) ³ Don’t be afraid of their plots against you. Don’t let the unbelief of those who speak against you trouble you. (WEB) ⁴ For all the unbelievers will die in their unbelief. (WEB) ⁵ “Behold,” says the Lord, “I bring evils on the whole earth: sword, famine, death, and destruction. (WEB) ⁶ For wickedness has prevailed over every land, and their hurtful works have reached their limit. (WEB) ⁷ Therefore,” says the Lord, (WEB) ⁸ “I will hold my peace no more concerning their wickedness which they profanely commit, neither will I tolerate them in these things, which they wickedly practice. Behold, the innocent and righteous blood cries to me, and the souls of the righteous cry out continually. (WEB) ⁹ I will surely avenge them,” says the Lord, “and will receive to me all the innocent blood from among them. (WEB) ¹⁰ Behold, my people are led like a flock to the slaughter. I will not allow them now to dwell in the land of Egypt, (WEB) ¹¹ but I will bring them out with a mighty hand and with a high arm, and will strike Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all its land.” (WEB) ¹² Let Egypt and its foundations mourn, for the plague of the chastisement and the punishment that God will bring upon it. (WEB) ¹³ Let the farmers that till the ground mourn, for their seeds will fail and their trees will be ruined through the blight and hail, and a terrible tempest. (WEB) ¹⁴ Woe to the world and those who dwell in it! (WEB) ¹⁵ For the sword and their destruction draws near, and nation will rise up against nation to battle with weapons in their hands. (WEB) ¹⁶ For there will be sedition among men, and growing strong against one another. In their might, they won’t respect their king or the chief of their great ones. (WEB) ¹⁷ For a man will desire to go into a city, and will not be able. (WEB) ¹⁸ For because of their pride the cities will be troubled, the houses will be destroyed, and men will be afraid. (WEB) ¹⁹ A man will have no pity on his neighbors, but will assault their houses with the sword and plunder their goods, because of the lack of bread, and for great suffering. (WEB) ²⁰ “Behold,” says God, “I call together all the kings of the earth to stir up those who are from the rising of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus, to turn themselves one against another, and repay the things that they have done to them. (WEB) ²¹ Just as they do yet this day to my chosen, so I will do also, and repay into their bosom.” The Lord God says: (WEB) ²² “My right hand won’t spare the sinners, and my sword won’t cease over those who shed innocent blood on the earth. (WEB) ²³ A fire… (WEB)