2 Esdras
1Woe to you, Babylon and Asia! woe to you, Egypt and Syria!
2Gird up yourselves with sackcloth and haircloth, bewail your children, and lament for them; for your destruction is at hand.
3The sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back?
4A fire has been sent upon you, and who may quench it?
5Plagues has been sent upon you, and who is there that may drive them away?
6May any man drive away a hungry lion in the forest? or may any one quench the fire in stubble, when it has begun to burn?
7May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?
8YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY sends the plagues and calamities and who is there that can drive them away?
9A fire shall go forth from HIS wrath, and who is there to quench it?
10HE shall cast lightnings, and who shall not be afraid? HE shall thunder, and who shall not be terrified?
11YAHWEH shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly shattered at HIS presence?
12The earth and the foundations quakes, the sea arises up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fish also at the presence of YAHWEH, and before the splendor of HIS power
13For strong is HIS right hand that bends the bow, and HIS arrows that HE shoots are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.
14Behold, the plagues and calamities are sent forth and shall not return until they come and cover the earth.
15The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth.
16Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returns not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.
17Woe is me! woe is me! Who will deliver me in those days?
18The beginning of sorrows and great mournings and lamentations; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! when all shall tremble. What shall we do in these circumstances, when these evils and calamities shall come?
19Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges for the amendment and correction of men.
20Yet for all these things they shall not turn from their lawless wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.
21Behold, provisions shall be so very cheap upon earth that they shall imagine to themselves that peace is assured for them, and then shall evil calamities spring up on earth, the sword, famine, and great confusion.
22For many of those that dwell upon earth shall perish by famine; and those that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.
23And the dead shall be cast out like dung, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for the earth shall be left desolate, and the cities shall be demolished.
24There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it.
25The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather it?
26The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? For all places shall be desolate of men:
27So that one man shall long to see another, or even to hear his voice.
28For out of a city there shall be ten left, and out of the field, two who have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks.
29As in an orchard of Olive trees, upon every tree there be left three or four olives;
30Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that diligently seek through the vineyard:
31Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them that search their houses with the sword.
32And the earth shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall wax old, and her ways and all her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no sheep shall go along them.
33The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn because they have no helpers.
34Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish because of famine.
35Hear now these things and understand them, you servants of YAHWEH.
36Behold, the Word of YAHWEH, receive it, and do not disbelieve what YAHWEH says: do not believe the gods of whom YAHWEH spoke.
37Behold, the plagues and calamities draw near, and are not delayed.
38Just as a woman with child, in the ninth month, when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains about her womb for two or three hours beforehand, and when the child comes forth from the womb, there will not be a moment's delay.
39Even so shall the plagues and calamities not be delayed in coming forth upon the earth, and the world shall groan, and pains and sorrows shall seize it on every side.
40Oh MY people, hear MY Word: prepare yourself for the battle, and in the midst of the calamities and evils be even as pilgrims and strangers upon the earth.
41He that sells, let him be as he that flees away: and he that buys be as one that will loose
42Let him that does business be like one who will not make a profit: and let him that builds a house be like one who will not live in it:
43Let him that sows be like one who will not reap; so also him that prunes the vines, like one who will not gather the grapes:
44They that marry, as they that shall not get children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.
45And therefore they that labor, labor in vain:
46For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their property, overthrow their houses, and take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall they get children.
47Those who conduct business do it only to be plundered, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons,
48The more angry I will be with them for their sins, declares YAHWEH.
49Just as a upright, honest and virtuous woman abhors a harlot,
50So shall righteousness abhor injustice and iniquity, when she decks herself out, and shall accuse her to her face, when HE comes that shall defend him that diligently searches out every sin upon earth.
51Therefore you, do not be like unto her, nor to her works.
52For behold, just in a little while, injustice and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.
53Let not the sinner say that he has not sinned: for YAHWEH shall burn coals of fire upon his head, which says, I have not sinned before YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY and HIS splendor.
54Behold, YAHWEH knows all the works of men, their imaginations and their thoughts, and their hearts:
55Which spoke but the Word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be made; and it was created.
56At HIS Word the stars were made and were fixed, and HE knows the number of the stars.
57It is HE who searches the deep and its treasures, and it is HE has measured the sea, and what it contains.
58HE has shut the sea in the middle of the waters, and with HIS Word has suspended the earth over the waters.
59HE spreads out the heavens like an arch, and upon the waters has HE founded it.
60In the desert HE has put springs of water, and pools on the tops of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the high rocks to water the earth.
61HE made man, and put his heart in the midst of his body, and gave him breath, life and understanding,
62And the Ruach of YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY who made all things, and searches out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,
63Surely HE knows your inventions, and what you think in your hearts! Even them that sin and hide their sin. Woe to those who sin and want to hide their sins!
64Because YAHWEH will strictly examine all their works, and will make a public spectacle of all of you, and HE will put you all to shame.
65And when your sins are brought forth before men, you shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.
66What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before YAHWEH and HIS malakim?
67Behold, YAHWEH HIMSELF is the judge, fear HIM! Cease from your sins, and forget your iniquities, never to commit or to meddle again with them forever: so shall YAHWEH lead you forth, and deliver you from all tribulation.
68For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away some of you who are idle, and feed you with things offered to idols.
69And those that consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt, and be trodden under foot.
70For there shall be in many places and in the neighboring cities, there shall be a great insurrection against those that fear YAHWEH.
71They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but plundering and spoiling and destroying those that fear YAHWEH.
72For they shall destroy and take away their property, and cast them out of their houses.
73Then shall they be known, who are MY chosen people shall be manifest; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire. — Pro 27:21; Zech 13:9; 1Pet 1:7; Rev 3:18; Job 23:10; WISDOM 3:6.
74Hear, Oh you MY beloved chosen people, says YAHWEH: behold, the days of tribulation are at hand, and I will deliver you from the same.
75Be you not afraid neither doubt; for YAHWEH is your guide,
76And the guide of you who keep MY commandments and precepts, says YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY: do not let your sins weigh you down, and let not your injustice and iniquities lift up themselves and prevail over you.
77Woe be to them that are bound and choked by their sins, and overwhelmed by their injustice and iniquities, just as a field is choked with underbrush, and its paths overwhelmed with thorns, so that no man may travel through!
78It is left undressed, and is given over to be consumed by the fire.
