The Second Book of Esdras

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 16 -

Woe be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and Syria!

Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your children, and be sorry; for your destruction is at hand.

A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back?

A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it?

Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them away?

May any man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one quench the fire in stubble, when it hath begun to burn?

May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?

The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive them away?

A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it?

He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid?

The Lord shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to powder at his presence?

The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his power:

For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.

Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.

The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.

Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.

Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?

The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come?

Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.

But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.

Behold, victuals shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they shall think themselves to be in good case, and even then shall evils grow upon earth, sword, famine, and great confusion.

For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the other, that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.

And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down.

There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it

The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?

The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places shall be desolate of men:

So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice.

For of a city there shall be ten left, and two of the field, which shall hide themselves in the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks.

As in an orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three or four olives;

Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that diligently seek through the vineyard:

Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them that search their houses with the sword.

And 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 man shall travel therethrough.

The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn, having no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no helpers.

In the wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of famine.

Hear now these things and understand them, ye servants of the Lord.

Behold, the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of whom the Lord spake.

Behold, the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.

As when a woman with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her son, with two or three hours of her birth great pains compass her womb, which pains, when the child cometh forth, they slack not a moment:

Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.

O my people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in those evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.

He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that buyeth, as one that will lose:

He that occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:

He that soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes:

They that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.

And therefore they that labour labour in vain:

For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall they get children.

And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons:

The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.

Like as a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:

So shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that shall defend him that diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.

And therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.

For yet a little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.

Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.

Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:

Which spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be made; and it was created.

In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.

He searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth.

He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters.

He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath he founded it.

In the desert hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the tops of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the high rocks to water the earth.

He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and understanding.

Yea and the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and searcheth out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,

Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.

Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to shame.

And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.

What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his angels?

Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.

For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered unto idols.

And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under foot.

For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.

They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord.

For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.

Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.

Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.

Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,

And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.

Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!

It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.

Woe to you, Babylon, and Asia! Woe to you, Egypt and Syria!

Put on sackcloth and garments of goats’ hair, wail for your children and lament; for your destruction is at hand.

A sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back?

A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it?

Calamities are sent upon you, and who is there to drive them away?

Can one drive away a hungry lion in the forest? Can one quench a fire in stubble, once it has begun to burn?

Can one turn back an arrow that is shot by a strong archer?

The Lord God sends the calamities, and who will drive them away?

A fire will go out from his wrath, and who may quench it?

He will flash lightning, and who will not fear? He will thunder, and who wouldn’t tremble?

The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly broken in pieces at his presence?

The earth and its foundations quake. The sea rises up with waves from the deep, and its waves will be troubled, along with the fish in them, at the presence of the Lord, and before the glory of his power.

For his right hand that bends the bow is strong, his arrows that he shoots are sharp, and will not miss when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.

Behold, the calamities are sent out, and will not return again until they come upon the earth.

The fire is kindled and will not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth.

Just as an arrow which is shot by a mighty archer doesn’t return backward, even so the calamities that are sent out upon earth won’t return again.

Woe is me! Woe is me! Who will deliver me in those days?

The beginning of sorrows, when there will be great mourning; the beginning of famine, and many will perish; the beginning of wars, and the powers will stand in fear; the beginning of calamities, and all will tremble! What will they do when the calamities come?

Behold, famine and plague, suffering and anguish! They are sent as scourges for correction.

But for all these things they will not turn them from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.

Behold, food will be so cheap on earth that they will think themselves to be in good condition, and even then calamities will grow on earth: sword, famine, and great confusion.

For many of those who dwell on earth will perish of famine; and others who escape the famine, the sword will destroy.

The dead will be cast out like dung, and there will be no one to comfort them; for the earth will be left desolate, and its cities will be cast down.

There will be no farmer left to cultivate the earth or to sow it.

The trees will give fruit, but who will gather it?

The grapes will ripen, but who will tread them? For in all places there will be a great solitude;

for one man will desire to see another, or to hear his voice.

For of a city there will be ten left, and two of the field, who have hidden themselves in the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks.

As in an orchard of olives upon every tree there may be left three or four olives,

or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are some clusters left by those who diligently search through the vineyard,

even so in those days, there will be three or four left by those who search their houses with the sword.

The earth will be left desolate, and its fields will be for briers, and its roads and all her paths will grow thorns, because no sheep will pass along them.

The virgins will mourn, having no bridegrooms. The women will mourn, having no husbands. Their daughters will mourn, having no helpers.

Their bridegrooms will be destroyed in the wars, and their husbands will perish of famine.

Hear now these things, and understand them, you servants of the Lord.

Behold, the Lord’s word: receive it. Don’t doubt the things about which the Lord speaks.

Behold, the calamities draw near, and are not delayed.

Just as a woman with child in the ninth month, when the hour of her delivery draws near, within two or three hours great pains surround her womb, and when the child comes out from the womb, there will be no waiting for a moment,

even so the calamities won’t delay coming upon the earth. The world will groan, and sorrows will seize it on every side.

“O my people, hear my word: prepare for battle, and in those calamities be like strangers on the earth.

He who sells, let him be as he who flees away, and he who buys, as one who will lose.

Let he who does business be as he who has no profit by it, and he who builds, as he who won’t dwell in it,

and he who sows, as if he wouldn’t reap, so also he who prunes the vines, as he who won’t gather the grapes,

those who marry, as those who will have no children, and those who don’t marry, as the widowed.

Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain;

for foreigners will reap their fruits, plunder their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in captivity and famine they will conceive their children.

Those who conduct business, do so only to be plundered. The more they adorn their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons,

the more I will hate them for their sins,” says the Lord.

Just as a respectable and virtuous woman hates a prostitute,

so will righteousness hate iniquity, when she adorns herself, and will accuse her to her face, when he comes who will defend him who diligently searches out every sin on earth.

Therefore don’t be like her or her works.

For yet a little while, and iniquity will be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness will reign over us.

Don’t let the sinner say that he has not sinned; for God will burn coals of fire on the head of one who says “I haven’t sinned before God and his glory.”

Behold, the Lord knows all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts.

He said, “Let the earth be made,” and it was made, “Let the sky be made,” and it was made.

At his word, the stars were established, and he knows the number of the stars.

He searches the deep and its treasures. He has measured the sea and what it contains.

He has shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word, he hung the earth over the waters.

He has spread out the sky like a vault. He has founded it over the waters.

He has made springs of water in the desert and pools on the tops of the mountains to send out rivers from the heights to water the earth.

He formed man, and put a heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and understanding,

yes, the spirit of God Almighty. He who made all things and searches out hidden things in hidden places,

surely he knows your imagination, and what you think in your hearts. Woe to those who sin, and try to hide their sin!

Because the Lord will exactly investigate all your works, and he will put you all to shame.

When your sins are brought out before men, you will be ashamed, and your own iniquities will stand as your accusers in that day.

What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before God and his angels?

Behold, God is the judge. Fear him! Stop sinning, and forget your iniquities, to never again commit them. So will God lead you out, and deliver you from all suffering.

For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they will take away some of you, and feed you with that which is sacrificed to idols.

Those who consent to them will be held in derision and in contempt, and be trodden under foot.

For there will be in various places, and in the next cities, a great insurrection against those who fear the Lord.

They will be like mad men, sparing none, but spoiling and destroying those who still fear the Lord.

For they will destroy and plunder their goods, and throw them out of their houses.

Then the trial of my elect will be made known, even as the gold that is tried in the fire.

Hear, my elect ones, says the Lord: “Behold, the days of suffering are at hand, and I will deliver you from them.

Don’t be afraid, and don’t doubt, for God is your guide.

You who keep my commandments and precepts,” says the Lord God, “don’t let your sins weigh you down, and don’t let your iniquities lift themselves up.”

Woe to those who are choked with their sins and covered with their iniquities, like a field is choked with bushes, and its path covered with thorns, that no one may travel through!

It is shut off and given up to be consumed by fire.