2 Esdras 16:35-50

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³⁵ Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.

God’s People Must Prepare for the End

³⁶ Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord. ³⁷ This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says.^{[a] 38} The calamities draw near and are not delayed. ³⁹ Just as a pregnant woman, in the ninth month when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains around her womb for two or three hours beforehand, but when the child comes forth from the womb, there will not be a moment’s delay,^{(A) 40} so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.

⁴¹ Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth.^{(B) 42} Let the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose;^{(C) 43} let the one who does business be like one who will not make a profit; and let the one who builds a house be like one who will not live in it; ⁴⁴ let the one who sows be like one who will not reap; so also the one who prunes the vines, like one who will not gather the grapes; ⁴⁵ those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed. ⁴⁶ Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain, ⁴⁷ for strangers shall gather their fruits and plunder their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in captivity and famine they will produce their children.^{[b](D) 48} Those who conduct business do so only to have it plundered; the more they adorn their cities, their houses and possessions, and their persons, ⁴⁹ the more angry I will be with them for their sins, says the Lord. ⁵⁰ Just as a respectable and virtuous woman abhors a prostitute,