2 Esdras 5:1-13

Common English Bible

5 “But about the signs: Look, the days will come when those who live on earth will be seized with great terror.^[a] The way of truth will be hidden, and the land will be barren and devoid of faith. ² Injustice will be multiplied beyond what you yourself see and beyond what you have heard of formerly. ³ The land that you now see holding sway will have no one left to walk upon it, and people^[b] will see it desolate. ⁴ But if the Most High grants that you live, you will see it thrown into confusion after the third period of time.^[c] The sun will suddenly start shining by night and the moon by day. ⁵ Blood will drip from wood, and stones will speak out. Peoples will be troubled, and natural courses will be changed. ⁶ A person no one on earth expected will come to power, and birds will migrate together. ⁷ The sea of Sodom will cast up fish; it will utter sounds in a voice that many don’t know, but all will hear its voice. ⁸ Chasms will open up in many places, and fire will be shot forth frequently. Wild beasts will roam beyond their territory, and women will give birth to monsters. ⁹ Salt waters will be found in sources of freshwater. Friends everywhere will begin to fight each other. Reason will be hidden, and intelligence will go into hiding. ¹⁰ Many will look for it, but they won’t find it, and injustice and lust will be multiplied on earth. ¹¹ One country will ask its neighbor, ‘Has justice passed through you, doing what is right?’ and the answer will be no. ¹² At that time people will hope but not get what they hoped for; they will labor, but they will make no progress. ¹³ I am permitted to tell you these signs, and if you pray again and continue to weep as you are now doing and fast for seven days, you will again hear greater things than these.”