2 Esdras 16:40-46

Revised Standard Version

⁴⁰ “Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth. ⁴¹ Let him that sells be like one who will flee; let him that buys be like one who will lose; ⁴² let 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; ⁴³ let 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; ⁴⁴ them that marry, like those who will have no children; and them that do not marry, like those who are widowed. ⁴⁵ Because those who labor, labor in vain; ⁴⁶ for strangers shall gather their fruits, and plunder their goods, and overthrow their houses, and take their children captive; for in captivity and famine they will beget their children.