³⁹ And as for your seeing him gather to himself another multitude that was peaceable, ⁴⁰ these are the ten tribes which were led away from their own land into captivity in the days of King Hoshe′a, whom Shalmane′ser the king of the Assyrians led captive; he took them across the river, and they were taken into another land. ⁴¹ But they formed this plan for themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the nations and go to a more distant region, where mankind had never lived, ⁴² that there at least they might keep their statutes which they had not kept in their own land. ⁴³ And they went in by the narrow passages of the Euphra′tes river. ⁴⁴ For at that time the Most High performed signs for them, and stopped the channels of the river until they had passed over. ⁴⁵ Through that region there was a long way to go, a journey of a year and a half; and that country is called Arzareth.^[a]

⁴⁶ “Then they dwelt there until the last times; and now, when they are about to come again, ⁴⁷ the Most High will stop^[b] the channels of the river again, so that they may be able to pass over. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered together in peace. ⁴⁸ But those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy borders, shall be saved.^{[c] 49} Therefore when he destroys the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he will defend the people who remain. ⁵⁰ And then he will show them very many wonders.”

⁵ “Behold,” says the Lord, “I bring evils upon the world, the sword and famine and death and destruction. ⁶ For iniquity has spread throughout every land, and their harmful deeds have reached their limit. ⁷ Therefore,” says the Lord, ⁸ “I will be silent no longer concerning their ungodly deeds which they impiously commit, neither will I tolerate their wicked practices. Behold, innocent and righteous blood cries out to me, and the souls of the righteous cry out continually. ⁹ I will surely avenge them,” says the Lord, “and will receive to myself all the innocent blood from among them. ¹⁰ Behold, my people is led like a flock to the slaughter; I will not allow them to live any longer in the land of Egypt, ¹¹ but I will bring them out with a mighty hand and with an uplifted arm, and will smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all its land.”

¹² Let Egypt mourn, and its foundations, for the plague of chastisement and punishment that the Lord will bring upon it. ¹³ Let the farmers that till the ground mourn, because their seed shall fail and their trees shall be ruined by blight and hail and by a terrible tempest. ¹⁴ Alas for the world and for those who live in it! ¹⁵ For the sword and misery draw near them, and nation shall rise up to fight against nation, with swords in their hands. ¹⁶ For there shall be unrest among men; growing strong against one another, they shall in their might have no respect for their king or the chief of their leaders. ¹⁷ For a man will desire to go into a city, and shall not be able. ¹⁸ For because of their pride the cities shall be in confusion, the houses shall be destroyed, and people shall be afraid. ¹⁹ A man shall have no pity upon his neighbors, but shall make an assault upon their houses with the sword, and plunder their goods, because of hunger for bread and because of great tribulation.

²⁰ “Behold,” says God, “I call together all the kings of the earth to fear me, from the rising sun and from the south, from the east and from Leb′anon; to turn and repay what they have given them. ²¹ Just as they have done to my elect until this day, so I will do, and will repay into their bosom.” Thus says the Lord God: ²² “My right hand will not spare the sinners, and my sword will not cease from those who shed innocent blood on earth.” ²³ And a fire will go forth from his wrath, and will consume the foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like straw that is kindled. ²⁴ “Woe to those who sin and do not observe my commandments,” says the Lord; ²⁵ “I will not spare them. Depart, you faithless children! Do not pollute my sanctuary.” ²⁶ For the Lord knows all who transgress against him; therefore he will hand them over to death and slaughter. ²⁷ For now calamities have come upon the whole earth, and you shall remain in them; for God will not deliver you, because you have sinned against him.