2 Esdras 15

₁The Lord says, “Proclaim to my people the prophetic messages that I will give you, ₂and then have them written down, because they are true and will be fulfilled. ₃Do not be afraid of those who plot against you or be disturbed by their unbelief. ₄Every unbeliever will die because of his unbelief.”

₅The Lord says, “I am going to bring terrible disasters on the whole world — war and famine, death and destruction — ₆because wickedness has spread everywhere, and evil has reached its limit.”

₇“Therefore,” the Lord says, ₈“I will no longer remain silent about the wickedness of these godless people; I will no longer tolerate it. They have murdered innocent people, and the blood they have spilt cries out to me for revenge; the souls of the righteous are constantly pleading for vengeance. ₉Let there be no doubt,” says the Lord, “I will hear the plea of all the innocent people who have been murdered and I will take vengeance for what has been done to them.

₁₀“My people are being led to the slaughter like a flock of sheep. They will no longer have to live in Egypt; ₁₁I will use all my strength and power to bring them out of that land. I will bring disasters on the Egyptians, as I did earlier, and I will destroy their country. ₁₂The whole land will be in mourning; it will be shaken to its foundations when I, the Lord, strike it and pound on it. ₁₃The farmers will mourn because their seed will fail to sprout, and their trees will be destroyed by blight, hail, and terrible storms.

₁₄“The world and the people in it are doomed. ₁₅The war that will bring their destruction is very near. Nations will arm themselves and fight against other nations. ₁₆There will be great political turmoil, with one group trying to overpower another and gain control, while ignoring the legitimate government. ₁₇There will no longer be free access to the cities, ₁₈because the struggle for power will bring destruction, terror, and total confusion wherever people live. ₁₉Driven by famine and terrible suffering, men will assault their neighbours and mercilessly plunder their possessions.”

₂₀God says, “I am calling together all the kings of the earth to come from north, south, east, and west to turn back and restore what they have taken. ₂₁I will pay them back with the same harsh treatment they have always given to my chosen people.” The Lord says, ₂₂“I will use my power, and there will be no mercy for sinners; I will put to death all who have murdered innocent people. ₂₃My anger has become so fierce that fire has blazed out to burn up the foundations of the earth and to burn up sinners like straw. ₂₄Sinners who do not keep my commands are doomed,” says the Lord. ₂₅“I will have no mercy on them! Out of my sight, you rebels! Do not defile my holy Temple.”

₂₆God is aware of all those who sin against him, and he will hand them over to death and destruction. ₂₇Terrible disasters have already come upon the world, and there is no escape. You have sinned against God, and he will not rescue you.

₂₈Then in the east you will suddenly see a fearsome sight. ₂₉Arab armies with many chariots will advance like dragons. As soon as they start out, the sound of their hissing will spread across the world and bring fear and trembling to everyone who hears it. ₃₀The Carmonians will come out of the forest in a fierce rage like wild boars advancing in full strength to attack the dragons. With their tusks they will tear up a large part of Assyria, ₃₁but the dragons will unite their forces, regain their former strength, and win the victory. They will turn and pursue the wild boars, ₃₂who will be thrown into panic, beaten into silence, and forced to turn and run. ₃₃The wild boars will be ambushed in Assyria, and one of them will be killed. This will bring fear and panic to their army and indecision to their kings.

₃₄Then suddenly clouds — terrible, angry storm clouds — will cover the sky from one end to the other. ₃₅They will collide head-on and release their violence upon the earth. The blood of war will be as deep as a horse's belly ₃₆or a human thigh or a camel's knee. ₃₇Everywhere on earth people will tremble in fear at the horrible sight. ₃₈Then great storm clouds will move in from the north and the south, and others from the west. ₃₉But the winds from the east will prevail and push back those angry storm clouds that were about to bring destruction. _40-41Huge, powerful, angry storm clouds will arise and ruin the whole world and its people. A terrible storm of fire, hail, and flashing swords will come sweeping down on those who have power and authority. Every river will overflow into the fields, and the floods ₄₂will demolish cities, walls, mountains, hills, forests, and crops. _43-44This destruction will press on until it reaches Babylon and engulfs it in a raging storm of ruin. The dust and the smoke will form a great cloud reaching to the sky, and all the neighbouring cities will mourn for Babylon. ₄₅Anyone who survives will become a slave to those who destroyed the city.

_46-47You, Asia, are to be pitied. You are doomed! You have enjoyed the splendour and glory of Babylon. You have imitated her and dressed up your daughters to look like prostitutes to please and gratify your lovers, who have always lusted for you. ₄₈Because you have imitated that vile prostitute in everything she has done or planned, God has this to say: ₄₉“I will send disasters upon you. I will make you a widow and send poverty, famine, war, and epidemics to destroy your homes and bring ruin and death. ₅₀The power of which you boast will wither like a flower when the burning heat is sent upon you. ₅₁You will be a wretched, weak woman so bruised, beaten, and wounded that you will no longer attract your wealthy lovers. ₅₂I would not punish you so severely,” says the Lord, ₅₃“if you had not murdered my chosen people. But you took great delight in striking them, and when you were drunk, you boasted about killing them.

₅₄“Paint your face! ₅₅You will be paid for your work as a prostitute; you will get what you have earned. ₅₆I will pay you back,” says the Lord, “for what you have done to my chosen people. I will bring disaster on you. ₅₇You will be put to death, and your children will starve. Your cities will be torn down, and the people out in the country will be killed. ₅₈Those in the mountains will starve; their hunger and thirst will drive them to eat their own flesh and drink their own blood. ₅₉You will be more miserable than anyone has ever been, but there will be still more punishment to come. ₆₀The army that destroyed Babylon will march back through your country and devastate your peaceful city; they will destroy your beautiful country and leave most of it in ruins. ₆₁Your country will be destroyed like straw in a fire. ₆₂They will burn up all your forests and orchards. All over your land, your cities and mountains will be covered with ruins. ₆₃Your splendour will vanish; your children will be carried off as prisoners; your possessions will be plundered.”