2 Esdras 16:34-44

34 Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
35 Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord.
36 This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says.
37 The calamities draw near, and are not delayed.
38 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,
39 so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.
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 the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose;
42 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;
43 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;
44 those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Cn: Lat [do not believe the gods of whom the Lord speaks]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.