2 Esdras 16
16
2 Esdras 16
Further Denunciations
1 #
2 Esd 15.12, 46 Woe to you, Babylon and Asia! Woe to you, Egypt and Syria! 2#2 Sam 3.31; 1 Kings 20.31; Rev 6.12Bind on sackcloth and cloth of goats’ hair,#16.2 Other ancient authorities lack cloth of goats’ hair and wail for your children, and lament for them, for your destruction is at hand. 3The sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back? 4#vv 9, 15A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it? 5#v 8Calamities have been sent upon you, and who is there to drive them away? 6#Isa 31.4; 2 Esd 15.61Can one drive off a hungry lion in the forest or quench a fire in the stubble once it has started to burn?#16.6 Other ancient authorities read fire when dry straw has been set on fire 7#Zech 9.14Can one turn back an arrow shot by a strong archer? 8#v 5The Lord God sends calamities, and who will drive them away? 9#2 Esd 15.23Fire will go forth from his wrath, and who is there to quench it? 10#2 Sam 22.14, 15He will flash lightning, and who will not be afraid? He will thunder, and who will not be terrified? 11The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly shattered at his presence? 12#2 Sam 22.8; Ezek 38.20The earth and its foundations quake, the sea is churned up from the depths, and its waves and the fish with them shall be troubled at the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. 13#2 Sam 22.14, 15; Ps 45.5; 89.13For his right hand that bends the bow is strong, and his arrows that he shoots are sharp, and when they are shot to the ends of the world they will not miss once. 14Calamities are sent forth and shall not return until they come over the earth. 15#Isa 30.33; 2 Esd 15.23The fire is kindled and shall not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth. 16#v 7; Zech 9.14Just as an arrow shot by a mighty archer does not return, so the calamities that are sent upon the earth shall not return. 17Alas for me! Alas for me! Who will deliver me in those days?
The Horror of the Last Days
18The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation; the beginning of famine, when many shall perish; the beginning of wars, when the powers shall be terrified; the beginning of calamities, when all shall tremble. 19#2 Macc 6.12; Mt 24.8; Mk 13.8What shall they do when the calamities come? 20#Jdt 8.27; Rom 2.9; 8.35Famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges for the correction of humankind. 21Yet for all this they will not turn from their iniquities or ever be mindful of the scourges. 22#1 Thess 5.3Indeed, provisions will be so cheap upon earth that people will imagine that peace is assured for them, and then calamities shall spring up on the earth—the sword, famine, and great confusion. 23For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine, and those who survive the famine shall die by the sword. 24#2 Kings 9.37And the dead shall be thrown out like dung, and there shall be no one to console them, for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities shall be demolished. 25No one shall be left to cultivate the earth or to sow it. 26The trees shall bear fruit, but who will gather it? 27#Job 24.11; Isa 16.10The grapes shall ripen, but who will tread them? For in all places there shall be great solitude; 28a person will long to see another human or even to hear a human voice. 29#Isa 2.21; Am 5.3For ten shall be left out of a city, and two out of the field, those who have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks. 30#Isa 17.6; 24.13Just as in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree, 31#Ob 5or just as, when a vineyard is gathered, some clusters may be left#16.31 Other ancient authorities read a cluster may remain exposed by those who search carefully through the vineyard, 32#Am 1.11so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their houses with the sword. 33#Isa 7.23The earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be plowed up,#16.33 Other ancient authorities read be for briers and its roads and all its paths shall bring forth thorns, because no sheep will go along them. 34#Ps 78.63; Jer 7.34; Rev 18.23Virgins shall mourn because they have no bridegrooms; women shall mourn because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn because they have no help. 35Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
God’s People Must Prepare for the End
36Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord. 37This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says.#16.37 Cn: Lat do not believe the gods of whom the Lord speaks 38The calamities draw near and are not delayed. 39#Isa 13.8; Jer 6.24; 50.43; Jn 16.21; 1 Thess 5.3Just 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, 40so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.
41 #
2 Esd 7.127
Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth. 42#1 Cor 7.29–31Let the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose; 43let 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; 44let 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; 45those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed. 46Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain, 47#Deut 28.30–33; Am 5.11for strangers shall gather their fruits and plunder their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in captivity and famine they will produce their children.#16.47 Other ancient authorities read therefore those who are married may know that they will produce children for captivity and famine 48Those who conduct business do so only to have it plundered; the more they adorn their cities, their houses and possessions, and their persons, 49the more angry I will be with them for their sins, says the Lord. 50Just as a respectable and virtuous woman abhors a prostitute, 51#Jer 4.30; 2 Esd 15.54so righteousness shall abhor iniquity when she decks herself out and shall accuse her to her face when he comes to defend the one who searches out every sin on earth.
The Power and Wisdom of God
52Therefore do not be like her or her works. 53#Heb 10.37For in a very short time iniquity will be removed from the earth, and righteousness will reign over us. 54#Ps 140.10; Prov 25.22; Jer 2.35; 1 Jn 1.8Sinners must not say that they have not sinned,#16.54 Other ancient authorities add or the unjust done injustice for coals of fire will burn on the head of everyone who says, “I have not sinned before God and his glory.” 55#v 63; 1 Sam 16.7; Lk 16.15The Lord#16.55 Other ancient authorities read Lord God certainly knows everything that people do; he knows their imaginations and their thoughts and their hearts. 56#Gen 1.1; Ps 148.5He said, “Let the earth be made,” and it was made, and “Let the heaven be made,” and it was made. 57#Ps 147.4At his word the stars were fixed in their places, and he knows the number of the stars. 58#Isa 40.12He searches the abyss and its treasures; he has measured the sea and its contents; 59#Job 26.7, 10; 38.11; Ps 104.9he has confined the sea in the midst of the waters;#16.59 Other ancient authorities read confined the world between the waters and the waters and by his word he has suspended the earth over the water. 60#Gen 1.7; Job 9.8He has spread out the heaven like a dome and made it secure upon the waters; 61#Ps 107.35he has put springs of water in the desert and pools on the tops of the mountains, so as to send rivers from the heights to water the earth. 62#Gen 2.7He formed humans and put a heart in the midst of each body and gave each person breath and life and understanding 63and the spirit#16.63 Or breath of Almighty God,#16.63 Other ancient authorities read of the Lord Almighty who surely made all things and searches out hidden things in hidden places. 64#v 54; 1 Sam 16.7; Prov 28.13He knows your imaginations and what you think in your hearts! Woe to those who sin and want to hide their sins! 65The Lord will strictly examine all their works and will make a public spectacle of all of you. 66#1 Cor 4.5You shall be put to shame when your sins come out before others, and your own iniquities shall stand as your accusers on that day. 67#Mt 25.31What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before the Lord and his glory? 68#v 74; Ps 75.7Indeed, God#16.68 Other ancient authorities read the Lord is the judge; fear him! Cease from your sins and forget your iniquities, never to commit them again, so God#16.68 Other ancient authorities read the Lord will lead you forth and deliver you from all tribulation.
Impending Persecution of God’s People
69 #
Acts 15.29; 1 Cor 8.10; Rev 2.14, 20 The burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you; they shall drag some of you away and force you to eat what was sacrificed to idols. 70And those who consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt and shall be trampled under foot. 71For in many places#16.71 Meaning of Lat uncertain and in neighboring cities there shall be a great uprising against those who fear the Lord. 72They shall#16.72 Other ancient authorities read For people, because of their misfortunes, shall be like maniacs, sparing no one, but plundering and destroying those who continue to fear the Lord.#16.72 Other ancient authorities read fear God 73For they shall destroy and plunder their goods and drive them out of house and home. 74#Prov 17.3; 2 Esd 15.53; 1 Pet 1.7Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, like gold that is tested by fire.
Promise of Divine Deliverance
75 #
v 67
; 2 Tim 4.18Listen, my elect ones, says the Lord; the days of tribulation are at hand, but I will deliver you from them. 76#Ps 48.14Do not fear or doubt, for God#16.76 Other ancient authorities read the Lord is your guide. 77#Ps 38.4You who keep my commandments and precepts, says the Lord God, must not let your sins weigh you down or your iniquities prevail over you. 78#Prov 22.5; Hos 2.6; Lk 8.7; Heb 6.8Woe to those who are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their iniquities! They are like a field choked with underbrush and its path#16.78 Other ancient authorities read seed overwhelmed with thorns, so that no one can pass through. It is shut off and given up to be consumed by fire.
ទើបបានជ្រើសរើសហើយ៖
2 Esdras 16: NRSVUE
គំនូសចំណាំ
ចែករំលែក
ចម្លង
ចង់ឱ្យគំនូសពណ៌ដែលបានរក្សាទុករបស់អ្នក មាននៅលើគ្រប់ឧបករណ៍ទាំងអស់មែនទេ? ចុះឈ្មោះប្រើ ឬចុះឈ្មោះចូល
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.