The King James Version Bible

2 Esdras 16:67-78

  1. Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.

  2. For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered unto idols.

  3. And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under foot.

  4. For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.

  5. They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord.

  6. For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.

  7. Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.

  8. Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.

  9. Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,

  10. And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.

  11. Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!

  12. It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.