2 Esdras 16:67-78
-
67 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.
-
68 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.
-
69 And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under foot.
-
70 For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.
-
71 They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord.
-
72 For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
-
73 Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.
-
74 Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.
-
75 Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,
-
76 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.
-
77 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!
-
78 It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.