2 Esdras 5:1-13

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Signs of the End

5 “Now concerning the signs: behold, the days are coming when those who inhabit the earth shall be seized with great terror,^[a] and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.^{(A) 2} Unrighteousness shall be increased beyond what you yourself see and beyond what you heard of formerly. ³ And the land that you now see ruling shall be a trackless waste, and people shall see it desolate. ⁴ But if the Most High grants that you live, you shall see it thrown into confusion after the third period,^[b]

⁶ “And one shall reign whom those who inhabit the earth do not expect, and the birds shall fly away together, ⁷ and the sea of Sodom shall cast up fish, and one whom the many do not know shall make his voice heard by night, and all shall hear his voice.^{[d] 8} There shall be chaos also in many places, fire shall often break out, the wild animals shall roam beyond their haunts, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters. ⁹ Salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall conquer one another; then shall reason hide itself, and wisdom shall withdraw into its chamber,^{(D) 10} and it shall be sought by many but shall not be found, and unrighteousness and unrestraint shall increase on earth. ¹¹ One country shall ask its neighbor, ‘Has righteousness or anyone who does right passed through you?’ And it will answer, ‘No.’ ¹² At that time people shall hope but not obtain; they shall labor, but their ways shall not prosper. ¹³ These are the signs that I am permitted to tell you, and if you pray again and weep as you do now and fast for seven days, you shall hear yet greater things than these.”^(E)