2 Esdras 16:40-46

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁴⁰ so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.

⁴¹ Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth.^{(A) 42} Let the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose;^{(B) 43} 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; ⁴⁴ 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; ⁴⁵ those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed. ⁴⁶ Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain,