Chapter 15 - Esdras 2.

A Terrifying Vision of Warfare

28 What a terrifying sight, appearing from the east!29 The nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and from the day that they set out, their hissing shall spread over the earth, so that all who hear them will fear and tremble.30 Also the Carmonians, raging in wrath, shall go forth like wild boars from the forest, and with great power they shall come and engage them in battle, and with their tusks they shall devastate a portion of the land of the Assyrians with their teeth.31 And then the dragons, remembering their origin, shall become still stronger; and if they combine in great power and turn to pursue them,32 then these shall be disorganized and silenced by their power, and shall turn and flee. 33 And from the land of the Assyrians an enemy in ambush shall attack them and destroy one of them, and fear and trembling shall come upon their army, and indecision upon their kings.

Judgment on Babylon

34 See the clouds from the east, and from the north to the south! Their appearance is exceedingly threatening, full of wrath and storm.35 They shall clash against one another and shall pour out a heavy tempest on the earth, and their own tempest; and there shall be blood from the sword as high as a horse's belly36 and a man's thigh and a camel's hock.37 And there shall be fear and great trembling on the earth; those who see that wrath shall be horror-stricken, and they shall be seized with trembling.38 After that, heavy storm clouds shall be stirred up from the south, and from the north, and another part from the west.39 But the winds from the east shall prevail over the cloud that was raised in wrath, and shall dispel it; and the tempest that was to cause destruction by the east wind shall be driven violently toward the south and west.40 Great and mighty clouds, full of wrath and tempest, shall rise and destroy all the earth and its inhabitants, and shall pour out upon every high and lofty place a terrible tempest,41 fire and hail and flying swords and floods of water, so that all the fields and all the streams shall be filled with the abundance of those waters.42 They shall destroy cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the forests, and grass of the meadows, and their grain.43 They shall go on steadily to Babylon and blot it out.44 They shall come to it and surround it; they shall pour out on it the tempest and all its fury; then the dust and smoke shall reach the sky, and all who are around it shall mourn for it.45 And those who survive shall serve those who have destroyed it.

Judgment on Asia

46 And you, Asia, who share in the splendor of Babylon and the glory of her person--47 woe to you, miserable wretch! For you have made yourself like her; you have decked out your daughters for prostitution to please and glory in your lovers, who have always lusted after you.48 You have imitated that hateful one in all her deeds and devices. Therefore God says,49 I will send evils upon you: widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, bringing ruin to your houses, bringing destruction and death.50 And the glory of your strength shall wither like a flower when the heat shall rise that is sent upon you.51 You shall be weakened like a wretched woman who is beaten and wounded, so that you cannot receive your mighty lovers.52 Would I have dealt with you so violently, says the Lord,53 if you had not killed my chosen people continually, exulting and clapping your hands and talking about their death when you were drunk?
54 Beautify your face!55 The reward of a prostitute is in your lap; therefore you shall receive your recompense.56 As you will do to my chosen people, says the Lord, so God will do to you, and will hand you over to adversities.57 Your children shall die of hunger, and you shall fall by the sword; your cities shall be wiped out, and all your people who are in the open country shall fall by the sword.58 Those who are in the mountains and highlands shall perish of hunger, and they shall eat their own flesh in hunger for bread and drink their own blood in thirst for water.59 Unhappy above all others, you shall come and suffer fresh miseries.60 As they pass by they shall crush the hateful city, and shall destroy a part of your land and abolish a portion of your glory, when they return from devastated Babylon.61 You shall be broken down by them like stubble, and they shall be like fire to you.62 They shall devour you and your cities, your land and your mountains; they shall burn with fire all your forests and your fruitful trees.63 They shall carry your children away captive, plunder your wealth, and mar the glory of your countenance.

Further Denunciations

16 Woe to you, Babylon and Asia! Woe to you, Egypt and Syria!2 Bind on sackcloth and cloth of goats' hair, and wail for your children, and lament for them; for your destruction is at hand.3 The sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back?4 A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it?5 Calamities have been sent upon you, and who is there to drive them away?6 Can one drive off a hungry lion in the forest, or quench a fire in the stubble once it has started to burn? 7 Can one turn back an arrow shot by a strong archer?8 The Lord God sends calamities, and who will drive them away?9 Fire will go forth from his wrath, and who is there to quench it?10 He will flash lightning, and who will not be afraid? He will thunder, and who will not be terrified?11 The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly shattered at his presence?12 The 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 For 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 will not miss once.14 Calamities are sent forth and shall not return until they come over the earth.15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth.16 Just as an arrow shot by a mighty archer does not return, so the calamities that are sent upon the earth shall not return.17 Alas for me! Alas for me! Who will deliver me in those days?