Common English Bible

2 Esdras 15:46-57 Common English Bible (CEB)

46. You, Asia—you who share in Babylon’s splendor and the glory of the mask it wears—

47. how terrible it will be for you, wretched one, because you have become like Babylon. You dressed up your daughters for sexual immorality, to please and take pride in your lovers, who have always lusted for you.

48. You have imitated that repulsive one in all her works and devices. Therefore, God says,

49. I will send disasters upon you—widowhood, poverty, hunger, sword, and disease—to desolate your houses, to bring you to devastation and death.

50. Your glorious strength will dry up like a flower when the heat that is sent against you rises.

51. Plagues will leave you weak and impoverished, wounded by whips, so that you can’t receive your powerful lovers.

52. Would I have been so jealous of you, says the Lord,

53. if you hadn’t constantly killed my chosen ones, rejoicing, clapping your hands, and talking about their deaths when you were drunk?

54. Make yourself beautiful!

55. The fee due a prostitute is in your lap. Because of this, you will get what’s coming to you.

56. As you will do to my chosen ones, says the Lord, so God will do to you and will give you over to disasters.

57. Your children will die of hunger, and you will fall by the sword. Your cities will be laid waste, and all your people will fall by the sword in the open field.