"For nationwill riseup againstnation,and kingdomagainstkingdom;there will be earthquakesin variousplaces;there will [also] be famines.These thingsare [merely] the beginningof birth pangs.
"Nationwas crushedby nation,and cityby city,for Godtroubledthem with everykind of distress.
Panicseizedthem there,Anguish,as of a woman in childbirth.
"So I will inciteEgyptiansagainst Egyptians;And they will eachfightagainst his brotherand eachagainst his neighbor,Cityagainst city[and] kingdomagainst kingdom.
From the LORDof hostsyou will be punishedwith thunderand earthquakeand loudnoise,[With] whirlwindand tempestand the flameof a consumingfire.
They saidto him, "ThussaysHezekiah,'Thisdayis a dayof distress,rebukeand rejection;for childrenhave cometo birth,and thereis nostrengthto deliver.
"Whatwill you saywhenHe appointsoveryou-- And you yourselfhad taughtthem-- Former companionsto be headoveryou? Will not pangstakeholdof you Likea womanin childbirth?
"You who dwellin Lebanon,Nestedin the cedars,Howyou will groanwhen pangscomeupon you, Painlike a woman in childbirth!
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,evilis goingforthFrom nationto nation,And a greatstormis being stirredup From the remotestpartsof the earth.
For I hearda cryas of a woman in labor,The anguishas of one givingbirthto her firstchild,The cryof the daughterof Ziongaspingfor breath,Stretchingout her hands,[saying], "Ah,woeis me, for I faintbefore murderers."
"Damascushas becomehelpless;She has turnedaway to flee,And panichas grippedher; Distressand pangshave takenholdof her Like a woman in childbirth.
"The kingof Babylonhas heardthe reportabout them, And his handshanglimp;Distresshas grippedhim, Agonylike a woman in childbirth.
We have heardthe reportof it; Our handsare limp.Anguishhas seizedus, Painas of a woman in childbirth.
I will overthrowthe thronesof kingdomsand destroythe powerof the kingdomsof the nations;and I will overthrowthe chariotsand their riders,and the horsesand their riderswill godown,everyoneby the swordof another.'
It will comeabout in that daythat a greatpanicfrom the LORDwill fallon them; and they will seizeoneanother'shand,and the handof one will be liftedagainstthe handof another.
"But allthese thingsare [merely] the beginningof birth pangs.
"Whenyou hearof warsand rumorsof wars,do not be frightened;[those things] musttake place;but [that is] not yetthe end.
"But be on your guard;for they will deliveryou to [the] courts,and you will be floggedin [the] synagogues,and you will standbeforegovernorsand kingsfor My sake,as a testimonyto them.
Oneof them namedAgabusstoodup and [began] to indicateby the Spiritthat there would certainlybe a greatfaminealloverthe world.And thistook placein the [reign] of Claudius.
Whilethey are saying,"Peaceand safety!"thendestructionwill comeupon them suddenlylikelabor painsupon a woman with child,and they will not escape.
And another,a redhorse,wentout; and to him who saton it, it was grantedto takepeacefrom the earth,and that [men] would slayone another;and a greatswordwas givento him.
