1 He said to me, “In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the portals of the world were fixed and before the gatherings of the winds blew,
2 before the voices of the thunder sounded and before the flashes of the lightning shone, before the foundations of paradise were laid,
3 before the fair flowers were seen, before the powers of the earthquake were established, before the innumerable army of angels were gathered together,
4 before the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, before the footstool of Zion was established,ᵃᵇ
5 before the present years were reckoned, before the imaginations of those who now sin were estranged, and before they were sealed who have gathered faith for a treasure—
6 then I considered these things, and they all were made through me alone, and not through another; just as by me also they will be ended, and not by another.”
7 Then I answered, “What will be the dividing of the times? Or when will be the end of the first and the beginning of the age that follows?”
8 He said to me, “From Abraham to Isaac, because Jacob and Esau were born to him, for Jacob’s hand held Esau’s heel from the beginning.
9 For Esau is the end of this age, and Jacob is the beginning of the one that follows.
10 The beginning of a man is his hand, and the end of a man is his heel. Seek nothing else between the heel and the hand, Esdras!”ᶜᵈ
11 Then I answered, “O sovereign Lord, if I have found favour in your sight,
12 I beg you, show your servant the end of your signs which you showed me part on a previous night.”
13 So he answered, “Stand up upon your feet, and you will hear a mighty sounding voice.
14 If the place you stand on is greatly moved
15 when it speaks don’t be afraid, for the word is of the end, and the foundations of the earth will understand
16 that the speech is about them. They will tremble and be moved, for they know that their end must be changed.”
17 It happened that when I had heard it, I stood up on my feet, and listened, and, behold, there was a voice that spoke, and its sound was like the sound of many waters.
18 It said, “Behold, the days come when I draw near to visit those who dwell upon the earth,
19 and when I investigate those who have caused harm unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Zion is complete,
20 and when the seal will be set on the age that is to pass away, then I will show these signs: the books will be opened before the firmament, and all will see together.
21 The children a year old will speak with their voices. The women with child will deliver premature children at three or four months, and they will live and dance.
22 Suddenly the sown places will appear unsown. The full storehouses will suddenly be found empty.