2 Esdras 16:18-20

Common English Bible

¹⁸ The beginning of groaning and an abundance of sighing! The beginning of famine, and many will perish; the beginning of wars, and powerful ones will be afraid; the beginning of disasters, and all will be terrified. ¹⁹ What will they do when the disasters come? ²⁰ Look! A plague of famine has been sent out, and the distress it inflicts is like a whip, a punishment for discipline.