1. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 47.8 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
47.8. וְעַתָּה שִׁמְעִי־זֹאת עֲדִינָה הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת לָבֶטַח הָאֹמְרָה בִּלְבָבָהּ אֲנִי וְאַפְסִי עוֹד לֹא אֵשֵׁב אַלְמָנָה וְלֹא אֵדַע שְׁכוֹל׃ | 47.8. Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, That sittest securely, That sayest in thy heart: ‘I am, and there is none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, Neither shall I know the loss of children’;" |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Daniel, 7.2-7.7, 12.10-12.13 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
7.2. עָנֵה דָנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוִי עִם־לֵילְיָא וַאֲרוּ אַרְבַּע רוּחֵי שְׁמַיָּא מְגִיחָן לְיַמָּא רַבָּא׃ 7.2. וְעַל־קַרְנַיָּא עֲשַׂר דִּי בְרֵאשַׁהּ וְאָחֳרִי דִּי סִלְקַת ונפלו [וּנְפַלָה] מִן־קדמיה [קֳדָמַהּ] תְּלָת וְקַרְנָא דִכֵּן וְעַיְנִין לַהּ וְפֻם מְמַלִּל רַבְרְבָן וְחֶזְוַהּ רַב מִן־חַבְרָתַהּ׃ 7.3. וְאַרְבַּע חֵיוָן רַבְרְבָן סָלְקָן מִן־יַמָּא שָׁנְיָן דָּא מִן־דָּא׃ 7.4. קַדְמָיְתָא כְאַרְיֵה וְגַפִּין דִּי־נְשַׁר לַהּ חָזֵה הֲוֵית עַד דִּי־מְּרִיטוּ גַפַּיהּ וּנְטִילַת מִן־אַרְעָא וְעַל־רַגְלַיִן כֶּאֱנָשׁ הֳקִימַת וּלְבַב אֱנָשׁ יְהִיב לַהּ׃ 7.5. וַאֲרוּ חֵיוָה אָחֳרִי תִנְיָנָה דָּמְיָה לְדֹב וְלִשְׂטַר־חַד הֳקִמַת וּתְלָת עִלְעִין בְּפֻמַּהּ בֵּין שניה [שִׁנַּהּ] וְכֵן אָמְרִין לַהּ קוּמִי אֲכֻלִי בְּשַׂר שַׂגִּיא׃ 7.6. בָּאתַר דְּנָה חָזֵה הֲוֵית וַאֲרוּ אָחֳרִי כִּנְמַר וְלַהּ גַּפִּין אַרְבַּע דִּי־עוֹף עַל־גביה [גַּבַּהּ] וְאַרְבְּעָה רֵאשִׁין לְחֵיוְתָא וְשָׁלְטָן יְהִיב לַהּ׃ 7.7. בָּאתַר דְּנָה חָזֵה הֲוֵית בְּחֶזְוֵי לֵילְיָא וַאֲרוּ חֵיוָה רביעיה [רְבִיעָאָה] דְּחִילָה וְאֵימְתָנִי וְתַקִּיפָא יַתִּירָא וְשִׁנַּיִן דִּי־פַרְזֶל לַהּ רַבְרְבָן אָכְלָה וּמַדֱּקָה וּשְׁאָרָא ברגליה [בְּרַגְלַהּ] רָפְסָה וְהִיא מְשַׁנְּיָה מִן־כָּל־חֵיוָתָא דִּי קָדָמַיהּ וְקַרְנַיִן עֲשַׂר לַהּ׃ 12.11. וּמֵעֵת הוּסַר הַתָּמִיד וְלָתֵת שִׁקּוּץ שֹׁמֵם יָמִים אֶלֶף מָאתַיִם וְתִשְׁעִים׃ 12.12. אַשְׁרֵי הַמְחַכֶּה וְיַגִּיעַ לְיָמִים אֶלֶף שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שְׁלֹשִׁים וַחֲמִשָּׁה׃ 12.13. וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ וְתָנוּחַ וְתַעֲמֹד לְגֹרָלְךָ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין׃ | 7.2. Daniel spoke and said: I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven broke forth upon the great sea." 7.3. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." 7.4. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings; I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon two feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it." 7.5. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was said thus unto it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’" 7.6. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the sides of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it." 7.7. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." 12.10. Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand." 12.11. And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the detestable thing that causes appalment set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." 12.12. Happy is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." 12.13. But go thou thy way till the end be; and thou shalt rest, and shalt stand up to thy lot, at the end of the days.’" |
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3. Anon., Sibylline Oracles, 3.36-3.74, 5.1-5.27, 5.29-5.287, 5.289, 5.294-5.296, 5.298-5.305, 5.324-5.332, 5.344-5.345, 5.349-5.370, 5.381, 5.386-5.448, 5.483-5.488, 5.492-5.530 (1st cent. BCE - 5th cent. CE)
| 3.36. But vainly go astray and bow the knee 3.37. To serpents, and make offering to cats 3.38. And idols, and stone images of men 3.39. And sit before the doors of godless temples; 3.40. 40 Ye guard him who is God, who keeps all things 3.41. And merry with the wickedness of stone 3.42. Forget the judgment of the immortal Saviour 3.43. Who made the heaven and earth. Alas! a race 3.44. That has delight in blood, deceitful, vile 3.45. 45 Ungodly, of false, double-tongued, immoral men 3.46. Adulterous, idolous, designing fraud 3.47. An evil madness raving in their hearts 3.48. For themselves plundering, having shameless soul; 3.49. For no one who has riches will impart 3.50. 50 To another, but dire wickedness shall be 3.51. Among all mortals, and for sake of gain 3.52. Will many widows not at all keep faith 3.53. But secretly love others, and the bond 3.54. of life those who have husbands do not keep. 3.55. 55 But when Rome shall o'er Egypt also rule 3.56. Governing always, then shall there appear 3.57. The greatest kingdom of the immortal King 3.58. Over men. And a holy Lord shall come 3.59. To hold the scepter over every land 3.60. 60 Unto all ages of fast-hastening time. 3.61. And then shall come inexorable wrath 3.62. On Latin men; three shall by piteous fate 3.63. Endamage Rome. And perish shall all men 3.64. With their own houses, when from heaven shall flow 3.65. 65 A fiery cataract. Ah, wretched me! 3.66. When shall that day and when shall judgment come 3.67. of the immortal God, the mighty King? 3.68. But just now, O ye cities, ye are built 3.69. And all adorned with temples and race-grounds 3.70. 70 Markets, and images of wood, of gold 3.71. of silver and of stone, that ye may come 3.72. Unto the bitter day. For it shall come 3.73. When there shall pass among all men a stench 3.74. of brimstone. Yet each thing will I declare 5.1. BUT come, now, hear of me the mournful time 5.2. of sons of Latium. And first of all 5.3. After the kings of Egypt were destroyed 5.4. And the like earth had downwards borne them all 5.5. 5 And after Pella's townsman, under whom 5.6. The whole East and the rich West were cast down 5.7. whom Babylon dishonored, and stretched out 5.8. For Philip a dead body (not of Zeus 5.9. of Ammon not true things were prophesied) 5.10. 10 And after that one of the race and blood 5.11. of king Assaracus, who came from Troy 5.12. Even he who cleft the violence of fire 5.13. And after many lords, and after men 5.14. To Ares dear, and after the young babes 5.15. 15 The children of the beast that feeds on sheep 5.16. The very first lord shall be, who shall sum 5.17. Twice ten with the first letter of his name; 5.18. In wars exceeding powerful shall he be; 5.19. And he shall have the initial sign of ten; 5.20. 20 And in like manner after him to reign 5.21. Is one who has the alphabet's first letter; 5.22. Before him Thrace and Sicily shall crouch 5.23. Then Memphis, Memphis cast headlong to earth 5.24. By reason of the cowardice of ruler 5.25. 25 And of a woman unenslaved who fall 5.26. Upon the wave. And laws will he ordain 5.27. For peoples and put all things under him; 5.29. His power unto another, who shall have 5.30. 30 Three hundred for his first initial sign 5.31. And of a river the beloved name 5.32. And the Persians he shall rule and Babylon; 5.33. And then shall he smite Medians with his spear. 5.34. Then shall one rule who has the initial sign 5.35. 35 of the number three. And then shall be a lord 5.36. Who shall for first initial have twice ten; 5.37. And he shall come to Ocean's utmost water 5.38. And by Ausonia cleave the refluent tide. 5.39. And one whose mark is fifty shall be lord 5.40. 40 A dreadful serpent breathing grievous war 5.41. Who sometime stretching forth his hands shall make 5.42. An end of his own race and stir all things 5.43. Acting the athlete, driving chariots 5.44. Putting to death and daring countless things; 5.45. 45 And he shall cleave the mountain of two sea 5.46. And sprinkle it with gore; but out of sight 5.47. Shall also vanish the destructive man; 5.48. Then, making himself equal unto God 5.49. Shall he return; but God will prove him naught. 5.50. 50 And after him shall three kings be destroyed 5.51. By one another. Then a great destroyer 5.52. of pious men shall come, whom seven times ten 5.53. Shall point out clearly. But from him a son 5.54. Whom the first letter of three hundred proves 5.55. 55 Shall take the power. And after him shall be 5.56. A ruler, of the initial sign of four 5.57. A life-destroyer. Then a reverend man 5.58. of the number fifty. Next, succeeding him 5.59. Who has the first mark of the initial sign 5.60. 60 Three hundred, shall a Celtic mountaineer 5.61. Into the strife of battle pressing on 5.62. Escape not fate unseemly, but shall be 5.63. Worn weary unto death; him foreign dust 5.64. But dust that of Nemea's flower has name 5.65. 65 Shall hide a corpse. And after him shall rule 5.66. Another man, with silver helmet decked; 5.67. And unto him shall be the name of a sea; 5.68. And he shall be a man the best of all 5.69. And in all things discreet. And upon thee 5.70. 70 Thou best of all, above all, dark-haired one 5.71. And upon thy shoots shall be all these days. 5.72. After him three shall rule; but the third one 5.73. Shall at a late time hold the royal power. 5.74. Worn out am I, thrice-miserable one 5.75. 75 Sister of Isis, to lay up in heart 5.76. An evil message, and an inspired song 5.77. of oracles. First Mænades shall dart 5.78. Around thy much-lamented temple's steps 5.79. And thou shalt be in evil hands that day 5.80. 80 When the Nile some time shall fill the whole land 5.81. of Egypt even to sixteen cubits deep; 5.82. It shall wash all the land, and water it 5.83. For mortals; and the pleasure of the land 5.84. Shall be still and the glory of her face. 5.85. 85 Memphis, thou most shalt over Egypt wail; 5.86. For of old ruling mightily the land 5.87. Thou shalt become poor, so that out of heaven 5.88. The Thunderer shall himself with great voice cry: 5.89. “O mighty Memphis, who didst boast of old 5.90. 90 O'er craven mortals greatly, thou shalt wail 5.91. Full of pain and all-hapless, so that thou 5.92. Thyself shalt the eternal God perceive 5.93. Immortal in the clouds. Where among men 5.94. Is now thy mighty pride? Because thou didst 5.95. 95 Against my God-anointed children rave 5.96. And didst urge evil forward on good men 5.97. Thou shalt for such things suffer penalty 5.98. In some like manner. No more openly 5.99. For thee shall there be right among the blessed; 5.100. 100 Fallen from the stars, thou shalt not rise to heaven.” 5.101. Now these things unto Egypt God bade me 5.102. Speak out for the last time, when men shall be 5.103. Utterly evil. But they labor hard 5.104. Evil men evil things awaiting, wrath 5.105. 105 of the immortal Thunderer in heaven 5.106. Worshiping stones and beasts instead of God 5.107. And also fearing many things beside 5.108. Which have no speech, nor mind, nor power to hear; 5.109. Which things it is not right for me to mention 5.110. 110 Each one an idol, formed by mortal hands; 5.111. of their own labors and presumptuous thought 5.112. Did men receive gods made of wood and stone 5.113. And brass, and gold and silver, foolish too 5.114. Without life and dumb, molten in the fire 5.115. 115 They made them, vainly trusting such things. . . . 5.116. Thmois and Xois are in sore distress 5.117. And smitten is the hall of Heracle 5.118. And Zeus and Hermes (king). And as for thee 5.119. O Alexandria, famed nourisher 5.120. 120 (of cities) war shall not leave, nor (plague) . . . 5.121. For thy pride thou shalt pay as many thing 5.122. As thou before didst. Silent shalt thou be 5.123. A long age, and the day of thy return . . . 5.124. . . . . . . . 5.125. No more for thee shall flow luxurious drink . . . 5.125. 12 5 For there shall come a Persian on thy dale 5.126. . . . . . . . 5.126. And like hail shall he all the land destroy 5.127. And artful men, with blood and corpses. . . . 5.128. By sacred altars one of barbarous mind 5.129. Strong, full of blood and raging senselessly 5.130. 130 With countless numbers rushing to destruction. 5.131. And then shalt thou, in cities very rich 5.132. Be very weary. Falling on the earth 5.133. All Asia shall wail on account of gift 5.134. Crowning her head with which she was by thee 5.135. 135 Delighted. But, as he himself obtained 5.136. The Persian land by lot, he shall make war 5.137. And killing every man destroy all life 5.138. So that there shall remain for wretched mortal 5.139. A third part. But with nimble leap shall he 5.140. 140 Himself speed from the West, and all the land 5.141. Besiege and waste. But when he shall posse 5.142. The height of power and odious reverence 5.143. He shall come, wishing to destroy the city 5.144. Even of the blessed. And a certain king 5.145. 145 Sent forth from God against him shall destroy 5.146. All mighty kings and bravest men. And thu 5.147. Shall judgement by the Immortal come to men. 5.148. Alas, alas for thee, unhappy heart! 5.149. Why dost thou move me to declare these things 5.150. 150 The painful rule of Egypt over many? 5.151. Go to the East, to races of the Persian 5.152. Who lack in understanding, and show them 5.153. That which is now and that which is to be. 5.154. The river of Euphrates shall bring on 5.155. 155 A deluge, and it shall destroy the Persians 5.156. Iberians and Babylonian 5.157. And the Massagetæ that relish war 5.158. And trust in bows. All Asia fire-ablaze 5.159. Shall to the isles beam brightly. Pergamos 5.160. 160 Revered of old, shall perish from its base 5.161. And Pitane among men shall appear 5.162. All-desolate. All Lesbos shall sink deep 5.163. Into the deep, and thus shall be destroyed. 5.164. Smyrna, whirled down her cliffs, shall wail aloud 5.165. 165 She that was once revered and given a name 5.166. Shall perish utterly. Bithynian 5.167. Shall over their own country, then reduced 5.168. To ashes, wail, and o'er great Syria 5.169. And o'er Phœnicia that bas many tribes. 5.170. 170 Alas, alas for thee, O Lycia; 5.171. How many evils does the sea contrive 5.172. Against thee, mounting up of its own will 5.173. Upon the painful land! And it shall dash 5.174. With evil earthquake and with bitter stream 5.175. 175 On the rough Lycian land that once breathed perfume. 5.176. And there shall be for Phrygia fearful wrath 5.177. Because of sorrow for which Rhea came 5.178. Mother of Zeus, and there continued long. 5.179. The sea shall overthrow the Centaur race 5.185. 185 (Pretending once to bear the forms, of beasts). 5.186. Hellas thrice wretched shall the poets weep 5.187. When one from Italy shall smite the neck 5.188. of the isthmus, mighty king of mighty Rome 5.189. A man made equal to God, whom, they say 5.190. 190 And barbarous nation, and beneath the earth 5.190. 190 Zeus himself and the august Hera bore 5.191. Shall tear away the Lapithæan land. 5.191. He, courting by his voice all-musical 5.192. The river of deep eddies and deep flow 5.192. Applause for his sweet Songs, shall put to death 5.193. Peneus, shall destroy Thessalian land 5.193. With his own wretched mother many men. 5.194. Snatching men from the earth. Eridanu 5.194. From Babylon shall flee the fearful lord 5.195. 195 And shameless whom all mortals and best men 5.196. Abhor; for he slew many and laid hand 5.197. Upon the womb; against his wives he sinned 5.198. And of men stained with blood had he been formed. 5.199. And he shall come to monarchs of the Mede 5.200. 200 And Persians, first whom he loved and to whom 5.201. He brought renown, while with those wicked men 5.202. He lurked against a nation not desired 5.203. And on the temple made by God he seized 5.204. And citizens and people going in 5.205. 205 of whom I justly sang the praise, he burned; 5.206. For when this man appeared the whole creation 5.207. Was shaken and kings perished–and yet power 5.208. Remained among them, and they quite destroyed 5.209. The mighty city and the righteous people. 5.210. 210 But when the fourth year a great star shall shine 5.211. Which alone shall the whole earth overpower 5.212. Because of honor, which was first assigned 5.213. To lord Poseidon; then a great star shall come 5.214. From heaven into the dreadful sea and burn 5.215. 215 The vasty deep, and Babylon itself 5.216. And the land of Italy, because, of which 5.217. There perished many holy faithful men 5.218. Among the Hebrews and a people true. 5.219. Thou shalt be among evil mortals made 5.220. 220 To suffer evils, but thou shalt remain 5.221. All-desolate whole ages by thyself 5.222. Hating thy soil; for thou didst have desire 5.223. For sorcery, adulteries were with thee 5.224. And lawless carnal intercourse with boys 5.225. 225 Thou evil city, womanish, unjust 5.226. Ill-fated above all. Alas, alas! 5.227. Thou city of the Latin land, unclean 5.228. In all things, Mænad having joy in snakes 5.229. Over thy banks a widow shalt thou sit 5.230. 230 And the river Tiber shall lament for thee 5.231. His consort thee, who hast a blood-stained heart 5.232. And impious soul. Didst thou not understand 5.233. What God can do, and what he doth devise? 5.234. But thou saidst, “I'm alone, and me no one 5.235. 235 Shall sack.” But now shall God, who ever is 5.236. Thee and all thine destroy, and in that land 5.237. No longer shall thy ensign yet remain 5.238. As of old, when the mighty God received 5.239. Thy honors. Stay, O lawless one, alone 5.240. 240 And mixed with burning fire inhabit thou 5.241. In Hades the Tartarean lawless land. 5.242. And now again, O Egypt, I bewail 5.243. Thy blind delusion; Memphis, first in toils 5.244. Thou shalt be filled up with the dead; in thee 5.245. 245 The pyramids shall speak a ruthless sound. 5.246. O Python, who wast justly called of old 5.247. The double city, be for ages silent 5.248. So that thou mayest cease from wickedness. 5.249. Reckless in evils, treasury of toils 5.250. 250 Much-wailing Mænad, suffering, dire ills 5.251. Much-weeping, thou a widow shalt remain 5.252. Through all time. Thou didst full of years become 5.253. While thou alone wast ruling o'er the world; 5.254. But when the white dress Barea round herself 5.255. 255 Shall put on over that which is defiled 5.256. Would that I neither were nor had been born 5.257. O Thebes, where is thy great strength? A fierce man 5.258. Shall slay the people; but thou, wretched one 5.259. Grasping thy dusky dress shalt wail alone 5.260. 260 And thou shalt make atonement for all thing 5.261. Which thou aforetime with a shameless soul 5.262. Didst perpetrate. They also shall behold 5.263. A mourning on account of lawless deeds. 5.264. And a mighty man of the Ethiopian 5.265. 265 Shall overthrow Syene; by their might 5.266. Shall swarthy Indians occupy Teucheira. 5.267. Pentapolis, a man of mighty, strength 5.268. Shall burn thee whole. All-tearful Libya 5.269. Who shall explain thy follies? And Cyrene 5.270. 270 of mortals who shall pitiably weep 5.271. For thee? Thou shalt not even to the time 5.272. of thy destruction cease thy hateful wail. 5.273. Among the Britons and among the Gauls 5.274. Rich in gold, Ocean shall be roaring loud 5.275. 275 Filled with much blood; for evil thing 5.276. Did they unto God's children, when a king 5.277. of the Sidonians, a Phœnician, led 5.278. A mighty Gallic host from Syria; 5.279. And he shall slaughter thee, thyself, Ravenna 5.280. 280 And unto slaughter shall he lead the way. 5.281. O Indians and great-hearted Ethiops 5.282. Together fear; for when with these the course 5.283. of Capricorn and Taurus in the Twin 5.284. Shall wind about the middle of the heaven 5.285. 285 Virgo then rising, and about his front 5.286. Fastening a belt the sun shall lead all heaven 5.287. There shall be moving downwards to the earth 5.289. And a new nature in the warlike stars 5.294. The Fates three sisters, spinning shall aloft 5.295. 295 Lead him who flees by guile against the voice 5.296. of the isthmus, until all shall look at him 5.298. He also shall destroy and smite thy land 5.299. As it hath been appointed. For to him 5.300. 300 God gave strength to accomplish that which could 5.301. No earlier of all the kings together. 5.302. And first with sickle cleaving off the root 5.303. From three heads he shall give food in exce 5.304. To others, so that kings unclean shall eat 5.305. 305 The flesh of parents. For unto all men 5.324. There was once among men the sun's bright light 5.325. 325 The prophets' common ray being spread abroad; 5.326. Speech dripping honey, fair drink for all men 5.327. Appeared and grew, and day arose on all. 5.328. Because of this, thou narrow-minded one 5.329. Leader of greatest evils, both a sword 5.330. 330 And grief shall come in that day. For mankind 5.331. Both a beginning and great end of toil,– 5.332. of suffering creation and of part 5.344. Shall they be cut off; but they shall set up 5.345. 345 Their trophies for an age of evil men. 5.349. Who at one time did make the sun stand still 5.350. 350 When he spoke with fair word and holy lips 5.351. No longer vex thy soul within thy breast 5.352. By reason of the sword, rich child of God 5.353. Flower longed for by him only, goodly light 5.354. And noble branch, a scion much beloved 5.355. 355 Pleasant Judea, city beautiful 5.356. Inspired by hymns. No more shall unclean foot 5.357. of Greeks keep revel round about thy land 5.358. Who held within their breast a lawless mind; 5.359. But thee shall glorious children honor much 5.360. 360 [And be expert in songs and holy tongues] 5.361. With sacrifices of all kinds and prayer 5.362. Honored of God. All who endure the toil 5.363. of small affliction and the just shall have 5.364. More that is altogether beautiful; 5.365. 365 But the wicked, who to heaven sent lawless speech 5.366. Shall cease their speaking one against another 5.367. And hide themselves until the world be changed. 5.368. And there shall be a rain of gleaming fire 5.369. From the clouds; and no more shall mortals reap 5.370. 370 The fair corn from the earth; all things unsown 5.381. One Father, who alone is glorious 5.386. And Carians and Lydians rich in gold. 5.387. Alas, alas for thee, O Sardis; and ala 5.388. For Trallis much beloved; alas, alas 5.389. Laodicea, city beautiful; 5.390. 390 Thus shalt thou be by earthquakes overthrown 5.391. And ruined, and be also changed to dust. 5.392. And to Asia gloomy. . . . 5.393. Artremis' temple fixed at Ephesus . . . 5.394. By chasms, and earthquakes come headlong down 5.395. 395 Sometime into the dreadful sea, is storm 5.396. Overwhelm ships. And up-turned Ephesu 5.397. Shall wail aloud, lament beside her banks 5.398. And for her temple search which is no more. 5.399. And then incensed shall God the imperishable 5.400. 400 Who dwells on high, hurl thunderbolts from heaven 5.401. Down on the head of him that is impure. 5.402. And in the place of winter there shall be 5.403. In that day summer. And to mortal men 5.404. Shall then be great woe; for the Thunderer 5.405. 405 Shall utterly destroy all shameless men 5.406. And with his thunders and with lightning-flame 5.407. And blazing thunderbolts men of ill-will 5.408. And thus shall he destroy the impious ones 5.409. So that there shall remain upon the earth 5.410. 410 Dead bodies more in number than the sand. 5.411. For Smyrna also, weeping her Lycurgus 5.412. Shall come unto the gates of Ephesu 5.413. And she herself shall perish even more. 5.414. And foolish Cyme with her inspired stream 5.415. 415 Cast down by hands of godless men unjust 5.416. And lawless, shall to heaven not so much 5.417. As a word utter; but she shall remain 5.418. Dead in Cymæan streams. And then shall they 5.419. Together weep, awaiting evil things. 5.420. 420 Cyme's rough populace and shameless tribe 5.421. Having a sign, shall know for what they toiled. 5.422. And then, when they shall have bewailed their land 5.423. Reduced to ashes, by Eridanu 5.424. Shall Lesbos be forever overthrown. 5.425. 425 Alas, Corcyra, city beautiful 5.426. Alas for thee, cease from thy revelry. 5.427. Thou also, Hierapolis, sole land 5.428. With riches mixed, what thou hast longed to have 5.429. Thou shalt have, even a land of many tears 5.430. 430 Since thou wast angry towards a land beside 5.431. Thermodon's streams. Rock-clinging Tripolis 5.432. Beside the waters of Mæander, thee 5.433. Shall by the nightly surges under shore 5.434. God's wrath and foresight utterly destroy. 5.435. 435 Take me not, willing, to the neighboring land 5.436. of Phœbus; sometime shall a thunderbolt 5.437. Dainty Miletus from above destroy 5.438. Because she seized on Phœbus' crafty song 5.439. And the wise care and prudent plan of men. 5.440. 440 Father of all, be gracious to the land 5.441. of Judah, well fed, fruit-abounding, great 5.442. In order that thy judgments we may see. 5.443. For thou, O God, in kindness didst regard 5.444. This land first that it might appear to be 5.445. 445 Thy gracious gift unto all mortal men 5.446. And to hold fast what God put in their charge. 5.447. The works thrice wretched of the Thracian 5.448. I yearn to see, and wall between two sea 5.483. It doth behoove them faithfully to love 5.484. The Father, the wise God who ever is. 5.485. 485 In the last time, at the turning of the moon 5.486. There shall be raging through the world a war 5.487. And carried on with cunning, and in guile. 5.488. And from the limits of the earth shall come 5.492. And see all things more wisely than all men; 5.493. And that for whose sake he himself was slain 5.494. Shall he seize forthwith. And he shall destroy 5.495. 495 Many men and great tyrants and shall burn 5.496. All of them, as none other ever did 5.497. And he shall raise up them that are afraid 5.498. For emulation's sake. And from the West 5.499. Much war shall come to men, and blood shall flow 5.500. 500 Down hill till it becomes deep-eddying streams. 5.501. And in the plains of Macedonia 5.502. Shall wrath distil and give help from the West 5.503. But to the king destruction. And a wind 5.504. of winter then shall blow upon the earth 5.505. 505 And the plain be filled with evil war again. 5.506. For fire shall rain down from the heavenly plain 5.507. On mortals, and therewith blood, water, flash 5.508. of lightning, murky darkness, night in heaven 5.509. And waste in war and o'er the slaughter mist 5.510. 510 And these together shall destroy all king 5.511. And noblest men. Thus shall be made to cease 5.512. Then the destruction pitiable of war. 5.513. And no more shall one fight with swords or iron 5.514. Or even darts, which things shall not again 5.515. 515 Be lawful. But wise people shall have peace 5.516. Who were left, having made proof of wickedness 5.517. That they might at the last be filled with joy. 5.518. Ye matricides, leave off your impudence 5.519. And evil-working boldness, who of old 5.520. 520 provided lawlessly lewd couch with boys 5.521. And placed as harlots maidens pure before 5.522. In brothels by assault and punishment 5.523. And by much-laboring indecency. 5.524. For in thee mother with her child did hold 5.525. 525 Unlawful intercourse, and daughter wa 5.526. With her own father wedded as a bride; 5.527. And in thee kings have their ill-fated mouth 5.528. Polluted, and in thee have wicked men 5.529. Found couch with cattle. Be in silence hushed 5.530. 530 Thou wicked city all-bewailed, possessed |
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4. New Testament, Apocalypse, 13.11-13.18, 17.7-17.14, 18.7 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 13.11. I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 13.12. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13.13. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky on the earth in the sight of men. 13.14. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given to him to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. 13.15. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13.16. He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, so that they should give them marks on their right hand, or on their forehead; 13.17. and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. 13.18. Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six. 17.7. The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 17.8. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see that the beast was, and is not, and will pe present. 17.9. Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 17.10. They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. 17.11. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. 17.12. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 17.13. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 17.14. These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful. 18.7. However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.' |
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5. Augustine, The City of God, 20.19 (4th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 20.19. I see that I must omit many of the statements of the gospels and epistles about this last judgment, that this volume may not become unduly long; but I can on no account omit what the Apostle Paul says, in writing to the Thessalonians, We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. No one can doubt that he wrote this of Antichrist and of the day of judgment, which he here calls the day of the Lord, nor that he declared that this day should not come unless he first came who is called the apostate - apostate, to wit, from the Lord God. And if this may justly be said of all the ungodly, how much more of him? But it is uncertain in what temple he shall sit, whether in that ruin of the temple which was built by Solomon, or in the Church; for the apostle would not call the temple of any idol or demon the temple of God. And on this account some think that in this passage Antichrist means not the prince himself alone, but his whole body, that is, the mass of men who adhere to him, along with him their prince; and they also think that we should render the Greek more exactly were we to read, not in the temple of God, but for or as the temple of God, as if he himself were the temple of God, the Church. Then as for the words, And now you know what withholds, i.e., you know what hindrance or cause of delay there is, that he might be revealed in his own time; they show that he was unwilling to make an explicit statement, because he said that they knew. And thus we who have not their knowledge wish and are not able even with pains to understand what the apostle referred to, especially as his meaning is made still more obscure by what he adds. For what does he mean by For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now holds, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed? I frankly confess I do not know what he means. I will nevertheless mention such conjectures as I have heard or read. Some think that the Apostle Paul referred to the Roman empire, and that he was unwilling to use language more explicit, lest he should incur the calumnious charge of wishing ill to the empire which it was hoped would be eternal; so that in saying, For the mystery of iniquity does already work, he alluded to Nero, whose deeds already seemed to be as the deeds of Antichrist. And hence some suppose that he shall rise again and be Antichrist. Others, again, suppose that he is not even dead, but that he was concealed that he might be supposed to have been killed, and that he now lives in concealment in the vigor of that same age which he had reached when he was believed to have perished, and will live until he is revealed in his own time and restored to his kingdom. But I wonder that men can be so audacious in their conjectures. However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, Only he who now holds, let him hold until he be taken out of the way, refer to the Roman empire, as if it were said, Only he who now reigns, let him reign until he be taken out of the way. And then shall the wicked be revealed: no one doubts that this means Antichrist. But others think that the words, You know what withholds, and The mystery of iniquity works, refer only to the wicked and the hypocrites who are in the Church, until they reach a number so great as to furnish Antichrist with a great people, and that this is the mystery of iniquity, because it seems hidden; also that the apostle is exhorting the faithful tenaciously to hold the faith they hold when he says, Only he who now holds, let him hold until he be taken out of the way, that is, until the mystery of iniquity which now is hidden departs from the Church. For they suppose that it is to this same mystery John alludes when in his epistle he says, Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. 1 John 2:18-19 As therefore there went out from the Church many heretics, whom John calls many antichrists, at that time prior to the end, and which John calls the last time, so in the end they shall go out who do not belong to Christ, but to that last Antichrist, and then he shall be revealed. Thus various, then, are the conjectural explanations of the obscure words of the apostle. That which there is no doubt he said is this, that Christ will not come to judge quick and dead unless Antichrist, His adversary, first come to seduce those who are dead in soul; although their seduction is a result of God's secret judgment already passed. For, as it is said his presence shall be after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all seduction of unrighteousness in them that perish. For then shall Satan be loosed, and by means of that Antichrist shall work with all power in a lying though a wonderful manner. It is commonly questioned whether these works are called signs and lying wonders because he is to deceive men's senses by false appearances, or because the things he does, though they be true prodigies, shall be a lie to those who shall believe that such things could be done only by God, being ignorant of the devil's power, and especially of such unexampled power as he shall then for the first time put forth. For when he fell from heaven as fire, and at a stroke swept away from the holy Job his numerous household and his vast flocks, and then as a whirlwind rushed upon and smote the house and killed his children, these were not deceitful appearances, and yet they were the works of Satan to whom God had given this power. Why they are called signs and lying wonders, we shall then be more likely to know when the time itself arrives. But whatever be the reason of the name, they shall be such signs and wonders as shall seduce those who shall deserve to be seduced, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Neither did the apostle scruple to go on to say, For this cause God shall send upon them the working of error that they should believe a lie. For God shall send, because God shall permit the devil to do these things, the permission being by His own just judgment, though the doing of them is in pursuance of the devil's unrighteous and maligt purpose, that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Therefore, being judged, they shall be seduced, and, being seduced, they shall be judged. But, being judged, they shall be seduced by those secretly just and justly secret judgments of God, with which He has never ceased to judge since the first sin of the rational creatures; and, being seduced, they shall be judged in that last and manifest judgment administered by Jesus Christ, who was Himself most unjustly judged and shall most justly judge. |
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6. Anon., Ascension of Isaiah, 4.13-4.14
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7. Pseudo-Seneca, Octauia, 239-244, 982, 238
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