2 Esdras

1Thus says the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by my servants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but set my counsels at nothing.

2The mother that bare them says to them, go your way, O my children; for I am a widow and forsaken.

3I brought you up with gladness, and with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for you⌃ have sinned before the Lord God, and done that which is evil before me.

4But what shall I now do to you? for I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord.

5As for me, O father, I call upon you for a witness over the mother of these children, because they would not keep my covenant,

6that you bring them to confusion, and their mother to a plunder, that there may be no offspring of them.

7Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be blotted out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.

8Woe to you, Assur, you that hide the unrighteous with you! O you wicked nation, remember what I did to Sodom and Gomorrah;

9whose land lies in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do to those who have not hearkened to me, says the Lord Almighty.

10Thus says the Lord to Esdras, Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given to Israel.

11Their glory also will I take to me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.

12They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savor; they shall neither labor, nor be weary.

13Ask, and you⌃ shall receive: pray for few days to you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.

14Take heaven and earth to witness, take them to witness; for I have given up the evil, and created the good: for I live, says the Lord.

15Mother, embrace your children; I will bring them out with gladness like a dove; establish their feet; for I have chosen you, says the Lord.

16And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out from their tombs: for I have known my name in them.

17Don’t be afraid, you mother of the children: for I have chosen you, says the Lord.

18For your help will I send my servants Esaias and Jeremy, after whose counsel I have sanctified and prepared for you twelve trees laden with various fruits,

19and as many springs flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will fill your children with joy.

20Do right to the widow, judge the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,

21heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let the blind man come to the sight of my glory.

22Keep the old and young within your walls.

23Wherever you find the dead, set a sign upon them and commit them to the grave, and I will give you the first place in my resurrection.

24Abide still, O my people, and take your rest, for your quietness shall come.

25Nourish your children, O you good nurse, and establish their feet.

26As for the servants whom I have given you, there shall not one of them perish; for I will require them from among your number.

27Be not careful overmuch: for when the day of tribulation and anguish comes, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall be merry and have abundance.

28The nations shall envy you, but they shall be able to do nothing against you, says the Lord.

29My hands shall cover you, so that your children see not hell.

30Be joyful, O you mother, with your children; for I will deliver you, says the Lord.

31Remember your children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the secret places of the earth, and show mercy to them: for I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty.

32Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.

33I Esdras received a charge from the Lord upon the mount Horeb, that I should go to Israel; but when I came to them, they would none of me, and rejected the commandment of the Lord.

34And therefore I say to you, O you⌃ nations, that hear and understand, look for your shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is near at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.

35Be ready to the rewards of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.

36Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I call to witness my savior openly.

37O receive that which is given you of the Lord, and be joyful, giving thanks to him that has called you to heavenly kingdoms.

38Arise up and stand, and behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;

39those who withdrew them from the shadow of the world have received glorious garments of the Lord.

40Look upon your number, O Sion, and make up the reckoning of those of your that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.

41The number of your children, whom you long for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that your people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.

42I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great multitude, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.

43And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; whereat I marveled greatly.

44So I asked the angel, and said, What are these, my Lord?

45He answered and said to me, These be those who have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.

46Then said I to the angel, What young man is he that sets crowns upon them, and gives them palms in their hands?

47So he answered and said to me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend those who stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.

48Then the angel said to me, Go your way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord God you have seen.