2 Esdras 2

1Thus says the Lord: I brought this people out of slavery, and I gave them commandments through my servants the prophets, whom they were unwilling to hear, but they made my counsels void.

2The mother who bore them says to them, “Go, children, for I am a widow and forsaken.”

3I raised you with gladness, and I lost you with mourning and sorrow,

4because you sinned before the Lord God and did what is evil before me. But now what shall I do for you? For I am a widow and forsaken. Go, my children, and ask the Lord.

5But I call on you, Father, as a witness against the mother of the children, because they were unwilling to keep my covenant,

6that you may give them over to shame and their mother to plundering, so that

7May their offspring cease. Let them be scattered among the nations; let their names be blotted out from the earth, because they despised my covenant.

8Woe to you, Assyria, who hide the unrighteous with you! O evil nation,

9Remember what I did to Sodom and Gomorrah, whose land lies in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes. So I will give those who did not listen to me, says the Lord Almighty.

10Thus says the Lord to Ezra: Announce to my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I was going to give to Israel.

11And I will take for myself their glory, and I will give them everlasting tabernacles,

12which I had prepared for them. The tree of life shall be for them as the fragrance of perfume, and they shall neither labor nor grow weary.

13Ask, and you will receive; pray that your few days may be shortened. The kingdom is already prepared for you; keep watch.

14Bear witness, bear witness, O heaven and earth, for I have put away evil and created good, because I live, says the Lord.

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

16And I will raise the dead from their places, and I will bring them out from the tombs, because I have known my name in them.

17Do not fear, mother of children, for I have chosen you, says the Lord.

18I will send you help—my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah. By their 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 having roses and lilies, in which I will fill your children with joy.

20Vindicate the widow, judge for the orphan, give to the needy, protect the fatherless, clothe the naked, care for the broken and the weak, the lame

21Do not mock; shelter the lame and the blind, admit them to the sight of my glory. Keep the old and the young within your walls.

22Wherever you find the dead, mark them and commit them to the grave, and I will give

23and I will give you the first seat in my resurrection. Pause and rest,

24My people, for your rest will come. Good nurse, nourish your children, and strengthen their feet.

25your children; strengthen their feet. The servants whom I have given you,

26None of them will perish, for I will require them from your number. Do not be anxious, for when the day of distress and anguish comes,

27Others will weep and be sorrowful, but you will be cheerful and abundant. The nations will be jealous, and they will be able to do nothing against you, says the Lord.

28My hands will cover you, so that your children may not see Gehenna. Rejoice,

29Mother, with your children, because I will deliver you, says the Lord.

30Remember your sleeping children, for I will bring them out from the hidden places of the earth,

31and I will show mercy to them, because I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty.

32Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them, because my springs overflow and my grace will not fail.

33I, Ezra, received a command from the Lord on Mount Horeb, that I should go to Israel; but when I came to them, they rejected me and spurned the commandment of the Lord. Therefore I say to you, O nations,

34Therefore I say to you, Gentiles who hear and understand: await your shepherd; he will give you eternal rest, because he is near—the one who will come at the end of the age. Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom,

35For everlasting light will shine for you through all eternity. Flee the shadow of this age; receive the joy of glory.

36Flee the shadow of this age; receive the gladness of your glory. I openly call my Savior to witness.

37Receive the joy of your glory from the Lord, and rejoice, giving thanks to him who has called you to the heavenly kingdoms.

38He has called the heavenly kingdom. Rise and stand, and see the number

39Those who have passed over from the shadow of the age have received splendid garments from the Lord.

40Receive your number, Zion, and gather in your white-robed ones, who have fulfilled the law of the Lord.

41The number of your children, whom you desired, is complete. Ask for the Lord’s authority, that your people, who were called from the beginning, may be sanctified.

42I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude that I could not number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs.

43And in the midst of them was a young man of lofty stature, taller than all the rest, and he was placing crowns on the heads of each one of them, and he was more exalted still; and I was held in wonder.

44Then I asked the angel and said, “Who are these, lord?”

45He answered and said to me, “These are the ones who have put off the mortal garment and put on the immortal, and they have confessed the name of God. Now they are being crowned and receiving palms.”

46And I said to the angel, “Who is that young man who places crowns on them and palms in their hands?”

47He answered and said to me, “He is the Son of God, whom they confessed in the age.” Then I began to magnify those who had stood bravely for the name of the Lord.

48They stood boldly for the name of the Lord. Then the angel said to me, “Go, announce to my people what and how great are the wonders of the Lord God that you have seen.”