The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the son of Zadok, the son of Achitob,
The son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of Arna, the son of Uzziah, the son of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,
The son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians.
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Go your way, and show my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickedness which they have done against me; that they may tell their children’s children:
Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered to strange gods.
Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? but they have provoked me to wrath, and despised my counsels.
Pull off then the hair of your head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not been obedient to my law, but it is a rebellious people.
How long shall I forbear them, to whom I have done so much good?
Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have I struck down.
All the nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I have scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyre and Sidon, and have slain all their enemies.
Speak therefore to them, saying, Thus says the Lord,
I led you through the sea, and in the beginning gave you a large and safe passage; I gave you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a priest.
I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet have you forgotten me, says the Lord.
Thus says the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless you murmured there,
And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do you yet murmur.
Where are the benefits that I have done for you? when you were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did you not cry to me,
Saying, Why have you brought us into this wilderness to kill us? it had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in this wilderness.
Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so you did eat angels' bread.
When you were thirsty, did I not cling the rock, and waters flowed out to your fill? for the heat I covered you with the leaves of the trees.
I divided among you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do more for you? says the Lord.
Thus says the Almighty Lord, When you were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,
I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.
What shall I do to you, O Jacob? you, Juda, would not obey me: I will turn me to other nations, and to those will I give my name, that they may keep my statutes.
Seeing you have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when you desire me to be gracious to you, I shall have no mercy upon you.
Whenever you shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for you have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter.
You have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, says the Lord.
Thus says the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,
That you would be my people, and I should be your God; that you would be my children, and I should be your father?
I gathered you together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do to you? I will cast you out from my face.
When you offer to me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feast-days, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.
I sent to you my servants the prophets, whom you have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, says the Lord.
Thus says the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind does stubble.
And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is evil before me.
Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shown no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.
They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.
And now, brother, see what glory; and see the people that comes from the east:
To whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonah,
Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also an angel of the Lord.