[1] Thus 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.
[2] The mother that bare them says to them, go your way, O my children; for I am a widow and forsaken.
[3] I 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.
[4] But 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.
[5] As for me, O father, I call upon you for a witness over the mother ofthese children, because they would not keep my covenant,
[6] that you bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no offspring of them.
[7] Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be blotted out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.
[8] Woe to you, Assur, you that hide the unrighteous with you! O you wicked nation, remember what I did to Sodom and Gomorrah;
[9] whose land lies in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do to them that have not hearkened to me, says the Lord Almighty.
[10] Thus says the Lord to Esdras, Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given to Israel.
[11] Their glory also will I take to me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.
[12] They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savor; they shall neither labor, nor be weary.
[13] Ask, and you⌃ shall receive: pray for few days to you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.
[14] Take 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.
[15] Mother, embrace your children; I will bring them out with gladness like a dove; establish their feet; for I have chosen you, says the Lord.
[16] And 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.
[17] Fear not, you mother of the children: for I have chosen you, says the Lord.
[18] For 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,
[19] and as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will fill your children with joy.
[20] Do right to the widow, judge the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
[21] heal 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.
[22] Keep the old and young within your walls.
[23] Wheresoever 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.
[24] Abide still, O my people, and take your rest, for your quietness shall come.
[25] Nourish your children, O you good nurse, and establish their feet.
[26] As for the servants whom I have given you, there shall not one of them perish; for I will require them from among your number.
[27] Be 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.
[28] The nations shall envy you, but they shall be able to do nothing against you, says the Lord.
[29] My hands shall cover you, so that your children see not hell.
[30] Be joyful, O you mother, with your children; for I will deliver you, says the Lord.
[31] Remember 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.
[32] Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.
[33] I 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..
[34] And 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.
[35] Be ready to the rewards of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
[36] Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I call to witness my savior openly.
[37] O receive that which is given you of the Lord, and be joyful, giving thanks to him that has called you to heavenly kingdoms.
[38] Arise up and stand, and behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
[39] they that withdrew them from the shadow of the world have received glorious garments of the Lord.
[40] Look 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.
[41] The number of your children, whom you longest for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that your people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
[42] I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great multitude, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
[43] And 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 marvelled greatly.
[44] So I asked the angel, and said, What are these, my Lord?
[45] He answered and said to me, These be they that 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.
[46] Then said I to the angel, What young man is he that sets crowns upon them, and gives them palms in their hands?
[47] So 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 them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.
[48] Then 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.