2Esdras:1

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* The second book of the prophet Esdras , the son of Saraias , the son of Azarias , the son of Helchias , the son of Sadamias , the sou of Sadoc , 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 And he spake unto the 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 Artexerxes king of the Persians . * And the word of the Lord came unto me , saying , * Go thy way , and shew 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 unto 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 unto wrath , and despised my counsels . * Pull thou off then the hair of thy head , and cast all evil upon them , for they have not been obedient unto my law , but it is a rebellious people . * How long shall I forbear them , into 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 smitten down . * All the nations have I destroyed before them , and in the east I have scattered the people of two provinces , even of Tyrus and Sidon , and have slain all their enemies . * Speak thou therefore unto them , saying , Thus saith 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 ye forgotten me , saith the Lord . * Thus saith the Almighty Lord , The quails were as a token to you ; I gave you tents for your safeguard : nevertheless ye murmured there , * And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies , but ever to this day do ye yet murmur . * Where are the benefits that I have done for you ? when ye were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness , did ye not cry unto me , * Saying , Why hast thou 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 ye did eat angels ' bread . * When ye were thirsty , did I not cleave 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 ? saith the Lord . * Thus saith the Almighty Lord , When ye 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 unto thee , O Jacob ? thou , Juda , wouldest not obey me : I will turn me to other nations , and unto those will I give my name , that they may keep my statutes . * Seeing ye have forsaken me , I will forsake you also ; when ye desire me to be gracious unto you , I shall have no mercy upon you . * Whensoever ye shall call upon me , I will not hear you : for ye have defiled your hands with blood , and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter . * Ye have not as it were forsaken me , but your own selves , saith the Lord . * Thus saith 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 ye would be my people , and I should be your God ; that ye would be my children , and I should be your father ? * I gathered you together , as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings : but now , what shall I do unto you ? I will cast you out from my face . * When ye offer unto me , I will turn my face from you : for your solemn feastdays , your new moons , and your circumcisions , have I forsaken . * I sent unto you my servants the prophets , whom ye have taken and slain , and torn their bodies in pieces , whose blood I will require of your hands , saith the Lord . * Thus saith the Almighty Lord , Your house is desolate , I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble . * And your children shall not be fruitful ; for they have despised my commandment , and done the thing that is an 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 shewed 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 , behold what glory ; and see the people that come from the east : * Unto whom I will give for leaders , Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , Oseas , Amos , and Micheas , Joel , Abdias , and Jonas , * Nahum , and Abacuc , Sophonias , Aggeus , Zachary , and Malachy , which is called also an angel of the Lord .

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