2Esdras:2

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* Thus saith the Lord , I brought this people out of bondage , and I gave them my commandments by menservants the prophets ; whom they would not hear , but despised my counsels . * The mother that bare them saith unto them , Go your way , ye children ; for I am a widow and forsaken . * I brought you up with gladness ; but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you : for ye have sinned before the Lord your God , and done that thing that is evil before him . * But what shall I now do unto you ? I am a widow and forsaken : go your way , O my children , and ask mercy of the Lord . * As for me , O father , I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children , which would not keep my covenant , * That thou bring them to confusion , and their mother to a spoil , that there may be no offspring of them . * Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen , let their names be put out of the earth : for they have despised my covenant . * Woe be unto thee , Assur , thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee ! O thou wicked people , remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha ; * Whose land lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes : even so also will I do unto them that hear me not , saith the Almighty Lord . * Thus saith the Lord unto Esdras , Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem , which I would have given unto Israel . * Their glory also will I take unto me , and give these the everlasting tabernacles , which I had prepared for them . * They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour ; they shall neither labour , nor be weary . * Go , and ye shall receive : pray for few days unto you , that they may be shortened : the kingdom is already prepared for you : watch . * Take heaven and earth to witness ; for I have broken the evil in pieces , and created the good : for I live , saith the Lord . * Mother , embrace thy children , and bring them up with gladness , make their feet as fast as a pillar : for I have chosen thee , saith the Lord . * And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places , and bring them out of the graves : for I have known my name in Israel . * Fear not , thou mother of the children : for I have chosen thee , saith the Lord . * For thy help will I send my servants Esau and Jeremy , after whose counsel I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers fruits , * And as many fountains flowing with milk and honey , and seven mighty mountains , whereupon there grow roses and lilies , whereby I will fill thy children with joy . * Do right to the widow , judge for the fatherless , give to the poor , defend the orphan , clothe the naked , * Heal the broken and the weak , laugh not a lame man to scorn , defend the maimed , and let the blind man come into the sight of my clearness . * Keep the old and young within thy walls . * Wheresoever thou findest the dead , take them and bury them , and I will give thee the first place in my resurrection . * Abide still , O my people , and take thy rest , for thy quietness still come . * Nourish thy children , O thou good nurse ; stablish their feet . * As for the servants whom I have given thee , there shall not one of them perish ; for I will require them from among thy number . * Be not weary : for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh , others shall weep and be sorrowful , but thou shalt be merry and have abundance . * The heathen shall envy thee , but they shall be able to do nothing against thee , saith the Lord . * My hands shall cover thee , so that thy children shall not see hell . * Be joyful , O thou mother , with thy children ; for I will deliver thee , saith the Lord . * Remember thy children that sleep , for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth , and shew mercy unto them : for I am merciful , saith the Lord Almighty . * Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them : for my wells run over , and my grace shall not fail . * I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb , that I should go unto Israel ; but when I came unto them , they set me at nought , and despised the commandment of the Lord . * And therefore I say unto you , O ye heathen , that hear and understand , look for your Shepherd , he shall give you everlasting rest ; for he is nigh at hand , that shall come in the end of the world . * Be ready to the reward of the kingdom , for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore . * Flee the shadow of this world , receive the joyfulness of your glory : I testify my Saviour openly . * O receive the gift that is given you , and be glad , giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom . * Arise up and stand , behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord ; * Which are departed from the shadow of the world , and have received glorious garments of the Lord . * Take thy number , O Sion , and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white , which have fulfilled the law of the Lord . * The number of thy children , whom thou longedst for , is fulfilled : beseech the power of the Lord , that thy people , which have been called from the beginning , may be hallowed . * I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people , whom I could not number , and they all praised the Lord with songs . * 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 ; which I marvelled at greatly . * So I asked the angel , and said , Sir , what are these ? * He answered and said unto 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 . * Then said I unto the angel , What young person is it that crowneth them , and giveth them palms in their hands ? * So he answered and said unto 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 . * Then the angel said unto me , Go thy way , and tell my people what manner of things , and how great wonders of the Lord thy God , thou hast seen .

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