The Second Book of Esdras

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azaraias, the son of Helkias, the son of Salemas, the son of Sadoc, the son of Ahitob,

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 Ozias, the son of Borith, the son of Abissei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,

the son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, who was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians.

The Lord’s word 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 have increased in them, for they have forgotten me, and have offered sacrifices to foreign gods.

Didn’t I bring them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage? But they have provoked me to wrath and have despised my counsels.

So pull out the hair of your head and cast all evils upon them, for they have not been obedient to my law, but they are a rebellious people.

How long shall I endure them, to whom I have done so much good?

I have overthrown many kings for their sakes. I have struck down Pharoah with his servants and all his army.

I have destroyed all the nations before them. In the east, I have scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyre and Sidon, and have slain all their adversaries.

Speak therefore to them, saying:

“The Lord says, truly I brought you through the sea, and where there was no path I made highways for you. I gave you Moses for a leader and Aaron for a priest.

I gave you light in a pillar of fire. I have done great wonders among you, yet you have forgotten me, says the Lord.

“The Lord Almighty says: The quails were for a token to you. I gave you a camp for your protection, but you complained there.

You didn’t celebrate in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but even to this day you still complain.

Where are the benefits that I have given you? When you were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, didn’t you cry to me,

saying, ‘Why have you brought us into this wilderness to kill us? It would have been better for us to have served the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness.’

I had pity on your mourning and gave you manna for food. You ate angels’ bread.

When you were thirsty, didn’t I split the rock, and water flowed out in abundance? Because of the heat, I covered you with the leaves of the trees.

I divided fruitful lands among you. I drove out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the Philistines before you. What more shall I do for you?” says the Lord.

The Lord Almighty says, “When you were in the wilderness, at the bitter stream, being thirsty and blaspheming my name,

I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but threw a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.

What shall I do to you, O Jacob? You, Judah, would not obey me. I will turn myself to other nations, and I will give my name to them, that they may keep my statutes.

Since you have forsaken me, I also will forsake you. When you ask me to be merciful to you, I will have no mercy upon you.

Whenever you call upon me, I will not hear you, for you have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit murder.

It is not as though you have forsaken me, but your own selves,” says the Lord.

The Lord Almighty says, “Haven’t I asked you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babies,

that you would be my people, and I would be your God, that you would be my children, and I would be your father?

I gathered you together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But now, what should I do to you? I will cast you out from my presence.

When you offer burnt sacrifices to me, I will turn my face from you, for I have rejected your solemn feast days, your new moons, and your circumcisions of the flesh.

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 from you,” says the Lord.

The Lord Almighty says, “Your house is desolate. I will cast you out as the wind blows stubble.

Your children won’t be fruitful, for they have neglected my commandment to you, and done that which is evil before me.

I will give your houses to a people that will come, which not having heard of me yet believe me. Those to whom I have shown no signs will do what I have commanded.

They have seen no prophets, yet they will remember their former condition.

I call to witness the gratitude of the people who will come, whose little ones rejoice with gladness. Although they see me not with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they will believe what I say.”

And now, father, behold with glory, and see the people that come from the east:

to whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,

Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zachary, and Malachy, who is also called the Lord’s messenger.

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 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.