2 ESDRAS 2

1 ‘Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, “I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them My Commands by My servants the neḇi’im; whom they would not hear, but despised My counsels.

2 “The mother that bore them says to them, ‘Go your way, you children; for I am a widow and forsaken.

3 ‘I brought you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness I have lost you; for you have sinned before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohim, and done that which is evil before Him.

4 ‘But what shall I now do for you? I am a widow and forsaken; go your way, O My children, and ask kindness from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.’

5 “As for Me, O father, I call upon you for a witness over the mother of these children, who would not guard My Covenant;

6 that you bring them to confusion, and their mother to ruin, that there may be no offspring from them.

7 “Let them be scattered abroad among the gentiles, let their names be blotted out from the earth; for they have despised My Covenant.

8 “Woe to you, Ashshur, you that hide the unrighteous within you! O you wicked people, remember what I did to Seḏom and Amorah;

9 whose land lies in lumps of tar and piles of ashes; even so I shall do the same to those who do not listen to Me.” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 the Almighty.’ ”

10 Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 to Ezra, “Tell my people that I shall give them the reign of Yerushalayim, which I would have given to Yisra’ĕl.

11 “I shall also take their esteem to Myself, and give others the everlasting dwellings, which I had prepared for them.

12 “They shall have the tree of ḥai for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be weary.

13 “Go, and you shall receive; pray that your days are few, that they may be shortened. The reign is already prepared for you; watch!

14 “Call the shamayim and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good; for I live.” Says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

15 “Mother, embrace your children, and bring them up with gladness, make their feet as steady as a pillar; for I have chosen you.” Says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

16 “And those who are dead I shall raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the graves; for I have acknowledged My Name in Yisra’ĕl.

17 “Do not fear, you mother of the children; for I have chosen you,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

18 “For your help I shall send My servants Yeshayahu and Yirmeyahu, after whose counsel I have qadosh and prepared for you twelve trees laden with different fruits,

19 and as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, on which there grow roses and lilies, whereby I shall fill your children with joy.

20 “Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,

21 heal the broken and the weak, do not mock a lame man, defend the crippled, and let the blind man come into the sight of My brightness.

22 “Guard the old and young within your walls.

23 “Wherever you find the dead, take them and bury them, and I shall give you the first place in My resurrection.

24 “Remain, O My people, and take your rest, for your rest is still to come.

25 “Nourish your children, O you good nurse; establish their feet.

26 “As for the servants whom I have given you, not one of them shall perish; for I shall require them from among your number.

27 “Do not be weary; for when the day of trouble and heaviness comes, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall be joyful and have abundance.

28 “The gentiles shall envy you, but they shall be able to do naught against you.” Says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

29 “My hands shall cover you, so that your children shall not see She’ol.

30 “Be joyful, O you mother, with your children; for I shall deliver you,’ says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

31 “Remember your children who sleep, for I shall bring them out from the breadth of the earth, and show kindness to them; for I am kind,’ says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Almighty.

32 “Embrace your children until I come and show kindness to them; for My wells run over, and My favour does not fail.”

33 I Ezra received a command from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 on mount Ḥorĕḇ, that I should go to Yisra’ĕl; but when I came to them, they disregarded and despised the Command of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

34 And therefore I say unto you, “O you gentiles that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, He shall give you everlasting rest; for He is near at hand, who shall come at the end of the world.

35 “Be ready for the reward of the reign, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you forever.

36 “Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joy of your esteem; I witness of my Saviour openly.

37 “O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks to He who has led you to the reign of the shamayim.

38 “Arise and stand, see the number of those who are sealed at the Feast of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄;

39 who have departed from the shadow of this world, and have received garments of esteem from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

40 “Take your number, O Tsiyon, and enclose those in you who are clothed in white, who have filled the Law of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

41 “The number of your children, whom you long for is filled; plead the power of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, that your people, who have been called from the beginning, may be qadosh.”

42 I Ezra saw upon Mount Tsiyon a great people whom I could not number, and they all praised 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 with songs.

43 And in the midst of them there was a young Man of tall stature – taller than all the rest; and upon every one of their heads He placed crowns, and was more exalted; at which I marvelled at greatly.

44 So I asked the messenger, and said, “Master, who are these?”

45 He answered and said to me, “These are those who have put off the mortal garments, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the Name of Elohim; now they are crowned, and receive palms.”

46 Then I said to the messenger, “What young Man is this who crowns them, and gives them palms in their hands?”

47 So he answered and said to me, “It is the Son of Elohim, whom they have confessed in the world.” Then I began to greatly commend those who stood so steadfastly for the Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

48 Then the messenger said to me, “Go your way, and tell my people how great and how many are the wonders of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohim, which you have seen.”