Chapter 1

Esdras is sent to expostulate with the ungrateful Jews for neglecting God's many great benefits. THE second Book of Esdras the Prophet, the son of Sarei, the son of Azarei, the son of Helcias, the son of Sadanias, the son of Sadoch, the son of Achitob, ℣.1. Esd. ℣.7. .

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   The second Book of Esdras the Prophet, the son of Sarei, the son of Azarei, the son of Helcias, the son of Sadanias, the son of Sadoch, the son of Achitob

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   the son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amerias, the son of Asiel, the son of Marimoth, the son of Arna, the son of Ozias, the son of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,

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

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   And the word of our Lord came to me, saying:

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   Go, and tell my people their wicked deeds, and their children the iniquities, that they have done against me, that they tell their children's children:

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   because the sins of their parents are increased in them, for they being forgetful of me have sacrificed to strange gods.

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   Did not I bring them out of the land of Aegypt from the house of bondage? But they have provoked me, and have despised my counsels.

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   But do thou shake off the hair of thy head, & throw all evils upon them: because they have not obeyed my law. And it is a people without discipline.

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   How long shall I bear with them, on whom I have bestowed so great benefits?

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    I have overthrown many kings from them. I have struck Pharao with his servants, and all his host. Exod. 14.

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    All nations did I destroy before their face, & in the East I dissipated the peoples of two provinces Tyre and Sidon, and I slew all their adversaries.

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    But speak thou to them, saying: Thus saith our Lord:

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    I made you pass through the sea, and gave you fenced streets from the beginning. I gave you Moyses for your governor, and Aaron for the Priest:

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    I gave you light by the pillar of fire, and did many marvelous things among you: but you have forgotten me, saith our Lord. Exod. 13.

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    Thus saith our Lord omnipotent: The quail was a sign to you, I gave you a camp for defence, & there you murmured: Exod. 16.

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    And you triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but yet until now you have murmured.

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    Where are the benefits that I have given you? Did you not cry out to me when you were hungry in the desert, .

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    saying: Why hast thou brought us into this desert to kill us, it had been better for us to serve the Aegyptians, than to die in this desert.

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    I was sorry for your mournings, & gave you manna to eat. You did eat bread of Angels. Exod. 16. . . v.

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    When you thirsted did not I cleave the rock, & waters flowed in aboundance? For the heats I covered you with the leaves of trees.

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    I delivered unto you fat lands: The Chananeites, and Pherezeites, & Philistheans I threw out from your face: what shall I

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    Thus saith our Lord omnipotent: In the desert when you were thirsty in the river of the Amorrheites, and blaspheming my name

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    I gave you not fire for blasphemies, but casting wood into the water, I made the river sweet. .

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    What shall I do to thee Jacob? Thou wouldest not obey o Juda. I will transfer myself to other nations, & will give them my name, that they may keep my ordinances.

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    Because you have forsaken me, I also forsake you: when you ask mercy of me, I will not have mercy.

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    When you shall invocate me, I will not hear you. For you have defiled your hands with blood, & your feet are quick to commit murders.

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    Not as though you have forsaken me, but yourselves, saith our Lord.

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    Thus saith our Lord omnipotent, have not I desired you, as a father his sons, & a mother her daughters, & as a nurse her little ones,

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    that you would be my people, and I your God, and to me for children, and I to you for a father?

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    So have I gathered you, as the hen her chickens under her wings. But now what shall I do to you? I will throw you from my face. . v.

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    When you shall bring me oblation, I will turn away my face from you. For I have refused your festival days, & new moons & circumcisions.

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    I sent my servants the Prophets to you, whom being taken you slew, & mangled their bodies, whose blood I will require, saith our Lord.

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    Thus saith our Lord omnipotent, your house is made desolate, I will throw you away, as the wind doth stubble,

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    & your children shall not have issue: because they have neglected my commandment, & have done that which is evil before me.

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    I will deliver your houses to a people coming, who not hearing me do believe: to whom I have not shewed signs, they will do the things that I have commanded.

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    The Prophets they have not seen, & they will be mindful of their iniquities.

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    I call to witness the grace of the people coming, whose little ones rejoice with joy, not seeing me with their carnal eyes, but in spirit believing the things that I have said.

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    And now brother behold what glory: and see people coming from the east,

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    to whom I will give the conduction of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of Osee, & Amos, and of Joel, & Abdias, & Jonas, & Michaeas,

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    & Naum & Habacuc, of Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zacharias, & Malachias. Who also is called the Angel of our Lord.