Open English Translation LES Chapter 2

2 The master says, “I brought this people out of bondage. I gave them my commandments by my servants the prophets, whom they wouldn’t listen to, but made my counsels void. 2 The mother who bore them says to them, ‘Go your way, my children, for I’m a widow and forsaken. 3 I brought you up with gladness, and I’ve lost you with sorrow and heaviness, for you’ve sinned before the master God, and done that which is evil before me. 4 But now what can I do for you? Because I’m a widow and forsaken. Go your way, my children, and ask for mercy from the master.’ 5 As for me, Oh father, I call on you for a witness in addition to the mother of these children, because they wouldn’t keep my covenant, 6 that you may bring them to confusion, and their mother to ruin, that they may have no offspring. 7 Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen. Let their names be blotted out of the earth, for they’ve despised my covenant. 8 Woe to you, Ashur (Assyria), you who hide the unrighteous with you! You wicked nation, remember what I did to Sedom and Amorah (Gomorrah), 9 whose land lies in lumps of pitch and heaps of ashes. That’s what I’ll also do to those who haven’t listened to me,” says the master Almighty.

10 The master says to Ezra, “Tell my people that I’ll give them Yerushalem’s (Jerusalem) kingdom, which I’d have given to Yisrael (Israel). 11 I’ll also take their glory back to myself, and give these the eternal tabernacles which I’d prepared for them. 12 They’ll have the tree of life for fragrant perfume. They’ll neither labour nor be weary. 13 Ask, and you’ll receive. Pray that your days may be few, that they may be shortened. The kingdom is already prepared for you. Watch! 14 Call heaven and earth to witness. Call them to witness, for I’ve left out evil, and created the good, for I live, says the master.

15 “Mother, embrace your children. I’ll bring them out with gladness like a dove does. Establish their feet, for I’ve chosen you, says the master. 16 I’ll raise those who are dead up again from their places, and bring them out from their tombs, for I recognise my name in them. 17 Don’t be afraid, you mother of children, for I’ve chosen you, says the master. 18 Because your help, I’ll send my servants Yeshayah (Isaiah) and Yirmiyah (Jeremiah), after whose counsel I’ve sanctified and prepared for you twelve trees laden with various fruits, 19 and as many springs flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, on which roses and lilies grow, with which I’ll fill your children with joy. 20 Do right to the widow. Secure justice for the fatherless. Give to the poor. Defend the orphan. Clothe the naked. 21 Heal the broken and the weak. Don’t laugh a lame man to scorn. Defend the maimed. Let the blind man have a vision of my glory. 22 Protect the old and young within your walls. 23 Wherever you find the dead, set a sign on them and commit them to the grave, and I’ll give you the first place in my resurrection. 24 Stay still, my people, and take your rest, for your rest will come. 25 Nourish your children, good nurse, and establish their feet. 26 As for the servants whom I’ve given you, not one of them will perish, for I’ll require them from among your number. 27 Don’t be anxious, for when the day of suffering and anguish comes, others will weep and be sorrowful, but you’ll rejoice and have abundance. 28 The nations will envy you, but they’ll be able to do nothing against you, says the master. 29 My hands will cover you, so that your children don’t see geenna.[fn] 30 Be joyful, mother, with your children, for I’ll deliver you, says the master. 31 Remember your children who sleep, for I’ll bring them out of the secret places of the earth and show mercy to them, for I’m merciful, says the master Almighty. 32 Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them, for my wells run over, and my grace won’t fail.”

33 I, Ezra, received a command from the master on Mt. Horev to go to Yisrael (Israel), but when I came to them, they rejected me and rejected the master’s commandment. 34 Therefore I say to you, Oh nations that hear and understand, “Look for your shepherd. He’ll give you eternal rest, for he’s near at hand who’ll come at the end of the age. 35 Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, for the eternal light will shine on you forevermore. 36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joy of your glory. I call to witness my saviour openly. 37 Receive that which is given to you by the master, and be joyful, giving thanks to him who’s called you to heavenly kingdoms. 38 Arise and stand up, and see the number of those who’ve been sealed at the master’s feast. 39 Those who withdrew themselves from the shadow of the world have received glorious clothes from the master. 40 Take again your full number, Oh Tsiyon (Zion), and make up the reckoning of those of yours who are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the master’s law. 41 The number of your children, whom you long for, is fulfilled. Ask the master’s power, that your people, which have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.”

42 I, Ezra, saw on Mt. Tsiyon a great multitude, whom I couldn’t number, and they all praised the master with songs. 43 Among them, there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and on every one of their heads he set crowns, and he was more exalted than they were. I marvelled greatly at this. 44 So I asked the angel, and said, “What are these, my master?”

45 He replied to me, “These are those who’ve put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed God’s name. Now are they crowned, and receive palms.”

46 Then I said to the angel, “Who’s the young man who sets crowns on them, and gives them palms in their hands?”

47 So he replied to me, “He’s the Son of God, whom they’ve confessed in the world.”

Then I began to praise those who stood so valiantly for the master’s name.

48 Then the angel said to me, “Go your way, and tell my people what kind of things, and how great wonders of the master God you’ve seen.”