2 Esdras

1In the thirtieth year after the destruction of our city, I Salathiel, who am also called Ezra, was in Babylon. I was troubled as I lay on my bed, and my thoughts welled up in my heart

2For I saw the desolation of Zion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.

3And my ruach was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the Most High YAHWEH, and said,

4Oh Sovereign YAHWEH, who bear rule, YOU spoke at the beginning, when YOU did plant the earth, and that YOURSELF did alone and that without help and commanded the dust,

5And gave a body to Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of YOUR hands, and did breathe into him the Breath Of Life, and he was made living soul before YOU.

6And YOU led him into garden, which YOUR right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.

7And YOU layed upon him one commandment to love YOUR way: but he transgressed, and immediately YOU appointed death in him and for his generations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, without number.

8And every nation walked after their own will, and did evil deeds before YOU, and despised YOUR commandments, and YOU did not hinder them.

9And again in process of time YOU brought the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyed them.

10And the same fate came to pass on everyone of them, that as death came upon Adam, so was the flood upon them.

11Nevertheless YOU left one of them, namely, Noah with his household, of whom came all the righteous who have descended from him.

12And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had produced many children and peoples and many nations, and were a great people, they began again to be more wicked and checedless than the first ancestors.

13Now when they lived so wickedly before YOU and committing iniquity, YOU did choose for YOURSELF a man from among them, whose name was

14And him YOU loved, and to him only YOU revealed the end of the times, secretly by night:

15And YOU made an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that YOU would never forsake his seed.

16And to him YOU gave Yitschaq, and to Yitschaq also you gave Yacob and Esau. As for Yacob, YOU did choose and set him apart for YOURSELF, and did reject Esau: and Yacob became a great multitude.

17And it came to pass, that when YOU led his seed out of Egypt, YOU brought them to Mount Sinai.

18And bowing the heavens, YOU did set fast the earth, moved the whole world, and made the depths to tremble, and troubled the times.

19And YOUR splendor passed through the four gates of fire and of earthquake and of wind and of ice, to give the Torah to the seed of Yacob, and YOUR commandment to the posterity of Yisrael.

20And yet YOU did not take away from them their evil heart, so that YOUR Torah might bring forth fruit in them.

21For the first Adam burdened with an evil heart, transgressed and was overcome, and so are all they that are born of him.

22Thus the disease was made permanent; and the Torah also is in the heart of the people with the malignity of the evil root; so that the tov departed away, and the evil remained.

23So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then YOU raised up for YOURSELF a servant, named David:

24Whom YOU commanded to build a city for YOUR NAME, and to offer YOU oblations to YOU therein, from what is YOURs.

25When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city transgressed and forsook YOU,

26And in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had the evil heart:

27And so YOU gave the city over into the hands of YOUR enemies.

28Then I said in my heart, Are the deeds of those who inhabit Babylon any better? Is that why she has gained dominion over Zion?

29For when I came here, I saw checedless impieties without number, and my soul has seen many evildoers and sinners during these thirty years! And my heart failed me,

30For I have seen how YOU suffer and endure them sinning, and have spared those who do wickedness: and have destroyed YOUR people, and have preserved YOUR enemies, and have not made it known.

31And have not shown how YOUR way may be comprehended: Are the deeds of Babylon better than those of Zion?

32Or is there any other nation that knows YOU beside Yisrael? or what tribes has so believed YOUR covenants as these tribes of Yacob?

33And yet their reward has not appeared and their labor has produced no fruit: for I have gone here and there through the nation and I see that they abound in wealth, and think not upon YOUR commandments.

34Weigh YOU therefore our iniquities now in the balance, and their's also that dwell in the world; and so it will be found which way the turn of the scale will incline. So shall YOUR NAME no where be found but in Yisrael.

35Or when have they which dwell upon the earth have not sinned in YOUR sight? Or what nation have kept YOUR commandments so well? — 1En 41:1: 1En 61:8

36YOU may indeed find individual men who have kept YOUR commandments, but nations YOU will not find.