2 Esdras 2:15-32

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Exhortation to Good Works

¹⁵ “Mother, embrace your children; bring them up with gladness, as does a dove; strengthen their feet, because I have chosen you, says the Lord.^{(A) 16} And I will raise up the dead from their places and bring them out from their tombs, because I recognize my name in them.^{(B) 17} Do not fear, mother of children, for I have chosen you, says the Lord. ¹⁸ I will send you help: my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah. According to their counsel I have consecrated and prepared for you twelve trees loaded with various fruits^{(C) 19} and the same number of springs flowing with milk and honey and seven mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow; by these I will fill your children with joy.^(D)

²⁰ “Guard the rights of the widow, secure justice for the ward, give to the needy, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,^{(E) 21} care for the injured and the weak, do not ridicule the lame, protect the maimed, and let the blind have a vision of my splendor. ²² Protect the old and the young within your walls.^{[a] 23} When you find any who are dead, commit them to the grave and mark it,^[b] and I will give you the first place in my resurrection.^{(F) 24} Pause and be quiet, my people, because your rest will come.^(G)

²⁵ “Good nurse, nourish your children; strengthen their feet. ²⁶ Not one of the servants whom I have given you will perish, for I will require them from among your number. ²⁷ Do not be anxious, for when the day of tribulation and anguish comes, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall rejoice and have abundance.^{(H) 28} The nations shall envy you, but they shall not be able to do anything against you, says the Lord.^{(I) 29} My power will protect^[c] you, so that your children may not see Gehenna.^[d]

³⁰ “Rejoice, O mother, with your children, because I will deliver you, says the Lord.^{(J) 31} Remember your children who sleep, because I will bring them out of the hiding places of the earth and will show mercy to them, for I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty. ³² Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them, because my springs run over, and my grace will not fail.”