2 Esdras 10

1"And this is what happened: when my son had gone into his wedding room, he fell down and died.

1And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.

NoteThe wedding chamber was the room prepared for the bride and groom. A wedding was a feast lasting days, and the couple's entry into that room was its climax, so a death at that exact moment is the sharpest possible reversal of joy.

2Then we all put out the lamps, and all my neighbors got up to comfort me. So I stayed quiet until the night of the second day.

2Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.

NotePutting out the lamps was a mourning custom: a house of death went dark. The neighbors coming in to sit with the bereaved was also a formal practice, and it had a set length, which is why she measures her grief in days and why verse 3 speaks of them finally leaving off.

3And when they had all stopped comforting me, so that I could be quiet, then I got up in the night and ran away, and came here into this field, as you see.

3And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.

4And now I plan not to go back to the city, but to stay here, and not to eat or drink, but to mourn and fast without stopping until I die."

4And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.

5Then I left the thoughts I had been turning over, and I spoke to her in anger, saying,

5Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,

6"You most foolish woman of all, do you not see our mourning, and what is happening to us?

6Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?

7Do you not see that Zion, who is our mother, is full of grief, and brought very low, and mourning bitterly?

7How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?

NoteZion was first the name of a hill in Jerusalem, then a name for the city itself and for its people. Scripture regularly speaks of the city as a woman, and of her inhabitants as her children, which is why Ezra can call her "our mother" and why the mourning woman in this vision turns out to be Zion herself.

8And now, since we all mourn and are sad, since we are all weighed down, are you grieving for one son?

8And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

9Ask the earth, and she will tell you that it is she who ought to mourn for the fall of so many who grow upon her.

9For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.

NoteThe earth is addressed as the mother of everyone alive, because the first human being was described as formed out of the ground and because the dead return to it. Ezra's argument runs on that picture: if anyone has the right to grieve over lost children, it is the earth.

10For out of her all of them came at the first, and out of her all the rest will come; and look, nearly all of them walk into destruction, and great numbers of them are completely wiped out.

10For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out.

11Who then should mourn more than she, who has lost so great a crowd, and not you, who are sorry for only one?

11Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?

12But if you say to me, 'My weeping is not like the earth's, because I have lost the child of my own body, whom I brought into the world with pains and gave birth to with sorrows;

12But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;

13but it is not so with the earth, for the crowd that is in it goes the way the earth goes, and has gone as it came'

13But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:

14then I say to you: just as you gave birth with hard labor, so the earth too has given her fruit, that is, people, to the one who made her, ever since the beginning.

14Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.

NoteThe King James sentence is tangled. "Unto him that made her" belongs with "hath given her fruit": the earth has been handing over her offspring, meaning human beings, to her maker ever since the world began.

15So now keep your sorrow to yourself, and bear with good courage what has happened to you.

15Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.

16For if you will agree that God's decision is just, you will both receive your son back in due time, and be praised among women.

16For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended among women.

17Go your way, then, into the city to your husband."

17Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

18And she said to me, "I will not do that. I will not go into the city, but here I will die."

18And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

19So I went on speaking to her, and said,

19So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

20"Do not do that. Let me advise you. Think how many troubles Zion has! Be comforted, in view of the sorrow of Jerusalem.

20Do not so, but be counselled. by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.

21For you see that our holy place is laid waste, our altar is broken down, our temple is destroyed;

21For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;

NoteThe book presents Ezra as speaking in Babylon after the Babylonian army destroyed Jerusalem and burned the temple in 587 BC. The three terms are not repetition: the sanctuary is the holy building as a whole, the altar is the stone structure in the courtyard where offerings were burned, and the temple is the house itself.

22our stringed instrument lies on the ground, our song has been silenced, our joy is at an end, the light of our lampstand is put out. The chest that holds our covenant has been plundered, our holy things are defiled, and the name we are called by has almost been dishonored. Our children have been shamed, our priests burned, our Levites taken away as captives, our young women defiled, and our wives raped. Our righteous men have been carried off, our little ones destroyed, our young men made slaves, and our strong men have become weak.

22Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;

NoteA rapid inventory of what was lost. The "psaltery" is a stringed instrument used in worship. The "candlestick" is the lampstand that stood inside the temple and was kept burning. The "ark of our covenant" is the gold-covered chest that held the tablets of the law, kept in the innermost room and never seen by ordinary people; it vanished when the first temple fell. "Our holy things" are the consecrated vessels used in worship, which could be defiled by ordinary handling. "The name that is called upon us" is an old idiom for bearing God's name as a mark of belonging to him, the way a household bore its master's name. Levites were temple servants from the tribe of Levi who assisted the priests without being priests themselves. "Our priests are burnt" means they died in the fire that took the sanctuary.

23And, greatest of all, the seal of Zion has now lost her honor, for she has been handed over to those who hate us.

23And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.

NoteA seal was a carved stone or ring pressed into soft clay or wax to mark a document or a container as authentic and as someone's property. To lose the seal was to lose both the proof of who you belonged to and the protection that came with it. The Latin of this line is damaged and the exact wording is uncertain; some copies read that Zion has lost the seal of her honor.

24So shake off your great grief, and put away your many sorrows, so that the Mighty One may be merciful to you again, and the Most High will give you rest and relief from your hard trouble."

24And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.

Note"The Mighty" and "the Highest" are standing titles for God throughout this book, used the way a name would be, rather than descriptions being offered here for the first time.

25And while I was talking with her, this is what happened: all at once her face shone very brightly, and her expression flashed with light, so that I was afraid of her and wondered what this might be.

25And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.

26And suddenly she gave a great and terrifying cry, so that the earth shook at the sound of the woman.

26And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.

27And I looked, and the woman was no longer there in my sight, but a city had been built, and a wide place showed itself from its foundations. Then I was afraid, and I cried out with a loud voice and said,

27And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

28"Where is Uriel the angel, who came to me at the first? For he is the one who made me fall into many trances, and my end has turned into ruin, and my prayer into a reproach."

28Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.

NoteUriel is the angel who has been Ezra's guide and interrogator since the opening of the book, sent to answer his questions about God's justice. "My end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke" means his life has come out in ruin and his praying has earned him reproach instead of an answer.

29And as I was saying these words, he came to me and looked at me.

29And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.

30And there I lay like someone who had died, and my understanding was taken from me. He took me by the right hand and comforted me and set me on my feet, and said to me,

30And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,

31"What is wrong with you? And why are you so upset? And why is your understanding troubled, and the thoughts of your heart?"

31What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

32And I said, "Because you have left me alone. And yet I did what you told me, and I went into the field, and look, I have seen, and still see, what I cannot put into words."

32And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

33And he said to me, "Stand up like a man, and I will instruct you."

33And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

Note"Stand up manfully" translates a Latin phrase meaning "act like a man," a set expression for taking courage rather than a comment on his posture.

34Then I said, "Speak on to me, my lord; only do not leave me, or I will die with my hope cheated.

34Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

35For I have seen what I did not know, and I hear what I do not know.

35For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

36Or are my senses fooling me, or is my soul dreaming?

36Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?

37So now I beg you to explain this vision to me, your servant."

37Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.

38Then he answered me and said, "Listen to me, and I will inform you and tell you why you are afraid, for the Most High will reveal many secret things to you.

38He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.

39He has seen that your way is right, because you grieve without stopping for your people and mourn greatly for Zion.

39He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

40So this is the meaning of the vision you saw a short while ago:

40This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:

41You saw a woman mourning, and you began to comfort her.

41Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

42But now you no longer see the likeness of a woman; instead a built city appeared to you.

42But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.

43And as for her telling you about the death of her son, this is the explanation:

43And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:

44This woman you saw is Zion, the same one you now see as a built city. And as for what she said to you,

44This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,

45as for her telling you that she had been childless for thirty years: those are the thirty years in which no offering was yet made in her.

45Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.

Note"Barren" means unable to bear children, which in this culture was a public misfortune and often taken as a disgrace. The number here is disputed: the Latin manuscripts behind the King James read thirty years, while the Syriac and other early versions read three thousand years, counting from the creation of the world to the building of the temple. The allegory works either way, but the scale changes completely.

46But after thirty years Solomon built the city and presented offerings; and that was when the childless woman gave birth to a son.

46But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.

NoteSolomon, king in Jerusalem in the tenth century BC, built the first temple there. "Offered offerings" means he began the system of sacrifices, which could lawfully be carried out only at that sanctuary. That beginning of worship is what the birth of the son stands for.

47And as for her telling you that she raised him with hard work: that was the living in Jerusalem.

47And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

48And as for her saying to you, 'My son came into his wedding room and happened to fall, and died': that was the destruction that came upon Jerusalem.

48But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.

49And look, you saw her likeness, and because she mourned for her son you began to comfort her; and about the things that have happened, these are the things that were to be opened up to you.

49And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.

50For now the Most High sees that you grieve honestly and suffer for her with your whole heart, and so he has shown you the brightness of her glory and the loveliness of her beauty.

50For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty:

51And that is why I told you to stay in the field where no house had been built.

51And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:

52For I knew that the Most High would show you this.

52For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.

53That is why I ordered you to go into the field, where there was no foundation of any building.

53Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.

54For in the place where the Most High begins to show his city, no building made by a human being can stand.

54For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.

55So do not be afraid, and do not let your heart be terrified, but go inside and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as your eyes are able to see.

55And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:

56And then you will hear as much as your ears are able to take in.

56And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.

57For you are blessed more than many others, and you have been called to be with the Most High, and only a few are.

57For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.

NoteThe Latin can mean called by name into the presence of the Most High, or called to belong to him. The King James "called with the Highest" keeps the ambiguity rather than settling it.

58But tomorrow at night you are to stay here,

58But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;

59and then the Most High will show you visions of the high things, which the Most High will do to those who live on the earth in the last days." So I slept that night and another, just as he had told me.

59And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

Note"The last days" means the closing period of the present age, the subject of the visions that follow in the rest of the book.