1The second book of the prophet Esdras, son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub.
2Son of Ahijah, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, son of Amariah, son of Aziel, son of Meremoth, son of Arna, son of Uzzi, son of Borith, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar.
3Son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. I, Esdras, was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of the Persians.
4And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Go and proclaim to my people their wicked deeds, and to their children the sins they have committed against me.
5Tell them to speak to their grandchildren, for the sins of their fathers have grown in them, for forgetting me, they offered sacrifices to strange gods.
6Was it not I who delivered them from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? But they provoked me to anger and despised my counsels.
7Pluck, then, the hair from your head, cast upon them all evils, for they have not obeyed my law. They are an undisciplined people.
8How long shall I bear with those to whom I have done so much good?
9For their sake, I overthrew many kings. I destroyed Pharaoh and his servants, and all his army.
10I destroyed all nations before them and expelled the peoples of two provinces, Tyre and Sidon. I killed all their enemies.