The Lord Commissions Ezra

(Cp Ex 3:1–6)

14 On the third day, while I was sitting under an oak, suddenly a voice came out of a bush opposite me and said, “Ezra, Ezra!” 2 And I answered, “Here I am, Lord,” and I rose to my feet. 3 Then he said to me, “I revealed myself in a bush and spoke to Moses when my people were in bondage in Egypt; 4 and I sent him and leda my people out of Egypt; and I led him up on Mount Sinai, where I kept him with me many days. 5 I told him many wondrous things, and showed him the secrets of the times and declared to himb the end of the times. Then I commanded him, saying, 6 ‘These words you shall publish openly, and these you shall keep secret.’ 7 And now I say to you: 8 Lay up in your heart the signs that I have shown you, the dreams that you have seen, and the interpretations that you have heard; 9 for you shall be taken up from among humankind, and henceforth you shall live with my Son and with those who are like you, until the times are ended. 10 The age has lost its youth, and the times begin to grow old. 11 For the age is divided into twelve parts, and ninec of its parts have already passed, 12 as well as half of the tenth part; so two of its parts remain, besides half of the tenth part.d 13 Now therefore, set your house in order, and reprove your people; comfort the lowly among them, and instruct those that are wise.e And now renounce the life that is corruptible, 14 and put away from you mortal thoughts; cast away from you the burdens of humankind, and divest yourself now of your weak nature; 15 lay to one side the thoughts that are most grievous to you, and hurry to escape from these times. 16 For evils worse than those that you have now seen happen shall take place hereafter. 17 For the weaker the world becomes through old age, the more shall evils be increased upon its inhabitants. 18 Truth shall go farther away, and falsehood shall come near. For the eaglef that you saw in the vision is already hurrying to come.”