2 Esdras 7:21–24

²¹For the Lord^u strictly commanded those who came into the world, when they came, what they should do to live and what they should observe to avoid punishment.^{* 22}Nevertheless, they were not obedient and spoke against him;

they devised for themselves vain thoughts^*

²³and proposed to themselves wicked frauds;

they even declared that the Most High does not exist,

and they ignored his ways.^*

²⁴They scorned his law

and denied his covenants;

they have been unfaithful to his statutes

and have not performed his works.^*