2 Esdras 7:20–25

²⁰Let many perish who are now living, rather than that the law of God which is set before them be disregarded! ²¹For God 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. ²²Nevertheless 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.

²⁵“Therefore, Ezra, empty things are for the empty, and full things are for the full.