2 Esdras 10:1-8

1 "But it happened that when my son went into his wedding chamber, he fell down and died.

2 We extinguished all our lamps, and all my fellow citizens rose to console me. I was quiet until the next day, until nightfall.

3 But when all ceased consoling me so that I would be quiet, I got up at night and fled, and I came into this field, as you see.

4 Now I plan not to return to the city but to stay here, and I will neither eat nor drink but lament and fast without ceasing, until I die."

5 I abandoned the thoughts that had preoccupied me and responded to her in anger:

6 "Most foolish of all women, don't you see our grief and what has befallen us?

7 Zion the mother of us all is afflicted in sadness and utterly dejected. Grieve mightily

8 now because we all grieve, and be sorrowful because we are all sorrowful. But you are mourning only for one son!

Footnotes

• [a]. Syr adds but we, the whole world, for our mother.