2 Esdras 10:39-49

39 because he has seen that you have lived a righteous life and have always grieved and mourned for your people and for Jerusalem.
40 This is what the vision means: A woman appeared to you a little while ago,
41 and when you saw that she was mourning, you tried to console her.
42 The woman told you about the death of her son. Then she vanished from your sight, and a whole city appeared. This is the meaning:
44 The woman you saw is Jerusalem, which you now see as a completed city.
45 When she told you that for thirty years she had had no children, it meant that for three thousand years no offerings had yet been made there.
46 Then Solomon built the city, and sacrifices began to be offered there. At that time the childless woman gave birth to her son.
47 When she told you that she took great care in bringing the son up, that referred to the period when Jerusalem was inhabited.
48 When she told you of the death of her son on his wedding day, that meant the destruction of Jerusalem.
49 So in the vision you saw how she mourned for her son, and you tried to console her for what had happened - this is what was to be revealed to you.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] whole city; [Latin] city being built.
  • [b]. [Some ancient translations] three thousand; [Latin] three.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.