2 Esdras 8:10-20

10 For Thou hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
11 that the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time till Thou dispose it to Thy mercy.
12 Thou brought it up with Thy righteousness, and nurtured it in Thy law, and reformed it with Thy judgment.
13 And Thou shalt mortify it as Thy creature, and quicken it as Thy work.
14 If therefore Thou shalt destroy him which with so great labor was fashioned, it is an easy thing to be ordained by Thy commandment that the thing which was made might be preserved.
15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak: Concerning man in general Thou knowest best; but concerning Thy people, for whose sake I am sorry,
16 and for Thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn, and for Israel, for whom I am heavy, and for Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled;
17 therefore will I begin to pray before Thee for myself and for them, for I see the failings of us that dwell in the land.
18 But I have heard the swiftness of the Judge which is to come.
19 Therefore hear my voice and understand my words, and I shall speak before Thee." This is the beginning of the words of Ezra, before he was taken up. And I said:
20 "O Lord, Thou that dwellest in everlastingness, who beholdest from above things in the heaven and in the air,
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.