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This is the second book of the prophet Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, the grandson of Azariah, and a descendant of Hilkiah, Shallum, Zadok, Ahitub,
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Ahijah, Phinehas, Eli, Amariah, Azariah, Meraioth, Arna, Uzzi, Borith, Abishua, Phinehas, Eleazar,
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and Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. When I, Ezra, was a captive in Media during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia,
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"Go and remind my people and their children of the sins they have committed against me, and let them tell their grandchildren.
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My people have sinned even more than their ancestors, for they have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to foreign gods.
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I rescued them from Egypt, where they were slaves, but they have done things that made me angry and have refused to listen to my warnings.
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"Ezra, tear your hair in grief and call down on these people all the disasters they deserve. They are rebellious and refuse to obey my Law.
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How much longer can I tolerate these people for whom I have done so much?
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For their sake I overthrew many kings and crushed the king of Egypt together with his officials and all his army.
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I destroyed all the nations that opposed them, and in the east I scattered the people of the provinces of Tyre and Sidon and killed all the enemies of Israel.