2 Esdras 1:32-40

32 I sent you my servants the prophets, but you have taken and killed them and torn their bodies ^[a] in pieces; I will require their blood of you, says the Lord. ^[b]

33 "Thus says the Lord Almighty: Your house is desolate; I will drive you out as the wind drives straw;

34 and your sons will have no children, because with you ^[c] they have neglected my commandment and have done what is evil in my sight.

35 I will give your houses to a people that will come, who without having heard me will believe. Those to whom I have shown no signs will do what I have commanded.

36 They have seen no prophets, yet will recall their former state. ^[d]

37 I call to witness the gratitude of the people that is to come, whose children rejoice with gladness; ^[e] though they do not see me with bodily eyes, yet with the spirit they will believe the things I have said.

38 "And now, father, ^[f] look with pride and see the people coming from the east;

39 to them I will give as leaders Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Hosea and Amos and Micah and Joel and Obadiah and Jonah

40 and Nahum and Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who is also called the messenger of the Lord. ^[g]

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities read [the bodies of the apostles]
• [b]. Other ancient authorities add [Thus says the Lord Almighty: Recently you also laid hands on me, crying out before the judge's seat for him to deliver me to you. You took me as a sinner, not as a father who freed you from slavery, and you delivered me to death by hanging me on the tree; these are the things you have done. Therefore, says the Lord, let my Father and his angels return and judge between you and me; if I have not kept the commandment of the Father, if I have not nourished you, if I have not done the things my Father commanded, I will contend in judgment with you, says the Lord.]
• [c]. Other ancient authorities lack [with you]
• [d]. Other ancient authorities read [their iniquities]
• [e]. Other ancient authorities read [The apostles bear witness to the coming people with joy]
• [f]. Other ancient authorities read [brother]
• [g]. Other ancient authorities read [and Jacob, Elijah and Enoch, Zechariah and Hosea, Amos, Joel, Micah, Obadiah, Zephaniah,] +V40+W[Nahum, Jonah, Mattia] (or [Mattathias]), [Habakkuk, and twelve angels with flowers]