2 Esdras 5:16-18

Revised Standard Version

¹⁶ Now on the second night Phaltiel, a chief of the people, came to me and said, “Where have you been? And why is your face sad? ¹⁷ Or do you not know that Israel has been entrusted to you in the land of their exile? ¹⁸ Rise therefore and eat some bread, so that you may not forsake us, like a shepherd who leaves his flock in the power of cruel wolves.”