2 Esdras 5:21-30

Revised Standard Version

Ezra’s Second Prayer of Complaint

²¹ And after seven days the thoughts of my heart were very grievous to me again. ²² Then my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began once more to speak words in the presence of the Most High. ²³ And I said, “O sovereign Lord, from every forest of the earth and from all its trees thou hast chosen one vine, ²⁴ and from all the lands of the world thou hast chosen for thyself one region,^[a] and from all the flowers of the world thou hast chosen for thyself one lily, ²⁵ and from all the depths of the sea thou hast filled for thyself one river, and from all the cities that have been built thou hast consecrated Zion for thyself, ²⁶ and from all the birds that have been created thou hast named for thyself one dove, and from all the flocks that have been made thou hast provided for thyself one sheep, ²⁷ and from all the multitude of peoples thou hast gotten for thyself one people; and to this people, whom thou hast loved, thou hast given the law which is approved by all. ²⁸ And now, O Lord, why hast thou given over the one to the many, and dishonored^[b] the one root beyond the others, and scattered thine only one among the many? ²⁹ And those who opposed thy promises have trodden down those who believed thy covenants. ³⁰ If thou dost really hate thy people, they should be punished at thy own hands.”