1. The second scroll of the prophet Ezra son of Saraiah son of Azariah son of Hilkiah son of Shallum son of Zadok son of Ahitub
2. son of Ahijah son of Phinehas son of Eli son of Amariah son of Aziah son of Maraimoth son of Arna son of Uzziah son of Borith son of Abishua son of Phinehas son of Eleazar
3. son of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. Ezra was a captive in the region of the Medes during the rule of King Artaxerxes of the Persians.
4. The Lord’s word came to Ezra, Chusi’s son, in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar:
5. Go and announce to my people their crimes. Tell their children about the sins they committed against me. Let their children also announce this to their own children,
6. because the children have added to their parents’ sins. They forgot me and offered sacrifices to foreign gods!
7. Didn’t I bring them out of the land of Egypt where they lived in slavery? Why then have they angered me and rejected my advice?
8. Therefore, the Lord says: Tear out your hair and hurl every kind of disaster at them, because they haven’t obeyed my Law. Undisciplined people!
9. How long will I put up with them—and after I granted them so many favors?