World English Bible

2 Esdras 14:42-48 World English Bible (WEB)

42. The Most High gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote by course the things that were told them, in characters which they knew not, and they sat forty days: now they wrote in the day-time, and at night they ate bread.

43. As for me, I spoke in the day, and by night I held not my tongue.

44. So in forty days were written fourscore and fourteen books.

45. And it came to pass, when the forty days were fulfilled, that the Most High spoke to me, saying, The first that you have written publish openly, and let the worthy and unworthy read it:

46. but keep the seventy last, that you may deliver them to such as be wise among your people:

47. for in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge.

48. And I did so.