1. This is the second book of the prophet Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, the grandson of Azariah, and a descendant of Hilkiah, Shallum, Zadok, Ahitub,
2. Ahijah, Phinehas, Eli, Amariah, Azariah, Meraioth, Arna, Uzzi, Borith, Abishua, Phinehas, Eleazar,
3. and Aaron, of the tribe of Levi.When I, Ezra, was a captive in Media during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia,
4. the Lord said to me,
5. “Go and remind my people and their children of the sins they have committed against me, and let them tell their grandchildren.
6. My people have sinned even more than their ancestors, for they have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to foreign gods.
7. I rescued them from Egypt, where they were slaves, but they have done things that made me angry and have refused to listen to my warnings.
8. “Ezra, tear your hair in grief and call down on these people all the disasters they deserve. They are rebellious and refuse to obey my Law.