28. “Listen to what I have to say, people of Israel.
29. At first our ancestors lived as foreigners in Egypt, but then they were set free
30. and received from God the life-giving Law. But they did not keep it, and when your turn came, you did not keep it either.
31. God gave you the holy land as your own possession, but you were as sinful as your ancestors, and did not follow the ways that God Most High had commanded.
32. God is a just judge, so after a while he took away what he had given you.
33. Now you are in exile here, but you are closer to Jerusalem than some of your fellow-Jews.
34. But if you will discipline your thoughts and be willing to learn, you will be kept safe in this life and will be granted mercy after death,
35. for Judgement Day comes after death. We will be brought back to life, and the righteous people will be made known, while what the godless people have done will be exposed.
36. But now for forty days, no one is to come near me or try to find me.”
37. As I had been commanded, I took the five men, and we went to the field and stayed there.
38. On the next day I suddenly heard a voice saying, “Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I am giving you.”
39. So I opened my mouth, and I was handed a cup full of a fiery-coloured liquid,
40. which I took and drank. When I had drunk it, my mind overflowed with understanding, and wisdom increased within me as my memory became perfect.