Preface.

And I took unto myself five men,
as the Lord had commanded me, and
went out into the field, and remained
there. And it happened on the other day,
and behold, a voice spoke
to me: Esdras, open your
mouth and drink, what I give
you to drink.

And I opened my mouth.
And behold, a chalice, filled to the top,
was handed to me. This was,
as if filled with water; Its
color, however, was shaped, like a fire.
And I took and drank. And, after
I had drunk, my heart became full
of understanding, and in my mind
wisdom grew. For,
my spirit kept a sharp memory. And my mouth was opened,
and would no longer be silent.
The Most High gave (also) understanding
to the five men. And they wrote,
what was told them by night;
Which was previously unknown to them.
By night, however, they ate their bread.
I, however, spoke by day, and would
not be silent by night. There