2 and said to me: Thy heart exceeding hath exceeded in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest.
2 and said to me: Thy heart exceeding hath exceeded in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest.
3 And I said: It is so my Lord. And he answered me, and said: I am sent to shew thee three ways, & to propose to thee three similitudes.
3 And I said: It is so my Lord. And he answered me, and said: I am sent to shew thee three ways, & to propose to thee three similitudes.
4 Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them, I also will shew thee the way which thou desirest to see, & will teach thee whence a wicked heart is.
4 Of the which if thou shalt declare to me one of them, I also will shew thee the way which thou desirest to see, & will teach thee whence a wicked heart is.
5 And I said, Speak my Lord. And he said to me: Go, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me back the day that is past.
5 And I said, Speak my Lord. And he said to me: Go, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me back the day that is past.
6 And I answered, and said: what man born can do it, that thou askest me of these things?
6 And I answered, and said: what man born can do it, that thou askest me of these things?
7 And he said to me: If I should ask thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the heart of the sea, or how great veins be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great veins be there above the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise:
7 And he said to me: If I should ask thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the heart of the sea, or how great veins be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great veins be there above the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise:
8 thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I have not descended into the depth, nor into hell as yet, neither, have I ascended at any time into heaven.
8 thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I have not descended into the depth, nor into hell as yet, neither, have I ascended at any time into heaven.
9 But now I have not asked thee, saving of the fire, & the wind, and the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them.
9 But now I have not asked thee, saving of the fire, & the wind, and the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them.
10 And he said to me: Thou canst not know the things that are thine which grow together with thee:
10 And he said to me: Thou canst not know the things that are thine which grow together with thee:
11 and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, and now the world being outwardly corrupted, understand the corruption evident in my sight:
11 and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, and now the world being outwardly corrupted, understand the corruption evident in my sight:
12 I said to him: Better were it for us not to be, than yet living to live in impieties, and to suffer, and not to understand for what thing.
12 I said to him: Better were it for us not to be, than yet living to live in impieties, and to suffer, and not to understand for what thing.
13 And he answered me, and said: Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the field, and they devised a device, . 2. Par. 25.
13 And he answered me, and said: Going forth I went forward to a wood of trees in the field, and they devised a device, . 2. Par. 25.
15 And in like manner the waves of the sea they also devised a device, and said: Come let us go up, let us overthrow the woods of the field, that there also we may consummate another country for ourselves.
15 And in like manner the waves of the sea they also devised a device, and said: Come let us go up, let us overthrow the woods of the field, that there also we may consummate another country for ourselves.
16 And the wood's device was made vain, for fire came, and consumed it.
16 And the wood's device was made vain, for fire came, and consumed it.
17 Likewise also the device of the waves of the sea. For the sand stood, & stayed them.
17 Likewise also the device of the waves of the sea. For the sand stood, & stayed them.
18 For if thou wert judge of these, whom wouldest thou begin to justify, or whom to condemn?
18 For if thou wert judge of these, whom wouldest thou begin to justify, or whom to condemn?
19 And I answered, and said: Verily, they devised a vain device. For the earth is given to the wood, and a place to the sea to carry her waves.
19 And I answered, and said: Verily, they devised a vain device. For the earth is given to the wood, and a place to the sea to carry her waves.
20 And he answered me, and said: Thou hast judged well, and why hast thou not judged for thyself?
20 And he answered me, and said: Thou hast judged well, and why hast thou not judged for thyself?
21 For as the earth is given to the wood, and the sea for the waves thereof: so they that inhabit upon the earth, can understand only the things that are upon the earth: and they upon the heavens, the things that are above the height of the heavens.
21 For as the earth is given to the wood, and the sea for the waves thereof: so they that inhabit upon the earth, can understand only the things that are upon the earth: and they upon the heavens, the things that are above the height of the heavens.
22 And I answered, and said: I beseech thee Lord, that sense may be given me to understand.
22 And I answered, and said: I beseech thee Lord, that sense may be given me to understand.
23 For I meant not to ask of thy superior things, but of those that pass by us daily. For what cause Israel is given into reproach to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loved, is given to impious tribes, and the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, and the written ordinances are no where:
23 For I meant not to ask of thy superior things, but of those that pass by us daily. For what cause Israel is given into reproach to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loved, is given to impious tribes, and the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, and the written ordinances are no where:
24 And we have passed out of the world, as locusts, and our life is astonishment and dread, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
24 And we have passed out of the world, as locusts, and our life is astonishment and dread, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
25 But what will he do to his name that is invocated upon us? And of these things I did ask.
25 But what will he do to his name that is invocated upon us? And of these things I did ask.
26 And he answered me, and said: If thou search very much, thou shalt often marvel: because the world hastening hasteneth to pass,
26 And he answered me, and said: If thou search very much, thou shalt often marvel: because the world hastening hasteneth to pass,
27 and cannot comprehend the things which in times to come are promised to the just: because this world is full of injustice and infirmities.
27 and cannot comprehend the things which in times to come are promised to the just: because this world is full of injustice and infirmities.
28 But concerning the things that thou demandest I will tell thee: for the evil is sowed, and the destruction thereof is not yet come.
28 But concerning the things that thou demandest I will tell thee: for the evil is sowed, and the destruction thereof is not yet come.
29 If then that which is sown be not turned up, and the place depart where the evil is sown, that shall not come where the good is sown.
29 If then that which is sown be not turned up, and the place depart where the evil is sown, that shall not come where the good is sown.
30 Because the grain of ill seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impiety hath it engendered until now, and doth engender until the floor come?
30 Because the grain of ill seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impiety hath it engendered until now, and doth engender until the floor come?
31 And esteem with thyself the grain of the ill seed, how much fruit of impiety it hath engendered:
31 And esteem with thyself the grain of the ill seed, how much fruit of impiety it hath engendered:
32 When the ears shall be cut, which are innumerable, what a great floor will they begin to make?
32 When the ears shall be cut, which are innumerable, what a great floor will they begin to make?
33 And I answered, and said: How, and when shall these things be? Why are our years few and evil?
33 And I answered, and said: How, and when shall these things be? Why are our years few and evil?
34 And he answered me, and said to me, Hasten not above the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vain to be above him, for thy excess is much.
34 And he answered me, and said to me, Hasten not above the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vain to be above him, for thy excess is much.
35 Did not the souls of the just in their cellars, ask of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shall the fruit come of the floor of our reward?
35 Did not the souls of the just in their cellars, ask of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shall the fruit come of the floor of our reward?
36 And Jeremiel the Archangel answered to those things, and said: When the number of the seeds in you shall be filled, because he hath weighed the world in a balance,
36 And Jeremiel the Archangel answered to those things, and said: When the number of the seeds in you shall be filled, because he hath weighed the world in a balance,
37 and with a measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the times, & hath not moved, nor stirred them, until the foresaid measure be filled.
37 and with a measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the times, & hath not moved, nor stirred them, until the foresaid measure be filled.
38 And I answered, & said. O Lord Dominator, we also are all full of impiety.
38 And I answered, & said. O Lord Dominator, we also are all full of impiety.
39 And lest perhaps for us the floors of the just be not filled, for the sins of the inhabitants upon the earth.
39 And lest perhaps for us the floors of the just be not filled, for the sins of the inhabitants upon the earth.
40 And he answered me, and said: Go, and ask a woman with child, if when she hath accomplished her nine months, her womb can yet hold the infant within it?
40 And he answered me, and said: Go, and ask a woman with child, if when she hath accomplished her nine months, her womb can yet hold the infant within it?
41 And I said it cannot Lord. And he said to me: In hell the cellars of the souls are like to the matrice.
41 And I said it cannot Lord. And he said to me: In hell the cellars of the souls are like to the matrice.
42 For as she that is in travail maketh haste, to escape the necessity of travailing: so this also hasteneth to render those things which are commended to it.
42 For as she that is in travail maketh haste, to escape the necessity of travailing: so this also hasteneth to render those things which are commended to it.
43 From the beginning it shall be shewed thee touching those things, which thou doest covet to see.
43 From the beginning it shall be shewed thee touching those things, which thou doest covet to see.
44 And I answered and said: If I have found grace before thine eyes, and if it be possible, and if I be fit,
44 And I answered and said: If I have found grace before thine eyes, and if it be possible, and if I be fit,
45 shew me if there be more to come than is passed, or more things have passed, than are to come.
45 shew me if there be more to come than is passed, or more things have passed, than are to come.
46 What passed, I know: but what is to come, I know not.
46 What passed, I know: but what is to come, I know not.
47 And he said to me: Stand upon the right side, and I will shew thee the interpretation of the similitude.
47 And he said to me: Stand upon the right side, and I will shew thee the interpretation of the similitude.
48 And I stood, and saw: and behold a burning furnace passed before me, and it came to pass
48 And I stood, and saw: and behold a burning furnace passed before me, and it came to pass
49 After these things there passed before me a cloud full of water, and with violence casting in much rain: and when the violence of rain wast cast, the drops therein overcame.
49 After these things there passed before me a cloud full of water, and with violence casting in much rain: and when the violence of rain wast cast, the drops therein overcame.
50 And he said to me: Think with thyself, as the rain increaseth more than the drops, and the fire than the smoke: so did the measure that passed, more abound. But the drops, and the smoke overcame:
50 And he said to me: Think with thyself, as the rain increaseth more than the drops, and the fire than the smoke: so did the measure that passed, more abound. But the drops, and the smoke overcame:
51 and I prayed, and said, shall I live thinkest thou until these days? Or what shall be in those days?
51 and I prayed, and said, shall I live thinkest thou until these days? Or what shall be in those days?
52 He answered me, and said: Of the signs whereof thou askest me, in part I can tell thee, howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tell thee, neither do I know.
52 He answered me, and said: Of the signs whereof thou askest me, in part I can tell thee, howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tell thee, neither do I know.