2 And I will speak a similitude Esdras before thee. For as thou shalt ask the earth, and it will tell thee, that it will give much more earth whereof earthen work may be made, but a little dust whereof gold is made: so also is the act of this present world.
2 And I will speak a similitude Esdras before thee. For as thou shalt ask the earth, and it will tell thee, that it will give much more earth whereof earthen work may be made, but a little dust whereof gold is made: so also is the act of this present world.
3 Many indeed are created, but few shall be saved.
3 Many indeed are created, but few shall be saved.
4 And I answered, and said: Then o soul swallow up the sense, and devour that which is wise.
4 And I answered, and said: Then o soul swallow up the sense, and devour that which is wise.
5 For thou art agreed to obey, and willing to prophesy. For there is no space given thee but only to live.
5 For thou art agreed to obey, and willing to prophesy. For there is no space given thee but only to live.
6 O Lord if thou wilt not permit thy servant, that we pray before thee, and thou give us seed to the heart, and tillage to the understanding, whereof may the fruit be made, whereby every corrupt person may live, that shall bear the place of a man?
6 O Lord if thou wilt not permit thy servant, that we pray before thee, and thou give us seed to the heart, and tillage to the understanding, whereof may the fruit be made, whereby every corrupt person may live, that shall bear the place of a man?
7 For thou art alone, and we are one workmanship of thy hands, as thou hast spoken:
7 For thou art alone, and we are one workmanship of thy hands, as thou hast spoken:
8 and as now the body made in the matrice, and thou doest give the members, thy creature is preserved in fire and water: and nine months thy workmanship doth suffer thy creature that is created in it:
8 and as now the body made in the matrice, and thou doest give the members, thy creature is preserved in fire and water: and nine months thy workmanship doth suffer thy creature that is created in it:
9 and itself that keepeth, and that which is kept, both shall be preserved: & the matrice being preserved rendereth again at some time the things that are grown in it.
9 and itself that keepeth, and that which is kept, both shall be preserved: & the matrice being preserved rendereth again at some time the things that are grown in it.
10 For thou hast commanded of the members, that is the breasts to give milk unto the fruit of the breasts,
10 For thou hast commanded of the members, that is the breasts to give milk unto the fruit of the breasts,
11 that the thing which is made, may be nourished till a certain time, and afterward thou mayest dispose him to thy mercy.
11 that the thing which is made, may be nourished till a certain time, and afterward thou mayest dispose him to thy mercy.
12 For thou hast, brought him up in thy justice, and hast instructed him in thy law, and hast corrected him in thy understanding:
12 For thou hast, brought him up in thy justice, and hast instructed him in thy law, and hast corrected him in thy understanding:
13 and thou shalt mortify him, as thy creature: and shalt give him life, as thy work.
13 and thou shalt mortify him, as thy creature: and shalt give him life, as thy work.
14 If then thou wilt destroy him that is made with so great labours: it is easy by the commandment to be ordained, that also which was made, might be reserved.
14 If then thou wilt destroy him that is made with so great labours: it is easy by the commandment to be ordained, that also which was made, might be reserved.
15 And now Lord I will speak, of every man thou rather knowest: but concerning thy people, for which I am sorrowful:
15 And now Lord I will speak, of every man thou rather knowest: but concerning thy people, for which I am sorrowful:
16 and concerning thine inheritance, for which I mourn, and for Israel for whom I am pensive, and concerning Jacob, for whom I am sorrowful.
16 and concerning thine inheritance, for which I mourn, and for Israel for whom I am pensive, and concerning Jacob, for whom I am sorrowful.
17 Therefore will I begin to pray before thee for me, and for them: because I see our defaults that inhabit the earth.
17 Therefore will I begin to pray before thee for me, and for them: because I see our defaults that inhabit the earth.
18 But I have heard of the celerity of the judge that shall be.
18 But I have heard of the celerity of the judge that shall be.
19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my word, and I will speak before thee.
19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my word, and I will speak before thee.
20 The beginning of the words of Esdras before he was assumpted: and I said: Lord which inhabitest the world, whose eyes are elevated unto things on high and in the air:
20 The beginning of the words of Esdras before he was assumpted: and I said: Lord which inhabitest the world, whose eyes are elevated unto things on high and in the air:
21 and whose throne is inestimable, and glory incomprehensible: by whom standeth an host of Angels with trembling,
21 and whose throne is inestimable, and glory incomprehensible: by whom standeth an host of Angels with trembling,
22 whose keeping is turned in wind and fire, thou whose word is true, and sayings permanent:
22 whose keeping is turned in wind and fire, thou whose word is true, and sayings permanent:
23 whose commandment is strong, and disposition terrible: whose look dryeth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt, and truth doth testify.
23 whose commandment is strong, and disposition terrible: whose look dryeth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt, and truth doth testify.
24 Hear the prayer of thy servant, and with thine ears receive the petition of thy creature.
24 Hear the prayer of thy servant, and with thine ears receive the petition of thy creature.
25 For whilst I live, I will speak: & whilst I understand, I will answer:
25 For whilst I live, I will speak: & whilst I understand, I will answer:
26 Neither do thou respect the sins of thy people, but them that serve thee in truth.
26 Neither do thou respect the sins of thy people, but them that serve thee in truth.
27 Neither do thou attend the impious endeavours of the nations, but them that with sorrows have kept thy testimonies.
27 Neither do thou attend the impious endeavours of the nations, but them that with sorrows have kept thy testimonies.
28 Neither think thou of them that in thy sight have converst falsely, but remember them that according to thy will have known thy fear.
28 Neither think thou of them that in thy sight have converst falsely, but remember them that according to thy will have known thy fear.
29 Neither be thou willing to destroy them that have had the manners of beasts: but respect them that have taught thy law gloriously.
29 Neither be thou willing to destroy them that have had the manners of beasts: but respect them that have taught thy law gloriously.
30 Neither have indignation towards them, which are judged worse than beasts: but love them that always have confidence in thy justice and glory.
30 Neither have indignation towards them, which are judged worse than beasts: but love them that always have confidence in thy justice and glory.
31 Because we and our fathers languish with such diseases: but thou for sinners shalt be called merciful.
31 Because we and our fathers languish with such diseases: but thou for sinners shalt be called merciful.
32 For if thou shalt be desirous to have mercy on us, then thou shalt be called merciful, to us having no works of justice.
32 For if thou shalt be desirous to have mercy on us, then thou shalt be called merciful, to us having no works of justice.
33 For the just which
33 For the just which
34 For what is man, that thou art angry with him: or the corruptible kind, that thou art so bitter touching it?
34 For what is man, that thou art angry with him: or the corruptible kind, that thou art so bitter touching it?
35 For in truth there is no man of them that be born, which hath not done impiously, and of them that confess, which have not sinned. 2.
35 For in truth there is no man of them that be born, which hath not done impiously, and of them that confess, which have not sinned. 2.
36 For in this shall thy justice be declared, and thy goodness, o Lord, when thou shalt have mercy on them, that have no substance of good works.
36 For in this shall thy justice be declared, and thy goodness, o Lord, when thou shalt have mercy on them, that have no substance of good works.
37 And he answered me, and said: Thou hast spoken some things rightly: and according to thy words, so also shall it be done,
37 And he answered me, and said: Thou hast spoken some things rightly: and according to thy words, so also shall it be done,
38 because I will not indeed think upon the work of them that have sinned before death, before the judgement, before perdition:
38 because I will not indeed think upon the work of them that have sinned before death, before the judgement, before perdition:
39 but I will rejoice upon the creature of the just, and I will remember their pilgrimage also, and salvation, and receiving of reward.
39 but I will rejoice upon the creature of the just, and I will remember their pilgrimage also, and salvation, and receiving of reward.
40 Therefore as I have spoken, so also it is.
40 Therefore as I have spoken, so also it is.
41 For as the husbandman soweth upon the ground many seeds, and planteth many plants, but not all which were sown in time are preserved, nor yet all that were planted shall take root: so they also that are sown in the world, shall not all be saved. . & 20.
41 For as the husbandman soweth upon the ground many seeds, and planteth many plants, but not all which were sown in time are preserved, nor yet all that were planted shall take root: so they also that are sown in the world, shall not all be saved. . & 20.
42 And I answered, and said: If I have found grace, let me speak.
42 And I answered, and said: If I have found grace, let me speak.
43 As the seed of the husbandman, if it come not up, or receive not the rain in time, if it be corrupted with much rain, perisheth:
43 As the seed of the husbandman, if it come not up, or receive not the rain in time, if it be corrupted with much rain, perisheth:
44 so likewise also man who made with thy hands, and thou named his image: because thou art likened to him, for whom thou hast made all things, and hast likened him to the seed of the husbandman.
44 so likewise also man who made with thy hands, and thou named his image: because thou art likened to him, for whom thou hast made all things, and hast likened him to the seed of the husbandman.
45 Be not angry upon us, but spare thy people, and have mercy on thy inheritance. And thou hast mercy on thy creature.
45 Be not angry upon us, but spare thy people, and have mercy on thy inheritance. And thou hast mercy on thy creature.
46 And he answered me, and said: The things that are present to them that are present, and that shall be, to them that shall be.
46 And he answered me, and said: The things that are present to them that are present, and that shall be, to them that shall be.
47 For thou lackest much to be able to love my creature above me: and to thee often times, even to thyself I have approached, but to the unjust never.
47 For thou lackest much to be able to love my creature above me: and to thee often times, even to thyself I have approached, but to the unjust never.
48 But in this also thou art marvelous before the Highest,
48 But in this also thou art marvelous before the Highest,
49 because thou hast humbled thyself as becometh thee: and hast not judged thyself, that among the just thou mayst be very much glorified.
49 because thou hast humbled thyself as becometh thee: and hast not judged thyself, that among the just thou mayst be very much glorified.
50 For which cause many miseries, and miserable things shall be done to them that inhabit the world in the later days: because they have walked in much pride.
50 For which cause many miseries, and miserable things shall be done to them that inhabit the world in the later days: because they have walked in much pride.
51 But thou for thyself understand, and for them that are like unto thee seek glory.
51 But thou for thyself understand, and for them that are like unto thee seek glory.
52 For to you paradise is open, the tree of life is planted, time to come is prepared, aboundance is prepared, a city is builded, rest is approved, goodness is perfited, & perfit wisdom.
52 For to you paradise is open, the tree of life is planted, time to come is prepared, aboundance is prepared, a city is builded, rest is approved, goodness is perfited, & perfit wisdom.
53 The root of evil is signed from you: infirmity, & moth is hid from you: and corruption is fled into hell in oblivion.
53 The root of evil is signed from you: infirmity, & moth is hid from you: and corruption is fled into hell in oblivion.
54 Sorrows are past, & the treasure of immortality is shewed in the end.
54 Sorrows are past, & the treasure of immortality is shewed in the end.
55 Add not therefore inquiring of the multitude of them that perish.
55 Add not therefore inquiring of the multitude of them that perish.
56 For they also receiving liberty have despised the Highest, and contemned his law, and forsaken his ways.
56 For they also receiving liberty have despised the Highest, and contemned his law, and forsaken his ways.
57 Yea and moreover they have trodden down his just ones.
57 Yea and moreover they have trodden down his just ones.
58 and have said in their heart, that there is no God: and that, knowing that they die. . & 52.
58 and have said in their heart, that there is no God: and that, knowing that they die. . & 52.
59 For as the things aforesaid shall receive you: so thirst and torment, which are prepared shall take them: for he would not man to be destroyed.
59 For as the things aforesaid shall receive you: so thirst and torment, which are prepared shall take them: for he would not man to be destroyed.
60 But they themselves also which are created, have defiled his name which made them: and have been unkind to him that prepared life.
60 But they themselves also which are created, have defiled his name which made them: and have been unkind to him that prepared life.
61 Wherefore my judgement now approacheth.
61 Wherefore my judgement now approacheth.
62 Which things I have not shewed to all, but to thee, and to few like unto thee. And I answered, and said:
62 Which things I have not shewed to all, but to thee, and to few like unto thee. And I answered, and said:
63 Behold now Lord thou hast shewed me a multitude of signs, which thou wilt begin to do in the latter times, but thou hast not shewed me at what time.
63 Behold now Lord thou hast shewed me a multitude of signs, which thou wilt begin to do in the latter times, but thou hast not shewed me at what time.