2 Esdras
chapter 1
1:1 The second book of
the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias,
the son of Sadamias, the sou of Sadoc, the son of Achitob,
1:2 The son of Achias,
the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of Aziei, the
son of Marimoth, the son of And he spake unto the of Borith, the son of Abisei,
the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,
1:3 The son of Aaron,
of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign
of Artexerxes king of the Persians.
1:4 And the word of the
Lord came unto me, saying,
1:5 Go thy way, and shew
my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickedness which they
have done against me; that they may tell their children's children:
1:6 Because the sins of
their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered
unto strange gods.
1:7 Am not I even he that
brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? but they have
provoked me unto wrath, and despised my counsels.
1:8 Pull thou off then
the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not been obedient
unto my law, but it is a rebellious people.
1:9 How long shall I forbear
them, into whom I have done so much good?
1:10 Many kings have
I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have
I smitten down.
1:11 All the nations
have I destroyed before them, and in the east I have scattered the people of
two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon, and have slain all their enemies.
1:12 Speak thou therefore
unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,
1:13 I led you through
the sea and in the beginning gave you a large and safe passage; I gave you Moses
for a leader, and Aaron for a priest.
1:14 I gave you light
in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet have ye forgotten
me, saith the Lord.
1:15 Thus saith the Almighty
Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard:
nevertheless ye murmured there,
1:16 And triumphed not
in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet
murmur.
1:17 Where are the benefits
that I have done for you? when ye were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness,
did ye not cry unto me,
1:18 Saying, Why hast
thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us? it had been better for us to
have served the Egyptians, than to die in this wilderness.
1:19 Then had I pity
upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels' bread.
1:20 When ye were thirsty,
did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed out to your fill? for the heat
I covered you with the leaves of the trees.
1:21 I divided among
you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the Philistines,
before you: what shall I yet do more for you? saith the Lord.
1:22 Thus saith the Almighty
Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst,
and blaspheming my name,
1:23 I gave you not fire
for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.
1:24 What shall I do
unto thee, O Jacob? thou, Juda, wouldest not obey me: I will turn me to other
nations, and unto those will I give my name, that they may keep my statutes.
1:25 Seeing ye have forsaken
me, I will forsake you also; when ye desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall
have no mercy upon you.
1:26 Whensoever ye shall
call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have defiled your hands with blood,
and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter.
1:27 Ye have not as it
were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.
1:28 Thus saith the Almighty
Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters,
and a nurse her young babes,
1:29 That ye would be
my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should
be your father?
1:30 I gathered you together,
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto
you? I will cast you out from my face.
1:31 When ye offer unto
me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your new moons,
and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.
1:32 I sent unto you
my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their bodies
in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord.
1:33 Thus saith the Almighty
Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.
1:34 And your children
shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing
that is an evil before me.
1:35 Your houses will
I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me yet shall believe
me; to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded
them.
1:36 They have seen no
prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
1:37 I take to witness
the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness: and
though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the
thing that I say.
1:38 And now, brother,
behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east:
1:39 Unto whom I will
give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel,
Abdias, and Jonas,
1:40 Nahum, and Abacuc,
Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also an angel of the
Lord.
chapter 2
2:1 Thus saith the Lord,
I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by menservants
the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels.
2:2 The mother that bare
them saith unto them, Go your way, ye children; for I am a widow and forsaken.
2:3 I brought you up with
gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye have sinned
before the Lord your God, and done that thing that is evil before him.
2:4 But what shall I now
do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask
mercy of the Lord.
2:5 As for me, O father,
I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children, which would
not keep my covenant,
2:6 That thou bring them
to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no offspring of
them.
2:7 Let them be scattered
abroad among the heathen, let their names be put out of the earth: for they
have despised my covenant.
2:8 Woe be unto thee,
Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee! O thou wicked people, remember
what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;
2:9 Whose land lieth in
clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do unto them that hear
me not, saith the Almighty Lord.
2:10 Thus saith the Lord
unto Esdras, Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem,
which I would have given unto Israel.
2:11 Their glory also
will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had
prepared for them.
2:12 They shall have
the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour,
nor be weary.
2:13 Go, and ye shall
receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom
is already prepared for you: watch.
2:14 Take heaven and
earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good:
for I live, saith the Lord.
2:15 Mother, embrace
thy children, and bring them up with gladness, make their feet as fast as a
pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
2:16 And those that be
dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the graves:
for I have known my name in Israel.
2:17 Fear not, thou mother
of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
2:18 For thy help will
I send my servants Esau and Jeremy, after whose counsel I have sanctified and
prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers fruits,
2:19 And as many fountains
flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow
roses and lilies, whereby I will fill thy children with joy.
2:20 Do right to the
widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe
the naked,
2:21 Heal the broken
and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let the
blind man come into the sight of my clearness.
2:22 Keep the old and
young within thy walls.
2:23 Wheresoever thou
findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I will give thee the first place
in my resurrection.
2:24 Abide still, O my
people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness still come.
2:25 Nourish thy children,
O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.
2:26 As for the servants
whom I have given thee, there shall not one of them perish; for I will require
them from among thy number.
2:27 Be not weary: for
when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, others shall weep and be sorrowful,
but thou shalt be merry and have abundance.
2:28 The heathen shall
envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee, saith the Lord.
2:29 My hands shall cover
thee, so that thy children shall not see hell.
2:30 Be joyful, O thou
mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the Lord.
2:31 Remember thy children
that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth, and shew mercy
unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Almighty.
2:32 Embrace thy children
until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall
not fail.
2:33 I Esdras received
a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel; but
when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of
the Lord.
2:34 And therefore I
say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd,
he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come
in the end of the world.
2:35 Be ready to the
reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
2:36 Flee the shadow
of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.
2:37 O receive the gift
that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to
the heavenly kingdom.
2:38 Arise up and stand,
behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
2:39 Which are departed
from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
2:40 Take thy number,
O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled
the law of the Lord.
2:41 The number of thy
children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord,
that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
2:42 I Esdras saw upon
the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised
the Lord with songs.
2:43 And in the midst
of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and
upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled
at greatly.
2:44 So I asked the angel,
and said, Sir, what are these?
2:45 He answered and
said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on
the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and
receive palms.
2:46 Then said I unto
the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms
in their hands?
2:47 So he answered and
said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then
began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.
2:48 Then the angel said
unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great
wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.
chapter 3
3:1 In the thirtieth year
after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and
my thoughts came up over my heart:
3:2 For I saw the desolation
of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
3:3 And my spirit was
sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and
said,
3:4 O Lord, who bearest
rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and that
thyself alone, and commandedst the people,
3:5 And gavest a body
unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of thine hands, and didst
breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before thee.
3:6 And thou leadest him
into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the earth came
forward.
3:7 And unto him thou
gavest commandment to love thy way: which he transgressed, and immediately thou
appointedst death in him and in his generations, of whom came nations, tribes,
people, and kindreds, out of number.
3:8 And every people walked
after their own will, and did wonderful things before thee, and despised thy
commandments.
3:9 And again in process
of time thou broughtest the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyedst
them.
3:10 And it came to pass
in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.
3:11 Nevertheless one
of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his household, of whom came all righteous
men.
3:12 And it happened,
that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had gotten them
many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more ungodly
than the first.
3:13 Now when they lived
so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose thee a man from among them, whose
name was Abraham.
3:14 Him thou lovedst,
and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:
3:15 And madest an everlasting
covenant with him, promising him that thou wouldest never forsake his seed.
3:16 And unto him thou
gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob,
thou didst choose him to thee, and put by Esau: and so Jacob became a great
multitude.
3:17 And it came to pass,
that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the
mount Sinai.
3:18 And bowing the heavens,
thou didst set fast the earth, movedst the whole world, and madest the depths
to tremble, and troubledst the men of that age.
3:19 And thy glory went
through four gates, of fire, and of earthquake, and of wind, and of cold; that
thou mightest give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and diligence unto the generation
of Israel.
3:20 And yet tookest
thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth fruit
in them.
3:21 For the first Adam
bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all they that
are born of him.
3:22 Thus infirmity was
made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart of the people with the malignity
of the root; so that the good departed away, and the evil abode still.
3:23 So the times passed
away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise thee up a
servant, called David:
3:24 Whom thou commandedst
to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto thee
therein.
3:25 When this was done
many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook thee,
3:26 And in all things
did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked
heart:
3:27 And so thou gavest
thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.
3:28 Are their deeds
then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion
over Sion?
3:29 For when I came
thither, and had seen impieties without number, then my soul saw many evildoers
in this thirtieth year, so that my heart failed me.
3:30 For I have seen
how thou sufferest them sinning, and hast spared wicked doers: and hast destroyed
thy people, and hast preserved thine enemies, and hast not signified it.
3:31 I do not remember
how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion?
3:32 Or is there any
other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or what generation hath so believed
thy covenants as Jacob?
3:33 And yet their reward
appeareth not, and their labour hath no fruit: for I have gone here and there
through the heathen, and I see that they flow in wealth, and think not upon
thy commandments.
3:34 Weigh thou therefore
our wickedness now in the balance, and their's also that dwell the world; and
so shall thy name no where be found but in Israel.
3:35 Or when was it that
they which dwell upon the earth have not sinned in thy sight? or what people
have so kept thy commandments?
3:36 Thou shalt find
that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but not the heathen.
chapter 4
4:1 And the angel that was
sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
4:2 And said, Thy heart
hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the
most High?
4:3 Then said I, Yea,
my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and
to set forth three similitudes before thee:
4:4 Whereof if thou canst
declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and
I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.
4:5 And I said, Tell on,
my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire,
or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.
4:6 Then answered I and
said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?
4:7 And he said unto me,
If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how
many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above
the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise:
4:8 Peradventure thou
wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into hell,
neither did I ever climb up into heaven.
4:9 Nevertheless now have
I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou
hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst
thou give me no answer of them.
4:10 He said moreover
unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not
know;
4:11 How should thy vessel
then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now
outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?
4:12 Then said I unto
him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still
in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.
4:13 He answered me,
and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,
4:14 And said, Come,
let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and
that we may make us more woods.
4:15 The floods of the
sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue
the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.
4:16 The thought of the
wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
4:17 The thought of the
floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped
them.
4:18 If thou wert judge
now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest
thou condemn?
4:19 I answered and said,
Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is
given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.
4:20 Then answered he
me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself
also?
4:21 For like as the
ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that
dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth:
and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are
above the height of the heavens.
4:22 Then answered I
and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:
4:23 For it was not my
mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely,
wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause
the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why
the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come
to none effect,
4:24 And we pass away
out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and
we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
4:25 What will he then
do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.
4:26 Then answered he
me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world
hasteth fast to pass away,
4:27 And cannot comprehend
the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world
is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.
4:28 But as concerning
the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but
the destruction thereof is not yet come.
4:29 If therefore that
which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is
sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.
4:30 For the grain of
evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much
ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring
forth until the time of threshing come?
4:31 Ponder now by thyself,
how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.
4:32 And when the ears
shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?
4:33 Then I answered
and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years
few and evil?
4:34 And he answered
me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain
to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.
4:35 Did not the souls
also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying,
How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of
our reward?
4:36 And unto these things
Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds
is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance.
4:37 By measure hath
he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth
not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
4:38 Then answered I
and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.
4:39 And for our sakes
peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled, because
of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.
4:40 So he answered me,
and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled
her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.
4:41 Then said I, No,
Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In the grave the chambers of souls
are like the womb of a woman:
4:42 For like as a woman
that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so
do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.
4:43 From the beginning,
look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.
4:44 Then answered I
and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if
I be meet therefore,
4:45 Shew me then whether
there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.
4:46 What is past I know,
but what is for to come I know not.
4:47 And he said unto
me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.
4:48 So I stood, and
saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by before me: and it happened that
when the flame was gone by I looked, and, behold, the smoke remained still.
4:49 After this there
passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm; and
when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still.
4:50 Then said he unto
me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire
is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind: so the
quantity which is past did more exceed.
4:51 Then I prayed, and
said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those
days?
4:52 He answered me,
and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them
in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not
know it.
chapter 5
5:1 Nevertheless as coming
the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall
be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land
shall be barren of faith.
5:2 But iniquity shall
be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.
5:3 And the land, that
thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.
5:4 But if the most High
grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the sun shall
suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:
5:5 And blood shall drop
out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be troubled:
5:6 And even he shall
rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall
take their flight away together:
5:7 And the Sodomitish
sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the night, which many have not
known: but they shall all hear the voice thereof.
5:8 There shall be a confusion
also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild
beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:
5:9 And salt waters shall
be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another; then shall
wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,
5:10 And shall be sought
of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be
multiplied upon earth.
5:11 One land also shall
ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through
thee? And it shall say, No.
5:12 At the same time
shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall
not prosper.
5:13 To shew thee such
tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now, and fast
even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.
5:14 Then I awaked, and
an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so
that it fainted.
5:15 So the angel that
was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.
5:16 And in the second
night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me,
saying, Where hast thou been? and why is thy countenance so heavy?
5:17 Knowest thou not
that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?
5:18 Up then, and eat
bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands
of cruel wolves.
5:19 Then said I unto
him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what I said, and
went from me.
5:20 And so I fasted
seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me.
5:21 And after seven
days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,
5:22 And my soul recovered
the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,
5:23 And said, O Lord
that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth, and of all the trees thereof,
thou hast chosen thee one only vine:
5:24 And of all lands
of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof
one lily:
5:25 And of all the depths
of the sea thou hast filled thee one river: and of all builded cities thou hast
hallowed Sion unto thyself:
5:26 And of all the fowls
that are created thou hast named thee one dove: and of all the cattle that are
made thou hast provided thee one sheep:
5:27 And among all the
multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one people: and unto this people,
whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that is approved of all.
5:28 And now, O Lord,
why hast thou given this one people over unto many? and upon the one root hast
thou prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy only one people among
many?
5:29 And they which did
gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden them down.
5:30 If thou didst so
much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own hands.
5:31 Now when I had spoken
these words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,
5:32 And said unto me,
Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall
tell thee more.
5:33 And I said, Speak
on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's
sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them?
5:34 And I said, No,
Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while
I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his
judgment.
5:35 And he said unto
me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then?
or why was not my mother's womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the
travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?
5:36 And he said unto
me, Number me the things that are not yet come, gather me together the dross
that are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered,
5:37 Open me the places
that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew
me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou
labourest to know.
5:38 And I said, O Lord
that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling
with men?
5:39 As for me, I am
unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?
5:40 Then said he unto
me, Like as thou canst do none of these things that I have spoken of, even so
canst thou not find out my judgment, or in the end the love that I have promised
unto my people.
5:41 And I said, Behold,
O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: and what
shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall
come after us?
5:42 And he said unto
me, I will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as there is no slackness of the
last, even so there is no swiftness of the first.
5:43 So I answered and
said, Couldest thou not make those that have been made, and be now, and that
are for to come, at once; that thou mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?
5:44 Then answered he
me, and said, The creature may not haste above the maker; neither may the world
hold them at once that shall be created therein.
5:45 And I said, As thou
hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest life to all, hast given
life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it:
even so it might now also bear them that now be present at once.
5:46 And he said unto
me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children,
why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to
bring forth ten children at once.
5:47 And I said, She
cannot: but must do it by distance of time.
5:48 Then said he unto
me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in
their times.
5:49 For like as a young
child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I
disposed the world which I created.
5:50 And I asked, and
said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to speak before
thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young, draweth now
nigh unto age.
5:51 He answered me,
and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.
5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore
are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before,
but less of stature?
5:53 And she shall answer
thee, They that be born in the the strength of youth are of one fashion, and
they that are born in the time of age, when the womb faileth, are otherwise.
5:54 Consider thou therefore
also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.
5:55 And so are they
that come after you less than ye, as the creatures which now begin to be old,
and have passed over the strength of youth.
5:56 Then said I, Lord,
I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom
thou visitest thy creature.
chapter 6
6:1 And he said unto me,
In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood,
or ever the winds blew,
6:2 Before it thundered
and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
6:3 Before the fair flowers
were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable
multitude of angels were gathered together,
6:4 Or ever the heights
of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named,
or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,
6:5 And ere the present
years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were
turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:
6:6 Then did I consider
these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other:
by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.
6:7 Then answered I and
said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end
of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?
6:8 And he said unto me,
From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob's hand
held first the heel of Esau.
6:9 For Esau is the end
of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
6:10 The hand of man
is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
6:11 I answered then
and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,
6:12 I beseech thee,
shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last
night.
6:13 So he answered and
said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.
6:14 And it shall be
as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.
6:15 And therefore when
it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of
the earth is understood.
6:16 And why? because
the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end
of these things must be changed.
6:17 And it happened,
that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold,
there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many
waters.
6:18 And it said, Behold,
the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell
upon the earth,
6:19 And will begin to
make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness,
and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;
6:20 And when the world,
that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens:
the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:
6:21 And the children
of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring
forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and
be raised up.
6:22 And suddenly shall
the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found
empty:
6:23 And tha trumpet
shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.
6:24 At that time shall
friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in
fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the fountains shall stand
still, and in three hours they shall not run.
6:25 Whosoever remaineth
from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and
the end of your world.
6:26 And the men that
are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the
heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another meaning.
6:27 For evil shall be
put out, and deceit shall be quenched.
6:28 As for faith, it
shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been
so long without fruit, shall be declared.
6:29 And when he talked
with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood.
6:30 And these words
said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.
6:31 If thou wilt pray
yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things by day
than I have heard.
6:32 For thy voice is
heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing,
he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy youth.
6:33 And therefore hath
he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort
and fear not
6:34 And hasten not with
the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from
the latter times.
6:35 And it came to pass
after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I
might fulfil the three weeks which he told me.
6:36 And in the eighth
night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most
High.
6:37 For my spirit was
greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.
6:38 And I said, O Lord,
thou spakest from the beginning of the creation, even the first day, and saidst
thus; Let heaven and earth be made; and thy word was a perfect work.
6:39 And then was the
spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man's voice
was not yet formed.
6:40 Then commandedst
thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.
6:41 Upon the second
day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder,
and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and
the other remain beneath.
6:42 Upon the third day
thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of
the earth: six pats hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of
these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.
6:43 For as soon as thy
word went forth the work was made.
6:44 For immediately
there was great and innumerable fruit, and many and divers pleasures for the
taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, and odours of wonderful smell: and
this was done the third day.
6:45 Upon the fourth
day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her light,
and the stars should be in order:
6:46 And gavest them
a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.
6:47 Upon the fifth day
thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should
bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass.
6:48 For the dumb water
and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of God, that
all people might praise thy wondrous works.
6:49 Then didst thou
ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;
6:50 And didst separate
the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered
together, might not hold them both.
6:51 Unto Enoch thou
gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the
same part, wherein are a thousand hills:
6:52 But unto Leviathan
thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured
of whom thou wilt, and when.
6:53 Upon the sixth day
thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth
beasts, cattle, and creeping things:
6:54 And after these,
Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and
the people also whom thou hast chosen.
6:55 All this have I
spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes
6:56 As for the other
people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be
like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth
from a vessel.
6:57 And now, O Lord,
behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to
be lords over us, and to devour us.
6:58 But we thy people,
whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover,
are given into their hands.
6:59 If the world now
be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world?
how long shall this endure?
chapter 7
7:1 And when I had made
an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been
sent unto me the nights afore:
7:2 And he said unto me,
Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.
7:3 And I said, Speak
on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might
be deep and great.
7:4 But put the case the
entrance were narrow, and like a river;
7:5 Who then could go
into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow,
how could he come into the broad?
7:6 There is also another
thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good
things:
7:7 The entrance thereof
is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a
fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:
7:8 And one only path
between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there
could but one man go there at once.
7:9 If this city now were
given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before
it, how shall he receive this inheritance?
7:10 And I said, It is
so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel's portion.
7:11 Because for their
sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed
that now is done.
7:12 Then were the entrances
of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and
evil, full of perils,: and very painful.
7:13 For the entrances
of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.
7:14 If then they that
live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive
those that are laid up for them.
7:15 Now therefore why
disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art
thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
7:16 Why hast thou not
considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is
present?
7:17 Then answered I
and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the
righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.
7:18 Nevertheless the
righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have
done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
7:19 And he said unto
me. There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the
Highest.
7:20 For there be many
that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before
them.
7:21 For God hath given
strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they
came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
7:22 Nevertheless they
were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;
7:23 And deceived themselves
by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not
his ways:
7:24 But his law have
they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been
faithful, and have not performed his works.
7:25 And therefore, Esdras,
for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
7:26 Behold, the time
shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and
the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn
from the earth.
7:27 And whosoever is
delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.
7:28 For my son Jesus
shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice
within four hundred years.
7:29 After these years
shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.
7:30 And the world shall
be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments:
so that no man shall remain.
7:31 And after seven
days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die
that is corrupt
7:32 And the earth shall
restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell
in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed
unto them.
7:33 And the most High
shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away, and the
long suffering shall have an end:
7:34 But judgment only
shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
7:35 And the work shall
follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall be of force,
and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.
7:36 Then said I, Abraham
prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the
wilderness:
7:37 And Jesus after
him for Israel in the time of Achan:
7:38 And Samuel and David
for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to the sanctuary:
7:39 And Helias for those
that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
7:40 And Ezechias for
the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.
7:41 Even so now, seeing
corruption is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed
for the ungodly: wherefore shall it not be so now also?
7:42 He answered me,
and said, This present life is not the end where much glory doth abide; therefore
have they prayed for the weak.
7:43 But the day of doom
shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come,
wherein corruption is past,
7:44 Intemperance is
at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung
up.
7:45 Then shall no man
be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the
victory.
7:46 I answered then
and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have
given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained
him from sinning.
7:47 For what profit
is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death
to look for punishment?
7:48 O thou Adam, what
hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone,
but we all that come of thee.
7:49 For what profit
is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done
the works that bring death?
7:50 And that there is
promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made
vain?
7:51 And that there are
laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
7:52 And that the glory
of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas
we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?
7:53 And that there should
be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and
medicine, since we shall not enter into it?
7:54 (For we have walked
in unpleasant places.)
7:55 And that the faces
of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our
faces shall be blacker than darkness?
7:56 For while we lived
and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for
it after death.
7:57 Then answered he
me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon
the earth shall fight;
7:58 That, if he be overcome,
he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive
the thing that I say.
7:59 For this is the
life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee
life, that thou mayest live.
7:60 Nevertheless they
believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken
unto them,
7:61 That there should
not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are
persuaded to salvation.
7:62 I answered then,
and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is called merciful, in that he hath
mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world,
7:63 And upon those also
that turn to his law;
7:64 And that he is patient,
and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;
7:65 And that he is bountiful,
for he is ready to give where it needeth;
7:66 And that he is of
great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more mercies to them that are present,
and that are past, and also to them which are to come.
7:67 For if he shall
not multiply his mercies, the world would not continue with them that inherit
therein.
7:68 And he pardoneth;
for if he did not so of his goodness, that they which have committed iniquities
might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men should not remain living.
7:69 And being judge,
if he should not forgive them that are cured with his word, and put out the
multitude of contentions,
7:70 There should be
very few left peradventure in an innumerable multitude.
chapter 8
8:1 And he answered me,
saying, The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for
few.
8:2 I will tell thee a
similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that
it giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but little dust that
gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.
8:3 There be many created,
but few shall be saved.
8:4 So answered I and
said, Swallow then down, O my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
8:5 For thou hast agreed
to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for thou hast no longer space than
only to live.
8:6 O Lord, if thou suffer
not thy servant, that we may pray before thee, and thou give us seed unto our
heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it; how
shall each man live that is corrupt, who beareth the place of a man?
8:7 For thou art alone,
and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.
8:8 For when the body
is fashioned now in the mother's womb, and thou givest it members, thy creature
is preserved in fire and water, and nine months doth thy workmanship endure
thy creature which is created in her.
8:9 But that which keepeth
and is kept shall both be preserved: and when the time cometh, the womb preserved
delivereth up the things that grew in it.
8:10 For thou hast commanded
out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, milk to be
given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
8:11 That the thing which
is fashioned may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to thy mercy.
8:12 Thou broughtest
it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in thy law, and reformedst it
with thy judgment.
8:13 And thou shalt mortify
it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy work.
8:14 If therefore thou
shalt destroy him which with so great labour was fashioned, it is an easy thing
to be ordained by thy commandment, that the thing which was made might be preserved.
8:15 Now therefore, Lord,
I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people,
for whose sake I am sorry;
8:16 And for thine inheritance,
for whose cause I mourn; and for Israel, for whom I am heavy; and for Jacob,
for whose sake I am troubled;
8:17 Therefore will I
begin to pray before thee for myself and for them: for I see the falls of us
that dwell in the land.
8:18 But I have heard
the swiftness of the judge which is to come.
8:19 Therefore hear my
voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before thee. This is the beginning
of the words of Esdras, before he was taken up: and I said,
8:20 O Lord, thou that
dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from above things in the heaven
and in the air;
8:21 Whose throne is
inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the hosts of angels
stand with trembling,
8:22 Whose service is
conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true, and sayings constant; whose
commandment is strong, and ordinance fearful;
8:23 Whose look drieth
up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt away; which the
truth witnesseth:
8:24 O hear the prayer
of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature.
8:25 For while I live
I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer.
8:26 O look not upon
the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.
8:27 Regard not the wicked
inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy testimonies
in afflictions.
8:28 Think not upon those
that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which according to
thy will have known thy fear.
8:29 Let it not be thy
will to destroy them which have lived like beasts; but to look upon them that
have clearly taught thy law.
8:30 Take thou no indignation
at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that always put their
trust in thy righteousness and glory.
8:31 For we and our fathers
do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou shalt be called
merciful.
8:32 For if thou hast
a desire to have mercy upon us, thou shalt be called merciful, to us namely,
that have no works of righteousness.
8:33 For the just, which
have many good works laid up with thee, shall out of their own deeds receive
reward.
8:34 For what is man,
that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or what is a corruptible generation,
that thou shouldest be so bitter toward it?
8:35 For in truth them
is no man among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly; and among the
faithful there is none which hath not done amiss.
8:36 For in this, O Lord,
thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be declared, if thou be merciful unto
them which have not the confidence of good works.
8:37 Then answered he
me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words
it shall be.
8:38 For indeed I will
not think on the disposition of them which have sinned before death, before
judgment, before destruction:
8:39 But I will rejoice
over the disposition of the righteous, and I will remember also their pilgrimage,
and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have.
8:40 Like as I have spoken
now, so shall it come to pass.
8:41 For as the husbandman
soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet the thing
that is sown good in his season cometh not up, neither doth all that is planted
take root: even so is it of them that are sown in the world; they shall not
all be saved.
8:42 I answered then
and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.
8:43 Like as the husbandman's
seed perisheth, if it come not up, and receive not thy rain in due season; or
if there come too much rain, and corrupt it:
8:44 Even so perisheth
man also, which is formed with thy hands, and is called thine own image, because
thou art like unto him, for whose sake thou hast made all things, and likened
him unto the husbandman's seed.
8:45 Be not wroth with
us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance: for thou
art merciful unto thy creature.
8:46 Then answered he
me, and said, Things present are for the present, and things to cometh for such
as be to come.
8:47 For thou comest
far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I
have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.
8:48 In this also thou
art marvellous before the most High:
8:49 In that thou hast
humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to
be much glorified among the righteous.
8:50 For many great miseries
shall be done to them that in the latter time shall dwell in the world, because
they have walked in great pride.
8:51 But understand thou
for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.
8:52 For unto you is
paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared,
plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect
goodness and wisdom.
8:53 The root of evil
is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and corruption
is fled into hell to be forgotten:
8:54 Sorrows are passed,
and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.
8:55 And therefore ask
thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.
8:56 For when they had
taken liberty, they despised the most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook
his ways.
8:57 Moreover they have
trodden down his righteous,
8:58 And said in their
heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.
8:59 For as the things
aforesaid shalt receive you, so thirst and pain are prepared for them: for it
was not his will that men should come to nought:
8:60 But they which be
created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto
him which prepared life for them.
8:61 And therefore is
my judgment now at hand.
8:62 These things have
I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered
I and said,
8:63 Behold, O Lord,
now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders, which thou wilt begin
to do in the last times: but at what time, thou hast not shewed me.
chapter 9
9:1 He answered me then,
and said, Measure thou the time diligently in itself: and when thou seest part
of the signs past, which I have told thee before,
9:2 Then shalt thou understand,
that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world
which he made.
9:3 Therefore when there
shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the people in the world:
9:4 Then shalt thou well
understand, that the most High spake of those things from the days that were
before thee, even from the beginning.
9:5 For like as all that
is made in the world hath a beginning and an end, and the end is manifest:
9:6 Even so the times
also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonder and powerful works, and
endings in effects and signs.
9:7 And every one that
shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, and by faith, whereby
ye have believed,
9:8 Shall be preserved
from the said perils, and shall see my salvation in my land, and within my borders:
for I have sanctified them for me from the beginning.
9:9 Then shall they be
in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them
away despitefully shall dwell in torments.
9:10 For such as in their
life have received benefits, and have not known me;
9:11 And they that have
loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance
was open unto them, understood not, but despised it;
9:12 The same must know
it after death by pain.
9:13 And therefore be
thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but enquire how
the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is
created.
9:14 Then answered I
and said,
9:15 I have said before,
and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be many more
of them which perish, than of them which shall be saved:
9:16 Like as a wave is
greater than a drop.
9:17 And he answered
me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such
are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as
the husbandman ls himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of
the world.
9:18 And now when I prepared
the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live,
no man spake against me.
9:19 For then every one
obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is
made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid
themselves.
9:20 So I considered
the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come
into it.
9:21 And I saw, and spared
it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great
people.
9:22 Let the multitude
perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant;
for with great labour have I made it perfect.
9:23 Nevertheless, if
thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,
9:24 But go into a field
of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field;
taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)
9:25 And pray unto the
Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
9:26 So I went my way
into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I
sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of
the same satisfied me.
9:27 After seven days
I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:
9:28 And I opened my
mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,
9:29 O Lord, thou that
shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness,
in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.
9:30 And thou spakest
saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.
9:31 For, behold, I sow
my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in
it for ever.
9:32 But our fathers,
which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances: and though
the fruit of thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine;
9:33 Yet they that received
it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
9:34 And, lo, it ls a
custom, when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel
meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,
9:35 That thing also
which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth perish, and remaineth not
with us: but with us it hath not happened so.
9:36 For we that have
received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it
9:37 Notwithstanding
the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.
9:38 And when I spake
these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side
I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was
much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her
head.
9:39 Then let I my thoughts
go that I was in, and turned me unto her,
9:40 And said unto her,
Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved in thy mind?
9:41 And she said unto
me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for
I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low.
9:42 And I said unto
her, What aileth thee? tell me.
9:43 She said unto me,
I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty
years,
9:44 And those thirty
years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my, prayer
to the Highest.
9:45 After thirty years
God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and
gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my
neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Almighty.
9:46 And I nourished
him with great travail.
9:47 So when he grew
up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.
chapter 10
10:1 And it so came to
pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and
died.
10:2 Then we all overthrew
the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto
the second day at night.
10:3 And it came to pass,
when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then
rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.
10:4 And I do now purpose
not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink,
but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.
10:5 Then left I the
meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
10:6 Thou foolish woman
above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?
10:7 How that Sion our
mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
10:8 And now, seeing
we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for
one son?
10:9 For ask the earth,
and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of
so many that grow upon her.
10:10 For out of her
came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they
walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted
out.
10:11 Who then should
make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou,
which art sorry but for one?
10:12 But if thou sayest
unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth's, because I have lost the fruit
of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;
10:13 But the earth
not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth
is gone, as it came:
10:14 Then say I unto
thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath
given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.
10:15 Now therefore
keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen
thee.
10:16 For if thou shalt
acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy
son in time, and shalt be commended among women.
10:17 Go thy way then
into the city to thine husband.
10:18 And she said unto
me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.
10:19 So I proceeded
to speak further unto her, and said,
10:20 Do not so, but
be counselled. by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted
in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.
10:21 For thou seest
that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;
10:22 Our psaltery is
laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end,
the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled,
our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned:
our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into
captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men
carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage,
and our strong men are become weak;
10:23 And, which is
the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered
into the hands of them that hate us.
10:24 And therefore
shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the
Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest
and ease from thy labour.
10:25 And it came to
pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly,
and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it
might be.
10:26 And, behold, suddenly
she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the
woman.
10:27 And I looked,
and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded,
and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and
cried with a loud voice, and said,
10:28 Where is Uriel
the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into
many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
10:29 And as I was speaking
these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
10:30 And, lo, I lay
as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he
took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said
unto me,
10:31 What aileth thee?
and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and
the thoughts of thine heart?
10:32 And I said, Because
thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into
the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.
10:33 And he said unto
me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
10:34 Then said I, Speak
on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.
10:35 For I have seen
that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.
10:36 Or is my sense
deceived, or my soul in a dream?
10:37 Now therefore
I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
10:38 He answered me
then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou
art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.
10:39 He hath seen that
thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest
great lamentation for Sion.
10:40 This therefore
is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
10:41 Thou sawest a
woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
10:42 But now seest
thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city
builded.
10:43 And whereas she
told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
10:44 This woman, whom
thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest
as a city builded,
10:45 Whereas, I say,
she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty
years wherein there was no offering made in her.
10:46 But after thirty
years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren
a son.
10:47 And whereas she
told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.
10:48 But whereas she
said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have
a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.
10:49 And, behold, thou
sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to
comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened
unto thee.
10:50 For now the most
High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart
for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness
of her beauty:
10:51 And therefore
I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:
10:52 For I knew that
the Highest would shew this unto thee.
10:53 Therefore I commanded
thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.
10:54 For in the place
wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man's building
be able to stand.
10:55 And therefore
fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the
beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:
10:56 And then shalt
thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.
10:57 For thou art blessed
above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.
10:58 But to morrow
at night thou shalt remain here;
10:59 And so shall the
Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto
them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another,
like as he commanded me.
chapter 11
11:1 Then saw I a dream,
and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered
wings, and three heads.
11:2 And I saw, and,
behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air
blew on her, and were gathered together.
11:3 And I beheld, and
out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little
feathers and small.
11:4 But her heads were
at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with
the residue.
11:5 Moreover I beheld,
and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over
them that dwelt therein.
11:6 And I saw that all
things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no,
not one creature upon earth.
11:7 And I beheld, and,
lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,
11:8 Watch not all at
once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:
11:9 But let the heads
be preserved for the last.
11:10 And I beheld,
and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.
11:11 And I numbered
her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.
11:12 And I looked,
and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all
the earth;
11:13 And so it was,
that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no
more: so the next following stood up. and reigned, and had a great time;
11:14 And it happened,
that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it
appeared no more.
11:15 Then came there
a voice unto it, and said,
11:16 Hear thou that
hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest
to appear no more,
11:17 There shall none
after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.
11:18 Then arose the
third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.
11:19 So went it with
all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared
no more.
11:20 Then I beheld,
and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right
side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while
they appeared no more:
11:21 For some of them
were set up, but ruled not.
11:22 After this I looked,
and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:
11:23 And there was
no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.
11:24 Then saw I also
that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under
the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their place.
11:25 And I beheld,
and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves
and to have the rule.
11:26 And I beheld,
and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.
11:27 And the second
was sooner away than the first.
11:28 And I beheld,
and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:
11:29 And when they
so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely,
it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.
11:30 And then I saw
that the two other heads were joined with it.
11:31 And, behold, the
head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers
under the wing that would have reigned.
11:32 But this head
put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt upon
the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more
than all the wings that had been.
11:33 And after this
I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more,
like as the wings.
11:34 But there remained
the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those
that dwelt therein.
11:35 And I beheld,
and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.
11:36 Then I head a
voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou
seest.
11:37 And I beheld,
and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he
sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,
11:38 Hear thou, I will
talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,
11:39 Art not thou it
that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the
end of their times might come through them?
11:40 And the fourth
came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world
with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked
oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.
11:41 For the earth
hast thou not judged with truth.
11:42 For thou hast
afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable, thou hast loved liars, and
destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down
the walls of such as did thee no harm.
11:43 Therefore is thy
wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.
11:44 The Highest also
hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations
are fulfilled.
11:45 And therefore
appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings, nor thy wicked feathers
nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws, nor all thy vain body:
11:46 That all the earth
may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from thy violence, and that
she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.
chapter 12
12:1 And it came to pass,
whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,
12:2 And, behold, the
head that remained and the four wings appeared no more, and the two went unto
it and set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and fill of
uproar.
12:3 And I saw, and,
behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so
that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance
of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,
12:4 Lo, this hast thou
done unto me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest.
12:5 Lo, yet am I weary
in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me,
for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.
12:6 Therefore will I
now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.
12:7 And I said, Lord
that bearest rule, if I have found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified
with thee before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before thy
face;
12:8 Comfort me then,
and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful
vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul.
12:9 For thou hast judged
me worthy to shew me the last times.
12:10 And he said unto
me, This is the interpretation of the vision:
12:11 The eagle, whom
thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision
of thy brother Daniel.
12:12 But it was not
expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.
12:13 Behold, the days
will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared
above all the kingdoms that were before it.
12:14 In the same shall
twelve kings reign, one after another:
12:15 Whereof the second
shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the twelve.
12:16 And this do the
twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.
12:17 As for the voice
which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest not to go out from the heads
but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation:
12:18 That after the
time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in
peril of failing: nevertheless it shall not then fall, but shall be restored
again to his beginning.
12:19 And whereas thou
sawest the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation:
12:20 That in him there
shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift.
12:21 And two of them
shall perish, the middle time approaching: four shall be kept until their end
begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end.
12:22 And whereas thou
sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:
12:23 In his last days
shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein,
and they shall have the dominion of the earth,
12:24 And of those that
dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them:
therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.
12:25 For these are
they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end.
12:26 And whereas thou
sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them
shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.
12:27 For the two that
remain shall be slain with the sword.
12:28 For the sword
of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the
sword himself.
12:29 And whereas thou
sawest two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right
side;
12:30 It signifieth
that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this is the
small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest.
12:31 And the lion,
whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the
eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou
hast heard;
12:32 This is the anointed,
which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end:
he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty.
12:33 For he shall set
them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them.
12:34 For the rest of
my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my
borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment,
whereof I have spoken unto thee from the the beginning.
12:35 This is the dream
that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.
12:36 Thou only hast
been meet to know this secret of the Highest.
12:37 Therefore write
all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them:
12:38 And teach them
to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep
these secrets.
12:39 But wait thou
here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be shewed thee, whatsoever it
pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee. And with that he went his way.
12:40 And it came to
pass, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I not come
again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least unto the
greatest, and came unto me, and said,
12:41 What have we offended
thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest
here in this place?
12:42 For of all the
prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of the vintage, and as a candle
in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest.
12:43 Are not the evils
which are come to us sufficient?
12:44 If thou shalt
forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in
the midst of Sion?
12:45 For we are not
better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered
I them, and said,
12:46 Be of good comfort,
O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob:
12:47 For the Highest
hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temptation.
12:48 As for me, I have
not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place,
to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for the low
estate of your sanctuary.
12:49 And now go your
way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.
12:50 So the people
went their way into the city, like as I commanded them:
12:51 But I remained
still in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me; and did eat only in
those days of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs.
chapter 13
13:1 And it came to pass
after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:
13:2 And, lo, there arose
a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.
13:3 And I beheld, and,
lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his
countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.
13:4 And whensoever the
voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the
earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.
13:5 And after this I
beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a multitude of men, out of number,
from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of the sea
13:6 But I beheld, and,
lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.
13:7 But I would have
seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not.
13:8 And after this I
beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore
afraid, and yet durst fight.
13:9 And, lo, as he saw
the violence of the multitude that came, he neither lifted up his hand, nor
held sword, nor any instrument of war:
13:10 But only I saw
that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his
lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and tempests.
13:11 And they were
all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest;
and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned
them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing
was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was
afraid.
13:12 Afterward saw
I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another peaceable
Multitude.
13:13 And there came
much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them
were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick
through great fear, and I awaked, and said,
13:14 Thou hast shewed
thy servant these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy that
thou shouldest receive my prayer:
13:15 Shew me now yet
the interpretation of this dream.
13:16 For as I conceive
in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall be left in those days and much
more woe unto them that are not left behind!
13:17 For they that
were not left were in heaviness.
13:18 Now understand
I the things that are laid up in the latter days, which shall happen unto them,
and to those that are left behind.
13:19 Therefore are
they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these dreams declare.
13:20 Yet is it easier
for him that is in danger to come into these things, than to pass away as a
cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that happen in the last days.
And he answered unto me, and said,
13:21 The interpretation
of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou
hast required.
13:22 Whereas thou hast
spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:
13:23 He that shall
endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into danger
are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty.
13:24 Know this therefore,
that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead.
13:25 This is the meaning
of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea:
13:26 The same is he
whom God the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self shall deliver
his creature: and he shall order them that are left behind.
13:27 And whereas thou
sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm;
13:28 And that he held
neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of him destroyed
the whole multitude that came to subdue him; this is the interpretation:
13:29 Behold, the days
come, when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth.
13:30 And he shall come
to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth.
13:31 And one shall
undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against
another, one people against another, and one realm against another.
13:32 And the time shall
be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I
shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a
man ascending.
13:33 And when all the
people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they
have one against another.
13:34 And an innumerable
multitude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come,
and to overcome him by fighting.
13:35 But he shall stand
upon the top of the mount Sion.
13:36 And Sion shall
come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou
sawest the hill graven without hands.
13:37 And this my Son
shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked
life are fallen into the tempest;
13:38 And shall lay
before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin
to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without
labour by the law which is like unto me.
13:39 And whereas thou
sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
13:40 Those are the
ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time
of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and
he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
13:41 But they took
this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen,
and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,
13:42 That they might
there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
13:43 And they entered
into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
13:44 For the most High
then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed
over.
13:45 For through that
country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same
region is called Arsareth.
13:46 Then dwelt they
there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
13:47 The Highest shall
stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest
thou the multitude with peace.
13:48 But those that
be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders.
13:49 Now when he destroyeth
the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his
people that remain.
13:50 And then shall
he shew them great wonders.
13:51 Then said I, O
Lord that bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore have I seen the man coming up
from the midst of the sea?
13:52 And he said unto
me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that are in the
deep of the sea: even so can no man upon earth see my Son, or those that be
with him, but in the day time.
13:53 This is the interpretation
of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art here lightened.
13:54 For thou hast
forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought it.
13:55 Thy life hast
thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother.
13:56 And therefore
have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest: after other three days I will
speak other things unto thee, and declare unto thee mighty and wondrous things.
13:57 Then went I forth
into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto the most High because
of his wonders which he did in time;
13:58 And because he
governeth the same, and such things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat
three days.
chapter 14
14:1 And it came to pass
upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and, behold, there came a voice out
of a bush over against me, and said, Esdras, Esdras.
14:2 And I said, Here
am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.
14:3 Then said he unto
me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself unto Moses, and talked with him,
when my people served in Egypt:
14:4 And I sent him and
led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up to the mount of where I held
him by me a long season,
14:5 And told him many
wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end; and commanded
him, saying,
14:6 These words shalt
thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.
14:7 And now I say unto
thee,
14:8 That thou lay up
in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and the dreams that thou hast seen,
and the interpretations which thou hast heard:
14:9 For thou shalt be
taken away from all, and from henceforth thou shalt remain with my Son, and
with such as be like thee, until the times be ended.
14:10 For the world
hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old.
14:11 For the world
is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of it are gone already, and
half of a tenth part:
14:12 And there remaineth
that which is after the half of the tenth part.
14:13 Now therefore
set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be
in trouble, and now renounce corruption,
14:14 Let go from thee
mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the weak nature,
14:15 And set aside
the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from these
times.
14:16 For yet greater
evils than those which thou hast seen happen shall be done hereafter.
14:17 For look how much
the world shall be weaker through age, so much the more shall evils increase
upon them that dwell therein.
14:18 For the time is
fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for now hasteth the vision to come,
which thou hast seen.
14:19 Then answered
I before thee, and said,
14:20 Behold, Lord,
I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove the people which are present:
but they that shall be born afterward, who shall admonish them? thus the world
is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein are without light.
14:21 For thy law is
burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or the work
that shall begin.
14:22 But if I have
found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into me, and I shall write all
that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which were written in
thy law, that men may find thy path, and that they which will live in the latter
days may live.
14:23 And he answered
me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people together, and say unto them, that
they seek thee not for forty days.
14:24 But look thou
prepare thee many box trees, and take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus,
and Asiel, these five which are ready to write swiftly;
14:25 And come hither,
and I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall not
be put out, till the things be performed which thou shalt begin to write.
14:26 And when thou
hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some things shalt thou shew secretly
to the wise: to morrow this hour shalt thou begin to write.
14:27 Then went I forth,
as he commanded, and gathered all the people together, and said,
14:28 Hear these words,
O Israel.
14:29 Our fathers at
the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered:
14:30 And received the
law of life, which they kept not, which ye also have transgressed after them.
14:31 Then was the land,
even the land of Sion, parted among you by lot: but your fathers, and ye yourselves,
have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded
you.
14:32 And forasmuch
as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that he had given
you.
14:33 And now are ye
here, and your brethren among you.
14:34 Therefore if so
be that ye will subdue your own understanding, and reform your hearts, ye shall
be kept alive and after death ye shall obtain mercy.
14:35 For after death
shall the judgment come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names
of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the ungodly shall be declared.
14:36 Let no man therefore
come unto me now, nor seek after me these forty days.
14:37 So I took the
five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.
14:38 And the next day,
behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open thy mouth, and drink that I
give thee to drink.
14:39 Then opened I
my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it were with
water, but the colour of it was like fire.
14:40 And I took it,
and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart uttered understanding, and wisdom
grew in my breast, for my spirit strengthened my memory:
14:41 And my mouth was
opened, and shut no more.
14:42 The Highest gave
understanding unto the five men, and they wrote the wonderful visions of the
night that were told, which they knew not: and they sat forty days, and they
wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread.
14:43 As for me. I spake
in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.
14:44 In forty days
they wrote two hundred and four books.
14:45 And it came to
pass, when the forty days were filled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first
that thou hast written publish openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read
it:
14:46 But keep the seventy
last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among the people:
14:47 For in them is
the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge.
14:48 And I did so.
chapter 15
15:1 Behold, speak thou
in the ears of my people the words of prophecy, which I will put in thy mouth,
saith the Lord:
15:2 And cause them to
be written in paper: for they are faithful and true.
15:3 Fear not the imaginations
against thee, let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against
thee.
15:4 For all the unfaithful
shall die in their unfaithfulness.
15:5 Behold, saith the
Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the sword, famine, death, and destruction.
15:6 For wickedness hath
exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works are fulfilled.
15:7 Therefore saith
the Lord,
15:8 I will hold my tongue
no more as touching their wickedness, which they profanely commit, neither will
I suffer them in those things, in which they wickedly exercise themselves: behold,
the innocent and righteous blood crieth unto me, and the souls of the just complain
continually.
15:9 And therefore, saith
the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all the innocent blood
from among them.
15:10 Behold, my people
is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not suffer them now to dwell in the
land of Egypt:
15:11 But I will bring
them with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite Egypt with plagues,
as before, and will destroy all the land thereof.
15:12 Egypt shall mourn,
and the foundation of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment that
God shall bring upon it.
15:13 They that till
the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail through the blasting and
hail, and with a fearful constellation.
15:14 Woe to the world
and them that dwell therein!
15:15 For the sword
and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up and fight
against another, and swords in their hands.
15:16 For there shall
be sedition among men, and invading one another; they shall not regard their
kings nor princes, and the course of their actions shall stand in their power.
15:17 A man shall desire
to go into a city, and shall not be able.
15:18 For because of
their pride the cities shall be troubled, the houses shall be destroyed, and
men shall be afraid.
15:19 A man shall have
no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy their houses with the sword, and
spoil their goods, because of the lack of bread, and for great tribulation.
15:20 Behold, saith
God, I will call together all the kings of the earth to reverence me, which
are from the rising of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus;
to turn themselves one against another, and repay the things that they have
done to them.
15:21 Like as they do
yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense in their bosom.
Thus saith the Lord God;
15:22 My right hand
shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them that shed
innocent blood upon the earth.
15:23 The fire is gone
forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the
sinners, like the straw that is kindled.
15:24 Woe to them that
sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the Lord.
15:25 I will not spare
them: go your way, ye children, from the power, defile not my sanctuary.
15:26 For the Lord knoweth
all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and
destruction.
15:27 For now are the
plagues come upon the whole earth and ye shall remain in them: for God shall
not deliver you, because ye have sinned against him.
15:28 Behold an horrible
vision, and the appearance thereof from the east:
15:29 Where the nations
of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and the multitude
of them shall be carried as the wind upon earth, that all they which hear them
may fear and tremble.
15:30 Also the Carmanians
raging in wrath shall go forth as the wild boars of the wood, and with great
power shall they come, and join battle with them, and shall waste a portion
of the land of the Assyrians.
15:31 And then shall
the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their nature; and if they shall
turn themselves, conspiring together in great power to persecute them,
15:32 Then these shall
be troubled bled, and keep silence through their power, and shall flee.
15:33 And from the land
of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them, and consume some of them, and
in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings.
15:34 Behold clouds
from the east and from the north unto the south, and they are very horrible
to look upon, full of wrath and storm.
15:35 They shall smite
one upon another, and they shall smite down a great multitude of stars upon
the earth, even their own star; and blood shall be from the sword unto the belly,
15:36 And dung of men
unto the camel's hough.
15:37 And there shall
be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth: and they that see the wrath shall
be afraid, and trembling shall come upon them.
15:38 And then shall
there come great storms from the south, and from the north, and another part
from the west.
15:39 And strong winds
shall arise from the east, and shall open it; and the cloud which he raised
up in wrath, and the star stirred to cause fear toward the east and west wind,
shall be destroyed.
15:40 The great and
mighty clouds shall be puffed up full of wrath, and the star, that they may
make all the earth afraid, and them that dwell therein; and they shall pour
out over every high and eminent place an horrible star,
15:41 Fire, and hail,
and flying swords, and many waters, that all fields may be full, and all rivers,
with the abundance of great waters.
15:42 And they shall
break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the wood, and
grass of the meadows, and their corn.
15:43 And they shall
go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.
15:44 They shall come
to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her:
then shall the dust and smoke go up unto the heaven, and all they that be about
her shall bewail her.
15:45 And they that
remain under her shall do service unto them that have put her in fear.
15:46 And thou, Asia,
that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art the glory of her person:
15:47 Woe be unto thee,
thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like unto her; and hast decked thy
daughters in whoredom, that they might please and glory in thy lovers, which
have always desired to commit whoredom with thee.
15:48 Thou hast followed
her that is hated in all her works and inventions: therefore saith God,
15:49 I will send plagues
upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, to waste thy houses
with destruction and death.
15:50 And the glory
of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the heat shall arise that is sent
over thee.
15:51 Thou shalt be
weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one chastised with wounds, so
that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive thee.
15:52 Would I with jealousy
have so proceeded against thee, saith the Lord,
15:53 If thou hadst
not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine hands, and saying over
their dead, when thou wast drunken,
15:54 Set forth the
beauty of thy countenance?
15:55 The reward of
thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive recompence.
15:56 Like as thou hast
done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so shall God do unto thee, and shall
deliver thee into mischief
15:57 Thy children shall
die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the sword: thy cities shall be broken
down, and all thine shall perish with the sword in the field.
15:58 They that be in
the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink their
own blood, for very hunger of bread, and thirst of water.
15:59 Thou as unhappy
shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
15:60 And in the passage
they shall rush on the idle city, and shall destroy some portion of thy land,
and consume part of thy glory, and shall return to Babylon that was destroyed.
15:61 And thou shalt
be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be unto thee as fire;
15:62 And shall consume
thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountains; all thy woods and thy fruitful
trees shall they burn up with fire.
15:63 Thy children shall
they carry away captive, and, look, what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and
mar the beauty of thy face.
chapter 16
16:1 Woe be unto thee,
Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and Syria!
16:2 Gird up yourselves
with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your children, and be sorry; for your destruction
is at hand.
16:3 A sword is sent
upon you, and who may turn it back?
16:4 A fire is sent among
you, and who may quench it?
16:5 Plagues are sent
unto you, and what is he that may drive them away?
16:6 May any man drive
away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one quench the fire in stubble,
when it hath begun to burn?
16:7 May one turn again
the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?
16:8 The mighty Lord
sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive them away?
16:9 A fire shall go
forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it?
16:10 He shall cast
lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid?
16:11 The Lord shall
threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to powder at his presence?
16:12 The earth quaketh,
and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and
the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord,
and before the glory of his power:
16:13 For strong is
his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp,
and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.
16:14 Behold, the plagues
are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.
16:15 The fire is kindled,
and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.
16:16 Like as an arrow
which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues
that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.
16:17 Woe is me! woe
is me! who will deliver me in those days?
16:18 The beginning
of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the
beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils!
what shall I do when these evils shall come?
16:19 Behold, famine
and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.
16:20 But for all these
things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the
scourges.
16:21 Behold, victuals
shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they shall think themselves to be in
good case, and even then shall evils grow upon earth, sword, famine, and great
confusion.
16:22 For many of them
that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the other, that escape the
hunger, shall the sword destroy.
16:23 And the dead shall
be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for the earth
shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down.
16:24 There shall be
no man left to till the earth, and to sow it
16:25 The trees shall
give fruit, and who shall gather them?
16:26 The grapes shall
ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places shall be desolate of men:
16:27 So that one man
shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice.
16:28 For of a city
there shall be ten left, and two of the field, which shall hide themselves in
the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks.
16:29 As in an orchard
of Olives upon every tree there are left three or four olives;
16:30 Or as when a vineyard
is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that diligently seek through
the vineyard:
16:31 Even so in those
days there shall be three or four left by them that search their houses with
the sword.
16:32 And the earth
shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall wax old, and her ways and
all her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel therethrough.
16:33 The virgins shall
mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn, having no husbands; their
daughters shall mourn, having no helpers.
16:34 In the wars shall
their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
16:35 Hear now these
things and understand them, ye servants of the Lord.
16:36 Behold, the word
of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of whom the Lord spake.
16:37 Behold, the plagues
draw nigh, and are not slack.
16:38 As when a woman
with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her son, with two or three hours
of her birth great pains compass her womb, which pains, when the child cometh
forth, they slack not a moment:
16:39 Even so shall
not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn,
and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.
16:40 O my people, hear
my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in those evils be even as pilgrims
upon the earth.
16:41 He that selleth,
let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that buyeth, as one that will lose:
16:42 He that occupieth
merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it: and he that buildeth, as he that
shall not dwell therein:
16:43 He that soweth,
as if he should not reap: so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he that
shall not gather the grapes:
16:44 They that marry,
as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.
16:45 And therefore
they that labour labour in vain:
16:46 For strangers
shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their houses, and
take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall they get children.
16:47 And they that
occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their
houses, their possessions, and their own persons:
16:48 The more will
I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.
16:49 Like as a whore
envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:
16:50 So shall righteousness
hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when
he cometh that shall defend him that diligently searcheth out every sin upon
earth.
16:51 And therefore
be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.
16:52 For yet a little,
and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign
among you.
16:53 Let not the sinner
say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon his head,
which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.
16:54 Behold, the Lord
knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their
hearts:
16:55 Which spake but
the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be made; and
it was created.
16:56 In his word were
the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.
16:57 He searcheth the
deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth.
16:58 He hath shut the
sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon
the waters.
16:59 He spreadeth out
the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath he founded it.
16:60 In the desert
hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the tops of the mountains, that
the floods might pour down from the high rocks to water the earth.
16:61 He made man, and
put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and understanding.
16:62 Yea and the Spirit
of Almighty God, which made all things, and searcheth out all hidden things
in the secrets of the earth,
16:63 Surely he knoweth
your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin, and would
hide their sin.
16:64 Therefore hath
the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to shame.
16:65 And when your
sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall
be your accusers in that day.
16:66 What will ye do?
or how will ye hide your sins before God and his angels?
16:67 Behold, God himself
is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities,
to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver
you from all trouble.
16:68 For, behold, the
burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take
away certain of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered unto idols.
16:69 And they that
consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under
foot.
16:70 For there shall
be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that
fear the Lord.
16:71 They shall be
like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear
the Lord.
16:72 For they shall
waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
16:73 Then shall they
be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.
16:74 Hear, O ye my
beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will
deliver you from the same.
16:75 Be ye not afraid
neither doubt; for God is your guide,
16:76 And the guide
of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let not your
sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.
16:77 Woe be unto them
that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities like as a
field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns,
that no man may travel through!
16:78 It is left undressed,
and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.