1And 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:
2and he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.
3And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then he said unto me, There is a sea set in a wide place, that it might be 51broad and vast.
4But the entrance thereof shall be set in a narrow place so as to be like a river;
5whoso then should desire to go into the sea to look upon it, or to rule it, if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?
6Another thing also: There is a city builded and set in a plain country, and full of all good things;
7but the entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, having a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:
8and there is 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.
9If this city now be given unto a man for an inheritance, if the heir pass not the danger before him, how shall he receive his inheritance?
10And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel’s portion.
11Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.
12Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, and sorrowful and toilsome: they are but few and evil, full of perils, and charged with great toils.
13For the entrances of the greater world are wide and sure, and bring forth fruit of immortality.
14If then they that live enter not these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.
15Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
16and why hast thou not considered in thy mind that which is to come, rather than that which is present?
17Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, lo, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.
18The righteous therefore shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: but they that have done wickedly 52have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
19And he said unto me, 53Thou art not a judge above God, neither hast thou understanding above the Most High.
20Yea, rather let many that now be perish, than that the law of God which is set before them be despised.
21For God straitly commanded such as came, even as they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
22Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined for themselves vain things;
23and framed cunning devices of wickedness; and said moreover of the Most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
24but they despised his law, and denied his covenants; they have not been faithful to his statutes, and have not performed his works.
25Therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
26For behold, the time shall come, and it shall be, when these tokens, of which I told thee before, shall come to pass, that the bride shall appear, even the city coming forth, and she shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.
27And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils, the same shall see my wonders.
28For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and shall rejoice them that remain four hundred years.
29After these years shall my son Christ dieof them that, and all that have the breath of 54life.
30And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the first beginning: so that no man shall remain.
31And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corruptible.
32And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in silence, and the 55secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed unto them.
33And the Most High shall be revealed upon the seat of judgement, 56and compassion shall pass away, and longsuffering shall be withdrawn:
34but judgement only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
35and the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and good deeds shall awake, and wicked deeds shall not sleep. 57
36And the 58pit of torment shall appear, and over against it shall be the place of rest: and the furnace of 59hell shall be shewed, and over against it the paradise of delight.
37And then shall the Most High say to the nations that are raised from the dead, See ye and understand whom ye have denied, or whom ye have not served, or whose commandments ye have despised.
38Look on this side and on that: here is delight and rest, and there fire and torments. Thus 60shall he speak unto them in the day of judgement:
39This is a day that hath neither sun, nor moon, nor stars,
40neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning,
41neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor 61winter, neither frost, nor cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew,
42neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, nor light, save only the splendour of the glory of the Most High, whereby all shall see the things that are set before them:
43for it shall endure as it were a week of years.
44This is my judgement and the ordinance thereof; but to thee only have I shewed these things.
45And I answered, I said even then, O Lord, and I say now: blessed are they that be now alive and keep the statutes ordained of thee.
46But as touching them for whom my prayer was made, what shall I say? for who is there of them that be alive that hath not sinned, and who of the sons of men that hath not transgressed thy covenant?
47And now I see, that the world to come shall bring delight to few, but torments unto many.
48For an evil heart hath grown up in us, which hath led us astray from these statutes, and hath brought us into corruption and into the ways of death, hath shewed us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life; and that, not a few only, but well nigh all that have been created.
49And he answered me, and said, Hearken unto me, and I will instruct thee; and I will admonish thee yet again:
50for this cause the Most High hath not made one world, but two.
51For whereas thou hast said that the just are not many, but few, and the ungodly abound, hear the answer thereunto.
52If thou hath choice stones exceeding few, 62wilt thou set for thee over against them according to their number things of lead and clay?
53And I said, Lord, how shall this be?
54And he said unto me, Not only this, but ask the earth, and she shall tell thee; intreat her, and she shall declare unto thee.
55For thou shalt say unto her, Thou bringest forth gold and silver and brass, and iron also and lead and clay:
56but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, lead than iron, and clay than lead.
57Judge thou therefore which things are precious and to be desired, whatso is abundant or what is rare.
58And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.
59And he answered me, and said, 63Weigh within thyself the things that thou hast thought, for he that hath what is hard to get rejoiceth over him that hath what is plentiful.
60So also is the 64judgement which I have promised: for I will rejoice over the few that shall be saved, inasmuch as these are they that have made my glory now to prevail, and of whom my name is now named.
61And I will not grieve over the multitude of them that perish; for these are they that are now like unto vapour, and are become as flame and smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are quenched.
62And I answered and said, O thou earth, wherefore hast thou brought forth, if the mind is made out of dust, like as all other created things?
63For it were better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been made therefrom.
64But now the mind groweth with us, and by reason of this we are tormented, because we perish and know it.
65Let the race of men lament and the beasts of the field be glad; let all that are born lament, but let the fourfooted beasts and the cattle rejoice.
66For it is far better with them than with us; for they look not for judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised unto them after death.
67For what doth it profit us, that we shall be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment?
68For all that are born are 65defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins and laden with offences:
69and if after death we were not to come into judgement, peradventure it had been better for us.
70And he answered me, and said, When the Most High made the world, and Adam and all them that came of him, he first prepared the Judgement and the things that pertain unto the judgement.
71And now understand from thine own words, for thou hast said that the mind groweth with us.
72They therefore that dwell upon the earth shall be tormented for this reason, that having understanding they have wrought iniquity, and receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received.
73What then will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they answer in the last times?
74For how great a time hath the Most High been longsuffering with them that inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the times which he hath foreordained!
75And I answered and said, if I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, shew this also unto thy servant, whether after death, even now when every one of us giveth up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come, in which thou shalt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented forthwith.
76And he answered me, and said, I will shew thee this also; but join not thyself with them that are scorners, nor number thyself with them that are tormented.
77For thou hast a treasure of good works laid up with the Most High, but it shall not be shewed thee until the last times.
78For concerning death the teaching is: When the determinate sentence hath gone forth from the Most High that a man should die, as the spirit leaveth the body to return again to him who gave it, it adoreth the glory of the Most High first of all.
79And if it be one of those that have been scorners and have not kept the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and that hate them that fear 66God,
80these spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall wander and be in torments forthwith, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways.
81The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High.
82The second way, because they cannot now make a good returning that they may live.
83The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for them that have believed the covenants of the Most High.
84The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days.
85The fifth way, they shall see the dwelling places of the others guarded by angels, with great quietness.
86The sixth way, they shall see 67how forthwith some of them shall pass into torment.
87The seventh way, which is 68more grievous than all the aforesaid ways, because they shall pine away in confusion and be consumed with 69shame, and shall be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they have sinned whilst living, and before whom they shall be judged in the last times.
88Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from the corruptible vessel.
89In the time 70that they dwelt therein they painfully served the Most High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of the lawgiver perfectly.
90Wherefore this is the teaching concerning them:
91First of all they shall see with great joy the glory of him who taketh them up, for they shall have rest in seven orders.
92The first order, because they have striven with great labour to overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death.
93The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaiteth them.
94The third order, they see the witness which he that fashioned them beareth concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which was given them in trust.
95The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, and the glory that awaiteth them in the last days.
96The fifth order, they rejoice, seeing how they have now escaped from that which is corruptible, and how they shall inherit that which is to come, while they see moreover the straitness and the 71painfulness from which they have been delivered, and the large room which they shall receive with joy and immortality.
97The sixth order, when it is shewed unto them how their face shall shine as the sun, and how they shall be made like unto the light of the stars, being henceforth incorruptible.
98The seventh order, which is greater than all the aforesaid orders, because they shall rejoice with confidence, and because they shall be bold without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from whom they shall receive their reward in glory.
99This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth 72is announcer unto them, and aforesaid are the ways of torture which they that would not give heed shall suffer from henceforth.
100And I answered and said, shall time therefore be given unto the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see that whereof thou hast spoken unto me?
101And he said, Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven days they may see the things whereof thou hast been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered together in their habitations.
102And I answered and said, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew further unto me thy servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to intreat the Most High for them,
103whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or brethren for brethren, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or 73friends for them that are most dear.
104And he answered me, and said, Since thou hast found favor in my sight, I will shew thee this also: The day of judgement is 74a day of decision, and displayeth unto all the seal of truth; even as now a father sendeth not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a 75friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may 76be sick, or sleep, or eat, or be healed:
105so never shall anyone pray for another 77in that day, neither shall one lay a burden on another, for then shall all bear every one his own righteousness or unrighteousness.
106And I answered and said, How do we now find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
107and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of 78Achar:
108and Samuel 79in the days of Saul; and David for the plague: and Solomon for them that should worship in the sanctuary:
109and Elijah for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
110and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib: and many for many?
111If therefore now, when corruption is grown up, and unrighteousness increased, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, wherefore shall it not be so then also?
112He answered me, and said, This present world is not the end; the full glory abideth 80not therein: therefore have they who were able prayed for the weak.
113But the day of judgement shall be the end of this time, 81and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is passed away,
114intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, but righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
115Then shall no man be able to have mercy on him that is cast in judgement, nor to thrust down him that hath gotten the victory.
116I answered then and said, this is my first and last saying, that it had been better that the earth had not given thee Adam: or else, when it had given him, to have restrained him from sinning.
117For what profit is it for all that are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
118O thou Adam, what hast thou done? For though it was thou that sinned, the evil is not fallen on thee alone, but upon all of us that come of thee.
119For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
120And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves most miserably are become vain?
121And that there are reserved habitations of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
122And that the glory of the Most High shall defend them which have led a pure life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?
123And that there shall be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth without decay, wherein is abundance and healing, but we shall not enter into it,
124for we have walked in unpleasant places?
125And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
126For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not what we should have to suffer after death.
127Then he answered and said, This is the 82condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;
128that, 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.
129For this is the way whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.
130Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no, nor me which have spoken unto them;
131so that there shall not be such heaviness in their destruction, as there shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.
132I answered then and said, I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world;
133and compassionate, in that he hath compassion upon those that turn to his law;
134and longsuffering, for that he long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;
135and bountiful, for that he is ready to give rather than to exact;
136and of great mercy, for that he multiplieth more and more mercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them which are to come;
137(for if he multiplied not his mercies, the world would not continue with them that dwell therein;)
138and one that forgiveth, for if he did not forgive of his goodness, that they which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men would not remain living;
139and a judge, for if he did not pardon them that were created by his word, and blot out the multitude of 83offences,
140there would peradventure be very few left in an innumerable multitude.
Comparte 2 Esdras 7