The Second Book of Esdras

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

He answered me, “The Most High has made this world for many, but the world to come for few.

Now I will tell you a parable, Esdras. Just as when you ask the earth, it will say to you that it gives very much clay from which earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold comes from. Even so is the course of the present world.

Many have been created, but few will be saved.”

I answered, “Drink your fill of understanding then, O my soul, and let my heart devour wisdom.

For you (a)have come here apart from your will, and depart against your will, for you have only been given a short time to live.

O Lord over us, grant to your servant that we may pray before you, and give us seed for our heart and cultivation for our understanding, that fruit may grow from it, by which everyone who is corrupt, who bears the (b)likeness of a man, may live.

For you alone exist, and we all one workmanship of your hands, just as you have said.

Because you give life to the body that is now fashioned in the womb, and give it members, your creature is preserved in fire and water, and your workmanship endures nine months as your creation which is created in it.

But that which keeps and that which is kept will both be kept (c)by your keeping. When the womb gives up again what has grown in it,

you have commanded that out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, be given milk, which is the fruit of the breasts,

that the body that is fashioned may be nourished for a time, and afterwards you guide it in your mercy.

Yes, you have brought it up in your righteousness, nurtured it in your law, and corrected it with your judgment.

You put it to death as your creation, and make it live as your work.

If therefore you (d)lightly and suddenly destroy him which with so great labor was fashioned by your commandment, to what purpose was he made?

Now therefore I will speak. About man in general, you know best, but about your people for whose sake I am sorry,

and for your inheritance, for whose cause I mourn, for Israel, for whom I am heavy, and for the seed of Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled,

therefore I will begin to pray before you for myself and for them; for I see the failings of us who dwell in the land;

but I have heard the swiftness of the judgment which is to come.

Therefore hear my voice, and understand my saying, and I will speak before you.” The beginning of the words of Esdras, before he was taken up. He said,

“O Lord, you who remain forever, whose eyes are exalted, and whose chambers are in the air,

whose throne is beyond measure, whose glory is beyond comprehension, before whom the army of angels stand with trembling,

(e) at whose bidding they are changed to wind and fire, whose word is sure, and sayings constant, whose ordinance is strong, and commandment fearful,

whose look dries up the depths, and whose indignation makes the mountains to melt away, and whose truth bears witness—

hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servant, and give ear to the petition of your handiwork.

Attend to my words, for as long as I live, I will speak, and as long as I have understanding, I will answer.

Don’t look at the sins of your people, but on those who have served you in truth.

Don’t regard the doings of those who act wickedly, but of those who have kept your covenants in affliction.

Don’t think about those who have lived wickedly before you, but remember those who have willingly known your fear.

Let it not be your will to destroy those who have lived like cattle, but look at those who have (f)clearly taught your law.

Don’t be indignant at those who are deemed worse than animals, but love those who have always put their trust in your glory.

For we and our fathers have (g)passed our lives in (h)ways that bring death, but you are called merciful because of us sinners.

For if you have a desire to have mercy upon us who have no works of righteousness, then you will be called merciful.

For the just, which have many good works laid up with you, will be rewarded for their own deeds.

For what is man, that you should take displeasure at him? Or what is a corruptible race, that you should be so bitter toward it?

For in truth, there is no man among those who are born who has not done wickedly, and among those who have lived, there is none which have not done wrong.

For in this, O Lord, your righteousness and your goodness will be declared, if you are merciful to those who have no store of good works.”

Then he answered me, “Some things you have spoken rightly, and it will happen according to your words.

For indeed I will not think about the fashioning of those who have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction;

but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous and their pilgrimage, their salvation, and the reward that they will have.

Therefore as I have spoken, so it will be.

For as the farmer sows many seeds in the ground, and plants many trees, and yet not all that is sown will (i)come up in due season, neither will all that is planted take root, even so those who are sown in the world will not all be saved.”

Then I answered, “If I have found favor, let me speak before you.

If the farmer’s seed doesn’t come up because it hasn’t received your rain in due season, or if it is ruined by too much rain and perishes,

likewise man, who is formed with your hands and is called your own image, because he is made like you, for whose sake you have formed all things, even him have you made like the farmer’s seed.

Don’t be angry with us, but spare your people and have mercy upon your inheritance, for you have mercy upon your own creation.”

Then he answered me, “Things present are for those who live now, and things to come for those who will live hereafter.

For you come far short of being able to love my creature more than I. But you have compared yourself to the unrighteous. Don’t do that!

Yet in this will you be admirable to the Most High,

in that you have humbled yourself, as it becomes you, and have not judged yourself among the righteous, so as to be much glorified.

For many grievous miseries will fall on those who dwell in the world in the last times, because they have walked in great pride.

But understand for yourself, and for those who inquire concerning the glory of those like you,

because paradise is opened to you. The tree of life is planted. The time to come is prepared. Plenteousness is made ready. A city is built. Rest is (j)allowed. Goodness is perfected, and wisdom is perfected beforehand.

The root of evil is sealed up from you. Weakness is done away from you, and (k)death is hidden. Hell and corruption have fled into forgetfulness.

Sorrows have passed away, and in the end, the treasure of immortality is shown.

Therefore ask no more questions concerning the multitude of those who perish.

For when they had received liberty, they despised the Most High, scorned his law, and forsook his ways.

Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,

and said in their heart that there is no God—even knowing that they must die.

For as the things I have said will welcome you, so thirst and pain which are prepared for them. For the Most High didn’t intend that men should be destroyed,

but those who are created have themselves defiled the name of him who made them, and were unthankful to him who prepared life for them.

Therefore my judgment is now at hand,

which I have not shown to all men, but to you, and a few like you.” Then I answered,

“Behold, O Lord, now you have shown me the multitude of the wonders which you will do in the last times, but you haven’t shown me when.”

Footnotes

(a)8:5 So the Syriac. The Latin is incorrect.

(b)8:6 So the Syriac. The Latin has place.

(d)8:14 So the Syriac. The Latin is incorrect.

(e)8:22 According to the chief Oriental versions. The Latin has, even they whose service takes the form of wind etc.

(f)8:29 The Syriac has received the brightness of your law.

(g)8:31 So the Syriac and Aethiopic versions.

(h)8:31 Lat. manners.

(i)8:41 Lat. be saved.

(j)8:52 The Syriac has established.

(k)8:53 After the chief Oriental versions.

And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.

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.

There be many created, but few shall be saved.

So answered I and said, Swallow then down, O my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.

For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for thou hast no longer space than only to live.

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?

For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.

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.

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.

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,

That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to thy mercy.

Thou broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in thy law, and reformedst it with thy judgment.

And thou shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy work.

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.

Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;

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;

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.

But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.

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,

O Lord, thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from above things in the heaven and in the air;

Whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling,

Whose service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true, and sayings constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance fearful;

Whose look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt away; which the truth witnesseth:

O hear the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature.

For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer.

O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.

Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.

Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.

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.

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.

For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.

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.

For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward.

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?

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.

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.

Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words it shall be.

For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have sinned before death, before judgment, before destruction:

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.

Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.

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.

I answered then and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.

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:

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.

Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.

Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for the present, and things to cometh for such as be to come.

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.

In this also thou art marvellous before the most High:

In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.

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.

But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.

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.

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:

Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.

And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.

For when they had taken liberty, they despised the most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.

Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,

And said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.

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:

But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.

And therefore is my judgment now at hand.

These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,

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.