2 Esdras

8. fejezet


Fejezetek:


1. vers

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


2. vers

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.


3. vers

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


4. vers

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


5. vers

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


6. vers

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 likeness of a man, may live.


7. vers

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


8. vers

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.


9. vers

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


10. vers

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,


11. vers

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


12. vers

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


13. vers

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


14. vers

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


15. vers

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


16. vers

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,


17. vers

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;


18. vers

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


19. vers

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,


20. vers

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


21. vers

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


22. vers

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


23. vers

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


24. vers

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


25. vers

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


26. vers

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


27. vers

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


28. vers

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


29. vers

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


30. vers

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


31. vers

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


32. vers

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


33. vers

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


34. vers

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?


35. vers

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.


36. vers

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.”


37. vers

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


38. vers

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


39. vers

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


40. vers

Therefore as I have spoken, so it will be.


41. vers

For as the farmer sows many seeds in the ground, and plants many trees, and yet not all that is sown will 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.”


42. vers

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


43. vers

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,


44. vers

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.


45. vers

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


46. vers

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


47. vers

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!


48. vers

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


49. vers

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


50. vers

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


51. vers

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


52. vers

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 allowed. Goodness is perfected, and wisdom is perfected beforehand.


53. vers

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


54. vers

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


55. vers

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


56. vers

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


57. vers

Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,


58. vers

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


59. vers

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,


60. vers

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.


61. vers

Therefore my judgment is now at hand,


62. vers

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


63. vers

“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.”

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