The Second Book of Esdras

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,

And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?

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:

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.

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.

Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?

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:

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.

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.

He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;

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?

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.

He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,

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.

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.

The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.

The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.

If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?

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.

Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?

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.

Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:

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,

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.

What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.

Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,

And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

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.

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.

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?

Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.

And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?

Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?

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.

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?

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.

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.

Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.

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.

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.

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:

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.

From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.

Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,

Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.

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.

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.

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.

Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those days?

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.

The angel who was sent to me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,

and said to me, “Your understanding has utterly failed you regarding this world. Do you think you can comprehend the way of the Most High?”

Then I said, “Yes, my Lord.” He answered me, “I have been sent to show you three ways, and to set before you three problems.

If you can solve one for me, I also will show you the way that you desire to see, and I will teach you why the heart is wicked.”

I said, “Say on, my Lord.” Then said he to me, “Go, weigh for me the weight of fire, or measure for me blast of wind, or call back for me the day that is past.”

Then answered I and said, “Who of the sons of men is able to do this, that you should ask me about such things?”

He said to me, “If I had asked you, ‘How many dwellings are there in the heart of the sea? Or how many springs are there at the fountain head of the deep? Or how many streams are above the firmament? Or which are the exits (a)of hell? Or which are the entrances of paradise?’

perhaps you would say to me, ‘I never went down into the deep, or as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.’

Nevertheless now I have only asked you about the fire, wind, and the day, things which you have experienced, and from which you can’t be separated, and yet have you given me no answer about them.”

He said moreover to me, “You can’t understand your own things that you grew up with.

How then can your mind comprehend the way of the Most High? How can he who is already worn out with the corrupted world understand incorruption?” (b)When I heard these things, I fell on my face

and said to him, “It would have been better if we weren’t here at all, than that we should come here and live in the midst of ungodliness, and suffer, and not know why.”

He answered me, and said, (c)“A forest of the trees of the field went out, and took counsel together,

and said, ‘Come! Let’s go and make war against the sea, that it may depart away before us, and that we may make ourselves more forests.’

The waves of the sea also in like manner took counsel together, and said, ‘Come! Let’s go up and subdue the forest of the plain, that there also we may gain more territory.’

The counsel of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.

Likewise also the counsel of the waves of the sea, for the sand stood up and stopped them.

If you were judge now between these two, which would you justify, or which would you condemn?”

I answered and said, “It is a foolish counsel that they both have taken, for the ground is given to the wood, and the place of the sea is given to bear its waves.”

Then answered he me, and said, “You have given a right judgment. Why don’t you judge your own case?

For just as the ground is given to the wood, and the sea to its waves, even so those who dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but what is upon the earth. Only he who dwells above the heavens understands the things that are above the height of the heavens.”

Then answered I and said, “I beg you, O Lord, why has the power of understanding been given to me?

For it was not in my mind to be curious of the ways above, but of such things as pass by us daily, because Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen. The people whom you have loved have been given over to ungodly nations. The law of our forefathers is made of no effect, and the written covenants are nowhere regarded.

We pass away out of the world like locusts. Our life is like a vapor, and we aren’t worthy to obtain mercy.

What will he then do for his name by which we are called? I have asked about these things.”

Then he answered me, and said, “If you are alive you will see, and if you live long, you will marvel, for the world hastens quickly to pass away.

For it is not able to bear the things that are promised to the righteous in the times to come; for this world is full of sadness and infirmities.

For the evil(d) about which you asked me has been sown, but its harvest hasn’t yet come.

If therefore that which is sown isn’t reaped, and if the place where the evil is sown doesn’t pass away, the field where the good is sown won’t come.

For a grain of evil seed was sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much wickedness it has produced to this time! How much more it will yet produce until the time of threshing comes!

Ponder now by yourself, how much fruit of wickedness a grain of evil seed has produced.

When the grains which are without number are sown, how great a threshing floor they will fill!”

Then I answered and said, (e)“How long? When will these things come to pass? Why are our years few and evil?”

He answered me, and said, “Don’t hurry faster than the Most High; for your haste is(f) for your own self, but he who is above hurries on behalf of many.

Didn’t the souls of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, ‘How long (g)will we be here? When does the fruit of the threshing floor come?’

To them, Jeremiel the archangel answered, ‘When the number is fulfilled of those who are like you. For he has weighed the world in the balance.

By measure, he has measured the times. By number, he has counted the seasons. He won’t (h)move or stir them until that measure is fulfilled.’”

Then I answered, “O sovereign Lord, all of us are full of ungodliness.

Perhaps it is for our sakes that the threshing time of the righteous is kept back—because of the sins of those who dwell on the earth.”

So he answered me, “Go your way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she has fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the baby any longer within her.”

Then I said, “No, Lord, that can it not.” He said to me, “In Hades, the chambers of souls are like the womb.

For just like a woman in labor hurries to escape the anguish of the labor pains, even so these places hurry to deliver those things that are committed to them from the beginning.

Then you will be shown those things which you desire to see.”

Then I answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, and if it is possible, and if I am worthy,

show me this also, whether there is more to come than is past, or whether the greater part has gone over us.

For what is gone I know, but I don’t know what is to come.”

He said to me, “Stand up on my right side, and I will explain the parable to you.”

So I stood, looked, and saw a hot burning oven passed by before me. It happened that when the flame had gone by I looked, and saw that the smoke remained.

After this, a watery cloud passed in front of me, and sent down much rain with a storm. When the stormy rain was past, the drops still remained in it.”

Then said he to me, “Consider with yourself; as the rain is more than the drops, and the fire is greater than the smoke, so the quantity which is past was far greater; but the drops and the smoke still remained.”

Then I prayed, and said, “Do you think that I will live until that time? Or who will be alive in those days?”

He answered me, “As for the signs you asked me about, I may tell you of them in part; but I wasn’t sent to tell you about your life, for I don’t know.

Footnotes

(a)4:7 So the Syriac. The Latin omits of hell? or which are the paths.

(b)4:11 So the Syriac and Aethiopic. The Latin is corrupt.

(d)4:28 so the Syriac and Aethiopic.

(e)4:33 So the chief oriental versions.

(f)4:34 So the Syriac. The Latin is corrupt.

(g)4:35 So the Syriac. The Latin has shall I hope on this fashion?

(h)4:37 Syr. rest.