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Apocrypha.

CHAP. IV.

to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the fathers is brought to nought, and the written
Apocrypha.
wicked heart cometh.
covenants come to none effect,

5 And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said
he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and
24 And we pass away out of the world as
of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
or call me again the day that is past.
by we are called? of these things have I asked.
25 What will he then do unto his name where-
26 Then answered he me, and said, The more
the world hasteth fast to pass away,
thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for

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

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:

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.

are promised to the righteous in time to come: 27 And cannot comprehend the things that for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is 28 But as concerning the things whereof sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet

come.

9 Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day where- turned upside down, and if the place where the 29 If therefore that which is sown be not through thou hast passed, and of things from evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst that is sown with good. thou give me no answer of them.

30 For the grain of evil seed hath been sown

10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and things, and such as are grown up with thee, how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto canst thou not know; until the time of threshing come? this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought 31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of forth.

which are without number, how great a floor 32 And when the ears shall be cut down, shall they fill?

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

34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much hasten above the Most Highest: for thy haste exceeded.

question of these things in their chambers, say35 Did not the souls also of the righteous ask ing, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?

36 And unto these things Uriel the archangel number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath gave them answer, and said, Even when the weighed the world in the balance.

and by number hath he numbered the times;
37 By measure hath he measured the times,
and he doth not move nor stir them, until the
said measure be fulfilled.

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

39 And for our sakes peradventure it is that of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth. the floors of the righteous are not filled, because

40 So he answered me, and said, Go thy way 21 For like as the ground is given unto the hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may to a woman with child, and ask of her when she wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they keep the birth any longer within her. that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he And he said unto me, In the grave the cham41 Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. that dwelleth above the heavens may only un-bers of souls are like the womb of a woman: derstand the things that are above the height of the heavens.

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

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 fore

42 For like as a woman that travaileth maketh
vail: even so do these places haste to deliver
maketh haste to escape the necessity of the tra-
those things that are committed unto them.

sirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.
43 From the beginning, look, what thou de-

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

I

45 Shew me then whether there be more

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

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

Apocrypha. ness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.

15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me upon my feet.

16 And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came 48 So I stood, and saw, and behold, an hot unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and burning oven passed by before me and it hap-why is thy countenance so heavy? pened, that when the flame was gone by I looked, and behold, the smoke remained still.

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.

17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?

18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.

19 Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from 50 Then said he unto me, Consider with thy-me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what self; as the rain is more than the drops, and as I said, and went from me. the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops 20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded which is past did more exceed.

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

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.

CHAP. V.

NEVERTHELESS as coll come, that they

TEVERTHELESS as concerning the to

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.

2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.

3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.

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 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be troubled:

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.

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.

me.

21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,

22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the Most High again,

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:

24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof one lily:

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:

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:

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.

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?

29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden them down.

30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own

8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, hands. and the wild beasts shall change their places, 31 Now when I had spoken these words, the and menstruous women shall bring forth mon-angel that came to me the night afore was sent

sters:

unto me,

9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, 32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will inand all friends shall destroy one another; then struct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,

10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.

11 Öne land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through thee? and it shall say, No.

and I shall thee more.

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?

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

12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways judgment. shall not prosper.

35 And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And 13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I bora and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now, then? or why was not my mother's womb then and fast seven days, thou shalt hear yet greater my grave, that I might not have seen the trathings. vail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock

14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearful- of Israel?

Apocrypha.

CHAP. VI.

36 And he said unto me, Number me the be old, and have passed over the strength of things that are not yet come, gather me toge- youth. Apocrypha. ther the drops that are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered, 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.

38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men?

56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I vant by whom thou visitest thy creature. have found favour in thy sight, shew thy serCHAP. VI.

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, the foundations of paradise were laid, 2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever

39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then the moveable powers were established, before the 3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever speak of these things whereof thou askest innumerable multitude of angels were gathered

me?

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.

together,

up, before the measures of the firmament were 4 Or ever the heights of the air were lifted named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

5 And ere the present years were sought out, 41 And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou were turned, before they were sealed that have and or ever the inventions of them that now sin nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: gathered faith for a treasure: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?

:

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 the first.

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?

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.

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.

all were made through me alone, and through
6 Then did I consider these things, and they
and by none other.
none other: by me also they shall be ended,

the parting asunder of the times? or when shall
7 Then answered I and said, What shall be
that followeth ?
be the end of the first, and the beginning of it

Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him,
8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto
Jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau.

cob is the beginning of it that followeth.
9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Ja-

10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand other question, Esdras, ask thou not. bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight, 11 I answered then and said, O Lord that of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part 12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end the last night.

up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding 13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand

46 And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth voice. children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.

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47 And I said, She cannot but must do it by distance of time.

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.

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.

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.

51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.

52 Say unto her, Wherefore are not they whom thou hast now brought forth, like those that were before, but less of stature?

but the place were thou standest shall not be 14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; moved.

15 And therefore when it speaketh be not dation of the earth is understood. afraid for the word is of the end, and the foun

16 And why? because the speech of these that the end of these things must be changed. things trembleth and is moved for it knoweth

17 And it happened that when I had heard behold, there was a voice that spake, and the it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and sound of it was like the sound of many waters.

will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that 18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I dwell upon the earth,

19 And will begin to make inquisition of them, unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion what they be that have hurt unjustly with their shall be fulfilled;

53 And she shall answer thee, They that be vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew 20 And when the world, that shall begin to born in the strength of youth are of one fashion, these tokens: the books shall be opened before and they that are born in the time of age, when the firmament, and they shall see all together: the womb faileth, are otherwise.

54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before

with their voices, the women with child shall 21 And the children of a year old shall speak bring forth untimely children of three or four 55 And so are they that come after you less up. months old, and they shall live, and be raised than ye, as the creatures which now begin to

you.

3

22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear

17

Apocrypha.

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unsown, the full store-houses shall suddenly be and odours of wonderful smell: and this was found empty: done the third day.

23 And the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.

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.

25 Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.

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.

27 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.

28 As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.

29 And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom

I stood.

30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come. 31 If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things by day than I have heard.

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.

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.

34 And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.

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.

36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the Most High.

37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.

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.

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:

46 And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.

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.

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.

49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan ;

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.

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:

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.

53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:

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.

55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes.

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.

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.

58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy first-born, thy only-begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.

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? CHAP. VII.

39 And then was the spirit, and darkness and AND when I had made an end of speaking

silence were on every side; the sound of man's voice was not yet formed.

40 Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.

these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:

2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.

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.

41 Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt 4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.

and like a river;

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?

42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the carth: six parts hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee. 7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in 43 For as soon as thy word went forth the a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a work was made. fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep

6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:

44 For immediately there was great and in-water: numerable fruit, and many and divers pleasures 8 And one only path between them both, for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, even between the fire and the water, so small

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10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel's portion.

11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.

Apocrypha.

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.

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:

34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:

35 And the work shall follow, and the re12 Then were the entrances of this world ward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall made narrow, full of sorrow and travail they be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule. are but few and evil, full of perils, and painful.

very

13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.

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.

36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness :

37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:

38 And Samuel and David for the destruction and Solomon for them that should come

15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thy-to the sanctuary:

self, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and 39 And Helias for those that received rain; why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mor- and for the dead, that he might live: tal?

16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?

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.

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.

19 And he said unto me, There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.

20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them.

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.

22 Nevertheless, they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;

23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the Most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:

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.

40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.

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?

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.

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,

44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is

sprung up.

45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.

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.

47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?

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.

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?

50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most

25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things. 26 Behold, the time shall come, that these wicked are made vain ? tokens which I have told thee shall come to

51 And that there are laid up for us dwellpass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming ings of health and safety, whereas we have lived forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from wickedly? the earth.

27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.

28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.

29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.

30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judg-| ments so that no man shall remain.

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?

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?

54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.) 55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars,

31 And after seven days the world, that yet whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkawaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall ness? die that is corrupt.

56 For while we lived and committed iniqui

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