The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Esdras 08
1 He answered me, “The Most High has
made this world for many, but the world
to come for few.
2 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 Many have been created, but few will
be saved.”
4 I answered, “Drink your fill of understanding
then, O my soul, and let my heart
devour wisdom.
5 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 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 For you alone exist, and we all one
workmanship of your hands, just as you
have said.
8 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 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 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 that the body that is fashioned may be
nourished for a time, and afterwards you
guide it in your mercy.
12 Yes, you have brought it up in your
righteousness, nurtured itin your law, and
corrected it with your judgment.
13 You put it to death as your creation,
and make it live as your work.
14 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 Now therefore I will speak. Aboutman
in general, you know best, but about your
people for whose sake I am sorry,
16 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 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 but I have heard the swiftness of the
judgment which is to come.
19 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 “O Lord, you who remain forever,
whose eyes are exalted, and whose
chambers are in the air,
21 whose throne is beyond measure,
whose glory is beyond comprehension,
before whom the army of angels stand with
trembling,
22 ‡ at whose bidding they are changed to
wind andfire, whose word is sure, and sayings
constant, whose ordinance is strong,
and commandment fearful,
23 whose look dries up the depths, and
whose indignation makes the mountains
to melt away, and whose truth bears witness—
24 hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servant,
and give ear to the petition of your
handiwork.
25 Attend to my words, for as long as I
live, I will speak, and as long as I have
understanding, I will answer.
26 Don’t look at the sins of your people,
but on those who have served you in truth.
27 Don’t regard the doings of those who
act wickedly, but of those who have kept
your covenants in affliction.
28 Don’t think about those who have
lived wickedly before you, but remember
those who have willingly known your fear.
29 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 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 For we and our fathers have †passed
our lives in ‡ways that bring death, but you
are called merciful because of us sinners.
32 For if you have a desire to have mercy
upon us who have no works of righteousness,
then you will be called merciful.
33 For the just, which have many good
works laid up with you, will be rewarded
for their own deeds.
34 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 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 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 Then he answered me, “Some things
you have spokenrightly, and it will happen
according to your words.
38 For indeed I will not think about the
fashioning of those who have sinned, or
about their death, their judgment, or their
destruction;
39 but I will rejoice over the creation of
the righteous and their pilgrimage, their
salvation, and the reward that they will
have.
40 Therefore as I have spoken, so it will be.
41 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 Then I answered, “If I have found favor,
let me speak before you.
43 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 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 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 Then he answered me, “Things
present are for those who live now, and
things to come for those who will live
hereafter.
47 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 Yet in this will you be admirable to the
Most High,
49 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 For many grievousmiseries will fall on
those who dwell in the world in the last
times, because they have walked in great
pride.
51 But understand for yourself, and for
those who inquire concerning the glory of
those like you,
52 because paradise is opened to you.
The tree oflife 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 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 Sorrows have passed away, and in the
end, the treasure of immortality is shown.
55 Therefore ask no more questions concerning
the multitude of those who perish.
56 For when they had received liberty,
they despised the Most High, scorned his
law, and forsook his ways.
57 Moreover they have trodden down his
righteous,
58 and said in their heart that there is no
God—even knowing that they must die.
59 For as the things I have said will
welcome you, so thirst and pain whichare
prepared for them. For the Most High didn’t
intend that men should be destroyed,
60 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 Therefore my judgment is now at
hand,
62 which I have not shown to all men, but
to you, and a few like you.”
Then I answered,
63 “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.”