2 Esdras (4 Ezra) · Revised Version with Apocrypha
2 Esdras (4 Ezra) 4 Revised Version with Apocrypha
2 Esdras (4 Ezra) is not in RV1909.
RV Revised Version with Apocrypha
RV1909 Reina-Valera 1909
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
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1 The angel who was sent to me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
2 and said to me, thy heart hath utterly failed thee in [regarding ] this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the Most High?
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2 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?”
3 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:
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3 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.
4 whereof if thou canst declare me one, I also will shew thee the way that thou desirest to see, and I will teach thee wherefore the heart is wicked.
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4 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.”
5 And I said, say on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Go to, weigh me a weight of fire, or measure me a measure of wind, or call me again the day that is past.
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5 I said, “Say on, my Lord.” Then said he to me, “Go, weigh for me the weight of a fire, or measure for me a blast of wind, or call back for me the day that is past.”
6 Then answered I and said, who of the sons [of men ] is able to do this, that thou shouldest ask me of such things?
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6 Then answered I and said, “Who of the sons of men is able to do this, that you should ask me about such things?”
7 And he said unto me, If I had asked thee, saying, 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 ways are above the firmament? or which are the outgoings of hell? or which are the paths of paradise?
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7 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 of hell? Or which are the entrances 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.
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8 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.’
9 Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day, things wherethrough thou hast passed, and without which thou canst not be, and yet hast thou given me no answer of them.
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9 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 you have given me no answer about them. ”
10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, that are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;
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10 He said moreover to me, “You can’t understand your own things that you grew up with.
11 how then can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Most High? and how can he that is already worn out with the corrupted world understand incorruption?
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11 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?” When I heard these things, I fell on my face
12 And when I heard these things I fell upon my face, and said unto him, It were better that we were not here at all, than that we should come hither and live in the midst of ungodliness, and suffer, and not know wherefore.
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12 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.”
13 He answered me, and said, The woods of the trees of the field went forth, and took counsel together,
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13 He answered me, and said, “A forest of the trees of the field went out, and took counsel together,
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.
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14 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.’
15 The waves of the sea also in like manner took counsel together, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the wood of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.
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15 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.’
16 The counsel of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it:
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16 The counsel of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
17 likewise also the counsel of the waves of the sea, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
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17 Likewise also the counsel of the waves of the sea, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
18 If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou justify, or whom condemn?
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18 If you were judge now between these two, which would you justify, or which would you condemn?”
19 I answered and said, it is a foolish counsel that they both have taken, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the place of the sea [is given ] to bear his waves.
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19 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.”
20 Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgement, and why judgest thou not in thine own case?
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20 Then answered he me, and said, “You have given a right judgment. Why don’t you judge your own case?
21 For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his waves, even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he [only that dwelleth ] above the heavens [may understand ] the things that are above the height of the heavens.
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21 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.”
22 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, wherefore is the power of understanding given unto me?
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22 Then answered I and said, “I beg you, O Lord, why has the power of understanding been given to me?
23 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, [and ] the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and the law of our forefathers is made of none effect, and the written covenants are nowhere [regarded, ]
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23 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.
24 and we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is as a vapour, neither are we worthy to obtain mercy.
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24 We pass away out of the world like locusts. Our life is like a vapor, and we aren’t worthy to obtain mercy.
25 What will he then do for his name whereby we are called? Of these things have I asked.
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25 What will he then do for his name by which we are called? I have asked about these things.”
26 Then he answered me, and said, if thou be [alive ] thou shalt see, and if thou livest long, thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away.
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26 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.
27 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.
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27 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.
28 For the evil whereof thou askest me is sown, but the gathering thereof is not yet come.
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28 For the evil about which you asked me has been sown, but its harvest hasn’t yet come.
29 If therefore that which is sown be not reaped, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, there cannot come the field where the good is sown.
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29 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.
30 For a grain of evil seed was sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much wickedness hath it brought forth unto this time! and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come!
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30 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!
31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness a grain of evil seed hath brought forth.
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31 Ponder now by yourself, how much fruit of wickedness a grain of evil seed has produced.
32 When the ears which are without number shall be sown, how great a floor shall they fill!
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32 When the grains which are without number are sown, how great a threshing floor they will fill!”
33 Then I answered and said, How long? and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
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33 Then I answered and said, “How long? When will these things come to pass? Why are our years few and evil?”
34 And he answered me, and said, Thou dost not hasten more than the Most High: for thy haste is for thine own self, but he that is above [hasteneth ] on behalf of many.
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34 He answered me, and said, “Don’t hurry faster than the Most High; for your haste is for your own self, but he who is above hurries on behalf of many.
35 Did not the souls of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long are we here? when cometh the fruit of the threshing time of our reward?
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35 Didn’t the souls of the righteous ask about these things in their chambers, saying, ‘How long will we be here? When does the fruit of the threshing floor come?’
36 And unto them Jeremiel the archangel gave answer, and said, Even when the number is fulfilled of them that are like unto you. For he hath weighed the world in the balance;
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36 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.
37 and by measure hath he measured the times, and by number hath he numbered the seasons; and he shall not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
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37 By measure, he has measured the times. By number, he has counted the seasons. He won’t move or stir them until that measure is fulfilled.’”
38 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, yet even we all are full of impiety:
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38 Then I answered, “O sovereign Lord, all of us are full of ungodliness.
39 and for our sakes peradventure it is that the threshing time of the righteous is kept back, because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.
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39 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.”
40 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.
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40 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.”
41 Then said I, no, Lord, that can it not. And he said unto me, in the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb:
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41 Then I said, “No, Lord, that can it not.” He said to me, “In Hades, the chambers of souls are like the womb.
42 for like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the anguish of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them from the beginning.
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42 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.
43 Then shall it be shewed thee concerning those things which thou desirest to see.
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43 Then you will be shown those things which you desire to see.”
44 Then answered I and said, if I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,
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44 Then I answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, and if it is possible, and if I am worthy,
45 shew me this also, whether there be more to come than is past, or whether the more part is gone over us.
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45 show me this also, whether there is more to come than is past, or whether the greater part has gone over us.
46 For what is gone I know, but what is for to come I know not.
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46 For what is gone I know, but I don’t know what is to come.”
47 And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.
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47 He said to me, “Stand up on my right side, and I will explain the parable to you.”
48 so I stood, and saw, and, behold, a 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.
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48 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.
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 therein still.
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49 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.”
50 Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and the fire is greater than the smoke, so the quantity which is past did more exceed; but the drops and the smoke remained still.
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50 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.”
51 Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or who shall be in those days?
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51 Then I prayed, and said, “Do you think that I will live until that time? Or who will be alive 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.
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52 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.