2 Esdras (4 Ezra) · Revised Version with Apocrypha
2 Esdras (4 Ezra) 6 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the outgoings of the world were fixed, or ever the gatherings of the winds blew,
1 He said to me, “In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the portals of the world were fixed and before the gatherings of the winds blew,
2 before the voices of the thunder sounded and before the flashes of the lightning shone, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
2 before the voices of the thunder sounded and before the flashes of the lightning shone, before the foundations of paradise were laid,
3 before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the powers of the earthquake were established, before the innumerable hosts of angels were gathered together,
3 before the fair flowers were seen, before the powers of the earthquake were established, before the innumerable army of angels were gathered together,
4 or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the footstool of Sion was established,
4 before the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, before the footstool of Zion was established,
5 and ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the imaginations of them that now sin were estranged, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:
5 before the present years were reckoned, before the imaginations of those who now sin were estranged, and before they were sealed who have gathered faith for a treasure—
6 then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: as by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.
6 then I considered these things, and they all were made through me alone, and not through another; just as by me also they will be ended, and not by another.”
7 Then answered I and said, what shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?
7 Then I answered, “What will be the dividing of the times? Or when will be the end of the first and the beginning of the age that follows?”
8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Abraham, inasmuch as Jacob and Esau were born of him, for Jacob’s hand held the heel of Esau from the beginning.
8 He said to me, “From Abraham to Isaac, because Jacob and Esau were born to him, for Jacob’s hand held Esau’s heel from the beginning.
9 For Esau is the end of this world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
9 For Esau is the end of this age, and Jacob is the beginning of the one that follows.
10 The beginning of a man is his hand, and the end of a man is his heel; between the heel and the hand seek thou nought else, Esdras.
10 The beginning of a man is his hand, and the end of a man is his heel. Seek nothing else between the heel and the hand, Esdras!”
11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, If I have found favour in thy sight,
11 Then I answered, “O sovereign Lord, if I have found favor in your sight,
12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.
12 I beg you, show your servant the end of your signs which you showed me part on a previous night.”
13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and thou shalt hear a mighty sounding voice;
13 So he answered, “Stand up upon your feet, and you will hear a mighty sounding voice.
14 and if the place whereon thou standest be greatly moved,
14 If the place you stand on is greatly moved
15 when it speaketh be thou not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundations of the earth shall understand,
15 when it speaks don’t be afraid, for the word is of the end, and the foundations of the earth will understand
16 that the speech is of them: they shall tremble and be moved: for they know that their end must be changed.
16 that the speech is about them. They will tremble and be moved, for they know that their end must be changed.”
17 And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters.
17 It happened that when I had heard it, I stood up on my feet, and listened, and, behold, there was a voice that spoke, and its sound was like the sound of many waters.
18 And it said, Behold, the days come, and it shall be that when I draw nigh to visit them that dwell upon the earth,
18 It said, “Behold, the days come when I draw near to visit those who dwell upon the earth,
19 and when I shall make inquisition of them that have done hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled,
19 and when I investigate those who have caused harm unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Zion is complete,
20 and when the seal shall be set upon the world that is to pass away, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and all shall see together:
20 and when the seal will be set on the age that is to pass away, then I will show these signs: the books will be opened before the firmament, and all will see together.
21 and the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring forth untimely children at three or four months, and they shall live, and dance.
21 The children a year old will speak with their voices. The women with child will deliver premature children at three or four months, and they will live and dance.
22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:
22 Suddenly the sown places will appear unsown. The full storehouses will suddenly be found empty.
23 and the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.
23 The trumpet will give a sound which when every man hears, they will suddenly be afraid.
24 At that time shall friends make war 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, so that for three hours they shall not run.
24 At that time friends will make war against one another like enemies. The earth will stand in fear with those who dwell in it. The springs of the fountains will stand still, so that for three hours they won’t flow.
25 And it shall be that whosoever remaineth after all these things that I have told thee of, he shall be saved, and shall see my salvation, and the end of my world.
25 “It will be that whoever remains after all these things that I have told you of, he will be saved and will see my salvation, and the end of my world.
26 And they shall see the men that have been taken up, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another meaning.
26 They will see the men who have been taken up, who have not tasted death from their birth. The heart of the inhabitants will be changed and turned into a different spirit.
27 For evil shall be blotted out, and deceit shall be quenched;
27 For evil will be blotted out and deceit will be quenched.
28 and faith shall flourish, and corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.
28 Faith will flourish. Corruption will be overcome, and the truth, which has been so long without fruit, will be declared.”
29 And when he talked with me, behold, by little and little the place whereon I stood rocked to and fro.
29 When he talked with me, behold, little by little, the place I stood on rocked back and forth.
30 And he said unto me, These things came I to shew thee this night.
30 He said to me, “I came to show you these things tonight.
31 If therefore thou wilt pray yet again, and fast seven days more, I shall yet tell thee greater things than these.
31 If therefore you will pray yet again, and fast seven more days, I will again tell you greater things than these.
32 For thy voice hath surely been heard before the Most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen aforetime also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy youth.
32 For your voice has surely been heard before the Most High. For the Mighty has seen your righteousness. He has also seen your purity, which you have maintained ever since your 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.
33 Therefore he has sent me to show you all these things, and to say to you, ‘Believe, and don’t be afraid!
34 And be not hasty in [regard of ] the former times, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten in the latter times.
34 Don’t be hasty to think vain things about the former times, that you may not hasten in 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.
35 It came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfill 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.
36 On the eighth night, my heart was troubled within me again, and I began to speak in the presence of the Most High.
37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.
37 For my spirit was greatly aroused, and my soul was in distress.
38 And I said, O Lord, of a truth thou spakest at the beginning of the creation, upon the first day, and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be made; and thy word perfected the work.
38 I said, “O Lord, truly you spoke at the beginning of the creation, on the first day, and said this: ‘Let heaven and earth be made,’ and your word perfected the work.
39 And then was the spirit hovering, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet.
39 Then the spirit was hovering, and darkness and silence were on every side. The sound of man’s voice was not yet there.
40 Then commandest thou a ray of light to be brought forth of thy treasures, that then thy works might appear.
40 Then you commanded a ray of light to be brought out of your treasuries, that your works might then appear.
41 Upon the second day again thou madest the spirit of the firmament and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.
41 “On the second day, again you made the spirit of the firmament and commanded it to divide and to separate the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.
42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered together in the seventh part of the earth: six parts didst thou dry up, and keep them, to the intent that of these some being both planted and tilled might serve before thee.
42 “On the third day, you commanded that the waters should be gathered together in the seventh part of the earth. You dried up six parts and kept them, to the intent that of these some being both planted and tilled might serve before you.
43 For as soom as thy word went forth the work was done.
43 For as soon as your word went out, the work was done.
44 For immediately there came forth great and innumerable fruit, and manifold pleasures for the taste, and flowers of inimitable colour, and odours of most exquisite smell: and this was done the third day.
44 Immediately, great and innumerable fruit grew, with many pleasant tastes, and flowers of inimitable color, and fragrances of most exquisite smell. This was done the third day.
45 Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her light, and the stars should be in their order:
45 “On the fourth day, you commanded that the sun should shine, the moon give its light, and the stars should be in their order;
46 and gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.
46 and gave them a command to serve mankind, who was to be made.
47 Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the water was gathered together, that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass,
47 “On the fifth day, you said to the seventh part, where the water was gathered together, that it should produce living creatures, fowls and fishes; and so it came to pass
48 that the dumb water and without life brought forth living things as it was bidden, that the peoples might therefore praise thy wondrous works.
48 that the mute and lifeless water produced living things as it was told, that the nations might therefore praise your wondrous works.
49 Then didst thou preserve two living creatures, the one thou calledst Behemoth, and the other thou calledst Leviathan:
49 “Then you preserved two living creatures. The one you called Behemoth, and the other you called Leviathan.
50 and thou didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.
50 You separated the one from the other; for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.
51 Unto Behemoth thou gavest one part, which was dried up on the third day, that he should dwell in the same, wherein are a thousand hills:
51 To Behemoth, you gave one part, which was dried up on the third day, that he should dwell in it, in which are a thousand hills;
52 but unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and thou hast kept them to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.
52 but to Leviathan you gave the seventh part, namely, the watery part. You have kept them to be devoured by whom you wish, when you wish.
53 But upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that it should bring forth before thee cattle, beasts, and creeping things:
53 “But on the sixth day, you commanded the earth to produce before you cattle, animals, and creeping things.
54 and over these Adam, whom thou ordainest lord over all the works that thou hast made: of him come we all, the people whom thou hast chosen.
54 Over these, you ordained Adam as ruler over all the works that you have made. Of him came all of us, the people whom you have chosen.
55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou hast said that for our sakes thou madest this world.
55 “All this have I spoken before you, O Lord, because you have said that for our sakes you made this world.
56 As for the other nations, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, and are like unto spittle: and thou hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.
56 As for the other nations, which also come from Adam, you have said that they are nothing, and are like spittle. You have likened the abundance of them to a drop that falls from a bucket.
57 And now, O Lord, behold these nations, which are reputed as nothing, be lords over us, and devour us.
57 Now, O Lord, behold these nations, which are reputed as nothing, being rulers over us and devouring us.
58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.
58 But we your people, whom you have called your firstborn, your only children, and your fervent lover, are given into their hands.
59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess for an inheritance our world? How long shall this endure?
59 Now if the world is made for our sakes, why don’t we possess our world for an inheritance? How long will this endure?”