2 Esdras (4 Esdras) · Revised Version (con apócrifos)
2 Esdras (4 Esdras) 9 Revised Version (con apócrifos)
1 And he answered me, and said, Measure thou diligently within thyself: and when thou seest that a certain part of the signs are past, which have been told thee beforehand,
1 He answered me, “Measure diligently within yourself. When you see that a certain part of the signs are past, which have been told you beforehand,
2 then shalt thou understand, that it is the very time, wherein the Most High will visit the world which was made by him.
2 then will you understand that it is the very time in which the Most High will visit the world which was made by him.
3 And when there shall be seen in the world earthquakes, disquietude of peoples, devices of nations, wavering of leaders, disquietude of princes,
3 When earthquakes, tumult of peoples, plans of nations, wavering of leaders, and confusion of princes are seen in the world,
4 then shalt thou understand, that the Most High spake of these things from the days that were aforetime from the beginning.
4 then will you understand that the Most High spoke of these things from the days that were of old, from the beginning.
5 For like as of all that is made in the world, the beginning is evident, and the end manifest;
5 For just as with everything that is made in the world, the beginning is evident and the end manifest,
6 so also are the times of the Most High: the beginnings are manifest in wonders and mighty works, and the end in effects and signs.
6 so also are the times of the Most High: the beginnings are manifest in wonders and mighty works, and the end in effects and signs.
7 And everyone that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his wotks, or by faith, whereby he hath believed,
7 Everyone who will be saved, and will be able to escape by his works, or by faith by which they have believed,
8 shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation in my land, and within my borders, which I have sanctified for me from the beginning.
8 will be preserved from the said perils, and will see my salvation in my land and within my borders, which I have sanctified for myself from the beginning.
9 Then shall they be amazed, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.
9 Then those who now have abused my ways will be amazed. Those who have cast them away despitefully will live in torments.
10 For as many as in their life have received benefits, and yet have not known me;
10 For as many as in their life have received benefits, and yet have not known me,
11 and as many as have scorned my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised [it; ]
11 and as many as have scorned my law, while they still had liberty and when an opportunity to repent was open to them, didn’t understand, but despised it,
12 the same must know [it ] after death by torment.
12 must know it in torment after death.
13 And therefore be thou no longer curious how the ungodly shall be punished; but inquire how the righteous shall be saved, they whose the world [is, ] and for whom the world [was created. ]
13 Therefore don’t be curious any longer how the ungodly will be punished, but inquire how the righteous will be saved, those who the world belongs to, and for whom the world was created.”
14 And I answered and said,
14 I answered,
15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be more of them which perish, than of the which will be saved:
15 “I have said before, and now speak, and will say it again hereafter, that there are more of those who perish than of those who will be saved,
16 like as a wave is greater than a drop.
16 like a wave is greater than a drop.”
17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so also the seed; and as the flowers be, such are the colours also; and such as the work is, such also is the judgement [thereon; ] and as is the husbandman, so is his threshing-floor also. For there was a time in the world,
17 He answered me, “Just as the field is, so also the seed. As the flowers are, so are the colors. As the work is, so also is the judgment on it. As is the farmer, so also is his threshing floor. For there was a time in the world
18 even then when I was preparing for them that now live, before the world was made for them to dwell in; and then no man spake against me,
18 when I was preparing for those who now live, before the world was made for them to dwell in. Then no one spoke against me,
19 for there was not any: but now they which are created in this world that is prepared, both with a table that faileth not, and a law which is unsearchable, are corrupted in their manners.
19 for no one existed. But now those who are created in this world that is prepared, both with a table that doesn’t fail and a law which is unsearchable, are corrupted in their ways.
20 So I considered my world, and, lo, it was destroyed, and my earth, and, lo, it was in peril, because of the devices that were come into it.
20 So I considered my world, and behold, it was destroyed, and my earth, and behold, it was in peril, because of the plans that had come into it.
21 And I saw, and spared them, but not greatly, and saved me a grape out of a cluster, and a plant out of a great forest.
21 I saw and spared them, but not greatly, and saved myself a grape out of a cluster, and a plant out of a great forest.
22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be saved, and my plant; for with great labour have I made them perfect.
22 Let the multitude perish then, which were born in vain. Let my grape be saved, and my plant, for I have made them perfect with great labor.
23 Nevertheless if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (howbeit thou shalt not fast in them,
23 Nevertheless, if you will wait seven more days—however don’t fast in them,
24 but shalt go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only of the flowers of the field; and thou shalt taste no flesh, and shalt drink no wine, but [shalt eat ] flowers only;)
24 but go into a field of flowers, where no house is built, and eat only of the flowers of the field, and you shall taste no flesh, and shall drink no wine, but shall eat flowers only—
25 and pray unto the Most High continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
25 and pray to the Most High continually, then I will come and talk with you.”
26 So I went my way, like as he commanded me, into the field which is called Ardat; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.
26 So I went my way, just as he commanded me, into the field which is called Ardat. There I sat among the flowers, and ate of the herbs of the field, and this food satisfied me.
27 And it came to pass after seven days that I lay upon the grass, and my heart was vexed again, like as before:
27 It came to pass after seven days that I lay on the grass, and my heart was troubled again, like before.
28 and my mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the Lord Most High, and said,
28 My mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the Lord Most High, and said,
29 O Lord, thou didst shew thyself among us, unto our fathers in the wilderness, when they went forth out of Egypt, and when they came into the wilderness, where no man treadeth and that beareth no fruit;
29 “O Lord, you showed yourself among us, to our fathers in the wilderness, when they went out of Egypt, and when they came into the wilderness, where no man treads and that bears no fruit.
30 and thou didst say, Hear me, thou Israel; and mark my words, O seed of Jacob.
30 You said, ‘Hear me, O Israel. Heed my words, O seed of Jacob.
31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring forth fruit in you, and ye shall be glorified in it for ever.
31 For behold, I sow my law in you, and it will bring forth fruit in you, and you will be glorified in it forever.’
32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not the statutes: and the fruit of the law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine;
32 But our fathers, who received the law, didn’t keep it, and didn’t observe the statutes. The fruit of the law didn’t perish, for it couldn’t, because it was yours.
33 yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
33 Yet those who received it perished, because they didn’t keep the thing that was sown in them.
34 And, lo, it is a custom, that when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, and when it cometh to pass that that which is sown, or that which is launched,
34 Behold, it is a custom that when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel food or drink, and when it comes to pass that that which is sown, or that which is launched,
35 or the things which have been received, should come to an end, these come to an end, but the receptacles remain: yet with us it hath not happened so.
35 or the things which have been received, should come to an end, these come to an end, but the receptacles remain. Yet with us, it doesn’t happen that way.
36 For we that have received the law shall perish by sin, and our heart also which received it.
36 For we who have received the law will perish by sin, along with our heart which received it.
37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in its honour.
37 Notwithstanding the law doesn’t perish, but remains in its honor.”
38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked about me with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in mind, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.
38 When I spoke these things in my heart, I looked around me with my eyes, and on my right side I saw a woman, and behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in mind. Her clothes were torn, and she had ashes on her head.
39 Then let I my thoughts go wherein I was occupied, and turned me unto her,
39 Then let I my thoughts go in which I was occupied, and turned myself to her,
40 and said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? and why art thou grieved in thy mind?
40 and said to her, “Why are you weeping? Why are you grieved in your mind?”
41 And she said unto me, Let me alone, my Lord, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low.
41 She said to me, “Leave me alone, my Lord, that I may weep for myself and add to my sorrow, for I am very troubled in my mind, and brought very low.”
42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? Tell me.
42 I said to her, “What ails you? Tell me.”
43 She said unto me, I thy servant was barren, and had no child, though I had a husband thirty years.
43 She said to me, “I, your servant, was barren and had no child, though I had a husband thirty years.
44 And every hour and every day these thirty years did I make my prayer to the Most High day and night.
44 Every hour and every day these thirty years I made my prayer to the Most High day and night.
45 And it came to pass after thirty years that God heard me thine handmaid, and looked upon my low estate, and considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I rejoiced in him greatly, I and my husband, and all my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Mighty.
45 It came to pass after thirty years that God heard me, your handmaid, and saw my low estate, and considered my trouble, and gave me a son. I rejoiced in him greatly, I and my husband, and all my neighbors. We gave great honor to the Mighty One.
46 And I nourished him with great travail.
46 I nourished him with great care.
47 So when he grew up, and I came to take him a wife, I made him a feast day.
47 So when he grew up, and I came to take him a wife, I made him a feast day.