2 Esdras 8 - Revised Version with Apocrypha 1885, 1895(RV1895)

1And he answered me, and said, The Most High hath made this world for many, art come hither without thy will, and departest when thou wouldest not: for there is given thee no longer space than only to live a short time.

6O Lord, that art over us, suffer thy servant, that we may pray before thee, and likeness of a man.

7For thou art alone, and by thy keeping: and when the womb giveth up again that which hath grown in it,

10Thou hast 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,

11That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, and afterwards thou shalt order it in thy mercy.

12Yea, thou hast brought it up in thy righteousness, and nurtured it in thy law, and corrected it with thy judgement.

13lightly and suddenly destroy him which with so great labour was fashioned by thy commandment, abidest for ever, whose eyes are exalted, and At whose bidding clearly taught thy law.

30Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that have alway put their trust in thy glory.

31For we and our fathers passed our lives in ways that bring death: but thou because of us sinners art called merciful.

32For if thou hast a desire to have mercy upon us, that have lived there is none which hath not done amiss.

36For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be declared, if thou be merciful unto them which have no store of good works.

37Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words so shall it come to pass.

38For indeed I will not think on the fashioning of them which have sinned, or their death, their judgement, or their destruction:

39come up in due season, neither shall all that is planted take root: even so they that are sown in the world so perisheth;

44Likewise man, which is formed with thy hands, and allowed, goodness is perfected, wisdom being perfect aforehand.

53The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness is done away from you, and [death] is hidden; Rev. 20.14.hell and corruption are fled into forgetfulness:

54Rev. 21.4.Sorrows are passed away, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.

55Therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.

56ch. 9.11.For when they had received liberty, they despised the Most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.

57Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,

58And ch. 7.23. Ps. 14.1 & 53.1.said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.

59For as the things aforesaid shall receive you, Cp. Luke 16.24.so thirst and pain which are prepared shall receive them: Ezek. 18.22. Wis. 1.13.for the Most High willed not that men should come to nought:

60But they which be created have themselves defiled the name of him that made them, and were Rom. 1.21. 2 Tim. 3.2.unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.

61See ver. 18.And therefore is my judgement now at hand,

62Which I have not shewed unto all men, See ch. 7.[44].but unto thee, ch. 14.9.and a few like thee.

Then answered I and said,

63Behold, O Lord, Cp. ch. 4.52 & 5.1.now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders, which thou wilt do in the last times: but at what time, thou hast not shewed me.