2 Esdras

5:1 Neuertheles as concerning the tokens, beholde, the dayes shall come that they which dwell vpon earth, shall bee taken in a great number, and the way of trueth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.

5:1 Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.

5:2 But iniquitie shalbe increased aboue that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long agoe.

5:2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.

5:3 And the land that thou seest now to haue roote, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.

5:3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.

5:4 But if the most high graunt thee to liue, thou shalt see after the third trumpet, that the Sunne shall suddenly shine againe in the night, and the Moone thrice in the day.

5:4 But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:

5:5 And blood shal drop out of wood, and the stone shall giue his voice, and the people shalbe troubled.

5:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be troubled:

5:6 And enen he shal rule whom they looke not for that dwel vpon the earth, and the foules shall take their flight away together.

5:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall take their flight away together:

5:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noyse in the night, which many haue not knowen: but they shall all heare the voice thereof.

5:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice thereof.

5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shalbe oft sent out againe, and the wilde beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring foorth monsters.

5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:

5:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweete, and all friends shall destroy one another: then shall wit hide it selfe, and vnderstanding withdraw it selfe into his secret chamber,

5:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,

5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall vnrighteousnesse and incontinencie be multiplyed vpon earth.

5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.

5:11 One land also shall aske another, and say, Is righteousnes that maketh a man righteous, gone through thee? And it shall say, No.

5:11 One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.

5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtaine: they shall labour, but their wayes shall not prosper.

5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper.

5:13 To shew thee such tokens I haue leaue: and if thou wilt pray againe, and weepe as now, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater things.

5:13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.

5:14 Then I awaked, & an extreme fearefulnesse went through all my body, and my minde was troubled, so that it fainted.

5:14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.

5:15 So the Angel that was come to talke with me, helde me, comforted me, and set me vp vpon my feete.

5:15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.

5:16 And in the second night it came to passe, that Salathiel the captaine of the people came vnto mee, saying, Where hast thou beene? and why is thy countenance so heauie?

5:16 And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and why is thy countenance so heavy?

5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed vnto thee, in the land of their captiuitie?

5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?

5:18 Up then, and eate bread, and forsake vs not as the shepheard that leaueth his flocke in the handes of cruell wolues.

5:18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.

5:19 Then sayd I vnto him, Goe thy waies from me, and come not nigh me: And he heard what I said, and went from me.

5:19 Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what I said, and went from me.

5:20 And so I fasted seuen dayes, monrning and weeping, like as Uriel the Angel commanded me.

5:20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me.

5:21 And after seuen dayes, so it was that the thoughts of my heart were very grieuous vnto me againe.

5:21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,

5:22 And my soule recouered the spirit of vnderstanding, and I began to talke with the most high againe,

5:22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,

5:23 And said, O Lord, that bearest rule of euery wood of the earth, and of all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen thee one onely vine.

5:23 And said, O Lord that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth, and of all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen thee one only vine:

5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof, one Lillie.

5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof one lily:

5:25 And of all the depths of the Sea, thou hast filled thee one riuer: and of all builded cities, thou hast hallowed Sion vnto thy selfe.

5:25 And of all the depths of the sea thou hast filled thee one river: and of all builded cities thou hast hallowed Sion unto thyself:

5:26 And of all the foules that are created, thou hast named thee one Doue: and of all the cattell that are made, thou hast prouided thee one sheepe.

5:26 And of all the fowls that are created thou hast named thee one dove: and of all the cattle that are made thou hast provided thee one sheep:

5:27 And among all the multitudes of peoples, thou hast gotten thee one people: and vnto this people whom thou louedst, thou gauest a law that is approued of all.

5:27 And among all the multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one people: and unto this people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that is approved of all.

5:28 And now O Lord, why hast thou giuen this one people ouer vnto many? and vpon the one roote hast thou prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy onely one people among many?

5:28 And now, O Lord, why hast thou given this one people over unto many? and upon the one root hast thou prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy only one people among many?

5:29 And they which did gainesay thy promises, and beleeued not thy couenants, haue trodden them downe.

5:29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden them down.

5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine owne hands.

5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own hands.

5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the Angell that came to me the night afore, was sent vnto me,

5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,

5:32 And said vnto me, Heare me, and I will instruct thee, hearken to the thing that I say, & I shal tell thee more.

5:32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.

5:33 And I said, Speake on, my Lord: then said he vnto me, thou art sore troubled in minde for Israels sake: louest thou that people better then hee that made them?

5:33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them?

5:34 And I said, No Lord, but of very griefe haue I spoken: For my reines paine me euery houre, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seeke out part of his iudgement.

5:34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.

5:35 And he said vnto me, Thou canst not: and I said, wherfore Lord? wherunto was I borne then? or why was not my mothers wombe then my graue, that I might not haue seene the trauell of Iacob, and the wearisome toyle of the stocke of Israel?

5:35 And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother's womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?

5:36 And he said vnto me, Number me the things that are not yet come, gather me together the droppes that are scattered abroad, make mee the flowres greene againe that are withered.

5:36 And he said unto me, Number me the things that are not yet come, gather me together the dross that are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered,

5:37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut vp, shew me the image of a voyce: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to knowe.

5:37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.

5:38 And I said, O Lord, that bearest rule, who may know these things, but hee that hath not his dwelling with men?

5:38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men?

5:39 As for me, I am vnwise: how may I then speake of these things whereof thou askest me?

5:39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?

5:40 Then said he vnto me, Like as thou canst doe none of these things that I haue spoken of, euen so canst thou not find out my iudgement, or in the end the loue that I haue promised vnto my people.

5:40 Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things that I have spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or in the end the love that I have promised unto my people.

5:41 And I said, behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh vnto them that be reserued till the end; and what shall they doe that haue beene before me, or we (that be now) or they that shall come after vs?

5:41 And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?

5:42 And he said vnto me, I wil liken my iudgement vnto a ring: like as there is no slacknesse of the last, euen so there is no swiftnesse of the first.

5:42 And he said unto me, I will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as there is no slackness of the last, even so there is no swiftness of the first.

5:43 So I answered and said, Couldst thou not make those that haue beene made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once, that thou mightest shewe thy iudgement the sooner?

5:43 So I answered and said, Couldest thou not make those that have been made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once; that thou mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?

5:44 Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not hast aboue the maker, neither may the world hold them at once that shalbe created therin.

5:44 Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above the maker; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be created therein.

5:45 And I said, As thou hast said vnto thy seruant, that thou which giuest life to all, hast giuen life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it: euen so it might now also beare them that now be present at once.

5:45 And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear them that now be present at once.

5:46 And he said vnto me, Aske the wombe of a woman, & say vnto her, If thou bringest forth children, why doest thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth tenne children at once.

5:46 And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.

5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must doe it by distance of time.

5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.

5:48 Then said he vnto me, Euen so haue I giuen the wombe of the earth to those that be sowen in it, in their times.

5:48 Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in their times.

5:49 For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, euen so haue I disposed the world which I created.

5:49 For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.

5:50 And I asked and said, Seeing thou hast now giuen me the way, I will [proceed to] speak before thee: for our mother of whom thou hast told me that she is yong, draweth now nigh vnto age.

5:50 And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.

5:51 He answered me and said, Aske a woman that beareth children, and shee shall tell thee.

5:51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.

5:52 Say vnto her, Wherefore are not they whome thou hast now brought forth, like those that were before, but lesse of stature?

5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?

5:53 And she shall answere thee, They that be borne in the strength of youth, are of one fashion, and they that are borne in the time of age (when the wombe faileth) are otherwise.

5:53 And she shall answer thee, They that be born in the the strength of youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of age, when the womb faileth, are otherwise.

5:54 Consider thou therfore also, how that yee are lesse of stature then those that were before you.

5:54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.

5:55 And so are they that come after you lesse then ye, as the creatures which now begin to be old, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth.

5:55 And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures which now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.

5:56 Then saide I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I haue found fauor in thy sight, shew thy seruant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

5:56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.