? See ch. 7. [46].

Cp. ver. 61 & Mal. 3. 5

9

& Rev. 22. 12.

& 14. 9.
Cp. 1 Pet.
1. 23 (mg.).

"Cp. Ps. 104.

3.

Ps. 104. 4. Heb. 1. 7.

Ps. 74. 15. Nah. 1. 4. Cp. 2 Sam. 22. 16.

Nah. 1. 5.

32.

8

will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people will I speak, for whose sake I am sorry; 16 and for thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for Israel, for whom I am heavy; and for the seed of Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled; 179 therefore will I begin to pray before thee for myself and for them: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land; 18 but I have heard the swiftness of the & James 5. judgement which is to come. 19 There fore hear my voice, and understand my saying, and I will speak before thee. The beginning of the words of Esdras, Cp.ch. 6. 26 before he was taken up. And he said, 20 O Lord, thou that 1abidest for ever, whose eyes are exalted, and "whose chambers are in the air; 21 whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling, 222 at whose bidding "they are changed to wind and fire; whose word is sure, and sayings constant; whose ordinance is strong, and commandment fearful; 23 whose look wdrieth up the depths, and whose indignation maketh the mountains to melt away, and whose truth beareth witness: 24 hear, O Lord, Cp. Ps. 104. the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy handywork; 25 attend unto my words, for so long as I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer. 260 look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them that have served thee in truth. 27 Regard not the doings of them that deal wickedly, but of them that have kept thy covenants in affliction. 28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee; but remember them which have willingly known thy fear. 29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them z which have lived like cattle; but look upon them that have clearly taught thy law. 30 Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that have alway put their trust in thy glory. 31 For we and our fathers a have passed our lives in ways that bring death: but thou because of us sinners art called merciful. 32 For if thou hast a desire to have Cp. Tit. 3. mercy upon us, then shalt thou be called merciful, to us, namely, that have no works of righteousness. 33 For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall for their own deeds receive reward. 34 For what is man, 4 ch. 4. 38 that thou shouldest take displeasure at & 7. (68) him? or what is a corruptible race, that P. 2, thou shouldest be so bitter toward it? & 53, 2, 3. 35d For in truth there is no man among See 1 Kin. 8.46. them that be born, but he hath dealt

✓ See Gen. 18. 23-25.

Ps. 49. 20.

4 ch. 7. 49.

5.

ch. 7. [77] & 9.7 & 13, 23.

14. 3

5

wickedly; and among them that have lived there is none which hath not done amiss. 36 For 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.

ch. 7. [60].

ch. 16. 40.

37 Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words so shall it come to pass. 38 For indeed I will not think on the fashioning of them which have sinned, or their death, their judgement, or their destruction: 39 but I will rejoice over the framing of the righteous, their pilgrimage also, and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have. 40 Like therefore as I have spoken, so shall it be. 41 For See ch. 13. as the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet not all that is sown shall come up in due season, neither shall all that is planted take root: even so they that are sown in the world shall not all be saved.

1 Pet. 2. 11. See Gen. 47.9.

42 I answered then and said, If I have found favour, let me speak before thee. 43 Forasmuch as the husbandman's seed, if it come not up, seeing that it hath not received thy rain in due season, or if it be corrupted through too much rain, so perisheth; 44 likewise man, which is formed with thy hands, and is called thine own image, because See Gen. 1. he is made like unto thee, for whose sake thou hast formed all things, even him hast thou made like unto the husbandman's seed. 45 Be not wroth with us, but spare thy people, and have Joel 2. 17. mercy upon thine inheritance; for thou hast mercy upon thine own creation.

26, 27. * See ch. 6. 55.

Rest of Esth. 13.15.

ch. 5. 33.

* Cp. ch. 12. 23, 24 ver. 62. ch. 4. 36.

46 Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for them that now be, and things to come for such as shall be hereafter. 47m For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I. But thou hast brought thyself full nigh unto the unrighteous. Let this never be. 48 Yet in this shalt thou be admirable before the Most High; 49 in that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be among the righteous, so as to be much See ch. 4. glorified. 50 For many grievous miseries shall befall them that in the last times dwell in the world, because they Cp. 1 Cor. have walked in great pride. 51 But understand thou for thyself, and of such as be like thee seek out the glory. 52 For unto you is Pparadise opened, the tree of life is planted, "the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, sa city is builded, and rest is 10 allowed, goodness is perfected, wisdom Rev. 14. 13.

being perfect aforehand. 53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness is done away from you, and 1 [death] is hidden; hell and corruption are fled into forgetfulness: 54 sorrows are passed away, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality. 55 Therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish. 56 For when they had received liberty, they despised the Most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways. 57 Moreover they have trodden down his righteous, 58 and said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die. 59 For as the things aforesaid shall receive you, so thirst and pain which are prepared shall receive them: for the Most High willed not that men should come to nought: 60 but they which be created have themselves defiled the name of him that made them, and were "unthankful unto him which prepared life for them. 61b And therefore is my judgement now at hand, 62 which I have not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee.

Then answered I and said, 63 Behold, O Lord, 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.

And he answered me, and said,

9. Measure thou diligently within thy self: and when thou seest that a certain part of the signs are past, which have been told thee beforehand, then shalt thou understand, that it is the very time, wherein the Most High 9 will visit the world which was made by him. 3 And when there shall be seen in the world hearthquakes, disquietude of peoples, devices of nations, wavering of leaders, disquietude of princes, 4/then shalt thou understand, that the Most High spake of these things from the days that were aforetime from the beginning. 5 For like as of all that is made in the world, the beginning 2 is Ievident, 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. 7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, or by faith, whereby he hath 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. 9 Then shall they be amazed, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments. 10" For as many as in their life

have received benefits, and yet have not known me; 110 and as many as have ch. 8. 56. scorned my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it; 12 the same must know it after death by torment. 13 And therefore be thou no longer curious how the ungodly shall be punished; but inquire how the righteous shall be saved, they P whose the world is, and for whom the world was created.

14 And I answered and said, 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 them which shall be saved: 16 like as a wave is greater than a drop.

Cp. 1 Cor.

3.22.

See ch.6

55.

1.

See ch. 8.

3. 12-15.

17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; and as the flowers be, such are the colours also; and s such as the work is, such also See 1 Cor. is the judgement thereon; and as is the husbandman, so is his threshing-floor also. 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, 19 for 6there was not any: but now they which are created in this world that is prepared, both with a table that Cp. Ps. 23. faileth not, and a law which is unsearchable, are corrupted in their manners. 20 So I considered my world, and, lo, it was destroyed, and my earth, "Cp. Gen. 6. and, lo, it was in peril, because of the devices that were come into it. 21 And I saw, and spared them, but not greatly, and saved me a grape out of a cluster, and wa plant out of a great forest. Cp. ch. 5. 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. 23 Nevertheless if thou wilt cease yet

seven days more, (howbeit thou shalt not fast in them, 249 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;) 25 and pray unto the Most High continually, then will I come and talk with thee.

26 So I went my way, like as he commanded me, into the field which is called 8 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. 27 And it came to pass after seven days that I lay upon the grass, and my heart was vexed again,

like as before: 28 cand my mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the Most High, and said, 29 O Lord, thou

3 Or, me 4 So the So the Ethiopic and

5

& 78. 19. Rom. 11.

33.

12.

23.

35.

Cp. ch. & Cp. ch. 10.

32.

ch. 12. 51.

Jer. 2. 6.

/ See ch. 8. 6.

9 Acts 7. 53. A ch. 14. 30.

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, ewhere no man treadeth and that beareth no fruit; 30 and thou didst say, Hear me, thou Israel; and mark 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. 329 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed See ver. 37. not the statutes: and the fruit of the law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine; 33 yet they that received it perished, because they kept not 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, 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. 36 For we that have received the law shall perish by sin, and our heart also which received it. 37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth Matt. 5. 18. not, but remaineth in its honour.

/ ver. 32.

Isai. 40. 8.

Luke 16. 17.

41, 44.

38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked about me with mine Cp. ch. 10. eyes, and upon the right side I saw ka 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. 39" Then let I my thoughts go wherein I was occupied, and turned me unto her, 40 and said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? and why art thou grieved in thy mind?

1 Sam. 4. 12. Esth. 4. 1. See Josh. 7. 6.

of Esth. 14. Cp. Rest

2.

"Cp. ch. 10.

5.

ch. 10. 45.

1. 10, 11.

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.

42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me. 43 She said unto me, I thy servant was barren, and had no child, though I had a husband thirty years. 44 And every hour and every PCp. 1 Sam. day these thirty years did I make 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 rall my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Mighty. 46 And I nourished him with great travail. 47 So when he grew up, and I came to take him a wife, I made

7 Cp. Luke 1. 48. Cp. Luke 1. 58.

Tobit 8. 19 Matt. 22. 2.

& 11. 19.

Cp. Job 2

11

& John 11. 19.

a feast day. And it so came IO to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died. Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neigh

1 Lat. townsmen.

bours rose up to comfort me: and I remained quiet unto the second day at night. 3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet, then rose I up by night, and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest. 4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.

39.

ch. 7. [54] & 8.2. Cp, ch. 5.

48.

* See Wisdom 7. 1.

15.

5 Then left I the meditations wherein " Cp. ch. 9. I was, and answered her in auger, and said, 6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what hath happened unto us? 7 how that Sion "the mother of us all is full Gal. 4. 26. of sorrow, and much humbled. 82 It is right now to mourn very sore, seeing we all mourn, and to be sorrowful, seeing we are all in sorrow, but thou sorrowest for one son. 9w For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for so many that grow upon her. 10 For out of her all had their beginnings, and others shall come; and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and the Cp. ch. 9 multitude of them is utterly rooted out. II Who then should make more mourning, she, that hath lost so great a multitude, or thou, which art grieved but for one? 12 But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth's, for I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows: 13 but it is with the earth after the manner of the earth; the multitude present in it is gone, as it came: 14 then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with sorrow; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her. 15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage the adversities which have befallen thee. 16 For a if thou shalt acknowledge the Cp. 1 Sam. decree of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be praised among women. 17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

Gen. 3. 16. Cp. John 16. 21.

3. 18 & Isai. 39. 8.

19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said, 20 Do not so, but suffer thyself to be prevailed on by reason of the adversities of Sion; and be comforted by reason of the sorrow of Jerusalem. 21 For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar 2 Chr. 36. broken down, our temple destroyed; 22 cour psaltery is brought low, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end; d the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is Cp.1 Macc. spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and

19.

Lam. 2. 7. Cp. ch. 12

48.

Cp. Isai.

24.8.

1. 21.

Iam. 5. 13.

the name that is called upon us is profaned; our freemen are despitefully treated, our priests are burnt, our LeLam. 5. 11. vites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones betrayed, four young men are brought into bondage, and our strong men are become weak; 23 and, what is more than all, the seal of Sion-for she hath now lost the seal of her honour, hand is delivered into the hands of them that hate us. 24 Thou therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away from thee the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Most High may give thee rest, even ease from thy travails.

Cp. Jer. 22.

24

& Hag. 2.

23.

Cp. Ps. 44.

10

& 106. 41.

í ver. 42.

14.

ch. 4. 1.

* Cp. Dan. 9. 20, 21.

I Rev. 1. 17. ch. 5. 14.

25 And it came to pass, while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered like lightning, so that I was sore afraid of her, and mused what this might be; 26 and, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful; so that the earth shook at the noise. 27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a Rev. 21. 10, place shewed itself from large foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said, 28 Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into this great trance, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke. 29k And as I was speaking these words, behold, the angel who had come unto me at the first came unto me, and he looked upon me: 30 land, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, mand Cp. Dan. 8. mine understanding was taken from me; and he took me by the right hand, " and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me, 31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart? 32 And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me: yet I did according to thy words, and went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that which I am not able to express. 33 And he said unto me, P Stand up like a man, and I will advise thee. 34 Then said I, Speak on, my Lord; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope. 35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know. 36 4 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream? 37 Now therefore I beseech thee to shew thy servant concerning this trance.

17, 18.

" ch. 5. 15.

* Cp. ch. 9. 24

See ch. 6.

thee. 398 He hath seen that thy way is right for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion. 40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision. 41 The ch. 9, 38. woman which appeared unto thee a little while ago, whom thou sawest mourning, and begannest to comfort her: 42 but now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee "ver. 27. a city in building: 43 and whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution: 44 This woman, whom thou sawest, is 2Sion, 2whom thou now seest as a city builded; 45 and whereas she said unto thee, that she hath beencl. 9, 43, thirty years barren, it is, because there were three 2 thousand years in the world wherein there was no offering as yet offered in her. 46 And it came to pass after three 2 thousand years that Solomon builded the city, and woffered offer-1 Kin. 8. ings: then it was that the barren bare a son. 47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with travail: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem. 48 And * ver. 1. whereas she said unto thee, My son coming into his marriage chamber died, and that misfortune befell her: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem. 49 And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, how she mourned for her son, and thou begannest to comfort her for what hath befallen her; these were the things to be opened unto thee. 50 For now the Most High, seeing that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, hath shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty: 51 and therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded: 52 for I knew that the Most High would shew this unto thee. 53 Therefore I commanded thee to come into the field, where no foundation of any building was. 54 For in the place wherein the city of the Most High was to be shewed, the work of no man's building could stand. 55 Therefore fear thou not, nor let thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and a see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see: 56 and then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend. 576 For Cp. ch. 12 thou art blessed above many, and with the Most High art called by name, like as but few. 58 But to-morrow at night thou shalt remain here; 59 and so shall the Most High shew thee those visions in dreams, of what the Most High will do unto them that dwell upon earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

7.3 & Rev. 13. L.