2 Esdras 7

World English Bible

King James Version

¹When I had finished speaking these words, the angel which had been sent to me the nights before was sent to me.

¹And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:

²He said to me, “Rise, Esdras, and hear the words that I have come to tell you.”

²And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.

³I said, “Speak on, my Lord.” Then he said to me, “There is a sea set in a wide place, that it might be broad and vast,

³And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great.

⁴but its entrance is set in a narrow place so as to be like a river.

⁴But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

⁵Whoever desires to go into the sea to look at it, or to rule it, if he didn’t go through the narrow entrance, how could he come into the broad part?

⁵Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?

⁶Another thing also: There is a city built and set in a plain country, and full of all good things,

⁶There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:

⁷but its entrance is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, having fire on the right hand, and deep water on the left.

⁷The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:

⁸There is only one path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so that only one person can go there at once.

⁸And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once.

⁹If this city is now given to a man for an inheritance, if the heir doesn’t pass the danger before him, how will he receive his inheritance?”

⁹If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?

¹⁰I said, “That is so, Lord.” Then said he to me, “Even so also is Israel’s portion.

¹⁰And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel’s portion.

¹¹I made the world for their sakes. What is now done was decreed when Adam transgressed my statutes.

¹¹Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.

¹²Then the entrances of this world were made narrow, sorrowful, and toilsome. They are but few and evil, full of perils, and involved in great toils.

¹²Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils, and very painful.

¹³For the entrances of the greater world are wide and safe, and produce fruit of immortality.

¹³For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.

¹⁴So if those who live don’t enter these difficult and vain things, they can never receive those that are reserved for them.

¹⁴If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.

¹⁵Now therefore why are you disturbed, seeing you are but a corruptible man? Why are you moved, since you are mortal?

¹⁵Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?

¹⁶Why haven’t you considered in your mind that which is to come, rather than that which is present?”

¹⁶Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?

¹⁷Then I answered and said, “O sovereign Lord, behold, you have ordained in your law that the righteous will inherit these things, but that the ungodly will perish.

¹⁷Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.

¹⁸The righteous therefore will suffer difficult things, and hope for easier things, but those who have done wickedly have suffered the difficult things, and yet will not see the easier things.”

¹⁸Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.

¹⁹He said to me, “You are not a judge above God, neither do you have more understanding than the Most High.

¹⁹And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.

²⁰Yes, let many perish who now live, rather than that the law of God which is set before them be despised.

²⁰For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them.

²¹For God strictly commanded those who came, even as they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.

²¹For God hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.

²²Nevertheless, they weren’t obedient to him, but spoke against him and imagined for themselves vain things.

²²Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;

²³They made cunning plans of wickedness, and said moreover of the Most High that he doesn’t exist, and they didn’t know his ways.

²³And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:

²⁴They despised his law and denied his covenants. They haven’t been faithful to his statutes, and haven’t performed his works.

²⁴But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.

²⁵Therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.

²⁵And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.

²⁶For behold, the time will come, and it will be, when these signs of which I told you before will come to pass, that the bride will appear, even the city coming forth, and she will be seen who now is withdrawn from the earth.

²⁶Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.

²⁷Whoever is delivered from the foretold evils will see my wonders.

²⁷And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.

²⁸For my son Jesus will be revealed with those who are with him, and those who remain will rejoice four hundred years.

²⁸For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.

²⁹After these years my son Christ will die, along with all of those who have the breath of life.

²⁹After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.

³⁰Then the world will be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the first beginning, so that no human will remain.

³⁰And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.

³¹After seven days the world that is not yet awake will be raised up, and what is corruptible will die.

³¹And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt

³²The earth will restore those who are asleep in it, and the dust those who dwell in it in silence, and the secret places will deliver those souls that were committed to them.

³²And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed unto them.

³³The Most High will be revealed on the judgment seat, and compassion will pass away, and patience will be withdrawn.

³³And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away, and the long suffering shall have an end:

³⁴Only judgment will remain. Truth will stand. Faith will grow strong.

³⁴But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:

³⁵Recompense will follow. The reward will be shown. Good deeds will awake, and wicked deeds won’t sleep.

³⁵And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.

³⁶The pit of torment will appear, and near it will be the place of rest. The furnace of hellwill be shown, and near it the paradise of delight.

³⁶Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:

³⁷Then the Most High will say to the nations that are raised from the dead, ‘Look and understand whom you have denied, whom you haven’t served, whose commandments you have despised.

³⁷And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:

³⁸Look on this side and on that. Here is delight and rest, and there fire and torments.’ Thus he will speak to them in the day of judgment.

³⁸And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to the sanctuary:

³⁹This is a day that has neither sun, nor moon, nor stars,

³⁹And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:

⁴⁰neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning,

⁴⁰And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.

⁴¹neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither frost, nor cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew,

⁴¹Even so now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly: wherefore shall it not be so now also?

⁴²neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, nor light, except only the splendor of the glory of the Most High, by which all will see the things that are set before them.

⁴²He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where much glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.

⁴³It will endure as though it were a week of years.

⁴³But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,

⁴⁴This is my judgment and its prescribed order; but I have only shown these things to you.”

⁴⁴Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.

⁴⁵I answered, “I said then, O Lord, and I say now: Blessed are those who are now alive and keep your commandments!

⁴⁵Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.

⁴⁶But what about those for whom I prayed? For who is there of those who are alive who has not sinned, and who of the children of men hasn’t transgressed your covenant?

⁴⁶I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.

⁴⁷Now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many.

⁴⁷For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?

⁴⁸For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has led us astray from these commandments and has brought us into corruption and into the ways of death. It has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life—and that, not a few only, but nearly all who have been created.”

⁴⁸O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.

⁴⁹He answered me, “Listen to me, and I will instruct you. I will admonish you yet again.

⁴⁹For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?

⁵⁰For this reason, the Most High has not made one world, but two.

⁵⁰And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?

⁵¹For because you have said that the just are not many, but few, and the ungodly abound, hear the explanation.

⁵¹And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?

⁵²If you have just a few precious stones, will you add them to lead and clay?”

⁵²And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?

⁵³I said, “Lord, how could that be?”

⁵³And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?

⁵⁴He said to me, “Not only that, but ask the earth, and she will tell you. Defer to her, and she will declare it to you.

⁵⁴(For we have walked in unpleasant places.)

⁵⁵Say to her, ‘You produce gold, silver, and brass, and also iron, lead, and clay;

⁵⁵And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?

⁵⁶but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.’

⁵⁶For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.

⁵⁷Judge therefore which things are precious and to be desired, what is abundant or what is rare?”

⁵⁷Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;

⁵⁸I said, “O sovereign Lord, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.”

⁵⁸That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.

⁵⁹He answered me, “Weigh within yourself the things that you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices over him who has what is plentiful.

⁵⁹For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.

⁶⁰So also is the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few that will be saved, because these are those who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them, my name is now honored.

⁶⁰Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken unto them,

⁶¹I won’t grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for these are those who are now like mist, and have become like flame and smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished.”

⁶¹That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.

⁶²I answered, “O earth, why have you produced, if the mind is made out of dust, like all other created things?

⁶²I answered then, and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world,

⁶³For it would have been better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been made from it.

⁶³And upon those also that turn to his law;

⁶⁴But now the mind grows with us, and because of this we are tormented, because we perish and we know it.

⁶⁴And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;

⁶⁵Let the race of men lament and the animals of the field be glad. Let all who are born lament, but let the four-footed animals and the livestock rejoice.

⁶⁵And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it needeth;

⁶⁶For it is far better with them than with us; for they don’t look forward to judgment, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised to them after death.

⁶⁶And that he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more mercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them which are to come.

⁶⁷For what does it profit us, that we will be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment?

⁶⁷For if he shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not continue with them that inherit therein.

⁶⁸For all who are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins and laden with transgressions.

⁶⁸And he pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goodness, that they which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men should not remain living.

⁶⁹If after death we were not to come into judgment, perhaps it would have been better for us.”

⁶⁹And being judge, if he should not forgive them that are cured with his word, and put out the multitude of contentions,

⁷⁰He answered me, “When the Most High made the world and Adam and all those who came from him, he first prepared the judgment and the things that pertain to the judgment.

⁷⁰There should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable multitude.

⁷¹Now understand from your own words, for you have said that the mind grows with us.

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⁷²They therefore who dwell on the earth will be tormented for this reason, that having understanding they have committed iniquity, and receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received.

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⁷³What then will they have to say in the judgment, or how will they answer in the last times?

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⁷⁴For how long a time has the Most High been patient with those who inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the times which he has foreordained!”

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⁷⁵I answered, “If I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, show this also to your servant, whether after death, even now when every one of us gives up his soul, we will be kept in rest until those times come, in which you renew the creation, or whether we will be tormented immediately.”

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⁷⁶He answered me, “I will show you this also; but don’t join yourself with those who are scorners, nor count yourself with those who are tormented.

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⁷⁷For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High, but it won’t be shown you until the last times.

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⁷⁸For concerning death the teaching is: When the decisive sentence has gone out from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, it adores the glory of the Most High first of all.

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⁷⁹And if it is one of those who have been scorners and have not kept the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and who hate those who fear God,

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⁸⁰these spirits won’t enter into habitations, but will wander and be in torments immediately, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways.

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⁸¹The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High.

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⁸²The second way, because they can’t now make a good repentance that they may live.

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⁸³The third way, they will see the reward laid up for those who have believed the covenants of the Most High.

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⁸⁴The fourth way, they will consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days.

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⁸⁵The fifth way, they will see the dwelling places of the others guarded by angels, with great quietness.

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⁸⁶The sixth way, they will see how immediately some of them will pass into torment.

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⁸⁷The seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid ways, because they will pine away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and will be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they have sinned while living, and before whom they will be judged in the last times.

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⁸⁸“Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they will be separated from their mortal body.

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⁸⁹In the time that they lived in it, they painfully served the Most High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of the lawgiver perfectly.

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⁹⁰Therefore this is the teaching concerning them:

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⁹¹First of all they will see with great joy the glory of him who takes them up, for they will have rest in seven orders.

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⁹²The first order, because they have labored with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death.

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⁹³The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them.

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⁹⁴The third order, they see the testimony which he who fashioned them gives concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which was given them in trust.

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⁹⁵The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, and the glory that awaits them in the last days.

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⁹⁶The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped from that which is corruptible, and that they will inherit that which is to come, while they see in addition the difficulty and the pain from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they will receive with joy and immortality.

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⁹⁷The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face will shine like the sun, and how they will be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on.

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⁹⁸The seventh order, which is greater than all the previously mentioned orders, because they will rejoice with confidence, and because they will be bold without confusion, and will be glad without fear, for they hurry to see the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from whom they will receive their reward in glory.

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⁹⁹This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is announced to them. Previously mentioned are the ways of torture which those who would not give heed will suffer from after this.”

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¹⁰⁰I answered, “Will time therefore be given to the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see what you have described to me?”

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¹⁰¹He said, “Their freedom will be for seven days, that for seven days they may see the things you have been told, and afterwards they will be gathered together in their habitations.”

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¹⁰²I answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, show further to me your servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them,

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¹⁰³whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or kindred for kindred, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for those who are most dear.”

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¹⁰⁴He answered me, “Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is a day of decision, and displays to all the seal of truth. Even as now a father doesn’t send his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a friend him that is most dear, that in his place he may understand, or sleep, or eat, or be healed,

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¹⁰⁵so no one will ever pray for another in that day, neither will one lay a burden on another, for then everyone will each bear his own righteousness or unrighteousness.”

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¹⁰⁶I answered, “How do we now find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for the ancestors who sinned in the wilderness,

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¹⁰⁷and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan,

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¹⁰⁸and Samuel in the days of Saul, and David for the plague, and Solomon for those who would worship in the sanctuary,

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¹⁰⁹and Elijah for those that received rain, and for the dead, that he might live,

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¹¹⁰and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others prayed for many?

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¹¹¹If therefore now, when corruption has grown and unrighteousness increased, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, why will it not be so then also?”

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¹¹²He answered me, “This present world is not the end. The full glory doesn’t remain in it. Therefore those who were able prayed for the weak.

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¹¹³But the day of judgment will be the end of this age, and the beginning of the immortality to come, in which corruption has passed away,

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¹¹⁴intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, but righteousness has grown, and truth has sprung up.

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¹¹⁵Then no one will be able to have mercy on him who is condemned in judgment, nor to harm someone who is victorious.”

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¹¹⁶I answered then, “This is my first and last saying, that it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, to have restrained him from sinning.

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¹¹⁷For what profit is it for all who are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?

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¹¹⁸O Adam, what have you done? For though it was you who sinned, the evil hasn’t fallen on you alone, but on all of us who come from you.

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¹¹⁹For what profit is it to us, if an immortal time is promised to us, but we have done deeds that bring death?

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¹²⁰And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, but we have most miserably failed?

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¹²¹And that there are reserved habitations of health and safety, but we have lived wickedly?

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¹²²And that the glory of the Most High will defend those who have led a pure life, but we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?

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¹²³And that a paradise will be revealed, whose fruit endures without decay, in which is abundance and healing, but we won’t enter into it,

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¹²⁴for we have lived in perverse ways?

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¹²⁵And that the faces of those who have practiced self-control will shine more than the stars, but our faces will be blacker than darkness?

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¹²⁶For while we lived and committed iniquity, we didn’t consider what we would have to suffer after death.”

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¹²⁷Then he answered, “This is the significance of the battle which humans born on the earth will fight:

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¹²⁸if they are overcome, they will suffer as you have said, but if they get the victory, they will receive the thing that I say.

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¹²⁹For this is the way that Moses spoke to the people while he lived, saying, ‘Choose life, that you may live!’

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¹³⁰Nevertheless they didn’t believe him or the prophets after him, not even me, who have spoken to them.

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¹³¹Therefore there won’t be such heaviness in their destruction, as there will be joy over those who are assured of salvation.”

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¹³²Then I answered, “I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he has mercy upon those who have not yet come into the world;

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¹³³and compassionate, in that he has compassion upon those who turn to his law;

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¹³⁴and patient, in that he is patient with those who have sinned, since they are his creatures;

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¹³⁵and bountiful, in that he is ready to give rather than to take away;

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¹³⁶and very merciful, in that he multiplies more and more mercies to those who are present, and who are past, and also to those who are to come—

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¹³⁷for if he wasn’t merciful, the world wouldn’t continue with those who dwell in it—

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¹³⁸and one who forgives, for if he didn’t forgive out of his goodness, that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, not even one ten thousandth part of mankind would remain living;

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¹³⁹and a judge, for if he didn’t pardon those who were created by his word, and blot out the multitude of sins,

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¹⁴⁰there would perhaps be very few left of an innumerable multitude.”

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