2Esdr 9:1 

He answered me then, and said, Measure thou the time 

diligently in itself: and when thou seest part of the signs 

past, which I have told thee before, 

2Esdr 9:2 

Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, 

wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made. 

2Esdr 9:3 

Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of 

the people in the world: 

2Esdr 9:4 

Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of 

those things from the days that were before thee, even from the 

beginning. 

2Esdr 9:5 

For like as all that is made in the world hath a beginning 

and an end, and the end is manifest: 

2Esdr 9:6 

Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings 

in wonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs. 

2Esdr 9:7 

And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to 

escape by his works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed, 

2Esdr 9:8 

Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my 

salvation in my land, and within my borders: for I have 

sanctified them for me from the beginning. 

2Esdr 9:9 

Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my 

ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell 

in torments. 

2Esdr 9:10 

For such as in their life have received benefits, and have 

not known me; 

2Esdr 9:11 

And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, 

and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, 

understood not, but despised it; 

2Esdr 9:12 

The same must know it after death by pain. 

2Esdr 9:13 

And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be 

punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be 

saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created. 

2Esdr 9:14 

Then answered I and said, 

2Esdr 9:15 

I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also 

hereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of 

them which shall be saved: 

2Esdr 9:16 

Like as a wave is greater than a drop. 

2Esdr 9:17 

And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also 

the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as 

the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman ls 

himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the 

world. 

2Esdr 9:18 

And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, 

even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against 

me. 

2Esdr 9:19 

For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which 

are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a 

perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid 

themselves. 

2Esdr 9:20 

So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril 

because of the devices that were come into it. 

2Esdr 9:21 

And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of 

the cluster, and a plant of a great people. 

2Esdr 9:22 

Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and 

let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I 

made it perfect. 

2Esdr 9:23 

Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but 

thou shalt not fast in them, 

2Esdr 9:24 

But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, 

and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no 

wine, but eat flowers only;) 

2Esdr 9:25 

And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and 

talk with thee. 

2Esdr 9:26 

So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like 

as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did 

eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same 

satisfied me. 

2Esdr 9:27 

After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed 

within me, like as before: 

2Esdr 9:28 

And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most 

High, and said, 

2Esdr 9:29 

O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed 

unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man 

treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt. 

2Esdr 9:30 

And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my 

words, thou seed of Jacob. 

2Esdr 9:31 

For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in 

you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever. 

2Esdr 9:32 

But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and 

observed not thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did 

not perish, neither could it, for it was thine; 

2Esdr 9:33 

Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the 

thing that was sown in them. 

2Esdr 9:34 

And, lo, it ls a custom, when the ground hath received seed, 

or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being 

perished wherein it was sown or cast into, 

2Esdr 9:35 

That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, 

doth perish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not 

happened so. 

2Esdr 9:36 

For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our 

heart also which received it 

2Esdr 9:37 

Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his 

force. 

2Esdr 9:38 

And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back 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 

heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her 

head. 

2Esdr 9:39 

Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto 

her, 

2Esdr 9:40 

And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so 

grieved in thy mind? 

2Esdr 9:41 

And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail 

myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, 

and brought very low. 

2Esdr 9:42 

And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me. 

2Esdr 9:43 

She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no 

child, though I had an husband thirty years, 

2Esdr 9:44 

And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and 

every hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest. 

2Esdr 9:45 

After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon 

my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was 

very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: 

and we gave great honour unto the Almighty. 

2Esdr 9:46 

And I nourished him with great travail. 

2Esdr 9:47 

So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have 

a wife, I made a feast.