2 Esdras

1HE answered me then, and said, Measure you carefully the time in your mind: and when you see part of the predicted signs are past, which I have told you before,

2Then shall you know and understand what is the very time when the Most High YAHWEH is about to visit the world which HE has made.

3Therefore when there shall appear in the world earthquakes, tumult of peoples, intrigues of nations, wavering of leaders, confusion of princes,

4Then you shall know and understand well, that YAHWEH the Most High spoke of those things from the days that were of old, that were even before you, from the beginning.

5For just as with everything that is made in the world, has a beginning and is evident, and the end is manifest:

6Even so also are the times of the Most High YAHWEH; the plain beginnings manifest in wonders and mighty powerful works, and endings in requital, effects and signs.

7And it shall be that everyone who shall be delivered and shall be able to escape on account of his works, or on account of the faith whereby he has believed,

8Shall be preserved from the said imminent perils that have been predicted, and shall see MY Deliverance in MY land, and within MY borders: which I have made kodesh for ME from the beginning.

9Then those who have now abused MY Ways shall be in a pitiful state, and they that have rejected and cast them away despitefully with contempt shall dwell in torments.

10For many such as this did not acknowledge ME in their lifetime, although they received MY benefits,

11And as many that scorned and loathed MY Torah, while they still had freedom, and did not understand but despised ME while an opportunity of repentance was still open to them,

12The same must in torment acknowledge ME after death.

13And therefore, do not continue to be curious as to how the checedless wicked shall be punished, but inquire how the righteous shall be delivered, those to whom the age belongs and for whose sake the age was created and when.

14Then I answered and said,

15I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it again, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be delivered:

16Like as a wave is greater than a drop of water.

17And HE answered me, saying, as is the field, so is also the seed; and as are the flowers so are the colors; and as is the workman, so is the product; and as is the husbandman, so is the threshing floor.

18For there was a time in this age when I was preparing for those who now exist, before the world was made for them to dwell in, and no one opposed ME then, for no one existed.

19For then everyone obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, have become corrupt in their ways, and by a Torah which is unsearchable rid themselves.

20So I considered MY world, and behold, it was lost, and MY earth, and behold, it was in peril because of the devices of those who had come into it.

21And I saw and spared some with great difficulty, and delivered for MYSELF one grape out of a cluster, and one plant out of a great forest.

22So let the multitude perish which has been born in vain; but let MY grape be kept, and MY plant be delivered; for with much labor I have made them perfect.

23Nevertheless, if you will let yet seven days more pass, but you shall not fast in them,

24But go into a field of flowers where no house has been built, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat only flowers;

25And pray to the Most High YAHWEH continually, then will I come and talk with you.

26So 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 food of the same satisfied me.

27After seven days, as I sat upon the grass, and my heart was troubled within me, like as before:

28And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Most High YAHWEH, and said,

29Oh YAHWEH, YOU that show YOURSELF to us, YOU were shown to our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treads, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.

30And YOU said, Hear ME, Oh Yisrael; and give heed to MY Words, you seed of Yacob.

31For, behold, I sow MY Torah in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and you shall be magnified through it forever.

32But though our fathers received the Torah, they did not keep it, and did not observe YOUR ordinances: yet the fruit of YOUR Torah did not perish, neither could it, because it was YOURs;

33Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.

34And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,

35That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, does perish, and remains not with us: but with us it has not happened so.

36For we that have received the Torah perish by sin, and also our heart also which received it;

37However the Torah does not perishes but remains in its force.

38And when I had spoke these things in my heart, I lifted up my eyes and saw a woman on my right, and behold, she was mourning and weeping with a loud voice, and was deeply grieved in her heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.

39Then I dismissed the thoughts with which I had been engaged, and turned to her,

40And said to her, Why are you weeping, and why are you grieved in your heart?

41And she said to me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail for myself, and continue to mourn and add to my sorrow, for I am greatly embittered in ruach and brought very low.

42And I said to her, What has happened to you? Tell me.

43She said to me, I your servant have been barren and had no child, though I lived with my husband thirty years,

44And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my prayer to the Most High.

45After thirty years YAHWEH heard your handmaid, and looked upon my misery, considered my distress, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbors: and we gave great honor and splendor to YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY.

46And I nourished him with great care.

47So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I set a day for the marriage and made a feast.