2 Esdr 7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;
2 Esdr 7:5 Who 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?
2 Esdr 7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:
2 Esdr 7:7 The 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:
2 Esdr 7:8 And 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.
2 Esdr 7:9 If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pa.s.s the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?
2 Esdr 7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel"s portion.
2 Esdr 7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.
2 Esdr 7:12 Then 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.
2 Esdr 7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.
2 Esdr 7:14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.
2 Esdr 7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
2 Esdr 7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?
2 Esdr 7:17 Then 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 unG.o.dly should perish.
2 Esdr 7:18 Nevertheless 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.
2 Esdr 7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above G.o.d, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.
2 Esdr 7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of G.o.d that is set before them.
2 Esdr 7:21 For G.o.d 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.
2 Esdr 7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;
2 Esdr 7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
2 Esdr 7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.
2 Esdr 7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
2 Esdr 7:26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pa.s.s, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.
2 Esdr 7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.
2 Esdr 7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.
2 Esdr 7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.
2 Esdr 7:30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.
2 Esdr 7:31 And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt
2 Esdr 7:32 And 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.
2 Esdr 7:33 And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pa.s.s away, and the long suffering shall have an end:
2 Esdr 7:34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
2 Esdr 7:35 And 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.
2 Esdr 7:36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
2 Esdr 7:37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:
2 Esdr 7:38 And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to the sanctuary:
2 Esdr 7:39 And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
2 Esdr 7:40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.
2 Esdr 7:41 Even so now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed for the unG.o.dly: wherefore shall it not be so now also?
2 Esdr 7:42 He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where much glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.
2 Esdr 7:43 But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,
2 Esdr 7:44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
2 Esdr 7:45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.
2 Esdr 7:46 I 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.
2 Esdr 7:47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
2 Esdr 7:48 O 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.
2 Esdr 7:49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
2 Esdr 7:50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?
2 Esdr 7:51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
2 Esdr 7:52 And 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?
2 Esdr 7:53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?