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For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.

For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.

These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,

These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,

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,

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.

Then answered I and said,

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:

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.

So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.

And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.

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.

And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.

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.

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.

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

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

For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty years,

She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty years,

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

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.

And I nourished him with great travail.

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

Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,

Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,

But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;

But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;

Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.

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

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

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

So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.

And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.

And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.

And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and 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,

And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.

He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.

Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.

And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:

For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.

Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.

And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.

And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.

And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.

Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.

And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,

And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.

And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.

And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;

Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,

Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:

After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:

Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their place.

And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.

And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:

And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.

And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.

Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.

And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man’s voice unto the eagle, and said,

And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man’s voice unto the eagle, and said,

Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,

Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?

And it came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,

And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,

And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,

Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.

Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.

Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.