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And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.

And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.

And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.

And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more ungodly than the first.

And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more ungodly than the first.

And unto him thou gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob, thou didst choose him to thee, and put by Esau: and so Jacob became a great multitude.

And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.

And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.

And bowing the heavens, thou didst set fast the earth, movedst the whole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and troubledst the men of that age.

So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:

Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto thee therein.

Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto thee therein.

And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?

And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?

Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:

Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:

Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.

Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?

How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?

How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.

If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?

I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.

For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,

And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?

And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.

So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.

For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.

For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.

From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.

Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not know it.

And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.

But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:

To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.

So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.

And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and why is thy countenance so heavy?

And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,

Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,

And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.

And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.

And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.

Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.

Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.

So I answered and said, Couldest thou not make those that have been made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once; that thou mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?

And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear them that now be present at once.

And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear them that now be present at once.

And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.

Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in their times.

For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.

And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.

And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures which now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.

And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,

And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,

And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;

And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:

And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.

And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.

And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not

And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not

And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.

And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he told me.

And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most High.

Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.

Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.

Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.

Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.

And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.

And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.

Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass.

But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.

And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.

And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.

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

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?

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?

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:

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.

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

For 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.

For 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.

For 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.

Behold, 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.

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

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,

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

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

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.