II. ESDRAS.




CHAP. I.


8 The people is reprooued for their vnfaithfulnes. 30 God will haue another people, if these will not be reformed.

1 The seconde booke of the Prophet [Note: Ezra.7.1. ] Esdras, the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helcias, the sonne of Sadanias, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob,

2 The sonne of Achias, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Heli, the sonne of Amerias, the sonne of Asie, ye sonne of Marimoth, the sonne of Arua, the sonne of Ozias, the sonne of Borith, the sonne of Abisei, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar,

3 The sonne of Aaron (of the tribe of Leui) which Esdras was prisoner in the lande of Medes, in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persia.

4 [Note: Isai.58.1. ] And ye word of ye Lord came vnto me, saying,


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5 Goe, and shewe my people their sinnes, and their children their wickednesse, which they haue committed against me, that they may tell their childrens children.

6 For the sinnes of their fathers are increased in them, because they haue forgotten me, and haue offred vnto strange gods.

7 Haue not I brought them out of the lande of Egypt from the house of bondage? but they haue prouoked me vnto wrath, and despised my counsels.

8 Pull thou off then the haire of thine head, and cast all euill vpon them: for they haue not bene obedient vnto my Lawe, but they are a rebellious people.

9 How long shal I forbeare them, vnto whom I haue done so much good?

10 [Note: Exod.14.28. ] Many Kings haue I destroyed for their sakes: Pharao with his seruants and all his armie haue I smitten downe.

11 All the nations haue I destroyed before them: [Note: Nom.21.24. iosh.8.12. ] I haue destroyed the East, the people of the two countreyes Tyrus and Sydon, and haue slaine all their enemies.

12 Speake thou therefore vnto them, saying, Thus saith the Lorde,

13 [Note: Exod.14.29. ] I haue led you thorowe the Sea, and haue giuen you a sure [Note: Or, streete. ] way, since the beginning: [Note: Exod.3.10. and 4.14. ] I gaue you Moyses for a guide, and Aaron for a Priest.

14 [Note: Exod.13.11. ] I gaue you light in a pillar of fire, & great wonders haue I done among you: yet haue ye forgotten me, saith the Lorde.

15 Thus saith the Almightie Lord, The quailes [Note: Exod.16 13. Psal.104.40. ] were a token vnto you: I gaue you tentes for safegarde, wherein ye murmured:

16 And ye triumphed not in my Name for the destruction of your enemies, but ye yet murmure still.

17 Where are the benefites, that I haue done for you? when ye were hungry in the wildernesse, [Note: Num.14.3. ] did ye not crie vnto me?

18 Saying, Why hast thou brought vs into this wildernesse to kill vs? It had bene better for vs to haue serued ye Egyptias, the to die in this wildernes.

19 I had pitie vpon your mournings, and gaue you Manna to eat: [Note: Wisd.16.20. ] so ye did eate Angels foode.

20 [Note: Num.20.11. wisd.11.4. ] When ye were thirstie, did not I cleaue the stone, and waters did flowe out to satisfie you? from the heate I couered you with the leaues of the trees,

21 And I gaue you fat countreis: I cast out the Cananites, the Pheresites, & Philistims before you: [Note: Isa.5.4. ] what shall I doe more for you, saith the Lorde?

22 Thus saith the Almightie Lorde, [Note: Exod.15.23. ] When ye were in the wildernesse at the bitter waters, being a thirst, and blaspheming my Name,

23 I gaue you not fire for the blasphemies, but cast a tree into the water, & made the riuer sweete.

24 What shall I doe vnto thee, O Iacob? thou [Note: Exod.32.8. ] Iuda wouldest not obey: I wil turne me to other nations, and vnto those will I giue my Name, that they may keepe my Lawes.

25 Seeing ye haue forsaken me, I will also forsake you: when ye aske mercie of me, I will not haue pitie vpon you.

26 [Note: Isa.I.15. ] When ye call vpon me, I will not heare you: for ye haue defiled your handes with blood, and your feete are swift to commit murther,

27 Although ye haue not forsaken me, but your owne selues, saith the Lorde.

28 Thus saith the Almightie Lorde, Haue I not prayed you, as a father his sonnes, and as a mother her daughters, and as a nurce her yong babes,

29 That ye would be my people, as I am your God, and that ye woulde be my children, as I am your Father?

30 [Note: Mat.23.37. ] I gathered you together as an henne gathereth her chickens vnder her wings: but nowe what shall I doe vnto you? I will cast you out from my sight.

31 [Note: Isa.1.13. ] When you bring giftes vnto me, I will turne my face from you: for your solemne feast dayes, your newe moones, and your circumcisions haue I forsaken.

32 I sent vnto you my seruants the Prophets, whome ye haue taken and slaine, and torne their bodyes in pieces, whose blood I will reuenge, saith the Lorde.

33 Thus saith the Almightie Lord, Your house shalbe desolate: I will cast you out as the winde doeth the stubble.

34 Your children shall not haue generation: for they haue despised my commaundement, and done the thing, that I hate, before me.

35 Your houses will I giue vnto a people to come, who shall beleeue me though they heare me not, and they, vnto whome I neuer shewed miracle, shall do the things that I commande them.

36 Though they see no Prophets, yet shal they hate their iniquities.

37 ¶ I will declare the grace that I will doe for the people to come, whose children reioyce in gladnesse, and though they haue not seene me with bodily eyes, yet in heart they beleeue the thinges that I say.

38 Nowe therefore brother, behold what great glorie, & see the people that come from the East.

39 Vnto whome I will giue for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Oseas, Amos, Micheas, Ioel, Abdias, Ionas,

40 Naum, Habacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zacharias, and Malachias (which is called also the [Note: Malac.3.1. ] messenger of the Lorde.)


CHAP. II.


The Synagogue findeth fault with her owne children. 18 The Gentiles are called.

1 Thus saith the Lorde, I brought this people out of bondage: I gaue them also my commaundements by my seruants the Prophets, whom they woulde not heare, but despised my counsels.

2 The mother that bare them, saith vnto them, Goe you away, O children: for I am a widowe and forsaken.

3 I brought you vp with gladnes, but with sorowe and heauinesse haue I lost you: for ye haue sinned against the Lorde your God, and done the thing that displeaseth him.

4 But what shall I nowe doe vnto you? I am a widowe and forsaken: go ye, O my children, and aske mercie of the Lorde.

5 And thee, O Father, I call for a witnesse for the mother of these children, which woulde not keepe my couenant,

6 That thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoyle, that their kindred be not continued.

7 Let their names be scattered among the heathen: let them be put out of the earth, for they haue despised my couenant.

8 Woe vnto thee, Assur: for thou hidest the [Page] vnrighteous in thee: O wicked people, remember [Note: Gen.19.24. ] what I did vnto Sodom and Gomorrha,

9 Whose lande is mixed with cloudes of pitch and heapes of ashes: so will I doe vnto them, that heare me not, saith the Almightie Lorde.

10 Thus saith the Lorde vnto Esdras, Tell my people, that I will giue them the kingdome of Ierusalem, which I would haue giuen vnto Israel.

11 And I will get me glorie by them, and giue them the euerlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for those.

12 They shall haue at will the tree of life, smelling of ointment: they shall neither labour nor be wearie.

13 Goe ye, and ye shall receiue it: pray that the time, which is long, may be shortened: the kingdome is alreadie prepared for you: watch.

14 Take heauen and earth to witnesse: for I haue abolished the euill, and created the good: for I liue, saith the Lorde.

15 Mother, embrace thy children, and bring them vp with gladnesse: make their feete as fast as a piller: for I haue chosen thee, saith the Lorde.

16 And those that be dead, will I raise vp from their places, and bring them out of the graues: for I haue knowen my Name in Israel.

17 Feare not, thou mother of the children: for I haue chosen thee, saith the Lorde.

18 I will sende thee my seruants Esay and Ieremie to helpe thee, by whose counsell I haue sanctified and prepared for thee twelue trees laden with diuers fruites,

19 And as many fountaines, flowing with milke and honie, and seuen mightie mountaines, whereupon there growe roses and lilies, whereby I will fil thy children with ioy.

20 Execute iustice for the widowe: iudge the cause of the fatherlesse: giue to the poore: defend the fatherlesse: clothe the naked.

21 Heale the wounded, and sicke: laugh not a lame man to scorne: defende the creeple, and let the blinde come into the light of my cleerenes.

22 Keepe the olde and the yong that are within thy walles.

23 [Note: Tob.1.17,18,19 ] Wheresoeuer thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I will giue thee the first place in my resurrection.

24 Abide still, O my people, and rest: for thy quietnesse shall come.

25 Nourish thy children, O thou good nurce: stablish their feete.

26 None of the seruants that I haue giuen thee, shall perish: for I will seeke them from among thy number.

27 Be not weary: for when the day of trouble & heauinesse commeth, other shal weepe & be sorowfull, but thou shalt be mery and haue abundance.

28 The heathen shall enuie thee, and shall doe nothing against thee, sayth the Lord.

29 Mine hands shall couer thee, so that thy children shall not see hell.

30 Be ioyful, O thou mother, with thy children: for I will deliuer thee, sayth the Lord.

31 Remember thy children that sleepe: for I will bring them out of the sides of the earth, and will shew mercy vnto them: For I am mercifull, saith the Lord almightie.

32 Embrace thy children, vntil I come and shew mercie vnto them: for my fountaines runne ouer, and my grace shall not faile.

33 I Esdras receiued a charge of the Lord vpon the mount Horeb, that I should goe vnto them of Israel, but when I came to them, they cast me off, and despised the commandement of the Lord.

34 And therefore I say vnto you, O yee heathen, that heare and vnderstande, Wayte for your shepheard, who shall giue you euerlasting rest: for hee is neere at hande, that shall come in the ende of the worlde.

35 Be readie to the rewarde of the kingdome: for the euerlasting light shall shine vpon you for euermore.

36 Flee the shadowe of this world: receiue the ioy of your glorie: I testifie my Sauiour openly.

37 Receiue the gift that is giuen you, and bee glad, giuing thankes vnto him, that hath called you to the heauenly kingdome.

38 Arise, and stand vp, and beholde the number of those that are sealed for the feast of the Lord,

39 Which are departed from the shadow of the worlde, and haue receiued glorious garments of the Lorde.

40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut vp them that are clothed in white, which haue fulfilled the Law of the Lord.

41 The number of thy children whome thou longest for, is fulfilled: beseeche the power of the Lord, that thy people which haue bene called from the beginning, may be sanctified.

42 [Note: Reuel.7.9. ] I Esdras saw vpon mount Sion a great people whome I could not number, and they all praysed the Lord with songs.

43 And in the middes of them there was a yong man hier in stature then them all, and vpon euery one of their heads he set crownes, & was hier then the others, which I much marueiled at.

44 So I asked the Angell, and sayde, Who are these, my Lord?

45 Who answered, and saide vnto me, These be they, that haue put off the mortall clothing, and haue put on the immortall, and haue confessed the Name of God: now are they crowned, and receiue the palmes.

46 Then saide I vnto the Angell, What yong man is it, that setteth crownes on them, and giueth them the palmes in their hands?

47 And he answered, and said vnto me, It is the Sonne of God, whome they haue confessed in the worlde. Then began I greatly to commend them, that had stand so strongly for ye Name of the Lord.

48 Then the Angel said vnto me, Goe thy way, and tell my people, what, and how great wonders of the Lord God thou hast seene.


CHAP. III.


4 The wonderous workes, which God did for the people, were cited. 31 Esdras marueileth that God suffereth the Babylonians to haue rule ouer his people, which yet are sinners also.

1 In the thirtieth yeere after the fall of the citie, as I was at Babylon, I lay troubled vpon my bed, and my thoughts came vp to mine heart,

2 Because I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.

3 So my spirite was sore mooued, so that I began to speake fearefull wordes to the most High, and sayde,

4 O Lord, Lord, thou spakest at the beginning when thou alone plantedst the earth, and gauest commaundement vnto the people,

5 [Note: Gen.2.9. ] And a body vnto Adam, without soule,

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who was also the workemanship of thine handes, and hast breathed in him the breath of life, so that he liued before thee,
6 And leddest him into Paradise, which thy right hande had planted, or euer the earth [Note: Or, went forward. ] brought forth.

7 Euen then thou gauest him commaundement to loue thy way: but he transgressed it, and immediatly thou appointedst death to him and his generation, of whome came nations, tribes, people & kinreds out of number.

8 [Note: Gene.6.12. ] And euery people walked after their owne will, and did wonderfull things before thee, and despised thy commaundements.

9 [Note: Gen.7.10. ] But at the time appoynted thou broughtest the flood vpon those that dwelt in the worlde, and destroyedst them,

10 So that by the flood, that came to euery one of them, which came by death vnto Adam,

11 Yet thou leftest one, euen [Note: 1.Pet 3.20. ] Noe, with his housholde, of whome came all righteous men.

12 And when they that dwelt vpon the earth, began to multiplie, and the number of the children, people and many nations were increased, they began to be more vngodly then the first.

13 Now when they liued wickedly before thee, [Note: Gen.12.1. ] thou diddest choose thee a man from among the, whose name was [Note: Gen 27 5. ] Abraham.

14 Whom thou louedst, and vnto whom onely thou shewedst thy will,

15 And madest an euerlasting couenant with him, promising him that thou wouldest neuer forsake his seede.

16 [Note: Gen.21.2.3. ] And vnto him thou gauest Isaac, [Note: Gen.25.25 26. ] vnto Isaac also thou gauest Iacob & Esau, [Note: Mala.1.2.3. [illeg.] ] and diddest choose Iacob, and cast off Esau, and so Iacob became a great multitude.

17 And when thou leddest his seede out of Egypt, [Note: Exod.19.1. deut.4.10. ] thou broughtest them vp to mount Sina,

18 And enclinedst the heauens and bowedst downe the earth, and diddest mooue the ground, and cause the depthes to shake, and diddest astonish the world.

19 And thy glorie went thorowe foure gates of fyre, with earthquakes, winde and colde, that thou mightest giue the Lawe vnto the seede of Iacob, and that which the generation of Israel should diligently obserue.

20 Yet tookest thou not away from them the wicked heart, that thy Law might bring forth fruit in them.

21 For [Note: Gen.3.6. ] Adam first hauing a wicked heart, was ouercome and vanquished, and all they that are borne of him.

22 Thus remained weakenesse ioyned with the Lawe in the heartes of the people, with the wickednesse of the roote: so that the good departed away, and the euil abode still.

23 So the times passed away, and the yeres were brought to an end, [Note: 1.Sam.16.13. ] till thou diddest raise thee vp a seruant called Dauid,

24 [Note: 1.Sam 5.1. & 7.5,13. ] Whom thou commandedst to build a citie vnto thy Name, to call vpon thee therein with incense and sacrifice.

25 When this was done many yeeres, the inhabitants forsooke thee,

26 Following the wayes of Adam and al his generation: for they also had a wicked heart.

27 Therefore thou gauest thy citie ouer into the handes of thine enemies.

28 But doe they that dwel at Babylon, any better, that they should haue the dominion of Sion?

29 For when I came thither, and saw their wicked deedes without number (for this is the thirtieth yeere that I see many trespacing) I was discouraged.

30 For I sawe, how thou sufferedst them that sinne, and sparedst the wicked doers, where as thou hast destroyed thine owne people, and preserued thine enemies, and thou hast not shewed it.

31 I can not perceiue howe this commeth to passe. Are the deedes of Babylon better then they of Sion?

32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee besides Israel? or what generation hath so beleeued thy testimonies, as Iacob?

33 And yet their rewarde appeareth not, and their labour hath no fruite: for I haue gone here and there thorowout the heathen, and I see them flourish, & thinke not vpon thy commandements.

34 Weigh thou therefore our wickednes nowe in the balance, and theirs also that dwell in the worlde, and no mention of thee shalbe founde but in Israel.

35 Or when is it that they that dwel on the earth, haue not sinned in thy sight? or what people hath so kept thy commandements?

36 Thou shalt surely finde that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts, but not the heathen.



CHAP. IIII.


1 The Angel reprooueth Esdras, because hee seemed to enter into the profound iudgement of God.

1 And the Angel that was sent vnto mee, whose name was Vriel, answered,

2 And said, Thine heart hath take too much vpon it in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the wayes of the Highest.

3 Then saide I, Yea, my Lord. And he answered me, and saide, I am sent to shewe thee three waies, and to set forth three similitudes before thee,

4 Whereof if thou canst declare mee one, I will shewe thee also the way, that thou desirest to see, and I wil shewe thee from whence the wicked heart commeth.

5 And I said, Tell on, my Lorde. Then saide hee vnto me, Go thy way: weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the winde, or call me againe the day that is past.

6 Then answered I, and saide, What man is borne, that can do that, which thou requirest mee, concerning these things?

7 And he said vnto mee, If I shoulde aske thee howe deepe dwellings are in the middes of the sea, or how great springs are in the beginning of the depth, or howe great springs are in the stretching out of the heauen, or which are the borders of Paradise,

8 Peraduenture thou wouldest say vnto mee, I neuer went downe to the deepe, nor yet to the hel, neyther did I euer clime vp to heauen.

9 But nowe haue I asked thee but of fyre and winde, & of the day, whereby thou hast passed, and from the which things thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou giue me none answere of them.

10 He saide moreouer vnto mee, Thine owne things, and such as are growen vp with thee, canst thou not knowe:

11 Howe shoulde thy vessell then bee able to comprehende the waies of the Hiest, and now outwardly in the corrupt worlde, to vnderstande the [Page] corruption, that is euident in my sight?

12 Then said I vnto him, It were better that we were not at al, then that we should liue in wickednesse, and to suffer, and not to knowe wherefore.

13 And he answered me, and saide, [Note: Iudg.9.8. 2.chron.25.18. ] I came to a forest in the plaine where the trees held a counsell,

14 And saide, Come, let vs goe fight against the sea, that it may giue place to vs, and that wee may make vs more woodes.

15 Likewise the floods of the sea tooke counsell and said, Come, let vs goe vp and fight against the trees of the wood, that we may get an other countrey for vs.

16 But the purpose of the wood was vaine: for the fyre came and consumed it.

17 Likewise also the purpose of the floods of the sea: for the sand stoode vp and stopped them.

18 If thou were iudge betweene these two, whome wouldest thou iustifie? or whome wouldest thou condemne?

19 I answered and saide, Verely it is a foolishe purpose, that they both haue deuised: for ye ground is appoynted for the wood, & the sea hath his place to beare his floods.

20 Then answered he mee, and saide, Thou hast giuen a right iudgement: but why iudgest thou not thy selfe also?

21 For like as the ground is appoynted for the wood, and the sea for his floods, so [Note: Isa.55.8,9. iohn.3.31. 1.cor.2.13,14. ] they that dwel vpon earth, can vnderstande nothing, but that which is vpon earth: and they that are in the heauens, the thinges that are aboue the height of the heauens.

22 Then answered I, and sayde, I beseeche thee, O Lorde, let vnderstanding be giuen me.

23 For I did not purpose to inquire of thine hie thinges, but of such as wee dayly meddle withall, namely wherefore Israel is made a reproche to the heathen, and for what cause the people, whom thou hast loued, is giuen ouer to wicked nations, and why the Law of our fathers is abolished, and the written ceremonies are come to none effect,

24 Why wee are tossed to and fro through the worlde as the grashoppers, and our life is a verie feare, and we are not thought worthie to obteine mercie.

25 But what will he doe to his Name, which is called vpon ouer vs? Of these things haue I asked the question.

26 Then answered hee me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt maruel: for the world hasteth fast to passe away,

27 And can not comprehende the things, that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is ful of vnrighteousnesse and weakenes.

28 But to declare thee the things whereof thou askest, the euill is sowen, but the destruction therof is not yet come.

29 If the euil now that is sowen, bee not turned vpside downe, and if the place where the euill is sowen, passe not away, then cannot the thing come, that is sowen with good.

30 For the corne of euill seede hath bene sowen in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much vngodlinesse hath hee brought vp vnto this time? and how much shal he bring forth vntil the haruest come?

31 Ponder with thy selfe, howe much fruite of wickednes the corne of euill seede bringeth forth,

32 And when the stalkes shalbe cut downe, which are without number, howe great an haruest must be prepared.

33 Then I answered, and saide, Howe, and when shall these things come to passe? wherefore are our yeeres few and euill?

34 And he answered me, saying, Haste not to bee aboue the most High: for thou labourest in vaine to be aboue him, though thou indeuour neuer so much.

35 Did not the soules also of the righteous aske question of these things in their chambers, saying, Howe long shall I thus hope? and when commeth the fruite of my barne and our wages?

36 And vpon this Ieremiel the Archangell answered, and saide, When the number of the seedes is filled in you: for hee hath weighed the worlde in the balance.

37 The measure of the times is measured: the ages are counted by number, and they shall not be moued or shaken, til ye measure thereof be fulfilled.

38 Then answered I, and said, O Lord, Lord, we are all euen full of sinne,

39 And for our sake peraduenture the haruest of the righteous is not fulfilled, because of ye sinne of them that dwell vpon earth.

40 So he answered me, and saide, Goe, and aske a woman with childe, when shee hath fulfilled her nine moneths, if her wombe may keepe the birth any longer within her.

41 Then said I, No, Lorde, she can not. And hee said vnto me, In the graue the places of soules are like the wombe.

42 For as she that is wt childe, hasteth to escape the necessitie of the trauel, so doe these places haste to deliuer those things yt are committed vnto them.

43 That which thou desirest to see, shalbe shewed thee from the beginning.

44 Then answered I, and said, If I haue found grace in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I bee meete therefore,

45 Shewe me whether there bee more to come then is past, or more things past, then are to come.

46 What is past, I knowe, but what is to come, I knowe not.

47 And he said vnto mee, Stand on the right side, and I will expound thee this by example.

48 So I stood, and beholde, a hote burning ouen passed before mee: and when the flame was gone by, I looked, and beholde, the smoke had the vpper hand.

49 After this there passed before mee a watrie cloude, and sent downe much rayne with a storme: and when the stormie rayne was past, the droppes came after.

50 Then said he vnto mee, Consider with thy selfe, as the rayne is more then the droppes, and as fyre exceedeth the smoke, so the portion that is past, hath the vpper hand. And the droppes, and the smoke were much.

51 Then I prayed, and said, May I liue, thinkest thou vntill that time? or what shall come to passe in those dayes?

52 Hee answered mee, and saide, Of the tokens whereof thou askest me, I can tel thee a part: but I am not sent to shewe thee of thy life: for I doe not knowe it.


CHAP. V.


1 In the latter times trueth shalbe hid. 10 Vnrighteousnes and all wickednes shall reigne in the worlde. 23 Israel is reiected, and God deliuereth them. 35 God doeth all thing in season.


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1 Neuerthelesse concerning the tokens, beholde, the times shall come, that they which dwel vpon earth, shalbe taken in a great nomber, and the way of the trueth shalbe hidde, and the land shalbe barren from faith,

2 And [Note: Mark.24.12. ] iniquitie shall be increased more then thou hast seene now, or hast heard in time past.

3 And it shall come to passe, that one shall set in foote, and thou shalt see the land desolate, which now reigneth.

4 Yea, if God graunt thee to liue, thou shalt see after the thirde trumpet, that the sunne shall suddenly shine againe in the night, & the moone three times a day.

5 Blood shall droppe out of the wood, and the stone shall giue his voyce, and the people shall bee mooued.

6 And he shall rule, of whome they hope not that dwell vpon earth, and the foules shall change place.

7 And the sea of Sodom shall cast out fish, and make a noyse in the night, which many shall not know, but they shall all heare the voyce thereof.

8 There shall bee a confusion in many places, and the fire shall oft breake foorth, and the wilde beastes shall change their places, and menstruous women shall beare monsters,

9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweete, and all friendes shall fight one against another: then shall wit hide it selfe, and vnderstanding depart into his secret chamber.

10 It shall be sought of many, and yet not bee founde: then shall vnrighteousnes and voluptuousnesse haue the vpper hand vpon earth.

11 One land also shall aske another, and say, Is righteous iustice gone thorowe thee? And it shall say, No.

12 At the same time shal men hope, but not obteine: they shall labour, but their enterprises shall not prosper.

13 To shewe thee such tokens I haue leaue, and if thou wilt pray againe and weepe as nowe, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater thinges then these.

14 ¶ Then I awaked, and a fearefulnesse went thorowe all my body, and my minde was feeble and fainted.

15 But the Angell that was come to talke with mee, helde mee, comforted me, and set me vp vpon my feete.

16 And in the seconde night, Salathiel the captaine of the people came vnto mee, saying, Where hast thou bene? and why is thy countenance so heauie?

17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed vnto thee in the land of their captiuitie?

18 Vp then and eate, and forsake vs not, as the shephearde that leaueth his flocke in the handes of the cruel wolues.

19 Then saide I vnto him, Goe thy wayes from me, and come not neere me: and when he heard it, he went from me.

20 And I fasted seuen dayes, mourning and weeping, as Vriel the Angel had commaunded me.

21 And after seuen dayes the thoughtes of mine heart were very grieuous vnto me againe.

22 And I had a desire to reason againe, and I beganne to talke with the most High againe,

23 And saide, O Lord, Lorde: of euery forest of the earth, and of all the trees thereof thou hast chosen thee one onely vineyarde.

24 And of all lands of the world thou hast chosen thee one pit, and of all the floures of the ground thou hast chosen thee one lilie.

25 And of all the depthes of the sea thou hast filled thee one riuer, and of all builded cities thou hast sanctified Sion vnto thy selfe.

26 And of all the foules that are created, thou hast named thee one doue, and of all the cattel that are made, thou hast appointed thee one sheepe.

27 And among all the multitude of people thou hast gotten thee one people, and vnto this people whome thou louedst, thou gauest a Lawe, that is proued of all.

28 And now, O Lord, why hast thou giuen this one people ouer vnto many? and vpon one roote thou hast set others, and hast scattered thine onely people among many.

29 They treade them downe, which haue withstand thy promises, and beleeue not thy testimonies.

30 And if thou diddest so much hate thy people, they shoulde haue bene punished with thine owne handes.

31 ¶ Now when I had spoken these wordes, the Angell that came to mee the night afore, was sent vnto mee,

32 And said vnto me, Heare me, and I will teach thee, and hearken that I may instruct thee further.

33 And I said, Speake on, my Lord. Then said he vnto me, Thou art sore vexed and troubled for Israels sake. Louest thou them better, then he doeth that made them?

34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very sorow haue I spoken: for my raines paine me euery houre, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seeke out part of his iudgement.

35 And he said vnto me, Thou canst not. And I saide, Wherefore, Lord, wherefore was I borne? or why was not my mothers wombe then my graue? so had I not seene the trouble of Iacob, and the griefe of the stocke of Israel.

36 And he saide vnto me, Nomber vnto me the things that are not yet come, or gather me the drops that are scattered, or make me the withered flowers greene againe.

37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring mee foorth the windes, that are shutte vp therein: shewe me the image of a voyce, and then will I declare thee the thing, that thou askest and labourest to knowe.

38 And I saide, O Lorde, Lorde, who can knowe these thinges, but hee that hath not his dwelling with men?

39 But I that am ignorant, how can I speake of these things whereof thou askest me?

40 Then said he vnto me, Like as thou canst doe none of these things, that I haue spoken of, so canst thou not finde out my iudgement, nor the least benefite, that I haue promised vnto my people.

41 Then I said, Beholde, O Lord, the last things are present vnto thee, and what shall they doe that haue bene before mee, or we that be nowe, or they that shall come after vs?

42 And hee saide vnto me, I will compare my iudgement vnto a ring: as there is no slacknesse of the last, so is there no swiftnesse of the first.

43 Then I answered, and saide, Couldest thou not make at once those that haue bene, those that are now, & those that shal come, that thou mightest shewe thy iudgement the sooner?
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44 Then answered hee mee, The creature, sayd hee, can not preuent the Creator, neither can the worlde holde them at once, that shall bee created therein.

45 And I saide, As thou hast taught thy seruant, that thou, which giuest strength to all, hast giuen life at once to all the worke created by thee, and hast susteined it, so might it nowe also conteine all men at once.

46 And he saide vnto me, Aske the wombe of a woman, and say vnto her, Why must thou haue time before thou bringest foorth? require her to bring foorth tenne at once.

47 And I said, Surely she cannot, but by distance of time.

48 Then saide hee vnto me, So haue I deuided the nomber of the earth by times when seede is sowen vpon it.

49 For as a yong childe begetteth not that that belongeth to the aged, so haue I ordeined the time which I haue created.

50 ¶ I asked againe, & said, Seeing thou hast now shewed mee the way, I will proceede to speake before thee: for our mother, whom thou hast told me is yong, draweth she neere vnto age?

51 He answered me, and said, Aske a woman that traueileth, and she will tell thee.

52 Say vnto her, Wherefore are not they (whom thou hast now brought foorth) like those that were before thee, but lesse of stature?

53 And she shall answere thee, Some were borne in the flower of youth, others were borne in the time of age, when the wombe failed.

54 Consider now thy selfe, how that ye are lesse of stature, then those that were before you,

55 And so are they that come after you, lesse then ye, as the creatures which nowe beginne to be olde, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth.

56 Then saide I, Lorde, I beseech thee, if I haue founde fauour in thy sight, shewe thy seruant, by whome doest thou gouerne thy workemanship?


CHAP. VI.


God hath foreseene all things in his secret counsell, and is authour thereof, and hath created them for his children. 25 The felicitie of the age to come.

1 And he saide vnto me, In the beginning when the round world was made, and before the borders of the worlde were set, and before the windes blew one against another:

2 Before the noise of thunders sounded, before the bright lightning did shine foorth, before the foundations of Paradise were layde:

3 Before the faire flowers did appeare, before the mooueable powers were stablished, before the innumerable armies of Angels were gathered:

4 Before the heights of the aire were lifted vp, before the measures of the heauens were named, before the chimnies in Sion were hote:

5 Before the present yeeres were sought out, and before the affections of them that nowe sinne, were turned away, and they that haue layde vp the treasure of faith, were sealed,

6 Then did I purpose these thinges, and they were made by me alone, and by none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.

7 Then answered I, and said, What shall be the diuision of times? or when shall be the ende of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?

8 And he saide vnto me, From Abraham vnto Isaac, when Iacob and Esau were borne of him, [Note: Gent.25.26 ] Iacobs hand held fast the heele of Esau.

9 For Esau is the ende of this world, and Iacob is the beginning of it that followeth.

10 The hande of man is betwixt the heele and the hand. Other thing, Esdras, aske thou not.

11 ¶ I answered then, and said, O Lord, Lord, if I haue found fauour in thy sight,

12 I beseeche thee, make an ende to shewe thy seruant thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.

13 So he answered me, and saide, Stand vp vpon thy feete, and heare a mightie sounding voyce

14 There shall come as an earthquake, but the place where thou standest, shall not be mooued.

15 And therefore when hee speaketh, be not afraide: for of the ende shall be the word, and of the foundation of the earth shall it be vnderstand.

16 Therefore while one speaketh of them, it trembleth and is mooued: for it knoweth, that it must be changed at the ende.

17 And when I had heard it, I stoode vp vpon my feete, and hearkened, and beholde, there was a voyce that spake, and the sounde of it was like the sound of many waters:

18 And it saide, Beholde, the dayes come, that I will come and inquire of them that dwell vpon the earth,

19 And when I beginne to inquire of them, who by their vnrighteousnes haue hurt others, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled,

20 And the world, that shall vanish away, shall be sealed, then will I shewe these signes: the bookes shalbe opened before the heauen, and they shall see all it together.

21 And the children of a yeere olde shall speake with their voyces: the women with child shall bring forth vntimely children of three or foure moneths olde, and they shall liue that are raised vp.

22 Then suddenly shall the sowen places appeare as the vnsowen, and the full store houses shall suddenly be found emptie.

23 And the trumpet shall sounde, and all they that heare it, shalbe suddenly afraide.

24 At that time shall friendes fight with friends, as with enemies, and the earth shal feare with them: the springs of the welles shall stand still, and in three houres they shall not runne.

25 Whosoeuer remaineth from all these things that I haue tolde thee, shalbe saued, and see my saluation, and the ende of your worlde.

26 And the men that are receiued, shall see it: they that haue not tasted death from their birth, and the heart of the inhabitants shall bee changed, and turned to another meaning.

27 For euil shall be put out, and deceite shall be quenched,

28 But faith shall flourish: corruption shall bee ouercome, and the trueth which hath bene so long without fruite, shall come foorth.

29 ¶ And when hee talked with me, beholde, I looked a litle vpon him before whom I stoode.

30 And these words said he vnto me, I am come to shewe thee the time of the night to come.

31 If thou wilt pray againe, and fast seuen dayes more, I will tell thee more things, and greater then these, which I haue heard in the day.

32 For thy voyce is heard before the Highest: surely the mighty hath seene thy righteous dealing: hee hath seene also thy chastitie, which thou hast kept since thy youth.


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33 Therefore hath he sent me to shewe thee all these things, and to say vnto thee, Be of good comfort, and feare not,

34 And haste not in the vaine consideration of the first times, nor make haste to the latter times.

35 And after this I wept againe and fasted seuen dayes in like maner, that I might fulfill the three weekes, which he had appointed me.

36 And in the eight night was mine heart vexed within me againe, and I began to speake before the most High.

37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soule was in distresse,

38 And I sayd, O Lord, thou spakest expresly in the first creation (euen the first day) and commandedst [Note: Gene.1.1. ] that the heauen and the earth should be made, and the worke followed thy worde.

39 And then was there the spirit, and the darknes was on euery side with silence: there was no mans voyce as yet created of thee.

40 Then commaundedst thou a bright light to come forth out of thy treasures, that it might giue light to thy worke.

41 Vpon the second day thou createdst the heauenly ayre, and commaundedst it, that, going betweene, it should make a diuision betweene the waters, that the one part might remaine aboue, and the other beneath.

42 Vpon the third day thou commaundedst, that the waters should be gathered together in the seuenth part of the earth: sixe partes diddest thou drie, and kept them to the intent that of these there should be that should serue thee, being sowen of God and tilled.

43 Assoone as thy worde went forth, the worke was incontinently made.

44 For immediatly great and innumerable fruit did spring vp, and many diuers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of vnchangeable colour, and odours of a most wonderfull smell, and these things were created the third day.

45 [Note: Gene.1.14. ] Vpon the fourth day thou createdst the light of the sunne, and of the moone, and the order of the starres,

46 And gauest them a charge, to doe [Note: Gene.1.14. and 15 deut.4.19. ] seruice euen vnto man that was for to be made.

47 And vpon the fift day thou saydest vnto the senenth part [Note: Gene.1.20. ] where the waters were gathered, that it should bring forth beastes, as foules and fishes: and it was so.

48 For the dum waters, & without life brought foorth liuing things at the commaundement of God, that the nations might prayse thy wonderous workes.

49 Then didst thou prepare two liuing things: the one thou calledst [Note: Or, Enoch. ] Behemoth, and the other thou calledst Leuiathan,

50 And diddest separate the one from the other: for the seuenth part, where the water was gathered, could not holde them.

51 Vnto Behemoth thou gauest one part, which was dried vp the third day, that he should dwell in the same place, wherein are a thousand hilles.

52 But vnto Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth part, that is wet, and hast prepared him to deuoure what thou wilt, and when thou wilt.

53 Vpon the sixt day thou gauest commaundement vnto the earth, that before thee it shoulde bring forth beastes, cattell and creeping things.

54 And besides this Adam, whom thou madest lorde ouer all the workes, which thou hast created, of him come we all, and the people also, whome thou hast chosen.

55 All this haue I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou hast created the world for our sakes.

56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast declared them that they are nothing before thee, but be like vnto spitle, and hast compared their riches vnto a drop that falleth from a vessell.

57 And nowe, O Lorde, beholde, these heathen which haue bene reputed as nothing, haue begun to be lords ouer vs, and to deuoure vs.

58 And we thy people (whom thou hast called the first borne, the onely begotten, and thy feruent louer) are giuen into their hands.

59 If the world then be created for our sakes, why haue we not the inheritance thereof in possession? or how long shall we suffer these things?


CHAP. VII.


5 Without tribulation none can come to felicitie. 12 God aduertiseth all in time. 28 The comming and death of Christ. 32 The resurrection and last iudgement, 43 After the which all corruption shall cease. 48 All fell in Adam. 59 The true life. 62 The mercies and goodnes of God.

1 And when I had made an ende of these wordes, there was sent vnto me an Angel, which had bene sent downe to me the nightes afore.

2 And he sayd vnto me, Vp, Esdras, and heare the wordes that I am come to tell thee.

3 And I sayd, Speake on, my God. Then sayde he vnto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deepe and great,

4 But presuppose that the entrance thereof were narrow, and like the riuers,

5 Who could go into the sea to looke vpon it, and to rule it? if he went not thorowe the narowe, howe could he come into the broad?

6 There is also another thing: a citie is builded and set vpon a broad fielde, and is full of all good things:

7 The entrance thereof is narrowe and in a dangerous place to fall, that there is fire at the right hand, and a deepe water at the left,

8 And there is but one path betwixt them, euen betweene the fire and the water, so that there could but one man go there.

9 If this citie were giuen vnto a man for an inheritance, if he neuer went thorowe the perill before it, how could he receiue his inheritance?

10 And I sayd, It is so, Lord. Then sayd he, So is the portion of Israel.

11 Surely for their sakes haue I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then came this thing to passe.

12 Then were the entrances of the world made narrow, full of sorowe and trauaile: they are but fewe and euill, and full of perils, and very painefull.

13 For the entrances of the fore worlde were wide and sure, and brought immortall fruite.

14 If then they that are liuing, labour not to enter by these straight and brittle things, they can not attaine to those things that are hid.

15 Why then disquietest thou thy selfe, seeing thou art corruptible? and why art thou moued, seeing thou art mortall?

16 And why hast thou not considered in thy minde the things to come, rather then them that are present?
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17 Then said I, O Lord, Lord, [Note: Deut.8.1. ] seeing thou hast ordeined in thy Law, that the righteous should inherite these things, and that the vngodly should perish,

18 Should the righteous suffer straitnes in hoping for large things? yet they that haue liued vngodly and suffered straitnes, shall not see the large things.

19 Then he sayd vnto me, There is no iudge more iust then God, and there is none more wise then the most High.

20 For many perish in this life, because they despise the Lawe of God that is appointed.

21 For God hath diligently admonished such as came, so oft as they came, what they should doe to haue life, and what they should obserue, to auoyde punishment.

22 Neuerthelesse, they were not obedient vnto him, but spake against him, and imagined vaine things,

23 And deceiued them selues by their wicked deedes, and denyed the power of the most High, and regarded not his wayes.

24 But they despised his Law, & refused his promises: they haue vnfaithfully broken his ordinances, and haue not perfourmed his workes.

25 And therefore, Esdras, vnto the emptie are emptie things, and to the full, full things.

26 Beholde, the time shall come, that these tokens which I haue tolde thee, shall come to passe, and the bride shall appeare, & she shall come forth, and be seene that nowe is vnder the earth.

27 And whosoeuer shall escape these euils, he shall see my wonders.

28 For my sonne Iesus shall appeare with those that be with him, and they that remaine, shall reioyce within foure hundreth yeeres.

29 After these same yeeres, shal my sonne Christ die, and all men that haue life.

30 And the world shalbe turned into the olde silence for seuen dayes, as in the fore iudgements, so that no man shall remaine.

31 But after seuen dayes, the worlde that is yet a sleepe, shall be raised vp: and that shall die, that is corrupt.

32 Then the earth shall restore those that haue slept in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in silence, and the secret places shall deliuer the soules that were committed vnto them.

33 And the most High shall appeare vpon the seate of iudgement, and miseries shall vanish away, and long suffering shall haue an ende.

34 Iustice onely shall continue: the trueth shal remaine, and faith shalbe strong.

35 The worke shal follow, & the reward shalbe shewed: the good deedes shalbe of force, and vnrighteousnes shall beare no more rule.

36 Then sayd I, [Note: Gene.18.23. ] Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and [Note: Exod.32 3. ] Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the wildernes,

37 And they that came after him, for Israel in the time of Achaz, and Samuel,

38 And [Note: 2.Sam.24.17. ] Dauid for the destruction, [Note: 2.Chro.6.14. ] and Salomon for them that came into the Sanctuarie,

39 [Note: 1.King.17.21. and 18.42,45. ] And Elias for those that receiued raine, and for the dead that he might liue,

40 [Note: 2.King.19.15. ] And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib, and diuers others for many.

41 Euen so now, seeing vice is increased, & wickednes aboundeth, and the righteous haue prayed for the vngodly, wherefore shall not the same effect followe also nowe?

42 Then he answered me, and sayd, This present life is not the ende: oft times honour is reteined in it: therefore haue they prayed for the weake.

43 But the day of iudgement shall be the ende of this world, and the beginning of the immortalitie to come, wherein all corruption shall cease.

44 Intemperancie shall passe away: infidelitie shall be cut off: righteousnes shall growe vp, and the veritie shall spring vp.

45 Then shall no man be able to saue him that is destroyed, nor oppresse him that hath gotten the victorie.

46 I answered then, and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had bene better not to haue giuen the earth vnto Adam, or when it was giuen him, to haue kept him that hee should not haue sinned.

47 For what profite is it for men in this present life to be in heauinesse, and after death to feare punishment?

48 O Adam, what hast thou done? [Note: Rom.5.18. ] for in that that thou hast sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but the fall also redoundeth vnto vs that come of thee.

49 For what profite is it vnto vs, if there be promised an immortall life, when we doe the works that bring death?

50 And that an euerlasting hope should be promised vs, seeing that we be tied our selues to deadly vanitie?

51 And that there shoulde be appointed vs dwellings of health and safetie, if we haue liued wickedly?

52 And that the glory of the most High should be kept to defend them which haue led a patient life, if we haue walked in the wicked wayes?

53 And that an eternal Paradise should be shewed, whose fruite remaineth incorruptible, wherein is safetie and health, if we wil not enter into it?

54 (For we haue bene conuersant in vnpleasant places)

55 And that the faces of them, which haue absteined, should shine more then starres, if our faces be blacker then darkenes?

56 For while we liued, we did not remember when we did vnrighteously, that we should suffer after death.

57 Then answered he me, and sayd, This is the maner of the battell, which man, that is borne in the earth shall fight,

58 That if he be ouercome, he should suffer as thou hast sayd: but if he get the victorie, he should receiue the thing that I sayd.

59 For this is the life, whereof Moyses spake vnto the people, while he liued, saying, [Note: Deut.30.19. ] Chuse thee life that thou mayest liue.

60 Neuertheles, they beleeued him not, neither the Prophets after him, nor me also which haue sayd vnto them,

61 That heauinesse should not so be to their destruction, as ioy should come vnto them, to whome saluation is perswaded.

62 I answered then, and sayd, I know, Lord, that the most High is called mercifull, in that he hath mercie vpon them, which are not yet come to that world,

63 And that he hath pitie on those that walke in his Lawe,


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64 And that [Note: Rom.2.4. ] he is pacient: for he long suffereth those that haue sinned as his creatures,

65 And that he is liberal: for he wil giue as much as needeth,

66 And that he is of great mercie: for hee ouercommeth in mercie those that are present, and that are past, and them which are to come.

67 For if he were not aboundant in his mercies, the world coulde not continue, nor they that haue the possession thereof.

68 Hee pardoneth also: for if he gaue not of his goodnesse, that they which haue done euil, might be relieued from their wickednesse, the tenne thousand part of men should not remaine aliue.

69 And if he, being iudge, forgaue not those that be healed with his worde, and tooke away the multitude of sinnes,

70 There should peraduenture be very fewe left in an vnnumerable multitude.


CHAP. VIII.


1 The number of the godly is small. 6 The workes of God are excellent. 20 Esdras prayer for him & for his people. 39 The promes of saluation to the iust. 55 The destruction of the vniust.

1 And hee answered mee, saying, The most High made this worlde for many, but the worlde to come for fewe.

2 I wil tell thee a similitude, O Esdras. As when thou askest the earth, it shall say vnto thee, that it giueth much earthly matter to make pottes, but litle dust that golde commeth of, so is it with the worke of this world.

3 [Note: Math.20.16. ] There be many created, but fewe shall bee saued.

4 Then answered I, and saide, Then swallow vp the wit, O my soule, and deuoure vnderstanding.

5 For thou hast promised to heare, & thou wilt prophesie: for thou hast no longer space, but the life giuen thee.

6 O Lord, if thou suffer not thy seruant, that we may intreate thee, that thou maiest giue seede vnto our heart, and prepare our vnderstanding, that there may come fruite of it, whereby euery one which is corrupt, may liue, who can set himselfe for man?

7 For thou art alone, and we all are one workemanship of thine handes, as thou hast said.

8 For when the body is fashioned nowe in the wombe, and thou hast giuen it members, the creature is preserued by fire and water, and the worke, created by thee, doth suffer nine monethes the creature, which is fashioned in it.

9 But the thing that conteineth, and that which is conteined, shall both be preserued, and when time is come, the wombe, being preserued, deliuereth the things that grewe in it.

10 For thou hast commanded the members, euen the breastes, to giue milke vnto the fruite appointed to the breastes,

11 That the thing, which is created, may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to thy mercie.

12 Thou bringest it vp with thy righteousnesse, nourturest it in thy lawe, and reformest it with thy iudgement.

13 Thou slayest it as thy creature, and giuest it life as thy worke.

14 Seeing then that thou destroyest him, which with so great labours is fashioned, it is an easie thing to appoint by thy commaundement, that the thing also which is made, might be preserued.

15 Now therefore, O Lord, I wil speake (as touching men in general thou shalt rather prouide) but concerning thy people, for whose sake I am sorie,

16 And for thine inheritance for whose cause I mourne: for Israel, for whome I am wofull, and for Iacob, for whose sake I am grieued.

17 For them will I pray before thee, as well for my selfe, as for them: for I see our faultes that dwell in the lande.

18 ¶ But I haue heard the sudden comming of the iudge, which is to come.

19 Therefore heare my voyce, & vnderstand my wordes, which I wil speake before thee. The beginning of the words of Esdras, before he was taken vp.

20 O Lord, that liuest for euer, which beholdest from aboue that which is aboue, and in the ayre,

21 Whose throne is inestimable, and his glory incomprehensible, before whome the hoste of the Angels stand with trembling,

22 Whose keeping is turned in winde and fire, whose word is true, and sayings stedfast, whose commandement is strong, and gouernment terrible,

23 Whose looke drieth vp the depthes, & wrath maketh the mountaines to melt away as the thing beareth witnesse.

24 Heare the prayer of thy seruant, and receiue into thine eares the petition of thy creature.

25 For while I liue, I will speake, and so long as I haue vnderstanding, I will answere.

26 Looke not vpon the sinnes of thy people, rather then thy faithfull seruants.

27 Haue not respect vnto the wicked deedes of men, rather then to them that haue thy testimonies in afflictions.

28 Thinke not vpon those that haue walked fainedly before thee, but remember them that reuerence thy will.

29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them, which haue liued like beastes, but looke vpon them that haue clearely taught thy Lawe.

30 Take not displeasure with them, which appeare worse then beastes, but loue them that alway put their trust in thy righteousnesse and glory.

31 For wee and our fathers haue all the same sickenesse: but because of vs that are sinners, thou shalt be called mercifull.

32 If therefore thou wilt haue mercy vpon vs, thou shalt bee called mercifull towardes vs which haue no workes of righteousnesse.

33 For the righteous, which haue layde vp many good workes, let them receiue the rewarde of their owne deedes.

34 But what is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or what is this mortall generation, that thou shouldest be so grieued towardes it?

35 [Note: 1.King.8.46. 2.chron.6.36. ] For verely there is no man among them that be borne, but he hath done wickedly, nor any that doth cofesse thee, which hath not done amisse.

36 For in this, O Lord, thy righteousnes and thy goodnes shall be praised, if thou bee mercifull vnto them, which haue not ye substance of good workes.

37 ¶ Then answered he me, & said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according vnto thy wordes it shall be.

38 For I will not verely consider the workes of them, before the death, before the iudgement, before destruction:

39 But [Note: Gene.4.4. ] I will reioyce in the wayes of the righteous, and I wil remember the pilgrimage, the saluation and the reward that they shall haue.

40 Like as I haue spoken nowe, so shall it come to passe.
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41 For as the husbandman soweth much seede vpon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet alway the thing that is sowen, commeth not vp in time, neither yet doth all that is planted, take roote: so neither shall they all that are brought into the world, be saued.

42 I answered then and saide, If I haue founde grace, let me speake.

43 Like as the husbandmans seede perisheth, if it come not vp, and receiue not raine in due season, or if it be destroyed with too much raine:

44 So perisheth man, which is created with thine handes, and thou art called his paterne, because he is created to thine image, for whose sake thou hast made all things, and likened him vnto the husbandmans seede.

45 Be not wroth with vs, O Lord, but spare thy people, and haue mercie vpon thine inheritance: for thou wilt be mercifull vnto thy creature.

46 Then answered he mee, and saide, The things present are for the present, and the thinges to come for such as be to come.

47 For thou art farre off that thou shouldest loue my creature aboue mee: but I haue oft times drawen neere vnto thee and vnto it, but neuer to the vnrighteous.

48 In this also thou art marueilous before the Highest,

49 In that thou hast humbled thy selfe, as it becommeth thee, and hast not iudged thy selfe worthy to boast thy selfe greatly among the righteous.

50 For many miseries and calamities remaine for them that shall liue in the latter time, because they shall walke in great pride.

51 But learne thou for thy selfe, and seeke out the glory for such as be like thee.

52 For vnto you is paradise opened: the tree of life is planted: the time to come is prepared, plenteousnes made ready: the citie is builded, and rest is prepared, perfect goodnesse and absolute wisdome.

53 The roote of euill is sealed vp from you: the weakenes and moth is destroyed from you, and into hell flieth corruption to be forgotten.

54 Sorowes are vanished away, and in the ende is shewed the treasure of immortalitie.

55 Therefore aske thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.

56 For when they had libertie, they despised the most High: they contemned his lawe and forsooke his wayes.

57 Moreouer, they haue troden downe his righteous,

58 [Note: Psalme 14.1. and 53.2. ] Saying in their heart, that there was no God, though they knew that they should die.

59 For as ye thing that I haue spoken of, is made readie for you: so is thirst and paine prepared for them: for God would not that man should perish:

60 But they, after that they were created, haue defiled ye Name of him that made them, & are vnthankefull vnto him, which prepared life for them.

61 Therefore my iudgement is now at hand.

62 These thinges haue I not shewed vnto all men, but vnto thee, and to a fewe like thee: then I answered, and said,

63 Beholde now, O Lord: thou hast shewed me the many wonders, which thou art determined to doe in the last time, but in what time, thou hast not shewed me.


CHAP. IX.


3 All things in this world haue a beginning and an ende. 10 Torments for the wicked after this life. 15 The number of the wicked is more then of the good. 29 The Iewes ingratitude. 36 Therefore they perish. 38 The vision of a woman lamenting.

1 Hee answered mee then, and saide, Measure the time with it selfe, and when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to passe, which I haue told thee before,

2 Then shalt thou vnderstande, that it is the time wherein the most High will beginne to visite the worlde which he made.

3 Therefore when there shalbe seene an [Note: Matth.24.7. ] earthquake in the world, and an vprore of the people,

4 Then shalt thou vnderstande that the most High spake of those thinges, from the dayes that were before thee, euen from the beginning.

5 For as all that is made in the worlde, hath a beginning and an ende, and the ende is manifest,

6 So the times also of ye most High haue plaine beginnings in wonders and signes, and ende in effect and miracles.

7 And euery one that shall escape safe, and shall be deliuered by his workes, and by the faith wherein ye haue beleeued,

8 Shalbe preserued from the said perils and shal see my saluation in my land, and within my borders: for I haue kept me holy from the world.

9 Then shall they haue pitie of them selues, which nowe haue abused my wayes: and they that haue cast them out despitefully, shall dwel in paines.

10 For such as in their life haue receiued benefites, and haue not knowen me,

11 But haue abhorred my lawe, while they were yet in libertie, and when they had yet leysure of amendment, & would not vnderstand but despised it,

12 They must be taught it after death by paine.

13 And therefore be thou no more carefull, to knowe how the vngodly shall be punished, but inquire howe the righteous shall be saued, and whose the world is, and for whom it is, and when.

14 Then answered I, and said,

15 I haue afore saide that which I say nowe and will speake it hereafter, that there bee many moe of them which perish, then of them that shall bee [Note: Chap.8.3. matth.20.16. ] saued,

16 As the flood is greater then a drop.

17 And he answered me, saying, As the field is, so is also the seede: as the flowers be, so are the colours also: such as the workeman is, such is the worke: and as the husbandman is, so is his husbandrie: for it was the time of the world.

18 Surely when I prepared the world, which was not yet made for them to dwel in that now liue, no man spake against me.

19 For then euery one obeyed, but now the maners of them that are created in this worlde, that is made, are corrupted by a perpetuall seede, and by a Lawe, whereout they cannot ridde themselues.

20 So I considered the world, and beholde there was perill, because of the deuises, that were sprung vp into it.

21 Yet when I sawe it, I spared it greatly, and haue kept mee one grape of the cluster, and a plant out of a great people.

22 Let therefore the multitude perish, which are borne in vaine: and let my grape bee kept, and my plant, which I haue dressed with great labour.

23 ¶ Neuerthelesse, if thou wilt cease seuen dayes moe (but thou shalt not fast in them,

24 But shalt goe into a faire fielde, where no house is builded, and shalt eate onely of the floures

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of the fielde, and eate no flesh, nor drinke wine, but the flowers onely,
25 And pray vnto the most High continually) then will I come, and talke with thee.

26 So I went my way, as he had commaunded me into the field, which is called Ardath, & there I sate among the flowers, & did eate of the herbes of the fielde, and the meate of the same satisfied me.

27 And after seuen dayes, as I sate vpon the grasse, & mine heart was vexed within me, as afore,

28 I opened my mouth, and began to talke before the most High, and to say,

29 O Lord, when thou wouldest shewe thy selfe vnto vs, [Note: Exod.19.9. and 24.3. deut.4.12. ] thou declaredst thy selfe vnto our fathers in ye wildernes, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt,

30 And expresly spakest vnto them, saying, Heare me, O Israel, and marke my wordes, thou seede of Iacob.

31 For beholde, I sowe my Lawe in you, that it may bring forth fruite in you, and that ye may be honoured by it for euer.

32 But our fathers which receiued the Lawe, kept it not, neither obserued thine ordinances, neither did the fruit of the Law appeare, neither could it, for it was thine.

33 [Note: Exod.32.28. ] For they that receiued it, perished because they kept not the thing that was sowen in them.

34 And lo, it is a custome when the ground receiueth seede, or the sea a ship, or a vessell meate and drinke, if that perish wherein a thing is sowen, or wherein any thing is put,

35 Likewise the thing that is sowen, or is put therein, & the things that are receiued, must perish: so the things that are receiued, doe not remaine with vs: but in vs it commeth not so to passe.

36 For we that haue receiued the Lawe, perish in sinne, and our heart also which receiued it.

37 But the Lawe perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.

38 ¶ And when I spake these things in mine heart, I looked about me, & vpon the right side [Note: Chap.10.44. ] I sawe a woman, which mourned sore, and lamented with a loude voyce, and was grieued in heart, and rent her clothes, and she had ashes vpon her head.

39 Then I left my thoughtes, wherein I was occupied, and turned me vnto her,

40 And said vnto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so sory in minde?

41 And she sayd vnto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewayle my selfe, and increase sorowe: for I am sore vexed in my minde, & brought very lowe.

42 Then I sayd vnto her, What ayleth thee? tell me.

43 And she sayde vnto me, I thy seruant haue bene baren, and haue had no childe, hauing an husband thirtie yeeres.

44 And euery houre, and euery day these thirtie yeeres I pray to the most High day and night.

45 And after thirtie yeeres God heard me thine handmayd, and looked vpon my miserie, considered my trouble, & gaue me a sonne, and I was glad of him: so was mine husband also, & all they of my countrey, & we gaue great honor vnto ye Almighty.

46 And I nourished him with great trauell.

47 So when he grewe vp, and came to take a wife, I made a feast.



CHAP. X.


Esdras and the woman that appeareth vnto him, commune together.

1 Bvt when my sonne went into his chamber, he fell downe, and dyed.

2 Then we all ouerthrewe the lights, and all my neighbours rose vp to comfort me: so I rested vntill the second day at night.

3 And when they had all left off to comfort me, that I should be quiet, then I rose vp by night, and fled, and am come into this fielde as thou seest,

4 And am not purposed to returne into ye citie, but to remaine here, & neither to eate nor drinke, but continually to mourne and fast, vntill I die.

5 Then left I my purpose wherein I was, and spake to her angerly, and sayd,

6 Thou foolish woman aboue all other, seest thou not our heauines, & what commeth vnto vs?

7 For Sion our mother is all wofull and is sore afflicted, and mourneth extremely.

8 Seeing we be all nowe in heauines, and make our mone (for we be all sorowfull) art thou sory for one sonne?

9 Demaund the earth, and shee shall tell thee that it is shee which ought to mourne for the fall of so many that growe vpon her.

10 For from the beginning all men are borne of her, and other shal come, & beholde, they walke almost all into destruction, and the multitude of them shalbe destroyed.

11 Who should then rather mourne, shee that hath lost so great a multitude, or thou which art sorie but for one?

12 But if thou wouldest say vnto me, My mourning is not like the mourning of the earth (for I haue lost the fruite of my wombe, which I brought forth with heauines, and bare with sorowes,

13 But the earth is according to the maner of the earth, and the present multitude returneth into her as it came)

14 Then say I vnto thee, As thou hast borne with trauell, so the earth also from the beginning giueth her fruite vnto man, euen to him that laboured her.

15 Nowe therefore withholde thy sorowe in thy selfe, and beare constantly that which commeth vnto thee.

16 For if thou allowest Gods purpose, and receiuest his counsell in time, thou shalt be commended therein.

17 Go thy way then into ye citie to thine husbad.

18 ¶ Then she sayd vnto me, I wil not, I wil not goe into the citie, but here wil I die.

19 So I cotinued to speake more wt her, and said,

20 Doe not so, but be counselled: for how many falles hath Sion? Be of good comfort because of the sorowe of Ierusalem.

21 For thou seest that our Sanctuarie is layde waste: our altar is broken downe: our Temple is destroyed:

22 Our psalterion fainteth, & the song ceaseth, and our mirth is vanished away, and the light of our candlesticke is quenched, and the Arke of our couenant is taken away, and our holy things are defiled, and the Name that is called vpon ouer vs, is almost dishonoured, and our children are put to shame, and our Priests are burnt, and our Leuites are caried into captiuitie, and our virgins are defiled, and our wiues rauished, and our righteous men spoyled, and our children destroyed, and our yong men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weake,

23 And, which is ye greatest of all, Sion the seale [Page] hath lost her worship: for she is deliuered into the hands of them that hate vs.

24 And therefore shake off thy great heauines, and put away the multitude of sorowes, that the Almightie may be mercifull vnto thee, and that the most High may giue thee rest and ease from thy labour.

25 And when I was talking with her, her face and beautie shined suddenly, and her countenance was bright, so that I was afraide of her and mused what it might be.

26 And beholde, immediatly she cast out a great voyce, very fearefull, so that the earth shooke at the noyse of the woman.

27 And I looked, and beholde, the woman appeared vnto me no more: but there was a citie builded, and a place was shewed from the ground and foundation. Then was I afraide, and cryed with a loude voyce, and sayd,

28 Where is Vriel the Angel [Note: Chap.4.1. ] which came to me at the first? for he hath caused me to come into many and deepe considerations, and mine ende is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.

29 And as I was speaking these wordes, behold, he came vnto me, and looked vpon me.

30 And loe, I lay as one dead, and mine vnderstanding was altered, and he tooke me by the right hand & comforted me, and set me vpon my feete, and sayd vnto me,

31 What ayleth thee? and why is thine vnderstanding vexed? and the vnderstanding of thine heart? and wherefore art thou sory?

32 And I sayd, Because thou hast forsaken me, and I haue done [Note: Chap.5.20. ] according vnto thy words: I went into the fielde, and there haue I seene things, and see that I am not able to expresse.

33 Then sayd he vnto me, Stand vp manly, and I wil giue thee exhortation.

34 Then sayd I, Speake vnto me, my Lord, and forsake me not, least I die through rashnes.

35 For I haue seene that I knew not, and heare that I doe not know.

36 Or is mine vnderstanding deceiued, or doeth my minde, being hautie, erre?

37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shewe thy seruant of this wonder.

38 Then he answered me, and sayd, Heare mee, and I wil informe thee, & tell thee wherefore thou art afrayd: for the most High hath reueiled many secret things vnto thee.

39 He hath seene thy good purpose, that thou art sory continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

40 This therefore is the vnderstanding of the vision, which appeared vnto thee a litle while agoe.

41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

42 But nowe seest thou the likenes of the woman no more, but there appeared vnto thee a citie builded.

43 And where as she tolde thee of the death of her sonne, this is the solution,

44 This woman, which thou sawest, she is Sion: and where as she tolde thee (euen she which thou seest nowe as a citie builded)

45 And as touching that she sayde vnto thee, that she was barren thirtie yeeres, this was concerning that, there was euen thirtie yeeres wherein there was no offering offered in her.

46 But after thirtie yeeres, Salomon built the citie, and offered offerings: then bare the barren a sonne.

47 And where as she tolde thee, that she nourished him with labour, that was the inhabiting of Ierusalem.

48 But where as she tolde thee that her sonne, as his chance was, dyed when she came into her chamber, that is the fall that is come to Ierusalem.

49 And when thou sawest her like one that mourned for her sonne, thou begannest to comfort her: of these things which haue chanced these are to be opened vnto thee.

50 For now the most High seeth, that thou art sory in thy minde, and because thou sufferest with all thine heart for her, hee shewed thee the clearenes of her glory, and the fairenes of her beautie.

51 And therefore I bade thee remaine in the fielde where no house was built.

52 For I knew that the most High would shew these things vnto thee.

53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the fielde, where no foundation nor building is.

54 For the worke of mans building can not stand in that place where the citie of the most High should be shewed.

55 And therefore feare not, neither let thine heart be afrayd, but go in, and see the beautie and greatnes of the building as much as thou art able to see with thine eyes.

56 And after this shalt thou heare, as much as thine eares may comprehende.

57 For thou art blessed aboue many, and art called with the most High among the fewe.

58 But to morowe at night thou shalt remaine here,

59 And the most High shall shewe thee visions of high things, which the most High will doe vnto them that dwell vpon earth, in the last dayes. So I slept the same night and another, as hee had commaunded me.


CHAP. XI.


1 The vision of an egle comming foorth of the sea, and of her feathers. 37 Of a lyon comming out of the forest.

1 Then sawe I a dreame, and beholde, there came vp from the sea an egle, which had twelue feathered wings and three heads.

2 And I saw and beholde, she spred her wings ouer all the earth, and all the windes of the ayre blewe on her, and gathered them selues.

3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers grewe out other contrarie feathers, and they became litle feathers and small.

4 But her heads remained still, and the head in the middes was greater then the other heads, yet rested it with them.

5 Moreouer, I sawe that the egle flewe with his feathers and reigned vpon earth, and ouer them that dwelt therein.

6 And I saw that all things vnder heauen were subiect vnto her, and no man spake against her, no not one creature vpon earth.

7 I sawe also that the egle stoode vp vpon her clawes, and spake to her feathers, saying,

8 Watch not altogether: sleepe euery one in his owne place, and watch by course.

9 But let the heads be preserued for the last.

10 Neuertheles, I sawe that the voyce went not out of her heads, but from the middes of her body.

11 Then I numbred her contrary feathers, and beholde, there were eight of them.


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12 And I looked, and beholde vpon the right side there arose one feather, and reigned ouer all the earth.

13 And when it had reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more. So the next stood vp, & reigned: it continued a long time.

14 And when it had reigned, the end of it came also, and as the first, so it appeared no more.

15 Then there came a voyce vnto it, and said,

16 Heare thou that hast kept the earth so long: this I say vnto thee, before thou beginnest to appeare no more,

17 There shall none after thee attaine vnto thy time, neither to the halfe thereof.

18 Then arose the third & reigned as the other afore, and it appeared no more also.

19 So came it to all the others one after another, so that euery one reigned, and then appeared no more.

20 Then I looked, and beholde in processe of time the feathers that folowed, stood vp on the right side, that they might rule also, and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more.

21 For some of them were set vp, but ruled not.

22 After this I looked and beholde, the twelue feathers appeared no more, nor the two wings.

23 And there was no more vpon the egles body, but two heads that rested, and sixe wings.

24 Then sawe I also that two wings deuided themselues from the sixe, and remained vnder the head, that was vpon the right side: for the foure continued in their place.

25 So I looked, and beholde, the vnderwings thought to set vp themselues, and to haue the rule.

26 Then was there one set vp, but shortly it appeared no more.

27 And ye second were sooner gone then ye first.

28 Then I behelde, and loe, the two that remained, thought also in themselues to reigne.

29 And when they so thought, beholde, there awaked one of ye heads that were at rest, which was in the middes: for that was greater then the two.

30 And then I sawe, that the two heads were ioyned therewith.

31 And behold, the head was turned with them, that were with it, and did eate vp the two vnderwings that would haue reigned.

32 But this head put ye whole earth in feare and bare rule in it, ouer all those that dwelt vpon earth with much labour, and it had the gouernance of the world, more then all the wings that had bene.

33 After this I looked, and behold, the head that was in the middes, suddenly appeared no more, as did the wings.

34 But ye two heads remained, which also ruled likewise vpon earth, and ouer those yt dwelt therein.

35 And I beheld, and lo the head vpon the right side deuoured that was vpon the left side.

36 ¶ Then I heard a voyce which said vnto me, Looke before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.

37 So I sawe, and beholde as it were a lyon that roareth, running hastily out of the wood: and I sawe that he sent out a mans voyce vnto the egle, and spake, and said,

38 Heare thou, I will talke with thee, and the most High shall say vnto thee,

39 Art not thou that that of the foure beastes remainest, whom I made to reigne in my worlde, that by them the ende of times might come,

40 And the fourth is come, and hath ouercome all the beastes that were past, and hath power ouer the world with great fearfulnesse, and ouer ye whole compasse of ye earth wt most wicked oppression, and that dwelleth so long time in al ye world with deceit?

41 For thou hast not iudged ye earth with trueth.

42 Seeing thou hast troubled the meeke, thou hast hurt the peaceable, and thou hast loued lyars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought foorth fruite, and hast cast downe the walles of such as did thee no harme,

43 Therefore is thy wrongfull dealing come vp vnto the most High, and thy pride vnto ye Mightie.

44 The most High also hath looked vpon the proude times, and beholde, they are ended, and their abominations are fulfilled.

45 Therefore appeare no more, thou egle, nor thine horrible wings, nor thy wicked feathers, nor thy malicious heads, and thy wicked clawes, nor all thy vaine bodie,

46 That all the earth may be refreshed, & come againe, as one deliuered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the iudgement and mercie of him that made her.


CHAP. XII.


The declaration of the former visions.

1 And when the lyon spake these wordes to the egle, I sawe,

2 And beholde, the head that had the vpper hand, appeared no more, neither did the foure wings appeare any more, that came to it, and set vp them selues to reigne, whose kingdome was small and full of vproares.

3 And I sawe, and beholde, they appeared no more, and the whole bodie of the egle was burnt, so that the earth was in great feare. Then I awaked out of the trouble and trance of my minde, and from the great feare, and said vnto my spirit,

4 Lo, this hast thou done vnto me in that thou searchest out the wayes of the most High.

5 Lo, yet am I wearie in my minde, and very weake in my spirit, and litle strength is there in me, for the great feare that I receiued this night.

6 Therefore now I will beseech the most High that he will comfort me vnto the end.

7 And I saide, O Lorde, Lorde, if I haue founde grace before thy sight, and if I am iustified with thee before many other, & if my praier in deede be come vp before thy face,

8 Comfort me, and shewe me thy seruant the interpretation and difference of this horrible sight, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soule,

9 Seeing thou hast iudged me worthie to shew me the last times.

10 ¶ Then he said vnto me, This is the interpretation of this vision,

11 The egle, whom thou sawest come vp from the sea, is the [Note: Dan.7.7. ] kingdome which was seene in the vision of thy brother Daniel.

12 But it was not expounded vnto him: therefore nowe I declare it vnto thee.

13 Beholde, the dayes come, that there shall rise vp a kingdome vpon the earth, and it shall be feared aboue all kingdomes that were before it.

14 In it shall twelue Kings reigne one after another,

15 Whereof the second shall beginne to reigne, and shall haue more time then the twelue.

16 And this do the twelue wings signifie which thou sawest.
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17 As for the voyce that thou heardest speake, and that thou sawest not goe out from the heads, but from the middes of the bodie thereof, this is the interpretation.

18 That after the time of that kingdome there shall arise great strife, and it shall be in danger to fall, but it shall not then fall, but shall be restored againe to his beginning.

19 Concerning the eight vnderwings, which thou sawest hang vnto her wings, this is the interpretation,

20 In him shall arise eight Kings, whose time shall be but small, and their yeeres swift, and two of them shall perish.

21 But when the mid time commeth, there shalbe foure kept a time, whiles his time beginneth to come, that it may be ended, but two shalbe kept vnto the end.

22 And where as thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation,

23 In his last dayes shall the most High raise vp three kingdomes, and shall call againe many things into them, and they shall haue the dominion of the earth,

24 And of those that dwell therein, with much griefe aboue all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the egle.

25 For they shall accomplish his wickednesse, and shall finish his last end.

26 And whereas thou sawest that the gread head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them shall die vpon his bed, and yet with paine.

27 For the two that remained, the sworde shall deuoure them.

28 For the sword of ye one shall deuoure ye other: but at the last shall he fall by the sworde himselfe.

29 And where as thou sawest two vnderwinges, that went off toward the head, which was on the right side, this is the interpretation,

30 These are they whom the most High hath preserued for their end, whose kingdome is litle, and full of trouble as thou sawest.

31 And the lyon whom thou sawest rising vp out of the wood and roaring, & speaking vnto the egle, and rebuking her for her vnrighteousnesse with all the wordes that thou hast heard,

32 This is the winde which the most High hath kept for them, and for their wickednesse vnto the ende, and he shall reproue them, and cast before them their spoyles.

33 For he shall set them aliue in the iudgement, and shall rebuke them and correct them.

34 For he will deliuer the residue of my people by affliction, which are preserued vpon my borders, and he shall make them ioyfull, vntill the comming of the day of iudgement, whereof I haue spoken vnto thee from the beginning.

35 This is the dreame that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.

36 Thou onely hast bene meete to knowe this secret of the most High.

37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seene in a booke and hide them,

38 And teache them ye wise of the people, whose heartes thou knowest may comprehend and keepe these secrets.

39 But waite thou here yet seuen dayes mo, that it may be shewed thee whatsoeuer it pleaseth the most High to declare vnto thee: and with that he went his way.

40 And when all the people perceiued, that the seuen dayes were past, and I not come againe into the citie, they gathered them all together, from the least vnto the most, and came vnto me, and spake vnto me, saying,

41 What haue we offended thee? or what euill haue we done against thee, that thou forsakest vs, and sittest in this place?

42 For of all the people thou only art left vs as a grape of ye vine, & as a candle in a darke place, and as an hauen or shippe preserued from the tempest.

43 Are not the euils which are come vnto vs sufficient?

44 If thou then forsake vs, howe much better had it bene for vs, that we had bene burnt also as Sion was burnt?

45 For wee are no better then they that dyed there: and they wept with a loude voyce. Then answered I them, and said,

46 Be of good comfort, O Israel, and be not heauie, thou house of Iaakob.

47 For ye most High hath you in remembrance, and the Almightie hath not forgotten you in temptation.

48 As for me I haue not forsaken you, neither am I departed fro you, but am come into this place to pray for the desolation of Sion, that I might seeke mercie for the lowe estate of your Sanctuarie.

49 And nowe goe your way home euery man, and after these dayes will I come vnto you.

50 So the people went their way into the citie, as I commanded them:

51 But I remained still in the fielde seuen dayes, as he had commanded me, and did eate onely of the flowers of the field, and had my meate of the herbes in those dayes.


CHAP. XIII.


The vision of a winde comming foorth of the sea, 3 which became a man. 5 His propertie and power against his enemies. 21 The declaration of this vision.

1 And after the seuen dayes I dreamed a dreame by night.

2 And beholde, there arose a winde from the sea, and it moued all the waues thereof.

3 And I looked, and behold, there was a mightie man with the thousands of heauen: and when he turned his countenance to looke, al the things trembled that were seene vnder him.

4 And when the voyce went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voyce, as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.

5 After these things I sawe, and beholde, there was gathered together a multitude of men out of number, from the foure windes of the heauen, to fight against the man that came out from the sea.

6 And I looked, and behold, he graued himselfe a great mountaine, and flewe vp vpon it.

7 But I woulde haue seene ye countrey or place whereout the hill was grauen, and I coulde not.

8 I sawe after these things, and behold, all they which came to fight against him, were sore afraide, and yet they durst fight.

9 Neuerthelesse, when he sawe the fiercenesse of the multitude that came, hee lifted not vp his hand: for he helde no sworde nor any instrument of warre,

10 But onely, as I sawe, he sent out of his mouth, as it had bene a blast of fire, and out of his lippes the winde of the flame, and out of his tongue he cast out sparkes and stormes.


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11 And they were all mixt together, euen this blast of fire, the winde of the flame, and the great storme, and fell with violence vpon the multitude, which was prepared to fight, and burnt them vp all, so that of the innumerable multitude there was nothing seene, but onely dust, and smell of smoke. When I sawe this, I was afraied.

12 ¶ Afterwarde sawe I the same man come downe from the mountaine, and calling vnto him another peaceable multitude.

13 And there came many vnto him, some with ioyfull countenance, and some with sadde: some of them were bound, and some brought of them that were offered: and I was sicke through great feare, and awaked, and sayd,

14 Thou hast shewed thy seruaunt these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted mee worthie to receiue my praier.

15 Shewe mee nowe therefore the interpretation of this dreame.

16 For thus I consider in mine vnderstanding, woe vnto them that shall be left in those daies, and much more woe vnto them that are not left behinde.

17 For they that were not left, were in heauines.

18 Nowe vnderstand I the things that are laied vp in the latter daies, which shall come both vnto them, and to those that are left behinde.

19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities, as these dreames declare.

20 Yet is it easier, that he that is in danger, should fall into these, and foresee the thinges to come hereafter, then to passe away as a cloude out of the worlde.

21 ¶ Then answered he me, and sayd, The interpretation of the vision will I shewe thee, and I will open to thee the thing that thou hast required.

22 Where as thou hast spoken of them that are left behinde, this is the interpretation,

23 Hee that shall beare the danger in that time, hee shall keepe him selfe. They that be fallen into danger, are such as haue woorkes and faith towarde the most Mightie.

24 Know therefore, that they which be left behinde, are more blessed then they that be dead.

25 These are the meanings of the vision, Where as thou sawest a man comming vp from the middes of the sea,

26 The same is he whome the most High hath kept a great season, who by his owne selfe shall deliuer his creature, and hee shall order them that are left behinde.

27 ¶ And where as thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came a blast with fire and storme,

28 And that he neither held sword nor weapon, but that by his fiercenesse hee destroyed the whole multitude, that came to fight against him, this is the interpretation.

29 Beholde, the dayes come that the moste High will beginne to deliuer them that are vpon the earth:

30 And he shal astonish the hearts of them that dwell vpon the earth:

31 And one shall prepare to fight against another, citie against citie, and place against place, [Note: Math.24.7. ] and nation against nation, and realme against realme.

32 When this commeth to passe, then shall the tokens come, that I shewed thee before, and then shall my Sonne be reueiled, whom thou sawest goe vp as a man.

33 And when al the people heare his voice, euery man shall in their owne lande leaue the battell that they haue one against another.

34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered as one, as they that be willing to come, and to fight against him.

35 But he shall stande vpon the toppe of mount Sion.

36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all, being prepared and builded, as thou sawest the hill grauen foorth without any hands.

37 And this my Sonne shall rebuke the wicked inuentions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest,

38 And into torments like to flame, whereby they shall be tormented: and without any labour will hee destroy them, euen by the Lawe, which is compared vnto the fire.

39 And where as thou sawest that hee gathered another peaceable people vnto him,

40 Those are the ten tribes which were caried away captiues out of their owne land, [Note: 2.King 17.3. ] in the time of Oseas the King, whome Salmanasar the King of the Assyrians tooke captiue, and caryed them beyonde the riuer: so were they brought into an other lande.

41 But they tooke this counsell to them selues, that they woulde leaue the multitude of the heathen, and goe foorth into a further countrey, where neuer mankinde dwelt,

42 That they might there keepe their statutes, which they neuer kept in their owne land.

43 And they entred in at the narrowe passages of the riuer Euphrates.

44 For the moste High then shewed them signes, [Note: Exod.14.21. iosh.3.15,16. ] and staied the springs of the flood till they were passed ouer.

45 For thorowe the countrey there was a great journey, euen of a yeere and an halfe, and the same region is called [Note: Or, Ararath. ] Arsareth.

46 Then dwelt they there vntill the latter time: and when they come foorth againe,

47 The most High shall holde stil the springs of the riuer againe that they may goe thorowe: therefore sawest thou the multitude peaceable.

48 But they that be left behinde of thy people, are those that be found within my borders.

49 Nowe when he destroieth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, hee shall defend the people that remaine,

50 And then shall hee shewe great wonders vnto them.

51 Then sayd I, O Lorde, Lorde, shewe me this, wherefore haue I seene the man comming vp from the middes of the sea?

52 And he sayd vnto me, As thou canst neither seeke out, nor knowe these thinges, that are in the deepe of the sea, so can no man vpon earth see my Sonne, or those that be with him, but in the time of that day.

53 This is the interpretation of the dreame which thou sawest, and whereby thou onely art lightened.

54 For thou hast forsaken thine owne Law, and applied thy diligence vnto mine, and sought it.

55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisedome, and hast called vnderstanding thy mother.

56 Therefore haue I shewed thee the rewardes with the most High: and after three other dayes [Page] I will speake other things vnto thee, and will declare the great and wonderous things.

57 Then went I forth vnto the fielde, glorifying and praising the most High for the wonders which he did in time,

58 Which he gouerneth, & such things as come in their seasons: and there I sate three daies.


CHAP. XIIII.


3 How God appeared to Moises in the bush. 10 All things decline to age. 15 The latter times worse then the former. 29 The ingratitude of Israel. 35 The resurrection & iudgement.

1 Vpon the third day I sate vnder an Oke, and beholde, there came foorth a voice vnto me out of the bush, and saide, Esdras, Esdras.

2 And I sayd, Here am I, Lorde, and stoode vp vpon my feete.

3 Then saide he vnto me, [Note: Exod.3.2,8. ] In the bush I reueiled my selfe, and spake vnto Moises, when my people serued in Egypt:

4 And I sent him, and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him vpon the mount Sinai, and I helde him with me a long season,

5 And I tolde him many wonders, and shewed him the secrets of the times and the ende, and commanded him, saying,

6 These woordes shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.

7 And nowe I say vnto thee, that thou lay vp in thine heart the signes that I haue shewed, and the dreames that thou hast seene, and the interpretations which thou hast heard.

8 For thou shalt be taken away from all, and thou shalt remaine henceforth with my counsel, & with such as be like thee, vntill the times be ended.

9 For the worlde hath lost his youth, and the times begin to waxe olde.

10 For the world is deuided into twelue partes, and ten partes of it are gone alreadie, and halfe of the tenth part.

11 And there remaineth that which is after the halfe of the tenth part.

12 Therefore set thine house in order, & reforme thy people, and comfort such of them as be in trouble, and nowe renounce the corruption.

13 Let goe from thee mortall thoughtes: cast away from thee the burdens of men, & put off now the weake nature,

14 And set aside thy most grieuous thoughtes, and haste thee to depart from these times.

15 For greater euils then those, which thou hast seene nowe, shall they commit.

16 For the weaker that the worlde is by reason of age, the more shall the euils be increased vpon them that dwell therein.

17 For the trueth is fled farre away, and lies are at hande: for nowe hasteth the vision to come, that thou hast seene.

18 ¶ Then answered I, and said before thee,

19 Behold, O Lord, I wil goe as thou hast commanded me, and reforme the people, which are present: but they that shall be borne afterwarde, who shall admonish them?

20 Thus the worlde is set in darkenesse, and they that dwell therein, are without light.

21 For thy Lawe is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the thinges that are done of thee, or the woorkes that shalbe done.

22 But if I haue founde grace before thee, sende the holy Ghost into mee, and I will write all that hath beene done in the world since the beginning, which was written in thy Law, that men may finde the path, and that they which will liue in the latter dayes, may liue.

23 And he answered me, saying, Goe, and gather the people, and say vnto them, that they seeke thee not for fourtie dayes,

24 But prepare thee many boxe tables, and take with thee these fiue, Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanias, and Asiel, which are ready to write swiftly,

25 And come hither, and I will light a candle of vnderstanding in thine heart, which shall not be put out till the things be perfourmed which thou shalt begin to write.

26 And then shalt thou declare some things openly vnto the perfite men, and some things shalt thou shewe secretly vnto the wise: to morowe this houre shalt thou begin to write.

27 Then went I forth, as he commaunded me, and gathered all the people together, and sayd,

28 Heare these wordes, O Israel,

29 [Note: Gen.47.4. ] Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were deliuered,

30 And receiued ye Law of life, [Note: Acts.7.53. ] which they kept not, which ye also haue transgressed after them.

31 Then was the land, euen the land of Sion parted among you by lot: but your fathers and ye also haue done vnrighteously, and haue not kept the wayes, which the most High commanded you.

32 And for so much as he is a righteous Iudge, he tooke from you in time the thing that hee had giuen you.

33 And nowe are ye here, and your brethren among you.

34 Therefore if so be that you will subdue your owne vnderstanding, and reforme your heart, ye shall be kept aliue, and after death shall ye obteine mercie.

35 For after death shall the iudgement come, when we shal liue againe: and then shal the names of the righteous be manifest, and the workes of the vngodly shalbe declared.

36 Let no man therefore come nowe vnto me, nor seeke me these fourtie dayes.

37 So I tooke the fiue men, as he commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.

38 The next day, beholde, a voyce called mee, saying, Esdras, [Note: Ezech.3.2. ] open thy mouth, and drinke that I giue thee to drinke.

39 Then opened I my mouth, and beholde, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it were with water: but the colour of it was like fire.

40 And I tooke it and dranke, and when I had drunke it, mine heart had vnderstanding, and wisdome grewe in my brest: for my spirite was strengthened in memorie,

41 And my mouth was opened, & shut no more.

42 The most High gaue vnderstanding vnto the fiue men, that they wrote the high things of the night, which they vnderstood not.

43 But in the night they did eate bread, but I spake by day, and helde not my tongue by night.

44 In fourtie dayes they wrote two hundreth and foure bookes.

45 And when the fourtie dayes were fulfilled, the most High spake, saying, The first that thou hast written, publish openly, that the worthy and vnworthy may reade it.

46 But keepe the seuentie last, that thou mayest giue them to the wise among the people.

47 For in them is the veine of vnderstanding,

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and the fountaine of wisedome, and the riuer of knowledge: and I did so.


CHAP. XV.


1 The prophesie of Esdras is certaine. 5 The euils that shall come on the world. 9 The Lorde will aduenge the innocent blood. 12 Egypt shall lament. 16 Sedition, 20 And punishment vpon the Kings of the earth. 24 Cursed are they that sinne. 29 Troubles and warres vpon the whole earth. 53 God is the reuenger of his elect.

1 Beholde, speake thou in the eares of my people the wordes of prophesie, which I will put in thy mouth, saith the Lord:

2 And cause them to be written in a letter: for they are faithfull and true.

3 Feare not the imaginations against thee: let not the vnfaithfulnesse of the speakers trouble thee, that spake against thee.

4 For euery vnfaithfull shall die in his vnfaithfulnesse.

5 Beholde, sayth the Lord, I will bring plagues vpon all the worlde, the sworde, famine, death, and destruction:

6 Because that iniquitie hath fully polluted all the earth, and their wicked workes are fulfilled.

7 Therefore, sayth the Lorde, I will holde my tongue no more for their wickednesse, (they do vngodly) neither will I suffer them in the things, that they doe wickedly.

8 Beholde, [Note: Reuel.6.10. and 19.1. ] the innocent and righteous blood cryeth vnto me, and the soules of the iust crie continually.

9 I will surely auenge them, sayth the Lord, and receiue vnto me all the innocent blood from among them,

10 Beholde, my people is led as a flocke to the slaughter: I will not suffer them nowe to dwell in the land of Egypt,

11 But I will bring them out with a mightie hand, & a stretched out arme, and smite it wt plagues as afore, and will destroy all the land thereof.

12 Egypt shall mourne, and the foundations thereof shall be smitten with the plague and punishment, that God shall bring vpon it.

13 The plowmen that till the grounde, shall mourne: for their seedes shall faile through the blasting and haile, and by an horrible starre.

14 Wo to the world, & to them yt dwell therein.

15 For the sword, and their destruction draweth neere, and one people shall stand vp to fight against another with swordes in their hands.

16 For there shall be sedition among men, and one shall inuade another: they shall not regarde their King, and the princes shal measure their doings by their power.

17 A man shall desire to goe into a citie, & shall not be able.

18 Because of their pride the cities shalbe troubled, the houses shall be afraide, and men shall feare.

19 A man shall haue no pitie vpon his neighbour, but shall destroy their houses with the sword, and their goods shall be spoyled for lacke of bread, and because of great trouble.

20 Behold, saith God, I call together all ye Kings of the earth to reuerence me, which are from the [Note: Or, Wist. ] East, and from the South, from the East, and from Libanus, to turne vpon them, & to repay the things that they haue done to them.

21 As they doe yet this day vnto my chosen, so will I doe also, and recompense them in their bosome: thus sayth the Lord God,

22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, neither shall the sworde cease from them, that shead innocent blood vpon earth.

23 The fire is gone out from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the sinners like the strawe, that is kindled.

24 Woe to them that sinne, and keepe not my commandements, sayth the Lord.

25 I will not spare them: depart, O children, from the power: defile not my Sanctuarie.

26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sinne against him, and therefore deliuereth he them vnto death and destruction.

27 For nowe are the plagues come vpon the world, & ye shall remaine in them: for God will not deliuer you, because ye haue sinned against him.

28 Beholde, an horrible vision commeth from the East,

29 Where generations of dragons of Arabia shall come out with many charets, and the multitude of them shall be caried as the winde vpon the earth, that all they which heare them, may feare and tremble.

30 Euen the Carmanians raging in wrath, shall goe forth as the bores of the forest, and shall come with great power, and stand against them in battell, and shall destroy a portion of the lande of the Assyrians.

31 But after this shall the dragons haue the vpper hand, and remember their nature, and shal turne about, and conspire to consume them with a great power.

32 Then these shall be troubled, and keepe silence by their power, and shall flee.

33 From the land of the Assyrians shall the enemie besiege them, and consume some of them, and in their hoste shall be feare and dread, and strife among their kings.

34 Behold cloudes from the East, and from the North vnto the South, and they are very horrible to looke vpon, full of wrath and storme?

35 They shall smite one vpon another: and they shall smite downe a great multitude of starres vpon the earth, euen their owne starre, and the blood shal be from the sworde vnto the belly,

36 And the dongue of man vnto ye Camels litter.

37 And there shall be great fearefulnesse, and trembling vpon earth, and they that see the wrath, shall be afraide, and a trembling shall come vpon them.

38 And then there shall come great stormes from the South, and from the North, and part from the West.

39 And from the East shall windes arise & shall open it with the cloude, which he raised vp in wrath, and the starre, raysed to feare the East and West winde, shall be destroyed.

40 And the great and mightie cloudes shall be lift vp, full of wrath, and the starre, that they may make all the earth afraide, & them that dwell therein, & that they may poure out ouer euery hie place, and lifted vp, an horrible constellation,

41 As fyre & hayle, and flying swordes, and many waters, that all fieldes may be full, and all riuers with the abundance of great waters.

42 And they shall breake downe the cities, and walles, and mountaines, and hilles, and the trees of the wood, and the grasse of the medowes, and their corne.

43 And they shall goe with a streight course vnto Babylon, and make it afraide.
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44 They shall come to her, and besiege her, and shall poure forth the constellation, & all the wrath against her: then shall the dust and smoke goe vp vnto the heauen, & all they that be about her, shall bewayle her.

45 And they that remaine vnder her, shall doe seruice vnto them, that haue put her in feare.

46 ¶ And thou Asia, that art partaker of ye hope of Babylon, and the glorie of her person,

47 Woe vnto thee, O wretch, because thou hast made thy selfe like vnto her, and hast deckt thy daughters in whoredome, that they might please and glorie in thy louers, which haue alway desired to commit whoredome with thee.

48 Thou hast followed her yt is hated in all her workes, and in her inuentions: therefore saith God,

49 I wil send plagues vpon thee, widowhood, pouertie, and famine, and the sword, and pestilence, to waste thine houses with destruction and death,

50 And the glory of thy power shall be dryed vp, as a flower when the heate ryseth, that is sent vpon thee.

51 Thou shalt be sicke as a poore wife that is plagued and beaten of women, so that the mightie and the louers shall not be able to receiue thee.

52 Would I thus hate thee, sayth the Lord,

53 If thou hadst not alway slaine my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine handes, and saide ouer their death, when thou wast drunken,

54 Set forth the beautie of thy countenance?

55 The rewarde of thy whoredome shalbe in thy bosome: therefore shalt thou receiue a rewarde.

56 As thou hast done vnto my chosen, saith the Lord, so will God doe vnto thee, and will deliuer thee vnto the plague.

57 And thy children shall die of hunger, & thou shalt fall by the sworde, and thy cities shall be broken downe, and all thy men shall fall by the sword in the fielde.

58 And they that be in the mountaines shal dye of hunger, and eate their owne flesh, & drinke their owne blood for want of bread and thirst of water.

59 And thou, as vnhappie, shalt come thorowe the sea, and receiue plagues againe.

60 In the passage they shall cast downe ye slaine citie, and shall roote out one part of thy land, and consume the portion of thy glorie, and shall returne to her that was destroyed.

61 Whe thou shalt be cast downe, thou shalt be to them as stubble, and they shall be to thee as fire.

62 And they shall destroy thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountaines: all thy woods, and all thy fruitfull trees shall they burne with fire.

63 Thy children shall they carie away captiue, and shall spoyle thy substance, and marre the beautie of thy face.


CHAP. XVI.


1 Against Babylon, Asia, and Egypt and Syria. 18. 38 Of the euils that shall come vpon the worlde, with admonition howe to gouerne themselues in afflictions. 54 To acknowledge their sinnes, and to commit them selues to the Lorde. 55 Whose mightie prouidence and iustice 35 to be reuerenced.

1 Wo to thee, Babylon and Asia: woe to thee, Egypt and Syria.

2 Girde your selues with sacke and hearecloth, and mourne your children, and be sorie: for your destruction is at hand.

3 A sworde is sent vnto you, and who wil turne it backe? a fire is sent among you, and who will quenche it?

4 Plagues are sent vnto you, and who can driue them away?

5 May any man driue away an hungry lyon in the wood? or quenche the fire in stubble when it hath once begunne to burne? may one turne againe the arrowe, that is shot of a strong archer?

6 The mightie Lorde sendeth the plagues, and who can driue them away? the fire is gone foorth in his wrath, and who can quenche it?

7 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not feare? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid?

8 The Lorde shall threaten, and who shall not vtterly be broken in pieces at his presence? the earth quaketh and the foundation thereof: the sea ariseth vp with waues from the deeepe, and the waues thereof are troubled, and the fishes thereof, before the Lord, and the glorie of his power.

9 For strong is his right hand, that bendeth the bowe: his arrowes that he shooteth, are sharpe, and shall not misse, when they beginne to be shot into the endes of the world.

10 Beholde, the plagues are sent, and shall not turne againe, till they come vpon earth.

11 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundations of the earth.

12 As an arrowe which is shotte of a mightie archer, returneth not backwarde, so the plagues that shall be sent vpon earth, shall not turne againe.

13 Wo is me, wo is me: who will deliuer me in those dayes?

14 The beginning of sorrowes and great mourning: the beginning of famine, and great death: the beginning of warres, and the powers shall feare the beginning of euils, and all shall tremble. What shall I doe in these thinges, when the plagues come?

15 Beholde, famine and plague, and trouble, and anguish are sent as scourges for amendement.

16 But for all these thinges they will not turne from their wickednesse, nor be alway mindfull of the scourges.

17 Beholde, vitailes shall be so good cheape vpon earth, that they shall thinke themselues to be in good case: but then shall the euils bud foorth vpon earth, euen the sworde, the famine and great confusion.

18 For many of them that dwell vpon earth, shall perish with famine, and the other that escape the famine, shall the sworde destroy.

19 And the dead shalbe cast out as dongue, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for the earth shalbe wasted, and the cities shalbe cast downe.

20 There shalbe no man left to till the earth, and to sowe it: the trees shall giue fruite, but who shall gather them?

21 The grapes shalbe ripe, but who shall treade them? for all places shalbe desolate, so that one man shall desire to see another, or to heare his voyce.

22 For of one citie there shall be tenne left, and two of the fielde, which shall hide themselues in the thicke woods, and in the cleftes of rockes.

23 As when there remaine three or foure oliues in the place where oliues growe, or among other trees,

24 Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some grapes of them that diligently sought thorowe the vineyard:

25 So in those dayes there shalbe three or foure left by them that searche their houses with the sworde.

26 And the earth shall be left waste, & the fields

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thereof shall waxe olde, and her waies and all her pathes shall growe full of thornes, because no man shall trauaile therethrough.
27 The virgins shall mourne, hauing no bridegromes: the women shall make lamentation, hauing no husbandes, their daughters shall mourne, hauing no helpers.

28 In the warres shall their bridegromes be destroyed, and their husbandes shall perish with famine.

29 But, yee seruauntes of the Lorde, heare these things, and marke them.

30 Beholde the woorde of the Lorde, receiue it: beleeue not the gods of whome the Lord speaketh: beholde the plagues draw neere, and are not slacke.

31 As a traueiling woman which in the nineth moneth bringeth foorth her sonne, when the houre of birth is come, two or three houres afore ye paines come vpon her bodie, and when the childe commeth to the birth, they tarie not a whit:

32 So shall not the plagues bee slacke to come vpon the earth, and the worlde shall mourne, and sorrowes shall come vpon it on euery side.

33 O my people, heare my woorde: make you readie to the battell, and in the troubles be euen as strangers vpon earth.

34 Hee that selleth, let him be as hee that fleeth his way: and he that bieth, as one that will lose.

35 Who so occupieth marchandise, as hee that winneth not: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:

36 Hee that soweth, as one that shall not reape: he that cutteth the vine, as he that shall not gather the grapes:

37 They that marrie, as they that shall gette no children: and they that marrie not, so as the widdowes.

38 Therefore, they that labour, labour in vaine.

39 For strangers shall reape their fruites, and spoile their goods, and ouerthrowe their houses, and take their children captiue: for in captiuitie and famine shall they get their children.

40 And they that occupie their marchandise with couetousnesse, the more they decke their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their owne persones,

41 So much more will I be angrie against them for their sinnes, sayth the Lord.

42 As a whore enuieth an honest and vertuous woman,

43 So shall righteousnesse hate iniquitie, when shee decketh her selfe, and shall accuse her openly, when hee shall come that shall bridle the autor of all sinne vpon earth.

44 And therefore be yee not like thereunto, nor to the workes thereof: for or euer it be long, iniquitie shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousnesse shall reigne among you.

45 Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coales of fire shall burne vpon his head, which saith, I haue not sinned before the Lord God and his glorie.

46 Beholde, the Lord [Note: Luke 16.15. ] knoweth all the workes of men, their imaginations, their thoughtes and their hearts.

47 [Note: Gen.1.1. ] For assoone as hee sayde, Let the earth be made, it was made: let the heauen be made, and it was created.

48 By his woorde were the starres established, and he [Note: Psal.147.4. ] knoweth the number of them.

49 Hee searcheth the depth, and the treasures thereof: he hath measured the sea, and what it conteineth.

50 Hee hath shutte the sea in the middes of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth vpon the waters.

51 Hee spreadeth out the heauens like a vawte: vpon the waters hath he founded it.

52 In the desert hath he made springs of water, and pooles vpon the toppe of the mountaines, to powre out floodes from the high rockes to water the earth,

53 Hee made man, and put his heart in the mids of the bodie, and gaue him breath, life and vnderstanding.

54 And the Spirite of the almightie God, which made all things, and hath searched all the hid things in the secretes of the earth,

55 Hee knoweth your inuentions, and what yee imagine in your heart when yee sinne and woulde hide your sinnes.

56 Therefore hath the Lord searched & sought out all your woorkes, and wil put you all to shame.

57 And when your sinnes are brought foorth before men, ye shall be confounded, and your owne sinnes shall stand as your accusers in that day.

58 What will yee doe, or howe will ye hide your sinnes before God and his Angels?

59 Beholde, God him selfe is the iudge: feare him: cease from your sinnes, and forget your iniquities, and meddle no more from hencefoorth with them: so shall God lead you foorth, and deliuer you from all trouble.

60 For beholde, the heate of a great multitude is kindled against you, and they shall take away certaine of you, and shall slay you for meate to the idoles.

61 And they that consent vnto them, shall be had in derision and in reproche, and troden vnder foote.

62 For in euery place and cities that are neere, there shall be great insurrection against those that feare the Lorde.

63 They shall be like mad men: they shall spare none: they shall spoyle and wast such as yet feare the Lord.

64 For they then shall waste and spoyle their goods, and cast them out of their houses.

65 Then shall the triall of my chosen appeare, as the golde is tried by the fire.

66 Heare, O ye my beloued, sayth the Lord: beholde, the daies of trouble are at hande, but I will deliuer you from them: be not yee afraid: doute not, for God is your captaine.

67 Who so keepeth my commaundements and precepts, sayeth the Lorde God, let not your sinnes weigh you downe, and let not your iniquities lift them selues vp.

68 Woe vnto them that are bounde with their sinnes, and couered with their iniquities, as a fielde is hedged in with bushes, and the pathe thereof couered with thornes, whereby no man may trauaile: it is shutte vp, and is appointed to be deuoured with fire.