The Second Book of Esdras
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
9:17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman is himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the world.
9:18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.
9:19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.
9:20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.
9:21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.
9:22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.
9:23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,
9:24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)
9:25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
9:26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.
9:27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:
9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,
9:29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.
9:30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.
9:31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.
9:32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine;
9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
9:34 And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,
9:35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth perish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.
9:36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it
9:37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.
9:38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.
9:39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her,
9:40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved in thy mind?
9:41 And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low.
9:42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.
9:43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty years,
9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest.
9:45 After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Almighty.
9:46 And I nourished him with great travail.
9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.
10:1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.
10:2 Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.
10:3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.
10:4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.
10:5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
10:6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?
10:7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
10:8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?
10:9 For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.