Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Apocrypha

6:49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;

6:50 And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.

6:51 Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:

6:52 But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.

6:53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:

6:54 And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen.

6:55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes

6:56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.

6:57 And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.

6:58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.

6:59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

7:1 And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:

7:2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.

7:3 And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great.

7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;

7:5 Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?

7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:

7:7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:

7:8 And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once.

7:9 If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?

7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel’s portion.

7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.

7:12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful.

7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.

7:14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.

7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?

7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?

7:17 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.

7:18 Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.

7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.

7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them.

7:21 For God hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.

7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;

7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:

7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.

7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.

7:26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.

7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.

7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.

7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.