Open English Translation L ESD Chapter 9

9 He answered me, “Measure diligently within yourself. When you see that a certain part of the signs are past, which have been told you beforehand, 2 then will you understand that it’s the very time in which the Most High will visit the world which was made by him. 3 When earthquakes, tumult of peoples, plans of nations, wavering of leaders, and confusion of princes are seen in the world, 4 then will you understand that the Most High spoke of these things from the days that were of old, from the beginning. 5 Because just as with everything that’s made in the world, the beginning is[fn] evident and the end manifest, 6 so also are the times of the Most High: the beginnings are manifest in wonders and mighty works, and the end in effects and signs. 7 Everyone who’ll be saved, and will be able to escape by his works, or by faith by which they’ve believed, 8 will be preserved from the said perils, and will see my salvation in my land and within my borders, which I’ve sanctified for myself from the beginning. 9 Then those who now have abused my ways will be amazed. Those who’ve thrown them away despitefully will live in torments. 10 Because as many as in their life have received benefits, and yet haven’t known me, 11 and as many as have scorned my law, while they still had liberty and when an opportunity to repent was open to them, didn’t understand, but despised it,[fn] 12 must know it[fn] in torment after death. 13 Therefore don’t be curious any longer how the ungodly will be punished, but enquire how the righteous will be saved, those[fn] who the world belongs to, and for whom the world was created.”

14 I answered, 15 “I’ve said before, and now speak, and will say it again in the future, that there are more of those who perish than of those who’ll be saved, 16 like a wave is greater than a drop.”

17 He answered me, “Just as the field is, so also the seed. As the flowers are, so are the colours. As the work is, so also is the judgement[fn] on it. As is the farmer, so also is his threshing floor. Because there was a time in the world 18 when I was preparing for those who now live, before the world was made for them to live in. Then no one spoke against me, 19 because no[fn] one existed. But now those who are created in this world that’s prepared, both with[fn] a table that doesn’t fail and a law which is unsearchable, are corrupted in their ways. 20 So I considered my world, and it was destroyed, and my earth, and it was in peril, because of the plans that’d come into it. 21 I saw and spared them, but not greatly, and saved myself a grape out of a cluster, and a plant out of a[fn] great forest. 22 Let the multitude perish then, which were born in vain. Let my grape be saved, and my plant, for I’ve made them perfect with great labour. 23 Nevertheless, if you’ll wait seven more days—however don’t fast in them, 24 but go into a field of flowers, where no house is built, and eat only of the flowers of the field, and don’t eat any meat or drink any wine, but eat only flowers—25 and pray to the Most High continually, then I’ll come and talk with you.”

26 So I went my way, just as he commanded me, into the field which is called Ardat.[fn] There I sat among the flowers, and ate of the herbs of the field, and that food satisfied me. 27 After seven days, I lay on the grass, and my heart was troubled again, like before. 28 My mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the master Most High, and said, 29 “O master, you showed yourself among us, to our fathers in the wilderness, when they went out of Mitsrayim (Egypt), and when they came into the wilderness, where no man treads and that bears no fruit. 30 You said, ‘Hear me, Oh Yisrael (Israel). Heed my words, Oh seed of Ya’akov (Jacob). 31 Because listen, I sow my law in you, and it’ll bring forth fruit in you, and you’ll be glorified in it forever.’ 32 But our fathers, who received the law, didn’t keep it, and didn’t observe the statutes. The fruit of the law didn’t perish, for it couldn’t, because it was yours. 33 Yet those who received it perished, because they didn’t keep the thing that was sown in them. 34 Listen, it’s a custom that when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel food or drink, and when it comes to pass that that which is sown, or that which is launched, 35 or the things which have been received, should come to an end, these come to an end, but the receptacles remain. Yet with us, it doesn’t happen that way. 36 Because we who’ve received the law will perish by sin, along with our heart which received it. 37 Notwithstanding the law doesn’t perish, but remains in its honour.”

38 When I spoke those things in my heart, I looked around me with my eyes, and on my right side I saw a woman, and she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in mind. Her clothes were torn, and she had ashes on her head. 39 Then let I my thoughts go in which I was occupied, and turned myself to her, 40 and said to her, “Why are you weeping? Why are you grieved in your mind?”

41 She said to me, “Leave me alone, my master, that I may weep for myself and add to my sorrow, for I’m very troubled in my mind, and brought very low.”

42 I said to her, “What ails you? Tell me.”

43 She said to me, “I, your servant, was barren and had no child, though I had a husband thirty years. 44 Every hour and every day these thirty years I made my prayer to the Most High day and night. 45 After thirty years, God heard me, your handmaid, and saw my low estate, and considered my trouble, and gave me a son. I rejoiced in him greatly, I and my husband, and all my neighbours.[fn] We gave great honour to the Mighty One. 46 I nourished him with great care. 47 So when he grew up, and I came to take him a wife, I made him a feast day.