45 I answered, “I said then, Oh master, and I say now: Blessed are those who are now alive and keep your commandments! 46 But what about those for whom I prayed? Because who is there of those who are alive who has not sinned, and who of the children of men hasn’t transgressed your covenant? 47 Now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many. 48 Because an evil heart has grown up in us, which has led us astray from these commandments and has brought us into corruption and into the ways of death. It has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life—and that, not a few only, but nearly all who have been created.”

49 He answered me, “Listen to me, and I will instruct you. I will admonish you yet again. 50 Because this reason, the Most High has not made one world, but two. 51 Because you have said that the just are not many, but few, and the ungodly abound, hear the explanation. 52 If you have just a few precious stones, will you add them to lead and clay?”

53 I said, “master, how could that be?”

54 He said to me, “Not only that, but ask the earth, and she will tell you. Defer to her, and she will declare it to you. 55 Say to her, ‘You produce gold, silver, and brass, and also iron, lead, and clay; 56 but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.’ 57 Judge therefore which things are precious and to be desired, what is abundant or what is rare?”

58 I said, “O sovereign master, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.”

59 He answered me, “Weigh within yourself the things that you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices over him who has what is plentiful. 60 So also is the judgement which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few that will be saved, because these are those who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them, my name is now honoured. 61 I won’t grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for these are those who are now like mist, and have become like flame and smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished.”

62 I answered, “O earth, why have you produced, if the mind is made out of dust, like all other created things? 63 Because it would have been better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been made from it. 64 But now the mind grows with us, and because of this we are tormented, because we perish and we know it. 65 Let the race of men lament and the animals of the field be glad. Let all who are born lament, but let the four-footed animals and the livestock rejoice. 66 Because it is far better with them than with us; for they don’t look forward to judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised to them after death. 67 Because what does it profit us, that we will be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment? 68 Because all who are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins and laden with transgressions. 69 If after death we were not to come into judgement, perhaps it would have been better for us.”

70 He answered me, “When the Most High made the world and Adam and all those who came from him, he first prepared the judgement and the things that pertain to the judgement. 71 Now understand from your own words, for you have said that the mind grows with us. 72 They therefore who dwell on the earth will be tormented for this reason, that having understanding they have committed iniquity, and receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. 73 What then will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they answer in the last times? 74 Because how long a time has the Most High been patient with those who inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the times which he has foreordained!”