4th Book Of EZRA - ESDRAS Ch8
Previous Chapter Home Next Chapter
Ezra Implores YAHWEH To Show Mercy To His Creation
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:1 And HE answered me, saying, The Most High YAHWEH has made this world for many, but the world to come for few.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:2 I will tell you a parable, Ezra; Just as, when you ask the earth, it shall say to you, that it gives much clay whereof earthen vessels are made, but only a little dust that gold comes of: even so is the course of this present world.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:3 There be many created, but few shall be delivered.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down, Oh my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:5 For you have agreed to give ear, and are willing to prophesy: for you have no longer space than only to live.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:6 Oh YAHWEH, if YOU suffer not YOUR servant, that we may pray before YOU, and YOU give us seed to our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it, by which every mortal man who bears the likeness of a human being may be able to live.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:7 For YOU alone exist, and we all one workmanship of YOUR hands, like as YOU have said. • Isa 44:6; Isa 45:11; Isa 60:21
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:8 For when the body is fashioned now in the mother's womb, and YOU give it members, YOUR creature is preserved in fire and water, and nine months does YOUR workmanship endure YOUR creature which is created in her.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:9 But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be preserved by YOUR keeping! And when the time comes, the womb gives up again what has been created in it.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:10 For YOU have commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:11 So that the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, and afterward YOU will guide him in YOUR mercy.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:12 YOU brought it up in YOUR righteousness, and instructed and nurtured him in YOUR Torah, and reproved him with YOUR wise judgment.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:13 YOU will take away his life, for he is YOUR creation; and YOU will make him live, for he is YOUR work
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:14 If therefore YOU shall destroy him, which with so great labor was fashioned, it is an easy thing to be ordained by YOUR commandment, that the thing which was made might be preserved, to what purpose was he made?. • Ps 139:14f
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:15 Now therefore, YAHWEH, I will speak; touching man in general, YOU know best; but touching YOUR people, for whose sake I lament; • Ps 28:9
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:16 And for YOUR inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for Yisrael, for whom I am heavy; and about the seed of Yacob, for whose sake I am troubled;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:17 Therefore will I begin to pray before YOU for myself and for them: for I see the failings of us that dwell in the land.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:18 But I have heard the swiftness of the judgment which is to come.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before YOU. This is the beginning of the words of Ezra, before he was taken up: and I said,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:20 Oh YAHWEH, YOU that dwell in eternity, whose eyes are exalted and whose upper chambers are in the air, which beholds from above the things in the heaven and in the air;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:21 Whose throne is beyond measure and whose splendor is beyond comprehension; before whom the hosts of malakim stand with trembling,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:22 And at whose command they are changed to wind and fire, whose Word is sure and whose utterances are certain, whose commandment is strong and whose ordinance is fearful, • Ps 104:4 Heb 1:7
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:23 Whose look dries up the depths, and indignation makes the mountains to melt away; and whose Truth is established forever:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:24 Hear, Oh YAHWEH, the prayer of YOUR servant, and give ear to the petition of YOUR creature; attend to my words.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:25 For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer. • Sir 16:18.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:26 Oh look not upon the sins of YOUR people; but on them which serve YOU in Truth.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:27 Regard not the endeavors of those who act wickedly, but the endeavors of those who have kept YOUR Covenants amid afflictions.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before YOU: but remember them, which according to YOUR will have known YOUR fear.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:29 Let it not be YOUR will to destroy them which have lived like beasts; but to look upon them that have clearly taught YOUR Torah.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:30 Take YOU no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that always put their trust in YOUR righteousness and splendor.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:31 For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners, YOU shall be called merciful.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:32 For if YOU have a desire to have mercy upon us, YOU shall be called merciful, to us namely, that have no works of righteousness.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:33 For the righteous, which have many works laid up with YOU, shall receive their reward in consequence of their own deeds.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:34 For what is man, that YOU should take displeasure at him? Or what is a corruptible generation, that YOU are so bitter toward it?
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:35 For in truth there is no one among them who has been born who has not dealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none which has not transgressed.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:36 For in this, Oh YAHWEH, YOUR righteousness and YOUR tov shall be declared, when YOU are merciful to them which have not in store the confidence of tov works.
Response To Ezra's Prayer
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:37 Then answered HE me, and said, Some things have you spoken aright, and it shall come to pass according to your words.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:38 For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their damnation:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:39 But I will rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I will remember and rejoice also over their pilgrimage, and their deliverance, and their receiving their reward.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:40 As I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.
Humankind Is Compared With Seeds And Plants
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:41 For as the husbandman sows many seed upon the ground, and plants many trees, and yet not all that have been sown will come up in due season, and not all that were planted will take root: even so is it of them that are sown in the world; they shall not all be delivered.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:42 I answered and said, If I have found free unmerited favor, let me speak.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:43 Like as the husbandman's seed perishes, if it come not up, and receive not YOUR rain in due season; or if there come too much rain, and corrupt it:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:44 Even so perishes man also, which is formed with YOUR hands, and is called YOUR own image, because he is made like YOU, and for whose sake YOU have made all things, have YOU also made him like the farmer's seed?
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:45 Be not wroth with us YAHWEH, but cover YOUR people with an atonement, and have mercy upon YOUR own inheritance: for YOU are merciful to YOUR own creation. • Job 12:17
The Final Answer From YAHWEH
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:46 Then answered HE me, and said, Things present are for those who live now, and things that are future are for those who will live hereafter.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:47 For you come far short of being able to love MY creation more than I love it. But I have ofttimes drawn nigh to you, and to it, but never to the unrighteous.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:48 But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before the Most High,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:49 Because you have humbled yourself, as it is becoming of you, and have not judged yourself to be among the righteous so that you will receive great honor among the righteous.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:50 For many great miseries shall affect them that dwell in the world in the last times, because they have walked in great pride.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:51 But think and understand your own case, and seek and inquire concerning the splendor of those who are like yourself.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:52 For to you is paradise opened, The Tree of Life is planted, the age to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is built, and rest is allowed, yes, tov is established and wisdom perfected beforehand. • Rev 2:7; Rev 22:2.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death is hidden from you, hell has fled and corruption has been forgotten:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:54 Sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is made manifest.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:55 Therefore do not ask any more questions about the multitude of those who perish.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:56 For when they also received freedom, they despised the Most High YAHWEH, thought scorn and were contemptuous of HIS Torah, and forsook HIS ways.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:57 Moreover they have even trampled upon HIS righteous ones,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:58 And said in their hearts, that there is no YAHWEH ALMIGHTY; yes, though knowing full well that they must die. • Pss 14:1; Pss 53:1
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:59 For as the things which I have aforesaid shall receive you, so thirst and torment are prepared for them: For the Most High YAHWEH did not intend that men should be destroyed;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:60 But they themselves who were created have defiled the NAME of YAHWEH who made them, and have been ungrateful to HIM who prepared Life for them.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:61 And therefore MY judgment is now drawing near.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:62 These things have I not shown to all men, but only to you, and a few like you.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 8:63 Then answered I and said, Behold, Oh YAHWEH, now have you shown me the multitude of the signs and wonders which YOU will begin to do in the last times: but YOU have not shown me when YOU will do them.
Previous Chapter Home Next Chapter