1He answered me and said, “The Most High made this world for the sake of many, but the world to come for the sake of few. 2But I will tell you a parable, Ezra. Just as, when you ask the earth, it will tell you that it provides very much clay from which earthenware is made, but only a little dust form which gold comes; so is the course of the present world. 3Many have been created, but few shall be saved.”

4I answered and said, “Then drink your fill of understanding, O my soul, and drink wisdom, O my heart!8.4 Syr: Lat let it feed on what it understands 5For not of your own will did you come into the world,8.5 Syr: Latin is corrupt here and against your will you depart, for you have been given only a short time to live. 6O Lord who art over us, grant to thy servant that we may pray before thee, and give us seed for our heart and cultivation of our understanding so that fruit may be produced, by which every mortal who bears the likeness8.6 Syr: Lat place of a human being may be able to live. 7For thou alone dost exist, and we are a work of thy hands, as thou hast declared. 8And because thou dost give life to the body which is now fashioned in the womb, and dost furnish it with members, what thou hast created is preserved in fire and water, and for nine months the womb8.8 Literally what thou hast formed which thou hast formed endures thy creation which has been created in it. 9But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be kept by thy keeping.8.9 Syr: Latin is corrupt here And when the womb gives up again what has been created in it, 10thou hast commanded that from the members themselves (that is, from the breasts) milk should be supplied which is the fruit of the breasts, 11so that what has been fashioned may be nourished for a time; and afterwards thou will guide him in thy mercy. 12Thou hast brought him up in thy righteousness, and instructed him in thy law, and reproved him in thy wisdom. 13Thou wilt take away his life, for he is thy creation; and thou wilt make him live, for he is thy work. 14If then thou wilt suddenly and quickly8.14 Syr: Lat shalt with a light command destroy him who with so great labour was fashioned by thy command, to what purpose was he made? 15And now I will speak out: About all mankind thou knowest best; but I will speak about thy people, for whom I am grieved, 16and about thy inheritance, for whom I lament, and about Israel, for whom I am sad, and about the seed of Jacob, for whom I am troubled. 17Therefore I will pray before thee for myself and for them, for I see the failings of us who dwell in the land, 18and8.18 Literally but I have heard of the swiftness of the judgment that is to come. 19Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I will speak before thee.”

The beginning of the words of Ezra's prayer, before he was taken up. He said: 20“O Lord who inhabitest eternity,8.20 Or abidest for ever whose eyes are exalted8.20 Another Latin text reads whose are the highest heavens and whose upper chambers are in the air, 21whose throne is beyond measure and whose glory is beyond comprehension, before whom the hosts of angels stand trembling 22and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire,8.22 Syr: Lat they whose service takes the form of wind and fire whose word is sure and whose utterances are certain, whose ordinance is strong and whose command is terrible, 23whose look dries up the depths and whose indignation makes the mountains melt away, and whose truth is established for ever8.23 Arab 2: Other authorities read bears witness — 24hear, O Lord, the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature; attend to my words. 25For as long as I live I will speak, and as long as I have understanding I will answer. 26O look not upon the sins of thy people, but at those who have served thee in truth. 27Regard not the endeavours of those who act wickedly, but the endeavours of those who have kept thy covenants amid afflictions. 28Think not on those who have lived wickedly in thy sight; but remember those who have willingly acknowledged that thou art to be feared. 29Let it not be thy will to destroy those who have had the ways of cattle; but regard those who have gloriously taught thy law.8.29 Syr have received the brightness of thy law 30Be not angry with those who are deemed worse than beasts; but love those who have always put their trust in thy glory. 31For we and our fathers have passed our lives in ways that bring death;8.31 Syr Ethiop: the Latin text is uncertain but thou, because of us sinners, art called merciful. 32For if thou hast desired to have pity on us, who have no works of righteousness, then thou wilt be called merciful. 33For the righteous, who have many works laid up with thee, shall receive their reward in consequence of their own deeds. 34But what is man, that thou art angry with him; or what is a corruptible race, that thou art so bitter against it? 35For in truth there is no one among those who have been born who has not acted wickedly, and among those who have existed8.35 Syr: the Latin text is corrupt there is no one who has not transgressed. 36For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and goodness will be declared, when thou art merciful to those who have no store of good works.”

37He answered me and said, “Some things you have spoken rightly, and it will come to pass according to your words. 38For indeed I will not concern myself about the fashioning of those who have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction; 39but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous, over their pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and their receiving their reward. 40As I have spoken, therefore, so it shall be.

41“For just as the farmer sows many seeds upon the ground and plants a multitude of seedlings, and yet not all that have been sown will come up8.41 Syr Ethiop will live: Lat will be saved in due season, and not all that were planted will take root; so also those who have been sown in the world will not all be saved.”

42I answered and said, “If I have found favour before thee, let me speak.8.42 Or If I have found favour, let me speak before thee 43For if the farmer's seed does not come up, because it has not received thy rain in due season, or if it has been ruined by too much rain, it perishes.8.43 Cn: Compare Syr Arab 1 Arm Georg: the Latin is corrupt 44But man, who has been formed by thy hands and is called thy own image because he is made like thee, and for whose sake thou hast formed all things — hast thou also made him like the farmer's seed? 45No, O Lord8.45 Ethiop Arab Compare Syr: Latin omits O Lord Who art over us! But spare thy people and have mercy on thy inheritance, for thou hast mercy on thy own creation.”

46He answered me and said, “Things that are present are for those who live now, and things that are future are for those who will live hereafter. 47For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I love it. But you have often compared yourself8.47 Syr Ethiop: Lat brought yourself near to the unrighteous. Never do so! 48But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before the Most High, 49because you have humbled yourself, as is becoming for you, and have not deemed yourself to be among the righteous in order to receive8.49 Or righteous; so that you will receive the greatest glory. 50For many miseries will affect those who inhabit the world in the last times, because they have walked in great pride. 51But think of your own case, and inquire concerning th glory of those who are like yourself, 52because it is for you that paradise is opened, the tree of life is planted, the age to come is prepared, plenty is provided, a city is built, rest is appointed,8.52 Syr: Lat allowed goodness is established and wisdom perfected beforehand. 53The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death8.53 Syr Ethiop Arm: Latin omits death is hidden; hell has fled and corruption has been forgotten;8.53 Syr: Lat Hades and corruption have fled into ablivion, or corruption has fled into Hades to be forgotten 54sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is made manifest. 55Therefore do not ask any more questions about the multitude of those who perish. 56For they also received freedom, but they despised the Most High, and were contemptuous of his law, and forsook his ways. 57Moreover they have even trampled upon his righteous ones, 58and said in their hearts that there is no God — though knowing full well that they must die. 59For just as the things which I have predicted await8.59 Syr: Lat will receive you, so the thirst and torment which are prepared await them. For the Most High did not intend that men should be destroyed; 60but they themselves who were created have defiled the name of him who made them, and have been ungrateful to him who prepared life for them. 61Therefore my judgment is now drawing near; 62I have not shown this to all men, but only to you and a few like you.”

Then I answered and said, 63“Behold, O Lord, thou hast now shown me a multitude of the signs which thou wilt do in the last times, but thou hast not shown me when thou wilt do them.”