| 8 | LIBER QUARTUS ESDRAE - Vulgate | 2 (4) EZRA - Revised Standard Version | Reference |
| 1 |
et respondit ad me et dixit: hoc saeculum fecit Altissimus propter multos, futurum autem propter paucos. |
He 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. |
|
| 2 |
dicam autem coram te similitudinem, Ezra. quomodo autem interrogabis terram et dicet tibi, quoniam dabit terram multam magis unde fiat fictile, parvum autem pulverem u |
But I 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 from which gold comes; so is the course of the present world. |
|
| 3 |
multi quidem creati sunt, pauci autem salvabuntur. |
Many have been created, but few shall be saved." |
|
| 4 |
et respondi et dixi: absolve ergo anima sensum et devoret quod sapit. |
I answered and said, "Then drink your fill of understanding, O my soul, and drink wisdom, O my heart! | Ezra prays for his people. 2(4)Ezr.8.4-62
|
| 5 |
convenisti inobaudire et profecta es nolens, nec enim tibi est datum spatium nisi solum modicum vivere. |
For not of your own will did you come into the world, and against your will you depart, for you have been given only a short time to live. |
|
| 6 |
o Domine super nos, si permittes servo tuo, ut oremus coram te et des nobis semen cordis et sensui culturam unde fructum fiat, unde vivere possit omnis corruptus qui p |
O Lord who are 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 likeness of a human being may be able to live. |
|
| 7 |
solus enim es, et una plasmatio nos sumus manuum tuarum, sicut locutus es. |
For thou alone dost exist, and we are a work of thy hands, as thou hast declared. |
|
| 8 |
et quoniam vivificas nunc in matrice plasmatum corpus et praestas membra, conservatur in igne et aqua tua creatio et novem mensibus patitur tua plasmatio tuae creatura |
And 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 womb which thou has formed endures thy creation which has been created in it. |
|
| 9 |
ipsum autem quod servat et quod servatur utraque servabuntur servatione tua. et quando iterum reddit matrix quae in ea creverint, |
But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be kept by thy keeping. And when the womb gives up again what has been created in it, |
|
| 10 |
imperasti ut ex ipsis membris, hoc est mamillis, praebere lac, fructum mamillarum. |
thou hast commanded that from the members themselves (that is, from the breasts) milk should be supplied which is the fruit of the breasts, |
|
| 11 |
ut nutriatur id quod plasmatum est usque in tempus aliquem. et postea dispones eum tuae misericordiae, |
so that what has been fashioned may be nourished for a time; and afterwards thou wilt guide him in thy mercy. |
|
| 12 |
enutristi eum tuae iustitiae, et erudisti eum in lege tua et corripuisti eum tuo intellectu, |
Thou hast brought him up in thy righteousness, and instructed him in thy law, and reproved him in thy wisdom. |
|
| 13 |
et mortificabis eum ut tuam creaturam et vivificabis eum ut tuum opus. |
Thou wilt take away his life, for he is thy creation; and thou wilt make him live, for he is thy work. |
|
| 14 |
si ergo perdideris qui tantis laboribus plasmatus est tuo iussu, facili ordine, et ut quid fiebat? |
If then thou wilt suddenly and quickly destroy him who with so great labour was fashioned by thy command, to what purpose was he made? |
|
| 15 |
et nunc dicens dicam: de omni homine tu magis scis, de populo autem tuo quod mihi dolet, |
And now I will speak out: About all mankind thou knowest best; but I will speak about thy people, for whom I am grieved, |
|
| 16 |
et de hereditate tua propter quam lugeo, et de Israhel propter quem tristis sum, et de semine Iacob propter quod conturbor. |
and 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. |
|
| 17 |
ideo incipiam orare coram te pro me et pro eis, quoniam video lapsos nostros qui inhabitamus terram, |
Therefore I will pray before thee for myself and for them, for I see the failings of us who dwell in the land, |
|
| 18 |
sed audivi celeritatem iudicii quod futurum est. |
and I have heard of the swiftness of the judgment that is to come. |
|
| 19 |
ideo audi meam vocem et intellege sermonum meorum, et loquar coram te. |
Therefore 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 |
initium verborum Ezrae priusquam adsumeretur, et dixit: Domine qui habitas in saeculum, cuius oculi elati et superna in aerem, |
"O Lord who inhabitest eternity, whose eyes are exalted and whose upper chambers are in the air, |
|
| 21 |
et cuius thronus inaestimabilis et gloria inconprehensibilis, cui adstat exercitus angelorum cum tremore, |
whose throne is beyond measure and whose glory is beyond comprehension, before whom the hosts of angels stand trembling |
|
| 22 |
quorum servatio in vento et igni convertitur, cuius verbum verum et dicta perseverantia, |
and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire, whose word is sure and whose utterances are certain, whose ordinance is strong and whose command is terrible, |
|
| 23 |
cuius iussio fortis et dispositio terribilis, cuius aspectus arefecit abyssos et indignatio tabescere facit montes et veritas testificatur. |
whose look dries up the depths and whose indignation makes the mountains melt away, and whose truth is established for ever - |
|
| 24 |
exaudi, Domine, orationem servi tui et auribus percipe precationem figmenti tui, intende verba mea. |
hear, O Lord, the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature; attend to my words. |
|
| 25 |
dum enim vivo loquar et dum sapio respondeam. |
For as long as I live I will speak, and as long as I have understanding I will answer. |
|
| 26 |
ne aspicias populi tui delicta, sed qui tibi in veritate serviunt. |
O look not upon the sins of thy people, but at those who have served thee in truth. |
|
| 27 |
nec adtendas impie agentium studia, sed qui tua testimonia cum doloribus custodierunt. |
Regard not the endeavors of those who act wickedly, but the endeavors of those who have kept thy covenants amid afflictions. |
|
| 28 |
neque cogites qui in conspectu tuo false conversati sunt, sed memorare qui ex voluntate tuum timorem cognoverunt. |
Think not on those who have lived wickedly in thy sight; but remember those who have willingly acknowledged that thou art to be feared. |
|
| 29 |
neque volueris perdere qui pecorum mores habuerunt, sed respicias eos qui legem tuam splendide docuerunt. |
Let it not be thy will to destroy those who have had the ways of cattle; but regard those who have gloriously taught thy law. |
|
| 30 |
neque indigneris eis qui bestiis peius sunt iudicati, sed diligas eos qui semper in tua gloria confiderunt. |
Be not angry with those who are deemed worse than beasts; but love those who have always put their trust in thy glory. |
|
| 31 |
quoniam nos et patres nostri mortalibus moribus egimus, tu autem propter nos peccatores misericors vocaberis. |
For we and our fathers have passed our lives in ways that bring death, but thou, because of us sinners, are called merciful. |
|
| 32 |
si enim desideraveris ut nostri miserearis, tunc misericors vocaberis, nobis enim non habentibus opera iustitiae. |
For if thou hast desired to have pity on us, who have no works of righteousness, then thou wilt be called merciful. |
|
| 33 |
iusti enim, quibus sunt operae multae repositae apud te, ex propriis operibus recipient mercedem. |
For the righteous, who have many works laid up with thee, shall receive their reward in consequence of their own deeds. |
|
| 34 |
quid est enim homo, ut ei indigneris, aut genus corruptibile, ut ita amariceris de ipso. |
But what is man, that thou art angry with him; or what is a corruptible race, that thou art so bitter against it? |
|
| 35 |
in veritate enim nemo de genitis est qui non impie gessit, et de confitentibus qui non deliquit. |
For in truth there is no one among those who have been born who has not acted wickedly, and among those who have existed there is no one who has not transgressed. |
|
| 36 |
in hoc enim adnuntiabitur iustitia tua, et bonitas tua Domine, cum misertus fueris eis qui non habent substantiam operum bonorum. |
For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and goodness will be declared, when thou art merciful to those who have no store of good works." |
|
| 37 |
et respondit ad me et dixi:t recte locutus es aliqua, et iuxta sermones tuos sic et fiet, |
He answered me and said, "Some things you have spoken rightly, and it will come to pass according to your words. |
|
| 38 |
quoniam vere non cogitabo super plasma eorum qui peccaverunt aut mortem aut iudicium aut perditionem, |
For indeed I will not concern myself about the fashioning of those who have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction; |
|
| 39 |
sed iucundabor super iustorum figmentum, peregrinationes quoque et salvationes et mercedis receptiones. |
but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous, over their pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and their receiving their reward. |
|
| 40 |
quomodo ergo locutus sum, sic et est. |
As I have spoken, therefore, so it shall be. |
|
| 41 |
sicut enim agricola serit super terram semina multa et plantationis multitudinem plantat, sed non in tempore non omnia quae seminata sunt salvabuntur, sed nec omnia q |
"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 up 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." |
|
| 42 |
et respondi et dixi: si inveni gratiam loquar. |
I answered and said, "If I have found favour before thee, let me speak. |
|
| 43 |
quoniam semen agricolae, si non ascenderit -- non enim accepit pluviam tuam in tempore -- et si corruptum fuerit multitudine pluviae, |
For 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. |
|
| 44 |
hoc perit; sed homo qui manibus tuis plasmatus est et tuae imagini nominatus, quoniam similatus est per quem omnia plasmasti, et similasti eum semini agricolae. |
But 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? |
|
| 45 |
non super nos, sed parce populo tuo et miserere hereditati tuae, tuae enim creaturae misereris. |
No, O Lord who art over us! But spare thy people and have mercy on thy inheritance, for thou hast mercy on thy own creation." |
|
| 46 |
et respondit ad me et dixit: quae sunt praesentia praesentibus et quae futura futuris. |
He 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. |
|
| 47 |
multum enim tibi restat, ut possis diligere meam creaturam super me. tu autem frequenter te et ipsum proximasti iniustis numquam. |
For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I love it. But you have often compared yourself to the unrighteous. Never do so! |
|
| 48 |
sed et in hoc mirabilis eris coram Altissimo, |
But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before the Most High, |
|
| 49 |
quoniam humiliasti te, sicut decet te, et non iudicasti te inter iustos. plurimum glorificeris, |
because you have humbled yourself, as is becoming for you, and have not deemed yourself to be among the righteous in order to receive the greatest glory. |
|
| 50 |
propter quod miseriae multae miserabiles efficientur qui inhabitant saeculum in novissimis, quia in multa superbia ambulaverunt. |
For many miseries will affect those who inhabit the world in the last times, because they have walked in great pride. |
|
| 51 |
tu autem pro te intellege et de similibus tuis inquire gloriam. |
But think of your own case, and inquire concerning the glory of those who are like yourself, |
|
| 52 |
vobis enim apertus est paradisus, plantata est arbor vitae, praeparatum est futurum tempus praeparata est abundantia, aedificata est civitas, probata est requies, per |
because 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, goodness is established and wisdom perfected beforehand. |
|
| 53 |
radix signata est a vobis, infirmitas extincta est a vobis et mors absconsa est, infernum fugit et corruptio in oblivionem. |
The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death is hidden; hell has fled and corruption has been forgotten; |
|
| 54 |
transierunt dolores et ostensus est in finem thesaurus inmortalitatis. |
sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is made manifest. |
|
| 55 |
noli ergo adicere inquirendo de multitudine eorum qui pereunt. |
Therefore do not ask any more questions about the multitude of those who perish. |
|
| 56 |
nam et ipsi accipientes libertatem spreverunt Altissimum et legem eius contempserunt et vias eius dereliquerunt. |
For they also received freedom , but they despised the Most High, and were contemptuous of his law, and forsook his ways. |
|
| 57 |
adhuc autem et iustos eius conculcaverunt. |
Moreover they have even trampled upon his righteous ones, |
|
| 58 |
et dixerunt in corde suo non esse Deum, et quidem scientes quoniam moriuntur. |
and said in their hearts that there is not God - though knowing full well that they must die. |
|
| 59 |
sicut enim vos suscipient quae praedicta sunt, sic eos sitis et cruciatus quae praeparata sunt, non enim Altissimus vo v. A. A hominem disperdi. |
For just as the things which I have predicted await you, so the thirst and torment which are prepared await them. For the Most High did not intend that men should be destroyed; |
|
| 60 |
sed ipsi qui creati sunt coinquinaverunt nomen eius qui fecit eos, et ingrati fuerunt ei qui praeparavit eis nunc vitam. |
but 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. |
|
| 61 |
quapropter iudicium meum modo adpropinquat, |
Therefore my judgment is now drawing near; |
|
| 62 |
quod non omnibus demonstravi nisi tibi et tibi similibus paucis. et respondi et dixi: |
I have not shown this to all men, but only to you and a few like you." Then I answered and said, |
|
| 63 |
ecce nunc, Domine, demonstrasti mihi multitudinem signorum quae incipies facere in novissimis, sed non demonstrasti mihi quo tempore. |
"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." | Signs of the End. 2(4)Ezr.8.63-9.25
|
| |
|
<< | 2 (4) Ezra: 8 | |
|