2 Esdras 8:46-63

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Ezra’s Final Appeal for Mercy

⁴⁶ 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 For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I love it. But you have often compared yourself^[a] to the unrighteous. Never do so! ⁴⁸ But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before the Most High, ⁴⁹ because you have humbled yourself, as is becoming for you, and have not considered yourself to be among the righteous. You will receive the greatest glory, ⁵⁰ for many miseries will affect those who inhabit the world in the last times because they have walked in great pride.^{(A) 51} But think of your own case, and inquire concerning the glory of those who are like yourself,^{(B) 52} 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,^[b] goodness is established, and wisdom is perfected beforehand.^{(C) 53} The root of evil^[c] is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death^[d] is hidden; Hades has fled, and corruption has been forgotten;^{[e](D) 54} sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is made manifest.^{(E) 55} Therefore do not ask any more questions about the great number of those who perish. ⁵⁶ For when they had opportunity to choose, they despised the Most High and were contemptuous of his law and abandoned his ways.^{(F) 57} Moreover, they have even trampled on his righteous ones ⁵⁸ and said in their hearts that there is no God—though they knew well that they must die.^{(G) 59} For just as the things that I have predicted await^[f] you, so the thirst and torment that are prepared await them. For the Most High did not intend that anyone should be destroyed,^{(H) 60} but those who were created have themselves defiled the name of him who made them and have been ungrateful to him who prepared life for them now. ⁶¹ Therefore my judgment is now drawing near;^{(I) 62} I have not shown this to all people but only to you and a few like you.”

Then I answered and said,^{(J) 63} “O Lord, you have already shown me a great number of the signs that you will do in the last times, but you have not shown me when you will do them.”^(K)