The Lost Books of the Bible: The Great Rejected Texts Read online

  22: Keep the old and young within your walls.

  23: Where ever you find the dead, take them and bury them, and I will give you the first place in my resurrection.

  24: Abide still, my people, and take your rest, for your quietness still comes.

  25: Nourish your children, you good nurse; establish their feet.

  26: As for the servants whom I have given you, there will not one of them perish; for I will require them from among your number.

  27: Do not weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness comes, others will weep and be sorrowful, but you will be merry and have abundance.

  28: The heathen will envy you, but they will be able to do nothing against you, says the Lord.

  29: My hands will cover you, so that your children will not see hell.

  30: Be joyful, you mother, with your children; for I will deliver you, says the Lord.

  31: Remember your children that sleep (that died), for I will bring them out of the sides of the earth, and show mercy to them: for I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty.

  32: Embrace your children until I come and show mercy to them: for my wells run over, and my grace will not fail.

  33: I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go to Israel; but when I came to them, they treated me as nothing and despised the commandment of the Lord.

  34: Therefore I say to you, O you heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, he will give you everlasting rest; for he is near at hand, that will come in the end of the world.

  35: Be ready to receive the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light will shine upon you for evermore.

  36: Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify of my Savior openly.

  37: Receive the gift that is given to you, and be glad, giving thanks to him that has led you to the heavenly kingdom.

  38: Arise up and stand, Look at the number of those that are sealed in the feast of the Lord;

  39: Which have left the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.

  40: Take your number, O Sion, and shut up those of yours that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.

  41: The number of your children, whom you longed for, is fulfilled: call on the power of the Lord, that your people, which have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.

  42: I Esdras saw upon Mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.

  43: In the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marveled at greatly.

  44: So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?

  45: He answered and said to me, These are they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.

  46: Then said I to the angel, What young person is it that crowns them, and gives them palms in their hands?

  47: So he answered and said to me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then I began greatly to laud them that stood so solidly for the name of the Lord.

  48: Then the angel said to me, Go your way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord your God, you have seen.

  4 Ezra Chapter 3

  1: In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:

  2: I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of those dwelling at Babylon.

  3: And my spirit was disturbed, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and said,

  4: O Lord, who upholds rule, you spoke at the beginning, when you did plant the earth, and that yourself alone, and commanded the people,

  5: And gave a body to Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of yours hands, and did breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before you.

  6: And you lead him into paradise, which your right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.

  7: You gave him the commandment to love your way: which he transgressed, and immediately you appointed death in him and in his generations, of whom came numberless nations, tribes, people, and kindred.

  8: And every people walked after their own will, and did awful things before you, and despised your commandments.

  9: And again in process of time you brought the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyed them.

  10: And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.

  11: Nevertheless, you left one of them , namely, Noah with his household, from who came all righteous men.

  12: And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more ungodly than the first.

  13: Now when they lived so wickedly before you, you chose a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.

  14: Him you loved, and to him only you showed your will:

  15: And made an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that you would never forsake his seed.

  16: And to him you gave Isaac, and to Isaac also you gave Jacob and Esau. You chose Jacob for your own, and put Esau away: and so Jacob became a great multitude.

  17: And when you led his seed out of Egypt, you brought them up to Mount Sinai.

  18: And bowing the heavens, you set fast the earth, moved the whole world, and made the depths to tremble, and troubled the men of that age.

  19: And your glory went through four gates, of fire, and of earthquake, and of wind, and of cold; that you might give the law to the seed of Jacob, and diligence to the generation of Israel.

  20: And yet you did not take away from them a wicked heart, that your law might bring forth fruit in them.

  21: For the first Adam (man) bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all that are born of him.

  22: Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart of the people with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed away, and the evil still lived there.

  23: So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then you raised you up a servant, called David:

  24: Whom you commanded to build a city to your name, and there to offer incense and offerings to you.

  25: When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook you,

  26: And in all things did as Adam and all his generations had done for they also had a wicked heart:

  27: And so you gave your city over into the hands of yours enemies.

  28: Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion over Sion?

  29: For when I came there, and had seen sins without number, then my soul saw many evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my heart failed me.

  30: For I have seen how you allow them sinning, and have spared wicked doers: and have destroyed your people, and have preserved yours enemies, and have not signified it.

  31: I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion?

  32: Or is there any other people that knows you beside Israel? Or what generation has so believed your covenants like Jacob has?

  33: And yet their reward does not appear, and their labor has no fruit: for I have gone here and there through the heathen, and I see that they flow in wealth, and think not upon your commandments.

  34: Weigh our wickedness now in the balance, and theirs also that dwell the world; and so will your name no where be found but in Israel.

  35: Or when was it that they which dwell upon the earth have not sinned in your sight? Or what people have so kept your commandments?

  36: You will find that Israel by name has kept your precepts; but not
the heathen.

  4 Ezra Chapter 4

  1: And the angel, whose name was Uriel, was sent to me and gave me an answer,

  2: And said, Your heart has gone to far in this world, and you think to understand the way of the most High?

  3: Then I said, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to show you three ways, and to set forth three comparisons before you:

  4: Whereof if you can answer one, I will show you also the way that you desire to see, and I will show you from where the wicked heart came.

  5: And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he to me, Go your way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.

  6: Then I answered and said, What man is able to do that, that you should ask such things of me?

  7: And he said to me, If I should ask you how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise:

  8: I would expect you would say to me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.

  9: Nevertheless now have I asked you but only of the fire and wind, and of the day through which you have passed, and of things from which you can not be separated, and yet you can give me no answer.

  10: He said moreover to me, Your own things, and such as are grown up with you, you do not know;

  11: How should your vessel (body /mind) then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?

  12: Then I said to him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

  13: He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,

  14: And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.

  15: The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.

  16: The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.

  17: The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to naught, for the sand stood up and stopped them.

  18: If you wert judge now betwixt these two, whom would you begin to justify? Or whom would you condemn?

  19: I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given to the wood, and the sea also has his place to bear his floods.

  20: Then he answered me, and said, You have given a right judgment, but why not judge yourself also?

  21: Like the ground is given to the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwells above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.

  22: Then I answered and said, I beseech you, O Lord, let me have understanding:

  23: It was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a criticism for the heathen, and for what cause the people whom you have loved is given over to ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nothing, and the written covenants come to no effect,

  24: And we pass away out of the world like grasshoppers, and our life is aw and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

  25: What will he do to his name whereby we are called? Of these things have I asked.

  26: Then he answered me, and said, The more you search, the more you will marvel; for the world hastens fast to pass away,

  27: And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and sickness.

  28: But as concerning the things whereof you ask me, I will tell you. Evil is sown, but the destruction has not yet come.

  29: If therefore that which is sown is not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown does not pass away, then that which is sown with good cannot come.

  30: For the grain of evil seed has been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness has it brought up to this time? And how much will it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?

  31: Ponder now by yourself, how much wicked fruit the grain of evil seed has brought forth.

  32: And when the ears will be cut down, which are without number, how large of a floor will they fill?

  33: Then I answered and said, How, and when will these things come to pass? Are our years few and evil?

  34: And he answered me, saying, Do not try to be above the most Highest your hurry is in vain to be above him, for you have much exceeded yourself.

  35: Did not the souls of the righteous also ask questions of these things in their chambers, saying, How long will I hope in this way? When comes the fruit of the floor of our reward?

  36: And to these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, When the number of seeds is filled in you: for he has weighed the world in the balance.

  37: By measure he has measured the times; and by number has he numbered the times; and he does not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.

  38: Then I answered and said, O Lord that upholds rule, even we all are full of sin,.

  39: For our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.

  40: So he answered me, and said, Go your way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she has fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.

  41: Then said I, No, Lord, she cannot. And he said to me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:

  42: Like a woman that labors makes haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed to them.

  43: From the beginning, look what you desire to see, it will be showed you.

  44: Then I answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, and if it is possible, and if I am worthy,

  45: Show me then whether there is more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

  46: What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

  47: And he said to me, Stand up upon the right side, and I will explain the illustration to you.

  48: So I stood, and saw, and, behold, a hot burning oven passed by before me; and it when the flame was gone by I looked, and, behold, the smoke remained still.

  49: After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still.

  50: Then he said to me, Think about this; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind; so the quantity which is past is greater.

  51: Then I prayed, and said, I will live until that time? Or what will happen in those days?

  52: He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof you ask me, I may tell you of them in pieces: but as touching your life, I am not sent to show you; for I do not know it.

  4 Ezra Chapter 5

  1: However, to share a small part with you, the days will come, that they which dwell upon earth will be taken in a great number, and the way of truth will be hidden, and the land will be barren of faith.

  2: But iniquity will be increased above that which now you see, or that you have heard long ago.

  3: And the land, that you see now supporting plants, will you see wasted suddenly.

  4: But if the most High grants you to live, you will see after the third trumpet that the sun will suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon three time in the day:

  5: And blood will drop
out of wood, and the stone will have a voice, and the people will be troubled:

  6: He will rule, whom they do not look for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls will take their flight away together:

  7: And the Sodomitish sea will cast out fish and make a noise at night, which many have not known: but they will all hear the voice of it.

  8: There will be a confusion in many places, and the fire will be sent out again often, and the wild beasts will change their places, and women having their periods will give birth to monsters:

  9: And salt waters will be found in the sweet, and all friends will destroy one another; then common sense will hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret rooms,

  10: And will be sought of many, and yet not be found: then will unrighteousness and sexual passion be multiplied upon earth.

  11: One land also will ask another, and say, Is righteousness that makes a man righteous gone through you? And it will say, No.

  12: At the same time men will hope, but nothing will be obtain: they will labor, but their ways will not prosper.

  13: I have permission to show you such things; and if you will pray again, and weep as now, and fast even days, you will hear yet greater things.

  14: Then I awoke, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.

  15: So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.

  16: And in the second night Salathiel the captain of the people came to me, saying, Where have you been? and why do you look so worried?

  17: Do you not know that Israel is committed to you in the land of their captivity?

  18: Get up then, and eat bread, and do not forsake us, as the shepherd that leaves his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.

  19: Then said I to him, Go your way from me, and come not near me. And he heard what I said, and went from me.

  20: And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, as Uriel the angel commanded me.

  21: And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous to me again,