4th Book Of EZRA - ESDRAS Ch9
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The End, And The Signs Preceding It
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:1 HE answered me then, and said, Measure you carefully the time in your mind: and when you see part of the predicted signs are past, which I have told you before,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:2 Then shall you know and understand what is the very time when the Most High YAHWEH is about to visit the world which HE has made.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:3 Therefore when there shall appear in the world earthquakes, tumult of peoples, intrigues of nations, wavering of leaders, confusion of princes,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:4 Then you shall know and understand well, that YAHWEH the Most High spoke of those things from the days that were of old, that were even before you, from the beginning.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:5 For just as with everything that is made in the world, has a beginning and is evident, and the end is manifest:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:6 Even so also are the times of the Most High YAHWEH; the plain beginnings manifest in wonders and mighty powerful works, and endings in requital, effects and signs.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:7 And it shall be that everyone who shall be delivered and shall be able to escape on account of his works, or on account of the faith whereby he has believed,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:8 Shall be preserved from the said imminent perils that have been predicted, and shall see MY Deliverance in MY land, and within MY borders: which I have made kodesh for ME from the beginning.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:9 Then those who have now abused MY Ways shall be in a pitiful state, and they that have rejected and cast them away despitefully with contempt shall dwell in torments.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:10 For many such as this did not acknowledge ME in their lifetime, although they received MY benefits,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:11 And as many that scorned and loathed MY Torah, while they still had freedom, and did not understand but despised ME while an opportunity of repentance was still open to them,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:12 The same must in torment acknowledge ME after death.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:13 And therefore, do not continue to be curious as to how the checedless wicked shall be punished, but inquire how the righteous shall be delivered, those to whom the age belongs and for whose sake the age was created and when.
The Fate Of The Wicked
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:14 Then I answered and said,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it again, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be delivered:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop of water.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:17 And HE answered me, saying, as is the field, so is also the seed; and as are the flowers so are the colors; and as is the workman, so is the product; and as is the husbandman, so is the threshing floor.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:18 For there was a time in this age when I was preparing for those who now exist, before the world was made for them to dwell in, and no one opposed ME then, for no one existed.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:19 For then everyone obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, have become corrupt in their ways, and by a Torah which is unsearchable rid themselves.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:20 So I considered MY world, and behold, it was lost, and MY earth, and behold, it was in peril because of the devices of those who had come into it.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:21 And I saw and spared some with great difficulty, and delivered for MYSELF one grape out of a cluster, and one plant out of a great forest.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:22 So let the multitude perish which has been born in vain; but let MY grape be kept, and MY plant be delivered; for with much labor I have made them perfect.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:23 Nevertheless, if you will let yet seven days more pass, but you shall not fast in them,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:24 But go into a field of flowers where no house has been built, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat only flowers;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:25 And pray to the Most High YAHWEH continually, then will I come and talk with you.
THE FOURTH VISION
The Abiding Splendor Of The Mosaic Torah
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the food of the same satisfied me.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:27 After seven days, as I sat upon the grass, and my heart was troubled within me, like as before:
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Most High YAHWEH, and said,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:29 Oh YAHWEH, YOU that show YOURSELF to us, YOU were shown to our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treads, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:30 And YOU said, Hear ME, Oh Yisrael; and give heed to MY Words, you seed of Yacob.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:31 For, behold, I sow MY Torah in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and you shall be magnified through it forever.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:32 But though our fathers received the Torah, they did not keep it, and did not observe YOUR ordinances: yet the fruit of YOUR Torah did not perish, neither could it, because it was YOURs;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:34 And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, does perish, and remains not with us: but with us it has not happened so.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:36 For we that have received the Torah perish by sin, and also our heart also which received it;
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:37 However the Torah does not perishes but remains in its force. • Ex 19:9; Ex 24:10; Deut 4:12
The Vision Of A Dependent Woman
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:38 And when I had spoke these things in my heart, I lifted up my eyes and saw a woman on my right, and behold, she was mourning and weeping with a loud voice, and was deeply grieved in her heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:39 Then I dismissed the thoughts with which I had been engaged, and turned to her,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:40 And said to her, Why are you weeping, and why are you grieved in your heart?
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:41 And she said to me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail for myself, and continue to mourn and add to my sorrow, for I am greatly embittered in ruach and brought very low.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:42 And I said to her, What has happened to you? Tell me.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:43 She said to me, I your servant have been barren and had no child, though I lived with my husband thirty years,
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my prayer to the Most High.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:45 After thirty years YAHWEH heard your handmaid, and looked upon my misery, considered my distress, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbors: and we gave great honor and splendor to YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:46 And I nourished him with great care.
EZRA -4- ESDRAS 9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I set a day for the marriage and made a feast.
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