¹ And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
² And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?
³ Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:
⁴ Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.
⁵ And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy 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 answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?
⁷ And he said unto me, If I should ask thee 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 Peradventure thou wouldest say unto 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 thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them.
¹⁰ He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;
¹¹ How should thy vessel 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 said I unto 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, Суд 9, 8. 2 Пар 25, 18.
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 nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
¹⁸ If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?
¹⁹ I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.
²⁰ Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?
²¹ For like as the ground is given unto 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 dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.
²² Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:
²³ For 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 reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,
²⁴ And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
²⁵ What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.
²⁶ Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth 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 infirmities.
²⁸ But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.
²⁹ If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.
³⁰ For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?
³¹ Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.
³² And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?
³³ Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
³⁴ And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.
³⁵ Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?

²⁴ And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.
²⁵ And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.
²⁶ And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.
²⁷ And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,
²⁸ Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
²⁹ And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
³⁰ And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,
³¹ What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?
³² And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.
³³ And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
³⁴ Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.
³⁵ For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.
³⁶ Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?
³⁷ Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
³⁸ He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.
³⁹ He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.
⁴⁰ This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
⁴¹ Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
⁴² But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.
⁴³ And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
⁴⁴ This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,
⁴⁵ Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.
⁴⁶ But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.
⁴⁷ And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.
⁴⁸ But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.
⁴⁹ And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.
⁵⁰ For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty: