Only a Few Will Be Saved
45 I answered and said, “O sovereign Lord, I said then andl I say now: Blessed are those who are alive and keep your commandments! 46But what of those for whom I prayed? For who among the living is there that has not sinned, or who is there among mortals that has not transgressed your covenant? 47And now I see that the world to come will bring delight to few, but torments to many. 48For an evil heart has grown up in us, which has alienated us from God,m and has brought us into corruption and the ways of death, and has shown us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life—and that not merely for a few but for almost all who have been created.”
49 He answered me and said, “Listen to me, Ezra,n and I will instruct you, and will admonish you once more. 50For this reason the Most High has made not one world but two. 51Inasmuch as you have said that the righteous are not many but few, while the ungodly abound, hear the explanation for this.
52“If you have just a few precious stones, will you add to them lead and clay?”o 53I said, “Lord, how could that be?” 54And he said to me, “Not only that, but ask the earth and she will tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you. 55Say to her, ‘You produce gold and silver and bronze, and also iron and lead and clay; 56but silver is more abundant than gold, and bronze than silver, and iron than bronze, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.’ 57Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are abundant or those that are rare?”
58 I said, “O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for what is more rare is more precious.”
59 He answered me and said, “Consider within yourselfp what you have thought, for the person who has what is hard to get rejoices more than the person who has what is plentiful. 60So also will be the judgmentq that I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. 61I will not grieve over the great number of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke—they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished.”
Lamentation of Ezra, with Response
62I replied and said, “O earth, what have you brought forth, if the mind is made out of the dust like the other created things? 63For it would have been better if the dust itself had not been born, so that the mind might not have been made from it. 64But now the mind grows with us, and therefore we are tormented, because we perish and we know it. 65Let the human race lament, but let the wild animals of the field be glad; let all who have been born lament, but let the cattle and the flocks rejoice. 66It is much better with them than with us; for they do not look for a judgment, and they do not know of any torment or salvation promised to them after death. 67What does it profit us that we shall be preserved alive but cruelly tormented? 68For all who have been born are entangled inr iniquities, and are full of sins and burdened with transgressions. 69And if after death we were not to come into judgment, perhaps it would have been better for us.”
70 He answered me and said, “When the Most High made the world and Adam and all who have come from him, he first prepared the judgment and the things that pertain to the judgment. 71But now, understand from your own words—for you have said that the mind grows with us. 72For this reason, therefore, those who live on earth shall be tormented, because though they had understanding, they committed iniquity; and though they received the commandments, they did not keep them; and though they obtained the law, they dealt unfaithfully with what they received. 73What, then, will they have to say in the judgment, or how will they answer in the last times? 74How long the Most High has been patient with those who inhabit the world!—and not for their sake, but because of the times that he has foreordained.”
State of the Dead before Judgment
75I answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, show this also to your servant: whether after death, as soon as everyone of us yields up the soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when you will renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?”
76 He answered me and said, “I will show you that also, but do not include yourself with those who have shown scorn, or number yourself among those who are tormented. 77For you have a treasure of works stored up with the Most High, but it will not be shown to you until the last times. 78Now concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone out from the Most High that a person shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High. 79If it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, who have despised his law and hated those who fear God—80such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, always grieving and sad, in seven ways. 81The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High. 82The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance so that they may live. 83The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High. 84The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. 85The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet. 86The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will cross overs into torments. 87The seventh way, which is worset than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame,u and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High in whose presence they sinned while they were alive, and in whose presence they are to be judged in the last times.
88 “Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body.v 89During the time that they lived in it,w they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour so that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly. 90Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 92The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought that was formed with them, so that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander and the punishment that awaits them. 94The third order, they see the witness that he who formed them bears concerning them, that throughout their life they kept the law with which they were entrusted. 95The fourth order, they understand the rest that they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory waiting for them in the last days. 96The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toilx from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty that they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. 97The sixth order, when it is shown them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they press forward to see the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified. 99This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced;y and the previously mentioned are the ways of torment that those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter.”
100 Then I answered and said, “Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?”
101 He said to me, “They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations.”
No Intercession for the Ungodly
102 I answered and said, “If I have found favor in
your sight, show further to me, your servant, whether on the day of judgment the righteous will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them—103fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives for their kindred, or friends for those who are most dear.”
104 He answered me and said, “Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisivez and displays to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest friend, to be illa or sleep or eat or be healed in his place, 105so no one shall ever pray for another on that day, neither shall anyone lay a burden on another;b for then all shall bear their own righteousness and unrighteousness.”
36 106I answered and said, “How then do we find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for our ancestors who sinned in the desert,37 107and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan,38 108and Samuel in the days of Saul,c and David for the plague, and Solomon for those at the dedication,39 109and Elijah for those who received the rain, and for the one who was dead, that he might live,40 110and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others prayed for many?41 111So if now, when corruption has increased and unrighteousness has multiplied, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, why will it not be so then as well?”
42 112He answered me and said, “This present world is not the end; the full glory does notd remain in it;e therefore those who were strong prayed for the weak.43 113But the day of judgment will be the end of this age and the beginningf of the immortal age to come, in which corruption has passed away,44 114sinful indulgence has come to an end, unbelief has been cut off, and righteousness has increased and truth has appeared.45 115Therefore no one will then be able to have mercy on someone who has been condemned in the judgment, or to harmg someone who is victorious.”
Lamentation over the Fate of Most People
46 116I answered and said, “This is my first and last comment: it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, had restrained him from sinning.47 117For what good is it to all that they live in sorrow now and expect punishment after death?48 118O Adam, what have you done? For though it was you who sinned, the fall was not yours alone, but ours also who are your descendants.49 119For what good is it to us, if an immortal time has been promised to us, but we have done deeds that bring death?50 120And what good is it that an everlasting hope has been promised to us, but we have miserably failed?51 121Or that safe and healthful habitations have been reserved for us, but we have lived wickedly?52 122Or that the glory of the Most High will defend those who have led a pure life, but we have walked in the most wicked ways?53 123Or that a paradise shall be revealed, whose fruit remains unspoiled and in which are abundance and healing, but we shall not enter it54 124because we have lived in perverse ways?h55 125Or that the faces of those who practiced self-control shall shine more than the stars, but our faces shall be blacker than darkness?56 126For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we should suffer after death.”
57 127He answered and said, “This is the significance of the contest that all who are born on earth shall wage:58 128if they are defeated they shall suffer what you have said, but if they are victorious they shall receive what I have said.i 59 129For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the people, saying, ‘Choose life for yourself, so that you may live!’60 130But they did not believe him or the prophets after him, or even myself who have spoken to them.61 131Therefore there shall not bej grief at their destruction, so much as joy over those to whom salvation is assured.”
Ezra Appeals to God’s Mercy
62 132I answered and said, “I know, O Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, because he has mercy on those who have not yet come into the world;63 133and gracious, because he is gracious to those who turn in repentance to his law;64 134and patient, because he shows patience toward those who have sinned, since they are his own creatures;65 135and bountiful, because he would rather give than take away;k 66 136and abundant in compassion, because he makes his compassions abound more and more to those now living and to those who are gone and to those yet to come—67 137for if he did not make them abound, the world with those who inhabit it would not have life—68 138and he is called the giver, because if he did not give out of his goodness so that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, not one ten-thousandth of humankind could have life;69 139and the judge, because if he did not pardon those who were created by his word and blot out the multitude of their sins,l 70 140there would probably be left only very few of the innumerable multitude.”
next chapter
* * *
a Other ancient authorities read God; Ethiop Georg the only One
b Other ancient authorities read God
c Arm: Lat Syr that the bride shall appear, even the city appearing
d Syr Arab 1: Ethiop my Messiah; Arab 2 the Messiah; Arm the Messiah of God; Lat my son Jesus
e Arm all who have continued in faith and in patience
f Lat shall gather together
g The passage from verse 36 to verse 105, formerly missing, has been restored to the text
h Syr Ethiop: Lat place
i Lat Syr Ethiop Gehenna
j Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Lat you shall
k Or storm
l Syr: Lat And I answered, “I said then, O Lord, and
m Cn: Lat Syr Ethiop from these
n Syr Arab 1 Georg: Lat Ethiop lack Ezra
o Arab 1: Meaning of Lat Syr Ethiop uncertain
p Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Meaning of Lat uncertain
q Syr Arab 1: Lat creation
r Syr defiled with
s Cn: Meaning of Lat uncertain
t Lat Syr Ethiop greater
u Syr Ethiop: Meaning of Lat uncertain
v Lat the corruptible vessel
w Syr Ethiop: Meaning of Lat uncertain
x Syr Ethiop: Lat fullness
y Syr: Meaning of Lat uncertain
z Lat bold
a Syr Ethiop Arm: Lat to understand
b Syr Ethiop: Lat lacks on that…another
c Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Lat Arab 2 Arm lack in the days of Saul
d Lat lacks not
e Or the glory does not continuously abide in it
f Syr Ethiop: Lat lacks the beginning
g Syr Ethiop: Lat overwhelm
h Cn: Lat Syr places
i Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Lat what I say
j Syr: Lat there was not
k Or he is ready to give according to requests
l Lat contempts
7.1–25 Ezra and the angel begin a dialogic dispute.
7.1 Parallel to 4.1; 5.31.
7.2 Rise. On standing for solemn events, cf. 4.47; 6.13.
7.3–5 The origins of this parable are unclear.
7.5 Navigate, an emendation of “rule over.”
7.6–9 A second similar parable follows, as in Mk 4.26–33. The plenteous city evokes Jerusalem with the righteous. Similar images occur in Shepherd of Hermas, Similitudes 9.12.5; Testament of Job 18.6. Good things, eschatological reward.
7.7 Entrance, possibly “way.” The way, with dangers on both sides, occurs in Ps 66.12 (Septuagint, Vulgate); Sir 15.11, 15–17; Avot de Rabbi Nathan A 28.
7.9 Israel is to inherit the world; cf. 6.59.
7.11 See note on 6.55. This view of the result of Adam’s sin is to be found in contemporary Judaism.
7.12–13 Note the contrast this world/age and the greater (or “coming”) world/age, common terms in NT and rabbinic sources. The fruit gives immortality; cf. Gen 3.6, 22.
7.14 Difficulties precede reward.
7.15–16 Rebuke questions, implying an assertion of Ezra’s future immortality.
7.17 Sovereign Lord. The angel is frequently addressed as God. The reference may be to Deut 8.1 or Ps 37.9.
7.18 Cf. vv. 1
17–18.
7.19 Similar rebukes occur in 4.34; 5.33.
7.20 Alternately “let many perish…who disregarded the law of God.” Perish implies eternal death.
7.21 Commanded. See Deut 30.15–18; cf. Sir 15.17.
7.23–24 The wicked are charged with overall unfaithfulness (also vv. 79, 81) and denying God’s existence (also v. 37; 8.55–58; 9.10). Cf. Ps 14.1.
7.25 Oracular transitional statement; cf. note on 6.34.
7.26–44 The course of eschatological events is expounded.
7.26 Indeed, or “behold.” The unseen city is heavenly Jerusalem; see the fourth vision (10.27–59). For a new or heavenly Jerusalem, cf. the Dead Sea Scrolls New Jerusalem (2Q4; 4Q554–55; 5Q15; 11Q18); Tob 13.8–17; Rev 21.9–22.7. Land, the land of Israel; it is hidden since it was precreated. Cf. 6.14–16.
7.27 Those who survive the woes preceding the Messiah’s advent shall see the wonders; cf. 6.25; 9.8. Wonders are eschatological events.
HarperCollins Study Bible Page 421
