Divers signs of things to come are shewed to Esdras by an Angel: 16. for the comfort of the people in captivity.Diuers signes of thinges to come are shewed to Esdras by an Angel: 16. for the comforth of the people in captiuitie.
But concerning signs: behold the days shall come, wherein they that inhabit the earth shall be taken in a great number: and the way of truth shall be hid: and the country shall be barren from faith.BVT concerning signes: behold the dayes shal come, wherin they that inhabite the earth shal be taken in a great number: and the way of truth shal be hid: and the countrie shal be barren from fayth.De signis autem : ecce dies venient, in quibus apprehendentur qui inhabitant terram in censu multo : et abscondetur veritatis via : et sterilis erit a fide regio :
2And injustice shall be multiplied above that which thy self seest, and above that which thou hast heard in time past.And iniustice shal be multiplied aboue that which thy self seest, & aboue that which thou hast heard in time past.et multiplicabitur iniustitia super hanc quam ipse tu vides, et super quam audisti olim :
3And they shall put their foot into the country which now thou seest to reign, and they shall see it desolate.And they shal put their foote into the countrie which now thou seest to reigne, and they shal see it desolate.et erit imposito vestigio quam nunc vides regnare regionem, et videbunt eam desertam.
4And if the Highest give thee life, thou shalt see after the third trumpet, and the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in a day,And if the Highest geue thee life, thou shalt see after the third trumpet, and the sunne shal sodenly shine agayne in the night, and the moone thrise in a day,Si autem tibi dederit Altissimus vivere, videbis post tertiam tubam, et relucescet subito sol noctu, et luna ter in die,
5and out of wood blood shall distil, and the stone shall give his voice, and the peoples shall be moved:and out of wood bloud shal distil, and the stone shal geue his voice, and the peoples shal be moued:et de ligno sanguis stillabit, et lapis dabit vocem suam, et populi commovebuntur :
6and he reign, whom they hope not that inhabit upon the earth, and fowls shall make their flight away.and he reigne, whom they hope not that inhabite vpon the earth, and foules shal make their flight away.et regnabit, quem non sperant qui inhabitant super terram, et volatilia commigrationem facient :
7and the sea of Sodom shall cast the fishes, and shall make a noise in the night, which many knew not, and all shall hear the voice thereof,& the sea of Sodom shal cast the fishes, and shal make a noise in the night, which manie knew not, and al shal heare the voice therof,et mare Sodomiticum pisces rejiciet, et dabit vocem noctu, quam non noverant multi. Omnes autem audient vocem ejus,
8and there shall be made a confusion in many places, and the fire shall often be sent back, and the savage beasts shall go to other places, and women in their monthly menstruatæ: the menstrual courses shall bring forth monsters,and there shal be made a confusion in manie places, and the fire shal often be sent backe, and the sauage beastes shal goe to other places, and wemen in their monethlie flowers shal bring forth monsters,et chaos fiet per loca multa, et ignis frequenter remittetur, et bestiæ agrestes transmigrabunt, et mulieres menstruatæ parient monstra,
9and in sweet waters shall salt waters be found, and all friends shall overthrow one an other: and then shall sensus: humour, cleverness; understanding, discernment be hid, and understanding shall be separated into his cellar:and in swete waters shal salt waters be found, and al frendes shal ouerthrow one an other: and then shal witte be hid, and vnderstanding shal be separated into his cellar:et in dulcibus aquæ salsæ invenientur, et amici omnes semetipsos expugnabunt : et abscondetur tunc sensus, et intellectus separabitur in promptuarium suum :
10and it shall be sought of many, and shall not be found: and injustice shall be multiplied, and incontinency upon the earth.and it shal be sought of manie, and shal not be found: and iniustice shal be multiplied, and incontinencie vpon the earth.et quæretur a multis, et non invenietur : et multiplicabitur iniustitia, et incontinentia super terram.
11And one country shall ask her neighbour, and shall say: Hath justice doing just passed through thee? and she shall deny it.And one countrie shal aske her neighbour, and shal say: Hath iustice doing iust passed through thee? and she shal denie it.Et interrogabit regio proximam suam, et dicet, Numquid per te pertransiit justitia justum faciens ? Et hoc negabit.
12And it shall be in that time, men shall hope, and shall not obtain: they shall labour, and their ways shall not have success.And it shal be in that time, men shal hope, and shal not obtaine: they shal labour, and their wayes shal not haue successe.Et erit in illo tempore, et sperabunt homines, et non impetrabunt : laborabunt, et non dirigentur viæ eorum.
13These signs I am permitted to tell thee: and if thou pray again and weep, as also now, and fast seven days, thou shalt hear again greater things then these.These signes I am permitted to tel thee: and if thou pray againe and weepe, as also now, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare againe greater thinges then these.Hæc signa dicere tibi permissum est mihi : et si oraveris iterum et ploraveris, sicut et nunc, et jejunaveris septem diebus, audies iterato horum majora.
14And I awaked, and my body did shiver exceedingly: and my soul laboured, that it fainted:And I awaked, and my bodie did shiuer exceedingly: and my soule laboured, that it fainted:Et evigilavi, et corpus meum horruit valde : et anima mea laboravit, ut deficeret :
15and the Angel that came, that spake in me, held me, and strengthened me, and set me upon my feet.and the Angel that came, that spake in me, held me, and strengthened me, and sette me vpon my feete.et tenuit me qui venit angelus, qui loquebatur in me, et confortavit me, et statuit me super pedes.
16And it came to pass in the second night, and Salathiel the prince of the people came to me, and said to me: Where wast thou? and why is thy countenance heavy?And it came to passe in the second night, and Salathiel the prince of the people came to me, and sayd to me: Where wast thou? and why is thy countenance heauie?Et factum est in nocte secunda, et venit ad me Salathiel dux populi, et dixit mihi, Ubi eras ? et quare vultus tuus tristis ?
17Knowest thou not that Israel is committed to thee in the country of their transmigrationis: the reincarnation of souls; the captivity, exile?Knowest thou not that Israel is committed to thee in the countrie of their transmigration?An nescis, quoniam tibi creditus est Israël in regione transmigrationis eorum ?
18Rise up therefore, and taste bread, and forsake us not, as the pastor: shepherd his flock in the hand of wicked wolves.Rise vp therfore, and taste bread, and forsake vs not, as the pastour his flocke in the hand of wicked wolues.Exurge ergo, et gusta panem, et non derelinquas nos, sicut pastor gregem suum in manibus luporum malignorum.
19And I said to him: Go from me, and approach not unto me. And he heard, as I said: and he departed from me.And I sayd to him: Goe from me, & approch not vnto me. And he heard, as I sayd: and he departed from me.Et dixi ei, Vade a me, et non appropies ad me. Et audivit, ut dixi : et recessit a me.
20And I fasted seven days howling and weeping, as Uriel the Angel commanded me.And I fasted seuen dayes howling & weeping, as Vriel the Angel commanded me.Et ego jejunavi diebus septem, ululans et plorans, sicut mihi mandavit Uriel angelus.
21And it came to pass after seven days, and again cogitations of my heart molested me very much,And it came to passe after seuen dayes, and againe cogitations of my hart molested me very much,Et factum est post dies septem, et iterum cogitationes cordis mei molestæ erant mihi valde,
22and my soul resumed the spirit of understanding: and again I began to speak words before the Highest:and my soule resumed the spirit of vnderstanding: & agayne I began to speake wordes before the Highest:et resumpsit anima mea spiritum intellectus : et iterum cœpi loqui coram Altissimo sermones,
23and I said: Lord Dominator of every wood of the earth, and all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen one vineyard:and I sayd: Lord Dominatour of euerie wood of the earth, & al the trees therof, thou hast chosen one vineyard:et dixi, Dominator Domine ex omni silva terræ, et omnibus arboribus ejus, elegisti vineam unicam :
24and of every land of the world thou hast chosen thee one ditch: and of all the flowers of the world thou hast chosen thee one lily:& of euerie land of the world thou hast chosen thee one ditch: & of al the flowers of the world thou hast chosen thee one lilie:et ex omni terra orbis, elegisti tibi foveam unam : et ex omnibus floribus orbis, elegisti tibi lilium unum :
25and of all depths of the sea, thou hast filled thee one river: and of all the builded cities, thou hast sanctified unto thyself Sion:and of al depthes of the sea, thou hast filled thee one riuer: and of al the builded cities, thou hast sanctified vnto theyself Sion:et ex omnibus abyssis maris, replesti tibi rivum unum : et ex omnibus ædificatis civitatibus, sanctificasti tibimetipsi Sion :
26and of all created souls, thou hast named thee one dove: and of all beasts that were made, thou hast provided thee one sheep:and of al created soules, thou hast named thee one doue: and of al beastes that were made, thou hast prouided thee one shepe:et ex omnibus creatis volatilibus, nominasti tibi columbam unam : et ex omnibus plasmatis pecoribus, providisti tibi ovem unam :
27and of all multiplied peoples, thou hast purchased thee one people: and a law approved of all thou hast given to this people, whom thou didst desire.and of al multiplied peoples, thou hast purchased thee one people: and a law approued of al thou hast geuen to this people, whom thou didst desire.et ex omnibus multiplicatis populis, acquisivisti tibi populum unum : et ab omnibus probatam legem donasti huic, quem desiderasti populo.
28And now Lord, why hast thou delivered one unto many? And thou hast prepared upon one root others, and hast dispersed thy only one in many:And now Lord, why hast thou deliuered one vnto manie? And thou hast prepared vpon one roote others, and hast dispersed thy onlie one in manie:Et nunc Domine, ut quid tradidisti unum pluribus ? Et præparasti super unam radicem alias, et disperdidisti unicum tuum in multis :
29and they have trodden upon it, which gainsaid thy covenants, and which believed not thy testaments.and they haue troden vpon it, which gainesayd thy couenants, and which beleued not thy testamentes.et conculcaverunt eum, qui contradicebant sponsionibus tuis, quique tuis testamentis non credebant.
30And if hating thou hatest thy people, it ought to be chastised with thy hands.And if hating thou hatest thy people, it ought to be chastised with thy handes.Et si odiens odisti populum tuum, tuis manibus debet castigari.
31And it came to pass, when I had spoken the words, and the Angel was sent to me, that came to me before the night past,And it came to passe, when I had spoken the wordes, and the Angel was sent to me, that came to me before the night past,Et factum est, cum locutus essem sermones, et missus est angelus ad me, qui ante venerat ad me præterita nocte,
32and he said to me: Hear me, and I will instruct thee: and hearken to me, and I will add before thee.and he sayd to me: Heare me, and I wil instruct thee: and harken to me, and I wil adde before thee.et dixit mihi, Audi me, et instruam te : et intende mihi, et adjiciam coram te.
33And I said: Speak my Lord. And he said to me: Thou art become exceedingly in excessu: superfluity, too much; ecstasy, rapture of mind of mind for Israel: hast thou loved it more then him that made it?And I sayd: Speake my Lord. And he sayd to me: Thou art become excedingly in excesse of minde for Israel: hast thou loued it more then him that made it?Et dixi, Loquere Domine meus. Et dixit ad me, Valde tu in excessu mentis factus es pro Israël : an plus dilexisti eum, quàm qui eum fecit ?
34And I said to him: No Lord, but for sorrow I have spoken, for my veins torment me every hour, to apprehend the path of the Highest, and to search part of his judgement.And I sayd to him: No Lord, but for sorow I haue spoken, for my veynes torment me euerie houre, to apprehend the pathe of the Highest, and to search part of his iudgement.Et dixi ad eum, Non Domine, sed dolens locutus sum. Torquent enim me renes mei per omnem horam, quærentem apprehendere semitam Altissimi, et investigare partem judicii ejus.
35And he said to me: Thou canst not. And I said: Why Lord? To what was I born, or why was not my mothers womb my grave, that I might not see the labour of Jacob, and the weariness of the stock of Israel?And he sayd to me: Thou canst not. And I sayd: Why Lord? To what was I borne, or why was not my mothers wombe my graue, that I might not see the labour of Iacob, & the wearines of the stocke of Israel?Et dixit ad me, Non potes. Et dixi, Quare Domine ? Ad quid nascebar, aut quare non fiebat matrix matris meæ mihi sepulchrum, ut non viderem laborem Jacob, et defatigationem generis Israël ?
36And he said to me: Number me the things that are not yet come, and gather me the dispersed drops, and make me the withered flowers green again,And he sayd to me: Number me the thinges that are not yet come, and gather me the dispersed droppes, and make me the withered flowers grene againe,Et dixit ad me, Numera mihi quæ necdum venerant, et collige mihi dispersas guttas, et revirida mihi aridos flores,
37and open me the shut cellars, and bring me forth the blasts enclosed in them, shew me the image of a voice: and then will I shew thee the labour that thou desirest to see.and open me the shut cellars, & bring me forth the blastes inclosed in them, shew me the image of a voice: and then wil I shew thee the labour that thou desirest to see.et aperi mihi clausa promptuaria, et produc mihi inclusos in eis flatus ; demonstra mihi vocis imaginem : et tunc ostendam tibi laborem quem rogas videre.
38And I said: Lord Dominator, for who is there that can know these things, but he that hath not his habitation with men?And I sayd: Lord Dominatour, for who is there that can know these thinges, but he that hath not his habitation with men?Et dixi, Dominator Domine, quis enim est qui potest hæc scire, nisi qui cum hominibus habitationem non habet ?
39And I am unwise, and how can I speak of these things, which thou hast asked me?And I am vnwise, and how can I speake of these thinges, which thou hast asked me?Ego autem insipiens : et quomodo potero dicere de his, quibus me interrogasti ?
40And he said to me: As thou canst not do one of these things, which have been said: so canst thou not find my judgement, or in the end the charity, which I have promised to the people.And he sayd to me: As thou canst not doe one of these thinges, which haue bene sayd: so canst thou not finde my iudgement, or in the end the charitie, which I haue promised to the people.Et dixit ad me, Quomodo non potes facere unum de his quæ dicta sunt : sic non poteris invenire judicium meum, aut in fine charitatem, quam populo promisi.
41And I said: But behold Lord thou art nigh to them that are near the end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we, or they after us?And I sayd: But behold Lord thou art nigh to them that are nere the end: and what shal they doe that haue bene before me, or we, or they after vs?Et dixi, Sed ecce Domine tu prope es his qui in finem sunt : et quid facient qui ante me fuerunt, aut nos, aut hi qui post nos ?
42And he said to me: I will assimilabo: to look like; liken, compare my judgement to a crown. As there shall not be slackness of the last, so neither swiftness of the former.And he sayd to me: I wil resemble my iudgement to a crowne. As there shal not be slacknes of the last, so neither swiftnes of the former.Et dixit ad me, Coronæ assimilabo judicium meum. Sicut non novissimorum tarditas, sic nec priorum velocitas.
43And I answered, and said: Couldst thou not make them that have been, and that are, and that shall be, at once, that thou mayst shew thy judgement the quicker?And I answered, and sayd: Couldst thou not make them that haue bene, and that are, and that shal be, at once, that thou mayst shew thy iudgement the quicker?Et respondi, et dixi, Nec poteras facere eos qui facti sunt, et qui sunt, et qui futuri sunt, in unum, ut celerius judicium tuum ostendas ?
44And he answered me, and said: The creature can not hasten above the Creator, nor the world sustain them that are to be created in it, at once.And he answered me, and sayd: The creature can not hasten aboue the Creatour, nor the world sustayne them that are to be created in it, at once.Et respondit ad me, et dixit, Non potest festinare creatura super creatorem, nec sustinere sæculum eos qui in eo creandi sunt, in unum.
45And I said: As thou didst say to thy servant, that quickening thou didst quicken the creature created by thee at once, and the creature sustained it: it may now also bear them present at once.And I sayd: As thou didst say to thy seruant, that quickening thou didst quicken the creature created by thee at once, and the creature susteined it: it may now also beare them present at once.Et dixi. Quo modo dixisti servo tuo, quoniam vivificans vivificasti a te creatam creaturam in unum, et sustinebat creatura : poterit et nunc portare præsentes in unum.
46And he said to me: Ask the matricem: the womb of a woman, and thou shalt say to it: And if thou bring forth children, why by times? Ask it therefore, that it give ten at once.And he sayd to me: Aske the matrice of a woman, & thou shalt say to it: And if thou bring forth children, why by times? Aske it therfore, that it geue ten at once.Et dixit ad me, Interroga matricem mulieris, et dices ad eam, Et si paris, quare per tempus ? Roga ergo eam, ut det decem in unum.
47And I said, it can not verily: but according to time.And I sayd, it can not verily: but according to time.Et dixi, Non utique poterit : sed secundum tempus.
48And he said to me: And I have given a matrice to the earth for them, that are sown upon it by time.And he sayd to me: And I haue geuen a matrice to the earth for them, that are sowen vpon it by time.Et dixit ad me, Et ego dedi matricem terræ his qui seminati sunt super eam per tempus.
49For as the infant bringeth not forth the things that pertain to the aged, so have I disposed the world created of me.For as the infant bringeth not forth the thinges that perteyne to the aged, so haue I disposed the world created of me.Quemadmodum enim infans non parit ea, quæ senum sunt : sic ego disposui a me creatum sæculum.
50And I asked, and said: Whereas thou hast now given me a way, I will speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou toldest me, yet she is young: now draweth nigh to old age.And I asked, and sayd: Wheras thou hast now geuen me a way, I wil speake before thee: for our mother, of whom thou toldest me, yet she is yong: now draweth nigh to old age.Et interrogavi, et dixi, Cum jam dederis mihi viam, loquar coram te : nam mater nostra, de qua dixisti mihi, adhuc juvenis est : jam senectuti appropinquat.
51And he answered me, and said: Ask her that beareth children, and she will tell thee.And he answered me, and sayd: Aske her that beareth children, and she wil tel thee.Et respondit ad me, et dixit, Interroga eam quæ parit, et dicet tibi.
52For thou shalt say to her: Why are not they whom thou hast brought forth, now like to them that were before thee, but less of stature?For thou shalt say to her: Why are not they whom thou hast brought forth, now like to them that were before thee, but lesse of stature?Dices enim ei, Quare quos peperisti, nunc non sunt similes his qui ante te, sed minores statura ?
53And she also will say unto thee: They that are born in the youth of strength are of one sort, and they of an other, that are born about the time of old age, when the matrice faileth.And she also wil say vnto thee: They that are borne in the youth of streingth are of one sort, and they of an other, that are borne about the time of old age, when the matrice fayleth.Et dicet tibi et ipsa, Alii sunt qui in juventute virtutis nati sunt : et alii qui sub tempore senectutis, deficiente matrice sunt nati.
54Consider therefore thou also, that you are of less stature, then they that were before you:Consider therfore thou also, that you are of lesse stature, then they that were before you:Considera ergo et tu quoniam minori statura estis præ his qui ante vos :
55and they that are after you, of lesser then you, as it were creatures now waxing old, and past the strength of youth.and they that are after you, of lesser then you, as it were creatures now waxing old, and past the strength of youth.et qui post vos, minori quàm vos, quasi jam senescentes creaturæ, et fortitudinem juventutis prætereuntes. Et dixi, Rogo Domine, si inveni gratiam ante oculos tuos, demonstra servo tuo, per quem visites creaturam tuam.
56And I said: I beseech thee Lord, if I have found grace before thine eyes, shew unto thy servant, by whom thou dost visit thy creature.And I sayd: I besech thee Lord, if I haue found grace before thine eyes, shew vnto thy seruant, by whom thou doest visite thy creature.et qui post vos, minori quàm vos, quasi jam senescentes creaturæ, et fortitudinem juventutis prætereuntes. Et dixi, Rogo Domine, si inveni gratiam ante oculos tuos, demonstra servo tuo, per quem visites creaturam tuam.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.