2. I will tell you now a similitude, Esdras; As when you asks the earth, it shall say to you, that it gives very much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, and little dust that gold comes of: even so is the course of the present world.
3. There be many created, but few shall be saved.
4. And I answered and said, Swallow down understanding then, O my soul, and let my heart devour wisdom.
5. For you are come here without your will, and depart when you would not: for there is given you no longer space than only to live a short time.
6. O Lord, that are over us, suffer your servant, that we may pray before you, and give us seed to our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it, whereby every one shall live that is corrupt, who bears the likeness of a man.
7. For you are alone, and we all one workmanship of your hands, like as you have said.
8. Forasmuch as you quicken the body that is fashioned now in the womb, and give it members, your creature is preserved in fire and water, and nine months does your workmanship endure your creature which is created in her.
9. But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be kept by your keeping: and when the womb gives up again that which has grown in it,
10. you have commanded that out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, be given milk, which is the fruit of the breasts,
11. that the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, and afterwards you shall order it in your mercy.
12. Yes, you have brought it up in your righteousness, and nurtured it in your law, and corrected it with your judgement.
13. And you shall mortify it as your creature, and quicken it as your work.
14. If therefore you shall lightly and suddenly destroy him which with so great labor was fashioned by your commandment, to what purpose was he made?
15. Now therefore I will speak; touching man in general, you know best; but touching your people will I speak, for whose sake I am sorry;
16. and for your inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for Israel, for whom I am heavy; and for the seed of Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled;
17. therefore will I begin to pray before you for myself and for them: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land;