36. For in this, O Lord, your righteousness and your goodness shall be declared, if you be merciful to them which have no store of good works.
37. Then answered he me, and said, Some things have you spoken aright, and according to your words so shall it come to pass.
38. For indeed I will not think on the fashioning of them which have sinned, or their death, their judgement, or their destruction;
39. but I will rejoice over the framing of the righteous, their pilgrimage also, and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have.
40. Like therefore as I have spoken, so shall it be.
41. For as the husbandman sows much seed upon the ground, and plants many trees, and yet not all that is sown shall come up in due season, neither shall all that is planted take root: even so they that are sown in the world shall not all be saved.
42. I answered then and said, if I have found favor, let me speak before you.
43. Forasmuch as the husbandman’s seed, if it come not up, seeing that it has not received your rain in due season, or if it be corrupted through too much rain, so perishes;
44. likewise man, which is formed with your hands, and is called your own image, because he is made like to you, for whose sake you have formed all things, even him have you made like to the husbandman’s seed.