My LORD’s Bible2 Baruch 14
1And I answered and said: 'Lo! you have shown me the method of the times, and that which shall be after these things, and you have said unto me, that the retribution, which has been spoken of by you, shall come upon the nations.
2And now I know that those who have sinned are many, and they have lived in prosperity,' and departed from the world, but the few nations will be left in those times, to whom those words shall he said which you did say.
3For what advantage is there in this, or what (evil), worse than what' we have seen befall us, are we to expect to see?
4But again I will speak in Your presence:
5What have they profited who had knowledge before you and have not walked in vanity as the rest of the nations, and have not said to the dead: "Give us life," but always feared you, and have not left Your ways?
6And lo! they have been carried off, nor on their account have you had mercy on Zion.
7And if others did evil, it was due to Zion that on account of the works of those who wrought good works she should be forgiven, and should not be overwhelmed on account of the works of those who wrought unrighteousness.
8But who, O LORD, my Lord, will comprehend Your judgment, Or who will search out the profoundness of Your way? Or who will think out the weight of Your path?
9Or who will be able to think out Your incomprehensible counsel? Or who of those that are born has ever found The beginning or end of Your wisdom?
10For we have all been made like a breath.
11For as the breath ascends involuntarily, and again dies, so it is with the nature of men, who depart not according to their own will, and know not what will befall them in the end.
12For the righteous justly hope for the end, and without fear depart from this habitation, because they have with you a store of works preserved in treasuries.
13On this account also these without fear leave this world, and trusting with joy they hope to receive the world which you have promised them.
14But as for us-woe to us, who also are now shamefully entreated, and at that time look forward (only) to evils.
15But you know accurately what you have done by means of Your servants; for we are not able to understand that which is good as you art, our Creator.
16But again I will speak in Your presence, O LORD, my Lord.
17When of old there was no world with its inhabitants, you did devise and speak with a word, and forthwith the works of creation stood before you.
18And you did say that you wouldst make for Your world man as the administrator of Your works, that it might be known that he was by no means made on account of the world, but the world on account of him.
19And now I see that as for the world which was made on account of us, lo! it abides; but we, on account of whom it was made, depart.'