¹And I answered and said: 'Lo! thou hast shown me the method of the times, and that which shall be after these things, and thou hast said unto me, that the retribution, which hath been spoken of by you, shall come upon the nations. 1a And I answered and said: 'Behold, thou hast shown me the methods of the times, and that which shall be.

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. 2a And now I know that those who have sinned are many, and they have lived . . . , and departed from the world, but that few nations will be left in those times to whom . . . the words (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? 3a And what advantage (is there) in this or what worse than (these?)

⁴But again I will speak in Thy presence:

⁵What have they profited who had knowledge before thee and have not walked in vanity as the rest of the nations, and have not said unto the dead: "Give us life," but always feared you, and have not left Thy ways?

⁶And lo! they have been carried off, nor on their account have thou hadst 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 Thy judgment, Or who will search out the profoundness of Thy way? Or who will think out the weight of Thy path?

⁹Or who will be able to think out Thy incomprehensible counsel? Or who of those that are born has ever found The beginning or end of Thy 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, for they have with thee 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 thou hast 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 thou knowest accurately what thou hast done by means of Thy servants; for we are not able to understand that which is good as you art, our Creator.

¹⁶But again I will speak in Thy 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 thee.

¹⁸And you did say that you wouldst make for Thy world man as the administrator of Thy 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.'