2 Esdras 10

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.

And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died — the new state perishing at the very threshold of its union.

2Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.

Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me; so I took my rest unto the second day at night.

3And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.

And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet, then rose I up by night — in the hidden state — and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.

4And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.

And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.

5Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,

Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,

6Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?

Thou foolish woman above all other — the sense-bound affection — seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?

7How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?

How that Sion our mother — Zion, the love-height of consciousness where God is enthroned — is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?

8And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?

9For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.

For ask the earth — the outer life — and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.

10For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out.

For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out.

11Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?

Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude, and not thou, which art sorry but for one?

12But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;

But if thou sayest unto me: My lamentation is not like the earth's, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;

13But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:

But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:

14Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.

Then say I unto thee: Like as thou hast brought forth with labour, even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.

15Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.

Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.

16For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended among women.

For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of the Source to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended among women.

17Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

18And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

And she said unto me: That will I not do; I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

19So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,

20Do not so, but be counselled by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.

Do not so, but be counselled by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem — the established centre of spiritual consciousness, the city of peace.

21For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;

For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar — the built point of consecration — broken down, our temple — the established sanctuary-state — destroyed;

22Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;

Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant — the heart-shrine of the law — is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned; our children are put to shame, our priests — the mediating faculties — are burnt, our Levites — the serving order — are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;

23And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.

And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.

24And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.

And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.

25And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.

And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.

26And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.

And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful, so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.

27And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations; then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,

28Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.

Where is Uriel the angel — the divine idea ministering between higher and lower consciousness — who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.

29And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.

And as I was speaking these words, behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.

30And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,

And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me; and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,

31What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

32And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

And I said: Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

33And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

And he said unto me: Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

34Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

Then said I: Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.

35For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.

36Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?

Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream — a truth shown in symbol while consciousness rests?

37Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.

Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision — truth seen by the inner eye in symbol.

38He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.

He answered me then, and said: Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid; for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.

39He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

He hath seen that thy way is right, for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.

40This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:

This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:

41Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:

42But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.

But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.

43And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:

And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:

44This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,

This woman, whom thou sawest, is Sion — Zion, the love-height — and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,

45Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.

Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her — no faculty yielded to God within that height.

46But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.

But after thirty years Solomon — Peace, Wisdom in its fullness — builded the city and offered offerings; and then bare the barren a son.

47And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.

48But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.

But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fall, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.

49And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.

And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort her; and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.

50For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty:

For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory — the manifested weight of the Presence — and the comeliness of her beauty:

51And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:

And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:

52For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.

For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.

53Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.

Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.

54For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.

For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man's building be able to stand.

55And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:

And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:

56And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.

And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.

57For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.

For thou art blessed — increased by divine favour — above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.

58But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;

But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;

59And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.