2 Esdras 4

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 the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,

And the angel — the divine idea ministering between higher and lower consciousness — that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,

2And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?

And said, Thy heart hath gone too far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High — the Source under His title of height?

3Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:

Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes — likenesses, outer pictures of inner truth — before thee:

4Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.

Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart — the heart-state twisted away from the order — cometh.

5And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.

And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind — the Breath in motion — or call me again the day that is past: tasks beyond the faculty's measure, set to show its limit.

6Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?

Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?

7And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise:

And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea — the great subconscious — or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament — the expanse of awareness — or which are the outgoings of paradise, the delight-state:

8Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.

Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the deep — the subconscious depths — nor as yet into hell — Hades, the shadow-state — neither did I ever climb up into heaven, the inner realm.

9Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them.

Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them: even the elements of one's own daily life exceed the faculty's weighing.

10He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;

He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;

11How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?

How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted, to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight? A limited vessel cannot contain the way of the Source.

12Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.

Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore: suffering without understanding pressed as the hardest state.

13He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,

He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain — the open, level state of sense-consciousness — and the trees — established beliefs — took counsel,

14And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.

And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods: a belief-state plotting to invade a realm not given to it.

15The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.

The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country: the subconscious floods plotting the opposite invasion.

16The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.

The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it: a state acting outside its given place meets its own consuming consequence.

17The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.

The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them: the boundary set in the order holds; the flood cannot take the land.

18If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?

If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? Or whom wouldest thou condemn?

19I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.

I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods: each state has its appointed place in the order, and folly is leaving it.

20Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?

Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also? — the same measure the seer applies to others applies to his own questioning.

21For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.

For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth — the outer life — may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens, the inner realm.

22Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:

Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding — light dawning in consciousness:

23For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel — the spiritual man — is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,

24And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.

And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy: the state feeling itself small, passing, and unworthy — yet still asking.

25What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.

What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? Of these things have I asked: the name borne by the state is at stake in its fate.

26Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,

Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away: the present order of states is passing, and searching it deepens wonder, not final explanation.

27And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous — states in right relation to the divine order — in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.

28But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.

But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come: evil, as a seed — a word-idea planted — is sown, but its threshing is not yet.

29If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.

If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good: the field must be overturned before the good seed's harvest can appear.

30For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?

For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam — the first state of the Complete Man — from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? And how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?

31Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.

Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth: fruit, the results of a state made visible, measured from one planted error.

32And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?

And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill? — the harvest of error, innumerable, gathered to one threshing floor.

33Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?

Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? Wherefore are our years few and evil?

34And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.

And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded: the faculty cannot outrun the Source's own timing.

35Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?

Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? When cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward? — even the right-ordered states in their resting chambers ask the same question.

36And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance.

And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance: the harvest waits on the full number, weighed exactly in the order.

37By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.

By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled: times ordered by measure and number, unmoved until complete.

38Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.

Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety: no faculty claims exemption from error.

39And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.

And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled, because of the sins — the errors — of them that dwell upon the earth.

40So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.

So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her: a state in travail cannot hold its birth past its appointed time.

41Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:

Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman: the resting places of the departed faculties are a womb, holding what will be delivered in its time.

42For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.

For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.

43From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.

From the beginning — the first principle — look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.

44Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,

Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,

45Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.

46What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.

47And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.

And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee: take the ordered side, and the likeness will be opened.

48So I stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by before me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked, and, behold, the smoke remained still.

So I stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by before me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked, and, behold, the smoke remained still: the greater fire passes; the lesser smoke remains — a picture of proportion.

49After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still.

After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still: the greater rain passes; the lesser drops remain.

50Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did more exceed.

Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did more exceed: what is past outweighs what remains, as fire outweighs smoke.

51Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those days?

Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? Or what shall happen in those days?

52He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not know it.

He answered me, and said, As for the tokens — the signs — whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not know it: the divine idea answers what it is sent to answer, and no more.

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