2 Esdras 6

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 he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,

And he said unto me, In the beginning — the first principle — when the earth — the outer realm — was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds — the Breath in its movements — blew,

2Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,

Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise — the delight-state — were laid,

3Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels — divine ideas ministering between higher and lower consciousness — were gathered together,

4Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,

Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament — the expanse of awareness — were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion — Zion, the love-height — were hot,

5And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:

And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin — that now err — were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure: before any state was marked as wholly of the order, faith stored as treasure,

6Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.

Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other: the Source alone originates and alone concludes the whole order — no rival power shares either work.

7Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?

Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? Or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?

8And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob’s hand held first the heel of Esau.

And he said unto me, From Abraham — Faith — unto Isaac — the joy-child — when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau: Faith to Joy to the twins — the striving intellect grasping the heel of the outer bodily man at birth.

9For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.

For Esau — the outer bodily man, appetite, the red life of sense — is the end of the world, and Jacob — the striving intellect on its way to become Israel — is the beginning of it that followeth: the sense-order ends where the striving, transforming order begins.

10The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.

The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not: between the end of the old state and the grasp of the new lies only the human faculty itself — beyond this, do not ask.

11I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,

I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,

12I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.

I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens — thy signs — whereof thou shewedst me part the last night, in the hidden state.

13So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.

So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice: rise to full attention in the state, and hear the Word sounding.

14And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.

And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved: the whole order moves around the faculty that stands in its appointed place.

15And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.

And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth — the outer life's foundation — is understood.

16And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.

And why? Because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed: even the speaking trembles, knowing the present order must pass into another.

17And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters.

And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters — the great reservoir of thought sounding as one voice.

18And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,

And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth — to confront the states of the outer life with the divine order,

19And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;

And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion — Zion, the love-height, afflicted — shall be fulfilled;

20And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:

And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament — the expanse of awareness — and they shall see all together: the records of every state opened in the inner realm, seen at once.

21And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up.

And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up: signs of times out of sequence — the youngest speaking, the untimely born yet living.

22And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:

And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty: what was planted and stored in the outer life vanishing as if it had never been sown or filled.

23And the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.

And the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid: the announcing sound of the order confronting every state at once.

24At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the fountains shall stand still, and in three hours they shall not run.

At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the fountains shall stand still, and in three hours they shall not run: allies turned enemies, and even the sources of truth paused — the currents held still for three hours.

25Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.

Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world: the remnant — the faithful kernel preserved through judgment — sees both the deliverance and the end of the old order.

26And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another meaning.

And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another meaning: the heart-state itself transformed — turned, in repentance, into a new ruling thought.

27For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.

For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched: error extinguished, not by a rival victory, but by the order filling the state.

28As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.

As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared: truth long barren at last bearing its fruit and spoken openly.

29And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood.

And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood: the seer's sight adjusting, degree by degree, to the ministering presence.

30And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.

And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come — the hidden state that is approaching, shown before it falls.

31If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things by day than I have heard.

If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again — the completed cycle again — I shall tell thee greater things by day than I have heard: greater things given in the illuminated state to the faculty that completes the abstinence again.

32For thy voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy youth.

For thy voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing — thy right relation to the order lived out — he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy youth: the undivided, undefiled state kept from the first degree.

33And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not

And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not

34And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.

And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times: do not hurry backward in thought, lest thou hurry away from what is coming.

35And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he told me.

And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he told me: three completed cycles of abstinence fulfilled as directed.

36And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most High.

And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most High: in the hidden state the heart-state is troubled again, and speech with the Source resumes.

37For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.

For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress: the Breath within kindled, the soul-state pressed.

38And I said, O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the creation, even the first day, and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be made; and thy word was a perfect work.

And I said, O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the creation, even the first day — the first cycle, the illuminated state — and saidst thus; Let heaven — the inner realm — and earth — the outer realm — be made; and thy word was a perfect work: the Word, the divine Idea expressing itself, accomplishing perfectly what it spoke.

39And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet formed.

And then was the spirit — the Breath of God — and darkness — unilluminated consciousness — and silence were on every side; the sound of man's voice was not yet formed.

40Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.

Then commandedst thou a fair light — divine understanding — to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.

41Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.

Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament — the expanse of awareness — and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath: spiritual truths above, unformed feelings below.

42Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.

Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six parts hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee: the reservoir gathered, formed stable consciousness appearing, that part of it might be cultivated and serve the order.

43For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made.

For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made: the Word does not wait; expression and accomplishment are one in the Source.

44For immediately there was great and innumerable fruit, and many and divers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, and odours of wonderful smell: and this was done the third day.

For immediately there was great and innumerable fruit — the results of belief made visible — and many and divers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, and odours of wonderful smell: and this was done the third day, the third cycle.

45Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her light, and the stars should be in order:

Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine — the greater light, Divine Love-Wisdom itself — and the moon give her light — the lesser light, reflected faith — and the stars should be in order — the fixed knowledges of truth set in their order:

46And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.

And gavest them a charge to do service unto man — the Complete Man — that was to be made: the ruling lights appointed to serve the consciousness they will govern.

47Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass.

Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls — soaring thoughts — and fishes: and so it came to pass.

48For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works.

For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works: unformed thought, lifeless in itself, bringing forth animated faculties at the Source's word.

49Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;

Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch — the state that walks with God — and the other Leviathan: two great powers of the deep mind ordained, their names kept as printed.

50And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.

And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both: even the great subconscious cannot hold both great powers in one place; the order separates them.

51Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:

Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills: the walking-with-God power given the formed, stable part, with its thousand exalted states.

52But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.

But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when: the deep power kept in the reservoir, yielded up only at the Source's will and time.

53Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:

Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts — the untamed animal nature — cattle — tamed affections — and creeping things — lowly sense-thoughts:

54And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen.

And after these, Adam also — the Complete Man — whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen: dominion — the rightful rule of the spiritual mind — given to the whole consciousness in Adam.

55All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes

All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes: the creation rehearsed as the ground of the seer's plea.

56As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.

As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel: the states outside the chosen order reckoned as next to nothing beside it — a drop against the vessel.

57And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.

And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen — these outer nations — which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us: the reckoned-nothing states now ruling and consuming the chosen state.

58But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.

But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands: the firstborn state of the house handed over to the states it was set above.

59If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? How long shall this endure? — the plea closing on the contradiction: a world made for the chosen state, yet not possessed by it.

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