2 Esdras 6:1-19
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1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,
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2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
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3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
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4 Or 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,
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5 And 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:
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6 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.
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7 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?
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8 And 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.
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9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
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10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
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11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,
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12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.
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13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.
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14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.
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15 And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.
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16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.
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17 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.
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18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,
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19 And 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;