2nd Book of Àzrah — 8
1 The Malak Uri'AL answered me and said, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH made this world for the sake of many, but the world that is to come for the sake of few.
2 But I tell you a parable, Àzrah. Just as, when you ask the Arath, it will tell you that it provides very much clay from which earthenware is made, but only a little dust from which gold comes; so is the course of the present world.
3 Many have been created, but few shall be saved.”
Àzrah Again Appeals for YAHUAH’s Mercy
4 I answered and said, “Then drink your fill of understanding, O my soul, and drink wisdom, O my heart!
5 For not of your own will did you come into the world, and against your will you depart, for you have been given only a short time to live.
6 O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who art over us, grant to your servant that we may pray before you, and give us seed for our heart and cultivation of our understanding so that fruit may be produced, by which every mortal who bears the likeness of Adam may be able to live.
7 For You alone do exist, and we are a work of your hands, as you have declared.
8 And because you do give life to the body which is now fashioned in the womb, and do furnish it with members, what you have created is preserved in fire and water, and for nine months the womb which you have formed endures your creation which has been created in it.
9 But that which keeps and that which is kept shall both be kept by your keeping. And when the womb gives up again what has been created in it,
10 You have commanded that from the members themselves (that is, from the breasts) milk should be supplied which is the fruit of the breasts,
11 so that what has been fashioned may be nourished for a time; and afterwards you will guide him in your mercy.
12 You have brought him up in your righteousness, and instructed him in your law, and reproved him in your wisdom.
13 You will take away his life, for he is your creation; and you will make him live, for he is your work.
14 If then you will suddenly and quickly destroy him who with so great labor was fashioned by your command, to what purpose was he made?
15 And now I will speak out: About all mankind, You know best; but I will speak about your people, for whom I am grieved,
16 and about your inheritance, for whom I lament, and about Yashar'AL, for whom I am sad, and about the seed of Ya'aqub, for whom I am troubled.
17 Therefore I will pray before You for myself and for them, for I see the failings of us who dwell in the land,
18 and I have heard of the swiftness of the judgment that is to come.
19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I will speak before You.”
Àzrah’s Prayer
The beginning of the words of Azrah’s prayer, before he was taken up. He said:
20 “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who inhabitest eternity, whose eyes are exalted and whose upper chambers are in the air,
21 whose throne is beyond measure and whose Kabad is beyond comprehension, before whom the hosts of Malakym stand trembling
22 and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire, whose word is sure and whose utterances are certain, whose ordinance is strong and whose command is terrible,
23 whose look dries up the depths and whose indignation makes the mountains melt away, and whose truth is established for ever
24 hear, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the prayer of your servant, and give ear to the petition of your creature; attend to my words.
25 For as long as I live I will speak, and as long as I have understanding I will answer.
26 O look not upon the sins of your people, but at those who have served you in truth.
27 Regard not the endeavors of those who act wickedly, but the endeavors of those who have kept your covenants amid afflictions.
28 Think not on those who have lived wickedly in thy sight; but remember those who have willingly acknowledged that You are to be feared.
29 Let it not be your will to destroy those who have had the ways of cattle; but regard those who have righteously taught your Laws.
30 Be not angry with those who are deemed worse than beasts; but love those who have always put their trust in your Kabad.
31 For we and our fathers have passed our lives in ways that bring death; but you, because of us sinners, are called merciful.
32 For if You have desired to have pity on us, who have no works of righteousness, then you will be called merciful.
33 For the righteous, who have many works laid up with you, shall receive their reward in consequence of their own deeds.
34 But what is man, that you are angry with him; or what is a corruptible race, that you are so bitter against it?
35 For in truth there is no one among those who have been born who has not acted wickedly, and among those who have existed there is no one who has not transgressed.
36 For in this, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, your righteousness and goodness will be declared, when you are merciful to those who have no store of good works.”
Response to Àzrah’s Prayer
37 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH answered me and said, “Some things you have spoken rightly, and it will come to pass according to your words.
38 For indeed I will not concern myself about the fashioning of those who have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction;
39 but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous, over their pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and them receiving their reward.
40 As I have spoken, therefore, so it shall be.
41 “For just as the farmer sows many seeds upon the ground and plants a multitude of seedlings, and yet not all that have been sown will come up in due season, and not all that were planted will take root; so also those who have been sown in the world will not all be saved.”
42 I answered and said, “If I have found favor before thee, let me speak.
43 For if the farmer’s seed does not come up, because it has not received thy rain in due season, or if it has been ruined by too much rain, it perishes.
44 But man, who has been formed by your hands and is called your own image because he is made like you, and for whose sake you have formed all things, have you also made him like the farmer’s seed?
45 No, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who are over us! But spare your people and have mercy on your inheritance, for You have mercy on your own creation.”
Azrah’s Final Appeal for Mercy
46 The Malak Uri'AL answered me and said, “Things that are present are for those who live now, and things that are future are for those who will live hereafter.
47 For you come far short of being able to love my creation more than I love it. But you have often compared yourself to the unrighteous. Never do so!
48 But even in this respect you will be praiseworthy before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH,
49 because you have humbled yourself, as is becoming for you, and have not deemed yourself to be among the righteous in order to receive the greatest Kabad.
50 For many miseries will affect those who inhabit the world in the last times, because they have walked in great pride.
51 But think of your own case, and inquire concerning the Kabad of those who are like yourself,
52 because it is for you that paradise is opened, the tree of life is planted, the age to come is prepared, plenty is provided, a city is built, rest is appointed, goodness is established and wisdom perfected beforehand.
53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death is hidden; hell has fled and corruption has been forgotten;
54 sorrows have passed away, and in the end the treasure of immortality is made manifest.
55 Therefore do not ask any more questions about the multitude of those who perish.
56 For they also received freedom, but they despised 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and were contemptuous of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH's Laws, and forsook the way of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
57 Moreover they have even trampled upon the righteous ones of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH ,
58 and said in their hearts that there is no 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, though knowing full well that they must die.
59 For just as the things which I have predicted await you, so the thirst and torment which are prepared await them. For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did not intend that men should be destroyed;
60 but they themselves who were created have defiled the Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who made them, and have been ungrateful to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who prepared life for them.
61 Therefore my judgment is now drawing near;
62 I have not shown this to all men, but only to you and a few like you.” Then I Àzrah answered and said,
63 “Behold, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, you have now shown me a multitude of the signs which you wilt do in the last times, but you have not shown me when you will do them.”