1And it came to pass after the seventh day, that I prayed before the Mighty One and said:
2"O my Lord, Thou summonest the advent of the times, and they stand before Thee; Thou causest the power of the ages to pass away, and they do not resist Thee; Thou arrangest the method of the seasons, and they obey Thee.
3Thou alone knowest the goal of the generations, and Thou revealest not Thy mysteries to many.
4Thou makest known the multitude of the fire, and Thou weighest the lightness of the wind.
5Thou explorest the limit of the heights, and Thou scrutinisest the depths of the darkness.
6Thou carest for the number which pass away that they may be preserved And Thou preparest an abode for those that are to be.
7Thou rememberest the beginning which Thou hast made, and the destruction that is to be Thou forgettest not.
8With nods of fear and indignation Thou commandest the flames, and they change into spirits, and with a word Thou quickenest that which was not, and with mighty power Thou holdest that which has not yet come.
9Thou instructest created things in the understanding of Thee, and Thou makest wise the spheres so as to minister in their orders.
10Armies innumerable stand before Thee and minister in their orders quietly at Thy nod.
11Hear Thy servant and give ear to my petition.
12For in a little time are we born, and in a little time do we return.
13But with Thee hours are as a time, and days as generations.
14Be not therefore wroth with man; for he is nothing And take not account of our works;
15For what are we? For lo! by Thy gift do we come into the world, and we depart not of our own will.
16For we said not to our parents, 'Beget us,' nor did we send to Sheol and say, 'Receive us.'
17What therefore is our strength that we should bear Thy wrath, or what are we that we should endure Thy judgement?
18Protect us in Thy compassions, and in Thy mercy help us.
19Behold the little ones that are subject unto Thee, and save all that draw nigh unto Thee, and destroy not the hope of our people, and cut not short the times of our aid.
20For this is the nation which Thou hast chosen, and these are the people, to whom Thou findest no equal.
21But I will speak now before Thee, and I will say as my heart thinketh.
22In Thee do we trust, for lo! Thy law is with us, and we know that we shall not fall so long as we keep Thy statutes.
23In this at least we are always blest that we have not mingled with the Gentiles.
24For we are all named one people, who have received one law from One, and the law which is amongst us will aid us, and the surpassing wisdom which is in us will help us."
25And when I had prayed and said these things, I was greatly weakened.
26And He answered and said unto me: "Thou hast prayed simply, O Baruch, and all thy words have been heard.
27But My judgement exacts its own and My law exacts its rights.
28For from thy words I will answer thee, and from thy prayer I will speak to thee.
29For this is as follows: he that is corrupted is not at all; he has both wrought iniquity so far as he could do anything, and has not remembered My goodness, nor accepted My long-suffering.
30Therefore thou shalt surely be taken up, as I before told thee.
31For that time shall arise which brings affliction; for it shall come and pass by with quick vehemence, and it will be turbulent coming in the heat of indignation.
32And it shall come to pass in those days that all the inhabitants of the earth shall be moved one against another, because they know not that My judgement has drawn nigh.
33For there will not be found many wise at that time, and the intelligent will be but a few: moreover, even those who know will most of all be silent.
34And there will be many rumours and tidings not a few, and the works of portents shall be manifest, and promises not a few be recounted, and some of them (will prove) idle, and some of them shall be confirmed.
35And honour will be turned into shame, and strength humiliated into contempt, and probity destroyed, And beauty will become a scorn.
36And many will say to many at that time: 'Where hath the multitude of intelligence hidden itself, and whither hath the multitude of wisdom removed itself?'
37And whilst they are meditating these things, then zeal will arise in those of whom they thought not, and passion will seize him who is peaceful, and many shall be roused in anger to injure many, and they shall rouse up armies in order to shed blood, and in the end they shall perish together with them.
38And it will come to pass at the self-same time, that a change of times shall manifestly appear to every man, by reason of which in all those times they were polluted and practised oppression, and walked every man in his own works, and remembered not the law of the Mighty One.
39Therefore a fire shall consume their thoughts, and in flame shall the meditations of their reins be tried; for the Judge will come and will not tarry.
40Because each of the inhabitants of the earth knew when he was commiting iniquty, and they have not known My law by reason of their pride.
41For many will then assuredly weep, yea, over the living more than over the dead."
42And I answered and said: "O Adam, what hast thou done to all those who are born from thee? and what will be said to the first Eve who hearkened to the serpent?
43For all this multitude are going to corruption, nor is there any numbering of those whom the fire devours.
44But again I will speak in Thy presence.
45Thou, O LORD, my Lord, knowest what is in Thy creature.
46For Thou didst of old command the dust to produce Adam, and Thou knowest the number of those who are born from him, and how far they have sinned before Thee, who have existed and not confessed Thee as their Creator.
47And as regards all these their end shall convict them, and Thy law which they have transgressed shall requite them on Thy day. [
48But now let us dismiss the wicked and enquire about the righteous.
49And I will recount their blessedness and not be silent in celebrating their glory, which is reserved for them.
50For assuredly as in a little time in this world which passeth away, in which ye live, ye have endured much labour, so in that world to which there is no end, ye shall receive great light."]