4 Esdras 4

1Então o anjo que fora enviado a mim, cujo nome era Uriel, respondeu e me disse:

1Then the angel who had been sent to me, whose name was Uriel, answered and said to me:

2Teu entendimento falhou completamente quanto a este mundo, e pensas que podes compreender os caminhos do Altíssimo?

2Your understanding has completely failed regarding this world, and do you think you can comprehend the ways of the Most High?

3E eu disse: Sim, meu senhor. E ele respondeu: Fui enviado para te mostrar três caminhos, e para te propor três parábolas.

3And I said: Yes, my lord. And he answered: I was sent to show you three ways, and to set before you three parables.

4Se puderes resolver uma delas para mim, também te mostrarei o caminho que desejas ver, e te ensinarei de onde vem o mau coração.

4If you can solve one of them for me, I will also show you the way you desire to see, and teach you whence comes the evil heart.

5E eu disse: Fala, meu senhor. E ele me disse: Vai, pesa-me o peso do fogo, ou mede-me uma medida do vento, ou recupera para mim o dia que passou.

5And I said: Speak, my lord. And he said to me: Go, weigh for me the weight of fire, or measure for me a measure of the wind, or bring back for me the day that has passed.

6Respondi: Quem dentre os nascidos poderia fazer isso, para que me peças tais coisas?

6I answered: Who among those born could do this, that you ask me such things?

7E ele me disse: Se eu te tivesse perguntado quantas moradas há no meio do mar, ou quantas fontes há na nascente do abismo, ou quantos caminhos há acima do firmamento.

7And he said to me: If I had asked you how many dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are at the source of the deep, or how many ways are above the firmament.

8Ou quais são as saídas do paraíso, talvez me dissesses: Nunca desci ao abismo, nem ao inferno, nem subi ao céu.

8Or what are the exits of paradise, perhaps you would have said to me: I have never gone down into the deep, nor into hell, nor have I ever ascended into heaven.

9Mas agora te perguntei apenas sobre o fogo, o vento e o dia pelo qual passaste, coisas sem as quais não podes viver, e não me respondeste sobre elas.

9But now I have asked you only about fire, wind and the day through which you passed, things without which you cannot live, and you have not answered me about them.

10E ele me disse: Tu não podes compreender as coisas com as quais cresceste; como então tua mente poderia compreender o caminho do Altíssimo?

10And he said to me: You cannot understand the things with which you grew up; how then could your mind comprehend the way of the Most High?