1And I answered and said: 'Lo! Thou hast shown me the method of the times, and that which shall be alter these things and Thou hast said unto me, that the retribution, which has been spoken of by Thee, will be of advantage to the nations.
2And now I know that those who have sinned are many, and they have lived in prosperity, and departed from the world, but that few nations will be left in those times, to whom those words shall be said which Thou didst say.
3For what advantage is there in this, or what (evil), worse than what we have seen befall us, are we to expect to see?
4But again I will speak in Thy presence:
5What have they profited who had knowledge before Thee, and have not walked in vanity as the rest of the nations, and have not said to the dead: "Give us life," but always feared Thee, and have not left Thy ways?
6And lo! they have been carried off, nor on their account hast Thou had mercy on Zion.
7And if others did evil, it was due to Zion, that on account of the works of those who wrought good works she should be forgiven, and should not be overwhelmed on account of the works of those who wrought unrighteousness.
8But who, O Lord, my Lord, will comprehend Thy judgement, Or who will search out the profoundness of Thy way? or who will think out the gravity of Thy way?
9Or who will be able to think out Thy incomprehensible counsel? or who of those that are born has ever found The beginning or end of Thy wisdom?
10For we have all been made like a breath.
11For as the breath ascends from the heart, and returning not is extinguished, so it is with the nature of men, who depart not according to their own will, and know not what will befall them in the end.
12For the righteous justly hope for the end, and without fear depart from this habitation, because they have with Thee a store of works preserved in treasuries.
13On this account also these without fear leave this world, and trusting with joy they hope to receive the world which Thou hast promised them.
14But unto us there is woe, who also are now shamefully entreated, and at that time look forward (only) to evils.
15But Thou knowest accurately what Thou hast made on behalf of Thy servants; for we are not able to understand by means of any good thing that Thou art our Creator.
16But again I will speak in Thy presence, O LORD, my Lord.
17When of old there was no world with its inhabitants, Thou didst devise and speak with a word, and forthwith the works of creation stood before Thee.
18And Thou didst say that Thou wouldst make for Thy world man as the administrator of Thy works, that it might be known that he was by no means made on account of the world, but the world on account of him.
19And now I see that as for the world which was made on account of us, lo! it abides, but we, on account of whom it was made, depart.'