And he answered me and said: Count for yourself those who have not yet come, and gather for me the drops that have been scattered.

2And revive for me the flowers that have withered, and open for me the chambers that are closed.

3And produce for me the winds that are contained in them. Show me the image of a voice. And then I will explain to you the tribulation you asked about.

4I answered and said: O sovereign Lord, who is there that can know these things, except one whose dwelling is not with men?

5As for me, I am without wisdom; how can I speak of the things you asked me?

6And he said to me: Just as you cannot do any of these things that were mentioned, neither can you discover my judgment or the goal of the love I promised to my people.

7I said: But behold, Lord, you care for those who are alive at the end; but what will they do who came before me, or we, or those who will come after us?

8He said to me: I will compare my judgment to a circuit. There will be no delay for the last, nor haste for the first.

9I answered and said: Could you not have created at once those who were created, those who are and those who will be?

10Thus your judgment could have been revealed earlier.