1He showed me many trees that had no leaves, but seemed to be dry, for they were all alike.
2And he said to me: 'Do you see these trees?' 'Yes, Lord,' said I, 'I see them; they are all alike and dry.'
3He answered and said to me: 'These trees that you see are those who dwell in this world.'
4'Why then, Lord,' said I, 'are they as if they were dry and all alike?'
5'Because,' said he, 'neither the righteous nor the sinner is manifest in this world, but all are alike.'
6'For this world is like winter for the righteous, and they are not manifest, dwelling with the sinners.'
7'For as in winter the trees that have lost their leaves are alike and it is not manifest which of them are dry and which are alive, so also in this world neither the righteous nor the sinner is manifest, but all are alike.'