1. I swear to you, ye righteous, that in heaven the angels record your
goodness before the glory of the mighty One.
2. Wait with patient hope; for formerly you have been disgraced with
evil and with affliction; but now shall you shine like the luminaries of
heaven. You shall be seen, and the gates of heaven shall be opened to
you. Your cries have cried for judgment; and it has appeared to you: for
an account of all your sufferings shall be required from the princes,
and from every one who has assisted your plunderers.
3. Wait with patient hope; nor relinquish your confidence; for great joy
shall be yours, like that of the angels in heaven. Conduct yourselves as
you may, still you shall not be concealed in the day of the great
judgment. You shall not be found like sinners; and eternal condemnation
shall be far from you, so long as the world exists.[294]
4. And now fear not, ye righteous, when you see sinners flourishing and
prosperous[295] in their ways.
5. Be not associates with them; but keep yourselves at a distance from
their oppression; be you associated with the host of heaven. You, ye
sinners, say, All our transgressions shall not be taken account of, and
be recorded. But all your transgressions shall be recorded daily.
6. And be assured by me,[296] that light and darkness, day and night,
behold all your transgressions. Be not impious in your thoughts; lie
not; surrender not the word of uprightness; lie not against the word of
the holy and the mighty One; glorify not your idols; for all your lying
and all your impiety is not for righteousness, but for great crime.
7. Now will I point out a mystery: Many sinners shall turn and
transgress against the word of uprightness.
8. They shall speak evil things; they shall utter falsehood; execute
great undertakings;[297] and compose books in their own words. But when
they shall write all my words correctly in their own languages,
9. They shall neither change or diminish them; but shall write them all
correctly; all which from the first I have uttered concerning them.
10. Another mystery also I point out. To the righteous and the wise
shall be given books of joy, of integrity, and of great wisdom. To them
shall books be given, in which they shall believe;
11. And in which they shall rejoice. And all the righteous shall be
rewarded, who from these shall acquire the knowledge of every upright
path.
Footnote 294:
_during every generation of the world._
Footnote 295:
_strong and worthy._
Footnote 296:
_I will show you._
Footnote 297:
_create a great creation._