=Note:= This translation comes from the Latin text, usually printed in
an appendix to editions of the Vulgate, but these editions miss seventy
verses between 7:35 and 7:36. The missing fragment was discovered in a
Latin manuscript by Robert Lubbock Bensly in 1874. Below is a
translation of this fragment from a revised Authorized Version.
Although often numbered 7:36-7:105, they are here number as A:1-A:70 to
avoid any repetition in chapter:verse designations.
A:1. And the pit of torment shall appear, and over against it shall be
the place of rest: and the furnace of hell shall be shewed, and over
against it the paradise of delight. A:2. And then shall the Most High
say to the nations that are raised from the dead, See ye and understand
whom ye have denied, or whom ye have not served, or whose commandments
ye have despised. A:3. Look on this side and on that: here is delight
and rest, and there fire and torments. Thus shall he speak unto them in
the day of judgement: A:4. This is a day that hath neither sun, nor
moon, nor stars, A:5. neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning,
neither wind, nor water, nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor
morning, A:6. neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither
frost, nor cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew, A:7. neither noon, nor
night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, nor light, save only
the splendour of the glory of the Most High, whereby all shall see the
things that are set before them: A:8. for it shall endure as it were a
week of years. A:9. This is my judgement and the ordinance thereof; but
to thee only have I shewed these things. A:10. And I answered, I said
even then, O Lord, and I say now: Blessed are they that be now alive
and keep the statutes ordained of thee. A:11. But as touching them for
whom my prayer was made, what shall I say? for who is there of them
that be alive that hath not sinned, and who of the sons of men that
hath not transgressed thy covenant? A:12. And now I see, that the world
to come shall bring delight to few, but torments unto many. A:13. For
an evil heart hath grown up in us, which hath led us astray from these
statutes, and hath brought us into corruption and into the ways of
death, hath shewed us the paths of perdition and removed us far from
life; and that, not a few only, but well nigh all that have been
created. A:14. And he answered me, and said, Hearken unto me, and I
will instruct thee; and I will admonish thee yet again: A:15. for this
cause the Most High hath not made one world, but two. A:16. For whereas
thou hast said that the just are not many, but few, and the ungodly
abound, hear the answer thereunto. A:17. If thou have choice stones
exceeding few, wilt thou set for thee over against them according to
their number things of lead and clay? A:18. And I say, Lord, how shall
this be? A:19. And he said unto me, Not only this, but ask the earth,
and she shall tell thee; intreat her, and she shall declare unto thee.
A:20. For thou shalt say unto her, Thou bringest forth gold and silver
and brass, and iron also and lead and clay: A:21. but silver is more
abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, lead
than iron, and clay than lead. A:22. Judge thou therefore which things
are precious and to be desired, whatso is abundant or what is rare.
A:23. And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, that which is plentiful is
of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious. A:24. And
he answered me, and said, Weigh within thyself the things that thou
hast thought, for he that hath what is hard to get rejoiceth over him
that hath what is plentiful. A:25. So also is the judgement which I
have promised: for I will rejoice over the few that shall be saved,
inasmuch as these are they that have made my glory now to prevail, and
of whom my name is now named. A:26. And I will not grieve over the
multitude of them that perish; for these are they that are now like
unto vapour, and are become as flame and smoke; they are set on fire
and burn hotly, and are quenched. A:27. And I answered and said, O thou
earth, wherefore hast thou brought forth, if the mind is made out of
dust, like as all other created things? A:28. For it were better that
the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been
made therefrom. A:29. But now the mind groweth with us, and by reason
of this we are tormented, because we perish and know it. A:30. Let the
race of men lament and the beasts of the field be glad; let all that
are born lament, but let the fourfooted beasts and the cattle rejoice.
A:31. For it is far better with them than with us; for they look not
for judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation
promised unto them after death. A:32. For what doth it profit us, that
we shall be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment? A:33.
For all that are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins
and laden with offences: A:34. and if after death we were not to come
into judgement, peradventure it had been better for us. A:35. And he
answered me, and said, When the Most High made the world, and Adam and
all them that came of him, he first prepared the judgement and the
things that pertain unto the judgement. A:36. And now understand from
thine own words, for thou hast said that the mind groweth with us.
A:37. They therefore that dwell upon the earth shall be tormented for
this reason, that having understanding they have wrought iniquity, and
receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law
they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. A:38. What then
will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they answer in the
last times? A:39. For how great a time hath the Most High been
longsuffering with them that inhabit the world, and not for their
sakes, but because of the times which he hath foreordained! A:40. And I
answered and said, If I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, shew
this also unto thy servant, whether after death, even now when every
one of us giveth up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those
times come, in which thou shalt renew the creation, of whether we shall
be tormented forthwith. A:41. And he answered me, and said, I will shew
thee this also; but join not thyself with them that are scorners, nor
number thyself with them that are tormented. A:42. For thou hast a
treasure of good works laid up with the Most High, but it shall not be
shewed thee until the last times. A:43. For concerning death the
teaching is: When the determinate sentence hath gone forth from the
Most High that a man should die, as the spirit leaveth the body to
return again to him who gave it, it adoreth the glory of the Most High
first of all. A:44. And if it be one of those that have been scorners
and have not kept the way of the Most High, and that have despised his
law, and that hate them that fear God, A:45. these spirits shall not
enter into habitations, but shall wander and be in torments forthwith,
ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. A:46. The first way, because they
have despised the law of the Most High. A:47. The second way, because
they cannot now make a good returning that they may live. A:48. The
third way, they shall see the reward laid up for them that have
believed the covenants of the Most High. A:49. The fourth way, they
shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days.
A:50. The fifth way, they shall see the dwelling places of the others
guarded by angels, with great quietness. A:51. The sixth way, they
shall see how forthwith some of them shall pass into torment. A:52. The
seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid ways,
because they shall pine away in confusion and be consumed with shame,
and shall be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most High
before whom they have sinned whilst living, and before whom they shall
be judged in the last times. A:53. Now this is the order of those who
have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from
the corruptible vessel. A:54. In the time that they dwelt therin they
painfully served the Most High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that
they might keep the law of the lawgiver perfectly. A:55. Wherefore this
is the teaching concerning them: A:56. First of all they shall see with
great joy the glory of him who taketh them up, for they shall have rest
in seven orders. A:57. The first order, because they have striven with
great labour to overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together
with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death.
A:58. The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the
souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaiteth them.
A:59. The third order, they see the witness which he that fashioned
them beareth concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law
which was given them in trust. A:60. The fourth order, they understand
the rest which, being gathered in their chambers, they now enjoy with
great quietness, guarded by angels, and the glory that awaiteth them in
the last days. A:61. The fifth order, they rejoice, seeing how they
have now escaped from that which is corruptible, and how they shall
inherit that which is to come, while they see moreover the straitness
and the painfulness from which they have been delivered, and the large
room which they shall receive with joy and immortality. A:62. The sixth
order, when it is shewed unto them how their face shall shine as the
sun, and how they shall be made like unto the light of the stars, being
henceforth incorruptible. A:63. The seventh order, which is greater
than all the aforesaid orders, because they shall rejoice with
confidence, and because they shall be bold without confusion, and shall
be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom in
their lifetime they served, and from whom they shall receive their
reward in glory. A:64. This is the order of the souls of the just, as
from henceforth is announced unto them, and aforesaid are the ways of
torture which they that would not give heed shall suffer from
henceforth. A:65. And I answered and said, Shall time therefore be
given unto the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that
they may see that whereof thou hast spoken unto me? A:66. And he said,
Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven days they may see
the things whereof thou hast been told, and afterwards they shall be
gathered together in their habitations. A:67. And I answered and said,
If I have found favour in thy sight, shew further unto me thy servant
whether in the day of judgement the just will be able to intercede for
the ungodly or to intreat the Most High for them, A:68. whether fathers
for children, or children for parents, or brethren for brethren, or
kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for them that are most dear.
A:69. And he answered me, and said, Since thou hast found favour in my
sight, I will shew thee this also: The day of judgement is a day of
decision, and displayeth unto all the seal of truth; even as now a
father sendeth not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave,
or a friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or
sleep, or eat, or be healed: A:70. so never shall any one pray for
another in that day, neither shall one lay a burden on another, for
then shall all bear every one his own righteousness or unrighteousness.