The Holy Scripture
Chapter XXI
And I went there and sat in the valley of Kidron in a cave of the earth, and I sanctified my soul there, and I ate no bread, yet I was not hungry, and I drank no water, yet I thirsted not, and I was there till the seventh day, as He had commanded me.
And afterwards I came to that place where He had spoken with me.
And it came to pass at sunset that my soul took much thought, and I began to speak in the presence of the Mighty One, and said:
'O you that have made the earth, hear me, that have fixed the firmament by the word, and have made firm the height of the heaven by the spirit, that have called from the beginning of the world that which did not yet exist, and they obey you.
You that have commanded the air by Your nod, and have seen those things which are to be as those things which you are doing.
You that rule with great thought the hosts that stand before you: also the countless holy beings, which you did make from the beginning, of flame and fire, which stand around Your throne you rule with indignation.
To you only does this belong that you should do forthwith whatsoever you do wish.
Who causes the drops of rain to rain by number upon the earth, and alone knows the consummation of the times before they come; have respect unto my prayer.
For you alone are able to sustain all who are, and those who have passed away, and those who are to be, those who sin, and those who are to righteous [as living (and) being past finding out].
For you alone do live immortal and past finding out, and know the number of mankind.
And if in time many have sinned, yet others not a few have been righteous. 21:12-18. Baruch's Depreciation of this Life.
You know where you preserve the end of those who have sinned, or the consummation of those who have been righteous.
For if there were this life only, which belongs to all men, nothing could be more bitter than this.
For of what profit is strength that turns to sickness, Or fullness of food that turns to famine, Or beauty that turns to ugliness.
For the nature of man is always changeable.
For what we were formerly now we no longer are and what we now are we shall not afterwards remain.
For if a consummation had not been prepared for all, in vain would have been their beginning.
But regarding everything that comes from you do you inform me, and regarding everything about which I ask you, do you enlighten me. 21:19-25. Baruch prays to God to hasten the Judgment and fulfill His Promise
How long will that which is corruptible remain, and how long will the time of mortals be prospered, and until what time will those who transgress in the world be polluted with much wickedness?
Command therefore in mercy and accomplish all that you saidst you wouldst bring, that Your might may be made known to those who think that Your long-suffering is weakness.
And show to those who know not, that everything that has befallen us and our city until now has been according to the long-suffering of Your power, because on account of Your name you have called us a beloved people.
Bring to an end therefore henceforth mortality.
And reprove accordingly the angel of death, and let Your glory appear, and let the might of Your beauty be known, and let Sheol be sealed so that from this time forward it may not receive the dead, and let the treasuries of souls restore those which are enclosed in them.
For there have been many years like those that are desolate from the days of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and of all those who are like them, who sleep in the earth, on whose account you did say that you had created the world.
And now quickly show Your glory, and do not defer what has been promised by you.'
And (when) I had completed the words of this prayer I was greatly weakened. 22-23. God's Reply to Baruch's Prayer. He will fulfill His Promise: Time needed for its Accomplishment: Things must be judged in the Light of their Consummation (22). Till all Souls are born the End cannot come (23).