He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children,
and she shall tell thee.

2 Esdr 5:52
Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now
brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?

2 Esdr 5:53
And she shall answer thee, They that be born in the the
strength of youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in
the time of age, when the womb faileth, are otherwise.

2 Esdr 5:54
Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature
than those that were before you.

2 Esdr 5:55
And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the
creatures which now begin to be old, and have passed over the
strength of youth.

2 Esdr 5:56
Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in
thy sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

2 Esdr 6:1
And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was
made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds
blew,

2 Esdr 6:2
Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of
paradise were laid,

2 Esdr 6:3
Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable
powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of
angels were gathered together,

2 Esdr 6:4
Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the
measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in
Sion were hot,

2 Esdr 6:5
And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the
inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were
sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:

2 Esdr 6:6
Then did I consider these things, and they all were made
through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall
be ended, and by none other.

2 Esdr 6:7
Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder
of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the
beginning of it that followeth?

2 Esdr 6:8
And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and
Esau were born of him, Jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau.

2 Esdr 6:9
For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning
of it that followeth.

2 Esdr 6:10
The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other
question, Esdras, ask thou not.

2 Esdr 6:11
I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have
found favour in thy sight,

2 Esdr 6:12
I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens,
whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.

2 Esdr 6:13
So