Chapter 9 _{8 Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation in my land, and within my borders: for I have sanctified them for me from the beginning.9 Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not known me;11 And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it;12 The same must know it after death by pain.13 And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created.14 Then answered I and said,15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be saved:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman ls himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the world.18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.}