And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer, And said, Your heart has gone too far in this world, and do you think to comprehend the way of the most High? Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to show you three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before you: Whereof if you can declare me one, I will show you also the way that you desire to see, and I shall show you from whence the wicked heart comes. And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go your way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past. Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that you should ask such things of me? And he said unto me, If I should ask you how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise: Peradventure you would say unto me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven. Nevertheless now have I asked you but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough you have passed, and of things from which you cannot be separated, and yet can you give me no answer of them. He said moreover unto me, Your own things, and such as are grown up with you, can you not know; How should your vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight? Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore. He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel, And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods. The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country. The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it. The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them. If you were judge now betwixt these two, whom would you begin to justify? or whom would you condemn? I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also has his place to bear his floods. Then answered he me, and said, You have given a right judgment, but why do you not judge yourself also? For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwells above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens. Then answered I and said, I beseech you, O Yah-Who-Ah, let me have understanding: For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom you have loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect, And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy. What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked. Then answered he me, and said, The more you search, the more you shall marvel; for the world hastens fast to pass away, And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities. But as concerning the things whereof you ask me, I will tell you; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come. If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good. For the grain of evil seed has been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness has it brought up unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come? Ponder now by yourself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed has brought forth. And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill? Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
