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Apocrypha. bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.

And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.

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

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

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.

Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.

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.

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

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,

Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,

Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,

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,

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:

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.

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?

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.

For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.

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

I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,

I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.

So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.

And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.

And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.

And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.

And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters.

And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,

And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;

And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:

And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up.

And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:

And tha trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.

At that time shall friends fight one