59
He answered me and said, "Weigh within yourself what you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices more than he who has what is plentiful. For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the people, saying, `Choose for yourself life, that you may live!'
60
So also will be the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. But they did not believe him, or the prophets after him, or even myself who have spoken to them.
61
And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke -- they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished." Therefore there shall not be grief at their destruction, so much as joy over those to whom salvation is assured."
62
I replied and said, "O earth, what have you brought forth, if the mind is made out of the dust like the other created things! I answered and said, "I know, O Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, because he has mercy on those who have not yet come into the world;
63
For it would have been better if the dust itself had not been born, so that the mind might not have been made from it. and gracious, because he is gracious to those who turn in repentance to his law;
64
But now the mind grows with us, and therefore we are tormented, because we perish and know it. and patient, because he shows patience toward those who have sinned, since they are his own works;
65
Let the human race lament, but let the beasts of the field be glad; let all who have been born lament, but let the four-footed beasts and the flocks rejoice! and bountiful, because he would rather give than take away;
66
For it is much better with them than with us; for they do not look for a judgment, nor do they know of any torment or salvation promised to them after death. and abundant in compassion, because he makes his compassions abound more and more to those now living and to those who are gone and to those yet to come,
67
For what does it profit us that we shall be preserved alive but cruelly tormented? for if he did not make them abound, the world with those who inhabit it would not have life;
68
For all who have been born are involved in iniquities, and are full of sins and burdened with transgressions. and he is called giver, because if he did not give out of his goodness so that those who have committed iniquities might be relieved of them, not one ten-thousandth of mankind could have life;
69
And if we were not to come into judgment after death, perhaps it would have been better for us." and judge, because if he did not pardon those who were created by his word and blot out the multitude of their sins,