9
If now that city is given to a man for an inheritance, how will the heir receive his inheritance unless he passes through the danger set before him?"
10
I said, "He cannot, lord." And he said to me, "So also is Israel's portion.
11
For I made the world for their sake, and when Adam transgressed my statutes, what had been made was judged.
12
And so the entrances of this world were made narrow and sorrowful and toilsome; they are few and evil, full of dangers and involved in great hardships.
13
But the entrances of the greater world are broad and safe, and really yield the fruit of immortality.
14
Therefore unless the living pass through the difficult and vain experiences, they can never receive those things that have been reserved for them.
15
But now why are you disturbed, seeing that you are to perish? And why are you moved, seeing that you are mortal?
16
And why have you not considered in your mind what is to come, rather than what is now present?"
17
Then I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, behold, thou hast ordained in thy law that the righteous shall inherit these things, but that the ungodly shall perish.
18
The righteous therefore can endure difficult circumstances while hoping for easier ones; but those who have done wickedly have suffered the difficult circumstances and will not see the easier ones."
19
And he said to me, "You are not a better judge than God, or wiser than the Most High!