2 Esdras 8:4

4 I said to myself, "I must search for wisdom and try to understand.

2 Esdras 8:4 In-Context

2 Ezra, let me give you an illustration. If you ask the earth, it will tell you that it produces a large amount of clay for pots but only a small amount of gold dust. And that's the way it is with the present world:

3 many have been created, but only a few will be saved."

4 I said to myself, "I must search for wisdom and try to understand.

5 I was brought into this world without my consent, and I will leave it against my will. God has given me only a few short years as my span of life."

6 Then I prayed, "O Lord above, permit me, your humble servant, to offer this prayer: Plant a seed within us, and let it grow until it produces new hearts and minds, so that sinful humanity may have life.