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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,
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Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
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Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
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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,
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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:
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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.
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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?
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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.
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For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
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The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
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I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,