107
and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan,
108
and Samuel in the days of Saul,[ac] and David for the plague, and Solomon for those at the dedication,
109
and Elijah for those who received the rain, and for the one who was dead, that he might live,
110
and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others prayed for many?
111
So if now, when corruption has increased and unrighteousness has multiplied, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, why will it not be so then as well?”
112
He answered me and said, “This present world is not the end; the full glory does not[ad] remain in it;[ae] therefore those who were strong prayed for the weak.
113
But the day of judgment will be the end of this age and the beginning[af] of the immortal age to come, in which corruption has passed away,
114
sinful indulgence has come to an end, unbelief has been cut off, and righteousness has increased and truth has appeared.
115
Therefore no one will then be able to have mercy on someone who has been condemned in the judgment, or to harm[ag] someone who is victorious.”
116
I answered and said, “This is my first and last comment: it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, had restrained him from sinning.
117
For what good is it to all that they live in sorrow now and expect punishment after death?