2 Esdras 7:128-138

128 Those who are defeated will suffer what you said, but those who conquer will receive what I say.
129 This is the path that Moses declared when he was alive, speaking to the people, Choose life for yourself…so that you may live.
130 But they didn't believe him or the prophets who came after him. They didn't even believe me when I spoke to them.
131 There won't be sadness over their destruction, as there will be joy over those for whom salvation is sure."
132 I answered: "I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, since he has mercy on those who haven't yet come into the world. He is called
133 gracious, since he has mercy on those who convert to his Law,
134 and patient, because he shows patience to those who have sinned, since they are his own creation.
135 I know that he is called generous, because he wants to give gifts rather than demand them,
136 and very merciful, because he multiplies mercies more and more to those now alive and those who went before and those who are to come in the future.
137 If, indeed, he hadn't multiplied them, the world with those who live in it would not now exist.
138 He is called giver, because if he didn't give out of his own goodness some relief from their sins to people who committed sins, not one ten-thousandth part of humanity could live.

Footnotes 2

Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible