54
And he said to me, "Not only that, but ask the earth and she will tell you; defer to her, and she will declare it to you. because we have lived in unseemly places?
55
Say to her, `You produce gold and silver and brass, and also iron and lead and clay; Or that the faces of those who practiced self-control shall shine more than the stars, but our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
56
but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, and lead than iron, and clay than lead.' For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we should suffer after death."
57
Judge therefore which things are precious and desirable, those that are abundant or those that are rare?" He answered and said, "This is the meaning of the contest which every man who is born on earth shall wage,
58
I said, "O sovereign Lord, what is plentiful is of less worth, for what is more rare is more precious." that if he is defeated he shall suffer what you have said, but if he is victorious he shall receive what I have said.
59
He answered me and said, "Weigh within yourself what you have thought, for he who has what is hard to get rejoices more than he who has what is plentiful. For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the people, saying, `Choose for yourself life, that you may live!'
60
So also will be the judgment which I have promised; for I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved, because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored. But they did not believe him, or the prophets after him, or even myself who have spoken to them.
61
And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish; for it is they who are now like a mist, and are similar to a flame and smoke -- they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished." Therefore there shall not be grief at their destruction, so much as joy over those to whom salvation is assured."
62
I replied and said, "O earth, what have you brought forth, if the mind is made out of the dust like the other created things! I answered and said, "I know, O Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, because he has mercy on those who have not yet come into the world;
63
For it would have been better if the dust itself had not been born, so that the mind might not have been made from it. and gracious, because he is gracious to those who turn in repentance to his law;
64
But now the mind grows with us, and therefore we are tormented, because we perish and know it. and patient, because he shows patience toward those who have sinned, since they are his own works;