2 Esdras 7:98-108

98 The seventh order, which is greater than all those mentioned—because they will rejoice with confidence and will trust without being disappointed and will rejoice without fear; for they hasten to see the face of him whom they served when they were alive and from whom they are about to receive a reward now that they are glorified.
99 "This is the order of the souls of the just, as is announced immediately, and those previously mentioned are the ways of torment that those who paid no heed will suffer."
100 I answered: "Will time, therefore, be given to souls after they are separated from the bodies to see what you told me?"
101 He said to me: "They will be free for seven days so that they may see in those seven days the things that have been foretold. After this, they will be gathered in their dwelling places."
102 I answered: "If you look on me with favor, show your servant further whether on the Judgment Day the just will be able to seek mercy for the wicked or intercede for them with the Most High.
103 Will parents be allowed to intercede for children, children for parents, siblings for each other, relatives for those close to them, faithful ones for those most dear to them?"
104 He replied to me: "Because I do indeed favor you, I will also show you this. The Judgment Day is decisive. It reveals the seal of truth to all. Even in the here and now a parent doesn't send a child, or a child the parent, or a master his servant, or a faithful friend a dear confidant, so that the one should understand or sleep or eat or be taken care of in the other person's place.
105 Just so, no one will ever intercede for another; everyone will then bear his or her own deeds of justice or injustice."
106 I answered: "How then do we find that Abraham first interceded for the people of Sodom; and Moses for our ancestors who sinned in the desert;
107 and Joshua, who came after him, for Israel, in the days of Achan;
108 and Samuel in the days of Saul; and David for the plague; and Solomon for those in the sanctuary;

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lat words, a Hebraism
  • [b]. Versions lack can intercede.
  • [c]. Eth sudden
  • [d]. Syr, Eth; Lat omits in the days of Saul.
  • [e]. Lat breach or rupture
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible