1. When I finished speaking these words, the angel who had been sent to me on the previous nights was sent to me again.
2. He said to me, "Rise, Ezra, and hear the words I have come to speak to you."
3. I said, "Speak, my Lord."He said to me: "A certain sea is set in a spacious place so that it can be deep and vast,
4. but its entrance is set in a narrow place, like a river.
5. If anyone wants to go to the sea to see it or to rule over it, how can he come into the broad place unless he passes through the narrow?
6. Another instance: A city is built and positioned on a broad plain, full of all good things.
7. Its entrance, however, is narrow and located on a precipice so that there is fire on the right and deep water on the left.
8. There is a single path located between them, between the fire and the water, and the path has only room for human footprints.
9. If that city is given to someone as an inheritance, if the heir doesn’t pass through the danger, how will the heir receive the inheritance?"
10. I said, "Indeed, Lord."He said to me: "So also is Israel’s portion. I indeed made the world on account of them.