40. Then said he to me, Like as you can do none of these things that I have spoken of, even so can you not find out my judgement, or the end of the love that I have promised to my people.
41. And I said, But, behold, O Lord, you have made the promise to them that be in the end: and what shall they do that have been before us, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?
42. And he said to me, I will liken my judgement to a ring: like as there is no slackness of them that be last, even so there is no swiftness of them that be first.
43. So I answered and said, Couldest you not make them to be at once that have been made, and that be now, and that are for to come; that you might show your judgment the sooner?
44. Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above the creator; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be created therein.
45. And I said, How have you said to your servant, that you will surely make alive at once the creature that you have created? If therefore they shall be alive at once, and the creature shall sustain them: even so it might now also support them to be present at once.
46. And he said to me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say to her, If you bring forth ten children, why do you it at several times? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.
47. And I said, she can’t: but must do it by distance of time.
48. Then said he to me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown therein in their several times.
49. For like as a young child may not bring forth, neither she that is grown old bring forth any more, even so have I disposed the world which I created.
50. And I asked, and said, Seeing you have now showed me the way, I will speak before you: Is our mother, of whom you have told me, still young? or does she now draw near to age?
51. He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that bears children, and she shall tell you.
52. Say to her, wherefore are not they whom you have now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?
53. And she also shall answer you, They that be born in the strength of youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of age, when the womb fails, are otherwise.
54. Consider therefore you also, how that you⌃ are less of stature than those that were before you.
55. And so are they that come after you less than you⌃, as born of the creature which now begins to be old, and is past the strength of youth.
56. Then said I, Lord, I beseech you, if I have found favor in your sight, show your servant by whom you visit your creature.