99. This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is announcer to them, and aforesaid are the ways of torture which they that would not give heed shall suffer from henceforth.
100. And I answered and said, shall time therefore be given to the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see that whereof you have spoken to me?
101. And he said, Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven days they may see the things whereof you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered together in their habitations.
102. And I answered and said, if I have found favor in your sight, show further to me your servant whether in the day of judgment the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them,
103. whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or brethren for brethren, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for them that are most dear.
104. And he answered me, and said, Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also: The day of judgement is a day of decision, and displays to all the seal of truth; even as now a father sends not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or sleep, or eat, or be healed:
105. so never shall anyone pray for another in that day, neither shall one lay a burden on another, for then shall all bear every one his own righteousness or unrighteousness.
106. And I answered and said, How do we now find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
107. and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achar:
108. and Samuel in the days of Saul; and David for the plague: and Solomon for them that should worship in the sanctuary:
109. and Elijah for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
110. and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib: and many for many?
111. If therefore now, when corruption is grown up, and unrighteousness increased, the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, wherefore shall it not be so then also?
112. He answered me, and said, This present world is not the end; the full glory remains not therein: therefore have they who were able prayed for the weak.
113. But the day of judgement shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is passed away,
114. intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, but righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
115. Then shall no man be able to have mercy on him that is cast in judgement, nor to thrust down him that has gotten the victory.
116. I answered then and said, this is my first and last saying, that it had been better that the earth had not given you Adam: or else, when it had given him, to have restrained him from sinning.
117. For what profit is it for all that are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?