As the great trees in the winter cannot be
distinguished from the dry; so neither can the
righteous from the wicked in this present world.
AGAIN he showed me many
trees whose leaves were shed,
and which seemed to me to be
withered, for they were all alike.
And he said unto me, Seest thou
these trees? I said, Sir, I see that
they look like dry trees.
2 He answering, said unto me;
These trees are like unto the men
who live in the present world. I
replied: Sir, why are they like
unto dried trees? Because, said
he, neither the righteous, nor
unrighteous, are known from one
another; but all are alike in this
present world.
3 For this world is as the winter
to the righteous men, because
they are not known, but dwell
among sinners.
4 As in the winter all the trees
having lost their leaves, are like
dry trees; nor can it be discerned
which are dry and which are green:
so in this present world neither
the righteous, nor wicked are
discerned from each other; but they
are all alike.
SIMILITUDE IV.
As in the summer the living trees are distinguished
from the dry by their fruit and green leaves;
so in the world to come the righteous shall be
distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness.
AGAIN he showed me many
other trees, of which some
had leaves, and others appeared
dry and withered. And he said
unto me, Seest thou these trees
I answered, Sir, I see them; some
are dry, and others full of leaves.
2 These trees, saith be, which
are green, are the righteous, who
shall possess the world to come.
For the world to come, is the summer
to the righteous; but to sinners
it is the winter.