2 Esdras 7:47
King James VersionSource notes
“For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?”
Context
44Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
45Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.
46I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.
47For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
48O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.
49For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
50And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?