2 before the voicesof the thunders sounded,before the flashes of lightning shone,before paradise’s foundationswere made firm,
3 before beautiful flowers were seen,before the powers of movementwere established,before the innumerable heavenly armies of angels were assembled,
4 before the heights of the airwere lifted up,before the measuresof the firmament were named,before Zion’s footstool was established,
5 before the present yearswere reckoned,before the imaginations of thosewho now sin were alienated,before those who stored up faithas a treasure were sealed—
6 then I planned these things. As they were done by me and not by another, so also the end will come by me and not through another."
7 I answered, "What separates the times? When is the end of the first and the beginning of that which follows?"
8 He said to me: "From Abraham to Abraham, because Jacob and Esau were born from him, but Jacob’s hand held Esau’s heel from the outset.