¹¹ There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them.

¹⁶ Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!

⁶ You have given their towns to destruction; the memory of them has gone; they have become waste for ever.

⁵ The living are conscious that death will come to them, but the dead are not conscious of anything, and they no longer have a reward, because there is no memory of them.

²² Let the future be made clear to us: give us news of the past things, so that we may give thought to them; or of the things to come, so that we may see if they are true.

²³ Give us word of what will be after this, so that we may be certain that you are gods: yes, do good or do evil, so that we may all see it and be surprised.

²⁴ But you are nothing, and your work is of no value: foolish is he who takes you for his gods.

²⁵ I have sent for one from the north, and from the dawn he has come; in my name he will get rulers together and go against them; they will be like dust, even as the wet earth is stamped on by the feet of the potter.

²⁶ Who has given knowledge of it from the first, so that we may be certain of it? and from the start, so that we may say, His word is true? There is no one who gives news, or says anything, or who gives ear to your words.

⁹ See, the things said before have come about, and now I give word of new things: before they come I give you news of them.