I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.
Let me tell you a comparison, Ezra: if you ask the earth, it will tell you that it produces much clay for making earthen vessels, but only a little dust from which gold comes — so it is with the course of this present world.
