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1. At all times controversies arise on this matter,
how the dead shall rise and with what body they shall come?(4) For lo! the body
wears out and is corrupted; and the bones also, no doubt, as time lengthens out
over them, waste away and are not to be recognised. And when thou enterest a
tomb in which a hundred dead men are buried, thou findest not there an handful
of dust. And thus say those that reflect on these things:--" We know of course
that the dead shall rise; but they will be clothed in a heavenly body and
spiritual forms. And if it is not so, these hundred dead that were buried in one
tomb, of whom after a long time elapses there remains nothing at all there, when
the dead shall be quickened, and shall be clothed in a body and rise, unless
they shall be clothed in a heavenly body, from whence shall their body come? For
lo! there is nothing in the tomb."
2. Whosoever reflects thus is foolish, and without knowledge. When the dead were
brought in, they were something; and when they were there for a long time, they
became nothing. And, when the time shall have come that the dead shall rise,
that nothing shall become something according to its former nature, and a change
shall be added to its nature. O thou unwise who reflectest thus, hear that which
the blessed Apostle said when he was instructing a foolish man like thee; for he
said fool, the seed which thou sowest unless it die is not quickened; and that
which thou sowest is not like that which grows up into blade, but one bare grain
of wheat or barley or some other seedling. And to each one the seeds is given
its own body. But God clothes thy seed with its body as He wills.(5)
3. Therefore, O fool, be instructed by this, that each of the seeds is clothed
in its own body. Never dost thou sow wheat and yet reap barley, and never dost
thou plant a vine and yet it produced figs; but everything grows according to
its nature. Thus also the body that was laid in the earth is that which shall
rise again. And as to this, that the body is corrupted and wastes away, thou
oughtest to be instructed by the parable of the seed; that as the seed, when it
is cast into the earth, decays and is corrupted, and from its decay it produces
and buds and bears fruit. For the land that is ploughed, into which seed is not
cast, produces not fruit, even if that land drinks in all the rain. So the grave
in which the dead are not buried, from it men shall not issue forth in the
quickening of the dead, though the full voice of the trumpet should sound within
it. And if, as they say, the spirit of the just shall ascend into heaven and put
on a heavenly body, they are in heaven. And He Who raises the dead dwells in
heaven. Then when our Saviour shall come, whom shall He raise up from the earth?
And why did He write for us:--The hour shall come, and now is, that the dead
also shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and they shall live and come forth
from their tombs?(1) For the heavenly body will not come and enter into the
tomb, and again go forth from it.
4. For thus say those who are stubborn in folly:--Why did the Apostle
say,--Different is the body which is in heaven from that which is on earth?(2)
But he that hears this, let him hear also the other thing that the Apostle
said:--There is an animal body, and there is a spiritual body.(3) And again he
said:-- We shall all sleep, but we shall not all be changed.(4) And again he
said:--This that shall die must clothe itself with that that shall not die, and
this which is corruptible must clothe itself with that which is
incorruptible.(5) Again he said:-- We must all stand before the judgment-seat of
Christ, that every man may be rewarded in his body for everything that before
time was done by hun, whether good or evil.(6) Again he said:-- What shall those
do that are baptized for the dead? For if the dead rise not, why are they
baptized for them?(7) Again he said:--If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then is Christ not risen, and if Christ is not risen then your faith is vain,
and our preaching. And if so we are found false witnesses in that we testified
of God, that He raised up Christ, Whom He raised not up.(8) Therefore, if the
dead rise not, there is no judgment. And if there is no judgment, then let us
eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. Be not deceived; evil communications
corrupt good purposes.(9) Now as to this that the Apostle said:--The body that
is in heaven is different from that which is on the earth, let this word be thus
understood by thee. When the body of the just shall arise and be changed, it is
called heavenly. And that which is not changed is called earthly, according to
its earthly nature.
5. But hear, my beloved, another word like this, which the Apostle has spoken.
For he said:-- The spiritual man judgeth everything, and he is judged by no
one.(1) And again he said:-- They that are spiritual are spiritually minded, and
they that are carnal are carnally minded.(2) And again he said:-- When we were
in the flesh, the weaknesses of sins were working in our members that we might
become fruit for death.(3) Again he said:--If the Spirit of Christ is in you, ye
are spiritual.(4) All these things the Apostle said, while he was clothed in the
flesh but was doing the works of the Spirit. Thus also in the Resurrection of
the dead, the righteous shall be changed, and the earthly form shall be
swallowed up in the heavenly, and it shall be called a heavenly body. And that
which shall not be changed, shall be called earthly.
6. Concerning then this Resurrection of the dead, my beloved, according to my
power I will instruct thee. For from the beginning God created Adam; moulded him
from the dust of the earth, and raised him up. For if, while Adam was not, He
made him from nothing, how much easier now is it for Him to raise him up; for
lo! as a seed he is sown in the earth. For if God should do those things that
are easy for us, His works would not appear mighty to us. For lo! there are
amongst men artificers who make wonderful things, and those who are not
artificers of the works stand and wonder how they were done; and the work of
their fellows is difficult in their eyes. How much more should not the works of
God be as a marvel! But for God this was no great thing, that the dead should be
quickened. Before seed was sown in the earth, the earth produced that which had
not been cast into it. Before it had conceived, it bore in its virginity. How
then is this difficult, that the earth should cause to spring up again what had
been cast into it, and after conception should bear? And lo! her travail-pains
are near; as Isaiah said, Who hath seen anything like this and who hath heard
such things as these? that the earth should travail in one day, and a people
should be born in one hour?(1) For Adam unsown sprang up conceived he was born.
But lo! now his offspring are sown, and wait for the rain, and shall spring up.
And lo! the earth teems with many, and the time of her bringing forth is at
hand.
7. For all our fathers, in hope of the Resurrection and the quickening of the
dead, were looking forward and hastening; as the blessed Apostle said, If the
righteous had been looking forward to that city from which Abraham went forth,
they would have had an opportunity of again turning back and to it; but they
showed that they were looking forward to one better than it, namely thai which
is in heaven.(2) They were looking forward to be released and to go speedily
thither. And from that which I am writing unto thee, understand and observe that
they were looking forward to the Resurrection. For Jacob our father, when he was
dying, bound Joseph his son with an oath, and said to him, Bury me in the tomb
of my fathers, with Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Rebecca.(3) And why, my
beloved, did Jacob not wish to be buried in Egypt, but with his fathers? He
showed beforehand, that he was looking forward to the quickening of the dead;
that, when the Resurrection shout should be raised and the sound of the trumpet
(heard), he might rise up near to his fathers, and might not at the time of the
Resurrection be mingled with the wicked who shall return to Sheol and to
punishment.
8. Thus also Joseph bound his brethren by an oath,(4) and said to them:--When
God shall remember you, take up my bones from hence with you. And according to
the word of Joseph his brethren did, and kept the oath a hundred and twenty-five
years. At that time when the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt,
then Moses took up the bones of Joseph when he went forth.(5) And the bones of
the righteous man were more precious and better in his estimation than the gold
and the silver that the children of Israel took from Egypt when they spoiled
them. And the bones of Joseph were forty years in the wilderness; and at that
time when Moses fell asleep, he gave them in inheritance to Joshua the son of
Nun. The bones of Joseph his father were better in his estimation than all the
spoil of that land which he subdued. And why did Moses give the bones of Joseph
to Joshua? Clearly, because he was of the tribe of Ephraim the son of Joseph.
And he buried them in the land of promise, that there might be in that land a
treasure, (even) that of the bones of Joseph (that were) buried therein. And
also at the time that Jacob was dying, he blessed his tribes, and showed them
what would happen to them in the latter days, and said to Reuben:--Reuben, thou
art my firstborn, might and the beginning of my strength. Thou hast gone astray;
as water, thou shalt not abide, because thou wentest up father's bed. Truly thou
defilest my couch and wentest up.(6) From the time that Jacob fell asleep until
the time that Moses fell asleep two hundred and thirty-three years elapsed. Then
Moses wished by his priestly power to absolve Reuben from his transgression and
sin, in that he had lain with Bilhah, his father's concubine; that when his
brethren should rise, he might not be cut off from their number. So he said in
the beginning of his blessing:--Reuben shall live and not die, and shall be in
the number.
9. And also when the time came that Moses should sleep with his fathers, he was
grieved and distressed, and he sought of his Lord and entreated that he might
pass over to the land of promise. And why, my beloved, was the righteous Moses
grieved because he did not enter into the land of promise? Clearly, because he
wished to go and be buried with his fathers, and not be buried in the land of
his adversaries, in the land of Moab. For the Moabites hired Balaam the son of
Beor to curse Israel. Therefore Moses wished not to be buried in that land, test
the Moabites should come and take vengeance on him by taking up and casting
forth the bones of that righteous man. And the Lord performed an act of grace
towards Moses. For He brought him forth to Mount Nebo, and showed him all the
land, making it pass before him. And as Moses gazed upon all the land, and gazed
upon the mountain of the Jebusites where the Tabernacle was to dwell, he was
grieved and wept when he saw the tomb in Hebron where his fathers Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob were buried, that he should not be buried with them, nor his bones
cast upon their bones, that he might rise along with them in the Resurrection.
But when he had seen all the land, his Lord encouraged him and said to him, "I
myself will bury thee and hide thee, and none shall know thy tomb." So Moses
died according to the word of the mouth of the Lord, and He buried him in a
valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-Peor, where Israel had sinned, and
no man has known his sepulchre unto this day.(1) Two goodly benefits did his
Lord accomplish for Moses in not making known his tomb to the children of
Israel. He rejoiced that his adversaries should not know it, and cast forth his
bones from his tomb; and in the second place, that the children of his people
should not know it, and make his tomb a place of worship, for he was accounted
as God in the eyes of the children of his people. And understand this, my
beloved, from hence, that when he left them and went up to the mountain, they
said:(2)--As for this Moses who brought us up from the land of Egypt we know not
what has become of him. So they made them a calf and worshipped it, and they
remembered not God Who brought them up from Egypt by means of Moses with a
mighty hand and an uplifted arm.(3) Because of this, God had respect unto Moses,
and did not make known his tomb; lest, if He should make known his tomb, the
children of his people might go astray, and make them an image, and worship it
and sacrifice to it, and so by their sins disquiet the bones of the righteous
man.
10. And Moses again proclaimed clearly the Resurrection of the dead, for he said
as from the mouth of his God:--It is I that cause to die and it is I that make
able.(4) Again also Hannah said thus in her prayer:--The Lord causeth to die and
quickeneth ; He bringeth down to Sheol and bringeth up (therefrom).(5) The
Prophet Isaiah also said thus:--Thy dead shall live, O Lord, and their bodies
shall rise, and they that sleep in the dust shall awake and praise thee.(6)
David also proclaimed, saying:--For lo! for the dead Thou workest wonderful
things, and the mighty ones shall rise and make confession unto Thee, and those
that are in the tombs shall recount Thy grace.(7) And how in the tombs shall
they recount the grace of God? Clearly, when they shall hear the sound of
trumpet summoning them, and the cornet sounding forth from on high, and the
earthquake that shall be, and the tombs that shall be opened, then the mighty
ones shall arise in glory, and recount one to another in the tombs, saying,
"Great is the grace that is performed towards us. For our hope was cut off; yet
(another) hope has arisen for us. We were imprisoned in darkness, and have come
forth to the light. We were sown in corruption, and have risen in glory. We were
buried naturally, and we have risen spiritually. Again we were sown in weakness,
and have risen in power." This is the grace that they shall tell of in the
tombs.
11. And it was not only in words, my beloved, that God said:--" I quicken the
dead," but also in deeds He showed it to us by many testimonies; that we might
have no hesitation (concerning it). He showed it beforehand plainly; for through
Elijah a wonder was manifested, (in proof) that the dead shall live and that
they that sleep in the dust shall arise. For when the son of the widow died,
Elijah raised him up and gave him to his mother. And Elisha again, his disciple,
raised up the son of the Shunamite; that the testimony of two might be
established and confirmed for us. And also again when the children of Israel
cast a dead man on the bones of Elisha, that dead man revived and arose. And the
witness of three is certain.
12. And also through the Prophet Ezekiel, the Resurrection of the dead was
manifestly shown, when God brought him forth to the valley and showed him many
bones, and made him pass by them round about them, and said to him:--Son of
these bones live? And Ezekiel said to Him: Thou knowest, O Lord of lords. And
the Lord said to him:--Prophesy, O Son Man, over these bones; prophesy and say
to the dry bones, Hear the word of the Lord of lords. And when he had caused
them to hear those words, there was a shaking and a noise, and the bones were
gathered together, even those that were crushed into pieces and broken. And when
the Prophet saw them, he was astonished, for they came together from all sides,
and each bone received its fellow, and each joint approached its fellow-joint,
and they ordered themselves, one on another. And their dryness was made moist,
and the joints were united by the ligatures, and the blood grew warm in the
arteries, and skin was stretched over the flesh, and hair grew up according to
its nature. But they lay prostrate and there was no breath in them Then again He
commanded the Prophet, and said to him Prophesy unto the spirit and say to it,
Come, O spirit, from the four winds, and breathe upon these slain men that they
may live. And when he caused them to hear this second word, the spirit entered
into them, and they revived and stood up upon their feet, a very great host.
13. But why, my beloved, was it that those dead did not rise because of the one
word (spoken) through Ezekiel, and why was not their resurrection, both of bones
and spirit, accomplished (through that one word)? For lo! by one word the bones
were fitted together, and by another the spirit came. It was in order that full
perfection might be left for our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with one utterance and
one word will raise up at the last day every body of man. For it was not the
word that was insufficient, but its bearer was inferior. And with regard to
this, understand and observe that when Elijah also, and Elisha his disciple,
raised the dead, it was not with one word that they raised them up, but after
they had prayed and made intercession and delayed no little time, then they
arose.
14. And our Lord Himself, in that His first Coming raised up three that were
dead, that the testimony of three might be made sure. And He raised up each one
of them with two words each. For when He raised up the widow's son, He called
him twice, saying to him, Young man, young man, arise.(2) And he revived and
arose. And again, He twice called the daughter of the chief of the synagogue,
saying to her, Damsel, damsel, arise.(3) And her spirit returned and she arose.
And after Lazarus died, when He came to the place of burial. He prayed earnestly
and cried with a loud voice and said, Lazarus, come forth.(4)And he revived and
came out of his tomb.
15. And concerning all this that I have explained to thee, that those dead
persons were raised with two words each, it was because for them two
resurrections take place; that former one, and the second, that which is to
come. For in that resurrection in which all men shall rise, none shall fall
again; and by one word of God, sent forth through Christ, all the dead shall
rise in the twinkling of an eye, speedily. For He Who brings it to pass is not
feeble or insufficient. For with one word of summons He will cause all the ends
(of the world) to hear, and all that are laid (in the grave) shall leap forth
and rise up; and no word shall return void to Him that sent it forth, but as it
is written in the Prophet Isaiah,(1) who compares the word to rain and snow; for
he said:--As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and return not thither,
but fertilize the earth and cause it to bring forth and give seed to the sower
and bread for food, so shall the word be that goes forth from My mouth, and it
shall not return to Me void, but shall accomplish whatsoever I desire and shall
accomplish that for which I shall have sent it. For the rain and the snow do not
return to heaven, but accomplish in the earth the will of Him that sends them.
So the word that He shall send through His Christ, Who is Himself the Word and
the Message, shall return to Him with great power. For when He shall come and
bring it, He shall come down like rain and snow, and through Him all that is
sown shall spring up and bear righteous fruit, and the word shall return to His
sender; but not in vain shall His going have been, but thus shall He say in the
presence of His sender:--Behold, I and the children that the Lord has given
Me.(2) And this is the voice through which the dead shall live. Concerning it
our Redeemer testifies, saying:--The hour shall come when even the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of Man and shall come forth from their tombs;(3) as it
is written, In the beginning was the voice, that is the Word.(4) Again He said,
The Word became a body and dwelt amongst us.(5) And this is that voice of God
which shall sound from on high and raise up all the dead.
16. Again, our Lord explained to the Sadducees with regard to the resurrection
of the dead, when they brought forth to Him the parable of the woman who was
married to seven husbands, and said to Him:--Lo! the woman was wife of them all;
in the Resurrection of the dead, to which of them shall she be wife?(6) Then our
Lord said to them:--Ye do greatly err, and ye know not the Scriptures nor the
power of God. For they who are worthy of that world and of that Resurrection
front the dead, they that are men do not take wives, nor are the women married
to husbands, for they cannot die, for they are as the angels of God and children
of the Resurrection. But concerning the Resurrection, that the dead shall rise,
have ye not read in the Scripture that God said to Moses out of the bush, "I am
the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob." And lo! He is not God of the dead,
for they all are alive unto Him.(7)
17. And there are those who even while they live are dead unto God. For He laid
a commandment on Adam and said to him, In the day that thou shalt eat of the
tree, thou shall surely die.(8) And after he had transgressed the commandment,
and had eaten, he lived nine hundred and thirty years; but he was accounted dead
unto God because of his sins. But that it may be made certain for thee that a
sinner is called dead even when he lives, I will make it clear to thee. For thus
it is written in Ezekiel the Prophet, As I live, saith the Lord of lords, I
desire not the death of the dead sinner.(9)
18. Moreover our Lord said to that man who said to Him:--Let me go and bury my
father, and I will come to Thee.(1) And our Lord said to him, Let the dead bury
their dead, but go thou, preach the Kingdom of God. But how is this word
understood by thee, my beloved? Didst thou ever see the dead burying their dead?
Or how shall a dead man arise to bury another dead man? But receive this
explanation from me, that a sinner, while he is living, is dead unto God; and a
righteous man, though dead, is alive unto God. For such death is a sleep, as
David said, I lay down and slept, and awake.(1) Again Isaiah said, They that
sleep in the dust shall awake.(2) And our Lord said concerning the daughter of
the chief of the synagogue, The damsel is not dead, but sleeping a slumber.(3)
And concerning Lazarus, He said to His disciples:--Our friend Lazarus has fallen
asleep; but I go to waken him.(4) And the Apostle said:--We shall all sleep, but
we shall not all be changed.(5) And again he said:--Concerning those that sleep,
be ye not grieved.(6)
19. But it is right for us to be afraid of the second death,(7) that which is
full of weeping and gnashing of teeth, and of groanings and miseries, that which
is situated in outer darkness. But blessed shall be the faithful and the
righteous in that Resurrection, in which they expect to be awakened and to
receive the good promises made them. But as for the wicked who are not faithful,
in the Resurrection woe to them, because of that which is laid up for them! It
would be better for them according to the faith which they possess, were they
not to arise. For the servant, for whom his Lord is preparing stripes and bonds,
while he is sleeping desires not to awake, for he knows that when the dawn shall
have come and he shall awake, his Lord will scourge and bind him. But the good
servant, to whom his Lord has promised gifts, looks expectantly for the time
when dawn shall come and he shall receive presents from his Lord. And even
though he is soundly sleeping, in his dream he sees something like what his Lord
is about to give him, whatsoever He has promised him, and he rejoices in his
dream, and exults, and is gladdened. As for the wicked, his sleep is not
pleasant to him, for he imagines that lo! the dawn has come for him, and his
heart is broken in his dream. But the righteous sleep, and their slumber is
pleasant to them, in the day-time and the night-time, and they take no thought
of all that long night, and like one hour is it accounted in their eyes. Then in
the watch of the dawn they awake with joy. But as for the wicked, their sleep
lies heavy upon them, and they are like a man who is laid low by a great and
deep fever, and tosses on his couch hither and thither, arid he is terrified the
whole night long, which lengthens itself out for him, and he fears the dawn when
his Lord will condemn him.
20. But our faith thus teaches, that when men fall asleep, they sleep this
slumber without knowing good from evil. And the righteous look not forward to
their promises, nor do the wicked look forward to their sentence of punishment,
until the Judge come and separate those whose place is at His right hand from
those whose place is at His left. And be thou instructed by that which is
written, that when the Judge shall sit, and the books be opened before Him and
the good and evil deeds recited, then they that have wrought good works shall
receive good rewards from Him Who is good; and they that have done evil deeds
shall receive evil penalties from the just Judge. For towards the good, He
changes not His nature; and He proves Himself just because He justly condemns
many. But towards the evil He changes His nature, in that world where grace is
lost in justice; and He proves Himself just to all. And grace will not be joined
with justice towards them. Like as grace avails not (to remedy) detriment, so
justice (avails not to assist) grace. For grace is far from the judge, but
justice urges the judge. If grace be nigh to any one, let him turn himself
towards it, and not deliver himself into the hands of justice, test it condemn
him, exacting for his shortcomings the penalty at his hands. And if grace be far
from any one, justice will bring him to the trial, and by it he will be
condemned, and go away to the torment.
21. But hear, my beloved, this proof that retribution shall take place at the
end. For when the Shepherd divides His flock and sets some on His right hand and
some on His left.(1) until He shall have acknowledged the service of the good,
then He will cause them to inherit the kingdom; and until He shall have rebuked
the evil and they are condemned, then He will send them to the torment. And as
to them that sent messengers after the King, saying, This man shall not be king
over us,(2) when He shall receive the kingdom and return, then His adversaries
shall be slain before Him. And the labourers who hastened and were wearied in
the vineyard, shall not receive the reward till the labour shall cease. And the
traders who received the money, when the Lord of the money shall come, then
shall He exact the usury. And the virgins who, while waiting for the bridegroom,
slumbered and slept because He delayed to come, when they shall hear the cry,
then they shall awake and trim their lamps; and they that are wise shall enter
in; and the foolish shall be shut out. And they who were before us in entering
the faith, without us shall not be made perfect.(3)
22 From all these things, understand thou, my beloved, as it has been made
certain for thee, that as yet no one has received his reward. For the righteous
have not inherited the kingdom, nor have the wicked gone into torment. The
Shepherd has not as yet divided His flock. And lo! the workmen enter into the
vineyard, and as yet have not received the reward. And lo! the merchants are
trading with the money. And as yet their Lord has not come to take the account.
And the King has gone to receive the Kingdom, but as yet He hats not returned
the second time. And those virgins that are waiting the bridegroom are sleeping
up to the present time, and are awaiting the cry when they will awake. And the
former men who toiled in the faith until the last men shall come, shall not be
made perfect.
23. But they who are babes in understanding say:--" If no one has received his
reward, why did the Apostle say, When we shall depart from the body, we shall be
present with the Lord ?"(4) But recollect, my beloved, that I instructed thee
concerning this matter in the Demonstration concerning Solitaries,(5) that the
spirit which the righteous receive, according to its heavenly nature, goes to
our Lord until the time of the Resurrection, when it shall come to put on the
body in which it dwelt. And at every time it has the memory of this in the
presence of God, and looks eagerly for the Resurrection of that body in which it
dwelt, as the Prophet Isaiah said about the Church of the Gentiles:--They that
make mention of thee shall be faithful and stand before the Lord, and thou shalt
not give them rest.(6) But as to the wicked, they have none to make mention of
them before the Lord, because the Holy Spirit is far removed from them, because
they are animal, and are buried after the manner of animals.
24. And again, (the followers of) doctrines, which are instruments of the Evil
One, are offended by the word which our Lord spake, No one has ascended up to
heaven but He Who came down from heaven, the Son of Man, Who was in heaven.(7)
And they say, "Lo! our Lord testified that no earthly body has ascended to
heaven." In their ignorance they cannot apprehend the force of this. For when
our Lord instructed Nicodemus, he did not apprehend the force of the saying.
Then our Lord said to him:--"No one has ascended into heaven, so as to come down
and relate to you whatsoever is there. For if I have spoken unto you of those
things that are in the earth, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I
shall speak unto you of those things which are in heaven?(8) For lo! no other
witness besides Me has come down from thence, to bear witness concerning those
things which are in heaven, so that ye should believe. For Elijah went up
thither, but he came not down along with Me to bear witness, that the testimony
of two might be sure."
25. But as for thee, my beloved, have no doubt as to the Resurrection of the
dead. For the living mouth (of God) testifies :-I cause to die and I make
alive.(1) And both of them proceeded out of one mouth. And as we are sure that
He causes to die, and we see it; so also it is sure and worthy of belief, that
He makes alive. And from all that I have explained to thee, receive and believe
that in the day of the Resurrection thy body shall arise in its entirety, and
thou shalt receive from our Lord the reward of thy faith, and in all that thou
hast believed, thou shalt rejoice and be made glad. |
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