That's why they drink and lead depraved lives with women. They have
less strength because they have less work, and they have not the
spirit of cheerfulness because they have no worries. Cheerfulness
comes in time of rest, while nowadays no one is getting tired."
"Well," said Foma, softly, "they were leading depraved lives and
drinking just as much in former days as now, I suppose."
"Do you know it? You should keep silence!" cried Anany, flashing
his eyes sternly. "In former days man had more strength, and the
sins were according to his strength. While you, of today, have less
strength, and more sins, and your sins are more disgusting. Then
men were like oak-trees. And God's judgment will also be in
accordance with their strength. Their bodies will be weighed, and
angels will measure their blood, and the angels of God will see
that the weight of the sins does not exceed the weight of the body
and the blood. Do you understand? God will not condemn the wolf for
devouring a sheep, but if a miserable rat should be guilty of the
sheep's death, God will condemn the rat!"
"How can a man tell how God will judge man?" asked Foma,
thoughtfully.
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