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Enoch Index

Book of Enoch
Charles

Ethiopian Enoch
1 - 60
Laurence

Ethiopian Enoch
61 - 105
Laurence

Secrets of Enoch
1 - 68
Laurence




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The Book of Enoch

Chapters 61-105

(also referred to as "Ethiopian Enoch" or "1 Enoch")




| 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 |
| 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 |
| 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 |

 

Chapter 61

 

1Thus the Lord commanded the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who dwell on earth, saying, Open your eyes, and lift up your horns, if you are capable of comprehending the Elect One.

2The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory.

3And the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him.

4The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall perish at his presence.

5In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints shall be judged in righteousness;

6And that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain.

7Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth.

8One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their countenance;

9And trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory.

10Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect.

11He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and all the elect shall stand before him in that day.

12All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over all the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall worship him.

13They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him, and petition him for mercy.

14Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment, that vengeance may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his children and his elect. And they shall become an example to the saints and to his elect. Through them shall these be made joyful; for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them.

15Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold.

16The Lord of spirits shall remain over them:

17And with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and rise up, for ever and ever.

18The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits, in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your glory diminish.

 

Chapter 62

 

1In those days the kings who possess the earth shall be punished by the angels of his wrath, wheresoever they shall be delivered up, that he may give rest for a short period; and that they may fall down and worship before the Lord of spirits, confessing their sins before him.

2They shall bless and glorify the Lord of spirits, saying, Blessed is the Lord of spirits, the Lord of kings, the Lord of princes, the Lord of the rich, the Lord of glory, and the Lord of wisdom.

3He shall enlighten every secret thing.

4Your power is from generation to generation; and your glory for ever and ever.

5Deep are all your secrets, and numberless; and your righteousness cannot be calculated.

6Now we know, that we should glorify and bless the Lord of kings, him who is King over all things.

7They shall also say, Who has granted us rest to glorify, laud, bless, and confess in the presence of his glory?

8And now small is the rest we desire; but we do not find it; we reject, and do not possess it. Light has passed away from before us; and darkness has covered our thrones for ever.

9 For we have not confessed before him; we have not glorified the name of the Lord of kings; we have not glorified the Lord in all his works; but we have trusted in the sceptre of our dominion and of our glory.

10In the day of our suffering and of our trouble he will not save us, neither shall we find rest. We confess that our Lord is faithful in all his works, in all his judgments, and in his righteousness.

11In his judgments he pays no respect to persons; and we must depart from his presence, on account of our evil deeds.

12All our sins are truly without number.

13Then shall they say to themselves, Our souls are satiated with the instruments of crime;

14But that prevents us not from descending to the flaming womb of hell.

15Afterwards, their countenances shall be filled with darkness and confusion before the Son of man; from whose presence they shall be expelled, and before whom the sword shall remain to expel them.

16Thus saith the Lord of spirits, This is the decree and the judgment against the princes, the kings, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, in the presence of the Lord of spirits.

 

Chapter 63

 

1I saw also other countenances in that secret place. I heard the voice of an angel, saying, These are the angels who have descended from heaven to earth, and have revealed secrets to the sons of men, and have seduced the sons of men to the commission of sin.

 

Chapter 64 (57)

 

(57) Chapters 64, 65, 66 and the first verse of 67 evidently contain a vision of Noah and not of Enoch (Laurence, p. 78).

1In those days Noah saw that the earth became inclined, and that destruction approached.

2Then he lifted up his feet, and went to the ends of the earth, to the dwelling of his great-grandfather Enoch.

3And Noah cried with a bitter voice, Hear me; hear me; hear me: three times. And he said, Tell me what is transacting upon the earth; for the earth labours, and is violently shaken. Surely I shall perish with it.

4After this there was a great perturbation on earth, and a voice was heard from heaven. I fell down on my face, when my great-grandfather Enoch came and stood by me.

5He said to me, Why have you cried out to me with a bitter cry and lamentation?

6A commandment has gone forth from the Lord against those who dwell on the earth, that they may be destroyed; for they know every secret of the angels, every oppressive and secret power of the devils, (58) and every power of those who commit sorcery, as well as of those who make molten images in the whole earth.

(58) The devils. Literally, "the Satans" (Laurence, p. 78).

7They know how silver is produced from the dust of the earth, and how on the earth the metallic drop exists; for lead and tin are not produced from earth, as the primary fountain of their production.

8There is an angel standing upon it, and that angel struggles to prevail.

9Afterwards my great-grandfather Enoch seized me with his hand, raising me up, and saying to me, Go, for I have asked the Lord of spirits respecting this perturbation of the earth; who replied, On account of their impiety have their innumerable judgments been consummated before me. Respecting the moons have they inquired, and they have known that the earth will perish with those who dwell upon it, (59) and that to these there will be no place of refuge for ever.

(59) Respecting the moons…dwell upon it. Or, "Because of the sorceries which they have searched out and learnt, the earth and those who dwell upon it will be destroyed" (Knibb, p. 155).

10They have discovered secrets, and they are those who have been judged; but not you my son. The Lord of spirits knows that you are pure and good, free from the reproach of discovering secrets.

11He, the holy One, will establish your name in the midst of the saints, and will preserve you from those who dwell upon the earth. He will establish your seed in righteousness, with dominion and great glory; (60) and from your seed shall spring forth righteousness and holy men without number for ever.

(60) With dominion…glory. Literally, "for kings, and for great glory" (Laurence, p. 79).

 

Chapter 65

 

1After this he showed me the angels of punishment, who were prepared to come, and to open all the mighty waters under the earth:

2That they may be for judgment, and for the destruction of all those who remain and dwell upon the earth.

3And the Lord of spirits commanded the angels who went forth, not to take up the men and preserve them.

4For those angels presiding over all the mighty waters. Then I went out from the presence of Enoch.

 

Chapter 66

 

1In those days the word of God came to me, and said, Noah, behold, your lot has ascended up to me, a lot void of crime, a lot beloved and upright.

2Now then shall the angels labour at the trees; (61) but when they proceed to this, I will put my hand upon it, and preserve it.

(61) Shall…labour at the trees. Or, "are making a wooden (structure)" (Knibb, p. 156).

3The seed of life shall arise from it, and a change shall take place, that the dry land shall not be left empty. I will establish your seed before me for ever and ever, and the seed of those who dwell with you on the surface of the earth. It shall be blessed and multiplied in the presence of the earth, in the name of the Lord.

4And they shall confine those angels who disclosed impiety. In that burning valley it is, that they shall be confined, which at first my great-grandfather Enoch showed me in the west, where there were mountains of gold and silver, of iron, of fluid metal, and of tin.

5I beheld that valley in which there was great perturbation, and where the waters were troubled.

6And when all this was effected, from the fluid mass of fire, and the perturbation which prevailed (62) in that place, there arose a strong smell of sulphur, which became mixed with the waters; and the valley of the angels, who had been guilty of seduction, burned underneath its soil.

(62) The perturbation which prevailed. Literally, "troubled them" (Laurence, p. 81).

7Through that valley also rivers of fire were flowing, to which those angels shall be condemned, who seduced the inhabitants of the earth.

8And in those days shall these waters be to kings, to princes, to the exalted, and to the inhabitants of the earth, for the healing of the soul and body, and for the judgment of the spirit.

9Their spirits shall be full of revelry, (63) that they may be judged in their bodies; because they have denied the Lord of spirits, and although they perceive their condemnation day by day, they believe not in his name.

(63) Revelry. Or, "lust" (Knibb, p. 157).

10And as the inflammation of their bodies shall be great, so shall their spirits undergo a change for ever.

11For no word which is uttered before the Lord of spirits shall be in vain.

12Judgment has come upon them, because they trusted in their carnal revelry, and denied the Lord of spirits.

13In those days shall the waters of that valley be changed; for when the angels shall be judged, then shall the heat of those springs of water experience an alteration.

14And when the angels shall ascend, the water of the springs shall again undergo a change, and be frozen. Then I heard holy Michael answering and saying, This judgment, with which the angels shall be judged, shall bear testimony against the kings, the princes, and those who possess the earth.

15For these waters of judgment shall be for their healing, and for the death (64) of their bodies. But they shall not perceive and believe that the waters will be changed, and become a fire, which shall blaze for ever.

(64) Death. Or, "lust" (Charles, p. 176; Knibb, p. 158).

 

Chapter 67

 

1After this he gave me the characteristical marks (65) of all the secret things in the book of my great-grandfather Enoch, and in the parables which had been given to him; inserting them for me among the words of the book of parables.

(65) Characteristical marks. Literally, "the signs" (Laurence, p. 83).

2At that that time holy Michael answered and said to Raphael, The power of the spirit hurries me away, and impels me on. The severity of the judgment, of the secret judgment of the angels, who is capable of beholding–the endurance of that severe judgment which has taken place and been made permanent–without being melted at the site of it? Again holy Michael answered and said to holy Raphael, Who is there whose heart is not softened by it, and whose reins are not troubled at this thing?

3Judgment has gone forth against them by those who have thus dragged them away; and that was, when they stood in the presence of the Lord of spirits.

4In like manner also holy Rakael said to Raphael, They shall not be before the eye of the Lord; (66) since the Lord of spirits has been offended with them; for like Lords (67) have they conducted themselves. Therefore will he bring upon them a secret judgment for ever and ever.

(66) They shall not…eye of the Lord. Or, "I will not take their part under the eye of the Lord" (Knibb, p. 159).
(67) For like Lords. Or, "for they act as if they were Lord" (Knibb, p. 159).

5For neither shall angel nor man receive a portion of it; but they alone shall receive their own judgment for ever end ever.

 

Chapter 68

 

1After this judgment they shall be astonished and irritated; for it shall be exhibited to the inhabitants of the earth.

2Behold the names of those angels. These are their names. The first of them is Samyaza; the second, Arstikapha; the third, Armen; the fourth, Kakabael; the fifth, Turel; the sixth, Rumyel; the seventh, Danyal; the eighth, Kael; the ninth, Barakel; the tenth, Azazel; the eleventh, Armers; the twelfth, Bataryal; the thirteenth, Basasael; the fourteenth, Ananel; the fifteenth, Turyal; the sixteenth, Simapiseel; the seventeenth, Yetarel; the eighteenth, Tumael; the nineteenth, Tarel; the twentieth, Rumel; the twenty-first, Azazyel.

3These are the chiefs of their angels, and the names of the leaders of their hundreds, and the leaders of their fifties, and the leaders of their tens.

4The name of the first is Yekun: (68) he it was who seduced all the sons of the holy angels; and causing them to descend on earth, led astray the offspring of men.

(68) Yekun may simply mean "the rebel" (Knibb, p. 160).

5The name of the second is Kesabel, who pointed out evil counsel to the sons of the holy angels, and induced them to corrupt their bodies by generating mankind.

6The name of the third is Gadrel: he discovered every stroke of death to the children of men.

7He seduced Eve; and discovered to the children of men the instruments of death, the coat of mail, the shield, and the sword for slaughter; every instrument of death to the children of men.

8From his hand were these things derived to them who dwell upon earth, from that period for ever.

9The name of the fourth is Penemue: he discovered to the children of men bitterness and sweetness;

10And pointed out to them every secret of their wisdom.

11He taught men to understand writing, and the use of ink and paper.

12Therefore numerous have been those who have gone astray from every period of the world, even to this day.

13For men were not born for this, thus with pen and with ink to confirm their faith;

14Since they were not created, except that, like the angels, they might remain righteous and pure.

15Nor would death, which destroys everything, have effected them;

16But by this their knowledge they perish, and by this also its power consumes them.

17The name of the fifth is Kasyade: he discovered to the children of men every wicked stroke of spirits and of demons:

18The stroke of the embryo in the womb, to diminish it; (69) the stroke of the spirit by the bite of the serpent, and the stroke which is given in the mid-day by the offspring of the serpent, the name of which is Tabaet. (70)

(69) The stroke…to diminish it. Or, "the blows (which attack) the embryo in the womb so that it miscarries" (Knibb, p. 162).
(70) Tabaet. Literally, "male" or "strong" (Knibb, p. 162).

19This is the number of the Kasbel; the principal part of the oath which the Most High, dwelling in glory, revealed to the holy ones.

20Its name is Beka. He spoke to holy Michael to discover to them the sacred name, that they might understand that secret name, and thus remember the oath; and that those who pointed out every secret thing to the children of men might tremble at that name and oath.

21This is the power of that oath; for powerful it is, and strong.

22And he established this oath of Akae by the instrumentality of the holy Michael.

23These are the secrets of this oath, and by it were they confirmed.

24Heaven was suspended by it before the world was made, for ever.

25By it has the earth been founded upon the flood; while from the concealed parts of the hills the agitated waters proceed forth from the creation to the end of the world.

26By this oath the sea has been formed, and the foundation of it.

27During the period of its fury he established the sand against it, which continues unchanged for ever; and by this oath the abyss has been made strong; nor is it removable from its station for ever and ever.

28By this oath the sun and moon complete their progress, never swerving from the command given to them for ever and ever.

29By this oath the stars complete their progress;

30And when their names are called, they return an answer, for ever and ever.

31Thus in the heavens take place the blowings of the winds: all of them have breathings, (71) and effect a complete combination of breathings.

(71) Breathings. Or, "spirits" (Laurence, p. 87).

32There the treasures of thunder are kept, and the splendour of the lightning.

33There are kept the treasures of hail and of frost, the treasures of snow, the treasures of rain and of dew.

34All these confess and laud before the Lord of spirits.

35They glorify with all their power of praise; and he sustains them in all that act of thanksgiving; while they laud, glorify, and exalt the name of the Lord of spirits for ever and ever.

36And with them he establishes this oath, by which they and their paths are preserved; nor does their progress perish.

37Great was their joy.

38They blessed, glorified, and exalted, because the name of the Son of man was revealed to them.

39He sat upon the throne of his glory; and the principal part of the judgment was assigned to him, the Son of man. Sinners shall disappear and perish from the face of the earth, while those who seduced them shall be bound with chains for ever.

40According to their ranks of corruption shall they be imprisoned, and all their works shall disappear from the face of the earth; nor thenceforward shall there be any to corrupt; for the Son of man has been seen, sitting on the throne of his glory.

41Everything wicked shall disappear, and depart from before his face; and the word of the Son of man shall become powerful in the presence of the Lord of spirits.

42This is the third parable of Enoch.

 

Chapter 69

 

1After this the name of the Son of man, living with the Lord of spirits, was exalted by the inhabitants of the earth.

2It was exalted in the chariots of the Spirit; and the name went forth in the midst of them.

3From that time I was not drawn into the midst of them; but he seated me between two spirits, between the north and the west, where the angels received their ropes, to measure out a place for the elect and the righteous.

4There I beheld the fathers of the first men, and the saints, who dwell in that place for ever.

 

Chapter 70

 

1Afterwards my spirit was concealed, ascending into the heavens. I beheld the sons of the holy angels treading on flaming fire, whose garments and robes were white, and whose countenances were transparent as crystal.

2I saw two rivers of fire glittering like the hyacinth.

3Then I fell on my face before the Lord of spirits.

4And Michael, one of the archangels, took me by my right hand, raised me up, and brought me out to where was every secret of mercy and secret of righteousness.

5He showed me all the hidden things of the extremities of heaven, all the receptacles of the stars, and the splendours of all, from whence they went forth before the face of the holy.

6And he concealed the spirit of Enoch in the heaven of heavens.

7There I beheld, in the midst of that light, a building raised with stones of ice;

8And in the midst of these stone vibrations (72) of living fire. My spirit saw around the circle of this flaming habitation, on one of its extremities, that there were rivers full of living fire, which encompassed it.

(72) Vibrations. Literally, "tongues" (Laurence, p. 90).

9Then the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and Ophanin (73) surrounded it: these are those who never sleep, but watch the throne of his glory.

(73) Ophanin. The "wheels" of Ezek. 1:15-21 (Charles, p. 162).

10And I beheld angels innumerable, thousands of thousands, and myriads and myriads, who surrounded that habitation.

11Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Phanuel and the holy angels who were in the heavens above, went in and out of it. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel went out of that habitation, and holy angels innumerable.

12With them was the Ancient of days, whose head was white as wool, and pure, and his robe was indescribable.

13Then I fell upon my face, while all my flesh was dissolved, and my spirit became changed.

14I cried out with a loud voice, with a powerful spirit, blessing, glorifying, and exalting.

15And those blessings, which proceeded from my mouth, became acceptable in the presence of the Ancient of days.

16The Ancient of days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, with thousands of thousands, and myriads and myriads, which could not be numbered.

17Then that angel came to me, and with his voice saluted me, saying, You are the Son of man, (74) who art born for righteousness, and righteousness has rested upon you.

(74) Son of man. Laurence's original translation renders this phrase "offspring of man." Knibb (p. 166) and Charles (p. 185) indicate that it should be "Son of man," consistent with the other occurrences of that term in the Book of Enoch.

18The righteousness of the Ancient of days shall not forsake you.

19He said, On you shall he confer peace in the name of the existing world; for from thence has peace gone forth since the world was created.

20And thus shall it happen to you for ever and ever.

21All who shall exist, and who shall walk in your path of righteousness, shall not forsake you for ever.

22With you shall be their habitations, with you their lot; nor from you shall they be separated for ever and ever.

23And thus shall length of days be with the Son of man. (75)

(75) Son of man. Literally, "offspring of man," or "the Christ who comes from the offspring of man."

24Peace shall be to the righteous; and the path of integrity shall the righteous pursue, in the name of the Lord of spirits, for ever and ever.

 

Chapter 71

 

1The book of the revolutions of the luminaries of heaven, according to their respective classes, their respective powers, their respective periods, their respective names, the places where they commence their progress, and their respective months, which Uriel, the holy angel who was with me, explained to me; he who conducted them. The whole account of them, according to every year of the world for ever, until a new work shall be effected, which will be eternal.

2This is the first law of the luminaries. The sun and the light arrive at the gates of heaven, which are on the east, and on the west of it at the western gates of heaven.

3I beheld the gates whence the sun goes forth; and the gates where the sun sets;

4In which gates also the moon rises and sets; and I beheld the conductors of the stars, among those who precede them; six gates were at the rising, and six at the setting of the sun.

5All these respectively, one after another, are on a level; and numerous windows are on the right and on the left sides of those gates.

6First proceeds forth that great luminary, which is called the sun; the orb of which is as the orb of heaven, the whole of it being replete with splendid and flaming fire.

7Its chariot, where it ascends, the wind blows.

8The sun sets in heaven, and, returning by the north, to proceed towards the east, is conducted so as to enter by that gate, and illuminate the face of heaven.

9In the same manner it goes forth in the first month by the great gate.

10It goes forth through the fourth of those six gates, which are at the rising of the sun.

11And in the fourth gate, through which the sun with the moon proceeds, in the first part of it, (76) there are twelve open windows; from which issues out a flame, when they are opened in their proper periods.

(76) Through which…part of it. Or, "from which the sun rises in the first month" (Knibb, p. 168).

12When the sun rises in heaven, it goes forth through this fourth gate thirty days, and by the fourth gate in the west of heaven on a level with it descends.

13During that period the day is lengthened from the day, and the night curtailed from the night for thirty days. And then the day is longer by two parts than the night.

14The day is precisely ten parts, and the night is eight.

15The sun goes forth through this fourth gate, and sets in it, and turns to the fifth gate during thirty days; after which it proceeds from, and sets in, the fifth gate.

16Then the day becomes lengthened by a second portion, so that it is eleven parts: while the night becomes shortened, and is only seven parts.

17The sun now returns to the east, entering into the sixth gate, and rising and setting in the sixth gate thirty-one days, on account of its signs.

18At that period the day is longer than the night, being twice as long as the night; and become twelve parts;

19But the night is shortened, and becomes six parts. Then the sun rises up, that the day may be shortened, and the night lengthened.

20And the sun returns toward the east entering into the sixth gate, where it rises and sets for thirty days.

21When that period is completed, the day becomes shortened precisely one part, so that it is eleven parts, while the night is seven parts.

22Then the sun goes from the west, from that sixth gate, and proceeds eastwards, rising in the fifth gate for thirty days, and setting again westwards in the fifth gate of the west.

23At that period the day becomes shortened two parts; and is ten parts, while the night is eight parts.

24Then the sun goes from the fifth gate, as it sets in the fifth gate of the west; and rises in the fourth gate for thirty-one days, on account of its signs, setting in the west.

25At that period the day is made equal with the night; and, being equal with it, the night becomes nine parts, and the day nine parts.

26Then the sun goes from that gate, as it sets in the west; and returning to the east proceeds by the third gate for thirty days, setting in the west at the third gate.

27At that period the night is lengthened from the day during thirty mornings, and the day is curtailed from the day during thirty days; the night being ten parts precisely, and the day eight parts.

28The sun now goes from the third gate, as it sets in the third gate in the west; but returning to the east, it proceeds by the second gate of the east for thirty days.

29In like manner also it sets in the second gate in the west of heaven.

30At that period the night is eleven parts, and the day seven parts.

31Then the sun goes at that time from the second gate, as it sets in the second gate in the west; but returns to the east, proceeding by the first gate, for thirty-one days.

32And sets in the west in the first gate.

33At that period that night is lengthened as much again as the day.

34It is twelve parts precisely, while the day is six parts.

35The sun has thus completed its beginnings, and a second time goes round from these beginnings.

36Into that first gate it enters for thirty days, and sets in the west, in the opposite part of heaven.

37At that period the night is contracted in its length a fourth part, that is, one portion, and becomes eleven parts.

38The day is seven parts.

39Then the sun returns, and enters into the second gate of the east.

40It returns by these beginnings thirty days, rising and setting.

41At that period the night is contracted in its length. It becomes ten parts, and the day eight parts. Then the sun goes from that second gate, and sets in the west; but returns to the east, and rises in the east, in the third gate, thirty-one days, setting in the west of heaven.

42At that period the night becomes shortened. It is nine parts. And the night is equal with the day. The year is precisely three hundred and sixty-four days.

43The lengthening of the day and night, and the contraction of the day and night, are made to differ from each other by the progress of the sun.

44By means of this progress the day is daily lengthened, and the night greatly shortened.

45This is the law and progress of the sun, and its turning when it turns back, turning during sixty days, (77) and going forth. This is the great everlasting luminary, that which he names the sun for ever and ever.

(77) That is, it is sixty days in the same gates, viz. Thirty days twice every year (Laurence, p. 97).

46This also is that which goes forth a great luminary, and which is named after its peculiar kind, as God commanded.

47And thus it goes in and out, neither slackening nor resting; but running on in its chariot by day and by night. It shines with a seventh portion of light from the moon; (78) but the dimensions of both are equal.

(78) It shines with…from the moon. Or, "Its light is seven times brighter than that of the moon" (Knibb, p. 171). The Aramaic texts more clearly describe how the moon's light waxes and wanes by a half of a seventh part each day. Here in the Ethiopic version, the moon is thought of as two halves, each half being divided into seven parts. Hence, the "fourteen portions" of 72:9-10 (Knibb, p. 171).

 

Chapter 72

 

1After this law I beheld another law of an inferior luminary, the name of which is the moon, and the orb of which is as the orb of heaven.

2Its chariot, which it secretly ascends, the wind blows; and light is given to it by measure.

3Every month at its exit and entrance it becomes changed; and its periods are as the periods of the sun. And when in like manner its light is to exist, (79) its light is a seventh portion from the light of the sun.

(79) And when in…is to exist. I.e., when the moon is full (Knibb, p. 171).

4Thus it rises, and at its commencement towards the east goes forth for thirty days.

5At that time it appears, and becomes to you the beginning of the month. Thirty days it is with the sun in the gate from which the sun goes forth.

6Half of it is in extent seven portions, one half; and the whole of its orb is void of light, except a seventh portion out of the fourteen portions of its light. And in a day it receives a seventh portion, or half that portion, of its light. Its light is by sevens, by one portion, and by the half of a portion. Its sets with the sun.

7And when the sun rises, the moon rises with it; receiving half a portion of light.

8On that night, when it commences its period, previously to the day of the month, the moon sets with the sun.

9And on that night it is dark in its fourteen portions, that is, in each half; but it rises on that day with one seventh portion precisely, and in its progress declines from the rising of the sun.

10During the remainder of its period its light increases to fourteen portions.

The Reluctant Messenger Blog




 

Chapter 73

 

1Then I saw another progress and regulation which He effected in the law of the moon. The progress of the moons, and everything relating to them, Uriel showed me, the holy angel who conducted them all.

2Their stations I wrote down as he showed them to me.

3I wrote down their months, as they occur, and the appearance of their light, until it is completed in fifteen days.

4In each of its two seven portions it completes all its light at rising and at setting.

5On stated months it changes its settings; and on stated months it makes its progress through each gate. In two gates the moon sets with the sun, viz. in those two gates which are in the midst, in the third and fourth gate. From the third gate it goes forth for seven days, and makes its circuit.

6Again it returns to the gate whence the sun goes forth, and in that completes the whole of its light. Then it declines from the sun, and enters in eight days into the sixth gate, and returns in seven days to the third gate, from which the sun goes forth.

7When the sun proceeds to the fourth gate, the moon goes forth for seven days, until it passes from the fifth gate.

8Again it returns in seven days to the fourth gate, and completing all its light, declines, and passes on by the first gate in eight days;

9And returns in seven days to the fourth gate, from which the sun goes forth.

10Thus I beheld their stations, as according to the fixed order of the months the sun rises and sets.

11At those times there is an excess of thirty days belonging to the sun in five years; all the days belonging to each year of the five years, when completed, amount to three hundred and sixty-four days; and to the sun and stars belong six days; six days in each of the five years; thus thirty days belonging to them;

12So that the moon has thirty days less than the sun and stars.

13The moon brings on all the years exactly, that their stations may come neither too forwards nor too backwards a single day; but that the years may be changed with correct precision in three hundred and sixty-four days. In three years the days are one thousand and ninety-two; in five years they are one thousand eight hundred and twenty; and in eight years two thousand nine hundred and twelve days.

14To the moon alone belong in three years one thousand and sixty-two days; in five years it has fifty days less than the sun, for an addition being made to the one thousand and sixty-two days, in five years there are one thousand seven hundred and seventy days; and the days of the moon in eight years are two thousand eight hundred and thirty-two days.

15For its days in eight years are less than those of the sun by eighty days, which eighty days are its diminution in eight years.

16The year then becomes truly complete according to the station of the moon, and the station of the sun; which rise in the different gates; which rise and set in them for thirty days.

 

Chapter 74

 

1These are the leaders of the chiefs of the thousands, those which preside over all creation, and over all the stars; with the four days which are added and never separated from the place allotted them, according to the complete calculation of the year.

2And these serve four days, which are not calculated in the calculation of the year.

3Respecting them, men greatly err, for these luminaries truly serve, in the dwelling place of the world, one day in the first gate, one in the third gate, one in the fourth gate, and one in the sixth gate.

4And the harmony of the world becomes complete every three hundred and sixty-fourth state of it. For the signs,

5The seasons,

6The years,

7And the days, Uriel showed me; the angel whom the Lord of glory appointed over all the luminaries.

8Of heaven in heaven, and in the world; that they might rule in the face of the sky, and appearing over the earth, become

9Conductors of the days and nights: the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the ministers of heaven, which make their circuit with all the chariots of heaven.

10Thus Uriel showed me twelve gates open for the circuit of the chariots of the sun in heaven, from which the rays of the sun shoot forth.

11From these proceed heat over the earth, when they are opened in their stated seasons. They are for the winds, and the spirit of the dew, when in their seasons they are opened; opened in heaven at its extremities.

12Twelve gates I beheld in heaven, at the extremities of the earth, through which the sun, moon, and stars, and all the works of heaven, proceed at their rising and setting.

13Many windows also are open on the right and on the left.

14One window at a certain season grows extremely hot. So also are there gates from which the stars go forth as they are commanded, and in which they set according to their number.

15I saw likewise the chariots of heaven, running in the world above to those gates in which the stars turn, which never set. One of these is greater than all, which goes round the whole world.

 

Chapter 75

 

1And at the extremities of the earth I beheld twelve gates open for all the winds, from which they proceed and blow over the earth.

2Three of them are open in the front of heaven, three in the west, three on the right side of heaven, and three on the left. The first three are those which are towards the east, three are towards the north, three behind those which are upon the left, towards the south, and three on the west.

3From four of them proceed winds of blessing, and of health; and from eight proceed winds of punishment; when they are sent to destroy the earth, and the heaven above it, all its inhabitants, and all which are in the waters, or on dry land.

4The first of these winds proceeds from the gate termed the eastern, through the first gate on the east, which inclines southwards. From this goes forth destruction, drought, heat, and perdition.

5From the second gate, the middle one, proceeds equity. There issue from it rain, fruitfulness, health, and dew; and from the third gate northwards, proceed cold and drought.

6After these proceed the south winds through three principal gates; through their first gate, which inclines eastwards, proceeds a hot wind.

7But from the middle gate proceed grateful odour, dew, rain, health, and life.

8From the third gate, which is westwards, proceed dew, rain, blight, and destruction.

9After these are the winds to the north, which is called the sea. They proceed from three gates. The first (80) gate is that which is on the east, inclining southwards; from this proceed dew, rain, blight, and destruction. From the middle direct gate proceed rain, dew, life, and health. And from the third gate, which is westwards, inclining towards the south, proceed mist, frost, snow, rain, dew, and blight.

(80) First. Or, "seventh" (Knibb, p. 178).

10After these in the fourth quarter are the winds to the west. From the first gate, inclining northwards, proceed dew, rain, frost, cold, snow, and chill; from the middle gate proceed rain, health, and blessing;

11And from the last gate, which is southwards, proceed drought, destruction, scorching, and perdition.

12The account of the twelve gates of the four quarters of heaven is ended.

13All their laws, all their infliction of punishment, and the health produced by them, have I explained to you, my son Mathusala. (81)

(81) Mathusala. Enoch's son, Methuselah. Cp. Gen. 5:21.

 

Chapter 76

 

1The first wind is called the eastern, because it is the first.

2The second is called the south, because the Most High there descends, and frequently there descends he who is blessed for ever.

3The western wind has the name of diminution, because there all the luminaries of heaven are diminished, and descend.

4The fourth wind, which is named the north, is divided into three parts; one of which is for the habitation of man; another for seas of water, with valleys, woods, rivers, shady places, and snow; and the third part contains paradise.

5Seven high mountains I beheld, higher than all the mountains of the earth, from which frost proceeds; while days, seasons, and years depart and pass away.

6Seven rivers I beheld upon earth, greater than all rivers, one of which takes its course from the west; into a great sea its water flows.

7Two come from the north to the sea, their waters flowing into the Erythraean sea, (82) on the east. And with respect to the remaining four, they take their course in the cavity of the north, two to their sea, the Erythraean sea, and two are poured into a great sea, where also it is said there is a desert.

(82) The Red Sea.

8Seven great islands I saw in the sea and on the earth. Seven in the great sea.

 

Chapter 77

 

1The names of the sun are these: one Aryares, the other Tomas.

2The moon has four names. The first is Asonya; the second, Ebla; the third, Benase; and the fourth, Erae.

3These are the two great luminaries, whose orbs are as the orbs of heaven; and the dimensions of both are equal.

4In the orb of the sun there is a seventh portion of light, which is added to it from the moon. (83) By measure it is put in, until the seventh portion of the light of the sun is departed. They set, enter into the western gate, circuit by the north, and through the eastern gate go forth over the face of heaven.

(83) A seventh portion…from the moon. Or, "seven parts of light which are added to it more than to the moon" (Knibb, p. 182).

5When the moon rises, it appears in heaven; and the half of a seventh portion of light is all which is in it.

6In fourteen days the whole of its light is completed.

7By three quintuples light is put into it, until in fifteen days its light is completed, according to the signs of the year; it has three quintuples.

8The moon has the half of a seventh portion.

9During its diminution on the first day its light decreases a fourteenth part; on the second day it decreases a thirteenth part; on the third day a twelfth part; on the fourth day an eleventh part; on the fifth day a tenth part; on the sixth day a ninth part; on the seventh day it decreases an eighth part; on the eighth day it decreases a seventh part; on the ninth day it decreases a sixth part; on the tenth day it decreases a fifth part; on the eleventh day it decreases a fourth part; on the twelfth day it decreases third part; on the thirteenth day it decreases a second part; on the fourteenth day it decreases a half of its seventh part; and on the fifteenth day the whole remainder of its light is consumed.

10On stated months the moon has twenty-nine days.

11It also has a period of twenty-eight days.

12Uriel likewise showed me another regulation, when light is poured into the moon, how it is poured into it from the sun.

13All the time that the moon is in progress with its light, it is poured into it in the presence of the sun, until its light is in fourteen days completed in heaven.

14And when it is wholly extinguished, its light is consumed in heaven; and on the first day it is called the new moon, for on that day light is received into it.

15It becomes precisely completed on the day that the sun descends into the west, while the moon ascends at night from the east.

16The moon then shines all the night, until the sun rises before it; when the moon disappears in turn before the sun.

17Where light comes to the moon, there again it decreases, until all its light is extinguished, and the days of the moon pass away.

18Then its orb remains solitary without light.

19During three months it effects in thirty days each month its period; and during three more months it effects it in twenty-nine days each. These are the times in which it effects its decrease in its first period, and in the first gate, namely, in one hundred and seventy-seven days.

20And at the time of its going forth during three months it appears thirty days each, and during three more months it appears twenty-nine days each.

21In the night it appears for each twenty days as the face of a man, and in the day as heaven; for it is nothing else except its light.

 

Chapter 78

 

1And now, my son Mathusala, I have shown you everything; and the account of every ordinance of the stars of heaven is finished.

2He showed me every ordinance respecting these, which takes place at all times and in all seasons under every influence, in all years, at the arrival and under the rule of each, during every month and every week. He showed me also the decrease of the moon, which is effected in the sixth gate; for in that sixth gate is its light consumed.

3From this is the beginning of the month; and its decrease is effected in the sixth gate in its period, until a hundred and seventy-seven days are completed; according to the mode of calculation by weeks, twenty-five weeks and two days.

4Its period is less that that of the sun, according to the ordinance of the stars, by five days in one half year (84) precisely.

(84) In one half year. Literally, "in one time" (Laurence, p. 110).

5When that their visible situation is completed. Such is the appearance and likeness of every luminary, which Uriel, the great angel who conducts them, showed to me.

 

Chapter 79

 

1In those days Uriel answered and said to me, Behold, I have showed you all things, O Enoch;

2And all things have I revealed to you. You see the sun, the moon, and those which conduct the stars of heaven, which cause all their operations, seasons, and arrivals to return.

3In the days of sinners the years shall be shortened.

4Their seed shall be backward in their prolific soil; and everything done on earth shall be subverted, and disappear in its season. The rain shall be restrained, and heaven shall stand still.

5In those days the fruits of the earth shall be late, and not flourish in their season; and in their season the fruits of the trees shall be withholden.

6The moon shall change its laws, and not be seen at its proper period. But in those days shall heaven be seen; and barrenness shall take place in the borders of the great chariots in the west. Heaven shall shine more than when illuminated by the orders of light; while many chiefs among the stars of authority shall err, perverting their ways and works.

7Those shall not appear in their season, who commanded them, and all the classes of the stars shall be shut up against sinners.

8The thoughts of those who dwell on the earth shall transgress within them; and they shall be perverted in all their ways.

9They shall transgress, and think themselves (85) gods; while evil shall be multiplied among them.

(85) Themselves. Or, "them" i.e., the chiefs among the stars (vs. 6) (Knibb, p. 186).

10And punishment shall come upon them, so that all of them shall be destroyed.

 

Chapter 80

 

1He said, O Enoch, look on the book which heaven has gradually dropped down; (86) and, reading that which is written in it, understand every part of it.

(86) The book which…dropped down. Or, "the book of the tablets of heaven" (Knibb, p. 186).

2Then I looked on all which was written, and understood all, reading the book and everything written in it, all the works of man;

3And of all the children of flesh upon earth, during the generations of the world.

4Immediately after I blessed the Lord, the King of glory, who has thus for ever formed the whole workmanship of the world.

5And I glorified the Lord, on account of his long-suffering and blessing towards the children of the world.

6At that time I said, Blessed is the man, who shall die righteous and good, against whom no catalogue of crime has been written, and with whom iniquity is not found.

7Then those three holy ones caused me to approach, and placed me on the earth, before the door of my house.

8And they said unto me, Explain everything to Mathusala your son; and inform all your children, that no flesh shall be justified before the Lord; for he is their Creator.

9During one year we shall leave you with your children, until you shalt again recover your strength, that you may instruct your family, write these things, and explain them to all your children. But in another year they shall take you from the midst of them, and your heart shall be strengthened; for the elect shall point out righteousness to the elect; the righteous with the righteous shall rejoice, congratulating each other; but the sinners with sinners shall die,

10And the perverted with the perverted shall be drowned.

11Those likewise who act righteously shall die on account of the works of man, and shall be gathered together on account of the works of the wicked.

12In those days they finished conversing with me.

13And I returned to my fellow men, blessing the Lord of worlds.

 

Chapter 81

 

1Now, my son Mathusala, all these things I speak unto you, and write for you. To you I have revealed all, and have given you books of everything.

2Preserve, my son Mathusala, the books written by your father; that you may reveal them to future generations.

3Wisdom have I given you, to your children, and your posterity, that they may reveal to their children, for generations for ever, this wisdom in their thoughts; and that those who comprehend it may not slumber, but hear with their ears; that they may learn this wisdom, and be deemed worthy of eating this wholesome food.

4Blessed are all the righteous; blessed are all who walk in righteousness; in whom no crime is found, as in sinners, when all their days are numbered.

5With respect to the progress of the sun in heaven, it enters and goes out of each gate for thirty days, with the leaders of the thousand classes of the stars; with four which are added, and appertain to the four quarters of the year, which conduct them, and accompany them at four periods.

6Respecting these, men greatly err, and do not calculate them in the calculation of every age; for they greatly err respecting them; nor do men know accurately that they are in the calculation of the year. But indeed these are marked down for ever; one in the first gate, one in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth:

7So that the year is completed in three hundred and sixty-four days.

8Truly has been stated, and accurately has been calculated that which is marked down; for the luminaries, the months, the fixed periods, the years, and the days, Uriel has explained to me, and communicated to me; whom the Lord of all creation, on my account, commanded (according to the might of heaven, and the power which it possesses both by night and by day) to explain the laws of light to man, of the sun, moon, and stars, and of all the powers of heaven, which are turned with their respective orbs.

9This is the ordinance of the stars, which set in their places, in their seasons, in their periods, in their days, and in their months.

10These are the names of the those who conduct them, who watch and enter in their seasons, according to their ordinance in their periods, in their months, in the times of their influence, and in their stations.

11Four conductors of them first enter, who separate the four quarters of the year. After these, twelve conductors of their classes, who separate the months and the year into three hundred and sixty-four days, with the leaders of a thousand, who distinguish between the days, as well as between the four additional ones; which, as conductors, divide the four quarters of the year.

12These leaders of a thousand are in the midst of the conductors, and the conductors are added each behind his station, and their conductors make the separation. These are the names of the conductors, who separate the four quarters of the year, who are appointed over them: Melkel, Helammelak,

13Meliyal, and Narel.

14And the names of those who conduct them are Adnarel, Jyasusal, and Jyelumeal.

15These are the three who follow after the conductors of the classes of stars; each following after the three conductors of the classes, which themselves follow after those conductors of the stations, who divide the four quarters of the year.

16In the first part of the year rises and rules Melkyas, who is named Tamani, and Zahay. (87)

(87) Tamani, and Zahay. Or, "the southern sun" (Knibb, p. 190).

17All the days of his influence, during which he rules, are ninety-one days.

18And these are the signs of the days which are seen upon the earth. In the days of his influence there is perspiration, heat, and trouble. All the trees become fruitful; the leaf of every tree comes forth; the corn is reaped; the rose and every species of flowers blossoms in the field; and the trees of winter are dried up.

19These are the names of the conductors who are under them: Barkel, Zelsabel; and another additional conductor of a thousand is named Heloyalef, the days of those influence have been completed. The other conductor next after them is Helemmelek, whose name they call the splendid Zahay. (88)

(88) Zahay. Or, "sun" (Knibb, p. 191).

20All the days of his light are ninety-one days.

21These are the signs of the days upon earth, heat and drought; while the trees bring forth their fruits, warmed and concocted, and give their fruits to dry.

22The flocks follow and yean. (89) All the fruits of the earth are collected, with everything in the fields, and the vines are trodden. This takes place during the time of his influence.

(89) Follow and yean. Mate and bear young.

23These are their names and orders, and the names of the conductors who are under them, of those who are chiefs of a thousand: Gedaeyal, Keel, Heel.

24And the name of the additional leader of a thousand is Asphael.

25The days of his influence have been completed.

 

Chapter 82

 

1And now I have shown you, my son Mathusala, every sight which I saw prior to your birth. I will relate another vision, which I saw before I was married; they resemble each other.

2The first was when I was learning a book; and the other before I was married to your mother. I saw a potent vision;

3And on account of these things besought the Lord.

4I was lying down in the house of my grandfather Malalel, when I saw in a vision heaven purifying, and snatched away. (90)

(90) Purifying, and snatched away. Or, "was thrown down and removed" (Knibb, p. 192).

5And falling to the earth, (91) I saw likewise the earth absorbed by a great abyss; and mountains suspended over mountains.

(91) And falling to the earth. Or, "and when it fell upon the earth" (Knibb, p. 192).

6Hills were sinking upon hills, lofty trees were gliding off from their trunks, and were in the act of being projected, and of sinking into the abyss.

7Being alarmed at these things, my voice faltered. (92) I cried out and said, The earth is destroyed. Then my grandfather Malalel raised me up, and said to me: Why do you thus cry out, my son? And wherefore thus do you lament?

(92) My voice faltered. Literally, "the word fell down in my mouth" (Laurence, p. 118).

8I related to him the whole vision which I had seen. He said to me, Confirmed is that which you have seen, my son;

9And potent the vision of your dream respecting every secret sin of the earth. Its substance shall sink into the abyss, and a great destruction take place.

10Now, my son, rise up; and beseech the Lord of glory (for you are faithful), that a remnant may be left upon earth, and that he would not wholly destroy it. My son, all this calamity upon earth comes down from heaven; upon earth shall there be a great destruction.

11Then I arose, prayed, and entreated; and wrote down my prayer for the generations of the world, explaining everything to my son Mathusala.

12When I went down below, and looking up to heaven, beheld the sun proceeding from the east, the moon descending to the west, a few scattered stars, and everything which God has known from the beginning, I blessed the Lord of judgment, and magnified him: because he hath sent forth the sun from the chambers (93) of the east; that, ascending and rising in the face of heaven, it might spring up, and pursue the path which has been pointed out to it.

(93) Chambers. Literally, "windows" (Laurence, p. 119).

 

Chapter 83

 

1I lifted up my hands in righteousness, and blessed the holy, and the Great One. I spoke with the breath of my mouth, and with a tongue of flesh, which God has formed for all the sons of mortal men, that with it they may speak; giving them breath, a mouth, and a tongue to converse with.

2Blessed are you, O Lord, the King, great and powerful in your greatness, Lord of all the creatures of heaven, King of kings, God of the whole world, whose reign, whose kingdom, and whose majesty endure for ever and ever.

3From generation to generation shall your dominion exist. All the heavens are your throne for ever, and all the earth your footstool for ever and for ever.

4For you have made them, and over all you reign. No act whatsoever exceeds your power. With your wisdom is unchangeable; nor from your throne and from your presence is it ever averted. You know all things, see and hear them; nor is anything concealed from you; for you perceive all things.

5The angels of your heavens have transgressed; and on mortal flesh shall your wrath remain, until the day of the great judgment.

6Now then, O God, Lord and mighty King, I entreat you, and beseech you to grant my prayer, that a posterity may be left to me on earth, and that the whole human race may not perish;

7That the earth may not be left destitute, and destruction take place for ever.

8O my Lord, let the race perish from off the earth which has offended you, but a righteous and upright race establish for a posterity (94) for ever. Hide not your face, O Lord, from the prayer of your servant.

(94) For a posterity. Literally, "for the plant of a seed" (Laurence, p. 121).

 

Chapter 84

 

1After this I saw another dream, and explained it all to you, my son. Enoch arose and said to his son Mathusala, To you, my son, will I speak. Hear my word; and incline your ear to the visionary dream of your father. Before I married your mother Edna, I saw a vision on my bed; (95)

(95) This second vision of Enoch seems to portray in symbolic language the complete history of the world from the time of Adam down to the final judgment and the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom (Charles, p. 227).

2And behold, a cow sprung forth from the earth;

3And this cow was white.

4Afterwards a female heifer sprung forth; and with it another heifer: (96) one of them was black, and one was red. (97)

(96) Another heifer. The sense seems to require that the passage should read, "two other heifers" (Laurence, p. 121).
(97) Cain and Abel.

5The black heifer then struck the red one, and pursued it over the earth.

6From that period I could see nothing more of the red heifer; but the black one increased in bulk, and a female heifer came with him.

7After this I saw that many cows proceeded forth, resembling him, and following after him.

8The first female young one also went out in the presence of the first cow; and sought the red heifer, but found him not.

9And she lamented with a great lamentation, while she was seeking him.

10Then I looked until that first cow came to her, from which time she became silent, and ceased to lament.

11Afterwards she calved another white cow.

12And again calved many cows and black heifers.

13In my sleep also I perceived a white bull, which in like manner grew, and became a large white bull.

14After him many white cows came forth, resembling him.

15And they began to calve many other white cows, which resembled them and followed each other.

 

Chapter 85

 

1Again I looked attentively, while sleeping, and surveyed heaven above.

2And behold a single star fell from heaven.

3Which being raised up, ate and fed among those cows.

4After that I perceived other large and black cows; and behold all of them changed their stalls and pastures, while their young began to lament one with another. Again I looked in my vision, and surveyed heaven; when behold I saw many stars which descended, and projected themselves from heaven to where the first star was,

5Into the midst of those young ones; while the cows were with them, feeding in the midst of them.

6I looked at and observed them; when behold, they all acted after the manner of horses, and began to approach the young cows, all of whom became pregnant, and brought forth elephants, camels, and asses.

7At these all the cows were alarmed and terrified; when they began biting with their teeth, swallowing, and striking with their horns.

8They began also to devour the cows; and behold all the children of the earth trembled, shook with terror at them, and suddenly fled away.

 

Chapter 86

 

1Again I perceived them, when they began to strike and to swallow each other; and the earth cried out. Then I raised my eyes a second time towards heaven, and saw in a vision, that, behold, there came forth from heaven as it were the likeness of white men. One came forth from thence, and three with him.

2Those three, who came forth last, seized me by my hand; and raising me up from the generations of the earth, elevated me to a high station.

3Then they showed me a lofty tower on the earth, while every hill became diminished. And they said, Remain here, until you perceive what shall come upon those elephants, camels, and asses, upon the stars, and upon all the cows.

 

Chapter 87

 

1Then I looked at that one of the four white men, who came forth first.

2He seized the first star which fell down from heaven.

3And, binding it hand and foot, he cast it into a valley; a valley narrow, deep, stupendous, and gloomy.

4Then one of them drew his sword, and gave it to the elephants, camels, and asses, who began to strike each other. And the whole earth shook on account of them.

5And when I looked in the vision, behold, one of those four angels, who came forth, hurled from heaven, collected together, and took all the great stars, whose form partly resembles that of horses; and binding them all hand and foot, cast them into the cavities of the earth.

 

Chapter 88

 

1Then one of those four went to the white cows, and taught them a mystery. While the cow was trembling, it was born, and became a man, (98) and fabricated for himself a large ship. In this he dwelt, and three cows (99) dwelt with him in that ship, which covered them.

(98) Noah.
(99) Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

2Again I lifted up my eyes towards heaven, and saw a lofty roof. Above it were seven cataracts, which poured fourth on a certain village much water.

3Again I looked, and behold there were fountains open on the earth in that large village.

4The water began to boil up, and rose over the earth; so that the village was not seen, while its whole soil was covered with water.

5Much water was over it, darkness, and clouds. Then I surveyed the height of this water; and it was elevated above the village.

6It flowed over the village, and stood higher than the earth.

7Then all the cows which were collected there, while I looked on them, were drowned, swallowed up, and destroyed in the water.

8But the ship floated above it. All the cows, the elephants, the camels, and the asses, were drowned on the earth, and all cattle. Nor could I perceive them. Neither were they able to get out, but perished, and sunk into the deep.

9Again I looked in the vision until those cataracts from that lofty roof were removed, and the fountains of the earth became equalized, while other depths were opened;

10Into which the water began to descend, until the dry ground appeared.

11The ship remained on the earth; the darkness receded; and it became light.

12Then the white cow, which became a man, went out of the ship, and the three cows with him.

13One of the three cows was white, resembling that cow; one of them was red as blood; and one of them was black. And the white cow left them.

14Then began wild beasts and birds to bring forth.

15Of all these the different kinds assembled together, lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, and the hanzar.

16The siset, the avest, kites, the phonkas, and ravens.

17Then the white cow (100) was born in the midst of them.

(100) Abraham.

18And they began to bite each other; when the white cow, which was born in the midst of them, brought forth a wild ass and a white cow at the same time, and after that many wild asses. Then the white cow, (101) which was born, brought forth a black wild sow and a white sheep. (102)

(101) Isaac.
(102) Esau and Jacob.

19That wild sow also brought forth many swine.

20And that sheep brought forth twelve sheep. (103)

(103) The twelve patriarchs.

21When those twelve sheep grew up, they delivered one of them (104) to the asses. (105)

(104) Joseph.
(105) The Midianites.

22Again those asses delivered that sheep to the wolves, (106)

(106) The Egyptians.

23And he grew up in the midst of them.

24Then the Lord brought the eleven other sheep, that they might dwell and feed with him in the midst of the wolves.

25They multiplied, and there was abundance of pasture for them.

26But the wolves began to frighten and oppress them, while they destroyed their young ones.

27And they left their young in torrents of deep water.

28Now the sheep began to cry out on account of their young, and fled for refuge to their Lord. One (107) however, which was saved, escaped, and went away to the wild asses.

(107) Moses.

29I beheld the sheep moaning, crying, and petitioning their Lord.

30With all their might, until the Lord of the sheep descended at their voice from his lofty habitation; went to them; and inspected them.

31He called to that sheep which had secretly stolen away from the wolves, and told him to make the wolves understand that they were not to touch the sheep.

32Then that sheep went to the wolves with the word of the Lord, when another met him, (108) and proceeded with him.

(108) Aaron.

33Both of them together entered the dwelling of the wolves; and conversing with them made them understand, that thenceforwards they were not to touch the sheep.

34Afterwards I perceived the wolves greatly prevailing over the sheep with their whole force. The sheep cried out; and their Lord came to them.

35He began to strike the wolves, who commenced a grievous lamentation; but the sheep were silent, nor from that time did they cry out.

36I then looked at them, until they departed from the wolves. The eyes of the wolves were blind, who went out and followed them with all their might. But the Lord of the sheep proceeded with them, and conducted them.

37All his sheep followed him.

38His countenance was terrific and splendid, and glorious was his aspect. Yet the wolves began to follow the sheep, until they overtook them in a certain lake of water. (109)

(109) The Red Sea.

39Then that lake became divided; the water standing up on both sides before their face.

40And while their Lord was conducting them, he placed himself between them and the wolves.

41The wolves however perceived not the sheep, but went into the midst of the lake, following them, and running after them into the lake of water.

42But when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to fly from before his face.

43Then the water of the lake returned, and that suddenly, according to its nature. It became full, and was raised up, until it covered the wolves. And I saw that all of them which had followed the sheep perished, and were drowned.

44But the sheep passed over this water, proceeding to a wilderness, which was without both water and grass. And they began to open their eyes and to see.

45Then I beheld the Lord of the sheep inspecting them, and giving them water and grass.

46The sheep already mentioned was proceeding with them, and conducting them.

47And when he had ascended the top of the lofty rock, the Lord of the sheep sent him to them.

48Afterwards I perceived their Lord standing before them, with an aspect terrific and severe.

49And when they all beheld him, they were frightened at his countenance.

50All of them were alarmed, and trembled. They cried out after that sheep; and to the other sheep who had been with him, and who was in the midst of them, saying, We are not able to stand before our Lord, or to look upon him.

51Then that sheep who conducted them went away, and ascended the top of the rock;

52When the rest of the sheep began to grow blind, and to wander from the path which he had shown them; but he knew it not.

53Their Lord however was moved with great indignation against them; and when that sheep had learned what had happened,

54He descended from the top of the rock, and coming to them, found that there were many,

55Which had become blind;

56And had wandered from his path. As soon as they beheld him, they feared, and trembled at his presence;

57And became desirous of returning to their fold,

58Then that sheep, taking with him other sheep, went to those which had wandered.

59And afterwards began to kill them. They were terrified at his countenance. Then he caused those which had wandered to return; who went back to their fold.

60I likewise saw there in the vision, that this sheep became a man, built a house (110) for the Lord of the sheep, and made them all stand in the house.

(110) A house. A tabernacle (Milik, p. 205).

61I perceived also that the sheep which proceeded to meet this sheep, their conductor, died. I saw, too, that all the great sheep perished, while smaller ones rose up in their place, entered into a pasture, and approached a river of water. (111)

(111) The river Jordan.

62Then that sheep, their conductor, who became a man, was separated from them, and died.

63All the sheep sought after him, and cried for him with bitter lamentation.

64I saw likewise that they ceased to cry after that sheep, and passed over the river of water.

65And that there arose other sheep, all of whom conducted them, (112) instead of those who were dead, and who had previously conducted them.

(112) The Judges of Israel.

66Then I saw that the sheep entered into a goodly place, and a territory delectable and glorious.

67I saw also that they became satiated; that their house was in the midst of a delectable territory; and that sometimes their eyes were opened, and that sometimes they were blind; until another sheep (113) arose and conducted them. He brought them all back; and their eyes were opened.

(113) Samuel.

68Then dogs, foxes, and wild boars began to devour them, until again another sheep (114) arose, the master of the flock, one of themselves, a ram, to conduct them. This ram began to butt on every side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars, until they all perished.

(114) Saul.

his eyes, and saw the ram in the midst of them, who had laid aside his glory.

70And he began to strike the sheep, treading upon them, and behaving himself without dignity.

71Then their Lord sent the former sheep again to a still different sheep, (115) and raised him up to be a ram, and to conduct them instead of that sheep who had laid aside his glory.

(115) David.

72Going therefore to him, and conversing with him alone, he raised up that ram, and made him a prince and leader of the flock. All the time that the dogs (116) troubled the sheep,

(116) The Philistines.

73The first ram paid respect to this latter ram.

74Then the latter ram arose, and fled away from before his face. And I saw that those dogs caused the first ram to fall.

75But the latter ram arose, and conducted the smaller sheep.

76That ram likewise begat many sheep, and died.

77Then there was a smaller sheep, (117) a ram, instead of him, which became a prince and leader, conducting the flock.

(117) Solomon.

78And the sheep increased in size, and multiplied.

79And all the dogs, foxes, and wild boars feared, and fled away from him.

80That ram also struck and killed all the wild beasts, so that they could not again prevail in the midst of the sheep, nor at any time ever snatch them away.

81And that house was made large and wide; a lofty tower being built upon it by the sheep, for the Lord of the sheep.

82The house was low, but the tower was elevated and very high.

83Then the Lord of the sheep stood upon that tower, and caused a full table to approach before him.

84Again I saw that those sheep wandered, and went various ways, forsaking that their house;

85And that their Lord called to some among them, whom he sent (118) to them.

(118) The prophets.

86But these the sheep began to kill. And when one of them was saved from slaughter (119) he leaped, and cried out against those who were desirous of killing him.

(119) Elijah.

87But the Lord of the sheep delivered him from their hands, and made him ascend to him, and remain with him.

88He sent also many others to them, to testify, and with lamentations to exclaim against them.

89Again I saw, when some of them forsook the house of their Lord, and his tower; wandering on all sides, and growing blind,

90I saw that the Lord of the sheep made a great slaughter among them in their pasture, until they cried out to him in consequence of that slaughter. Then he departed from the place of his habitation, and left them in the power of lions, tigers, wolves, and the zeebt, (120) and in the power of foxes, and of every beast.

(120) Zeebt. Hyenas. (Knibb, p. 209).

91And the wild beasts began to tear them.

92I saw, too, that he forsook the house of their fathers, and their tower; giving them all into the power of lions to tear and devour them; into the power of every beast.

93Then I began to cry out with all my might, imploring the Lord of the sheep, and showing him how the sheep were devoured by all the beasts of prey.

94But he looked on in silence, rejoicing that they were devoured, swallowed up, and carried off; and leaving them in the power of every beast for food. He called also seventy shepherds, and resigned to them the care of the sheep, that they might overlook them;

95Saying to them and to their associates, Every one of you henceforwards overlook the sheep, and whatsoever I command you, do; and I will deliver them to you numbered.

96I will tell you which of them shall be slain; these destroy. And he delivered the sheep to them.

97Then he called to another, and said, Understand, and watch everything which the shepherds shall do to these sheep; for many more of them shall perish than I have commanded.

98Of every excess and slaughter, which the shepherds shall commit, there shall be an account; as, how many may have perished by my command, and how many they may have destroyed of their own heads.

99Of all the destruction brought about by each of the shepherds there shall be an account; and according to the number I will cause a recital to be made before me, how many they have destroyed of their own heads, and how many they have delivered up to destruction, that I may have this testimony against them; that I may know all their proceedings; and that, delivering the sheep to them, I may see what they will do; whether they will act as I have commanded them, or not.

100Of this, however, they shall be ignorant; neither shall you make any explanation to them, neither shall you reprove them; but there shall be an account of all the destruction done by them in their respective seasons. Then they began to kill, and destroy more than it was commanded them.

101And they left the sheep in the power of the lions, so that very many of them were devoured and swallowed up by lions and tigers; and wild boars preyed upon them. That tower they burnt, and overthrew that house.

102Then I grieved extremely on account of the tower, and because the house of the sheep was overthrown.

103Neither was I afterwards able to perceive whether they again entered that house.

104The shepherds likewise, and their associates, delivered them to all the wild beasts, that they might devour them. Each of them in his season, according to his number, was delivered up; each of them, one with another, was described in a book, how many of them, one with another, were destroyed, in a book.

105More, however, than was ordered, every shepherd killed and destroyed.

106Then I began to weep, and was greatly indignant, on account of the sheep.

107In like manner also I saw in the vision him who wrote, how he wrote down one, destroyed by the shepherds, every day. He ascended, remained, and exhibited each of his books to the Lord of the sheep, containing all which they had done, and all which each of them had made away with;

108And all which they had delivered up to destruction.

109He took the book up in his hands, read it, sealed it, and deposited it.

110After this, I saw shepherds overlooking for twelve hours.

111And behold three of the sheep (121) departed, arrived, went in; and began building all which was fallen down of that house.

(121) Zerubbabel, Joshua, and Nehemiah.

112But the wild boars (122) hindered them, although they prevailed not.

(122) The Samaritans.

113Again they began to build as before, and raised up that tower, which was called a lofty tower.

114And again they began to place before the tower a table, with every impure and unclean kind of bread upon it.

115Moreover also all the sheep were blind, and could not see, as were the shepherds likewise.

116Thus were they delivered up to the shepherds for a great destruction, who trod them under foot, and devoured them.

117Yet was their Lord silent, until all the sheep in the field were destroyed. The shepherds and the sheep were all mixed together; but they did not save them from the power of the beasts.

118Then he who wrote the book ascended, exhibited it, and read it at the residence of the Lord of the sheep. He petitioned him for them, and prayed, pointing out every act of the shepherds, and testifying before him against them all. Then taking the book, he deposited it with him, and departed.

 

Chapter 89

 

1And I observed during the time, that thus thirty-seven (123) shepherds were overlooking, all of whom finished in their respective periods as the first. Others then received them into their hands, that they might overlook them in their respective periods, every shepherd in his own period.

(123) Thirty-seven. An apparent error for thirty-five (see verse 7). The kings of Judah and Israel (Laurence, p. 139).

2Afterwards I saw in the vision, that all the birds of heaven arrived; eagles, the avest, kites and ravens. The eagle instructed them all.

3They began to devour the sheep, to peck out their eyes, and to eat up their bodies.

4The sheep then cried out; for their bodies were devoured by the birds.

5I also cried out, and groaned in my sleep against the shepherd which overlooked the flock.

6And I looked, while the sheep were eaten up by the dogs, by the eagles, and by the kites. They neither left them their body, nor their skin, nor their muscles, until their bones alone remained; until their bones fell upon the ground. And the sheep became diminished.

7I observed likewise during the time, that twenty-tree shepherds (124) were overlooking; who completed in their respective periods fifty-eight periods.

(124) The kings of Babylon, etc., during and after the captivity. The numbers thirty-five and twenty-three make fifty-eight; and not thirty-seven, as erroneously put in the first verse (Laurence, p. 139).

8Then were small lambs born of those white sheep; who began to open their eyes and to see, crying out to the sheep.

9The sheep, however, cried not out to them, neither did they hear what they uttered to them; but were deaf, blind, and obdurate in the greatest degrees.

10I saw in the vision that ravens flew down upon those lambs;

11That they seized one of them; and that tearing the sheep in pieces, they devoured them.

12I saw also, that the horns grew upon those lambs; and that the ravens lighted down upon their horns.

13I saw, too, that a large horn sprouted out on an animal among the sheep, and that their eyes were opened.

14He looked at them. Their eyes were wide open; and he cried out to them.

15Then the dabela (125) saw him; all of whom ran to him.

(125) Dabela. The ibex, probably symbolizing Alexander the Great (Laurence, p. 140).

16And besides this, all the eagles, the avest, the ravens and the kites, were still carrying off the sheep, flying down upon them, and devouring them. The sheep were silent, but the dabela lamented and cried out.

17Then the ravens contended, and struggled with them.

18They wished among them to break his horn; but they prevailed not over him.

19I looked on them, until the shepherds, the eagles, the avest, and the kites came.

20Who cried out to the ravens to break the horn of the dabela; to contend with him; and to kill him. But he struggled with them, and cried out, that help might come to him.

21Then I perceived that the man came who had written down the names of the shepherds, and who ascended up before the Lord of the sheep.

22He brought assistance, and caused every one to see him descending to the help of the dabela.

23I perceived likewise that the Lord of the sheep came to them in wrath, while all those who saw him fled away; all fell down in his tabernacle before his face; while all the eagles, the avest, ravens, and kites assembled, and brought with them all the sheep of the field.

24All came together, and strove to break the horn of the dabela.

25Then I saw, that the man, who wrote the book at the word of the Lord, opened the book of destruction, of that destruction which the last twelve shepherds (126) wrought; and pointed out before the Lord of the sheep, that they destroyed more than those who preceded them.

(126) The native princes of Judah after its delivery from the Syrian yoke.

26I saw also that the Lord of the sheep came to them, and taking in his hand the sceptre of his wrath seized the earth, which became rent asunder; while all the beasts and birds of heaven fell from the sheep, and sunk into the earth, which closed over them.

27I saw, too, that a large sword was given to the sheep, who went forth against all the beasts of the field to slay them.

28But all the beasts and birds of heaven fled away from before their face.

29And I saw a throne erected in a delectable land;

30Upon this sat the Lord of the sheep, who received all the sealed books;

31Which were open before him.

32Then the Lord called the first seven white ones, and commanded them to bring before him the first of the first stars, which preceded the stars whose form partly resembled that of horses; the first star, which fell down first; and they brought them all before him.

33And he spoke to the man who wrote in his presence, who was one of the seven white ones, saying, Take those seventy shepherds, to whom I delivered up the sheep, and who receiving them killed more of them than I commanded. Behold, I saw them all bound, and standing before him. First came on the trial of the stars, which, being judged, and found guilty, went to the place of punishment. They thrust them into a place, deep, and full of flaming fire, and full of pillars of fire. Then the seventy shepherds were judged, and being found guilty, were thrust into the flaming abyss.

34At that time likewise I perceived, that one abyss was thus opened in the midst of the earth, which was full of fire.

35And to this were brought the blind sheep; which being judged, and found guilty, were all thrust into that abyss of fire on the earth, and burnt.

36The abyss was on the right of that house.

37And I saw the sheep burning, and their bones consuming.

38I stood beholding him immerge that ancient house, while they brought out its pillars, every plant in it, and the ivory infolding it. They brought it out, and deposited it in a place on the right side of the earth.

39I also saw, that the Lord of the sheep produced a new house, great, and loftier than the former, which he bound by the former circular spot. All its pillars were new, and its ivory new, as well as more abundant than the former ancient ivory, which he had brought out.

40And while all the sheep which were left were in the midst of it, all the beasts of the earth, and all the birds of heaven, fell down and worshipped them, petitioning them, and obeying them in everything.

41Then those three, who were clothed in white, and who, holding me by my hand, had before caused me to ascend, while the hand of him who spoke held me; raised me up, and placed me in the midst of the sheep, before the judgment took place.

42The sheep were all white, with wool long and pure. Then all who had perished, and had been destroyed, every beast of the field, and every bird of heaven, assembled in that house: while the Lord of the sheep rejoiced with great joy, because all were good, and had come back again to his dwelling.

43And I saw that they laid down the sword which had been given to the sheep, and returned it to his house, sealing it up in the presence of the Lord.

44All the sheep would have been inclosed in that house, had it been capable of containing them; and the eyes of all were open, gazing on the good One; nor was there one among them who did not behold him.

45I likewise perceived that the house was large, wide, and extremely full. I saw, too, that a white cow was born, whose horns were great; and that all the beasts of the field, and all the birds of heaven, were alarmed at him, and entreated him at all times.

46Then I saw that the nature of all of them was changed, and that they became white cows;

47And that the first, who was in the midst of them, spoke, when that word became (127) a large beast, upon the head of which were great and black horns;

(127) Spoke, when that word came. Or "was a wild-ox, and that wild-ox was…" (Knibb, p. 216).

48While the Lord of the sheep rejoiced over them, and over all the cows.

49I lay down in the midst of them: I awoke; and saw the whole. This is the vision which I saw, lying down and waking. Then I blessed the Lord of righteousness, and gave glory to Him.

50Afterwards I wept abundantly, nor did my tears cease, so that I became incapable of enduring it. While I was looking on, they flowed on account of what I saw; for all was come and gone by; every individual circumstance respecting the conduct of mankind was seen by me.

51In that night I remembered my former dream; and therefore wept and was troubled, because I had seen that vision.

 

Chapter 90

 

1And now, my son Mathusala, call to me all your brethren, and assemble for me all the children of your mother; for a voice calls me, and the spirit is poured out upon me, that I may show you everything which shall happen to you for ever.

2Then Mathusala went, called to him all his brethren, and assembled his kindred.

3And conversing with all his children in truth,

4Enoch said, Hear, my children, every word of your father, and listen in uprightness to the voice of my mouth; for I would gain your attention, while I address you. My beloved, be attached to integrity, and walk in it.

5Approach not integrity with a double heart; nor be associated with double-minded men: but walk, my children, in righteousness, which will conduct you in good paths; and be truth your companion.

6For I know, that oppression will exist and prevail on earth; that on earth great punishment shall in the end take place; and that there shall be a consummation of all iniquity, which shall be cut off from its root, and every fabric raised by it shall pass away. Iniquity, however, shall again be renewed, and consummated on earth. Every act of crime, and every act of oppression and impiety, shall be a second time embraced.

7When therefore iniquity, sin, blasphemy, tyranny, and every evil work, shall increase, and when transgression, impiety, and uncleanness also shall increase, then upon them all shall great punishment be inflicted from heaven.

8The holy Lord shall go forth in wrath, and upon them all shall great punishment from heaven be inflicted.

9The holy Lord shall go forth in wrath, and with punishment, that he may execute judgment upon earth.

10In those days oppression shall be cut off from its roots, and iniquity with fraud shall be eradicated, perishing from under heaven.

11Every place of strength (128) shall be surrendered with its inhabitants; with fire shall it be burnt. They shall be brought from every part of the earth, and be cast into a judgment of fire. They shall perish in wrath, and by a judgment overpowering them for ever.

(128) Every place of strength. Or, "all the idols of the nations" (Knibb, p. 218).

12Righteousness shall be raised up from slumber; and wisdom shall be raised up, and conferred upon them.

13Then shall the roots of iniquity be cut off; sinners perish by the sword; and blasphemers be annihilated everywhere.

14Those who meditate oppression, and those who blaspheme, by the sword shall perish.

15And now, my children, I will describe and point out to you the path of righteousness and the path of oppression.

16I will again point them out to you, that you may know what is to come.

17Hear now, my children, and walk in the path of righteousness, but shun that of oppression; for all who walk in the path of iniquity shall perish for ever.

 

Chapter 91

 

1That which was written by Enoch. He wrote all this instruction of wisdom for every man of dignity, and every judge of the earth; for all my children who shall dwell upon earth, and for subsequent generations, conducting themselves uprightly and peaceably.

2Let not your spirit be grieved on account of the times; for the holy, the Great One, has prescribed a period to all.

3Let the righteous man arise from slumber; let him arise, and proceed in the path of righteousness, in all its paths; and let him advance in goodness and eternal clemency. Mercy shall be showed to the righteous man; upon him shall be conferred integrity and power for ever. In goodness and in righteousness shall he exist, and shall walk in everlasting light; but sin shall perish in eternal darkness, nor be seen from that time forward for evermore.

 

Chapter 92

 

1After this, Enoch began to speak from a book.

2And Enoch said, Concerning the children of righteousness, concerning the elect of the world, and concerning the plant of righteousness and integrity.

3Concerning these things will I speak, and these things will I explain to you, my children: I who am Enoch. In consequence of that which has been shown to me, from my heavenly vision and from the voice of the holy angels (129) have I acquired knowledge; and from the tablet of heaven have I acquired understanding.

(129) Holy angels. A Qumran text reads, "Watchers and Holy Ones," clearly denoting heavenly Watchers who did not fall along with the wicked ones (Milik, p. 264). See also Dan. 4:13, "a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven"; 4:17, "watchers, and…holy ones."

4Enoch then began to speak from a book, and said, I have been born the seventh in the first week, while judgment and righteousness wait with patience.

5But after me, in the second week, great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth.

6In that week the end of the first shall take place, in which mankind shall be safe. (130)

(130) Mankind shall be safe. Or, "a man will be saved" (Knibb, p. 224).

7But when the first is completed, iniquity shall grow up; and during the second week he shall execute the decree (131) upon sinners.

(131) The Deluge after the first (in the middle of the second) Millennium (2500 B.C.).

8Afterwards, in the third week, during its completion, a man (132) of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected; and after him the Plant (133) of righteousness shall come for ever.

(132) King David at the end of the third Millennium (1000 B.C.).
(133) The Messiah at the end of the fourth Millennium (4 B.C. to 30 A.D.).

9Subsequently, in the fourth week, during its completion, the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen, the order of generation after generation shall take place, and a habitation shall be made for them. Then in the fifth week, during its completion, the house of glory and of dominion (134) shall be erected for ever.

(134) The establishment (30 A.D.) and building of the Church through the fifth (and sixth) Millennium.

10After that, in the sixth week, all those who are in it shall be darkened, the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom, and in it shall a Man (135) arise and come forth.

(135) The Messiah at the end of the sixth Millennium.

11And during its completion He shall burn the house of dominion with fire, and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed. (136)

(136) The destruction of Jerusalem and the disbursement of those who dwell in that land at the end of the sixth (and the beginning of the seventh) Millennium.

12Afterwards, in the seventh week, a perverse generation shall arise; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse. During its completion, the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation.

13Afterwards there shall be another week, the eighth (137) of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors.

(137) The beginning of the eighth Millennium.

14Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous, who during its completion shall acquire habitations by their righteousness; and the house of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever. After this, in the ninth week, shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world.

15Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth; the world shall be marked for destruction; and all men shall be on the watch for the path of integrity.

16And after this, on the seventh day of the tenth week, there shall be an everlasting judgment, which shall be executed upon the Watchers; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels.

17The former heaven shall depart and pass away; a new heaven shall appear; and all the celestial powers shall shine with sevenfold splendour for ever. Afterwards likewise shall there be many weeks, which shall externally exist in goodness and in righteousness.

18Neither shall sin be named there for ever and for ever.

19Who is there of all the children of men, capable of hearing the voice of the Holy One without emotion?

20Who is there capable of thinking his thoughts? Who capable of contemplating all the workmanship of heaven? Who of comprehending the deeds of heaven?

21He may behold its animation, but not its spirit. He may be capable of conversing respecting it, but not of ascending to it. He may see all the boundaries of these things, and meditate upon them; but he can make nothing like them.

22Who of all men is able to understand the breadth and length of the earth?

23By whom have been seen the dimensions of all these things? Is it every man who is capable of comprehending the extent of heaven; what its elevation is, and by what it is supported?

24How many are the numbers of the stars; and where all the luminaries remain at rest?

 

Chapter 93

 

1And now let me exhort you, my children, to love righteousness, and to walk in it; for the paths of righteousness are worthy of acceptation; but the paths of iniquity shall suddenly fail, and be diminished.

2To men of note in their generation the paths of oppression and death are revealed; but they keep far from them, and do not follow them.

3Now, too, let me exhort you who are righteous, not to walk in the paths of evil and oppression, nor in the paths of death. Approach them not, that you may not perish; but covet,

4And choose for yourselves righteousness, and a good life.

5Walk in the paths of peace, that you may live, and be found worthy. Retain my words in your inmost thoughts, and obliterate them not from your hearts; for I know that sinners counsel men to commit crime craftily. They are not found in every place, nor does every counsel possess a little of them.

6Woe to those who build iniquity and oppression, and who lay the foundation of fraud; for suddenly shall they be subverted, and never obtain peace.

7Woe to those who build up their houses with crime; for from their very foundations shall their houses be demolished, and by the sword shall they themselves fall. Those, too, who acquire gold and silver, shall justly and suddenly perish. Woe to you who are rich, for in your riches have you trusted; but from your riches you shall be removed; because you have not remembered the Most High in the days of your prosperity.

8You have committed blasphemy and iniquity; and are destined to the day of the effusion of blood, to the day of darkness, and to the day of the great judgment.

9This I will declare and point out to you, that he who created you will destroy you.

10When you fall, he will not show you mercy; but your Creator will rejoice in your destruction.

11Let those, then, who shall be righteous among you in those days, detest sinners, and the ungodly.

 

Chapter 94

 

1O that my eyes were clouds of water, that I might weep over you, and pour forth my tears like rain, and rest from the sorrow of my heart!

2Who has permitted you to hate and to transgress? Judgment shall overtake you, ye sinners.

3The righteous shall not fear the wicked; because God will again bring them into your power, that you may avenge yourselves of them according to your pleasure.

4Woe to you who shall be so bound by execrations, that you cannot be released from them; the remedy being far removed from you on account of your sins. Woe to you who recompense your neighbour with evil; for you shall be recompensed according to your works.

5Woe to you, false witnesses, you who aggravate iniquity; for you shall suddenly perish.

6Woe to you, sinners; for you reject the righteous; for you receive or reject at pleasure those who commit iniquity; and their yoke shall prevail over you.

 

Chapter 95

 

1Wait in hope, you righteous; for suddenly shall sinners perish from before you, and you shall exercise dominion over them, according to your will.

2In the day of the sufferings of sinners your offspring shall be elevated, and lifted up like eagles. Your nest shall be more exalted than that of the avest; you shall ascend, and enter into the cavities of the earth, and into the clefts of the rocks for ever, like conies, from the sight of the ungodly;

3Who shall groan over you, and weep like sirens.

4You shall not fear those who trouble you; for restoration shall be yours; a splendid light shall shine around you, and the voice of tranquility shall be heard from heaven. Woe to you, sinners; for your wealth makes you resemble saints, but your hearts reproach you, knowing that you are sinners. This word shall testify against you, for the remembrance of crime.

5Woe to you who feed upon the glory of the corn, and drink the strength of the deepest spring, and in the pride of your power tread down the humble.

6Woe to you who drink water at pleasure; for suddenly shall you be recompensed, consumed, and withered, because you have forsaken the foundation of life.

7Woe to you who act iniquitously, fraudulently, and blasphemously; there shall be a remembrance against you for evil.

8Woe to you, powerful, who with power strike down righteousness; for the day of your destruction shall come; while at that very time many and good days shall be the portion of the righteous, even at the period of your judgment.

 

Chapter 96

 

1The righteous are confident that sinners will be disgraced, and perish in the day of iniquity.

2You shall yourselves be conscious of it; for the Most High will remember your destruction, and the angels shall rejoice over it. What will you do sinners? And where will you fly in the day of judgment, when you shall hear the words of the prayer of the righteous?

3You are not like them who in this respect witness against you; you are associates of sinners.

4In those days shall the prayers of the righteous come up before the Lord. When the day of your judgment shall arrive; and every circumstance of your iniquity be related before the great and the holy One;

5Your faces shall be covered with shame; while every deed, strengthened by crime, shall be rejected.

6Woe unto you, sinners, who in the midst of the sea, and on dry land, are those against whom an evil record exists. Woe to you who squander silver and gold, not obtained in righteousness, and say, We are rich, possess wealth, and have acquired everything which we can desire.

7Now then will we do whatsoever we are disposed to do; for we have amassed silver; our barns are full, and the husbandmen of our families are like overflowing water.

8Like water shall your falsehood pass away; for your wealth will not be permanent, but shall suddenly ascend from you, because you have obtained it all iniquitously; to extreme malediction shall you be delivered up.

9And now I swear to you, crafty, as well as simple ones; that you, often contemplating the earth, you who are men, clothe yourselves more elegantly that married women, and both together more so than unmarried ones, (138) everywhere arraying yourselves in majesty, in magnificence, in authority, and in silver: but gold, purple, honour, and wealth, like water, flow away.

(138) Than married women…unmarried ones. Or, "than a woman and more coloured (garments) than a girl…" (Knibb, p. 230).

10Erudition therefore and wisdom are not theirs. Thus shall they perish, together with their riches, with all their glory, and with their honours;

11While with disgrace, with slaughter, and in extreme penury, shall their spirits be thrust into a furnace of fire.

12I have sworn to you, sinners, that neither mountain nor hill has been or shall be subservient (139) to woman.

(139) Subservient. Literally, "a servant." Perhaps in furnishing them with treasures for ornaments (Laurence, p. 159).

13Neither in this way has crime been sent down to us upon earth, but men of their own heads have invented it; and greatly shall those who give it efficiency be execrated.

14Barrenness shall not be previously inflicted on woman; but on account of the work of her hands shall she die childless.

15I have sworn to you, sinners, by the holy and the Great One, that all your evil deeds are disclosed in the heavens; and that none of your oppressive acts are concealed and secret.

16Think not in your minds, neither say in your hearts, that every crime is not manifested and seen. In heaven it is daily written down before the Most High. Henceforwards shall it be manifested; for every act of oppression which you commit shall be daily recorded, until the period of your condemnation.

17Woe to you, simple ones, for you shall perish in your simplicity. To the wise you will not listen, and that which is good you shall not obtain.

18Now therefore know that you are destined to the day of destruction; nor hope that sinners shall live; but in process of time you shall die; for you are not marked for redemption;

19But are destined to the day of the great judgment, to the day of distress, and the extreme ignominy of your souls.

20Woe to you, obdurate in heart, who commit crime, and feed on blood. Whence is it that you feed on good things, drink, and are satiated? Is it not because our Lord, the Most High, has abundantly supplied every good thing upon earth? To you there shall not be peace.

21Woe to you who love the deeds of iniquity. Why do you hope for that which is good? Know that you shall be given up into the hands of the righteous; who shall cut off your necks, slay you, and show you no compassion.

22Woe to you who rejoice in the trouble of the righteous; for a grave shall not be dug for you.

23Woe to you who frustrate the word of the righteous; for to you there shall be no hope of life.

24Woe to you who write down the word of falsehood, and the word of the wicked; for their falsehood they record, that they may hear and not forget folly.

25To them there shall be no peace; but they shall surely die suddenly.

 

Chapter 97

 

1Woe to them who act impiously, who laud and honour the word of falsehood. You have been lost in perdition; and have never led a virtuous life.

2Woe to you who change the words of integrity. They transgress against the everlasting decree; (140)

(140) They transgress…the everlasting decree. Or, "they distort the eternal law" (Knibb, p. 232).

3And cause the heads of those who are not sinners to be trodden down upon the earth.

4In those days you, O righteous, shall have been deemed worthy of having your prayers rise up in remembrance; and shall have deposited them in testimony before the angels, that they might records the sins of the sinners in the presence of the Most High.

5In those days the nations shall be overthrown; but the families of the nations shall rise again in the day of perdition.

6In those days they who become pregnant shall go forth, carry off their children, and forsake them. Their offspring shall slip from them, and while suckling them shall they forsake them; they shall never return to them, and never instruct their beloved.

7Again I swear to you, sinners, that crime has been prepared for the day of blood, which never ceases.

8They shall worship stones, and engrave golden, silver, and wooden images. They shall worship impure spirits, demons, and every idol, in temples; but no help shall be obtained for them. Their hearts shall become impious through their folly, and their eyes be blinded with mental superstition. (141) In their visionary dreams shall they be impious and superstitious, lying in all their actions, and worshipping a stone. Altogether shall they perish.

(141) Mental superstition. Literally, "with the fear of their hearts" (Laurence, p. 162).

9But in those days blessed shall they be, to whom the word of wisdom is delivered; who point out and pursue the path of the Most High; who walk in the way of righteousness, and who act not impiously with the impious.

10They shall be saved.

11Woe to you who expand the crime of your neighbour; for in hell shall you be slain.

12Woe to you who lay the foundation of sin and deceit, and who are bitter on earth; for on it shall you be consumed.

13Woe to you who build your houses by the labour of others, every part of which is constructed with brick, and with the stone of crime; I tell you, that you shall not obtain peace.

14Woe to you who despise the extent of the everlasting inheritance of your fathers, while your souls follow after idols; for to you there shall be no tranquillity.

15Woe to them who commit iniquity, and give aid to blasphemy, who slay their neighbour until the day of the great judgment; for your glory shall fall; malevolence shall He put into your hearts, and the spirit of his wrath shall stir you up, that every one of you may perish by the sword.

16Then shall all the righteous and the holy remember your crimes.

 

Chapter 98

 

1In those days shall fathers be struck down with their children in the presence of each other; and brethren with their brethren shall fall dead: until a river shall flow from their blood.

2For a man shall not restrain his hand from his children, nor from his children’s children; his mercy will be to kill them.

3Nor shall the sinner restrain his hand from his honoured brother. From the dawn of day to the setting sun shall the slaughter continue. The horse shall wade up to his breast, and the chariot shall sink to its axle, in the blood of sinners.

 

Chapter 99

 

1In those days the angels shall descend into places of concealment, and gather together in one spot all who have assisted in crime.

2In that day shall the Most High rise up to execute the great judgment upon all sinners, and to commit the guardianship of all the righteous and holy to the holy angels, that they may protect them as the apple of an eye, until every evil and every crime be annihilated.

3Whether or not the righteous sleep securely, wise men shall then truly perceive.

4And the sons of the earth shall understand every word of that book, knowing that their riches cannot save them in the ruin of their crimes.

5Woe to you, sinners, when you shall be afflicted on account of the righteous in the day of the great trouble; shall be burnt in the fire; and be recompensed according to your deeds.

6Woe to you, perverted in heart, who are watchful to obtain an accurate knowledge of evil, and to discover terrors. No one shall assist you.

7Woe to you, sinners; for with the words of your mouths, and with the work of your hands, have you acted impiously; in the flame of a blazing fire shall you be burnt.

8And now know, that the angels shall inquire into your conduct in heaven; of the sun, the moon, and the stars, shall they inquire respecting your sins; for upon earth you exercise jurisdiction over the righteous.

9Every cloud shall bear witness against you, the snow, the dew, and the rain: for all of them shall be withholden from you, that they may not descend upon you, nor become subservient to your crimes.

10Now then bring gifts of salutation to the rain; that, not being withholden, it may descend upon you; and to the dew, if it has received from you gold and silver. But when the frost, snow, cold, every snowy wind, and every suffering belonging to them, fall upon you, in those days you will be utterly incapable of standing before them.

 

Chapter 100

 

1Attentively consider heaven, all you progeny of heaven, and all the works of the Most High; fear him, nor conduct yourselves criminally before him.

2If He shut up the windows of heaven, restraining the rain and dew, that it may not descend upon the earth on your account, what will you do?

3And if He send his wrath upon you, and upon all your deeds, you are not they who can supplicate him; you who utter against his righteousness, language proud and powerful. To you there shall be no peace.

4Do you not see the commanders of ships, how their vessels are tossed about by the waves, torn to pieces by the winds, and exposed to the greatest peril?

5That they therefore fear, because their whole property is embarked with them on the ocean; and that they forbode evil in their hearts, because it may swallow them up, and they may perish in it?

6Is not the whole sea, all its waters, and all its commotion, the work of him, the Most High; of him who has sealed up all its exertions, and girded it on every side with sand?

7Is it not at his rebuke dried up, and alarmed; while all its fish with everything contained in it die? And will not you, sinners, who are on earth, fear him? Is not He the maker of heaven and earth, and of all things which are in them?

8And who has given erudition and wisdom to all that move progressive upon the earth, and over the sea?

9Are not the commanders of ships terrified at the ocean? And shall not sinners be terrified at the Most High?

 

(No Chapter 101)

 

Chapter 102

 

1In those days, when He shall cast the calamity of fire upon you, whither will you fly, and where will you be safe?

2And when He sends forth his word against you, are you not spared, and terrified?

3All the luminaries are agitated with great fear; and all the earth is spared, while it trembles, and suffers anxiety.

4All the angels fulfill the commands received by them, and are desirous of being concealed from the presence of the great Glory; while the children of the earth are alarmed and troubled.

5But you, sinners, are for ever accursed; to you there shall be no peace.

6Fear not, souls of the righteous; but wait with patient hope for the day of your death in righteousness. Grieve not, because your souls descend in great trouble, with groaning, lamentation, and sorrow, to the receptacle of the dead. In your lifetime your bodies have not received a recompense in proportion to your goodness, but in the period of your existence have sinners existed; in the period of execration and of punishment.

7And when you die, sinners say concerning you, As we die, the righteous die. What profit have they in their works? Behold, like us, they expire in sorrow and in darkness. What advantage have they over us? Henceforward are we equal. What will be within their grasp, and what before their eyes for ever? For behold they are dead; and never will they again perceive the light. I say unto you, sinners, You have been satisfied with meat and drink, with human plunder and rapine, with sin, with the acquisition of wealth and with the sight of good days. Have you not marked the righteous, how their end is in peace? For no oppression is found in them even to the day of their death. They perish, and are as if they were not, while their souls descend in trouble to the receptacle of the dead.

 

Chapter 103

 

1But now I swear to you, righteous, by the greatness of his splendour and his glory; by his illustrious kingdom and by his majesty, to you I swear, that I comprehend this mystery; that I have read the tablet of heaven, have seen the writing of the holy ones, and have discovered what is written and impressed on it concerning you.

2I have seen that all goodness, joy, and glory has been prepared for you, and been written down for the spirits of them who die eminently righteous and good. To you it shall be given in return for your troubles; and your portion of happiness shall far exceed the portion of the living.

3The spirits of you who die in righteousness shall exist and rejoice. Their spirits shall exult; and their remembrance shall be before the face of the Mighty One from generation to generation. Nor shall they now fear disgrace.

4Woe to you, sinners, when you die in your sins; and they, who are like you, say respecting you, Blessed are these sinners. They have lived out their whole period; and now they die in happiness and in wealth. Distress and slaughter they knew not while alive; in honour they die; nor ever in their lifetime did judgment overtake them.

5But has it not been shown to them, that, when to the receptacle of the dead their souls shall be made to descend, their evil deeds shall become their greatest torment? Into darkness, into the snare, and into the flame, which shall burn to the great judgment, shall their spirits enter; and the great judgment shall take effect for ever and for ever.

6Woe to you; for to you there shall be no peace. Neither can you say to the righteous, and to the good who are alive, In the days of our trouble have we been afflicted; every manner of trouble have we seen, and many evil things have suffered.

7Our spirits have been consumed, lessened, and diminished.

8We have perished; nor has there been a possibility of help for us in word or in deed: we have found none, but have been tormented and destroyed.

9We have not expected to live day after day.

10We hoped indeed to have been the head;

11But we have become the tail. We have been afflicted, when we have exerted ourselves; but we have been devoured by sinners and the ungodly; their yoke has been heavy upon us.

12Those have exercised dominion over us who detest and who goad us; and to those who hate us have we humbled our neck; but they have shown no compassion towards us.

13We have been desirous of escaping from them, that we might fly away and be at rest; but we have found no place to which we could fly, and be secure from them. We have sought an asylum with princes in our distress, and have cried out to those who were devouring us; but our cry has not been regarded, nor have they been disposed to hear our voice;

14But rather to assist those who plunder and devour us; those who diminish us, and hide their oppression; who remove not their yoke from us, but devour, enervate, and slay us; who conceal our slaughter, nor remember that they have lifted up their hands against us.

 

Chapter 104

 

1I swear to you, righteous, that in heaven the angels record your goodness before the glory of the Mighty One.

2Wait with patient hope; for formerly you have been disgraced with evil and with affliction; but now shall you shine like the luminaries of heaven. You shall be seen, and the gates of heaven shall be opened to you. Your cries have cried for judgment; and it has appeared to you; for an account of all your sufferings shall be required from the princes, and from every one who has assisted your plunderers.

3Wait with patient hope; nor relinquish your confidence; for great joy shall be yours, like that of the angels in heaven. Conduct yourselves as you may, still you shall not be concealed in the day of the great judgment. You shall not be found like sinners; and eternal condemnation shall be far from you, so long as the world exists.

4And now fear not, righteous, when you see sinners flourishing and prosperous in their ways.

5Be not associates with them; but keep yourselves at a distance from their oppression; be you associated with the host of heaven. You, sinners, say, All our transgressions shall not be taken account of, and be recorded. But all your transgressions shall be recorded daily.

6And be assured by me, that light and darkness, day and night, behold all your transgressions. Be not impious in your thoughts; lie not; surrender not the word of uprightness; lie not against the word of the holy and the mighty One; glorify not your idols; for all your lying and all your impiety is not for righteousness, but for great crime.

7Now will I point out a mystery: Many sinners shall turn and transgress against the word of uprightness.

8They shall speak evil things; they shall utter falsehood; execute great undertakings; (142) and compose books in their own words. But when they shall write all my words correctly in their own languages,

(142) Execute great undertakings. Literally, "create a great creation" (Laurence, p. 173).

9They shall neither change or diminish them; but shall write them all correctly; all which from the first I have uttered concerning them. (143)

(143) Despite Enoch's mandate, his book was most certainly "changed" and "diminished" by later editors, though these fragments of it have survived.

10Another mystery also I point out. To the righteous and the wise shall be given books of joy, of integrity, and of great wisdom. To them shall books be given, in which they shall believe;

11And in which they shall rejoice. And all the righteous shall be rewarded, who from these shall acquire the knowledge of every upright path.

 

Chapter 104A

 

1In those days, saith the Lord, they shall call to the children of the earth, and make them listen to their wisdom. Show them that you are their leaders;

2And that remuneration shall take place over the whole earth; for I and my Son will for ever hold communion with them in the paths of uprightness, while they are still alive. Peace shall be yours. Rejoice, children of integrity, in the truth.

 

Chapter 105

 

1After a time, my son Mathusala took a wife for his son Lamech.

2She became pregnant by him, and brought forth a child, the flesh of which was as white as snow, and red as a rose; the hair of whose head was white like wool, and long; and whose eyes were beautiful. When he opened them, he illuminated all the house, like the sun; the whole house abounded with light.

3And when he was taken from the hand of the midwife, Lamech his father became afraid of him; and flying away came to his own father Mathusala, and said, I have begotten a son, unlike to other children. He is not human; but, resembling the offspring of the angels of heaven, is of a different nature from ours, being altogether unlike to us.

4His eyes are bright as the rays of the sun; his countenance glorious, and he looks not as if he belonged to me, but to the angels.

5I am afraid, lest something miraculous should take place on earth in his days.

6And now, my father, let me entreat and request you to go to our progenitor Enoch, and learn from him the truth; for his residence is with the angels.

7When Mathusala heard the words of his son, he came to me at the extremities of the earth; for he had been informed that I was there: and he cried out.

8I heard his voice, and went to him saying, Behold, I am here, my son; since you have come to me.

9He answered and said, On account of a great event have I come to you; and on account of a sight difficult to be comprehended have I approached you.

10And now, my father, hear me; for to my son Lamech a child has been born, who resembles not him; and whose nature is not like the nature of man. His colour is whiter than snow; he is redder than the rose; the hair of his head is whiter than white wool; his eyes are like the rays of the sun; and when he opened them he illuminated the whole house.

11When also he was taken from the hand of the midwife,

12His father Lamech feared, and fled to me, believing not that the child belonged to him, but that he resembled the angels of heaven. And behold I am come to you, that you might point out to me the truth.

13Then I, Enoch, answered and said, The Lord will effect a new thing upon the earth. This have I explained, and seen in a vision. I have shown you that in the generations of Jared my father, those who were from heaven disregarded the word of the Lord. Behold they committed crimes; laid aside their class, and intermingled with women. With them also they transgressed; married with them, and begot children. (144)

(144) After this verse, one Greek papyrus adds, "who are not like spiritual beings, but creatures of flesh" (Milik, p. 210).

14A great destruction therefore shall come upon all the earth; a deluge, a great destruction, shall take place in one year.

15This child which is born to your son shall survive on the earth, and his three sons shall be saved with him. When all mankind who are on the earth shall die, he shall be safe.

16And his posterity shall beget on the earth giants, not spiritual, but carnal. Upon the earth shall a great punishment be inflicted, and it shall be washed from all corruption. Now therefore inform your son Lamech, that he who is born is his child in truth; and he shall call his name Noah, for he shall be to you a survivor. He and his children shall be saved from the corruption which shall take place in the world; from all the sin and from all the iniquity which shall be consummated on earth in his days. Afterwards shall greater impiety take place than that which had been before consummated on the earth; for I am acquainted with holy mysteries, which the Lord himself has discovered and explained to me; and which I have read in the tablets of heaven.

17In them I saw it written, that the generation after generation shall transgress, until a righteous race shall arise; until transgression and crime perish from off the earth; until all goodness come upon it.

18And now, my son, go tell your son Lamech,

19That the child which is born is his child in truth; and that there is no deception.

20When Mathusala heard the word of his father Enoch, who had shown him every secret thing, he returned with understanding, and called the name of that child Noah; because he was to console the earth on account of all its destruction.

21Another book, which Enoch wrote for his son Mathusala, and for those who should come after him, and preserve their purity of conduct in the latter days. You, who have laboured, shall wait in those days, until the evil doers be consumed, and the power of the guilty be annihilated. Wait, until sin pass away; for their names shall be blotted out of the holy books; their seed shall be destroyed, and their spirits slain. They shall cry out and lament in the invisible waste, and in the bottomless fire shall they burn. (145) There I perceived, as it were, a cloud which could not be seen through; for from the depth of it I was unable to look upwards. I beheld also a flame of fire blazing brightly, and, as it were, glittering mountains whirled around, and agitated from side to side.

(145) In the bottomless fire shall they burn. Literally, "in the fire shall they burn, where there is no earth" (Laurence, p. 178).

22Then I inquired of one of the holy angels who was with me, and said, What is this splendid object? For it is not heaven, but a flame of fire alone which blazes; and in it there is the clamour of exclamation, of woe, and of great suffering.

23He said, There, into that place which you behold, shall be thrust the spirits of sinners and blasphemers; of those who shall do evil, and who shall pervert all which God has spoken by the mouth of the prophets; all which they ought to do. For respecting these things there shall be writings and impressions above in heaven, that the angels may read them and know what shall happen both to sinners and to the spirits of the humble; to those who have suffered in their bodies, but have been rewarded by God; who have been injuriously treated by wicked men; who have loved God; who have been attached neither to gold nor silver, nor to any good thing in the world, but have given their bodies to torment;

24To those who from the period of their birth have not been covetous of earthly riches; but have regarded themselves as a breath passing away.

25Such has been their conduct; and much has the Lord tried them; and their spirits have been found pure, that they might bless his name. All their blessings have I related in a book; and He has rewarded them; for they have been found to love heaven with an everlasting aspiration. God has said, While they have been trodden down by wicked men, they have heard from them revilings and blasphemies; and have been ignominiously treated, while they were blessing me. And now will I call the spirits of the good from the generation of light, and will change those who have been born in darkness; who have not in their bodies been recompensed with glory, as their faith may have merited.

26I will bring them into the splendid light of those who love my holy name: and I will place each of them on a throne of glory, of glory peculiarly his own, and they shall be at rest during unnumbered periods. Righteous is the judgment of God;

27For to the faithful shall he give faith in the habitations of uprightness. They shall see those, who have been born in darkness unto darkness shall be cast; while the righteous shall be at rest. Sinners shall cry out, beholding them, while they exist in splendour and proceed forwards to the days and periods prescribed to them.

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