7.30.2007
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The Book of Enoch
The Book of Enoch
translated from Ethiopic by Richard Laurence,London, 1883.
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Chapter 1
1The word of the blessing of Enoch, how he blessed the elect and the righteous, who were to exist in the time of trouble; rejecting all the wicked and ungodly. Enoch, a righteous man, who was (1) with God, answered and spoke, while his eyes were open, and while he saw a holy vision in the heavens. This the angels showed me.
(1) N.B. The italicized words supply a gap in the text.
2From them I heard all things, and understood what I saw; that which will not take place in this generation, but in a generation which is to succeed at a distant period, on account of the elect.
3Upon their account I spoke and conversed with him, who will go forth from his habitation, the Holy and Mighty One, the God of the world:
4Who will hereafter tread upon Mount Sinai; appear with his hosts; and be manifested in the strength of his power from heaven.
5All shall be afraid, and the Watchers be terrified.
6Great fear and trembling shall seize them, even to the ends of the earth. The lofty mountains shall be troubled, and the exalted hills depressed, melting like a honeycomb in the flame. The earth shall be immerged, and all things which are in it perish; while judgment shall come upon all, even upon all the righteous:
7But to them shall he give peace: he shall preserve the elect, and towards them exercise clemency.
8Then shall all belong to God; be happy and blessed; and the splendour of the Godhead shall illuminate them.
Chapter 2
1Behold, he comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon them, and destroy the wicked, and reprove all the carnal for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done, and committed against him. (2)
(2) Quoted by Jude, vss. 14, 15.
Chapter 3
1All who are in the heavens know what is transacted there.
2They know that the heavenly luminaries change not their paths; that each rises and sets regularly, every one at its proper period, without transgressing the commands, which they have received. The behold the earth, and understand what is there transacted, from the beginning to the end of it.
3They see that every work of God is invariable in the period of its appearance. They behold summer and winter: perceiving that the whole earth is full of water; and that the cloud, the dew, and the rain refresh it.
Chapter 4
1They consider and behold every tree, how it appears to wither, and every leaf to fall off, except of fourteen trees, which are not deciduous; which wait from the old, to the appearance of the new leaf, for two or three winters.
Chapter 5
1Again they consider the days of summer, that the sun is upon it at its very beginning; while you seek for a covered and shady spot on account of the burning sun; while the earth is scorched up with fervid heat, and you become incapable of walking either upon the ground or upon the rocks in consequence of that heat.
Chapter 6
1They consider how the trees, when they put forth their green leaves, become covered, and produce fruit; understanding everything, and knowing that He who lives for ever does all these things for you:
2That the works at the beginning of every existing year, that all his works, are subservient to him, and invariable; yet as God has appointed, so are all things brought to pass.
3They see, too, how the seas and the rivers together complete their respective operations:
4But you endure not patiently, nor fulfill the commandments of the Lord; but you transgress and calumniate his greatness; and malignant are the words in your polluted mouths against his Majesty.
5You withered in heart, no peace shall be to you!
6Therefore your days shall you curse, and the years of your lives shall perish; perpetual execration shall be multiplied, and you shall not obtain mercy.
7In those days shall you resign your peace with the eternal maledictions of all the righteous, and sinners shall perpetually execrate you;
8Shall execrate you with the ungodly.
9The elect shall possess light, joy, and peace; and they shall inherit the earth.
10But you, you unholy, shall be accursed.
11Then shall wisdom be given to the elect, all of whom shall live, and not again transgress by impiety or pride; but shall humble themselves, possessing prudence, and shall not repeat transgression.
12They shall not be condemned the whole period of their lives, not die in torment and indignation; but the sum of their days shall be completed, and they shall grow old in peace; while the years of their happiness shall be multiplied with joy, and with peace, for ever, the whole duration of their existence.
Chapter 7
1It happened after the sons of men had multiplied in those days, that daughters were born to them, elegant and beautiful.
2And when the angels, (3) the sons of heaven, beheld them, they became enamoured of them, saying to each other, Come, let us select for ourselves wives from the progeny of men, and let us beget children.
(3) An Aramaic text reads "Watchers" here (J.T. Milik, Aramaic Fragments of Qumran Cave 4 [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976], p. 167).
3Then their leader Samyaza said to them; I fear that you may perhaps be indisposed to the performance of this enterprise;
4And that I alone shall suffer for so grievous a crime.
5But they answered him and said; We all swear;
6And bind ourselves by mutual execrations, that we will not change our intention, but execute our projected undertaking.
7Then they swore all together, and all bound themselves by mutual execrations. Their whole number was two hundred, who descended upon Ardis, (4) which is the top of mount Armon.
(4) Upon Ardis. Or, "in the days of Jared" (R.H. Charles, ed. and trans., The Book of Enoch [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1893], p. 63).
8That mountain therefore was called Armon, because they had sworn upon it, (5) and bound themselves by mutual execrations.
(5) Mt. Armon, or Mt. Hermon, derives its name from the Hebrew word herem, a curse (Charles, p. 63).
9These are the names of their chiefs: Samyaza, who was their leader, Urakabarameel, Akibeel, Tamiel, Ramuel, Danel, Azkeel, Saraknyal, Asael, Armers, Batraal, Anane, Zavebe, Samsaveel, Ertael, Turel, Yomyael, Arazyal. These were the prefects of the two hundred angels, and the remainder were all with them. (6)
(6) The Aramaic texts preserve an earlier list of names of these Watchers: Semihazah; Artqoph; Ramtel; Kokabel; Ramel; Danieal; Zeqiel; Baraqel; Asael; Hermoni; Matarel; Ananel; Stawel; Samsiel; Sahriel; Tummiel; Turiel; Yomiel; Yhaddiel (Milik, p. 151).
10Then they took wives, each choosing for himself; whom they began to approach, and with whom they cohabited; teaching them sorcery, incantations, and the dividing of roots and trees.
11And the women conceiving brought forth giants, (7)
(7) The Greek texts vary considerably from the Ethiopic text here. One Greek manuscript adds to this section, "And they [the women] bore to them [the Watchers] three races–first, the great giants. The giants brought forth [some say "slew"] the Naphelim, and the Naphelim brought forth [or "slew"] the Elioud. And they existed, increasing in power according to their greatness." See the account in the Book of Jubilees.
12Whose stature was each three hundred cubits. These devoured all which the labor of men produced; until it became impossible to feed them;
13When they turned themselves against men, in order to devour them;
14And began to injure birds, beasts, reptiles, and fishes, to eat their flesh one after another, (8) and to drink their blood.
(8) Their flesh one after another. Or, "one another’s flesh." R.H. Charles notes that this phrase may refer to the destruction of one class of giants by another (Charles, p. 65).
15Then the earth reproved the unrighteous.
Chapter 8
1Moreover Azazyel taught men to make swords, knives, shields, breastplates, the fabrication of mirrors, and the workmanship of bracelets and ornaments, the use of paint, the beautifying of the eyebrows, the use of stones of every valuable and select kind, and all sorts of dyes, so that the world became altered.
2Impiety increased; fornication multiplied; and they transgressed and corrupted all their ways.
3Amazarak taught all the sorcerers, and dividers of roots:
4Armers taught the solution of sorcery;
5Barkayal taught the observers of the stars, (9)
(9) Observers of the stars. Astrologers (Charles, p. 67).
6Akibeel taught signs;
7Tamiel taught astronomy;
8And Asaradel taught the motion of the moon,
9And men, being destroyed, cried out; and their voice reached to heaven.
Chapter 9
1Then Michael and Gabriel, Raphael, Suryal, and Uriel, looked down from heaven, and saw the quantity of blood which was shed on earth, and all the iniquity which was done upon it, and said one to another, It is the voice of their cries;
2The earth deprived of her children has cried even to the gate of heaven.
3And now to you, O you holy one of heaven, the souls of men complain, saying, Obtain Justice for us with (10) the Most High. Then they said to their Lord, the King, You are Lord of lords, God of gods, King of kings. The throne of your glory is for ever and ever, and for ever and ever is your name sanctified and glorified. You are blessed and glorified.
(10) Obtain justice for us with. Literally, "Bring judgment to us from." (Richard Laurence, ed. and trans., The Book of Enoch the Prophet [London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1883], p. 9).
4You have made all things; you possess power over all things; and all things are open and manifest before you. You behold all things, and nothing can be concealed from you.
5You have seen what Azazyel has done, how he has taught every species of iniquity upon earth, and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens.
6Samyaza also has taught sorcery, to whom you have given authority over those who are associated with him. They have gone together to the daughters of men; have lain with them; have become polluted;
7And have discovered crimes (11) to them.
(11) Discovered crimes. Or, "revealed these sins" (Charles, p. 70).
8The women likewise have brought forth giants.
9Thus has the whole earth been filled with blood and with iniquity.
10And now behold the souls of those who are dead, cry out.
11And complain even to the gate of heaven.
12Their groaning ascends; nor can they escape from the unrighteousness which is committed on earth. You know all things, before they exist.
13You know these things, and what has been done by them; yet you do not speak to us.
14What on account of these things ought we to do to them?
Chapter 10
1Then the Most High, the Great and Holy One spoke,
2And sent Arsayalalyur (12) to the son of Lamech,
(12) Arsayalalyur. Here one Greek text reads "Uriel."
3Saying, Say to him in my name, Conceal yourself.
4Then explain to him the consummation which is about to take place; for all the earth shall perish; the waters of a deluge shall come over the whole earth, and all things which are in it shall be destroyed.
5And now teach him how he may escape, and how his seed may remain in all the earth.
6Again the Lord said to Raphael, Bind Azazyel hand and foot; cast him into darkness; and opening the desert which is in Dudael, cast him in there.
7Throw upon him hurled and pointed stones, covering him with darkness;
8There shall he remain for ever; cover his face, that he may not see the light.
9And in the great day of judgment let him be cast into the fire.
10Restore the earth, which the angels have corrupted; and announce life to it, that I may revive it.
11All the sons of men shall not perish in consequence of every secret, by which the Watchers have destroyed, and which they have taught, their offspring.
12All the earth has been corrupted by the effects of the teaching of Azazyel. To him therefore ascribe the whole crime.
13To Gabriel also the Lord said, Go to the biters, (13) to the reprobates, to the children of fornication; and destroy the children of fornication, the offspring of the Watchers, from among men; bring them forth, and excite them one against another. Let them perish by mutual slaughter; for length of days shall not be theirs.
(13) Biters. More accurately, "bastards" (Charles, p. 73; Michael A. Knibb, ed. and trans., The Ethiopic Book of Enoch [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978], p. 88).
14They shall all entreat you, but their fathers shall not obtain their wishes respecting them; for they shall hope for eternal life, and that they may live, each of them, five hundred years.
15To Michael likewise the Lord said, Go and announce his crime to Samyaza, and to the others who are with him, who have been associated with women, that they might be polluted with all their impurity. And when all their sons shall be slain, when they shall see the perdition of their beloved, bind them for seventy generations underneath the earth, even to the day of judgment, and of consummation, until the judgment, the effect of which will last for ever, be completed.
16Then shall they be taken away into the lowest depths of the fire in torments; and in confinement shall they be shut up for ever.
17Immediately after this shall he, (14) together with them, burn and perish; they shall be bound until the consummation of many generations.
(14) He. I.e., Samyaza.
18Destroy all the souls addicted to dalliance, (15) and the offspring of the Watchers, for they have tyrannized over mankind.
(15) Dalliance. Or, "lust" (Knibb, p. 90; cp. Charles, p. 76).
19Let every oppressor perish from the face of the earth;
20Let every evil work be destroyed;
21The plant of righteousness and of rectitude appear, and its produce become a blessing.
22Righteousness and rectitude shall be for ever planted with delight.
23And then shall all the saints give thanks, and live until they have begotten a thousand children, while the whole period of their youth, and their sabbaths shall be completed in peace. In those days all the earth shall be cultivated in righteousness; it shall be wholly planted with trees, and filled with benediction; every tree of delight shall be planted in it.
24In it shall vines be planted; and the vine which shall be planted in it shall yield fruit to satiety; every seed, which shall be sown in it, shall produce for one measure a thousand; and one measure of olives shall produce ten presses of oil.
25Purify the earth from all oppression, from all injustice, from all crime, from all impiety, and from all the pollution which is committed upon it. Exterminate them from the earth.
26Then shall all the children of men be righteous, and all nations shall pay me divine honours, and bless me; and all shall adore me.
27The earth shall be cleansed from all corruption, from every crime, from all punishment, and from all suffering; neither will I again send a deluge upon it from generation to generation for ever.
28In those days I will open the treasures of blessing which are in heaven, that I may cause them to descend upon earth, and upon all the works and labour of man.
29Peace and equity shall associate with the sons of men all the days of the world, in every generation of it.
(No Chapter 11)
Chapter 12
1Before all these things Enoch was concealed; nor did any one of the sons of men know where he was concealed, where he had been, and what had happened.
2He was wholly engaged with the holy ones, and with the Watchers in his days.
3I, Enoch, was blessing the great Lord and King of peace.
4And behold the Watchers called me Enoch the scribe.
5Then the Lord said to me: Enoch, scribe of righteousness, go tell the Watchers of heaven, who have deserted the lofty sky, and their holy everlasting station, who have been polluted with women.
6And have done as the sons of men do, by taking to themselves wives, and who have been greatly corrupted on the earth;
7That on the earth they shall never obtain peace and remission of sin. For they shall not rejoice in their offspring; they shall behold the slaughter of their beloved; shall lament for the destruction of their sons; and shall petition for ever; but shall not obtain mercy and peace.
Chapter 13
1Then Enoch, passing on, said to Azazyel: You shalt not obtain peace. A great sentence is gone forth against you. He shall bind you;
2Neither shall relief, mercy, and supplication be yours, on account of the oppression which you have taught;
3And on account of every act of blasphemy, tyranny, and sin, which you have discovered to the children of men.
4Then departing from him I spoke to them all together;
5And they all became terrified, and trembled;
6Beseeching me to write for them a memorial of supplication, that they might obtain forgiveness; and that I might make the memorial of their prayer ascend up before the God of heaven; because they could not themselves thenceforwards address him, nor raise up their eyes to heaven on account of the disgraceful offence for which they were judged.
7Then I wrote a memorial of their prayer and supplications, for their spirits, for everything which they had done, and for the subject of their entreaty, that they might obtain remission and rest.
8Proceeding on, I continued over the waters of Danbadan, (16) which is on the right to the west of Armon, reading the memorial of their prayer, until I fell asleep.
(16) Danbadan. Dan in Dan (Knibb, p. 94).
9And behold a dream came to me, and visions appeared above me. I fell down and saw a vision of punishment, that I might relate it to the sons of heaven, and reprove them. When I awoke I went to them. All being collected together stood weeping in Oubelseyael, which is situated between Libanos and Seneser, (17) with their faces veiled.
(17) Libanos and Seneser. Lebanon and Senir (near Damascus).
10I related in their presence all the visions which I had seen, and my dream;
11And began to utter these words of righteousness, reproving the Watchers of heaven.
Chapter 14
1This is the book of the words of righteousness, and of the reproof of the Watchers, who belong to the world, (18) according to that which He, who is holy and great, commanded in the vision. I perceived in my dream, that I was now speaking with a tongue of flesh, and with my breath, which the Mighty One has put into the mouth of men, that they might converse with it.
(18) Who belong to the world. Or, "who (are) from eternity" (Knibb, p. 95).
2And understand with the heart. As he has created and given to men the power of comprehending the word of understanding, so has he created and given to me the power of reproving the Watchers, the offspring of heaven. I have written your petition; and in my vision it has been shown me, that what you request will not be granted you as long as the world endures.
3Judgment has been passed upon you: your request will not be granted you.
4From this time forward, never shall you ascend into heaven; He has said, that on the earth He will bind you, as long as the world endures.
5But before these things you shall behold the destruction of your beloved sons; you shall not possess them, but they shall fall before you by the sword.
6Neither shall you entreat for them, not for yourselves;
7But you shall weep and supplicate in silence. The words of the book which I wrote. (19)
(19) But you shall weep…I wrote. Or, "Likewise despite your tears and prayers you will receive nothing whatever contained in the writing which I have written" (Charles, p. 80).
8A vision thus appeared to me.
9Behold, in that vision clouds and a mist invited me; agitated stars and flashes of lightning impelled and pressed me forwards, while winds in the vision assisted my flight, accelerating my progress.
10They elevated me aloft to heaven. I proceeded, until I arrived at a wall built with stones of crystal. A vibrating flame (20) surrounded it, which began to strike me with terror.
(20) Vibrating flame. Literally, "a tongue of fire"
11Into this vibrating flame I entered;
12And drew nigh to a spacious habitation built also with stones of crystal. Its walls too, as well as pavement, were formed with stones of crystal, and crystal likewise was the ground. Its roof had the appearance of agitated stars and flashes of lightning; and among them were cherubim of fire in a stormy sky. (21) A flame burned around its walls; and its portal blazed with fire. When I entered into this dwelling, it was hot as fire and cold as ice. No trace of delight or of life was there. Terror overwhelmed me, and a fearful shaking seized me.
(21) In a stormy sky. Literally, "and their heaven was water" (Charles, p. 81).
13Violently agitated and trembling, I fell upon my face. In the vision I looked.
14And behold there was another habitation more spacious than the former, every entrance to which was open before me, erected in the midst of a vibrating flame.
15So greatly did it excel in all points, in glory, in magnificence, and in magnitude, that it is impossible to describe to you either the splendour or the extent of it.
16Its floor was on fire; above were lightnings and agitated stars, while its roof exhibited a blazing fire.
17Attentively I surveyed it, and saw that it contained an exalted throne;
18The appearance of which was like that of frost; while its circumference resembled the orb of the brilliant sun; and there was the voice of the cherubim.
19From underneath this mighty throne rivers of flaming fire issued.
20To look upon it was impossible.
21One great in glory sat upon it:
22Whose robe was brighter than the sun, and whiter than snow.
23No angel was capable of penetrating to view the face of Him, the Glorious and the Effulgent; nor could any mortal behold Him. A fire was flaming around Him.
24A fire also of great extent continued to rise up before Him; so that not one of those who surrounded Him was capable of approaching Him, among the myriads of myriads (22) who were before Him. To Him holy consultation was needless. Yet did not the sanctified, who were near Him, depart far from Him either by night or by day; nor were they removed from Him. I also was so far advanced, with a veil on my face, and trembling. Then the Lord with his own mouth called me, saying, Approach hither, Enoch, at my holy word.
(22) Myriads of myriads. Ten thousand times ten thousands (Knibb, p. 99).
25And He raised me up, making me draw near even to the entrance. My eye was directed to the ground.
Chapter 15
1Then addressing me, He spoke and said, Hear, neither be afraid, O righteous Enoch, you scribe of righteousness: approach hither, and hear my voice. Go, say to the Watchers of heaven, who have sent you to pray for them, You ought to pray for men, and not men for you.
2Wherefore have you forsaken the lofty and holy heaven, which endures for ever, and have lain with women; have defile yourselves with the daughters of men; have taken to yourselves wives; have acted like the sons of the earth, and have begotten an impious offspring? (23)
(23) An impious offspring. Literally, "giants" (Charles, p. 82; Knibb, p. 101).
3You being spiritual, holy, and possessing a life which is eternal, have polluted yourselves with women; have begotten in carnal blood; have lusted in the blood of men; and have done as those who are flesh and blood do.
4These however die and perish.
5Therefore have I given to them wives, that they might cohabit with them; that sons might be born of them; and that this might be transacted upon earth.
6But you from the beginning were made spiritual, possessing a life which is eternal, and not subject to death for ever.
7Therefore I made not wives for you, because, being spiritual, your dwelling is in heaven.
8Now the giants, who have been born of spirit and of flesh, shall be called upon earth evil spirits, and on earth shall be their habitation. Evil spirits shall proceed from their flesh, because they were created from above; from the holy Watchers was their beginning and primary foundation. Evil spirits shall they be upon earth, and the spirits of the wicked shall they be called. The habitation of the spirits of heaven shall be in heaven; but upon earth shall be the habitation of terrestrial spirits, who are born on earth. (24)
(24) Note the many implications of vss. 3-8 regarding the progeny of evil spirits.
9The spirits of the giants shall be like clouds, (25) which shall oppress, corrupt, fall, content, and bruise upon earth.
(25) The Greek word for "clouds" here, nephelas, may disguise a more ancient reading, Napheleim (Nephilim).
10They shall cause lamentation. No food shall they eat; and they shall be thirsty; they shall be concealed, and shall not (26) rise up against the sons of men, and against women; for they come forth during the days of slaughter and destruction.
(26) Shall not. Nearly all manuscripts contain this negative, but Charles, Knibb, and others believe the "not" should be deleted so the phrase reads "shall rise up."
Chapter 16
1And as to the death of the giants, wheresoever their spirits depart from their bodies, let their flesh, that which is perishable, be without judgment. (27) Thus shall they perish, until the day of the great consummation of the great world. A destruction shall take place of the Watchers and the impious.
(27) Let their flesh…be without judgment. Or, "their flesh shall be destroyed before the judgment" (Knibb, p. 102).
2And now to the Watchers, who have sent you to pray for them, who in the beginning were in heaven,
3Say, In heaven have you been; secret things, however, have not been manifested to you; yet have you known a reprobated mystery.
4And this you have related to women in the hardness of your heart, and by that mystery have women and mankind multiplied evils upon the earth.
5Say to them, Never therefore shall you obtain peace.
Chapter 17
1They raised me up into a certain place, where there was (28) the appearance of a burning fire; and when they pleased they assumed the likeness of men.
(28) Where there was. Or, "where they [the angels] were like" (Knibb, p. 103).
2They carried me to a lofty spot, to a mountain, the top of which reach to heaven.
3And I beheld the receptacles of light and of thunder at the extremities of the place, where it was deepest. There was a bow of fire, and arrows in their quiver, a sword of fire, and every species of lightning.
4Then they elevated me to a babbling stream, (29) and to a fire in the west, which received all the setting of the sun. I came to a river of fire, which flowed like water, and emptied itself into the great sea westwards.
(29) To a babbling stream. Literally, "to water of life, which spoke" (Laurence, p. 23).
5I saw every large river, until I arrived at the great darkness. I went to where all of flesh migrate; and I beheld the mountains of the gloom which constitutes winter, and the place from which issues the water in every abyss.
6I saw also the mouths of all the rivers in the world, and the mouths of the deep.
Chapter 18
1I then surveyed the receptacles of all the winds, perceiving that they contributed to adorn the whole creation, and to preserve the foundation of the earth.
2I surveyed the stone which supports the corners of the earth.
3I also beheld the four winds, which bear up the earth, and the firmament of heaven.
4And I beheld the winds occupying the exalted sky.
5Arising in the midst of heaven and of earth, and constituting the pillars of heaven.
6I saw the winds which turn the sky, which cause the orb of the sun and of all the stars to set; and over the earth I saw the winds which support the clouds.
7I saw the path of the angels.
8I perceived at the extremity of the earth the firmament of heaven above it. Then I passed on towards the south;
9Where burnt, both by day and night, six mountains formed of glorious stones; three towards the east, and three towards the south.
10Those which were towards the east were of a variegated stone; one of which was of margarite, and another of antimony. Those towards the south were of a red stone. The middle one reached to heaven like the throne of God; a throne composed of alabaster, the top of which was of sapphire. I saw, too, a blazing fire hanging over all the mountains.
11And there I saw a place on the other side of an extended territory, where waters were collected.
12I likewise beheld terrestrial fountains, deep in the fiery columns of heaven.
13And in the columns of heaven I beheld fires, which descended without number, but neither on high, nor into the deep. Over these fountains also I perceived a place which had neither the firmament of heaven above it, nor the solid ground underneath it; neither was there water above it; nor anything on wing; but the spot was desolate.
14And there I beheld seven stars, like great blazing mountains, and like spirits entreating me.
15Then the angel said, This place, until the consummation of heaven and earth, will be the prison of the stars, and the host of heaven.
16The stars which roll over fire are those which transgressed the commandment of God before their time arrived; for they came not in their proper season. Therefore was He offended with them, and bound them, until the period of the consummation of their crimes in the secret year.
Chapter 19
1Then Uriel said, Here the angels, who cohabited with women, appointed their leaders;
2And being numerous in appearance (30) made men profane, and caused them to err; so that they sacrificed to devils as to gods. For in the great day there shall be a judgment, with which they shall be judged, until they are consumed; and their wives also shall be judged, who led astray the angels of heaven that they might salute them.
(30) Being numerous in appearance. Or, "assuming many forms" (Knibb, p. 106).
3And I, Enoch, I alone saw the likeness of the end of all things. Nor did any human being see it, as I saw it.
Chapter 20
1These are the names of the angels who watch.
2Uriel, one of the holy angels, who presides over clamor and terror.
3Raphael, one of the holy angels, who presides over the spirits of men.
4Raguel, one of the holy angels, who inflicts punishment on the world and the luminaries.
5Michael, one of the holy angels, who, presiding over human virtue, commands the nations.
6Sarakiel, one of the holy angels, who presides over the spirits of the children of men that transgress.
7Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who presides over Ikisat, (31) over paradise, and over the cherubim.
(31) Ikisat. The serpents (Charles, p. 92; Knibb, p. 107).
Chapter 21
1Then I made a circuit to a place in which nothing was completed.
2And there I beheld neither the tremendous workmanship of an exalted heaven, nor of an established earth, but a desolate spot, prepared, and terrific.
3There, too, I beheld seven stars of heaven bound in it together, like great mountains, and like a blazing fire. I exclaimed, For what species of crime have they been bound, and why have they been removed to this place? Then Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, and who conducted me, answered: Enoch, wherefore do you ask; wherefore do you reason with yourself, and anxiously inquire? These are those of the stars which have transgressed the commandment of the most high God; and are here bound, until the infinite number of the days of their crimes be completed.
4From there I afterwards passed on to another terrific place;
5Where I beheld the operation of a great fire blazing and glittering, in the midst of which there was a division. Columns of fire struggled together to the end of the abyss, and deep was their descent. But neither its measurement nor magnitude was I able to discover; neither could I perceive its origin. Then I exclaimed, How terrible is this place, and how difficult to explore!
6Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, answered and said: Enoch, why are you alarmed and amazed at this terrific place, at the sight of this place of suffering? This, he said, is the prison of the angels; and here they are kept for ever.
Chapter 22
1From there I proceeded to another spot, where I saw on the west a great and lofty mountain, a strong rock, and four delightful places.
2Internally it was deep, capacious, and very smooth; as smooth as if it had been rolled over: it was both deep and dark to behold.
3Then Raphael, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered and said, These are the delightful places where the spirits, the souls of the dead, will be collected; for them were they formed; and here will be collected all the souls of the sons of men.
4These places, in which they dwell, shall they occupy until the day of judgment, and until their appointed period.
5Their appointed period will be long, even until the great judgment. And I saw the spirits of the sons of men who were dead; and their voices reached to heaven, while they were accusing.
6Then I inquired of Raphael, an angel who was with me, and said, Whose spirit is that, the voice of which reaches to heaven, and accuses?
7He answered, saying, This is the spirit of Abel who was slain by Cain his brother; and who will accuse that brother, until his seed be destroyed from the face of the earth;
8Until his seed perish from the seed of the human race.
9At that time therefore I inquired respecting him, and respecting the general judgment, saying, Why is one separated from another? He answered, Three separations have been made between the spirits of the dead, and thus have the spirits of the righteous been separated.
10Namely, by a chasm, by water, and by light above it.
11And in the same way likewise are sinners separated when they die, and are buried in the earth; judgment not overtaking them in their lifetime.
12Here their souls are separated. Moreover, abundant is their suffering until the time of the great judgment, the castigation, and the torment of those who eternally execrate, whose souls are punished and bound there for ever.
13And thus has it been from the beginning of the world. Thus has there existed a separation between the souls of those who utter complaints, and of those who watch for their destruction, to slaughter them in the day of sinners.
14A receptacle of this sort has been formed for the souls of unrighteous men, and of sinners; of those who have completed crime, and associated with the impious, whom they resemble. Their souls shall not be annihilated in the day of judgment, neither shall they arise from this place. Then I blessed God,
15And said, Blessed by my Lord, the Lord of glory and of righteousness, who reigns over all for ever and for ever.
Chapter 23
1From there I went to another place, towards the west, unto the extremities of the earth.
2Where I beheld a fire blazing and running along without cessation, which intermitted its course neither by day nor by night; but continued always the same.
3I inquired, saying, What is this, which never ceases?
4Then Raguel, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered,
5And said, This blazing fire, which you behold running towards the west, is that of all the luminaries of heaven.
Chapter 24
1I went from there to another place, and saw a mountain of fire flashing both by day and night. I proceeded towards it; and perceived seven splendid mountains, which were all different from each other.
2Their stones were brilliant and beautiful; all were brilliant and splendid to behold; and beautiful was their surface. Three mountains were towards the east, and strengthened by being placed one upon another; and three were towards the south, strengthened in a similar manner. There were likewise deep valleys, which did not approach each other. And the seventh mountain was in the midst of them. In length they all resembled the seat of a throne, and odoriferous trees surrounded them.
3Among these there was a tree of an unceasing smell; nor of those which were in Eden was there one of all the fragrant trees which smelt like this. Its leaf, its flower, and its bark never withered, and its fruit was beautiful.
4Its fruit resembled the cluster of the palm. I exclaimed, Behold! This tree is goodly in aspect, pleasing in its leaf, and the sight of its fruit is delightful to the eye. Then Michael, one of the holy and glorious angels who were with me, and one who presided over them, answered,
5And said: Enoch, why do you inquire respecting the odour of this tree?
6Why are you inquisitive to know it?
7Then I, Enoch, replied to him, and said, Concerning everything I am desirous of instruction, but particularly concerning this tree.
8He answered me, saying, That mountain which you behold, the extent of whose head resembles the seat of the Lord, will be the seat on which shall sit the holy and great Lord of glory, the everlasting King, when he shall come and descend to visit the earth with goodness.
9And that tree of an agreeable smell, not one of carnal odor, there shall be no power to touch, until the period of the great judgment. When all shall be punished and consumed for ever, this shall be bestowed on the righteous and humble. The fruit of the tree shall be given to the elect. For towards the north life shall be planted in the holy place, towards the habitation of the everlasting King.
10Then shall they greatly rejoice and exult in the Holy One. The sweet odor shall enter into their bones; and they shall live a long life on the earth as your forefathers have lived; neither in their days shall sorrow, distress, trouble, and punishment afflict them.
11And I blessed the Lord of glory, the everlasting King, because He has prepared this tree for the saints, formed it, and declared that He would give it to them.
Chapter 25
1From there I proceeded to the middle of the earth, and beheld a happy and fertile spot, which contained branches continually sprouting from the trees which were planted in it. There I saw a holy mountain, and underneath it water on the eastern side, which flowed towards the south. I saw also on the east another mountain as high as that; and between them there were deep, but not wide valleys.
2Water ran towards the mountain to the west of this; and underneath there was likewise another mountain.
3There was a valley, but not a wide one, below it; and in the midst of them were other deep and dry valleys towards the extremity of the three. All these valleys, which were deep, but not side, consisted of a strong rock, with a tree which was planted in them. And I wondered at the rock and at the valleys, being extremely surprised.
Chapter 26
1Then I said, What means this blessed land, all these lofty trees, and the accursed valley between them?
2Then Uriel, one of the holy angels who were with me, replied, This valley is the accursed of the accursed for ever. Here shall be collected all who utter with their mouths unbecoming language against God, and speak harsh things of His glory. Here shall they be collected. Here shall be their territory.
3In the latter days an example of judgment shall be made of them in righteousness before the saints; while those who have received mercy shall for ever, all their days, bless God, the everlasting King.
4And at the period of judgment shall they bless Him for his mercy, as He has distributed it to them. Then I blessed God, addressing myself to Him, and making mention, as was meet, of His greatness.
Chapter 27
1From there I proceeded towards the east to the middle of the mountain in the desert, the level surface only of which I perceived.
2It was full of trees of the seed alluded to; and water leaped down upon it.
3There appeared a cataract composed as of many cataracts both towards the west and towards the east. Upon one side were trees; upon the other water and dew.
Chapter 28
1Then I went to another place from the desert; towards the east of that mountain which I had approached.
2There I beheld choice trees, (32) particularly, those which produce the sweet-smelling opiate, frankincense and myrrh; and trees unlike to each other.
(32) Choice trees. Literally, "trees of judgment" (Laurence, p. 35; Knibb, p. 117).
3And over it, above them, was the elevation of the eastern mountain at no great distance.
Chapter 29
1I likewise saw another place with valleys of water which never wasted,
2Where I perceived a goodly tree, which in smell resembled Zasakinon. (33)
(33) Zasakinon. The mastic tree (Knibb, p. 118).
3And towards the sides of these valleys I perceived cinnamon of a sweet odour. Over them I advanced towards the east.
Chapter 30
1Then I beheld another mountain containing trees, from which water flowed like Neketro, (34) Its name was Sarira, and Kalboneba. (35) And upon this mountain I beheld another mountain, upon which were trees of Alva. (36)
(35) Sarira, and Kalboneba. Styrax and galbanum (Knibb, p. 119).
(36) Alva. Aloe (Knibb, p. 119).
2These trees were full, like almond trees, and strong; and when they produced fruit, it was superior to all redolence.
Chapter 31
1After these things, surveying the entrances of the north, above the mountains, I perceived seven mountains replete with pure nard, odoriferous trees, cinnamon and papyrus.
2From there I passed on above the summits of those mountains to some distance eastwards, and went over the Erythraean sea. (37) And when I was advanced far beyond it, I passed along above the angel Zateel, and arrived at the garden of righteousness. In this garden I beheld, among other trees, some which were numerous and large, and which flourished there.
(37) Erythraean sea. The Red Sea.
3Their fragrance was agreeable and powerful, and their appearance both varied and elegant. The tree of knowledge also was there, of which if any one eats, he becomes endowed with great wisdom.
4It was like a species of the tamarind tree, bearing fruit which resembled grapes extremely fine; and its fragrance extended to a considerable distance. I exclaimed, How beautiful is this tree, and how delightful is its appearance!
5Then holy Raphael, an angel who was with me, answered and said, This is the tree of knowledge, of which your ancient father and your aged mother ate, who were before you; and who, obtaining knowledge, their eyes being opened, and knowing themselves to be naked, were expelled from the garden.
Chapter 32
1From there I went on towards the extremities of the earth; where I saw large beasts different from each other, and birds various in their countenances and forms, as well as with notes of different sounds.
2To the east of these beasts I perceived the extremities of the earth, where heaven ceased. The gates of heaven stood open, and I beheld the celestial stars come forth. I numbered them as they proceeded out of the gate, and wrote them all down, as they came out one by one according to their number. I wrote down their names altogether, their times and their seasons, as the angel Uriel, who was with me, pointed them out to me.
3He showed them all to me, and wrote down an account of them.
4He also wrote down for me their names, their regulations, and their operations.
Chapter 33
1From there I advanced on towards the north, to the extremities of the earth.
2And there I saw a great and glorious wonder at the extremities of the whole earth.
3I saw there heavenly gates opening into heaven; three of them distinctly separated. The northern winds proceeded from them, blowing cold, hail, frost, snow, dew, and rain.
4From one of the gates they blew mildly; but when they blew from the two other gates, it was with violence and force. They blew over the earth strongly.
Chapter 34
1From there I went to the extremities of the world westwards;
2Where I perceived three gates open, as I had seen in the north; the gates and passages through them being of equal magnitude.
Chapter 35
1Then I proceeded to the extremities of the earth southwards; where I saw three gates open to the south, from which issued dew, rain, and wind.
2From there I went to the extremities of heaven eastwards; where I saw three heavenly gates open to the east, which had smaller gates within them. Through each of these small gates the stars of heaven passed on, and proceeded towards the west by a path which was seen by them, and that at every period of their appearance.
3When I beheld them, I blessed; every time in which they appeared, I blessed the Lord of glory, who had made those great and splendid signs, that they might display the magnificence of this works to angels and to the souls of men; and that these might glorify all his works and operations; might see the effect of his power; might glorify the great labour of his hands; and bless him for ever.
(No Chapter 36)
Chapter 37
1The vision which he saw, the second vision of wisdom, which Enoch saw, the son of Jared, the son of Malaleel, the son of Canan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam. This is the commencement of the word of wisdom, which I received to declare and tell to those who dwell upon earth. Hear from the beginning, and understand to the end, the holy things which I utter in the presence of the Lord of spirits. Those who were before us thought it good to speak;
2And let not us, who come after, obstruct the beginning of wisdom. Until the present period never has there been given before the Lord of spirits that which I have received, wisdom according the capacity of my intellect, and according to the pleasure of the Lord of spirits; that which I have received from him, a portion of life eternal.
3And I obtained three parables, which I declared to the inhabitants of the world.
Chapter 38
1Parable the first. When the congregation of the righteous shall be manifested; and sinners be judged for their crimes, and be troubled in the sight of the world;
2When righteousness shall be manifested (38) in the presence of the righteous themselves, who will be elected for their good works duly weighed by the Lord of spirits; and when the light of the righteous and the elect, who dwell on earth, shall be manifested; where will the habitation of sinners be? And where the place of rest for those who have rejected the Lord of spirits? It would have been better for them, had they never been born.
(38) When righteousness shall be manifested. Or, "when the Righteous One appears" (Knibb, p. 125; cp. Charles, p. 112).
3When, too, the secrets of the righteous shall be revealed, then shall sinners be judged; and impious men shall be afflicted in the presence of the righteous and the elect.
4From that period those who possess the earth shall cease to be powerful and exalted. Neither shall they be capable of beholding the countenances of the holy; for the light of the countenances of the holy, the righteous, and the elect, has been seen by the Lord of spirits. (39)
(39) For the light…Lord of spirits. Or, "for the light of the Lord of spirits will have appeared on the face of the holy, the righteous, and the chosen" (Knibb, p. 126).
5Yet shall not the mighty kings of that period be destroyed; but be delivered into the hands of the righteous and the holy.
6Nor thenceforwards shall any obtain commiseration from the Lord of spirits, because their lives in this world will have been completed.
Chapter 39
1In those days shall the elect and holy race descend from the upper heavens, and their seed shall then be with the sons of men. Enoch received books of indignation and wrath, and books of hurry and agitation.
2Never shall they obtain mercy, saith the Lord of spirits.
3A cloud then snatched me up, and the wind raised me above the surface of the earth, placing me at the extremity of the heavens.
4There I saw another vision; I saw the habitations and resting places of the saints. There my eyes beheld their habitations with the angels, and their resting places with the holy ones. They were entreating, supplicating, and praying for the sons of men; while righteousness like water flowed before them, and mercy like dew was scattered over the earth. And thus shall it be with them for ever and for ever.
5At that time my eyes beheld the dwelling of the elect, of truth, faith, and righteousness.
6Countless shall be the number of the holy and the elect, in the presence of God for ever and for ever.
7Their residence I beheld under the wings of the Lord of spirits. All the holy and the elect sung before him, in appearance like a blaze of fire; their mouths being full of blessings, and their lips glorifying the name of the Lord of spirits. And righteousness incessantly dwelt before him.
8There was I desirous of remaining, and my soul longed for that habitation. There was my antecedent inheritance; for thus had I prevailed before the Lord of spirits.
9At that time I glorified and extolled the name of the Lord of spirits with blessing and with praise; for he has established it with blessing and with praise, according to his own good pleasure.
10That place long did my eyes contemplate. I blessed and said, Blessed be he, blessed from the beginning for ever. In the beginning, before the world was created, and without end is his knowledge.
11What is this world? Of every existing generation those shall bless you who do not spiritually sleep but stand before your glory, blessing, glorifying, exalting you, and saying, The holy, holy, Lord of spirits, fills the whole world of spirits.
12There my eyes beheld all who, without sleeping, stand before him and bless him, saying, Blessed be you, and blessed be the name of God for ever and for ever. Then my countenance became changed, until I was incapable of seeing.
Chapter 40
1After this I beheld thousands of thousands, and myriads of myriads, and an infinite number of people, standing before the Lord of spirits.
2On the four wings likewise of the Lord of spirits, on the four sides, I perceived others, besides those who were standing before him. Their names, too, I know; because the angel, who proceeded with me, declared them to me, discovering to me every secret thing.
3Then I heard the voices of those upon the four sides magnifying the Lord of glory.
4The first voice blessed the Lord of spirits for ever and for ever.
5The second voice I heard blessing the Elect One, and the elect who suffer on account of the Lord of spirits.
6The third voice I heard petitioning and praying for those who dwell upon earth, and supplicate the name of the Lord of spirits.
7The fourth voice I heard expelling the impious angels, (40) and prohibiting them from entering into the presence of the Lord of spirits, to prefer accusations against (41) the inhabitants of the earth.
(41) Prefer accusations against. Or, "to accuse" (Charles, p. 119).
8After this I besought the angel of peace, who proceeded with me, to explain all that was concealed. I said to him, Who are those whom I have seen on the four sides, and who words I have heard and written down? He replied, The first is the merciful, the patient, the holy Michael.
9The second is he who presides over every suffering and every affliction of the sons of men, the holy Raphael. The third, who presides over all that is powerful, is Gabriel. And the fourth, who presides over repentance, and the hope of those who will inherit eternal life, is Phanuel. These are the four angels of the most high God, and their four voices, which at that time I heard.
Chapter 41
1After this I beheld the secrets of the heavens and of paradise, according to its divisions; and of human action, as they weight it there in balances. I saw the habitations of the elect, and the habitations of the holy. And there my eyes beheld all the sinners, who denied the Lord of glory, and whom they were expelling from there, and dragging away, as they stood there; no punishment proceeding against them from the Lord of spirits.
2There, too, my eyes beheld the secrets of the lightning and the thunder; and the secrets of the winds, how they are distributed as they blow over the earth: the secrets of the winds, of the dew, and of the clouds. There I perceived the place from which they issued forth, and became saturated with the dust of the earth.
3There I saw the wooden receptacles out of which the winds became separated, the receptacle of hail, the receptacle of snow, the receptacle of the clouds, and the cloud itself, which continued over the earth before the creation of the world.
4I beheld also the receptacles of the moon, whence they came, whither they proceeded, their glorious return, and how one became more splendid than another. I marked their rich progress, their unchangeable progress, their disunited and undiminished progress; their observance of a mutual fidelity by a stable oath; their proceeding forth before the sun, and their adherence to the path allotted them, (42) in obedience to the command of the Lord of spirits. Potent is his name for ever and for ever.
(42) Their proceeding forth…path allotted them. Or, "the sun goes out first and completes its journey" (Knibb, p. 129; cp. Charles, p. 122).
5After this I perceived, that the path both concealed and manifest of the moon, as well as the progress of its path, was there completed by day and by night; while each, one with another, looked towards the Lord of spirits, magnifying and praising without cessation, since praise to them is rest; for in the splendid sun there is a frequent conversion to blessing and to malediction.
6The course of the moon’s path to the righteous is light, but to sinners it is darkness; in the name of the Lord of spirits, who created a division between light and darkness, and, separating the spirits of men, strengthened the spirits of the righteous in the name of his own righteousness.
7Nor does the angel prevent this, neither is he endowed with the power of preventing it; for the Judge beholds them all, and judges them all in his own presence.
Chapter 42
1Wisdom found not a place on earth where she could inhabit; her dwelling therefore is in heaven.
2Wisdom went forth to dwell among the sons of men, but she obtained not a habitation. Wisdom returned to her place, and seated herself in the midst of the angels. But iniquity went forth after her return, who unwillingly found a habitation, and resided among them, as rain in the desert, and as a dew in a thirsty land.
Chapter 43
1I beheld another splendour, and the stars of heaven. I observed that he called them all by their respective names, and that they heard. In a righteous balance I saw that he weighed out with their light the amplitude of their places, and the day of their appearance, and their conversion. Splendour produced splendour; and their conversion was into the number of the angels, and of the faithful.
2Then I inquired of the angel, who proceeded with me, and explained to me secret things, What their names were. He answered. A similitude of those has the Lord of spirits shown you. They are names of the righteous who dwell upon earth, and who believe in the name of the Lord of spirits for ever and for ever.
Chapter 44
1Another thing also I saw respecting splendour; that it rises out of the stars, and becomes splendour; being incapable of forsaking them.
Chapter 45
1Parable the second, respecting these who deny the name of the habitation of the holy ones, and of the Lord of spirits.
2Heaven they shall not ascend, nor shall they come on the earth. This shall be the portion of sinners, who deny the name of the Lord of spirits, and who are thus reserved for the day of punishment and of affliction.
3In that day shall the Elect One sit upon a throne of glory; and shall choose their conditions and countless habitations, while their spirits within them shall be strengthened, when they behold my Elect One, for those who have fled for protection to my holy and glorious name.
4In that day I will cause my Elect One to dwell in the midst of them; will change the face of heaven; will bless it, and illuminate it for ever.
5I will also change the face of the earth, will bless it; and cause those whom I have elected to dwell upon it. But those who have committed sin and iniquity shall not inhabit it, for I have marked their proceedings. My righteous ones will I satisfy with peace, placing them before me; but the condemnation of sinners shall draw near, that I may destroy them from the face of the earth.
Chapter 46
1There I beheld the Ancient of days, whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of man. His countenance was full of grace, like that of one of the holy angels. Then I inquired of one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was; whence he was and why he accompanied the Ancient of days.
2He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
3This Son of man, whom you behold, shall raise up kings and the mighty from their dwelling places, and the powerful from their thrones; shall loosen the bridles of the powerful, and break in pieces the teeth of sinners.
4He shall hurl kings from their thrones and their dominions; because they will not exalt and praise him, nor humble themselves before him, by whom their kingdoms were granted to them. The countenance likewise of the mighty shall He cast down, filling them with confusion. Darkness shall be their habitation, and worms shall be their bed; nor from that their bed shall they hope to be again raised, because they exalted not the name of the Lord of spirits.
5They shall condemn the stars of heaven, shall lift up their hands against the Most High, shall tread upon and inhabit the earth, exhibiting all their acts of iniquity, even their works of iniquity. Their strength shall be in their riches, and their faith in the gods whom they have formed with their own hands. They shall deny the name of the Lord of spirits, and shall expel him from the temples, in which they assemble;
6And with him the faithful, (43) who suffer in the name of the Lord of spirits.
(43) Shall expel him…the faithful. Or, "will be driven from the houses of his congregation, and of the faithful" (Knibb, p. 132; cp. Charles, p. 131).
Chapter 47
1In that day the prayer of the holy and the righteous, and the blood of the righteous, shall ascend from the earth into the presence of the Lord of spirits.
2In that day shall the holy ones assemble, who dwell above the heavens, and with united voice petition, supplicate, praise, laud, and bless the name of the Lord of spirits, on account of the blood of the righteous which has been shed; that the prayer of the righteous may not be intermitted before the Lord of spirits; that for them he would execute judgment; and that his patience may not endure for ever. (44)
(44) That his patience…endure for ever. Or, "(that) their patience may not have to last for ever" (Knibb, p. 133).
3At that time I beheld the Ancient of days, while he sat upon the throne of his glory, while the book of the living was opened in his presence, and while all the powers which were above the heavens stood around and before him.
4Then were the hearts of the saints full of joy, because the consummation of righteousness was arrived, the supplication of the saints heard, and the blood of the righteous appreciated by the Lord of spirits.
Chapter 48
1In that place I beheld a fountain of righteousness, which never failed, encircled by many springs of wisdom. Of these all the thirsty drank, and were filled with wisdom, having their habitation with the righteous, the elect, and the holy.
2In that hour was this Son of man invoked before the Lord of spirits, and his name in the presence of the Ancient of days.
3Before the sun and the signs were created, before the stars of heaven were formed, his name was invoked in the presence of the Lord of spirits. A support shall he be for the righteous and the holy to lean upon, without falling; and he shall be the light of nations.
4He shall be the hope of those whose hearts are troubled. All, who dwell on earth, shall fall down and worship before him; shall bless and glorify him, and sing praises to the name of the Lord of spirits.
5Therefore the Elect and the Concealed One existed in his presence, before the world was created, and for ever.
6In his presence he existed, and has revealed to the saints and to the righteous the wisdom of the Lord of spirits; for he has preserved the lot of the righteous, because they have hated and rejected this world of iniquity, and have detested all its works and ways, in the name of the Lord of spirits.
7For in his name shall they be preserved; and his will shall be their life. In those days shall the kings of the earth and the mighty men, who have gained the world by their achievements, become humble in countenance.
8For in the day of their anxiety and trouble their souls shall not be saved; and they shall be in subjection to those whom I have chosen.
9I will cast them like hay into the fire, and like lead into the water. Thus shall they burn in the presence of the righteous, and sink in the presence of the holy; nor shall a tenth part of them be found.
10But in the day of their trouble, the world shall obtain tranquillity.
11In his presence shall they fall, and not be raised up again; nor shall there be any one to take them out of his hands, and to lift them up: for they have denied the Lord of spirits, and his Messiah. The name of the Lord of spirits shall be blessed.
Chapter 48A
(45)
(45) Two consecutive chapters are numbered "48."
1Wisdom is poured forth like water, and glory fails not before him for ever and ever; for potent is he in all the secrets of righteousness.
2But iniquity passes away like a shadow, and possesses not a fixed station: for the Elect One stands before the Lord of spirits; and his glory is for ever and ever; and his power from generation to generation.
3With him dwells the spirit of intellectual wisdom, the spirit of instruction and of power, and the spirit of those who sleep in righteousness; he shall judge secret things.
4Nor shall any be able to utter a single word before him; for the Elect One is in the presence of the Lord of Spirits, according to his own pleasure.
Chapter 49
1In those days the saints and the chosen shall undergo a change. The light of day shall rest upon them; and the splendour and glory of the saints shall be changed.
2In the day of trouble evil shall be heaped up upon sinners; but the righteous shall triumph in the name of the Lord of spirits.
3Others shall be made to see, that they must repent, and forsake the works of their hands; and that glory awaits them not in the presence of the Lord of spirits; yet that by his name they may be saved. The Lord of spirits will have compassion on them; for great is his mercy; and righteousness is in his judgment, and in the presence of his glory; nor in his judgment shall iniquity stand. He who repents not before him shall perish.
4Henceforward I will not have mercy on them, saith the Lord of spirits.
Chapter 50
1In those days shall the earth deliver up from her womb, and hell deliver up from hers, that which it has received; and destruction shall restore that which it owes.
2He shall select the righteous and holy from among them; for the day of their salvation has approached.
3And in those days shall the Elect One sit upon his throne, while every secret of intellectual wisdom shall proceed from his mouth, for the Lord of spirits has gifted and glorified him.
4In those days the mountains shall skip like rams, and the hills shall leap like young sheep (46) satiated with milk; and all the righteous shall become like angels in heaven.
(46) Cp. Psalm 114:4
5Their countenance shall be bright with joy; for in those days shall the Elect One be exalted. The earth shall rejoice; the righteous shall inhabit it, and the elect possess it.
Chapter 51
1After that period, in the place where I had seen every secret sight, I was snatched up in a whirlwind, and carried off westwards.
2There my eyes beheld the secrets of heaven, and all which existed on earth; a mountain of iron, a mountain of copper, a mountain of silver, a mountain of gold, a mountain of fluid metal, and a mountain of lead.
3And I inquired of the angel who went with me, saying, What are these things, which in secret I behold?
4He said, All these things which you behold shall be for the dominion of the Messiah, that he may command, and be powerful upon earth.
5And that angel of peace answered me, saying, Wait but a short time, and you shalt understand, and every secret thing shall be revealed to you, which the Lord of spirits has decreed. Those mountains which you have seen, the mountain of iron, the mountain of copper, the mountain of silver, the mountain of gold, the mountain of fluid metal, and the mountain of lead, all these in the presence of the Elect One shall be like a honeycomb before the fire, and like water descending from above upon these mountains; and shall become debilitated before his feet.
6In those days men shall not be saved by gold and by silver.
7Nor shall they have it in their power to secure themselves, and to fly.
8There shall be neither iron for was, nor a coat of mail for the breast.
9Copper shall be useless; useless also that which neither rusts nor consumes away; and lead shall not be coveted.
10All these things shall be rejected, and perish from off the earth, when the Elect One shall appear in the presence of the Lord of spirits.
Chapter 52
1There my eyes beheld a deep valley; and wide was its entrance.
2All who dwell on land, on the sea, and in islands, shall bring to it gifts, presents, and offerings; yet that deep valley shall not be full. Their hands shall commit iniquity. Whatsoever they produce by labour, the sinners shall devour with crime. But they shall perish from the face of the Lord of spirits, and from the face of his earth. They shall stand up, and shall not fail for ever and ever.
3I beheld the angels of punishment, who were dwelling there, and preparing every instrument of Satan.
4Then I inquired of the angel of peace, who proceeded with me, for whom those instruments were preparing.
5He said, These they are preparing for the kings and powerful ones of the earth, that thus they may perish.
6After which the righteous and chosen house of his congregation shall appear, and thenceforward unchangeable in the name of the Lord of spirits.
7Nor shall those mountains exist in his presence as the earth and the hills, as the fountains of water exist. And the righteous shall be relieved from the vexation of sinners.
Chapter 53
1Then I looked and turned myself to another part of the earth, where I beheld a deep valley burning with fire.
2To this valley they brought monarchs and the mighty.
3And there my eyes beheld the instruments which they were making, fetters of iron without weight. (47)
(47) Without weight. Or, "of immeasurable weight" (Knibb, p. 138).
4Then I inquired of the angel of peace, who proceeded with me, saying, For whom are these fetters and instruments prepared?
5He replied, These are prepared for the host of Azazeel, that they may be delivered over and adjudged to the lowest condemnation; and that their angels may be overwhelmed with hurled stones, as the Lord of spirits has commanded.
6Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel shall be strengthened in that day, and shall then cast them into a furnace of blazing fire, that the Lord of spirits may be avenged of them for their crimes; because they became ministers of Satan, and seduced those who dwell upon earth.
7In those days shall punishment go forth from the Lord of spirits; and the receptacles of water which are above the heavens shall be opened, and the fountains likewise, which are under the heavens and under the earth.
8All the waters, which are in the heavens and above them, shall be mixed together.
9The water which is above heaven shall be the agent; (48)
(48) Agent. Literally, "male" (Laurence, p. 61).
10And the water which is under the earth shall be the recipient: (49) and all shall be destroyed who dwell upon earth, and who dwell under the extremities of heaven.
(49) Recipient. Literally, "female" (Laurence, p. 61).
11By these means shall they understand the iniquity which they have committed on earth: and by these means shall they perish.
Chapter 54
1Afterwards the Ancient of days repented, and said, In vain have I destroyed all the inhabitants of the earth.
2And he sware by his great name, saying, Henceforwards I will not act thus towards all those who dwell upon earth.
3But I will place a sign in the heavens; (50) and it shall be a faithful witness between me and them for ever, as long as the days of heaven and earth last upon the earth.
(50) Cp. Gen. 9:13, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."
4Afterwards, according to this my decree, when I shall be disposed to seize them beforehand, by the instrumentality of angels, in the day of affliction and trouble, my wrath and my punishment shall remain upon them, my punishment and my wrath, saith God the Lord of spirits.
5O you kings, O you mighty, who inhabit the world you shall behold my Elect One, sitting upon the throne of my glory. And he shall judge Azazeel, all his associates, and all his hosts, in the name of the Lord of spirits.
6There likewise I beheld hosts of angels who were moving in punishment, confined in a net-work of iron and brass. Then I inquired of the angel of peace, who proceeded with me, To whom those under confinement were going.
7He said, To each of their elect and their beloved, (51) that they may be cast into the fountains and deep recesses of the valley.
(51) To each of…their beloved. Or, "Each to his own chosen ones and to his own beloved ones" (Knibb, p. 139).
8And that valley shall be filled with their elect and beloved; the days of whose life shall be consumed, but the days of their error shall be innumerable.
9Then shall princes (52) combine together, and conspire. The chiefs of the east, among the Parthians and Medes, shall remove kings, in whom a spirit of perturbation shall enter. They shall hurl them from their thrones, springing as lions from their dens, and like famished wolves into the midst of the flock.
(52) Princes. Or, "angels" (Charles, p. 149; Knibb, p. 140).
10They shall go up, and tread upon the land of their elect. The land of their elect shall be before them. The threshing-floor, the path, and the city of my righteous people shall impede the progress of their horses. They shall rise up to destroy each other; their right hand shall be strengthened; nor shall a man acknowledge his friend or his brother;
11Nor the son his father and his mother; until the number of the dead bodies shall be completed, by their death and punishment. Neither shall this take place without cause.
12In those days shall the mouth of hell be opened, into which they shall be immerged; hell shall destroy and swallow up sinners from the face of the elect.
Chapter 55
1After this I beheld another army of chariots with men riding in them.
2And they came upon the wind from the east, from the west, and from the south. (53)
(53) From the south. Literally, "from the midst of the day" (Laurence, p. 63).
3The sound of the noise of their chariots was heard.
4And when that agitation took place; the saints out of heaven perceived it; the pillar of the earth shook from its foundation; and the sound was heard from the extremities of the earth unto the extremities of heaven at the same time.
5Then they all fell down, and worshipped the Lord of spirits.
6This is the end of the second parable.
Chapter 56
1I now began to utter the third parable, concerning the saints and the elect.
2Blessed are you, O saints and elect, for glorious is your lot.
3The saints shall exist in the light of the sun, and the elect in the light of everlasting life, the days of whose life shall never terminate; nor shall the days of the saints be numbered, who seek for light, and obtain righteousness with the Lord of spirits.
4Peace be to the saints with the Lord of the world.
5Henceforward shall the saints be told to seek in heaven the secrets of righteousness, the portion of faith; for like the sun has it arisen upon the earth, while darkness has passed away. There shall be light interminable; nor shall they enter upon the enumeration of time; for darkness shall be previously destroyed, and light shall increase before the Lord of spirits; before the Lord of spirits shall the light of uprightness increase for ever.
Chapter 57
1In those days my eyes beheld the secrets of the lightnings and the splendours, and the judgment belonging to them.
2They lighten for a blessing and for a curse, according to the will of the Lord of spirits.
3And there I saw the secrets of the thunder, when it rattles above in heaven, and its sound is heard.
4The habitations also of the earth were shown to me. The sound of the thunder is for peace and for blessing, as well as for a curse, according to the word of the Lord of spirits.
5Afterwards every secret of the splendours and of the lightnings was seen by me. For blessing and for fertility they lighten.
Chapter 58
1In the five hundredth year, and in the seventh month, on the fourteenth day of the month, of the lifetime of Enoch, in that parable, I saw that the heaven of heavens shook; that it shook violently; and that the powers of the Most High, and the angels, thousands and thousands, and myriads of myriads, were agitated with great agitation. And when I looked, the Ancient of days was sitting on the throne of his glory, while the angels and saints were standing around him. A great trembling came upon me, and terror seized me. My loins were bowed down and loosened; my reins were dissolved; and I fell upon my face. The holy Michael, another holy angel, one of the holy ones, was sent, who raised me up.
2And when he raised me, my spirit returned; for I was incapable of enduring this vision of violence, its agitation, and the concussion of heaven.
3Then holy Michael said to me, Why are you disturbed at this vision?
4Hitherto has existed the day of mercy; and he has been merciful and longsuffering towards all who dwell upon the earth.
5But when the time shall come, then shall the power, the punishment, and the judgment take place, which the Lord of spirits has prepared for those who prostrate themselves to the judgment of righteousness, for those who abjure that judgment, and for those who take his name in vain.
6That day has been prepared for the elect as a day of covenant; and for sinners as a day of inquisition.
7In that day shall be distributed for food (54) two monsters; a female monster, whose name is Leviathan, dwelling in the depths of the sea, above the springs of waters;
(54) Distributed for food. Or, "separated from one another" (Knibb, p. 143).
8And a male monster, whose name is Behemoth; which possesses, moving on his breast, the invisible wilderness.
9His name was Dendayen in the east of the garden, where the elect and the righteous will dwell; where he received it from my ancestor, who was man, from Adam the first of men, (55) whom the Lord of spirits made.
(55) He received it…first of men. Or, "my [great-] grandfather was taken up, the seventh from Adam" (Charles, p. 155). This implies that this section of the book was written by Noah, Enoch's descendant, rather than Enoch. Scholars have speculated that this portion of the book may contain fragments of the lost Apocalypse of Noah.
10Then I asked of another angel to show me the power of those monsters, how they became separated, how they became separated on the same day, one being in the depths of the sea, and one in the dry desert.
11And he said, You, son of man, are here desirous of understanding secret things.
12And the angel of peace, who was with me, said, These two monsters are by the power of God prepared to become food, that the punishment of God may not be in vain.
13Then shall children be slain with their mothers, and sons with their fathers.
14And when the punishment of the Lord of spirits shall continue, upon them shall it continue, that the punishment of the Lord of spirits may not take place in vain. After that, judgment shall exist with mercy and longsuffering.
Chapter 59
1Then another angel, who proceeded with me, spoke to me;
2And showed me the first and last secrets in heaven above, and in the depths of the earth:
3In the extremities of heaven, and in the foundations of it, and in the receptacle of the winds.
4He showed me how their spirits were divided; how they were balanced; and how both the springs and the winds were numbered according to the force of their spirit.
5He showed me the power of the moon's light, that its power is a just one; as well as the divisions of the stars, according to their respective names;
6That every division is divided; that the lightning flashes;
7That its troops immediately obey; and that a cessation takes place during thunder in continuance of its sound. Nor are the thunder and the lightning separated; neither do both of them move with one spirit; yet they are not separated.
8For when the lightning lightens, the thunder sounds, and the spirit at a proper period pauses, making an equal division between them; for the receptacle, upon which their periods depend, is loose as sand. Each of them at a proper season is restrained with a bridle; and turned by the power of the spirit, which thus propels them according to the spacious extent of the earth.
9The spirit likewise of the sea is potent and strong; and as a strong power causes it to ebb, so is it driven forwards, and scattered against the mountains of the earth. The spirit of the frost has its angel; in the spirit of hail there is a good angel; the spirit of snow ceases in its strength, and a solitary spirit is in it, which ascends from it like vapour, and is called refrigeration.
10The spirit also of mist dwells with them in their receptacle; but it has a receptacle to itself; for its progress is in splendour.
11In light, and in darkness, in winter and in summer. Its receptacle is bright, and an angel is in it.
12The spirit of dew has its abode in the extremities of heaven, in connection with the receptacle of rain; and its progress is in winter and in summer. The cloud produced by it, and the cloud of the mist, become united; one gives to the other; and when the spirit of rain is in motion from its receptacle, angels come, and opening its receptacle, bring it forth.
13When likewise it is sprinkled over all the earth, it forms an union with every kind of water on the ground; for the waters remain on the ground, because they afford nourishment to the earth from the Most High, who is in heaven.
14Upon this account therefore there is a regulation in the quantity of rain, which the angels receive.
15These things I saw; all of them, even paradise.
Chapter 60
1In those days I beheld long ropes given to those angels; who took to their wings, and fled, advancing towards the north.
2And I inquired of the angel, saying, Wherefore have they taken those long ropes, and gone forth? He said, They are gone forth to measure.
3The angel, who proceeded with me, said, These are the measures of the righteous; and cords shall the righteous bring, that they may trust in the name of the Lord of spirits for ever and ever.
4The elect shall begin to dwell with the elect.
5And these are the measures which shall be given to faith, and which shall strengthen the words of righteousness.
6These measures shall reveal all the secrets in the depth of the earth.
7And it shall be, that those who have been destroyed in the desert, and who have been devoured by the fish of the sea, and by wild beasts, shall return, and trust in the day of the Elect One; for none shall perish in the presence of the Lord of spirits, nor shall any be capable of perishing.
8Then they received the commandment, all who were in the heavens above; to whom a combined power, voice, and splendour, like fire, were given.
9And first, with their voice, they blessed him, they exalted him, they glorified him with wisdom, and ascribed to him wisdom with the word, and with the breath of life.
10Then the Lord of spirits seated upon the throne of his glory the Elect One;
11Who shall judge all the works of the holy, in heaven above, and in a balance shall he weigh their actions. And when he shall lift up his countenance to judge their secret ways in the word of the name of the Lord of spirits, and their progress in the path of the righteous judgment of God most high;
12They shall all speak with united voice; and bless, glorify, exalt, and praise, in the name of the Lord of spirits.
13He shall call to every power of the heavens, to all the holy above, and to the power of God. The Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the Ophanin, all the angels of power, and all the angels of the Lords, namely, of the Elect One, and of the other Power, who was upon earth over the water on that day,
14Shall raise their united voice; shall bless, glorify, praise, and exalt with the spirit of faith, with the spirit of wisdom and patience, with the spirit of mercy, with the spirit of judgment and peace, and with the spirit of benevolence; all shall say with united voice; Blessed is He; and the name of the Lord of spirits shall be blessed for ever and for ever; all, who sleep not, shall bless it in heaven above.
15All the holy in heaven shall bless it; all the elect who dwell in the garden of life; and every spirit of light, who is capable of blessing, glorifying, exalting, and praising your holy name; and every mortal man, (56) more than the powers of heaven, shall glorify and bless your name for ever and ever.
(56) Every mortal man. Literally, "all of flesh" (Laurence, p. 73).
16For great is the mercy of the Lord of spirits; long-suffering is he; and all his works, all his power, great as are the things which he has done, has he revealed to the saints and to the elect, in the name of the Lord of spirits.
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.
(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)
(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.
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)
(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.
(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)
(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)
(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.
(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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