1 And it came to pass after this that his name during his lifetime was raised
aloft to that Son of Man and to the Lord of Spirits from amongst those who dwell
on the earth.
2 And he was raised aloft on the chariots of the spirit and his name vanished
among them.
3 And from that day I was no longer numbered amongst them and He set me between
the two winds, between the North and the West, where the angels took the cords
to measure for me the place for the elect and righteous.
4 And there I saw the first fathers and the righteous who from the beginning
dwell in that place.
5 And it came to pass after this that my spirit was translated and it ascended
into the heavens I saw the holy sons of God.
6 They were stepping on flames of fire: Their garments were white and their
faces shone like snow.
7 And I saw two streams of fire and the light of that fire shone like hyacinth,
and I fell on my face before the Lord of Spirits.
8 And the angel Michael seized me by my right hand and lifted me up and led me
forth into all the secrets, and he showed me all the secrets of righteousness.
9 And he showed me all the secrets of the ends of the heaven, and all the
chambers of all the stars, and all the luminaries, Whence they proceed before
the face of the holy ones.
10 And he translated my spirit into the heaven of heavens and I saw there as it
were a structure built of crystals and between those crystals tongues of living
fire.
11 And my spirit saw the girdle which girt that house of fire and on its four
sides were streams full of living fire, and they girt that house.
12 And round about were Seraphin, Cherubic, and Ophannin: And these are they who
sleep not and guard the throne of His glory.
13 And I saw angels who could not be counted. A thousand thousands and ten
thousand times ten thousand encircling that house.
14 And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phanuel, and the holy angels who
are above the heavens go in and out of that house.
15 And they came forth from that house, and Michael and Gabriel, Raphael, and
Phanuel, and many holy angels without number.
16 And with them the Head of Days, His head white and pure as wool, and His
raiment indescribable.
17 And I fell on my face and my whole body became relaxed, and my spirit was
transfigured; and I cried with a loud voice with the spirit of power and blessed
and glorified and extolled.
18 And these blessings which went forth out of my mouth were well pleasing
before that Head of Days.
19 And that Head of Days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael, and Phanuel,
thousands and ten thousands of angels without number.
20 And He came to me and greeted me with His voice, and said unto me: "This is
the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness, and righteousness abides over
Him, and the righteousness of the Head of Days forsakes Him not."
21 And he said unto me: "He proclaims unto thee peace in the name of the world
to come; for from hence has proceeded peace since the creation of the world, and
so shall it be unto thee for ever and for ever and ever.
22 And all shall walk in his ways since righteousness never forsaketh Him.
23 With Him will be their dwelling places, and with Him their heritage, and they
shall not be separated from Him for ever and ever and ever.
24 And so there shall be length of days with that Son of Man and the righteous
shall have peace and an upright way in the name of the Lord of Spirits for ever
and ever.
Chapter 2 The Luminaries
1 The book of the courses of the luminaries of the heaven, the relations of
each, according to their classes, their dominion and their seasons, according to
their names and places of origin, and according to their months, which Uriel,
the holy angel, who was with me, who is their guide showed me.
2 And he showed me all their laws exactly as they are, and how it is with regard
to all the years of the world and unto eternity, till the new creation is
accomplished which dureth till eternity.
3 And this is the first law of the luminaries: the luminary the sun has its
rising in the eastern portals of the heaven, and its setting in the western
portals of the heaven.
4 And I saw six portals in which the sun rises, and six portals in which the sun
sets and the moon rises and sets in these portals, and the leaders of the stars
and those whom they lead: six in the east and six in the west, and all following
each other in accurately corresponding order: also many windows to the right and
left of these portals.
5 And first there goes forth the great luminary, named the sun, and his
circumference is like the circumference of the heaven, and he is quite filled
with illuminating and heating fire.
6 The chariot on which he ascends, the wind drives, and the sun goes down from
the heaven and returns through the north in order to reach the east, and is so
guided that he comes to the appropriate portal and shines in the face of the
heaven.
7 In this way he rises in the first month in the great portal, which is the
fourth. And in that fourth portal from which the sun rises in the first month
are twelve window-openings, from which proceed a flame when they are opened in
their season.
8 When the sun rises in the heaven, he comes forth through that fourth portal
thirty mornings in succession, and sets accurately in the fourth portal in the
west of the heaven.
9 And during this period the day becomes daily longer and the night nightly
shorter to the thirtieth morning.
10 On that day the day is longer than the night by a ninth part, and the day
amounts exactly to ten parts and the night to eight parts.
11 And the sun rises from that fourth portal, and sets in the fourth and returns
to the fifth portal of the east thirty mornings and rises from it and sets in
the fifth portal.
12 And then the day becomes longer by two parts and amounts to eleven parts, and
the night becomes shorter and amounts to seven parts.
13 And it returns to the east and enters into the sixth portal, and rises and
sets in the sixth portal one-and-thirty mornings on account of its sign.
14 On that day the day becomes longer than the night, and the day becomes double
the night, and the day becomes twelve parts, and the night is shortened and
becomes six parts.
15 And the sun mounts up to make the day shorter and the night longer, and the
sun returns to the east and enters into the sixth portal and rises from it and
sets thirty mornings.
16 And when thirty mornings are accomplished, the day decreases by exactly one
part, and becomes eleven parts, and the night seven.
17 And the sun goes forth from that sixth portal in the west, and goes to the
east and rises in the fifth portal for thirty mornings, and sets in the west
again in the fifth western portal.
18 On that day the day decreases by two parts, and amounts to ten parts and the
night to eight parts.
19 And the sun goes forth from that fifth portal and sets in the fifth portal of
the west, and rises in the fourth portal for one-and-thirty mornings on account
of its sign, and sets in the west.
20 On that day the day is equalized with the night, and the night amounts to
nine parts and the day to nine parts.
21 And the sun rises from that portal and sets in the west, and returns to the
east and rises thirty mornings in the third portal and sets in the west in the
third portal.
22 And on that day the night becomes longer than the day, and night becomes
longer than night, and day shorter than day till the thirtieth morning, and the
night amounts exactly to ten parts and the day to eight parts.
23 And the sun rises from that third portal and sets in the third portal in the
west and returns to the east and for thirty mornings rises in the second portal
in the east, and in like manner sets in the second portal in the west of the
heaven.
24 And on that day the night amounts to eleven parts and the day to seven parts.
25 And the sun rises on that day from that second portal and sets in the west in
the second portal, and returns to the east into the first portal for
one-and-thirty mornings, and sets in the first portal in the west of the heaven.
26 And on that day the night becomes longer and amounts to the double of the
day: and the night amounts exactly to twelve parts and the day to six.
27 And the sun has traversed the divisions of his orbit and turns again on those
divisions of his orbit, and enters that portal thirty mornings and sets also in
the west opposite to it.
28 And on that night has the night decreased in length by a ninth part, and the
night has become eleven parts and the day seven parts.
29 And the sun has returned and entered into the second portal in the east, and
returns on those his divisions of his orbit for thirty mornings, rising and
setting.
30 And on that day the night decreases in length, and the night amounts to ten
parts and the day to eight.
31 And on that day the sun rises from that portal, and sets in the west, and
returns to the east, and rises in the third portal for one-and-thirty mornings,
and sets in the west of the heaven.
32 On that day the night decreases and amounts to nine parts, and the day to
nine parts, and the night is equal to the day and the year is exactly as to its
days three hundred and sixty-four.
33 And the length of the day and of the night, and the shortness of the day and
of the night arise-through the course of the sun these distinctions are made.
34 So it comes that its course becomes daily longer, and its course nightly
shorter.
35 And this is the law and the course of the sun, and his return as often as he
returns sixty times and rises for ever and ever.
36 And that which rises is the great luminary, and is so named according to its
appearance, according as the Lord commanded.
37 As he rises, so he sets and decreases not, and rests not, but runs day and
night, and his light is sevenfold brighter than that of the moon; but as regards
size they are both equal.
38 And after this law I saw another law dealing with the smaller luminary, which
is named the Moon.
39 And her circumference is like the circumference of the heaven, and her
chariot in which she rides is driven by the wind, and light is given to her in
measure.
40 And her rising and setting change every month and her days are like the days
of the sun, and when her light is uniform it amounts to the seventh part of the
light of the sun.
41 And thus she rises. And her first phase in the east comes forth on the
thirtieth morning: and on that day she becomes visible and constitutes for you
the first phase of the moon on the thirtieth day together with the sun in the
portal where the sun rises.
42 And the one half of her goes forth by a seventh part, and her whole
circumference is empty, without light, with the exception of one-seventh part of
it, the fourteenth part of her light.
43 And when she receives one-seventh part of the half of her light, her light
amounts to one-seventh part and the half thereof.
44 And she sets with the sun, and when the sun rises the moon rises with him and
receives the half of one part of light, and in that night in the beginning of
her morning in the commencement of the lunar day the moon sets with the sun, and
is invisible that night with the fourteen parts and the half of one of them.
45 And she rises on that day with exactly a seventh part, and comes forth and
recedes from the rising of the sun, and in her remaining days she becomes bright
in the thirteen parts.
46 And I saw another course, a law for her, how according to that law she
performs her monthly revolution.
47 And all these Uriel, the holy angel who is the leader of them all showed to
me, and their positions, and I wrote down their positions as he showed them to
me, and I wrote down their months as they were, and the appearance of their
lights till fifteen days were accomplished.
48 In single seventh parts she accomplishes all her light in the east, and in
single seventh parts accomplishes all her darkness in the west.
49 And in certain months she alters her settings, and in certain months she
pursues her own peculiar course.
50 In two months the moon sets with the sun: in those two middle portals the
third and the fourth. She goes forth for seven days, and turns about and returns
again through the portal where the sun rises, and accomplishes all her light and
she recedes from the sun, and in eight days enters the sixth portal from which
the sun goes forth.
51 And when the sun goes forth from the fourth portal she goes forth seven days,
until she goes forth from the fifth and turns back again in seven days into the
fourth portal and accomplishes all her light: and she recedes and enters into
the first portal in eight days.
52 And she returns again in seven days into the fourth portal from which the sun
goes forth.
53 Thus I saw their position, how the moons rose and the sun set in those days.
54 And if five years are added together the sun has an overplus of thirty days,
and all the days which accrue to it for one of those five years, when they are
full, amount to 364 days.
55 And the overplus of the sun and of the stars amounts to six days: in 5 years
6 days every year come to 30 days: and the moon falls behind the sun and stars
to the number of 30 days.
56 And the sun and the stars bring in all the years exactly, so that they do not
advance or delay their position by a single day unto eternity; but complete the
years with perfect justice in 364 days.
57 In 3 years there are 1,092 days, and in 5 years 1,820 days, so that in 8
years there are 2,912 days.
58 For the moon alone the days amount in 3 years to 1,062 days, and in 5 years
she falls 50 days behind to the sum there is 5 to be added 62 days.
59 And in 5 years there are 1,770 days, so that for the moon the days 6 in 8
years amount to 21,832 days.
60 For in 8 years she falls behind to the amount of 80 days, all the 17 days she
falls behind in 8 years are 80.
61 And the year is accurately completed in conformity with their world-stations
and the stations of the sun, which rise from the portals through which it rises
and sets 30 days.
62 And the leaders of the heads of the thousands, who are placed over the whole
creation and over all the stars, have also to do with the four intercalary days,
being inseparable from their office, according to the reckoning of the year, and
these render service on the four days which are not reckoned in the reckoning of
the year.
63 And owing to them men go wrong therein, for those luminaries truly render
service on the world-stations, one in the first portal, one in the third portal
of the heaven, one in the fourth portal, and one in the sixth portal, and the
exactness of the year is accomplished through its separate three hundred and
sixty-four stations.
64 For the signs and the times and the years and the days the angel Uriel showed
to me, whom the Lord of glory hath set for ever over all the luminaries of the
heaven, in the heaven and in the world that they should rule on the face of the
heaven and be seen on the earth and be leaders for the day and the night and all
the ministering creatures which make their revolution in all the chariots of the
heaven.
65 In like manner twelve doors Uriel showed me open in the circumference of the
suns chariot in the heaven, through which the rays of the sun break forth: and
from them is warmth diffused over the earth, when they are opened at their
appointed seasons.
66 And for the winds and the spirit of the dew when they are opened, standing
open in the heavens at the ends.
67 As for the twelve portals in the heaven at the ends of the earth, out of
which go forth the sun, moon, and stars, and all the works of heaven in the east
and in the west.
68 There are many windows open to the left and right of them, and one window at
its season produces warmth, corresponding to those doors from which the stars
come forth according as He has commanded them and wherein they set corresponding
to their number.
69 And I saw chariots in the heaven, running in the world, above those portals
in which revolve the stars that never set.
70 And one is larger than all the rest and it is that that makes its course
through the entire world.
71 And at the ends of the earth I saw twelve portals open to all the quarters
from which the winds go forth and blow over the earth.
72 Three of them are open on the face of the heavens, and three in the west, and
three on the right of the heaven, and three on the left.
73 And the three first are those of the east, and three are of the north, and
three after those on the left of the south, and three of the west.
74 Through four of these come winds of blessing and prosperity and from those
eight come hurtful winds: when they are sent, they bring destruction on all the
earth and on the water upon it, and on all who dwell thereon, and on everything
which is in the water and on the land.
75 And the first wind from those portals, called the east wind, comes forth
through the first portal which is in the east, inclining towards the south: from
it come forth desolation, drought, heat, and destruction.
76 And through the second portal in the middle comes what is fitting, and from
it there come rain and fruitfulness and prosperity and dew; and through the
third portal which lies toward the north come cold and drought.
77 And after these come forth the south winds through three portals: through the
first portal of them inclining to the east comes forth a hot wind.
78 And through the middle portal next to it there come forth fragrant smells,
and dew and rain, and prosperity and health.
79 And through the third portal lying to the west come forth dew and rain,
locusts and desolation.
80 And after these the north winds: from the seventh portal in the east come dew
and rain, locusts and desolation.
81 And from the middle portal come in a direct direction health and rain and dew
and prosperity; and through the third portal in the west come cloud and
hoarfrost, and snow and rain, and dew and locusts.
82 And after these four are the west winds: through the first portal adjoining
the north come forth dew and hoarfrost, and cold and snow and frost.
83 And from the middle portal come forth dew and rain, and prosperity and
blessing; and through the last portal which adjoins the south come forth drought
and desolation, and burning and destruction.
84 And the twelve portals of the four quarters of the heaven are therewith
completed and all their laws and all their plagues and all their benefactions
have I shown to thee, my son Methuselah.
85 And the first quarter is called the east because it is the first. And the
second, the south, because the Most High will descend there, yea, there in quite
a special sense will He who is blessed for ever descend.
86 And the west quarter is named the diminished because there all the luminaries
of the heaven wane and go down.
87 And the fourth quarter named the north, is divided into three parts: the
first of them is for the dwelling of men: and the second contains seas of water,
and the abysses and forests and rivers, and darkness and clouds; and the third
part contains the garden of righteousness.
88 I saw seven high mountains, higher than all the mountains which are on the
earth and thence comes forth hoarfrost, and days, seasons, and years pass away.
89 I saw seven rivers on the earth larger than all the rivers: one of them
coming from the west pours its waters into the Great Sea.
90 And these two come from the north to the sea and pour their waters into the
Erythraean Sea in the east.
91 And the remaining, four come forth on the side of the north to their own sea,
two of them to the Erythraean Sea, and two into the Great Sea and discharge
themselves there and some say, into the desert.
92 Seven great islands I saw in the sea and in the mainland: two in the mainland
and five in the Great Sea.
93 And the names of the sun are the following: the first Orjares, and the second
Tomas.
94 And the moon has four names: the first name is Asonja, the second Ebla, the
third Benase, and the fourth Erae.
95 These are the two great luminaries: their circumference is like the
circumference of the heaven, and the size of the circumference of both is alike.
96 In the circumference of the sun there are seven portions of light which are
added to it more than to the moon, and in definite measures it is s transferred
till the seventh portion of the sun is exhausted.
97 And they set and enter the portals of the west, and make their revolution by
the north, and come forth through the eastern portals on the face of the heaven.
98 And when the moon rises one-fourteenth part appears in the heaven: the light
becomes full in her : on the fourteenth day she accomplishes her light.
99 And fifteen parts of light are transferred to her till the fifteenth day her
light is accomplished, according to the sign of the year, and she becomes
fifteen parts, and the moon grows by fourteenth parts.
100 And in her waning decreases on the first day to fourteen parts of her light,
on the second to thirteen parts of light, on the third to twelve, on the fourth
to eleven, on the fifth to ten, on the sixth to nine, on the seventh to eight,
on the eighth to seven, on the ninth to six, on the tenth to five, on the
eleventh to four, on the twelfth to three, on the thirteenth to two, on the
fourteenth to the half of a seventh, and all her remaining light disappears
wholly on the fifteenth.
101 And in certain months the month has twenty-nine days and once twenty -eight.
102 And Uriel showed me another law: when light is transferred to the moon, and
on which side it is transferred to her by the sun.
103 During all the period during which the moon is growing in her light, she is
transferring it to herself when opposite to the sun during fourteen daysher
light is accomplished in the heaven, and when she is illumined throughout, her
light is accomplished full in the heaven.
104 And on the first day she is called the new moon, for on that day the light
rises upon her. She becomes full moon exactly on the day when the sun sets in
the west, and from the east she rises at night, and the moon shines the whole
night through till the sun rises over against her and the moon is seen over
against the sun.
105 On the side whence the light of the moon comes forth, there again she wanes
till all the light vanishes and all the days of the month are at an end and her
circumference is empty, void of light.
106 And three months she makes of thirty days, and at her time she makes three
months of twenty-nine days each, in which she accomplishes her waning in the
first period of time, and in the first portal for one hundred and seventy-seven
days.
107 And in the time of her going out she appears for three months thirty days
each, and for three months she appears twenty-nine each.
108 At night she appears like a man for twenty days each time, and by day she
appears like the heaven, and there is nothing else in her save her light.
109 And now, my son, I have shown thee everything, and the law of all the stars
of the heaven is completed.
110 And he showed me all the laws of these for every day, and for every season
of bearing rule, and for every year, and for its going forth, and for the order
prescribed to it every month and every week: And the waning of the moon which
takes place in the sixth portal: for in this 4 sixth portal her light is
accomplished.
111 And after that there is the beginning of the waning which takes place in the
first portal in its season, till one hundred and seventy-seven days are
accomplished: reckoned according to weeks, twenty-five and two days.
112 She falls behind the sun and the order of the stars exactly five days in the
course of one period, and when this place which thou seest has been traversed.
113 Such is the picture and sketch of every luminary which Uriel the archangel,
who is their leader, showed unto me.
Chapter 3 Heavenly Tablets
1 And in those days the angel Uriel answered and said to me: "Behold, I have
shown thee everything Enoch and I have revealed everything to thee that thou
shouldst see this sun and this moon, and the leaders of the stars of the heaven
and all those who turn them, their tasks and times and departures.
2 And in the days of the sinners the years shall be shortened and their seed
shall be tardy on their lands and fields.
3 And all things on the earth shall alter and shall not appear in their time:
The rain shall be kept back and the heaven shall withhold it.
4 And in those times the fruits of the earth shall be backward and shall not
grow in their time, and the fruits of the trees shall be withheld in their time.
5 And the moon shall alter her order and not appear at her time.
6 And in those days the sun shall be seen and he shall journey in the evening on
the extremity of the great chariot in the west and shall shine more brightly
than accords with the order of light.
7 And many chiefs of the stars shall transgress the order and these shall alter
their orbits and tasks and not appear at the seasons prescribed to them.
8 And the whole order of the stars shall be concealed from the sinners and the
thoughts of those on the earth shall err concerning them. And they shall be
altered from all their ways. Yea, they shall err and take them to be gods.
9 And evil shall be multiplied upon them, and punishment shall come upon them so
as to destroy all."
10 And He said unto me: "Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets and read what is
written thereon, and mark every individual fact."
11 And I observed the heavenly tablets, and read everything which was written
and understood everything, and read the book of all the deeds of mankind, and of
all the children of flesh that shall be upon the earth to the remotest
generations.
12 And forthwith I blessed the great Lord the King of glory for ever, in that He
has made all the works of the world.
13 And I extolled the Lord because of His patience and blessed Him because of
the children of men.
14 And after that I said: "Blessed is the man who dies in righteousness and
goodness concerning whom there is no book of unrighteousness written, and
against whom no day of judgement shall be found."
15 And those seven holy ones brought me and placed me on the earth before the
door of my house, and said to me: "Declare everything to thy son Methuselah, and
show to all thy children that no flesh is righteous in the sight of the Lord,
for He is their Creator.
16 One year we will leave thee with thy son, till thou givest thy commands, that
thou mayest teach thy children and record for them, and testify to all thy
children; and in the second year they shall take thee from their midst.
17 Let thy heart be strong, for the good shall announce righteousness to the
good; The righteous with the righteous shall rejoice and shall offer
congratulation to one another.
18 But the sinners shall die with the sinners and the apostate go down with the
apostate.
19 And those who practice righteousness shall die on account of the deeds of men
and be taken away on account of the doings of the godless.
20 And in those days they ceased to speak to me, and I came to my people,
blessing the Lord of the world.
Chapter 4 One Year to Record
1 And now, my son Methuselah, all these things I am recounting to thee and
writing down for thee! and I have revealed to thee everything, and given thee
books concerning all these: so preserve, my son Methuselah, the books from thy
fathers hand, and see that thou deliver them to the generations of the world.
2 I have given wisdom to thee and to thy children and thy children that shall be
to thee, that they may give it to their children for generations, this wisdom
that passeth their thought.
3 And those who understand it shall not sleep but shall listen with the ear that
they may learn this wisdom and it shall please those that eat thereof better
than good food.
4 Blessed are all the righteous, blessed are all those who walk in the way of
righteousness and sin not as the sinners.
5 In the reckoning of all their days in which the sun traverses the heaven,
entering into and departing from the portals for thirty days with the heads of
thousands of the order of the stars, together with the four which are
intercalated which divide the four portions of the year, which lead them and
enter with them four days.
6 Owing to them men shall be at fault and not reckon them in the whole reckoning
of the year: yea, men shall be at fault, and not recognize them accurately.
7 For they belong to the reckoning of the year and are truly recorded for ever,
one in the first portal and one in the third, and one in the fourth and one in
the sixth, and the year is completed in three hundred and sixty-four days.
8 And the account thereof is accurate and the recorded reckoning thereof exact;
for the luminaries, and months and festivals, and years and days, has Uriel
shown and revealed to me, to whom the Lord of the whole creation of the world
hath subjected the host of heaven.
9 And he has power over night and day in the heaven to cause the light to give
light to men, sun, moon, and stars, and all the powers of the heaven which
revolve in their circular chariots.
10 And these are the orders of the stars, which set in their places, and in
their seasons and festivals and months.
11 And these are the names of those who lead them, who watch that they enter at
their times, in their orders, in their seasons, in their months, in their
periods of dominion, and in their positions.
12 Their four leaders who divide the four parts of the year enter first; and
after them the twelve leaders of the orders who divide the months; and for the
three hundred and sixty there are heads over thousands who divide the days; and
for the four intercalary days there are the leaders which sunder the four parts
of the year.
13 And these heads over thousands are intercalated between leader and leader,
each behind a station, but their leaders make the division.
14 And these are the names of the leaders who divide the four parts of the year
which are ordained: Milkiel, Helemmelek, and Melejal, and Narel.
15 And the names of those who lead them: Adnarel, and Ijasusael, and Elomeel
these three follow the leaders of the orders, and there is one that follows the
three leaders of the orders which follow those leaders of stations that divide
the four parts of the year.
16 In the beginning of the year Melkejal rises first and rules, who is named
Tamaini and sun, and all the days of his dominion whilst he bears rule are
ninety -one days.
17 And these are the signs of the days which are to be seen on earth in the days
of his dominion: sweat, and heat, and calms; and all the trees bear fruit, and
leaves are produced on all the trees, and the harvest of wheat, and the rose
-flowers, and all the flowers which come forth in the field, but the trees of
the winter season become withered.
18 And these are the names of the leaders which are under them: Berkael,
Zelebsel, and another who is added a head of a thousand, called Hilujaseph: and
the days of the dominion of this are at an end.
19 The next leader after him is Helemmelek, whom one names the shining sun, and
all the days of his light are ninety-one days. And these are the signs of days
on the earth: glowing heat and dryness, and the trees ripen their fruits and
produce all their fruits ripe and ready, and the sheep pair and become pregnant,
and all the fruits of the earth are gathered in, and everything that is in the
fields, and the winepress: these things take place in the days of his dominion.
20 These are the names, and the orders, and the leaders of those heads of
thousands: Gidaljal, Keel, and Heel, and the name of the head of a thousand
which is added to them, Asfael: and the days of his dominion are at an end.
Chapter 5 Visions
1 And now, my son Methuselah, I will show thee all my visions which I have seen,
recounting them before thee.
2 Two visions I saw before I took a wife, and the one was quite unlike the
other. The first when I was learning to write: the second before I took thy
mother I saw a terrible vision.
3 And regarding them I prayed to the Lord. I had laid me down in the house of my
grandfather Mahalaleel I saw in a vision how the heaven collapsed and was borne
off and fell to the earth.
4 And when it fell to the earth I saw how the earth was swallowed up in a great
abyss, and mountains were suspended on mountains, and hills sank down on hills,
and high trees were rent from their stems and hurled down and sunk in the abyss.
5 And thereupon a word fell into my mouth and I lifted up to cry aloud, and
said: "The earth is destroyed!"
6 And my grandfather Mahalaleel waked me as I lay near him, and said unto me:
"Why dost thou cry so my son, and why dost thou make such lamentation?"
7 And I recounted to him the whole vision which I had seen, and he said unto me:
"A terrible thing hast thou seen, my son, and of grave moment is thy dream
vision as to the secrets if all the sin of the earth: it must sink into the
abyss and be destroyed with a great destruction.
8 And now, my son, arise and make petition to the Lord of glory, since thou art
a believer that a remnant may remain on the earth, and that He may not destroy
the whole earth. My son, from heaven all this will come upon the earth, and upon
the earth there will be great destruction."
9 After that I arose and prayed and implored and besought, and wrote down my
prayer for the generations of the world, and I will show everything to thee, my
son Methuselah.
10 And when I had gone forth below and seen the heaven and the sun rising in the
east, and the moon setting in the west, and a few stars, and the whole earth,
and everything as He had known it in the beginning then I blessed the Lord of
judgement and extolled Him because He had made the sun to go forth from the
windows of the east, and He ascended and rose on the face of the heaven, and set
out and kept traversing the path shown unto Him.
11 And I lifted up my hands in righteousness and blessed the Holy and Great One
and spake with the breath of my mouth, and with the tongue of flesh which God
has made for the children of the flesh of men that they should speak therewith,
and He gave them breath and a tongue and a mouth that they should speak
therewith:
12 "Blessed be Thou, O Lord, King, Great and mighty in Thy greatness, Lord of
the whole creation of the heaven, King of kings and God of the whole world.
13 And Thy power and kingship and greatness abide for ever and ever, and
throughout all generations Thy dominion; and all the heavens are Thy throne for
ever, and the whole earth Thy footstool for ever and ever.
14 For Thou hast made and Thou rulest all things and nothing is too hard for
Thee.
15 Wisdom departs not from the place of Thy throne nor turns away from Thy
presence.
16 And Thou knowest and seest and hearest everything and there is nothing hidden
from Thee for Thou seest everything.
17 And now the angels of Thy heavens are guilty of trespass and upon the flesh
of men abideth Thy wrath until the great day of judgement.
18 And now, O God and Lord and Great King, I implore and beseech Thee to fulfil
my prayer to leave me a posterity on earth and not destroy all the flesh of man
and make the earth without inhabitant so that there should be an eternal
destruction.
19 And now, my Lord, destroy from the earth the flesh which has aroused Thy
wrath but the flesh of righteousness and uprightness establish as a plant of the
eternal seed and hide not Thy face from the prayer of Thy servant, O Lord."
20 And after this I saw another dream, and I will show the whole dream to thee,
my son.
21 And Enoch lifted up and spake to his son Methuselah: "To thee, my son, will I
speak: hear my words-incline thine ear to the dream-vision of thy father.
22 Before I took thy mother Edna, I saw in a vision on my bed, and behold a bull
came forth from the earth, and that bull was white; and after it came forth a
heifer, and along with this came forth two bulls, one of them black and the
other red.
23 And that black bull gored the red one and pursued him over the earth, and
thereupon I could no longer see that red bull.
24 But that black bull grew and that heifer went with him, and I saw that many
oxen proceeded from him which resembled and followed him.
25 And that cow, that first one, went from the presence of that first bull in
order to seek that red one, but found him not, and lamented with a great
lamentation over him and sought him.
26 And I looked till that first bull came to her and quieted her, and from that
time onward she cried no more.
27 And after that she bore another white bull, and after him she bore many bulls
and black cows.
28 And I saw in my sleep that white bull likewise grow and become a great white
bull, and from him proceeded many white bulls, and they resembled him. And they
began to beget many white bulls, which resembled them, one following the other,
many.
29 And again I saw with mine eyes as I slept, and I saw the heaven above, and
behold a star fell from heaven, and it arose and eat and pastured amongst those
oxen.
30 And after that I saw the large and the black oxen, and behold they all
changed their stalls and pastures and their cattle, and began to live with each
other.
31 And again I saw in the vision, and looked towards the heaven, and behold I
saw many stars descend and cast themselves down from heaven to that first star,
and they became bulls amongst those cattle and pastured with them amongst them.
32 And I looked at them and saw, and behold they all let out their privy
members, like horses, and began to cover the cows of the oxen, and they all
became pregnant and bare elephants, camels, and asses.
33 And all the oxen feared them and were affrighted at them, and began to bite
with their teeth and to devour, and to gore with their horns.
34 And they began, moreover, to devour those oxen; and behold all the children
of the earth began to tremble and quake before them and to flee from them.
35 And again I saw how they began to gore each other and to devour each other,
and the earth began to cry aloud.
36 And I raised mine eyes again to heaven, and I saw in the vision, and behold
there came forth from heaven beings who were like white men: and four went forth
from that place and three with them.
37 And those three that had last come forth grasped me by my hand and took me up
away from the generations of the earth, and raised me up to a lofty place, and
showed me a tower raised high above the earth and all the hills were lower.
38 And one said unto me: "Remain here till thou seest everything that befalls
those elephants, camels, and asses, and the stars and the oxen, and all of
them."
39 And I saw one of those four who had come forth first, and he seized that
first star which had fallen from the heaven, and bound it hand and foot and cast
it into an abyss.
40 Now that abyss was narrow and deep, and horrible and dark.
41 And one of them drew a sword, and gave it to those elephants and camels and
asses: then they began to smite each other, and the whole earth quaked because
of them.
42 And as I was beholding in the vision, lo, one of those four who had come
forth stoned them from heaven, and gathered and took all the great stars whose
privy members were like those of horses and bound them all hand and foot, and
cast them in an abyss of the earth.
43 And one of those four went to that white bull and instructed him in a secret
without his being terrified: he was born a bull and became a man, and built for
himself a great vessel and dwelt thereon; and three bulls dwelt with him in that
vessel and they were covered in.
44 And again I raised mine eyes towards heaven and saw a lofty roof, with seven
water torrents thereon and those torrents flowed with much water into an
enclosure.
45 And I saw again, and behold fountains were opened on the surface of that
great enclosure, and that water began to swell and rise upon the surface and I
saw that enclosure till all its surface was covered with water.
46 And the water, the darkness, and mist increased upon it; and as I looked at
the height of that water, that water had risen above the height of that
enclosure, and was streaming over that enclosure, and it stood upon the earth.
47 And all the cattle of that enclosure were gathered together until I saw how
they sank and were swallowed up and perished in that water.
48 But that vessel floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and
camels and asses sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could no
longer see them, and they were not able to escape, perished and sank into the
depths.
49 And again I saw in the vision till those water torrents were removed from
that high roof, and the chasms of the earth were leveled up and other abysses
were opened.
50 Then the water began to run down into these, till the earth became visible;
but that vessel settled on the earth, and the darkness retired and light
appeared.
51 But that white bull which had become a man came out of that vessel, and the
three bulls with him, and one of those three was white like that bull, and one
of them was red as blood, and one black: and that white bull departed from them.
52 And they began to bring forth beasts of the field and birds, so that there
arose different genera: lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, hyenas, wild boars, foxes,
squirrels, swine, falcons, vultures, kites, eagles, and ravens; and among them
was born a white bull.
53 And they began to bite one another; but that white bull which was born
amongst them begat a wild ass and a white bull with it, and the wild asses
multiplied. But that bull which was born from him begat a black wild boar and a
white sheep; and the former begat many boars, but that sheep begat twelve sheep.
54 And when those twelve sheep had grown, they gave up one of them to the asses,
and those asses again gave up that sheep to the wolves, and that sheep grew up
among the wolves.
55 And the Lord brought the eleven sheep to live with it and to pasture with it
among the wolves: and they multiplied and became many flocks of sheep.
56 And the wolves began to fear them, and they oppressed them until they
destroyed -cry aloud on account of their little ones, and to complain unto their
Lord.
57 And a sheep which had been saved from the wolves fled and escaped to the wild
asses; and I saw the sheep how they lamented and cried, and besought their Lord
with all their might, till that Lord of the sheep descended at the voice of the
sheep from a lofty abode, and came to them and pastured them.
58 And He called that sheep which had escaped the wolves, and spake with it
concerning the wolves that it should admonish them not to touch the sheep.
59 And the sheep went to the wolves according to the word of the Lord, and
another sheep met it and went with it, and the two went and entered together
into the assembly of those wolves, and spake with them and admonished them not
to touch the sheep from henceforth.
60 And thereupon I saw the wolves, and how they oppressed the sheep exceedingly
with all their power; and the sheep cried aloud.
61 And the Lord came to the sheep and they began to smite those wolves and the
wolves began to make lamentation; but the sheep became quiet and forthwith
ceased to cry out.
62 And I saw the sheep till they departed from amongst the wolves; but the eyes
of the wolves were blinded, and those wolves departed in pursuit of the sheep
with all their power.
63 And the Lord of the sheep went with them, as their leader, and all His sheep
followed Him: and his face was dazzling and glorious and terrible to behold.
64 But the wolves began to pursue those sheep till they reached a sea of water.
And that sea was divided, and the water stood on this side and on that before
their face, and their Lord led them and placed Himself between them and the
wolves.
65 And as those wolves did not yet see the sheep, they proceeded into the midst
of that sea, and the wolves followed the sheep, and those wolves ran after them
into that sea.
66 And when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to flee before His face,
but that sea gathered itself together, and became as it had been created, and
the water swelled and rose till it covered those wolves.
67 And I saw till all the wolves who pursued those sheep perished and were
drowned.
68 But the sheep escaped from that water and went forth into a wilderness, where
there was no water and no grass; and they began to open their eyes and to see;
and I saw the Lord of the sheep pasturing them and giving them water and grass,
and that sheep going and leading them.
69 And that sheep ascended to the summit of that lofty rock, and the Lord of the
sheep sent it to them.
70 And after that I saw the Lord of the sheep who stood before them, and His
appearance was great and terrible and majestic, and all those sheep saw Him and
were afraid before His face.
71 And they all feared and trembled because of Him, and they cried to that sheep
with them which was amongst them: "We are not able to stand before our Lord or
to behold Him."
72 And that sheep which led them again ascended to the summit of that rock, but
the sheep began to be blinded and to wander from the way which he had showed
them, but that sheep wot not thereof.
73 And the Lord of the sheep was wrathful exceedingly against them, and that
sheep discovered it, and went down from the summit of the rock, and came to the
sheep, and found the greatest part of them blinded and fallen away.
74 And when they saw it they feared and trembled at its presence, and desired to
return to their folds.
75 And that sheep took other sheep with it, and came to those sheep which had
fallen away, and began to slay them; and the sheep feared its presence, and thus
that sheep brought back those sheep that had fallen away, and they returned to
their folds.
76 And I saw in this vision till that sheep became a man and built a house for
the Lord of the sheep, and placed all the sheep in that house.
77 And I saw till this sheep which had met that sheep which led them fell
asleep: and I saw till all the great sheep perished and little ones arose in
their place, and they came to a pasture, and approached a stream of water.
78 Then that sheep, their leader which had become a man, withdrew from them and
fell asleep, and all the sheep sought it and cried over it with a great crying.
79 And I saw till they left off crying for that sheep and crossed that stream of
water, and there arose the two sheep as leaders in the place of those which had
led them and fallen asleep.
80 And I saw till the sheep came to a goodly place, and a pleasant and glorious
land, and I saw till those sheep were satisfied; and that house stood amongst
them in the pleasant land.
81 And sometimes their eyes were opened, and sometimes blinded, till another
sheep arose and led them and brought them all back, and their eyes were opened.
82 And the dogs and the foxes and the wild boars began to devour those sheep
till the Lord of the sheep raised up another sheep a ram from their midst, which
led them. And that ram began to butt on either side those dogs, foxes, and wild
boars till he had destroyed them all.
83 And that sheep whose eyes were opened saw that ram, which was amongst the
sheep, till it forsook its glory and began to butt those sheep and trampled upon
them, and behaved itself unseemly.
84 And the Lord of the sheep sent the lamb to another lamb and raised it to
being a ram and leader of the sheep instead of that ram which had forsaken its
glory.
85 And it went to it and spake to it alone, and raised it to being a ram, and
made it the prince and leader of the sheep; but during all these things those
dogs oppressed the sheep.
86 And the first ram pursued that second ram, and that second ram arose and fled
before it; and I saw till those dogs pulled down the first ram.
87 And that second ram arose and led the little sheep. And those sheep grew and
multiplied; but all the dogs, and foxes, and wild boars feared and fled before
it, and that ram butted and killed the wild beasts, and those wild beasts had no
longer any power among the 49sheep and robbed them no more of ought.
88 And that ram begat many sheep and fell asleep; and a little sheep became ram
in its stead, and became prince and leader of those sheep and that house became
great and broad, and it was built for those sheep.
89 A tower lofty and great was built on the house for the Lord of the sheep, and
that house was low, but the tower was elevated and lofty, and the Lord of the
sheep stood on that tower and they offered a full table before Him.
90 And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and
forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the
sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them.
91 And one of them was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud
over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it
from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there.
92 And many other sheep He sent to those sheep to testify unto them and lament
over them.
93 And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of the Lord and His
tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw the Lord
of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until
those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place.
94 And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and
hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts, and those
wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep.
95 And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all
into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the
wild beasts.
96 And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to the Lord of the
sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured by
all the wild beasts.
97 But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were
devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of
all the beasts.
98 And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might
pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: "Let each
individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I shall
command you that do ye. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and
tell you which of them are to be destroyed and them destroy ye."
99 And He gave over unto them those sheep.
100 And He called another and spake unto him: "Observe and mark everything that
the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I
have commanded them. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought
through the shepherds, record how many they destroy according to my command, and
how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual
shepherd all the destruction he effects. And read out before me by number how
many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may
have this as a testimony against them, and know every deed of the shepherds,
that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my
command which I have commanded them. But they shall not know it, and thou shalt
not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each
individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and
lay it all before me."
101 And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to
slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep
into the hand of the lions.
102 And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep,
and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished
that house.
103 And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the
sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered
that house.
104 And the shepherds and their associates delivered over those sheep to all the
wild beasts, to devour them, and each one of them received in his time a
definite number: it was written by the other in a book how many each one of them
destroyed of them.
105 And each one slew and destroyed many more than was prescribed; and I began
to weep and lament on account of those sheep.
106 And thus in the vision I saw that one who wrote, how he wrote down every one
that was destroyed by those shepherds, day by day, and carried up and laid down
and showed actually the whole book to the Lord of the sheep - everything that
they had done, and all that each one of them had made away with, and all that
they had given over to destruction.
107 And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and He took the book
from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down.
108 And forthwith I saw how the shepherds pastured for twelve hours, and behold
three of those sheep turned back and came and entered and began to build up all
that had fallen down of that house; but the wild boars tried to hinder them, but
they were not able.
109 And they began again to build as before, and they reared up that tower, and
it was named the high tower; and they began again to place a table before the
tower, but all the bread on it was polluted and not pure.
110 And as touching all this the eyes of those sheep were blinded so that they
saw not, and their shepherds likewise; and they delivered them in large numbers
to their shepherds for destruction, and they trampled the sheep with their feet
and devoured them.
111 And the Lord of the sheep remained unmoved till all the sheep were dispersed
over the field and mingled with them and they did not save them out of the hand
of the beasts.
112 And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it
before the Lord of the sheep, and implored Him on their account, and besought
Him on their account as he showed Him all the doings of the shepherds, and gave
testimony before Him against all the shepherds.
113 And he took the actual book and laid it down beside Him and departed.
114 And I saw till that in this manner thirty-five shepherds undertook the
pasturing, and they severally completed their periods as did the first; and
others receive them into their hands, to pasture them for their period, each
shepherd in his own period.
115 And after that I saw in my vision all the birds of heaven coming, the
eagles, the vultures, the kites, the ravens; but the eagles led all the birds;
and they began to devour those sheep, and to pick out their eyes and to devour
their flesh.
116 And the sheep cried out because their flesh was being devoured by the birds
and as for me I looked and lamented in my sleep over that shepherd who pastured
the sheep.
117 And I saw until those sheep were devoured by the dogs and eagles and kites,
and they left neither flesh nor skin nor sinew remaining on them till only their
bones stood there: and their bones too fell to the earth and the sheep became
few.
118 And I saw until that twenty-three had undertaken the pasturing and completed
in their several periods fifty-eight times.
119 But behold lambs were borne by those white sheep, and they began to open
their eyes and to see, and to cry to the sheep.
120 Yea, they cried to them, but they did not hearken to what they said to them,
but were exceedingly deaf, and their eyes were very exceedingly blinded.
121 And I saw in the vision how the ravens flew upon those lambs and took one of
those lambs, and dashed the sheep in pieces and devoured them.
122 And I saw till horns grew upon those lambs, and the ravens cast down their
horns; and I saw till there sprouted a great horn of one of those sheep, and
their eyes were opened.
123 And it looked at them and their eyes opened, and it cried to the sheep, and
the rams saw it and all ran to it.
124 And notwithstanding all this those eagles and vultures and ravens and kites
still kept tearing the sheep and swooping down upon them and devouring them:
still the sheep remained silent, but the rams lamented and cried out.
125 And those ravens fought and battled with it and sought to lay low its horn,
but they had no power over it.
126 All the eagles and vultures and ravens and kites were gathered together and
there came with them all the sheep of the field, yea, they all came together,
and helped each other to break that horn of the ram.
127 And I saw till a great sword was given to the sheep, and the sheep proceeded
against all the beasts of the field to slay them, and all the beasts and the
birds of the heaven fled before their face.
128 And I saw that man, who wrote the book according to the command of the Lord,
till he opened that book concerning the destruction which those twelve last
shepherds had wrought, and showed that they had destroyed much more than their
predecessors, before the Lord of the sheep.
129 And I saw till the Lord of the sheep came unto them and took in His hand the
staff of His wrath, and smote the earth, and the earth clave asunder, and all
the beasts and all the birds of the heaven fell from among those sheep, and were
swallowed up in the earth and it covered them.
130 And I saw till a throne was erected in the pleasant land, and the Lord of
the sheep sat Himself thereon, and the other took the sealed books and opened
those books before the Lord of the sheep.
131 And the Lord called those men the seven first white ones, and commanded that
they should bring before Him, beginning with the first star which led the way,
all the stars whose privy members were like those of horses, and they brought
them all before Him.
132 And He said to that man who wrote before Him, being one of those seven white
ones, and said unto him: "Take those seventy shepherds to whom I delivered the
sheep, and who taking them on their own authority slew more than I commanded
them."
133 And behold they were all bound, I saw, and they all stood before Him.
134 And the judgement was held first over the stars, and they were judged and
found guilty, and went to the place of condemnation, and they were cast into an
abyss, full of fire and flaming, and full of pillars of fire.
135 And those seventy shepherds were judged and found guilty, and they were cast
into that fiery abyss.
136 And I saw at that time how a like abyss was opened in the midst of the
earth, full of fire, and they brought those blinded sheep, and they were all
judged and found guilty and cast into this fiery abyss, and they burned; now
this abyss was to the right of that house.
137 And I saw those sheep burning and their bones burning.
138 And I stood up to see till they folded up that old house; and carried off
all the pillars, and all the beams and ornaments of the house were at the same
time folded up with it, and they carried it off and laid it in a place in the
south of the land.
139 And I saw till the Lord of the sheep brought a new house greater and loftier
than that first, and set it up in the place of the first which had beer folded
up: all its pillars were new, and its ornaments were new and larger than those
of the first, the old one which He had taken away, and all the sheep were within
it.
140 And I saw all the sheep which had been left, and all the beasts on the
earth, and all the birds of the heaven, falling down and doing homage to those
sheep and making petition to and obeying them in every thing.
141 And thereafter those three who were clothed in white and had seized me by my
hand who had taken me up before, and the hand of that ram also seizing hold of
me, they took me up and set me down in the midst of those sheep before the
judgement took place.
142 And those sheep were all white, and their wool was abundant and clean.
143 And all that had been destroyed and dispersed, and all the beasts of the
field, and all the birds of the heaven, assembled in that house, and the Lord of
the sheep rejoiced with great joy because they were all good and had returned to
His house.
144 And I saw till they laid down that sword, which had been given to the sheep,
and they brought it back into the house, and it was sealed before the presence
of the Lord, and all the sheep were invited into that house, but it held them
not.
145 And the eyes of them all were opened, and they saw the good, and there was
not one among them that did not see.
146 And I saw that that house was large and broad and very full.
147 And I saw that a white bull was born, with large horns and all the beasts of
the field and all the birds of the air feared him and made petition to him all
the time.
148 And I saw till all their generations were transformed, and they all became
white bulls; and the first among them became a lamb, and that lamb became a
great animal and had great black horns on its head; and the Lord of the sheep
rejoiced over it and over all the oxen.
149 And I slept in their midst: and I awoke and saw everything.
150 This is the vision which I saw while I slept, and I awoke and blessed the
Lord of righteousness and gave Him glory.
151 Then I wept with a great weeping and my tears stayed not till I could no
longer endure it: when I saw, they flowed on account of what I had seen; for
everything shall come and be fulfilled, and all the deeds of men in their order
were shown to me.
152 On that night I remembered the first dream, and because of it I wept and was
troubled-because I had seen that vision.