The Second Book of Enoch

At that time he said: ‘Hardly had I accomplished 165 years, when I begat my son Methusal: after that I lived 200 years and accomplished all the years of my life, 365 years.

On the first day of the first month I was alone in my house, and I rested on my bed and slept.

And as I slept a great grief came upon my heart, and I wept with mine eyes in my dream, and I could not understand what this grief meant, or what would happen to me.

And there appeared to me two men very tall, such as I have never seen on earth.

And their faces shone like the sun, and their eyes were like burning lamps; and fire came forth from their lips. Their dress had the appearance of feathers: their feet were purple, their wings were brighter than gold; their hands whiter than snow. They stood at the head of my bed and called me by my name.

I awoke from my sleep and saw clearly these men standing in front of me.

I hastened and made obeisance to them and was terrified, and the appearance of my countenance was changed from fear.

And these men said to me: “Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not afraid; the everlasting God hath sent us to thee, and lo! to-day thou shalt ascend with us into heaven.

And tell thy sons and thy servants, all who work in thy house, and let no one seek thee, till the Lord bring thee back to them.”

And I hastened to obey them, and went out of my house. And I called my sons Methusal, Regim [and Gaidal], and told them what wonderful things the two men had said to me.’

‘Hear me, my children, for I do not know whither I am going, or what awaits me.

Now, my children, I say unto you: turn not aside from God: walk before the face of the Lord and keep his judgements and do not worship vain gods, who did not make heaven and earth, for these will perish, and also those who worship them.

But may God make confident your hearts in the fear of Him.

And now, my children, let no one seek me till the Lord brings me back to you.’

It came to pass when I had spoken to my sons, these men summoned me and took me on their wings and placed me on the clouds. And lo! the clouds moved.

And again (going) higher I saw the air and (going still) higher I saw the ether, and they placed me in the first heaven.

And they showed me a very great sea, greater than the earthly sea.

And they brought before my face the elders, and the rulers of the orders of the stars, and they showed me the two hundred angels who rule the stars and their heavenly service;

And they fly with their wings and go round all (the stars) as they float.

And then I looked and saw the treasuries of the snow and ice and the angels who guard their terrible store-places;

And the treasuries of the clouds from which they come forth and into which they enter.

And they showed me the treasuries of the dew, like oil for anointing, and its form was in appearance like that of all earthly colours: also many angels keeping their treasuries, and they shut and open them.

And the men took me and brought me to the second heaven, and showed me the darkness, and there I saw the prisoners suspended, reserved for (and) awaiting the eternal judgement.

And these angels were gloomy in appearance, more than the darkness of the earth. And they unceasingly wept every hour, and I said to the men who were with me: ‘Why are these men continually tortured?’

And the men answered me: ‘These are they who apostatized from the Lord: who obeyed not the commandments of God, and took counsel of their own will and transgressed together with their prince and have been already confined to the second heaven.

And I felt great pity for them. And lo! the angels made obeisance to me, and said to me: “O man of God! pray for us to the Lord.”

And I answered them: “Who am I, a mortal man, that I should pray for angels? Who knows whither I go, or what awaits me: or who prays for me?”.’

And these men took me from thence, and brought me to the third heaven, and placed me in the midst of a garden—a place such as has never been known for the goodliness of its appearance.

And I saw all the trees of beautiful colours and their fruits ripe and fragrant, and all kinds of food which they produced, springing up with delightful fragrance.

And in the midst (there is) the tree of life, in that place, on which God rests, when He comes into Paradise. And this tree cannot be described for its excellence and sweet odour.

And it is beautiful more than any created thing. And on all sides in appearance it is like gold and crimson and transparent as fire, and it covers everything.

From its root in the garden there go forth four streams which pour honey and milk, oil and wine, and are separated in four directions, and go about with a soft course.

And they go down to the Paradise of Eden, between corruptibility and incorruptibility. And thence they go along the earth, and have a revolution in their circle like also the other elements.

And there is another tree, an olive tree always distilling oil. And there is no tree there without fruit, and every tree is blessed.

And there are three hundred angels very glorious, who keep the garden, and with never ceasing voices and blessed singing, they serve the Lord every day. And I said: ‘What a very blessed place is this!’ And those men spake unto me:

‘This place, O Enoch, is prepared for the righteous who endure every kind of attack in their lives from those who afflict their souls: who turn away their eyes from unrighteousness, and accomplish a righteous judgement, and also give bread to the hungry, and clothe the naked, and raise the fallen, and assist the orphans who are oppressed, and who walk without blame before the face of the Lord, and serve him only. For them this place is prepared as an eternal inheritance.’

And the men then led me to the Northern region, and showed me there a very terrible place.

And there are all sorts of tortures in that place. Savage darkness and impenetrable gloom; and there is no light there, but a gloomy fire is always burning, and a fiery river goes forth. And all that place has fire on all sides, and on all sides cold and ice, thus it burns and freezes.

And the prisoners are very savage. And the angels terrible and without pity, carrying savage weapons, and their torture was unmerciful.

And I said: ‘Woe, woe! How terrible is this place!’ And the men said to me: ‘This place, Enoch, is prepared for those who do not honour God; who commit evil deeds on earth, vitium sodomiticum, witchcraft, enchantments, devilish magic; and who boast of their evil deeds, stealing, lying, calumnies, envy, evil thoughts, fornication, and murder.

Who steal the souls of wretched men, oppressing the poor and spoiling them of their possessions, and themselves grow rich by the taking of other men’s possessions, injuring them. Who when they might feed the hungry, allow them to die of famine; who when they might clothe them, strip them naked.

Who do not know their Creator and have worshipped gods without life; who can neither see nor hear, being vain gods, and have fashioned the forms of idols, and bow down to a contemptible thing, made with hands; for all these this place is prepared for an eternal inheritance.

And the men took me and conducted me to the fourth heaven, and showed me all the comings and goings forth and all the rays of the light of the sun and moon. And I measured their goings, and computed their light.

And I saw that the sun has a light seven times greater than the moon. I beheld their circle, and their chariot on which each goes like a wind advancing with astonishing swiftness, and they have no rest day or night coming or going.

There are four great stars; each star has under it a thousand stars at the right of the chariot of the sun; and four at the left, each having under it a thousand stars, altogether eight thousand.

Fifteen myriads of angels go out with the sun and attend him during the day, and by night one thousand. Each angel has six wings. They go before the chariot of the sun.

And a hundred angels keep warm and light up the sun.

And I looked and saw other flying creatures, their names phoenixes and chalkadri wonderful and strange in appearance, with the feet and tails of lions, and the heads of crocodiles; their appearance was of a purple colour, like the rainbow; their size nine hundred measures.

Their wings were like those of angels, each with twelve, and they attend the chariot of the sun, and go with him, bringing heat and dew as they are ordered by God.

So the sun makes his revolutions, and goes under the heavens, and goes under the earth with the light of his beams unceasingly.

These men brought me to the East and showed me the gates by which the sun goes forth at the appointed seasons, and according to the revolution of the months of the whole year, and according to the number of the hours, day and night.

And I saw the six great gates open, each gate having sixty-one stadia and a quarter of one stadium; and I truly measured them and understood their size to be so much, by which the sun goes forth; and he goes to the west and makes his course correspond. And he proceeds through all the months.

And by the first gates he goes out forty-two days; by the second gates thirty-five days; by the fourth gates thirty-five; by the fifth gates thirty-five; by the sixth gates forty-five.

And so he returns from the sixth gates in the course of time: and he enters by the fifth gates during thirty-five days, by the fourth gates thirty-five, by the third gates during thirty-five days; by the second gates thirty-five.

And so the days of the whole year are finished according to the alternation of the four seasons.

And then these men took me to the West of the heavens and showed me six great gates open, corresponding to the Eastern gates, opposite to which the sun goes out by the Eastern gates, according to the number of the days three hundred and sixty-five, and the quarter of a day.

So he sets by the Western gates. When he goes out by the Western gates four hundred angels take his crown and bring it to the Lord.

And the sun revolves in his chariot and goes without light for seven complete hours in the night. And when he comes near the East at the eighth hour of the night, the four hundred angels bring his crown and crown him.

Then sang the creatures called the Phoenixes and the Chalkidri. On this account every bird claps its wings, rejoicing at the giver of light, and they sang a song at the command of the Lord.

The giver of light comes to give his brightness to the whole world.

And they showed me the calculation of the going of the sun. And the gates by which he enters and goes out are great gates, which God made for the computation of the year.

On this account the sun is great.

The other, the computation of the moon these men showed me; all the goings and revolutions. And they pointed out the gates to me, twelve great gates extending from the West to the East, by which the moon enters and goes out at the customary times.

She enters the first gate when the sun is in the West thirty-one days exactly; by the second gate thirty-one days exactly; by the third gate thirty days exactly; by the fourth gate thirty days exactly; by the fifth gate thirty-one days exactly; by the sixth gate thirty-one days exactly; by the seventh gate thirty days exactly; by the eighth gate thirty-one days exactly; by the ninth gate thirty-one days exactly; by the tenth gate thirty exactly; by the eleventh gate thirty-one days exactly; by the twelfth gate twenty-eight days exactly.

And so by the Western gates in her revolutions, and corresponding to the number of the Eastern gates she goes, and accomplishes the year.

And unto the sun there are three hundred and sixty-five days and a quarter of one day.

But in the lunar year there are three hundred and fifty-four days, making twelve months of twenty-nine days; and there remain eleven days over, which belong to the solar circle of the whole year, and are lunar epacts of the whole year. [Thus the great circle has five hundred and thirty-two years.]

The fourth part (of one day) is neglected during three years and the fourth year completes it exactly. On account of this they are omitted from the heavens during three years, and are not added to the number of the days, on which account these change the seasons of the year in two new months, to make the number complete and there are two others to diminish.

And when she has gone through the Western gates, she returns and goes to the Eastern, with her light, and so she goes day and night in the heavenly circles, below all the circles more quickly than the winds of the heavens, and there are spirits and creatures, and angels flying, with six wings to each of the angels.

And seven (months) are computed to the circle of the moon during a revolution of nineteen years.

In the middle of the heavens I saw an armed host serving the Lord with cymbals, and organs, and unceasing voice. I was delighted at hearing it.

The men took and brought me up into the fifth heaven, and I saw there many hosts not to be counted called Grigori; and their appearance was like men, and their size was greater than that of the giants.

And their countenances were withered, and their lips are always silent. And there was no service in the fifth heaven. And I said to the men who were with me: ‘Why are these men very withered, and their faces melancholy, and their lips silent, and there is no service in this heaven?’

And they said to me: ‘These are the Grigori, who, with their prince Satanail, rejected the holy Lord.

And in consequence of these things they are kept in great darkness in the second heaven; and of them there went three to the earth from the throne of God to the place Ermon; and they entered into dealings on the side of Mount Iermon, and they saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took unto themselves wives.

And they made the earth foul with their deeds. And they acted lawlessly in all times of this age, and wrought confusion, and the giants were born, and the strangely tall men, and there was much wickedness.

And on account of this God judged them with a mighty judgement. And they lament for their brethren, and they will be punished at the great day of the Lord.

And I said to the Grigori: ‘I have seen your brethren and their works, and their great torments. And I have prayed for them, but God has condemned them (to be) under the earth, till the heaven and earth are ended for ever.’

And I said: ‘Why do ye wait, brethren, and not serve before the face of the Lord? and perform your duties before the face of the Lord, and do not anger your Lord to the end.’

And they listened to my rebuke. And they stood in the four orders in this heaven, and lo! as I was standing with these men, four trumpets resounded together with a loud voice, and the Grigori sang with one voice, and their voices went forth before the Lord with sadness and tenderness.

And these men took me thence and brought me to the sixth heaven, and I saw there seven bands of angels, very bright and glorious, and their faces shining more than the rays of the sun. They are resplendent, and there is no difference in their countenances, or their manner, or the style of their clothing.

And these orders arrange and study the revolutions of the stars, and the changes of the moon, and revolutions of the sun, and superintend the good or evil condition of the world.

And they arrange teachings, and instructions, and sweet speaking, and singing, and all kinds of glorious praise. These are the archangels who are appointed over the angels! They hold in subjection all living things both in heaven and earth.

And there are the angels who are over seasons and years, and the angels who are over rivers and the sea, and those who are over the fruits of the earth, and the angels over every herb, giving all kinds of nourishment to every living thing.

And the angels over all souls of men, who write down all their works and their lives before the face of the Lord.

In the midst of them are seven phoenixes and seven cherubims, and seven six-winged creatures, being as one voice and singing with one voice; and it is not possible to describe their singing, and they rejoice before the Lord at His footstool.

And these men took me thence and brought me to the seventh heaven, and I saw there a very great light and all the fiery hosts of great archangels, and incorporeal powers and lordships, and principalities, and powers; cherubim and seraphim, thrones and the watchfulness of many eyes. There were ten troops, a station of brightness, and I was afraid, and trembled with a great terror.

And those men took hold of me and brought me into their midst and said to me: ‘Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not afraid.’

And they showed me the Lord from afar sitting on His lofty throne. And all the heavenly hosts having approached stood on the ten steps, according to their rank: and made obeisance to the Lord.

And so they proceeded to their places in joy and mirth, and in boundless light singing songs with low and gentle voices, and gloriously serving Him.

They leave not nor depart day or night standing before the face of the Lord, working His will, cherubim and seraphim, standing round His throne. And the six-winged creatures overshadow all His throne, singing with a soft voice before the face of the Lord: ‘Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth! heaven and earth are full of Thy glory!’

When I had seen all these things, these men said unto me: ‘Enoch, up to this time we have been ordered to accompany thee.’ And those men departed from me, and I saw them no more. And I remained alone at the extremity of the heaven, and was afraid, and fell on my face, and said within myself: ‘Woe is me! what has come upon me!.’

And the Lord sent one of His glorious archangels, Gabriel, and he said to me: ‘Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not afraid, stand up, come with me, and stand up before the face of the Lord for ever.

And I answered him, and said: ‘Oh! Lord, my spirit has departed from me with fear and trembling! call to me the men who have brought me to this place: upon them I have relied, and with them I would go before the face of the Lord.’

And Gabriel hurried me away like a leaf carried off by the wind, and he took me and set me before the face of the Lord.

I fell down and worshipped the Lord.

And the Lord spake with His lips to me: ‘Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not afraid: rise up and stand before my face for ever.’

And Michael, the chief captain, lifted me up, and brought me before the face of the Lord, and the Lord said to His servants making trial of them: ‘Let Enoch come to stand before My face for ever!’

And the glorious ones made obeisance to the Lord, and said: ‘Let Enoch proceed according to Thy word!’

And the Lord said to Michael: ‘Go and take from Enoch his earthly robe, and anoint him with My holy oil, and clothe him with the raiment of My glory.’

And so Michael did as the Lord spake unto him. He anointed me and clothed me, and the appearance of that oil was more than a great light, and its anointing was like excellent dew; and its fragrance like myrrh, shining like a ray of the sun.

And I gazed upon myself, and I was like one of His glorious ones. And there was no difference, and fear and trembling departed from me.

And the Lord called one of His archangels, by name Vretil, who was more wise than the other archangels, and wrote down all the doings of the Lord.

And the Lord said to Vretil, ‘Bring forth the books from my store-places, and give a reed to Enoch, and interpret to him the books.’ And Vretil made haste and brought me the books, fragrant with myrrh, and gave me a reed from his hand.

And he told me all the works of the heaven and the earth and the sea, and their goings and comings, the noise of the thunder; the sun and moon and the movement of the stars; their changings; the seasons and years; days and hours; and goings of the winds; and the numbers of the angels; the songs of the armed hosts.

And everything relating to man, and every language of their songs, and the lives of men, and the precepts and instructions, and sweet-voiced singings, and all which it is suitable to be instructed in.

And Vretil instructed me thirty days and thirty nights, and his lips never ceased speaking; and I did not cease thirty days and thirty nights writing all the remarks.

And Vretil said to me: ‘All the things which I have told thee, thou hast written down. Sit down and write all about the souls of men, those of them which are not born, and the places prepared for them for ever.

For every soul was created eternally before the foundation of the world.’

And I wrote all out continuously during thirty days and thirty nights, and I copied all out accurately, and I wrote 366 books.

And the Lord called me and said to me: ‘Enoch, sit thou on My left hand with Gabriel.’ And I made obeisance to the Lord.

And the Lord spake to me: ‘Enoch, the things which thou seest at rest and in motion were completed by me. I will tell thee now, even from the first, what things I created from the non-existent, and what visible things from the invisible.

Not even to My angels have I told My secrets, nor have I informed them of their origin, nor have they understood My infinite creation which I tell thee of to-day.

For before anything which is visible existed, I alone held my course among the invisible things, like the sun from the east to the west, and from the west to the east.

But even the sun has rest in himself, but I did not find rest, because I was creating every thing. And I planned to lay the foundations and to make the visible creation.

‘And I commanded in the depths that visible things should come out of invisible. And out came Adoil very great, and I gazed upon him. And lo! his colour was red, of great brightness.

And I said unto him: “Burst asunder, Adoil, and let that which comes from thee be visible.”

And he burst asunder, and there came forth a great light, and I was in the midst of a great light, and as the light came forth from the light, there came forth the great world, revealing all the creation, which I had purposed to make, and I saw that it was good.

And I made for Myself a throne, and sat upon it, and I said to the light: “Go forth on high and be established above My throne, and be the foundation for things on high.’

And there was nothing higher than the light, and as I reclined, I saw it from My throne.

And I summoned a second time from the depths, and said: ‘Let the solid thing which is visible come forth from the invisible.’ And Arkhas came forth firm and heavy and very red.

And I said: ‘Be thou divided, O Arkhas, and let that be seen which is produced from thee.’ And when he was divided, the world came forth, very dark and great, bringing the creation of all things below.

And I saw that it was good. And I said to him: ‘Go thou down and be thou established. And be a foundation for things below’; and it was so. And it came forth and was established, and was a foundation for things below. And there was nothing else below the darkness.

And I ordered that there should be a separation between the light and the darkness, and I said: ‘Let there be a thick substance,’ and it was so.

And I spread this out and there was water, and I spread it over the darkness, below the light.

And thus I made firm the waters, that is, the depths, and I surrounded the waters with light, and I created seven circles and I fashioned them like crystal, moist and dry, that is to say, like glass and ice, and as for the waters, and also the other elements, I showed each of them their paths, (viz.) to the seven stars, each of them in their heaven, how they should go; and I saw that it was good.

And I separated between the light and the darkness; that is to say, between the waters here and there. And I said to the light: ‘Let it be day’; and to the darkness, ‘Let it be night.’ And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And thus I made firm the circles of the heavens, and caused the waters below, which are under the heavens to be gathered into one place, and that the waves should be dried up, and it was so.

Out of the waves I made firm and great stones, and out of the stones I heaped together a dry substance, and I called the dry substance earth.

And in the midst of the earth I appointed a pit, that is to say an abyss.

I gathered the sea into one place, and I restrained it with a yoke. And I said to the sea: ‘Lo! I give thee an eternal portion and thou shalt not move from thy established position.’ So I made fast the firmament and fixed it above the water.

This I called the first day of the creation. Then it was evening, and again morning, and it was the second day.

And for all the heavenly hosts I fashioned a nature like that of fire, and My eye gazed on the very firm and hard stone. And from the brightness of My eye the lightning received its wonderful nature.

And fire is in the water and water in the fire, and neither is the one quenched, nor the other dried up. On this account lightning is brighter than the sun, and soft water is stronger than hard stone.

And from the stone I cut the mighty fire. And from the fire I made the ranks of the spiritual hosts, ten thousand angels, and their weapons are fiery, and their garment is a burning flame, and I ordered them to stand each in their ranks. [Here Satanail was hurled from the Heights with his Angels.]

One of these in the ranks of the Archangels, having turned away with the rank below him, entertained an impossible idea, that he should make his throne higher than the clouds over the earth, and should be equal in rank to My power.

And I hurled him from the heights with his angels. And he was flying in the air continually, above the abyss.

And so I created all the heavens, and it was the third day. On the third day I ordered the earth to produce great trees, such as bear fruit, and mountains, and every sort of herb and every seed that is sown, and I planted Paradise, and enclosed it, and placed fiery angels armed, and so I made a renewing.

Then it was evening, and it was morning, being the fourth day. On the fourth day I ordered that there should be great lights in the circles of the heavens.

In the first and highest circle I placed the star Kruno; and on the second Aphrodite; on the third Ares; on the fourth the Sun; on the fifth Zeus; on the sixth Hermes; on the seventh the moon.

And the lower air I adorned with the lesser stars.

And I placed the sun to give light to the day, and the moon and the stars to give light to the night; the sun that he should go according to each sign of the Zodiac; and the course of the moon through the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

And I fixed their names and existence, the thunders, and the revolutions of the hours, how they take place.

Then it was evening and the morning, the fifth day. On the fifth day I commanded the sea to produce fish, and winged fowls of all kinds, and all things that creep upon the earth, and four-footed things that go about the earth, and the things that fly in the air, male and female, and every living thing breathing with life.

And it was evening and morning the sixth day. On the sixth day I ordered My Wisdom to make man of seven substances. (1) His flesh from the earth; (2) his blood from the dew; (3) his eyes from the sun; (4) his bones from the stones; (5) his thoughts from the swiftness of the angels, and the clouds; (6) his veins and hair from the grass of the earth; (7) his spirit from My spirit and from the wind.

And I gave him seven natures: hearing to his body, sight to his eyes, smell to the perception, touch to the veins, taste to the blood, the bones for endurance, sweetness for thought.

I purposed a subtle thing: from the invisible and visible nature I made man. From both are his death and life, and his form; and the word was like a deed both small in a great thing, and great in a small thing.

And I placed him upon the earth; like a second angel, in an honourable, great, and glorious way.

And I made him a ruler to rule upon the earth, and to have My wisdom. And there was no one like him upon the earth of all My creations.

And I gave him a name from the four substances: the East, the West, the North, and the South.

And I appointed for him four special stars, and I gave him the name Adam.

And I gave him his will, and I showed him the two ways, the light and the darkness. And I said unto him: ‘This is good and this is evil’; that I should know whether he has love for Me or hate: that he should appear in his race as loving Me.

I knew his nature, he did not know his nature. Therefore his ignorance is a woe to him that he should sin, and I appointed death on account of his sin.

And I caused him to sleep, and he slumbered. And I took from him a rib, and I made him a wife.

And by his wife death came, and I received his last word. And I called her by a name, the mother; that is Eve.

Adam had a life on earth, . . . and I made a garden in Eden in the East, and (I ordained) that he should observe the law and keep the instruction.

I made for him the heavens open that he should perceive the angels singing the song of triumph. And there was light without any darkness continually in Paradise.

And the devil took thought, as if wishing to make another world, because things were subservient to Adam on earth, to rule it and have lordship over it.

The devil is to be the evil spirit of the lowest places; he became Satan, after he left the heavens. His name was formerly Satanail.

And then, though he became different from the angels in nature, he did not change his understanding of just and sinful thoughts. He understood the judgement upon him, and the former sin which he had sinned.

And on account of this, he conceived designs against Adam; in such a manner he entered and deceived Eve. But he did not touch Adam.

But I cursed him for (his) ignorance: but those I previously blessed, them I did not curse,

nor man did I curse, nor the earth, nor any other things created, but the evil fruit of man, and then his works.

I said to him: ‘Earth thou art, and to earth also from whence I took thee shalt thou return. I will not destroy thee, but will send thee whence I took thee. Then I can also take thee in My second coming’; and I have blessed all My creation, visible and invisible.

And I blessed the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, for in it I rested from all My labours.

Then also I established the eighth day. Let the eighth be the first after My work, and let the days be after the fashion of seven thousand.

Let there be at the beginning of the eighth thousand a time when there is no computation, and no end; neither years, nor months, nor weeks, nor days, nor hours.

And now Enoch, what things I have told thee, and what thou hast understood, and what heavenly things thou hast seen, and what thou hast seen upon the earth, and what thou hast written in books, by My wisdom all these things I devised so as to create them, and I made them from the highest foundation to the lowest, and to the end.

And there is no counsellor nor inheritor of My works. I am the eternal One, and the One not made with hands: My thought is without change, My wisdom is My counsellor and My word is reality; and My eyes see all things, if I look to all things they stand fast. If I turn away My face, all are in need of Me.

And now pay attention, Enoch, and know thou who is speaking to thee, and do thou take the books which thou thyself hast written.

And I give thee Samuil and Raguil who brought thee to Me. And go with them upon the earth, and tell thy sons what things I have said to thee, and what thou hast seen from the lowest heaven up to My throne.

For I have created all the hosts, and all the powers, and there is none that opposes Me, or is disobedient to Me. For all are obedient to My sole power, and labour for My rule alone.

Give them the works written out by thee, and they shall read them, and know Me to be the Creator of all; and shall understand that there is no other God beside Me.

They shall distribute the books of thy writing to their children’s children, and from generation to generation, and from nation to nation.

And I will give thee, Enoch, My messenger, the great captain Michael, for thy writings and for the writings of thy fathers, Adam, Seth, Enos, Kainan, Malaleel, and Jared, thy father.

And I shall not require them till the last age, for I have instructed My two angels, Ariukh and Pariukh, whom I have put upon the earth as their guardians.

And I have ordered them in time to guard them that the account of what I shall do in thy family may not be lost in the deluge to come.

For I know the wickedness of men that they will not bear the yoke which I have put upon them, nor sow the seeds which I have given them, but will cast off My yoke and accept another, and sow vain seeds and bow to vain gods, and deny Me the only God.

And they will fill all the world with wickedness and iniquity, and foul impurities with one another, sodomy and all other impure practices, which it is foul to speak about.

And on this account I will bring a deluge upon the earth and I will destroy all, and the earth shall be destroyed in great corruption.

And I will leave a righteous man of thy race, with all his house who shall act according to My will. From their seed after some time will be raised up a numerous generation, but of these, many will be very insatiable.

Then on the extinction of that family, I will show them the books of thy writings, and of thy fathers, and the guardians of them on earth will show them to the men who are true, and please Me, who do not take My name in vain.

And they shall tell to another generation, and these having read them, shall be glorified at last more than before.

And now, Enoch, I give thee a period of thirty days to work in thy house. And tell thou thy sons, and all thy household before Me; that they may listen to what is spoken to them by thee; that they read and understand, how there is no other God beside Me; and let them always keep My commandments, and begin to read and understand the books written out by thee.

And after thirty days, I will send My angels for thee, and they shall take thee from the earth, and from thy sons, according to My will.

[And God called one of His greatest angels, terrible and awful, and placed him by me, and the appearance of that angel was like snow, and his hands were like ice; he had a very cold appearance, and my face was chilled because I could not endure the fear of the Lord; just as it is not possible to endure the mighty fire and heat of the sun, and the frost of the air.

And the Lord said to me, ‘Enoch, if thy face is not chill here, no man can look upon thy face.’]

And the Lord said to those men who first took me: ‘Take Enoch with you to the earth, and wait for him till the appointed day.’

And at night they placed me upon my bed, and Mathusal, expecting my coming by day and by night, was a guard at my bed.

And he was terrified when he heard my coming, and I gave him directions that all my household should come, that I might tell them everything.

Listen, my children, what things are according to the will of the Lord. I am sent to-day to you to tell you from the lips of the Lord, what was and what is happening now, and what will be before the day of judgement.

Hear, my children, for I do not speak to you to-day from my lips, but from the lips of the Lord who has sent me to you. For you hear the words of my lips, a mortal man like yourselves.

I have seen the face of the Lord as it were iron that is heated in the fire, and when brought out sends forth sparks and burns.

Look at the eyes of me, a man laden with a sign for you. I have seen the eyes of the Lord shining like a ray of the sun and striking with terror human eyes.

You, my children, see the right hand of a man made like yourselves assisting you. I have seen the right hand of the Lord assisting me, and filling the heavens.

You see the compass of my actions, like to your own. I have seen the measureless and harmonious form of the Lord. To Him there is no end.

You therefore hear the words of my lips, but I have heard the words of the Lord, like great thunder, with continual agitation of the clouds.

And now, my children, listen to the discourses of your earthly father. It is terrible and awful to stand before the face of an earthly prince—terrible and very awful because the will of the prince is death and the will of the prince is life; how much more is it terrible and awful to stand before the face of the Lord of lords, and of the earthly and the heavenly hosts. Who can endure this never-ending terror?

And now, my children, I know all things from the lips of the Lord; for my eyes have seen from the beginning to the end.

I know all things and have written all things in the books, both the heavens and the end of them, and their fulness, and all the hosts, and I have measured their goings, and written down the stars and their innumerable quantity.

What man has seen their alternations and their goings? Not even the angels know their number; I have written down the names of all.

And I have measured the circle of the sun, and I have measured his rays; and his coming in and going out, through all the months, and all his courses, and their names I have written down.

I have measured the circle of the moon, and its waning which occurs during every day, and the secret places in which it hides every day and ascends according to all the hours.

I have laid down the four seasons, and from the seasons I made four circles, and in the circles I placed the years; I placed the months, and from the months I calculated the days, and from the days I have calculated the hours.

Moreover, I have written down all things moving upon the earth. I have written down all things that are nourished, all seed sown and unsown, which grows on the earth, and all things belonging to the garden, and every herb and every flower, and their fragrance and their names.

And the dwellings of the clouds, and their conformations and their wings, how they bring rain and the rain-drops, I investigated all.

And I wrote down the course of the thunder and lightning, and they showed me the keys, and their guardians and their path by which they go. They are brought forth in bonds, in measured degree, and are let go in bonds, lest by their heavy course and vehemence they should overload the clouds of wrath and destroy everything on earth.

I have written down the treasuries of the snow, and the store-houses of the hail, and the cool breezes. And I observed the holder of the keys of them during the season: and how he fills the clouds with them, and yet does not exhaust their treasuries.

I wrote down the abodes of the winds, and I observed and saw how those who hold their keys bear balances and measures, and in the first place they put them on a balance, in the second they let them go in measure moderately, with care over the whole earth, so that with their heavy breathing they should not shake the whole earth.

For I have measured the whole earth, its mountains and all hills, fields, trees, stones, rivers; all things that exist I have written down, the height from earth to the seventh heaven, and down to the lowest hell, the place of judgement and the mighty hell laid open, and full of lamentation. And I saw how the prisoners suffer, awaiting the immeasurable judgement.

And I wrote out all of those who are being judged by the judge, and all the judgement they receive, and all their deeds.

And I saw all our forefathers from the beginning with Adam and Eve, and I sighed and wept, and spake of the ruin (caused by) their wickedness: Woe is me for my infirmity and that of my forefathers.

And I meditated in my heart and said: ‘Blessed is the man who was not born, or, having been born, has never sinned before the face of the Lord, so that he should not come into this place, to bear the yoke of this place!’

I saw those who keep the keys, and are the guardians of the gates of hell, standing, like great serpents, and their faces were like quenched lamps, and their eyes were fiery, and their teeth were sharp. And they were stripped to the waist.

And I said before their faces, ‘Would that I had not seen you, nor heard of your doings, and that those of my race had never come to you! Now they have only sinned a little in this life, and always suffer in the eternal life.’

I went out to the East, to the paradise of Eden, where rest has been prepared for the just, and it is open to the third heaven, and shut from this world.

And guards are placed at the very great gates of the east of the sun, i.e. fiery angels, singing triumphant songs, that never cease rejoicing in the presence of the just.

At the last coming they will lead forth Adam with our forefathers, and conduct them there, that they may rejoice, as a man calls those whom he loves to feast with him; and they having come with joy hold converse, before the dwelling of that man, with joy awaiting his feast, the enjoyment and the immeasurable wealth, and joy and merriment in the light, and eternal life.

Then I said, ‘I tell you, my children: blessed is he who fears the name of the Lord, and serves continually before His face, and brings his gifts with fear continually in this life, and lives all his life justly, and dies.

Blessed is he who executes a just judgement, not for the sake of recompense, but for the sake of righteousness, expecting nothing in return: a sincere judgement shall afterwards come to him.

Blessed is he who clothes the naked with a garment, and gives his bread to the hungry.

Blessed is he who gives a just judgement for the orphan and the widow, and assists every one who is wronged.

Blessed is he who turns from the unstable path of this vain world, and walks by the righteous path which leads to eternal life.

Blessed is he who sows just seed, he shall reap sevenfold.

Blessed is he in whom is the truth, that he may speak the truth to his neighbour.

Blessed is he who has love upon his lips, and tenderness in his heart.

Blessed is he who understands every work of the Lord, and glorifies the Lord God; for the works of the Lord are just, and of the works of man some are good, and others evil, and by their works those who have wrought them are known.

Lo! my children, the things which I have gained on the earth and meditated upon from the Lord God I have written down both winter and summer. I have compiled the account of all, and concerning the years I have calculated each hour; I have measured the hours and written out the lists of them and I have ascertained all their differences.

As one year is more honourable than another, so is one man more honourable than another. This man on account of many possessions, that man on account of the wisdom of the heart; this man on account of understanding, another on account of cunning; this man for the silence of the lips; this man on account of purity, that on account of strength; this man on account of comeliness, another on account of youth; this man on account of sharpness of mind, another on account of quicksightedness of body, and another for the perception of many things.

Let it be heard everywhere; there is no one greater than he who fears God. He shall be the most glorious for ever.

God made man with His own hands, in the likeness of His countenance, both small and great the Lord created him. He who reviles the countenance of man, reviles the countenance of the Lord.

He who shows wrath against another without injury, the great wrath of the Lord shall consume him.

If a man spits at the face of another insultingly, he shall be consumed in the great judgement of the Lord.

Blessed is the man who does not direct his heart with malice against any man, and who assists the man who is injured, and under judgement, and raises up the oppressed, and accomplishes the prayer of him who asks!

For in the day of the great judgement, every measure and standard and weight, which is for traffic, namely, that which is hung on a balance and stands for traffic, knows its own measure, and shall receive its reward by measure.

He who hastens and brings his offering before the face of the Lord, then the Lord will hasten the accomplishment of his work, and will execute a just judgement for him.

He who increases his lamp before the face of the Lord, the Lord increases greatly his treasure in the heavenly kingdom.

God does not require bread, nor a light, nor an animal, nor any other sacrifice, for it is as nothing.

But God requires a pure heart, and by means of all this, He tries the heart of man.

Hear, my people, and pay attention to the words of my lips. If any one brings gifts to an earthly prince, but having unfaithfulness in his heart: if the prince knows it, will he not be angry with him on account of that, and he will not take his gifts, and will hand him over to condemnation?

Or if a man flatters another in his language, but (plans) evil against him in his heart, will not the other understand the craft of his heart, and he himself will be condemned, so that his unrighteousness will be evident to all?

But when God shall send a great light, by means of that there will be judgement to the just and unjust, and nothing will be concealed.

Now, my children, put my thoughts in your hearts; pay attention to the words of your father, which have come to you from the mouth of the Lord.

Take these books of the writings of your father, and read them, and in them ye shall learn all the works of the Lord. There have been many books from the beginning of creation, and shall be to the end of the world, but none shall make things known to you like my writings.

But if you shall preserve my writings, you will not sin against God. For there is no other besides the Lord, neither in heaven nor on earth, nor the depths below, nor the solitary foundations.

God established the foundations upon things that are unknown, and stretched out the visible and invisible heavens, and made firm the earth upon the waters, and established the waters on things that are not fixed. Who has created all the innumerable works of creation?

Who has numbered the dust of the earth, and the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the dew of the morning, and the breath of the wind? Who has bound earth and sea with bonds that cannot be broken up: and has cut the stars out of fire, and beautified the heavens, and placed the sun in the midst of them so that.

The sun goes in the seven circles of the heavens, and I gave him 182 thrones when he goes on a short day, and also 182 thrones when he goes on a long day.

And he has two great thrones on which he rests, returning hither and thither above the monthly thrones. From the month Tsivan after seventeen days he descends to the month Thevan, and from the seventeenth day of Thevad he ascends.

And so the sun goes through all the courses of the heaven; when he goes near the earth, then the earth rejoices and produces its fruit; when he departs, then the earth is sad, and the trees and all the fruits have no development.

All this by measure and minute arrangement of time He has arranged by His wisdom, both in the case of things visible and invisible.

He has made all things visible out of invisible, Himself being invisible.

Thus I tell you, my children, distribute the books to your children, in all your families, and among the nations.

Those who are wise let them fear God, and let them receive them and let them love them more than any kind of food, and read them.

But those who are senseless and have no thought of the Lord and do not fear God will not receive them but turn away, and keep themselves from them, the terrible judgement shall await them.

Blessed is the man who bears their yoke, and puts it on, for he shall be set free in the day of the great judgement.

For I swear to you my children, but I will not swear by a single oath, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other creature which God made. God said: ‘There is no swearing in me, nor injustice, but truth. If there is no truth in men, let them swear by a word, yea, yea, or nay, nay.

But I swear to you, yea, yea, that there has not been even a man in his mother’s womb, for whom a place has not been prepared for every soul; and a measure is fixed how long a man shall be tried in this world. O! my children, be not deceived there is a place prepared there for every soul of man.

I have laid down in the writings the actions of every man, and no one born on the earth can hide himself, nor can his deeds be concealed; I see all.

Now, therefore, my children, in patience and meekness accomplish the number of your days, and ye shall inherit the endless life which is to come.

Every wound, and every affliction, and every evil word, and attack endure for the sake of the Lord.

And when you might have vengeance do not repay, either your neighbour or your enemy. For God will repay as your avenger in the day of the great judgement. Let it not be for you to take vengeance.

Whoever of you shall spend gold or silver for the sake of a brother, shall receive abundant treasure in the day of judgement and stretch out your hands to the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.

Stretch out your hands to the poor man according to your powers.

Do not hide your silver in the earth: assist the honest man in his affliction, and affliction shall not come upon you, in the time of your labour.

And whatever violent and grievous yoke shall be put upon you, endure all for the Lord’s sake, and so you will receive your reward in the day of judgement.

Morning, afternoon, and evening, it is good to go into the house of the Lord to glorify the Creator of all.

Wherefore let every thing that hath breath glorify Him, and let every creature visible and invisible give forth praise.

Blessed is the man who opens his lips to praise the God of Sabaoth, and praises the Lord with his heart.

Cursed is every man who opens his lips to abuse and to calumniate his neighbour.

Blessed is he who opens his lips to the blessing and praise of God!

Cursed is he who opens his lips to swearing and blasphemy before the face of the Lord all his days.

Blessed is he who blesses all the works of the Lord.

Cursed is he who speaks ill of the works of the Lord.

Blessed is he who looks to raise his own hand for labour.

Cursed is he who looks to make use of another man’s labour.

Blessed is he who preserves the foundations of his fathers from the beginning.

Cursed is he who breaks the enactments of his fathers.

Blessed is he who establishes peace and love.

Cursed is he who troubles those who are at peace.

Blessed is he who does not speak peace with his tongue, but in his heart there is peace to all!

Cursed is he who speaks peace with his tongue, but in his heart there is no peace.

For all these things in measures and in books will be revealed in the day of the great judgement.

And now, my children, do not say; Our father stands before God, and prays for us (to be released) from sin; for there is no person there to help any man who has sinned.

You see how I have written down all the works of every man before his creation, which is done in the case of all men for ever.

And no man can say or unsay what I have written with my hand. For God sees all things, even the thoughts of wicked men, which lie in the storeplaces of the heart.

And now, my children, pay attention to all the words of your father which I say to you: that ye may not grieve afterwards and say: Our father for some cause or other, never told them to us, in the time of this folly.

Let these books which I have given you be the inheritance of your peace: do not conceal them but tell them to all desiring them and admonish them that they may know the works of the Lord which are very wonderful.

My children, the appointed day and time have drawn near and constrain me to depart. The angels will come and stand before me on the earth awaiting what has been ordered them.

In the morning I shall go to the highest heavens to my eternal habitation.

Therefore I tell you to do all that is good before the face of the Lord.

Methosalem having answered his father Enoch said: ‘If it is good in thine eyes, my father, let me put food before thy face and then, having blessed our houses and thy sons, and all thy family, let thy people be glorified by thee; and then afterwards thou wilt depart, as God hath said.’

Enoch answered his son Methosalem and said: ‘Hear, my child, since God has anointed me with the oil of his glory, there has been no food in me, and my soul remembers nothing of earthly pleasure nor do I desire anything earthly.

But call all thy brothers, and all your families, and the elders of the people, that I may speak to them and depart as is appointed for me.

And Methosalem hastened, and called his brethren, Regim, Riman, Ukhan, Khermion, [Gaidal], and the elders of the people, and brought them all before the face of his father Enoch. And having blessed them, he spake to them.

‘Listen to me, my sons. In those days when the Lord came upon the earth for the sake of Adam, and visited all his creation, which He Himself had made.

The Lord called all the cattle of the earth, and all creeping things, and all the fowls that fly in the air, and brought them all before the face of our father Adam, and he gave names to all living things on the earth.

And the Lord made him lord over all, and put all things under his hands, and subdued (them) to submission and to all obedience to man. So the Lord created man as master over all His possessions.

The Lord will not judge any soul of beast on account of man, but he will judge the soul of man on account of the souls of beasts in the world to come.

For as there is a special place for mankind for all the souls of men according to their number, so there is also of beasts. And not one soul shall perish which God has made till the great judgement.

And every soul of beast shall bring a charge against man if he feeds them badly.

He, who acts lawlessly with regard to the souls of beasts, acts lawlessly with regard to his own soul.

For a man offers clean animals and makes his sacrifice that he may preserve his soul. And if he offer as a sacrifice from clean beasts and birds, he preserves his soul.

Everything that is given you for food, bind by the four feet: that is an atonement: he acts righteously (therein) and preserves his soul.

But he who kills a beast without a wound kills his own soul and sins against his own flesh.

And if any one does an injury to an animal secretly, it is an evil custom and he sins against his soul.

If he does an injury to the soul of man, he does an injury to his own soul; and there is no salvation for his flesh, nor forgiveness for ever.

He who kills the soul of a man, kills his own soul, and destroys his own body, and there is no salvation for him for ever.

He who prepares a net for another man will fall into it himself and there is no salvation for him for ever.

He, who prepares a weapon against a man, shall not escape punishment in the great judgement for ever.

If a man acts crookedly or speaks evil against any soul, he shall have no righteousness for himself for ever.

Now therefore, my children, preserve your hearts from every unrighteousness which the Lord hates. As a man asks his soul from God, so let him do to every living soul.

For in the world to come, I know all things how that there are many mansions prepared for men; good for the good; evil for the evil; many and without number.

Blessed are those who shall go to the mansions of the blessed; for in the evil ones there is no rest nor any means of return from them.

Listen, my children, both small and great: When a man conceives a good thought in his heart and brings gifts before the Lord of his labours—if his hands have not wrought them then the Lord turns away His face from the labour of his hands, and he cannot gain advantage from the work of his hand.

But if his hands have wrought, but his heart murmurs and he does not make an offering of his heart, but murmurs continually, he has no success.

Blessed is the man who in patience shall bring his gifts before the face of the Lord, for he shall avert the recompense of his sin.

If he speaks words out of season there is no repentance for him: if he lets the appointed time pass and does not perform the work, he is not blessed; for there is no repentance after death.

For every deed which a man does unseasonably is an offence before men, and a sin before God.

When a man clothes the naked and feeds the hungry, he gets a recompense from God.

If his heart murmurs, he works for himself a double evil: he works destruction to that which he gives and there shall be no reward for it:

And the poor man, when his heart is satisfied or his flesh is clothed and he acts contemptuously, he destroys the effect of all his endurance of poverty and shall not gain the blessing of a recompense.

For the Lord hates every contemptuous and proud-speaking man: and likewise every lying word: and that which is covered with unrighteousness. And it is cut with the sharpness of a deadly sword, and thrown into the fire, and burns for ever.

When Enoch said these words to his sons, and the princes of the people, all the people far and near heard how the Lord called Enoch. And they took counsel, and they all said: ‘Let us go and kiss Enoch!’

And the men assembled to the number of 2000, and came to the place Achuzan, where Enoch was, and his sons.

And the elders of the people came together and made obeisance and kissed Enoch, and said to him: ‘Enoch, our father; be thou blessed of the Lord, the eternal King!’

And now bless thy sons, and all the people, that we may be glorified before thee to-day.

For thou art glorified before the face of the Lord for ever; since God has chosen thee above all men upon the earth, and has appointed thee as the scribe of His creation of visible and invisible things, and an avenger of the sins of men, and a succour to thy family!’ And Enoch answered all his people saying:

‘Listen, my children: before that anything existed and all creatures were made, the Lord made all things both visible and invisible.

When the times of these things had come and were passed, understand how after all these things He made man in His own image after His likeness, and placed in him eyes to see; and ears to hear; and a heart to understand, and reason to take counsel.

And the Lord contemplated the world for the sake of man, and made all the creation for his sake, and divided it into times. And from the times He made years, and from the years He made months, and from the months He made days, and of the days He made seven.

And in these He made the hours and divided them into small portions, that a man should understand the seasons, and compute years and months, and hours; their alternations and beginnings and ends: and that he should compute his life from the beginning till death, and should meditate upon his sin, and should write down his evil and good deeds.

For nothing done is concealed before the Lord. Let each man know his deeds, and not transgress the commandments and let him keep My writings securely from generation to generation.

When all the creation of visible and invisible things comes to an end which the Lord has made; then every man shall come to the great judgement of the Lord.

Then the times shall perish, and there shall be no year, nor month, nor day, and there shall be no hours nor shall they be reckoned.

There shall be one eternity, and all the just who shall escape the great judgement of the Lord shall be gathered together in eternal life and for ever and ever the just shall be gathered together and they shall be eternal.

Moreover there shall be no labour, nor sickness, nor sorrow, nor anxiety, nor need, nor night, nor darkness, but a great light.

And there shall be to them a great wall that cannot be broken down; and bright and incorruptible paradise shall be their protection, and their eternal habitation. For all corruptible things shall vanish, and there shall be eternal life.

And now, my children, preserve your souls from all unrighteousness, which the Lord hates. Walk before His face with fear and trembling, and serve Him alone. Worship the true God, and not dumb idols.

But pay attention to His command, and bring every just offering before the face of the Lord. But the Lord hates that which is unrighteous.

For the Lord sees every thing; whatever man meditates in his heart, and what counsel he plans, and every thought is continually before the Lord.

If ye look at the heavens there is the Lord, as the Lord made the heavens. If ye look at the earth then the Lord is there since the Lord made firm the earth and established every creature in it. If ye scrutinize the depths of the sea, and every thing under the earth there also is the Lord. For the Lord created all things.

Do not bow down to the work of men, nor to the work of the Lord, leaving the Lord of all creation; for no deed is concealed before the face of the Lord.

Walk, my children, in long suffering, in humility, in spite of calumny, and insult; in faith, and truth: in the promises, and sickness, in abuse, in wounds, in temptation, in nakedness, in deprivation, loving one another, till ye depart from this world of sickness. Then ye shall be heirs of eternity.

Blessed are the just, who shall escape the great judgement! And they shall be seven times brighter than the sun, for in this age altogether the seventh part is separated.

(Now concerning) the light, the darkness, the food, the sweetnesses, the bitternesses, the paradise, the tortures, the fires, the frosts and other things; I have put all this down in writing, that ye may read and understand.

When Enoch had discoursed with the people, the Lord sent a darkness upon the earth, and there was a gloom, and it hid those men standing with Enoch.

And the angels hasted and took Enoch and carried him to the highest heaven where the Lord received him, and set him before His face, and the darkness departed from the earth, and there was light.

And the people saw and did not understand, how Enoch was taken, and they glorified God. And they who had seen such things departed to their houses.

Enoch was born on the sixth day of the month Tsivan! he lived 365 years. He was taken up into heaven on the first day of the month Tsivan, and he was in heaven sixty days.

He wrote down the descriptions of all the creation which the Lord had made, and he wrote 366 books, and gave them to his sons.

And he was on earth thirty days, and thus he was taken to heaven in the same month Tsivan on the same day the sixth day; the day on which he was born, and the same hour.

As each man has but a dark existence in this life, so also is his beginning and birth, and departure from this life. In what hour he began; in that he was born, and in that he departs.

And Methusalem hasted, and all his brethren, the sons of Enoch, and built an altar in the place called Achuzan, whence and when Enoch was taken up to heaven.

And they took cattle, and invited all the people and sacrificed victims before the face of the Lord.

All the people came and the elders of the people; all the host of them to the festivity, and brought their gifts to the sons of Enoch, and made a great festivity, rejoicing and being merry for three days; praising God who had given such a sign by means of Enoch, who had found favour with Him. And that they should hand it down to their son’s sons, from generation to generation, for ever. Amen.

And on the third day at the time of the evening the elders of the people spake to Methusalam saying : ‘Stand before the face of the Lord, and before the face of all the people, and before the face of the altar of the Lord, and thou shalt be glorified among the people.’

And Methusalam answered his people: ‘Wait, O men, until the Lord God of my father Enoch—shall himself raise up to himself, a priest over his people.’

And the people waited yet a night to no purpose on the place Akhuzan.

And Methusalam was near the altar, and prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Oh! only Lord of all the world, who hast taken my father Enoch, do thou raise up a priest for thy people, and teach their hearts to fear thy glory, and to do all according to thy will.

And Methusalam slept, and the Lord appeared to him in a nightly vision, and said to him ‘Listen, Methusalam, I am the Lord God of thy father Enoch, hear the voice of this people, and stand before My altar and I will glorify thee before the face of all the people, and thou shalt be glorified all the days of thy life.’

And Methusalam arose from his sleep, and blessed the Lord who had appeared to him.

And the elders of the people hastened to Methusalam and the Lord God inclined the heart of Methusalam to hear the voice of the people, and he said: ‘The Lord God gives His blessing upon all these people before my eyes to-day. (May the Lord your God) do what is a good thing in His eyes to this people.’

And Sarsan and Kharmis, and Zazus, the elders of the people hastened and clothed Methusalam in beautiful garments and placed a bright crown on his head.

And the people hastened, and brought sheep and cattle and of birds all that was known (to be proper for) Methusalam to sacrifice before the face of the Lord, and in the name (before the face) of the people.

And Methusalam went out to the altar of the Lord, and his face shone like the sun, as it is rising in the day, and all the people were following after him.

And Methusalam stood before the altar of the Lord. and all the people stood round the altar.

And the elders of the people took sheep, and oxen, and bound their four feet, and laid them on the top of the altar, and said to Methusalam ;

‘Lift the knife and kill them according to the proper way before the face of the Lord.’

And Methusalam stretched out his hands to the heavens and called to the Lord, saying thus: ‘Woe is me, O Lord! who am I to stand at the head of Thy altar and at the head of these people.

Now, Lord, look down on Thy servant and on all these people. Now let all the things sought for happen and give a blessing to Thy servant before the face of all the people, that they may understand that thou hast appointed a priest over Thy people.

And it came to pass that when Methusalam had prayed, the altar shook, and a knife rose from the altar, and leaped into the hand of Methusalam before the face of all the people. And the people trembled, and glorified the Lord.

And Methusalam was honoured before the face of the Lord, and before the face of all the people from that day.

And Methusalam took the knife, and killed every thing that was brought by the people. And they rejoiced, and were merry before the face of the Lord and before the face of Methusalam on that day.

And afterwards the people departed each to his own house.

Methusalam began to stand at the altar before the face of the Lord and all the people from that day for ten years, trusting in an eternal inheritance, and having taught well the whole land and all his people; and no man was found to turn from the Lord in vanity during all the days in which Methusalam lived.

And the Lord blessed Methusalam and was pleased with his sacrifices, and his gifts and all his services which he served before the face of the Lord.

And when the time of the days of the departure of Methusalam took place, and the Lord appeared to him in a nightly vision, and said to him: ‘Listen, Methusalam! I am the Lord God of thy father Enoch, I order thee to see, how the days of thy life are finished, and the day of thy rest has drawn near.

Call Nir, the son of thy son Lamech, the second, born after Noah, and clothe him in the robes of thy consecration, and place him by my altar, and tell him all that shall be in his days, because the time of the destruction of the whole earth draws near, and of every man and every living thing upon the earth.

For in his days there shall be a very great confusion upon the earth, because a man has been envious of his neighbour, and people have become inflamed against people and nation stirs up war against nation, and all the earth is filled with foulness and blood, and every kind of evil.

And moreover in addition they deserted their Maker, and have bowed down to vain gods, and to the firmament of heaven, and the course of the earth and the waves of the sea. And the adversary is multiplied and rejoices in his deeds to My great vexation.

And all the earth changes its form, and every tree and every fruit changes its seeds, expecting the time of destruction. And all peoples are changing upon the earth to My grief.

Then I shall command the abysses to pour themselves upon the earth, and the great treasuries of the waters of heaven shall come upon the earth in their nature and according to their first nature.

And all the stability of the earth shall perish and all the earth shall tremble and shall be deprived of its strength from that day.

Then I will preserve the son of thy son Lamech, his first son Noe and from his seed I will raise up another world, and his seed shall exist for ever till the second destruction when also men shall sin before my face.

Methusalam leaped up from his sleep and his dream troubled him greatly. And he called all the elders of the people and told them all that the Lord had said to him, and all the vision that had appeared to him from the Lord.

And the people were grieved at his vision, and answered him : ‘Let the Lord God do according to his will! And now, Methusalam, accomplish thou all things which the Lord enjoined thee.’

And Methusalam called Nir, the son of Lamech, the younger brother of Noe, and clothed him in the robes of the priesthood before the face of all the people, and placed him at the head of the altar, and taught him all that he was to do among the people.

And Methusalam called to the people : ‘Lo! Nir will be before your face from to-day as a prince and a leader.

And the people said to Methusalam, ‘Let it be unto us according to thy word, and let the voice of the Lord be as He spoke to thee.’

And when Methusalam had spoken to the people before the altar, his spirit was confused, and he bent his knees, and stretched out his hands to the heavens, and prayed to God. And as he prayed his spirit went forth to the Lord.

And Nir and all the people made haste and made a grave for Methusalam in the place Aruzan.

And Nir came in glorious attire in all his priestly robes, with lights, with much pomp, and the people lifted up the body of Methusalam, and having glorified it, laid it in the grave, which they had made for him, and buried him, and said: ‘Blessed was Methusalam before the face of the Lord, and before the face of all people.’

When they were about to depart to their own households, Nir said to the people: ‘Go quickly now, and bring sheep and heifers, and turtle-doves, and pigeons, and let us offer them before the face of the Lord, and then go to your houses.’

And the people listened to Nir the priest, and hastened and brought the victims, and bound them to the head of the altar.

And Nir took the sacrificial knife, and slew all the [victims] that were brought, and offered them before the face of the Lord.

And all the people rejoiced before the face of the Lord, and glorified on that day the Lord of Nir, the ruler of heaven and earth. From that day there was peace and order over the whole earth in the days of Nir, during 202 years.

And then the people turned from God and began to be jealous one of another, and people rebelled against people, and tongue arose against tongue, in reviling.

And if lips were the same, hearts chose different things.

And then the devil began to reign for the third time, the first time before paradise, the second time in paradise, the third time outside of paradise, he continued (doing so) till the deluge.

And there arose a great dispute and confusion. And Nir the priest heard it, and was greatly grieved, and said in his heart, ‘In truth I have understood that the time has drawn near, and the end which the Lord spake to Methusalam, the father of my father Lamech.

And the wife of Nir, named Sopanima, being barren, brought forth no child to Nir.

And Sopanima was in the time of her old age, and on the day of her death she conceived in her womb, and Nir the priest did not sleep with her, nor knew her from the day that the Lord appointed him to serve before the face of the people.

When Sopanima knew of her conception she was ashamed, and felt humbled, and concealed herself all the days, till she brought forth, and no one of the people knew.

And when 282 days were accomplished and the day of birth began to draw near, Nir remembered about his wife, and called her to himself in his house, that he might talk to her.

And Sopanima came to Nir, her husband, being with child, and the appointed day of the birth was drawing near.

And Nir saw her and was very much ashamed, and said to her: ‘What hast thou done, wife, and hast shamed me before the face of these people. And now depart from me, and go where thou didst commence the shame of thy womb, so that I defile not my hand upon thee, and sin before the face of the Lord!’

And Sopanima spake unto Nir, her husband, saying: ‘My lord, lo! the time of my old age, and the day of my death has come (and there was no youth in me) and I do not know when the period of my years is past, and the unfruitfulness of my womb begin.’

And Nir did not believe his wife, and said to her a second time: ‘Depart from me lest I do thee an injury, and sin before the face of the Lord !’

And it came to pass, when Nir had spoken to his wife, Sopanima fell at the feet of Nir, and died.

And Nir was very much grieved, and said in his heart: ‘Was this from my voice, since a man by his voice and thought sins before the face of the Lord.

Now the Lord is merciful to me ; I know in truth in my heart, that my hand was not upon her. And so I say: ‘Glory to thee, oh! Lord, since no one on earth knows this deed, which the Lord has wrought !”’

And Nir hastened and shut the doors of the house, and went to Noe, his brother, and told him all, that had happened concerning his wife.

And Noe hastened, and came with Nir, his brother, into the house of Nir, on account of the death of Sopanima, and they talked to themselves (and saw) how her womb was at the time of the birth.

And Noe said to Nir: ‘Let it not be a subject of sorrow to thee, Nir, my brother, that the Lord has to-day concealed our shame because no one of the people knows this.

Now let us go quickly, and bring her secretly, and may the Lord hide the ignominy of our shame.

And they laid Sopanima on the bed, and they wrapped her with black robes, and shut her in the house ready for burial, and dug a grave in secret.

And then came an infant from the dead Sopanima, and sat on the bed at her right hand. And Noe, and Nir entered, and saw the infant sitting by the dead Sopanima and wiping its clothes.

And Noe, and Nir were tempted with a great fear, for the child was complete in its body, like one of three years old; and spake with its lips, and blessed the Lord.

And Noe, and Nir gazed upon it; and lo! the seal of the priesthood was on its breast, and it was glorious in countenance.

And Noe, and Nir said ‘See the Lord renews the consecration according to our blood, as he desires (this is from the Lord, my brother, and the Lord renews the blood of consecration in us).’

And Noe and Nir hastened, and washed the child, and clothed it in priestly raiment, and gave it the blessed bread. And it ate. And they called its name Melchizedek.

And Noe and Nir took the body of Sopanima, and stripped from her the black robes, and clothed her in very bright robes, and built a church for her (another house—a beautified grave).

And Noe, and Nir, and Melchizedek came and buried her publicly. And Noe said to his brother Nir: ‘Watch this child in secret till the time, because deceitful people shall arise over all the earth and shall begin to reject God, and having perceived nothing shall put him to death. And then Noe went out to his own place.

And great lawlessness began to multiply over the whole earth, in the days of Nir.

And Nir began to be very anxious, especially about the child, saying: ‘Woe is me, eternal Lord. In my days have begun to multiply all kinds of lawlessness upon the earth, and I understand, how that the end is near unto us more (than ever), and upon all the earth for the lawlessness of the people.

And now, Lord, what is the vision, and what is the solution of it, and what shall I do for (the child) ?—Will it also go with us to destruction ?’

And the Lord heard Nir, and appeared to him in a nightly vision, and said to him: ‘Nir, I do not endure the great lawlessness that has been on the earth in many things, and lo! I wish now to send a great destruction upon the earth, and every earthly creature shall perish.

But do not trouble thyself about the child, Nir, for in a short time I will send my chief captain Michael, and he shall take the child and place him in the paradise of Eden, in the garden where Adam was formerly during a period of seven years, having the heaven always open until the time of his sin,

And this child shall not perish with those who perish in this generation, as I have shown, but shall be a holy priest in all things, Melchizedek, and I will appoint him that he may be the chief of the priests who were before.

And Nir rose from his sleep, and blessed the Lord, who had appeared unto him, saying: ‘Blessed is the Lord God of my fathers, who has spoken unto me, who made a great priest in my days in the womb of my wife Sopanima.

Manuscript addition printed parenthetically in the 1896 edition.

Because I had no family and this child shall be to me in the place of my family, and shall be as a son to me, and thou shalt honour him with Thy servants the priests, with Seth, and Enoch, and Tharasidam, Maleleil, and Enos, and thy servant, and thus Melchizedek shall be a priest in another generation.

Manuscript addition printed parenthetically in the 1896 edition.

For I know that this generation shall end in confusion, and all shall perish. And Noe, my brother, shall be preserved in that day.

Manuscript addition printed parenthetically in the 1896 edition.

And from my race shall rise up many people, and Melchizedek shall be the chief of the priests among the people, ruling alone, serving thee O Lord!

Because I had not another child in this family, who might be a great priest, but this son of mine, and thy servant; and do thou great Lord, on this account honour him with thy servants, and great priests—with Seth, and Enos, and Rusii, and Almilam, and Prasidam, and Maleleil, and Seroch, and Arusan, and Aleem, and Enoch, and Methusalam, and me, thy servant Nir, and Melchizedek shall be the head over twelve priests who lived before, and at last shall be the head over all, (being) the great high priest, the Word of God, and the power to work great and glorious marvels above all that have been.

He, Melchizedek, shall be a priest and king in the place Akhuzan, that is to say, in the middle of the earth where Adam was created: there shall at last be his grave.

And concerning that chief priest it has been written that he also shall be buried there, where there is the middle of the earth, as Adam buried his son Abel there whom his brother Cain killed, wherefore he lay three years unburied, till he saw a bird called a jackdaw, burying its fledgling.

I know that a great confusion has come and this generation shall end in confusion, and all shall perish except that Noe my brother shall be preserved, and afterwards there shall be a planting from his family, and there shall be other people, and another Melchizedek shall be the head of the priests among the people, ruling, and serving the Lord.’

And when the child had been forty days under the roof of Nir, the Lord said to Michael: ‘Go down upon the earth to Nir, the priest, and take My child Melchizedek, who is with him, and place him in the paradise of Eden for preservation, because the time draws nigh, and I will discharge all the water upon the earth, and all that is upon the earth shall perish.

(And I will establish another race, and Melchizedek shall be the chief of the priests, in that family, just as Seth is to me in this family’)

And Michael hastened, and came by night, and Nir was sleeping in his bed. And Michael appeared to him, and said to him: ‘The Lord says unto thee, Nir: “Send the child to me; I entrusted him to thee.”’

And Nir did not know that the chief captain Michael was speaking to him, and his heart was confused, and he said: ‘If the people know about the child, and take him, they will slay him, For the heart of this people is crafty before the face of the Lord. And Nir said to him who spoke to him ‘The child is not with me, and I do not know who thou art, who art speaking to me.’

And he who was speaking to me answered: ‘Be not afraid, Nir, I am the chief captain of the Lord. The Lord hath sent me, and lo! I will take thy child to-day, and will go with him, and will place him in the paradise of Eden, and there shall he be for ever.

And when the twelfth generation shall be, and a thousand and seventy years shall be, in that generation a just man shall be born, and the Lord shall tell him to come out upon that mountain where the ark of thy brother Noe shall stand, and he shall find there another Melchizedek who has lived there seven years, concealing himself from the people who worship idols, so that they should not slay him, and he shall lead him forth and he shall be priest, and the first king in the town of Salem after the fashion of this Melchizedek, the commencement of the priests. And 3432 years shall be fulfilled till that time from the beginning and creation of Adam,

And from that Melchizedek there shall be twelve priests in number till the great Igumen, that is to say leader, who shall bring forth all things visible and invisible.

And Nir understood his first dream, and believed it, and having answered Michael, he said: ‘Blessed is the Lord, who has glorified thee to-day to me, and now bless thy servant Nir, as we are drawing near our departure from this world, and take the child, and do unto him as the Lord hath spoken unto thee.

And Michael took the child on that night on which he came, and took him on his wings, and placed him in the paradise of Eden.

And Nir having risen on the following day, went to his house, and did not find the child, and there was instead of joy very great sorrow, because he had no other son except this.

So died Nir, and after him there was no priest among the people. And from that time a great confusion arose on the earth.

And God called Noe on the mountain of Ararat, between Assyria, and Armenia, in the land of Arabia, by the sea, and said to him: ‘Make there an ark of 300 ells in length, and in breadth 50 ells, and in height 30, and two stories in the midst, and the doors about an ell.

And of those 300 ells, and of ours 15,000, and so of those 50, and of ours 2000 and 500, and so of those 30, and of ours 900, and of those one ell, and of ours 50.’

According to this number the Jews keep this measure of the ark of Noe, as the Lord said to him, and (so) they make each measure, and each rule even up to the present time.

The Lord God opened the doors of the heavens, and rain came on the earth 150 days, and all flesh died.

Noe was in the 500th year and begat three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japhet.

100 years after the birth of his three sons, he went into the ark in the month according to the Hebrew Itsars, according to the Egyptian Famenoth in eighteen days.

And the ark floated forty days. And altogether they were in the ark 120 days.

And he went into the ark, being 600 years (old), and in the sixth hundred and first year of his life he went out of the ark in the month Farmut according to the Egyptians, and according to the Hebrews Nisan about twenty-eight days.

Then he lived 250 years, and died ; he lived altogether 950 years according [to the will of] the Lord our God, to him be glory from the beginning, and now, and to the end of the world. Amen.

Enoch was altogether 365 years old.

In another way it is written here concerning Noah’s ark. Of their 300 ells, and of ours 15,000, of theirs 100, and of ours 5000: of theirs 20, and of ours 1000; of theirs 10, and of ours 500: of theirs 5, and of ours 250: of theirs 1, and of ours 50! This is the truth spoken.