Friday, March 15, 2024

The Book of Enoch: Chapters XII - XIV

Chapter XII

1. Before all these things Enoch was concealed ; nor did any one of the sons of men know where he was concealed, where he had been, and what had happened.

2. He was wholly engaged with the holy ones, and with the Watchers in his days.
3. I, Enoch, was blessing the great Lord and King of peace.
4. And behold the Watchers called me Enoch the scribe.
5. Then the Lord said to me : Enoch, scribe of righteousness, go tell the Watchers of heaven, who have deserted the lofty sky, and their holy everlasting station, who have been polluted with women.
6. And have done as the sons of men do, by taking to themselves wives, and who have been greatly corrupted on the earth
7. That on the earth they shall never obtain peace and remission of sin. For they shall not rejoice in their offspring ; they shall behold the slaughter of their beloved ; shall lament for the destruction of their sons ; and shall petition for ever ; but shall not obtain mercy and peace.


Chapter XIII

1. Then Enoch, passing on, said to Azazyel: Thou shalt not obtain peace. A great sentence is gone forth against thee. He shall bind thee ;
2. Neither shall relief, mercy, and supplication be thine, on account of the oppression which thou hast taught
3. And on account of every act of blasphemy, tyranny, and sin, which thou hast discovered to the children of men.
4. Then departing from him I spoke to them all together
5. And they all became terrified, and trembled
6. Beseeching me to write for them a memorial of supplication, that they might obtain forgiveness ; and that I might make the memorial of their prayer ascend up before the God of heaven ; because they could not themselves thenceforwards address him, nor raise up their eyes to heaven on account of the disgraceful offence for which they were judged.
7. Then I wrote a memorial of their prayer and supplication, for their spirits, for everything which they had done, and for the subject of their entreaty, that they might obtain remission and rest.
8. Proceeding on, I continued over the waters of Danbadan, which is on the right to the west of Armon, reading the memorial of their prayer, until I fell asleep.
9. And behold a dream came to me, and visions appeared above me. I fell down and saw a vision of punishment, that I might relate it to the sons of heaven, and reprove them. When I awoke I went to them. All being collected together stood weeping in Oubelseyael, which is situated between Libanos and Seneser, with their faces veiled.
10. I related in their presence all the visions which I had seen, and my dream
11. And began to utter these words of righteousness, reproving the Watchers of heaven.


Chapter XIV

1. This is the book of the words of righteousness, and of the reproof of the Watchers, who belong to the world, according to that which He, who is holy and great, commanded in the vision. I perceived in my dream, that I was now speaking with a tongue of flesh, and with my breath, which the Mighty One has put into the mouth of men, that they might converse with it.
2. And understand with the heart. As he has created and given to men the power of comprehending the word of understanding, so has he created and given to me the power of reproving the Watchers, the offspring of heaven. I have written your petition and in my vision it has been shown me, that what you request will not be granted you as long as the world endures.
3. Judgment has been passed upon you : your request will not be granted you.
4. From this time forward, never shall you ascend into heaven ; He has said, that on the earth He will bind you, as long as the world endures.
5. But before these things you shall behold the destruction of your beloved sons you shall not ; possess them, but they shall fall before you by the the sword.
6. Neither shall you entreat for them, nor for yourselves
7. But you shall weep and supplicate in silence. The words of the book which I wrote.
8. A vision thus appeared to me.
9. Behold, in that vision clouds and a mist invited me ; agitated stars and flashes of lightning impelled and pressed me forwards, while winds in the vision assisted my flight, accelerating my progress.
10. They elevated me aloft to heaven. I proceeded, until I arrived at a wall built with stones of crystal. A vibrating flame surrounded it, which began to strike me with terror.
11. Into this vibrating flame I entered
12. And drew nigh to a spacious habitation built also with stones of crystal. Its walls too, as well as pavement, were formed with stones of crystal, and crystal likewise was the ground. Its roof had the appearance of agitated stars and flashes of lightning ; and among them were cherubim of fire in a stormy sky. A flame burned around its walls and its portal blazed with fire. When I entered into this dwelling, it was hot as fire and cold as ice. No trace of delight or of life was there. Terror overwhelmed me, and a fearful shaking seized me.
13. Violently agitated and trembling, I fell upon my face. In the vision I looked,
14. And behold there was another habitation more spacious than the former, every entrance to which was open before me, erected in the midst of a vibrating flame.
15. So greatly did it excel in all points, in glory, in magnificence, and in magnitude, that it is impossible to describe to you either the splendour or the extent of it.
16. Its floor was on fire ; above were lightnings and agitated stars, while its roof exhibited a blazing fire.
17. Attentively I surveyed it, and saw that it contained an exalted throne ;
18. The appearance of which was like that of frost ; while its circumference resembled the orb of the brilliant sun ; and there was the voice of the cherubim.
19. From underneath this mighty throne rivers of flaming fire issued.
20. To look upon it was impossible.
21. One great in glory sat upon it
22. Whose robe was brighter than the sun, and whiter than snow.
23. No angel was capable of penetrating to view the face of Him, the Glorious and the Effulgent nor could any mortal behold Him. A fire was flaming around Him.
24. A. fire also of great extent continued to rise up before Him ; so that not one of those who surrounded Him was capable of approaching Him, among the myriads of myriads who were before Him. To Him holy consultation was needless. Yet did not the sanctified, who were near Him, depart far from Him either by night or by day nor were they removed from Him. I also was so far advanced, with a veil on my face, and trembling. Then the Lord with his oivn mouth called me, saying, Approach hither, Enoch, at my holy word.
25. And He raised me up, making me draw near even to the entrance. My eye was directed to the ground.

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