Chapter XXI
1. Then I made a circuit to a place in which nothing was completed.
2. And there I beheld neither the tremendous workmanship of an exalted heaven, nor of an established earth, but a desolate spot, prepared, and terrific.
3. There, too, I beheld seven stars of heaven bound in it together, like great mountains, and like a blazing fire. I exclaimed. For what species of crime have they been bound, and why have they been removed to this place ? Then Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, and who conducted me, answered : Enoch, wherefore dost thou ask ; wherefore reason with thyself, and anxiously inquire ? These are those of the stars which have transgressed the commandment of the most high God ; and are here bound, until the infinite number of the days of their crimes be completed.
4. From thence I afterwards passed on to another terrific place
5. Where I beheld the operation of a great fire blazing and glittering, in the midst of which there was a division. Columns of fire struggled together to the end of the abyss, and deep was their descent. But neither its measurement nor magnitude was I able to discover ; neither could I perceive its origin. Then I exclaimed, How terrible is this place, and how difficult to explore
6. Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, answered and said: Enoch, why art thou alarmed and amazed at this terrific place, at the sight of this place of suffering ? This, he said, is the prison of the angels and here they are kept forever.
Chapter XXII
1. From thence I proceeded to another spot, where I saw on the west a great and lofty mountain, a strong rock, and four delightful places.
2. Internally it was deep, capacious, and very smooth; as smooth as if it had been rolled over : it was both deep and dark to behold.
3. Then Raphael, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered and said. These are the delightful places where the spirits, the souls of the dead, will be collected ; for them were they formed ; and here will be collected all the souls of the sons of men.
4. These places, in which they dwell, shall they occupy until the day of judgment, and until their appointed period.
5. Their appointed period will be long, even until the great judgment. And I saw the spirits of the sons of men who were dead ; and their voices reached to heaven, while they were accusing.
6. Then I inquired of Raphael, an angel who was with me, and said, Whose spirit is that, the voice of which reaches to heaven, and accuses ?
7. He answered, saying, This is the spirit of Abel, who was slain by Cain his brother; and who will accuse that brother, until his seed be destroyed from the face of the earth;
8. Until his seed perish from the seed of the human race.
9. At that time therefore I inquired respecting him, and respecting the general judgment, saying. Why is one separated from another ? He answered. Three separations have been made between the spirits of the dead, and thus have the spirits of the righteous been separated,
10. Namely, by a chasm, by water, and by light above it.
11. And in the same way likewise are sinners separated when they die, and are buried in the earth judgment not overtaking them in their lifetime.
12. Here their souls are separated. Moreover, abundant is their suffering until the time of the great judgment, the castigation, and the torment of those who eternally execrate, whose souls are punished and bound there for ever.
13. And thus has it been from the beginning of the world. Thus has there existed a separation between the souls of those who utter complaints, and of those who watch for their destruction, to slaughter them in the day of sinners.
14. A receptacle of this sort has been formed for the souls of unrighteous men, and of sinners ; of those who have completed crime, and associated with the impious, whom they resemble. Their souls shall not be annihilated in the day of judgment, neither shall they arise from this place. Then I blessed God,
15. And said, Blessed be my Lord, the Lord of glory and of righteousness, who reigns over all for ever and for ever.
Chapter XXIII
1. From thence I went to another place, towards the west, unto the extremities of the earth.
2. Where I beheld a fire blazing and running along without cessation, which intermitted its course neither by day nor by night ; but continued always the same.
3. I inquired, saying, What is this, which never ceases ?
4. Then Raguel, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered,
5. And said, This blazing fire, which thou beholdest running towards the west, is that of all the luminaries of heaven.
Chapter XXIV
1. I went from thence to another place, and saw a mountain of fire flashing both by day and night. I proceeded towards it ; and perceived seven splendid mountains, which were all different from each other.
2. Their stones were brilliant and beautiful ; all were brilliant and splendid to behold and beautiful ; was their surface. Three mountains were towards the east, and strengthened by being placed one upon another; and three were towards the south, strengthened in a similar manner. There were likewise deep valleys, which did not approach each other. And the seventh mountain was in the midst ofthem. In length they all resembled the seat of a throne, and odoriferous trees surrounded them.
3. Among these there was a tree of an unceasing smell ; nor of those which were in Eden was there one of all the fragrant trees which smelt like this. Its leaf, its flower, and its bark never withered, and its fruit was beautiful.
4. Its fruit resembled the cluster of the palm. I exclaimed, Behold ! this tree is goodly in aspect, pleasing in its leaf, and the sight of its fruit is delightful to the eye. Then Michael, one of the holy and glorious angels who were with me, and one who presided over them, answered,
5. And said : Enoch, why dost thou inquire respecting the odour of this tree ?
6. Why art thou inquisitive to know it?
7. Then I, Enoch, replied to him, and said, Concerning everything I am desirous of instruction, but particularly concerning this tree.
8. He answered me, saying. That mountain which thou beholdest, the extent of whose head resembles the seat of the Lord, will be the seat on which shall sit the holy and great Lord of glory, the everlasting King, when he shall come and descend to visit the earth with goodness.
9. And that tree of an agreeable smell, not one of carnal odour, there shall be no power to touch, until the period of the great judgment. When all shall be punished and consumed for ever, this shall be bestowed on the righteous and humble. The fruit of this tree shall be given to the elect. For towards the north life shall be planted in the holy place, towards the habitation of the everlasting King.
10. Then shall they greatly rejoice and exult in the Holy One. The sweet odour shall enter into their bones ; and they shall live a long life on the earth, as thy forefathers have lived ; neither in their days shall sorrow, distress, trouble, and punishment afflict them.
11. And I blessed the Lord of glory, the everlasting King, because He has prepared this tree for the saints, formed it, and declared that He would give it to them.
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