The Third Heaven

1 And those men took me from there, and led me up onto the third heaven,⁠a and placed me there; and I looked down, and saw the produce of these places, whose goodness was beyond anything ever known. 2 And I saw all the sweet-flowering trees and saw their fruits, which were sweet-smelling, and all the food they produced bubbling and giving off a sweet fragrance.⁠b 3 And among the trees was the tree of life, in that place on which the Lord rests, when he goes up into paradise;⁠c and this tree is so good and fragrant that words cannot describe it, and adorned more than every existing thing; 4 and on all sides its form is gold-looking and vermilion and fire-like and covers all, and it has produce from all fruits. Its root is in the garden at the earth's end. 5 And paradise is between what can decay and what cannot decay. And two springs come out which send out honey and milk, and their springs send out oil and wine, and they separate into four parts, and go around with a quiet course, 6 and go down into the paradise of Eden, between what can decay and what cannot decay. And from there they go out along the earth, and follow a circular course like the other elements. 7 And here there is no unfruitful tree, and every place is blessed. 8 And there are three hundred very bright angels, who keep the garden, and with incessant sweet singing and never-silent voices serve the Lord throughout all days and hours. And I said: 'How very sweet this place is,' and those men said to me: