1There was a wise man, a great builder, and the Lord felt love for him and welcomed him, so he could see the highest dwellings and witness the wise, great, inconceivable, and unchanging realm of God Almighty, the extraordinary, glorious, bright, and many-eyed position of the Lord's servants, the unreachable throne of the Lord, the stages and manifestations of the incorporeal hosts, the ineffable service of the multitude of elements, and the diverse appearances and indescribable songs of the Cherubim, and the limitless light. 2 At that time, he said, when my 165th year was complete, I had my son Methuselah. 3 After this, I lived 200 more years, completing 365 years of my life. 4 On the first day of the month, I was alone in my house, resting on my bed, and fell asleep. 5 While asleep, great distress filled my heart, and I wept, unable to understand the cause of this distress or what would happen to me. 6 Two large men appeared to me, unlike any I had ever seen on earth; their faces shone like the sun, their eyes like burning lights, and fire came from their lips, along with clothing and songs of various kinds in purple appearance; their wings were brighter than gold, their hands whiter than snow.[1] 7 They stood at the head of my bed and called me by my name. 8 I woke from my sleep and clearly saw the two men standing before me. 9 I greeted them and was filled with fear, my face changing with terror, and the men told me: 10 'Be brave, Enoch, don't be afraid; the eternal God sent us to you, and today you will ascend with us to heaven, and you will tell your sons and all your household what they should do without you on earth in your house, and let no one look for you until the Lord returns you to them.' 11 I quickly obeyed them, left my house, went to the doors as instructed, and summoned my sons Methuselah, Regim, and Gaidad, and told them all the wonders those men had shared with me.
2Listen to me, my children, I don't know where I'm going, or what will happen to me; so now, my children, I tell you: don't turn away from God in the face of vain idols, who didn't create Heaven and earth, for these will perish and those who worship them, and may the Lord strengthen your hearts in his fear. And now, my children, let no one attempt to find me, until the Lord brings me back to you.
3It happened that after Enoch told his sons, the angels lifted him on their wings and carried him up to the first heaven, placing him on the clouds. There I looked, and looked again even higher, and saw the ether. They placed me on the first heaven and showed me a very large Sea, greater than any earthly sea.
4They presented to me the elders and leaders of the celestial orders, showing me two hundred angels who govern the stars and their services to the heavens. They fly with their wings and surround all those who navigate.[2]
5Here I looked down and saw the storage places of the snow, and the angels who guard these formidable repositories, as well as the clouds from which they emerge and into which they return.[3]
6They showed me the storage place of the dew, resembling olive oil, and its appearance, as beautiful as all the flowers of the earth. Additionally, many angels were guarding the storage places of these things, along with how they are sealed and unsealed.
7Those men took me and led me up to the second heaven, and showed me darkness, greater than earthly darkness. There I saw prisoners hanging, watched, awaiting the immense and boundless judgment, and these spirits appeared darker than earthly darkness, constantly weeping at all hours.[4] 2 I said to the men who were with me: 'Why are these being constantly tortured?' They answered me: 'These are God's defectors, who did not obey God's commands but followed their own will, and turned away with their leader, who is also confined on the fifth heaven.' 3 I felt a deep sadness for them, and they greeted me, saying: 'Man of God, pray for us to the Lord.' I replied to them: 'Who am I, a mere human, to pray for spirits? Who knows where I am going, or what will happen to me? Or who will pray for me?'
8Those men took me from there and led me up to the third heaven, placing me there. I looked down and saw the produce of these places, the goodness of which was unparalleled.[5] 2 I saw all the sweet-flowering trees and noticed their fruits, which smelled sweet, and all the foods they bore were bubbling with fragrant aromas. 3 In the midst of the trees was the tree of life, the place where the Lord rests when he goes to paradise. This tree is of indescribable goodness and fragrance, adorned more than anything else, appearing golden, vermilion, and fiery, covering all, and bearing all kinds of fruits. 4 Its root is in the garden at the earth's end. 5 Paradise lies between corruptibility and incorruptibility. 6 Two springs emerge, producing honey and milk, and their springs yield oil and wine. They divide into four parts, flowing quietly and descending into the PARADISE OF EDEN, situated between corruptibility and incorruptibility. 7 From there, they flow along the earth and complete a revolution in their circle like other elements. 8 In this place, no tree is unfruitful, and every spot is blessed. 9 There are three hundred bright angels who guard the garden, continually singing sweetly, their never-silent voices serving the Lord at all times and hours. 10 I exclaimed, 'How incredibly beautiful is this place,' and the men said to me:
9'This place, Enoch, is prepared for the righteous, those who endure all kinds of offenses from those who provoke their souls. They turn their eyes away from wrongdoing, make fair judgments, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, lift up the fallen, assist injured orphans, and walk blamelessly in the presence of the Lord, serving Him alone. For them, this place is prepared for eternal inheritance.'[6]
10Those two men led me to the Northern side and showed me a very terrifying place, filled with all kinds of tortures: intense darkness, unlit gloom, and no light, only murky fire constantly burning above. A fiery river flowed, and the entire place was filled with fire, frost, ice, thirst, and shivering. The bonds were extremely harsh, and the spirits were fearful and merciless, armed with angry weapons, inflicting relentless torture. I exclaimed: 2 'Woe, woe, how incredibly terrible is this place.' 3 The men said to me: 'This place, Enoch, is prepared for those who dishonor God, those who practice unnatural sins on earth, engage in child corruption in the manner of Sodom, magic-making, enchantments, devilish witchcraft, and boast of their evil deeds such as stealing, lying, slander, envy, rancor, fornication, murder. Those who steal the souls of people, exploit the poor, hoard wealth at the expense of others, cause the hungry to die, strip the naked, and ignore their Creator, worshiping soulless and lifeless gods, building carved images, and bowing down to unclean creations. For all of these, this place is prepared among them, for eternal inheritance.'
11Those men took me and led me up to the fourth heaven, showing me all the successive movements and all the rays of light from the sun and moon. 2 I measured their paths and compared their light, discovering that the sun's light is greater than the moon's. 3 The sun's circle and the wheels on which it moves are always in motion, like the wind passing by at an incredibly fast speed, never resting day or night. 4 Its passage and return are accompanied by four great stars, each having a thousand stars beneath it. Four to the right of the sun's wheel and four to the left, each with a thousand stars underneath, making a total of eight thousand, continually issuing with the sun. 5 By day, fifteen thousand angels attend the sun, and by night, a thousand. 6 Six-winged beings accompany the angels before the sun's wheel into the fiery flames, and a hundred angels ignite the sun and set it alight.
12I looked and saw other flying elements of the sun, named Phoenixes and Chalkydri, marvelous and wonderful, with feet and tails shaped like a lion and a crocodile's head. Their appearance is tinged with purple, resembling a rainbow; they are nine hundred measures in size, with wings like those of angels, each having twelve. They attend and accompany the sun, carrying heat and dew, as commanded by God. 2 Thus, the sun revolves and travels, rising under the heaven, and its course continues under the earth, with the light of its rays shining unceasingly.
13Those men took me to the east and placed me at the sun's gates, where the sun emerges according to the regulation of the seasons, the cycle of the months of the entire year, and the number of hours in both day and night. 2 I saw six gates open, each gate measuring sixty-one stadia and a quarter of one stadium. I measured them accurately and understood their size. Through these gates, the sun moves to the west, becoming even, and rises throughout all the months. It then turns back again from the six gates according to the succession of the seasons, completing the period of the whole year after the returns of the four seasons.
14Again, those men led me to the western parts and showed me six great open gates, corresponding to the eastern gates, opposite where the sun sets, according to the number of days: three hundred sixty-five and a quarter. 2 The sun then descends to the western gates, withdrawing its light and the greatness of its brightness beneath the earth. Since the crown of its shining is in heaven with the Lord and guarded by four hundred angels, the sun rotates on its wheel beneath the earth, remaining in the night for seven great hours. It spends half its course under the earth, and when it reaches the eastern approach in the eighth hour of the night, it brings its lights and the crown of shining, and the sun flames forth more intensely than fire.
15Then the elements of the sun, called Phoenixes and Chalkydri, break into song. Therefore, every bird flutters with its wings, rejoicing at the giver of light, and they break into song at the command of the Lord. 2 The giver of light comes to give brightness to the whole world, and the morning guard takes shape, which is the rays of the sun, and the sun of the earth goes out, and receives its brightness to light up the whole face of the earth, and they showed me this calculation of the sun's going. 3 And the gates which it enters, these are the great gates of the calculation of the hours of the year; for this reason, the sun is a great creation, whose circuit lasts twenty-eight years, and begins again from the beginning.
16Those men showed me the other course, that of the moon, twelve great gates, crowned from west to east, by which the moon goes in and out of the customary times. 2 It goes in at the first gate to the western places of the sun, by the first gates with thirty-one days exactly, by the second gates with thirty-one days exactly, by the third with thirty days exactly, by the fourth with thirty days exactly, by the fifth with thirty-one days exactly, by the sixth with thirty-one days exactly, by the seventh with thirty days exactly, by the eighth with thirty-one days perfectly, by the ninth with thirty-one days exactly, by the tenth with thirty days perfectly, by the eleventh with thirty-one days exactly, by the twelfth with twenty-eight days exactly. 3 And it goes through the western gates in the order and number of the eastern, and accomplishes the three hundred and sixty-five and a quarter days of the solar year, while the lunar year has three hundred fifty-four, and there are wanting to it twelve days of the solar circle, which are the lunar epacts of the whole year. 4 Thus, too, the great circle contains five hundred and thirty-two years. 5 The quarter of a day is omitted for three years, the fourth fulfills it exactly. 6 Therefore they are taken outside of heaven for three years and are not added to the number of days, because they change the time of the years to two new months towards completion, to two others towards diminution. 7 And when the western gates are finished, it returns and goes to the eastern to the lights, and goes thus day and night about the heavenly circles, lower than all circles, swifter than the heavenly winds, and spirits and elements and angels flying; each angel has six wings. 8 It has a sevenfold course in nineteen years.
17In the midst of the heavens, I saw armed soldiers, serving the Lord, with tympana and organs, with incessant voice, with sweet voice, with sweet and incessant voice and various singing, which it is impossible to describe, and which astonishes every mind. So wonderful and marvelous is the singing of those angels, and I was delighted listening to it.
18The men took me on to the fifth heaven and placed me, and there I saw many and countless soldiers, called Grigori, of human appearance, and their size was greater than that of great giants and their faces withered, and the silence of their mouths perpetual, and there was no service on the fifth heaven, and I said to the men who were with me: 2 Why are these very withered and their faces melancholy, and their mouths silent, and why is there no service on this heaven? 3 And they said to me: These are the Grigori, who with their prince Satanail (Satan) rejected the Lord of light, and after them are those who are held in great darkness on the second heaven, and three of them went down on to earth from the Lord's throne, to the place Ermon, and broke through their vows on the shoulder of the hill Ermon and saw the daughters of men how good they are, and took to themselves wives, and befouled the earth with their deeds, who in all times of their age made lawlessness and mixing, and giants are born and marvelous big men and great enmity. 4 And therefore God judged them with great judgment, and they weep for their brethren and they will be punished on the Lord's great day. 5 And I said to the Grigori: I saw your brethren and their works, and their great torments, and I prayed for them, but the Lord has condemned them to be under earth till the existing heaven and earth shall end forever. 6 And I said: Why do you wait, brethren, and do not serve before the Lord's face, and have not put your services before the Lord's face, lest you anger your Lord utterly? 7 And they listened to my admonition, and spoke to the four ranks in heaven, and lo! As I stood with those two men, four trumpets trumpeted together with great voice, and the Grigori broke into song with one voice, and their voice went up before the Lord pitifully and affectingly.
19And from there those men took me and bore me up on to the sixth heaven, and there I saw seven bands of angels, very bright and very glorious, and their faces shining more than the sun's shining, glistening, and there is no difference in their faces, or behavior, or manner of dress; and these make the orders, and learn the goings of the stars, and the alteration of the moon, or revolution of the sun, and the good government of the world. 2 And when they see wrongdoing, they make commandments and instruction, and sweet and loud singing, and all songs of praise. 3 These are the archangels who are above angels, measure all life in heaven and on earth, and the angels who are appointed over seasons and years, the angels who are over rivers and sea, and who are over the fruits of the earth, and the angels who are over every grass, giving food to all, to every living thing, and the angels who write all the souls of men, and all their deeds, and their lives before the Lord's face; in their midst are six Phoenixes and six Cherubim and six six-winged ones continually with one voice singing one voice, and it is not possible to describe their singing, and they rejoice before the Lord at his footstool.
20And those two men lifted me up from there on to the seventh heaven, and I saw there a very great light, and fiery troops of great archangels, incorporeal forces, and dominions, orders and governments, Cherubim and seraphim, thrones and many-eyed ones, nine regiments, the Ioanit stations of light, and I became afraid, and began to tremble with great terror, and those men took me, and led me after them, and said to me:[7] 2 Have courage, Enoch, do not fear, and showed me the Lord from afar, sitting on His very high throne. For what is there on the tenth heaven, since the Lord dwells there? 3 On the tenth heaven is God, in the Hebrew tongue he is called Aravat.[8] 4 And all the heavenly troops would come and stand on the ten steps according to their rank, and would bow down to the Lord, and would again go to their places in joy and felicity, singing songs in the boundless light with small and tender voices, gloriously serving him.
21And the Cherubim and seraphim standing about the throne, the six-winged and many-eyed ones do not depart, standing before the Lord's face doing his will, and cover his whole throne, singing with gentle voice before the Lord's face: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Ruler of Sabaoth, heavens and earth are full of Your glory. 2 When I saw all these things, those men said to me: Enoch, thus far is it commanded us to journey with you, and those men went away from me and thereupon I saw them not. 3 And I remained alone at the end of the seventh heaven and became afraid, and fell on my face and said to myself: Woe is me, what has befallen me? 4 And the Lord sent one of his glorious ones, the archangel Gabriel, and he said to me: Have courage, Enoch, do not fear, arise before the Lord's face into eternity, arise, come with me. 5 And I answered him, and said in myself: My Lord, my soul has departed from me, from terror and trembling, and I called to the men who led me up to this place, on them I relied, and it is with them I go before the Lord's face. 6 And Gabriel caught me up, as a leaf caught up by the wind, and placed me before the Lord's face. 7 And I saw the eighth heaven, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Muzaloth, changer of the seasons, of drought, and of wet, and of the twelve constellations of the circle of the firmament, which are above the seventh heaven. 8 And I saw the ninth heaven, which is called in Hebrew Kuchavim, where are the heavenly homes of the twelve constellations of the circle of the firmament.
22On the tenth heaven, (which is called) Aravoth, I saw the appearance of the Lord's face, like iron made to glow in fire, and brought out, emitting sparks, and it burns. 2 Thus (in a moment of eternity) I saw the Lord's face, but the Lord's face is ineffable, marvelous and very awful, and very, very terrible. 3 And who am I to tell of the Lord's unspeakable being, and of his very wonderful face? And I cannot tell the quantity of his many instructions, and various voices, the Lord's throne is very great and not made with hands, nor the quantity of those standing around him, troops of Cherubim and seraphim, nor their incessant singing, nor his immutable beauty, and who shall tell of the ineffable greatness of his glory. 4 And I fell prone and bowed down to the Lord, and the Lord with his lips said to me: 5 Have courage, Enoch, do not fear, arise and stand before my face into eternity. 6 And the archistratege Michael lifted me up, and led me to before the Lord's face. 7 And the Lord said to his servants tempting them: Let Enoch stand before my face into eternity, and the glorious ones bowed down to the Lord, and said: Let Enoch go according to Your word. 8 And the Lord said to Michael: Go and take Enoch from out of his earthly garments, and anoint him with my sweet ointment, and put him into the garments of My glory. 9 And Michael did thus, as the Lord told him. He anointed me, and dressed me, and the appearance of that ointment is more than the great light, and his ointment is like sweet dew, and its smell mild, shining like the sun's ray, and I looked at myself, and I was like one of his glorious ones. 10 And the Lord summoned one of his archangels by name Pravuil, whose knowledge was quicker in wisdom than the other archangels, who wrote all the deeds of the Lord; and the Lord said to Pravuil: Bring out the books from my storehouses, and a reed for writing, and give it to Enoch, and deliver to him the choice and comforting books out of your hand.[9]
23And he was telling me all the works of heaven, earth, and sea, and all the elements, their passages and goings, and the thunderings of the thunders, the sun and moon, the goings and changes of the stars, the seasons, years, days, and hours, the risings of the wind, the numbers of the angels, and the formation of their songs, and all human things, the tongue of every human song and life, the commandments, instructions, and sweet-voiced singings, and all things that it is fitting to learn. 2 And Pravuil told me: All the things that I have told you, we have written. Sit and write all the souls of mankind, however many of them are born, and the places prepared for them to eternity; for all souls are prepared for eternity, before the formation of the world. 3 And all double thirty days and thirty nights, and I wrote out all things exactly, and wrote three hundred and sixty-six books.
24And the Lord summoned me, and said to me: Enoch, sit down on my left with Gabriel. 2 And I bowed down to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to me: Enoch, beloved, all that you see, all things that are standing finished I tell to you even before the very beginning, all that I created from non-being, and visible (physical) things from invisible (spiritual). 3 Hear, Enoch, and take in these my words, for not to My angels have I told my secret, and I have not told them their rise, nor my endless realm, nor have they understood my creating, which I tell you today.[10] 4 For before all things were visible (physical), I alone used to go about in the invisible (spiritual) things, like the sun from east to west, and from west to east. 5 But even the sun has peace in itself, while I found no peace, because I was creating all things, and I conceived the thought of placing foundations, and of creating visible (physical) creation.
25I commanded in the very lowest parts, that visible (physical) things should come down from invisible (spiritual), and Adoil came down very great, and I beheld him, and lo! He had a belly of great light. 2 And I said to him: Become undone, Adoil, and let the visible (physical) come out of you. 3 And he came undone, and a great light came out. And I was in the midst of the great light, and as there is born light from light, there came forth a great age, and showed all creation, which I had thought to create.[11] 4 And I saw that it was good. 5 And I placed for myself a throne, and took my seat on it, and said to the light: Go from there up higher and fix yourself high above the throne, and be a foundation to the highest things. 6 And above the light there is nothing else, and then I bent up and looked up from my throne.
26And I summoned the very lowest a second time, and said: Let Archas come forth hard, and he came forth hard from the invisible (spiritual). 2 And Archas came forth, hard, heavy, and very red. 3 And I said: Be opened, Archas, and let there be born from you, and he came undone, an age came forth, very great and very dark, bearing the creation of all lower things, and I saw that it was good and said to him: 4 Go from there down below, and make yourself firm, and be a foundation for the lower things, and it happened and he went down and fixed himself, and became the foundation for the lower things, and below the darkness there is nothing else.[12]
27And I commanded that there should be taken from light and darkness, and I said: Be thick, and it became thus, and I spread it out with the light, and it became water, and I spread it out over the darkness, below the light, and then I made firm the waters, that is to say the bottomless, and I made a foundation of light around the water, and created seven circles from inside, and imaged the water like crystal wet and dry, that is to say like glass, and the circumcession of the waters and the other elements, and I showed each one of them its road, and the seven stars each one of them in its heaven, that they go thus, and I saw that it was good. 2 And I separated between light and between darkness, that is to say in the midst of the water here and there, and I said to the light, that it should be the day, and to the darkness, that it should be the night, and there was evening and there was morning the first day.
28And then I made firm the heavenly circle, and (made) that the lower water which is under heaven collect itself together, into one whole, and that the chaos become dry, and it became so. 2 Out of the waves I created rock hard and big, and from the rock I piled up the dry, and the dry I called earth, and the midst of the earth I called abyss, that is to say the bottomless, I collected the sea in one place and bound it together with a yoke. 3 And I said to the sea, Behold I give you (your) eternal limits, and you shalt not break loose from your component parts. 4 Thus I made the firmament. This day I called the first-created Sunday.
29And for all the heavenly troops I imaged the image and essence of fire, and my eye looked at the firm rock, and from the gleam of my eye the lightning received its wonderful nature, (which) is both fire in water and water in fire, and one does not put out the other, nor does the one dry up the other, therefore the lightning is brighter than the sun, softer than water and firmer than hard rock. 2 And from the rock I cut off a great fire, and from the fire I created the orders of the incorporeal ten troops of angels, and their weapons are fiery and their raiment a burning flame, and I commanded that each one should stand in his order. 3 And one from out the order of angels, having turned away with the order that was under him, conceived an impossible thought, to place his throne higher than the clouds above the earth, that he might become equal in rank to my power. 4 And I threw him out from the height with his angels, and he was flying in the air continuously above the bottomless.[13]
30On the third day I commanded the earth to grow great and fruitful trees, and hills, and seed to sow, and I planted Paradise, and enclosed it, and placed as armed (guardians) flaming angels, and thus I created renewal. 2 Then came evening, and came morning the fourth day. 3 [Wednesday]. On the fourth day I commanded that there should be great lights on the heavenly circles. 4 On the first uppermost circle I placed the stars, Kruno, and on the second Aphrodit, on the third Aris, on the fifth Zoues, on the sixth Ermis, on the seventh lesser the moon, and adorned it with the lesser stars. 5 And on the lower I placed the sun for the illumination of day, and the moon and stars for the illumination of night. 6 The sun that it should go according to each constellation, twelve, and I appointed the succession of the months and their names and lives, their thunderings, and their hourmarkings, how they should succeed. 7 Then evening came and morning came the fifth day. 8 [Thursday]. On the fifth day I commanded the sea, that it should bring forward fishes, and feathered birds of many varieties, and all animals creeping over the earth, going forward over the earth on four legs, and soaring in the air, male sex and female, and every soul breathing the spirit of life. 9 And there came evening, and there came morning the sixth day. 10 [Friday]. On the sixth day I commanded my wisdom to create man from seven consistencies, one, his flesh from the earth, two, his blood from the dew, three, his eyes from the sun, four, his bones from stone, five, his intelligence from the swiftness of the angels and from cloud, six, his veins and his hair from the grass of the earth, seven, his soul from my breath and from the wind.[14] 11 And I gave him seven natures, to the flesh hearing, the eyes for sight, to the soul smell, the veins for touch, the blood for taste, the bones for endurance, to the intelligence sweetness [enjoyment]. 12 I conceived a cunning saying to say, I created man from invisible (spiritual) and from visible (physical) nature, of both are his death and life and image, he knows speech like some created thing, small in greatness and again great in smallness, and I placed him on earth, a second angel, honorable, great and glorious, and I appointed him as ruler to rule on earth and to have my wisdom, and there was none like him of earth of all my existing creatures. 13 And I appointed him a name, from the four component parts, from east, from west, from south, from north, and I appointed for him four special stars, and I called his name Adam, and showed him the two ways, the light and the darkness, and I told him,[15] 14 This is good, and that bad, that I should learn whether he has love towards me, or hatred, that it be clear which in his race love me. 15 For I have seen his nature, but he has not seen his own nature, therefore (through) not seeing he will sin worse, and I said After sin (what is there) but death?[16] 16 And I put sleep into him and he fell asleep. And I took from him a rib, and created him a wife, that death should come to him by his wife, and I took his last word and called her name mother, that is to say, Eva (Eve).
31Adam lived on earth, and I created a garden in Eden to the east for him to observe the testament and keep the command. 2 I opened the heavens to him, allowing him to see the angels singing victory songs, and the unclouded light. 3 Adam continuously lived in paradise. The devil knew I wanted to create another world, as Adam was to rule and control the earth. 4 The devil, the evil spirit of the lower places, made Sotona from the heavens, known as Satanail (Satan). He became different from the angels, but his understanding of right and wrong did not change. 5 He understood his condemnation and his previous sin, so he plotted against Adam. He seduced Eve but did not touch Adam. 6 I cursed ignorance, but not what I had previously blessed. I did not curse man, the earth, or other creatures, but man's evil fruit and his works.
32I told him: You are earth, and into the earth from where I took you, you shall go. I will not destroy you but send you back to where I took you. 2 Then I can receive you again at My second coming. 3 I blessed all my creatures, both visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual). Adam spent five and a half hours in paradise. 4 I blessed the seventh day, the Sabbath, on which he rested from all his work.
33I appointed the eighth day so that it would be the first creation after my work, allowing the first seven to revolve in the form of the seventh thousand. At the beginning of the eighth thousand, there will be an endless time without counting years, months, weeks, days, or hours. 2 Now, Enoch, everything I've told you, all you've understood and seen, both heavenly and earthly, all written in books by my great wisdom, I've devised and created. There's no counselor or inheritor to my creations. 3 I am eternal, not made by hands, and unchanging. 4 My thoughts guide me, and my wisdom and words are created. My eyes observe everything, standing here in terror. 5 If I turn my face away, all things will be destroyed. 6 Focus your mind, Enoch, and recognize who is speaking to you. Take the books you've written. 7 I give you Samuil and Raguil, who guided you, and the books. Go to earth and tell your sons everything I've told you and all you've seen, from the lower heaven to my throne and all the troops. 8 I created all forces, and none resist or fail to submit to me. All labor under my sole rule. 9 Give them the handwritten books, and they will read them and know me as the creator. They will understand that there is no other God but me. 10 Let them distribute your handwritten books from child to child, generation to generation, nation to nation. 11 I'll give you, Enoch, my intercessor, the lead commander Michael, for your fathers' handwritings: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahaleleel, and Jared your father.
34They have rejected my commandments and my authority. A worthless seed has arisen, lacking fear of God. They refuse to bow down to me, turning instead to vain gods and denying my unity. The whole earth is filled with lies, offenses, and abominable behaviors, including all kinds of unclean and wicked acts that are disgusting to relate. 2 Therefore, I will bring a great flood upon the earth, destroying all humanity. The entire earth will crumble into great darkness.
35From their seed, another generation will arise much later, and many of them will be insatiable. 2 The one who raises that generation will reveal to them the handwritten books of your fathers. He will guide them in the guardianship of the world, directing the faithful men who work for my pleasure and do not take my name in vain. 3 They will pass this knowledge to another generation, and those who read it will be glorified more than the first.
36Enoch, I grant you thirty days to stay in your house and instruct your sons and household. Let them hear from me through you and understand that there is no other God but me. 2 They must always follow my commandments and begin to read and comprehend the books you've written. 3 After thirty days, I will send my angel to take you and your sons to me.
37The Lord summoned one of the older angels, fearsome and threatening, and placed him beside me. He appeared white as snow, with hands like ice, exuding great frost. He froze my face, for I could not endure the Lord's terror, just as one cannot endure the heat of a stove's fire, the sun's warmth, or the air's chill. 2 The Lord said to me: 'Enoch, if your face is not frozen here, no one will be able to look upon it.'
38The Lord spoke to the men who first guided me, instructing them to let me descend to earth with them and wait for me until the appointed day. 2 They placed me on my bed at night. 3 Methuselah, expecting my arrival and keeping watch over my bed day and night, was awestruck when he heard me coming. I told him to gather my entire household so that I could tell them everything.
39My children, my beloved ones, heed your father's warning, in accordance with the Lord's will. 2 Today, I have come to you to announce, not from my lips but from the Lord's, everything that was, is now, and will be until Judgment Day. 3 The Lord has allowed me to come to you. Hear my words, though I am but a man, for I have seen the Lord's face, glowing like iron from fire, sparking and burning. 4 You look upon my eyes, filled with meaning for you, but I have seen the Lord's eyes, shining like the sun, filling man's eyes with awe.[17] 5 You see my helping hand, but I have seen the Lord's right hand filling heaven as it aided me. 6 You observe my work's scope, like your own, but I have witnessed the Lord's boundless and perfect compass without end. 7 You hear my words as I have heard the Lord's words, thundering constantly with the clash of clouds. 8 Now, my children, listen to the words of the earth's father. It is fearsome and dreadful to face the ruler of the earth, and even more so to face the ruler of heaven, the judge of the living and the dead, and the celestial hosts. Who can bear that unending agony?
40My children, I know everything, for this knowledge comes from the Lord's lips, and my eyes have seen it from beginning to end. 2 I have written everything into books: the heavens, their end, their fullness, and all the celestial armies. 3 I have measured and cataloged the stars, in their vast and uncountable multitude. 4 Who else has seen their revolutions and entrances? Not even the angels see their number, but I have recorded all their names. 5 I have measured the sun's circle, its rays, and counted the hours. I have documented everything on earth, including all nourishments, seeds, plants, grasses, flowers, their scents, and the clouds' dwellings. 6 I have investigated and noted the paths of thunder and lightning. They showed me the keys and guardians, allowing them to rise and move in measured chains, so they do not destroy the earth. 7 I have written of the snow's treasures and the storehouses of cold and frost. I observed how they fill the clouds without depleting the stores. 8 I recorded the winds' resting places and saw how their keyholders use scales and weights to balance them, releasing them carefully to prevent the earth from shaking. 9 I measured the earth, mountains, hills, fields, trees, stones, rivers, and everything. I noted the height from earth to the seventh heaven, down to the lowest hell, and the place of judgment, including the vast, open, and lamenting hell. 10 I saw the prisoners in agony, awaiting boundless judgment. 11 I recorded all those being judged, their sentences, and deeds.
41I saw all the forefathers, including Adam and Eve, and I sighed, weeping at the ruin of their dishonor. 2 I lamented my weakness and that of my ancestors, and thought: 3 'Blessed is the one who has not been born or who, having been born, does not sin before the Lord, so that he does not come to this place or bear the burden of this place.'
42I saw the key-holders and guards of hell's gates, standing like great serpents, with faces like extinguished lamps, fiery eyes, and sharp teeth. I observed all the Lord's works, recognizing their righteousness, while human works vary, some good and others bad. Through their deeds, those who act wickedly are known.[18]
43My children, I have measured and documented every work, every measurement, and every righteous judgment. 2 Just as one year may be more honorable than another, so too may one person be more honorable than another. Some may be honored for their wealth, wisdom, intellect, cunning, silence, cleanliness, strength, appearance, youth, wit, or physical form. Others may be known for their sensibility. Let this be known: none are better than those who fear God, for they will be more glorious in the future.
44The Lord, with His hands, created man in the likeness of His own face, making him both small and great. 2 Whoever reviles a ruler's face or abhors the Lord's face despises Him. Those who vent anger without cause will be cut down by the Lord's wrath, and those who reproachfully spit on another's face will face the Lord's great judgment. 3 Blessed is the man who harbors no malice against others, who aids the injured and condemned, uplifts the downtrodden, and shows charity to the needy. For on the day of great judgment, every weight and measure will be as in the market, hung on scales, and everyone will learn their measure, receiving a reward accordingly.[19]
45Whoever eagerly makes offerings to the Lord will find the Lord quick to accept the offering and grant the fruits of his work. 2 But those who falsely increase their lamp before the Lord and do not make true judgments will not find an increase in their treasures in the highest realm. 3 While the Lord may demand physical offerings like bread, candles, or animal flesh, these are not His true desire; God seeks pure hearts and uses these offerings to test the human heart.
46Hear, my people, and heed the words from my lips. 2 If anyone brings gifts to an earthly ruler with disloyal thoughts, and the ruler knows this, will he not be angered, refuse the gifts, and judge the giver? 3 If a man deceives another with his tongue but harbors evil in his heart, will not the other understand the treachery and be condemned, since the untruth is plain to all? 4 When the Lord sends a great light, there will be judgment for both the just and the unjust, and no one will escape notice.
47My children, take these thoughts to heart and pay heed to your father's words, for they all come from the Lord's lips. 2 Read these books written by your father's hand. 3 In these numerous books, you will discover all the Lord's works, encompassing everything from the beginning of creation to the end of time. 4 By observing my writings, you will not sin against the Lord; there is no one but the Lord, neither in heaven nor on earth, nor in the lowest places, nor in the foundation. 5 The Lord has set the foundations in the unknown, creating both visible and invisible heavens; He fixed the earth upon the waters, creating countless creatures. Who can count the water, the unfixed foundation, the earth's dust, the sea's sand, the raindrops, the morning dew, or the wind's breath? Who has filled the earth and sea, and the unending winter? 6 I carved the stars from fire, adorned the heavens, and placed them therein.
48The sun traverses seven heavenly circles, each corresponding to one hundred and eighty-two thrones. It descends on short days and again on big days, resting on two thrones, revolving above the thrones of the months. From the seventeenth day of Tsivan, it descends to Thevan, and from the seventeenth of Thevan, it ascends. 2 As the sun draws close to the earth, the earth rejoices, and its fruits grow. When the sun departs, the earth becomes sad, and trees and fruits lose their vitality. 3 All this was measured with precise hours and fixed by wisdom, encompassing both the visible and invisible. 4 From the invisible, all visible things were made, with the Creator Himself remaining invisible. 5 I share this with you, my children, and urge you to pass these books to future generations and those who fear God. Let them cherish these teachings more than food or earthly delights, reading and applying them.[20] 6 Those who do not understand the Lord, who do not fear God, or who reject these teachings will face terrible judgment. 7 Blessed is the man who bears this yoke and carries these teachings, for he will be released on the day of great judgment.
49I assure you, my children, but without any oath, neither by heaven nor by earth, nor by any other creature that God created. 2 The Lord declared: There is no oath in me, only truth, without injustice. 3 If men lack truth, let them affirm or deny with simple words: Yea, yea, or Nay, nay.[21] 4 I assure you with all certainty that before a man exists in his mother's womb, a place is prepared for the repose of his soul, and a measure is fixed for his trials in this world. 5 Do not deceive yourselves, my children, for a place has been prepared for every human soul.
50I have recorded every person's work, and none born on earth can remain hidden, nor can their deeds be concealed. 2 I see all things. 3 Therefore, my children, spend your days in patience and meekness, so that you may inherit eternal life. 4 Endure every wound, injury, evil word, and attack for the sake of the Lord.[22] 5 If wrongs befall you, do not return them to friend or foe, for the Lord will avenge you on the day of great judgment, and there should be no revenge among people. 6 Whoever spends gold or silver for the sake of a sibling will receive abundant treasure in the world to come. 7 Do not harm widows, orphans, or strangers, or God's wrath come upon you.[23]
51Extend your hands to the poor as much as you can. 2 Do not hide your wealth in the earth. 3 Assist the faithful in times of distress, and distress will not find you in your time of trouble. 4 Bear every grievous and cruel burden that comes upon you for the sake of the Lord, and you will find your reward on the day of judgment.[24] 5 It is good to visit the Lord's dwelling in the morning, midday, and evening, to honor your Creator. 6 Every living thing glorifies Him, and every visible and invisible creature praises Him.
52Blessed is the one who praises the Lord Saboath with heartfelt words. 2 Cursed is the one who speaks contemptuously of others, as it shows contempt for God. 3 Blessed is the one who blesses and praises God. 4 Cursed is the one who curses and abuses others. 5 Blessed is the one who blesses all the Lord's creations. 6 Cursed is the one who looks down on the Lord's creations. 7 Blessed is the one who helps and uplifts the fallen. 8 Cursed is the one who seeks the destruction of what is not theirs. 9 Blessed is the one who honors the foundations and traditions of their ancestors. 10 Cursed is the one who corrupts the values of their forefathers. 11 Blessed is the one who promotes peace and love.[25] 12 Cursed is the one who disrupts harmony and love between neighbors. 13 Blessed is the one who speaks humbly and sincerely to all. 14 Cursed is the one who speaks of peace but harbors violence in their heart. 15 All these things will be placed on the scales on the day of great judgment.
53And now, my children, do not assume that I can stand before God and plead for your sins, for no one can help a person who has sinned. 2 You see how I have recorded every deed of every person, even before creation, encompassing all that is done among all people for all time, and no one can comprehend my writing, for the Lord sees all human thoughts and knows how they are in vain, stored in the depths of the heart. 3 And now, my children, pay attention to all the words I tell you, so you will not later regret saying: 'Why did our father not tell us?'
54At that time, if you do not understand, let these books that I have given you serve as a legacy for your well-being. 2 Distribute them to all who desire them, and teach them, so that they may witness the Lord's remarkable and extraordinary works.
55My children, behold, the time of my departure has come. 2 The angels who shall accompany me are standing before me, urging me to leave you; they are here on earth, waiting for what has been commanded to them. 3 Tomorrow I shall ascend to heaven, to the highest Jerusalem, to my eternal inheritance. 4 Therefore, I urge you to do all that pleases the Lord.
56Methuselah, having answered his father Enoch, said: 'What can I do to please you, father? How can I bless our homes, your sons, and make your people glorious through you before you depart, as the Lord has commanded?' 2 Enoch answered his son Methuselah, saying: 'Hear me, child, since the Lord anointed me with the ointment of His glory, I have not desired earthly food, and my soul does not remember earthly enjoyment. I do not desire anything earthly.'
57My child Methuselah, gather all your brothers, your household, and the elders of the people, so that I may speak to them and then depart, as is intended for me. 2 Methuselah quickly gathered his brothers Regim, Riman, Uchan, Chermion, Gaidad, and all the elders of the people before his father Enoch; he blessed them and began to speak:
58Listen to me, my children, today. 2 In those days when the Lord came down to earth for Adam's sake, and visited all His creatures that He created Himself, He created Adam after all these. The Lord called all the beasts of the earth, all the reptiles, and all the birds that soar in the air, and brought them all before our father Adam. 3 Adam named all living things on earth. 4 The Lord appointed him ruler over all, and made them unresponsive and simple so that they would obey man, and be subject and obedient to him. 5 In the same way, the Lord created every person as lord over all his possessions. 6 The Lord will not judge a single animal soul for man's sake, but judges the souls of people according to their beasts in this world; for humans have a unique place. 7 As every human soul is accounted for, so the beasts will not perish, nor will all the souls of beasts that the Lord created, until the great judgment. They will accuse humans if they are not treated well.
59Whoever defiles the soul of beasts, defiles his own soul. 2 For a person brings clean animals to make a sacrifice for sin so that he may heal his soul. 3 If they bring clean animals and birds for sacrifice, a person finds healing; he heals his soul. 4 All is given to you for food; bind it by the four feet to make good the healing; he heals his soul. 5 But whoever kills a beast without wounds kills his own soul and defiles his own flesh. 6 He who does any injury to any beast in secret, it is evil practice, and he defiles his own soul.
60He who causes the death of a person's soul, kills his own soul, and kills his own body, and there is no cure for him for all time. 2 He who traps a person in any snare will become trapped in it himself, and there is no cure for him for all time. 3 He who confines a person in any vessel, his retribution will not be lacking at the great judgment for all time. 4 He who acts deceitfully or speaks evil against any soul will not achieve justice for himself for all time.
61And now, my children, guard your hearts from every injustice, which the Lord hates. Just as a person asks something for his own soul from God, so let him do to every living soul, because I know all things, how in the great time to come there is much inheritance prepared for people, good for the good, and bad for the bad, without number many.[26] 2 Blessed are those who enter the good houses, for in the bad houses there is no peace nor return from them. 3 Hear, my children, small and great! When a person has a good thought in his heart, brings gifts from his labors before the Lord's face and his hands did not make them, then the Lord will turn away his face from the labor of his hand, and that person cannot find the labor of his hands. 4 And if his hands made it, but his heart grumbles, and his heart does not stop grumbling incessantly, he has no advantage.
62Blessed is the person who in his patience brings his gifts with faith before the Lord's face, because he will find forgiveness of sins. 2 But if he takes back his words before the time, there is no repentance for him; and if the time passes and he does not voluntarily do what is promised, there is no repentance after death. 3 Because every work that a person does before the time, is all deceit before people, and sin before God.
63When a person clothes the naked and fills the hungry, he will find reward from God. 2 But if his heart murmurs, he commits a double evil; ruin of himself and of that which he gives; and for him there will be no finding of reward on account of that. 3 And if his own heart is filled with his food and his own flesh, clothed with his own clothing, he commits contempt, and will forfeit all his endurance of poverty, and will not find reward for his good deeds. 4 Every person who is proud and shows off is hateful to the Lord, and every false speech, clothed in untruth; it will be cut with the blade of the sword of death, and thrown into the fire, and shall burn for all time.
64When Enoch had spoken these words to his sons, all people far and near heard how the Lord was calling Enoch. They took counsel together: 2 Let us go and kiss Enoch, and two thousand men came together and came to the place Achuzan where Enoch was, and his sons. 3 And the elders of the people, the whole assembly, came and bowed down and began to kiss Enoch and said to him: 4 Our father Enoch, may you be blessed of the Lord, the eternal ruler, and now bless your sons and all the people, that we may be glorified to-day before your face. 5 For you shalt be glorified before the Lord's face for all time, since the Lord chose you, rather than all men on earth, and designated you writer of all his creation, visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual), and redeemed of the sins of man, and helper of your household.
65And Enoch answered all his people saying: Hear, my children, before that all creatures were created, the Lord created the visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual) things. 2 And as much time as there was and went past, understand that after all that he created man in the likeness of his own form, and put into him eyes to see, and ears to hear, and heart to reflect, and intellect wherewith to deliberate. 3 And the Lord saw all man's works, and created all his creatures, and divided time, from time he fixed the years, and from the years he appointed the months, and from the months he appointed the days, and of days he appointed seven. 4 And in those he appointed the hours, measured them out exactly, that man might reflect on time and count years, months, and hours, (their) alternation, beginning, and end, and that he might count his own life, from the beginning until death, and reflect on his sin and write his work bad and good; because no work is hidden before the Lord, that every man might know his works and never transgress all his commandments, and keep my handwriting from generation to generation. 5 When all creation visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual), as the Lord created it, shall end, then every man goes to the great judgment, and then all time shall perish, and the years, and thenceforward there will be neither months nor days nor hours, they will be adhered together and will not be counted. 6 There will be one aeon, and all the righteous who shall escape the Lord's great judgment, shall be collected in the great aeon, for the righteous the great aeon will begin, and they will live eternally, and then too there will be amongst them neither labour, nor sickness, nor humiliation, nor anxiety, nor need, nor brutality, nor night, nor darkness, but great light. 7 And they shall have a great indestructible wall, and a paradise bright and incorruptible (eternal), for all corruptible (mortal) things shall pass away, and there will be eternal life.
66And now, my children, keep your souls from all injustice, such as the Lord hates. 2 Walk before his face with terror and trembling and serve him alone. 3 Bow down to the true God, not to dumb idols, but bow down to his similitude, and bring all just offerings before the Lord's face. The Lord hates what is unjust. 4 For the Lord sees all things; when man takes thought in his heart, then he counsels the intellects, and every thought is always before the Lord, who made firm the earth and put all creatures on it. 5 If you look to heaven, the Lord is there; if you take thought of the sea's deep and all the under-earth, the Lord is there. 6 For the Lord created all things. Bow not down to things made by man, leaving the Lord of all creation, because no work can remain hidden before the Lord's face. 7 Walk, my children, in long-suffering, in meekness, honesty, in provocation, in grief, in faith and in truth, in (reliance on) promises, in illness, in abuse, in wounds, in temptation, in nakedness, in privation, loving one another, till you go out from this age of ills, that you become inheritors of endless time. 8 Blessed are the just who shall escape the great judgment, for they shall shine forth more than the sun sevenfold, for in this world the seventh part is taken off from all, light, darkness, food, enjoyment, sorrow, paradise, torture, fire, frost, and other things; he put all down in writing, that you might read and understand.[27]
67When Enoch had talked to the people, the Lord sent out darkness on to the earth, and there was darkness, and it covered those men standing with Enoch, and they took Enoch up on to the highest heaven, where the Lord is; and he received him and placed him before his face, and the darkness went off from the earth, and light came again. 2 And the people saw and understood not how Enoch had been taken, and glorified God, and found a roll in which was traced the invisible God; and all went to their dwelling places.
68Enoch was born on the sixth day of the month Tsivan, and lived three hundred and sixty-five years. 2 He was taken up to heaven on the first day of the month Tsivan and remained in heaven sixty days. 3 He wrote all these signs of all creation, which the Lord created, and wrote three hundred and sixty-six books, and handed them over to his sons and remained on earth thirty days, and was again taken up to heaven on the sixth day of the month Tsivan, on the very day and hour when he was born. 4 As every man’s nature in this life is dark, so are also his conception, birth, and departure from this life. 5 At what hour he was conceived, at that hour he was born, and at that hour too he died. 6 Methusaleh and his brethren, all the sons of Enoch, made haste, and erected an altar at that place called Achuzan, whence and where Enoch had been taken up to heaven. 7 And they took sacrificial oxen and summoned all people and sacrificed the sacrifice before the Lord’s face. 8 All people, the elders of the people and the whole assembly came to the feast and brought gifts to the sons of Enoch. 9 And they made a great feast, rejoicing and making merry three days, praising God, who had given them such a sign through Enoch, who had found favor with him, and that they should hand it on to their sons from generation to generation, from age to age. 10 Amen.
69And on the third day, in the time of the evening, the elders of the people spoke to Methuselah, saying, “Stand in front of the face of the LORD and in front of the face of all the people and in front of the face of the altar of the LORD, and you will be glorified in your people.” And Methuselah answered his people: “Wait, O men, until the LORD, the God of my father Enoch, shall himself raise up for himself a priest over his own people.” And the people waited until that night in vain at the place Akhuzan. And Methuselah remained near the altar and prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, the only One of the whole world, who has taken away my father Enoch, you raise up a priest for your people, and give their heart understanding to fear your glory and to perform everything in accordance with your will.” Methuselah fell asleep, and the LORD appeared to him in a night vision and said to him, “Listen, Methuselah! I am the LORD, the God of your father Enoch. Give heed to the voice of these people and stand in front of my altar, and I shall glorify you in front of the face of all the people, and you will be glorified all the days of your life, and I shall bless you.” And Methuselah got up from his sleep and blessed the LORD who had appeared to him. And the elders of the people hurried to Methuselah, and the LORD God directed Methuselah’s heart to give heed to the voice of the people. And he said to them, “The LORD God is the one who has given grace to these people in front of my eyes today.” And Sarkhasan and Kharmis and Zazas, the elders of the people, hurried and attired Methuselah in the designated garments and place a blazing crown on his head. And the people hurried, and they brought sheep and oxen and some birds, all of them having passed inspection, for Methuselah to sacrifice in the name of the LORD and in the name of the people. And Methuselah came up to the LORD’s altar, and his face was radiant, like the sun at midday rising up, with all the people in procession behind him. And Methuselah stood in front of the altar of the LORD, with all the people standing around the place of sacrifice. And when the elders of the people had taken sheep and oxen, they tied their four legs together, and place them at the head of the altar. And they said to Methuselah, “Pick the knife! And slaughter them in the required manner in the face of the LORD.” And Methuselah stretched out his hands to heaven and he called out to the LORD thus, saying, “Accept 〈me〉, O LORD! Who am I, to stand at the head of your place of sacrifice and over the head of these people? And now, O LORD, look upon your servant 〈and〉 upon all these people. Now all the inquiries, let them come to pass! And give a blessing to your servant in front of the face of all the people, so that they may realize that you are the one who has appointed 〈me〉 to be priest over your people.” And it happened, when Methuselah had prayed, that the altar was shaken, and the knife rose up from the altar, and leaped into Methuzelah’s hand in front of the face of all the people. And the people trembled and glorified God. And Methuselah was honored in front of the face of the LORD and in front of the face of all the people from that day. And Methuselah took the knife and slaughtered all that had been brought by the people. And 〈the people〉 rejoiced greatly, and they made merry in front of the face of the LORD and in front of the face of Methuselah on that day. And then the people went off to their own shelters, each one of them.
70And Methuselah began to stand at the altar in front of the face of the LORD, and all the people, from that day for 10 years, hoping in an eternal inheritance, and having thoroughly taught all the earth and all his own people. And there was not one single person turning himself away in vanity from the LORD during all the days that Methuselah lived. And the LORD blessed Methuselah and was gratified by his sacrifices and by his gifts and by every kind of service which he performed in front of the face of the LORD. And when the time of the departure days of Methuselah arrived, the LORD appeared to him in a night vision and said to him, “Listen, Methuselah! I am the LORD, the God of your father Enoch. I want you to know that the days of your life have come to an end, and the day of your rest has come close. Call Nir, the second son of your son Lamech, born after Noe, and invest him in the garments of your consecration. And make him stand at my altar. And tell him everything that will happen in his days, for the time of the destruction of all the earth, and of every human being and of everything that lives on the earth, is drawing near. For in his days there will be a very great breakdown on the earth, for each one has begun to envy his neighbor, and people against people have destroyed boundaries, and the nation wages war. And all the earth is filled with vileness and blood and every kind of evil. And even more than that, they have abandoned their LORD, and they will do obeisance to unreal gods, and to the vault above the sky, and to what moves above the earth, and to the waves of the sea. And the adversary will make himself great and will be delighted with his deeds, to my great provocation. And all the earth will change its seasons 〈and every tree and every fruit will change their seeds〉 anticipating the time of destruction. And all the races will change on the earth by my conflagration. Then I shall give the command. The Bottomless will be poured out over the earth, and the great storages of the waters of heaven will come down onto the earth 〈in a great substance and in accordance with the first substance〉. And the whole constitution of the earth will perish, and all the earth will quake, and it will be deprived of its strength from that day. Then I will preserve the son of your son Lamech, his first son, Noe. And from his seed I will raise up another world, and his seed will exist forever, until the second destruction when once again mankind will have committed sin in front of my face.” And Methuselah leaped up from his sleep, and his dream was very disturbing. And he summoned all the elders of the people, and recounted to them all that the LORD had said to him and all the vision that had been revealed to him by the LORD. And all the people were disturbed by his vision. And they answered him, “The LORD is lord, and he will act in accordance with his own will. And now, Methuselah, you do everything just as the LORD has told you.” And Methuselah summoned Nir, the son of Lamech, Noe’s younger brother, and he invested him with the vestments of priesthood in front of the face of all the people, and made him stand at the head of the altar of the LORD. And he taught him everything that he would have to do among the people. 〈And Methuselah spoke to the people:〉 “Here is Nir. He will be in front of your face from the present day as a prince and a leader.” And the people said to Methuselah, “Let it be so 〈for us〉 in accordance with your word. And you will be the voice of the LORD, just as he said to you.” And when Methuselah had spoken to the people in front of the altar, his spirit was convulsed, and, having knelt on his knees, he stretched out his hands to heaven, and prayed to the LORD. And, as he was praying to him, his spirit went out in accordance with the will of the LORD. And Nir and all the people hurried and constructed a sepulcher for Methuselah in the place Akhuzan, very thoughtfully adorned with all holy things, with lamps. And Nir came with many praises, and the people lifted up Methuselah’s body, glorifying 〈God〉; they performed the service for him at the sepulcher which they had made for him and they covered him over. And they said, “〈How〉 blessed was Methuselah in front of the face of the LORD and in front of the face of all the people!” And when they wanted to go away to their own places, Nir said to the people, “Hurry up today and bring sheep and bulls and turtledoves and pigeons, so that you may make a sacrifice in front of the face of the LORD today. And then go away to your houses.” And the people gave heed to Nir the priest, and they hurried and they brought 〈them〉 and tied 〈them〉 up at the head of the altar. And Nir took the knife of sacrifice, and slaughtered all that had been brought to be sacrificed in front of the face of the LORD. And all the people made merry in front of the face of the LORD, and on that day they glorified the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, (the God) of Nir. And from that day there was peace and order over all the earth in the days of Nir – 202 years. And then the people turned away from the LORD, and they began to be envious one against another, and people went to war against people, and race rose up against race and struggled and insulted one another. Even if the lips were the same, nevertheless the hearts chose different things. For the devil became ruler for the third time. The first was before paradise, the second time was in paradise; the third time was after paradise, 〈and〉 continuing right up to the Flood. And there arose disputation and great turbulence. And Nir the priest heard and was greatly aggrieved. And he said in his heart, “In truth I have come to understand how the time has arrived and the saying which the LORD said to Methuselah, the father of my father Lamech.”
71Behold, the wife of Nir, whose name was Sopanim, being sterile and never having at any time given birth to a child by Nir – And Sopanim was in the time of her old age, and in the day of her death. She conceived in her womb, but Nir the priest had not slept with her, nor had he touched her, from the day that the LORD had appointed him to conduct the liturgy in front of the face of the people. And when Sopanim saw her pregnancy, she was ashamed and embarrassed, and she hid herself during all the days until she gave birth. And not one of the people knew about it. And when 282 days had been completed, and the day of birth had begun to approach, and Nir remembered his wife, and he called her to himself in his house, so that he might converse with her. 〈And〉 Sopanim came to Nir, her husband; and, behold, she was pregnant, and the day appointed for giving birth was drawing near. And Nir saw her, and he became very ashamed. And he said to her, “What is this that you have done, O wife? And (why) have you disgraced me in front of the face of these people? And now, depart from me, and go where you began the disgrace of your womb, so that I might not defile my hand on account of you, and sin in front of the face of the LORD.” And Sopanim spoke to Nir, her husband, saying, “O my lord! Behold, it is the time of my old age, and the day of my death has arrived. I do not understand how my menopause and the barrenness of my womb have been reversed.” And Nir did not believe his wife, and for the second time he said to her, “Depart from me, or else I might assault you, and commit a sin in front of the face of the LORD.” And it came to pass, when Nir had spoken to his wife, Sopanim, that Sopanim fell down at Nir’s feet and died. Nir was extremely distressed, and he said in his heart, “Could this have happened because of my word, since by word and thought a person can sin in front of the face of the LORD? Now may God have mercy upon me! I know in truth in my heart that my hand was not upon her. And so I say, ‘Glory to you, O LORD, because no one among mankind knows about this deed which the LORD has done.’ ” And Nir hurried, and he shut the door of his house, and he went to Noe his brother, and he reported to him everything that had happened in connection with his wife. And Noe hurried. He came with Nir his brother; he came into Nir’s house, because of the death of Sopanim, and they discussed between themselves how her womb was at the time of giving birth. And Noe said to Nir, “Don’t let yourself be sorrowful, Nir, my brother! For the LORD today has covered up our scandal, in that nobody from the people knows this. Now, let us go quickly and let us bury her secretly, and the LORD will cover up the scandal of our shame.” And they placed Sopanim on the bed, and they wrapped her around with black garments, and shut her in the house, prepared for burial. They dug a grave in secret. And a child came out from the dead Sopanim. And he sat on the bed at her side. And Noe and Nir came in to bury Sopanim, and they saw the child sitting beside the dead Sopanim, and wiping his clothing. And Noe and Nir were very terrified with a great fear, because the child was fully developed physically, like a three-year-old. And he spoke with his lips, and he blessed the LORD. And Noe and Nir looked at him, and behold, the badge of priesthood was on his chest, and it was glorious in appearance. And Noe and Nir said, “Behold, God is renewing the priesthood from blood related to us, just as he pleases.” And Noe and Nir hurried, and they washed the child, and they dressed him in the garments of priesthood, and they gave him the holy bread and he ate it. And they called his name Melkisedek. And Noe and Nir lifted up the body of Sopanim, and divested her of the black garments, and they washed her, and they clothed her in exceptionally bright garments, and they built a shrine for her. Noe and Nir and Melkisedek came, and they buried her publicly. And Noe said to his brother Nir, “Look after this child in secret until the time, because people will become treacherous in all the earth, and they will begin to turn away from God, and having become totally ignorant, they will put him to death.” And then Noe went away to his own place. And great lawlessness began to become abundant over all the earth in the days of Nir. And Nir began to worry excessively, especially about the child, saying, “How miserable it is for me, eternal LORD, that in my days all lawlessness has begun to become abundant over the earth. And I realize how much nearer out end is, and over all the earth, on account of the lawlessness of the people. And now, LORD, what is the vision about this child, and what is his destiny, and what will I do for him? Is it possible that he too will be joined with us in the destruction?” And the LORD heeded Nir, and appeared to him in a night vision. He said to him, “Nir, the great lawlessness which has come about on the earth among the multitude which I shall not tolerate. And behold, I desire now to send out a great destruction onto the earth, and everything that stands on the earth shall perish. But, concerning the child, don’t be anxious, Nir; because in a short while I shall send my archistratig, Michael. And he will take the child, and put him in the paradise of Edem, in the Paradise where Adam was formerly for 7 years, having heaven open all the time up until when he sinned. And this child will not perish along with those who are perishing in this generation, as I have revealed it, so that Melkisedek will be the priest to all holy priests, and I will establish him so that he will be the head of the priests of the future.” And Nir arose from his sleep and blessed the LORD who had appeared to him, saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my fathers, who has told me how he has made a great priest in my day, in the womb of Sopanim, my wife. Because I had no child in this tribe who might become the great priest, but this is my son and your servant, and you are the great God. Therefore honor him together with your servants and great priests, with Sit, and Enos, and Rusi, and Amilam, and Prasidam, and Maleleil, and Serokh, and Arusan, and Aleem, and Enoch, and Methusalam, and me, your servant Nir. And behold, Melkisedek will be the head of the 13 priests who existed before. And afterward, in the last generation, there will be another Melkisedek, the first of 12 priests. And the last will be the head of all, a great archpriest, the Word and Power of God, who will perform miracles, greater and more glorious than all the previous ones. He, Melkisedek, will be priest and king in the place Akhuzan, that is to say, in the center of the earth, where Adam was created, and there will be his final grave. And in connection with that archpriest it is written how he also will be buried there, where the center of the earth is, just as Adam also buried his own son there – Abel, whom his brother Cain murdered; for he lay for 3 years unburied, until he saw a bird called Jackdaw, how it buried his own young. I know that great confusion has come and in confusion this generation will come to an end; and everyone will perish, except that Noe, my brother, will be preserved. And afterward there will be a planting from his tribe, and there will be other people, and there will be another Melkisedek, the head of priests reigning over the people, and performing the liturgy for the LORD.”
72And when the child had been 40 days in Nir’s tent, the LORD said to Michael, “Go down onto 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. For the time is approaching, and I will pour out all the water onto the earth, and everything that is on the earth will perish.” Michael hurried, and he came down when it was night, and Nir was sleeping on his bed. And Michael appeared to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Nir! Send the child to me whom I entrusted to you.’ ” And Nir did not realize who was speaking to him, and his heart was confused. And he said, “When the people find out about the child, then they will seize him and kill him, because the heart of these people is deceitful in front of the face of the LORD.” Nir said to the one who was speaking, “The child is not with me, and I don’t know who you are.” And he who was speaking to me answered, “Don’t be frightened, Nir! I am the LORD’s archistrategos. The LORD has sent me, and behold, I shall take your child today. I will go with him and I will place him in the paradise of Eden, and there he will be forever. And when the twelfth generation shall come into being, and there will be one thousand and seventy years, and there will be born in that generation a righteous man. And the LORD will tell him that he should go out to that mountain where stands the ark of Noah, your brother. And he will find there another Melchizedek, who has been living there for 7 years, hiding himself from the people who sacrifice to idols, so that they might not kill him. He will bring him out, and he will be the first priest and king in the city Salem in the style of this Melchizedek, the originator of the priests. The years will be completed up to that time – 3 thousand and 4 hundred and 32 – from the beginning and the creation of Adam. And from that Melchizedek the priests will be 12 in number until the great Igumen, that is to say, Leader, will bring out everything visible and invisible.” And Nir understood the first dream and believed it. And having answered Michael he said, “Blessed be the LORD who has glorified you today for me! And now, bless your servant Nir! For we are coming close to departure from this world. And take the child, and do to him just as the LORD said to you.” And Michael took the child on the same night on which he had come down; and he took him on his wings, and he placed him in the paradise of Eden. And Nir got up in the morning. He went into his tent and he did not find the child. And there was instead of joy very great grief, because he had no other son except this one. Thus Nir ended his life. And after him there was no priest among the people. And from that time great confusion arose on the earth.
73And the LORD called Noah onto Mount Ararat, between Assyria and Armenia, in the land of Arabia, beside the ocean. And he said to him, “Make there an ark with 300 cubits in length and in width 50 cubits and in height 30. And two stories in the middle, and its doors of one cubit. And of their cubits 300, but of ours also 15 thousand; and so of theirs 50, but of ours 2000 and 500, and so of theirs 30, but of ours 900, and of theirs one cubit, but of ours 50.” In agreement with this numeral the Jews keep their measurements of Noah’s ark, just as the LORD said to him, and they carry out all their measurements in the same way, and all their regulations, even up to the present. The LORD God opened the doors of heaven. Rain came onto the earth for 150 days, and all flesh died. And Noah was in the year 500. He fathered 3 sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth. After 100 years, after the birth of his three sons, he went into the ark in the month, according to the Hebrews, Iyar, according to the Egyptians, Famenoth, on the 18th day. And the ark floated for 40 days. And in all they were in the ark for 120 days. And he went into the ark, a son of 600 years, and in the six hundred first year of his life he went out from the ark in the month Farmout according to the Egyptians, but according to the Hebrews Nisan, on the 28th day. After the Flood he lived 350 years, and he died. He lived in all 950 years, according to the LORD our God. And to him be glory, from the beginning and now and until the end of the whole era. Amen.