Part 8

31. Thus _in_ the heavens _take place_ the blowings of the winds: all of them have breathings,[159] and _effect_ a complete combination of breathings.

32. There the treasures of thunder are kept, and the splendour of the lightning.

33. There are kept the treasures of hail and of frost, the treasures of snow, the treasures of rain and of dew.

34. All these confess and laud before the Lord of spirits.

35. They glorify with all their power of praise; and he sustains them in all that _act of_ thanksgiving; while they laud, glorify, and exalt the name of the Lord of spirits for ever and ever.

36. And with them he establishes this oath, by which they and their paths are preserved; nor does their progress perish.

37. Great was their joy.

38. They blessed, glorified, and exalted, because the name of the Son of man was revealed to them.

39. He sat upon the throne of his glory; and the principal part of the judgment was assigned to him, the Son of man. Sinners shall disappear and perish from the face of the earth, while those who seduced them shall be bound with chains for ever.

40. According to their ranks of corruption shall they be imprisoned, and all their works shall disappear from the face of the earth; nor thenceforward shall there be any to corrupt; for the Son of man has been seen, sitting on the throne of his glory.

41. Everything wicked shall disappear, and depart from before his face; and the word of the Son of man shall become powerful in the presence of the Lord of spirits.

42. This is the third parable of Enoch.

Footnote 156:

_eats, feeds upon, devours._

Footnote 157:

_male._

Footnote 158:

_by the hands._

Footnote 159:

or _spirits_.

CHAP. LXIX. [SECT. XII.[160]]

1. After this the name of the Son of man, living with the Lord of spirits,[161] was exalted by the inhabitants of the earth.

2. It was exalted in the chariots of the Spirit; and the name went forth in the midst of them.

3. From that time I was not drawn in the midst of them; but he seated me between two spirits, between the north and the west, where the angels received their ropes, to measure out a place[162] for the elect and the righteous.

4. There I beheld the fathers of the first men, and the saints, who dwell in that place for ever.

Footnote 160:

Paris MS.

Footnote 161:

_the name of him living with him, of this Son of man, living with the Lord of spirits._

Footnote 162:

_to measure me a place._

CHAP. LXX.

1. Afterwards my spirit was concealed, ascending into the heavens. I beheld the sons of the holy angels treading on flaming fire, whose garments and robes were white, and whose countenances were transparent as crystal.

2. I saw two rivers of fire glittering like the hyacinth.

3. Then I fell on my face before the Lord of spirits.

4. And Michael, one of the archangels, took me by my right hand, raised me up, and brought me out _to_ where _was_ every secret _of_ mercy and secret _of_ righteousness.

5. He showed me all the hidden things of the extremities of heaven, all the receptacles of the stars, and the splendours of all, from whence they went forth before the face of the holy.

6. And he concealed the spirit of Enoch in the heaven of heavens.

7. There I beheld, in the midst of that light, a building raised with stones of ice;[163]

8. And in the midst of these stones vibrations[164] of living fire. My spirit saw around the circle of[165] this flaming habitation, on one of its extremities, _that there were_ rivers full of living fire, which encompassed it.

9. Then the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and Ophanin surrounded _it_: these are those who never sleep, but watch the throne of his glory.

10. And I beheld angels innumerable, thousands of thousands, and myriads of myriads, who surrounded that habitation.

11. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Phanuel, and the holy angels who were in the heavens above, went in and out of it. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel went out of that habitation, and holy angels innumerable.

12. With them _was_ the Ancient of days, whose head _was_ white as wool, and pure, and his robe _was_ indescribable.

13. Then I fell upon my face, while all my flesh was dissolved, and my spirit became changed.

14. I cried out with a loud voice, with a powerful spirit, blessing, glorifying, and exalting.

15. And those blessings, which proceeded from my mouth, became acceptable in the presence of the Ancient of days.

16. The Ancient of days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, with thousands of thousands, and myriads of myriads, which could not be numbered.

17. Then that angel came to me, and with his voice saluted me, saying, Thou art the offspring of man, who art born for righteousness, and righteousness has rested on thee.

18. The righteousness of the Ancient of days shall not forsake thee.

19. He said, On thee shall he confer peace[166] in the name of the existing world; for from thence has peace gone forth since the world was created.

20. And thus shall it happen to thee for ever and ever.

21. All who shall exist, and who shall walk in thy path of righteousness, shall not forsake thee for ever.

22. With thee shall be their habitations, with thee their lot; nor from thee shall they be separated for ever and ever.

23. And thus shall length of days be with the offspring of man.

24. Peace shall be to the righteous; and the path of integrity shall the righteous pursue,[167] in the name of the Lord of spirits, for ever and ever.

Footnote 163:

_that in it_ there was _that which was built with stones of ice_.

Footnote 164:

_tongues._

Footnote 165:

_around that which encompassed._

Footnote 166:

_he shall call to thee peace._

Footnote 167:

_his upright path_ shall be _to the righteous_.

CHAP. LXXI. [SECT. XIII.[168]]

1. The book of the revolutions of the luminaries of heaven, according to their respective classes, their respective powers, their respective periods, their respective names, the places where they commence their progress,[169] and their respective months, which Uriel, the holy angel who was with me, explained to me; he who conducts them. The whole account of them, according to every year of the world for ever, until a new work shall be effected, which will be eternal.

2. This is the first law of the luminaries. The sun _and_ the light arrive at the gates of heaven, which are on the east, and on the west of it at the western gates of heaven.

3. I beheld the gates whence the sun goes forth; and the gates where the sun sets;

4. In which gates also the moon rises and sets; and _I beheld_ the conductors of the stars, among those who precede them; six _gates were_ at the rising, and six at the setting of the sun.

5. All these respectively, one after another, are on a level; and numerous windows are on the right and on the left sides of those gates.

6. First proceeds forth that great luminary, which is called the sun; the orb of which is as the orb of heaven, the whole of it being replete with splendid and flaming fire.

7. Its chariot, where it ascends, the wind blows.

8. The sun sets in heaven, and, returning by the north, to proceed towards the east, is conducted so as to enter by that gate, and illuminate the face of heaven.

9. In the same manner it goes forth in the first month by a great gate.

10. It goes forth through the fourth of those six gates, which are at the rising of the sun.

11. And in the fourth gate, through which the sun with the moon proceeds, in the first part of it, there are twelve open windows; from which issues out a flame, when they are opened at their proper periods.

12. When the sun rises in heaven, it goes forth through this fourth gate thirty days, and by the fourth gate in the west of heaven on a level with it descends.

13. During that period the day is lengthened from the day, and the night curtailed from the night for thirty days. And then the day is longer by two parts than the night.

14. The day is precisely ten parts, and the night is eight.

15. The sun[170] goes forth through this fourth gate, and sets in it, and turns to the fifth gate during thirty days; after which it proceeds from, and sets in, the fifth gate.

16. Then the day becomes lengthened by a second portion, so that it is eleven parts: while the night becomes shortened, and is only seven parts.

17. The sun _now_ returns to the east, entering into the sixth gate, and rising and setting in the sixth gate thirty-one days, on account of its signs.

18. At that period the day is longer than the night, being twice _as long as_ the night; and becomes twelve parts;

19. But the night is shortened, and becomes six parts. Then the sun rises up, that the day may be shortened, and the night lengthened.

20. And the sun returns towards the east, entering into the sixth gate, where it rises and sets for thirty days.

21. When that period is completed, the day becomes shortened precisely one part, so that it is eleven parts, while the night is seven parts.

22. Then the sun goes from the west, from that sixth gate, and proceeds eastwards, rising in the fifth gate for thirty days, and setting again westwards in the fifth gate of the west.

23. At that period the day becomes shortened two parts; and is ten parts, while the night is eight parts.

24. Then the sun goes from the fifth gate, as it sets in the fifth gate of the west; and rises in the fourth gate for thirty-one days, on account of its signs, setting in the west.

25. At that period the day is made equal with the night; and, being equal with it, the night becomes nine parts, and the day nine parts.

26. Then the sun goes from that gate, as it sets in the west; and returning to the east proceeds by the third gate for thirty days, setting in the west at the third gate.

27. At that period the night is lengthened from the day during thirty mornings, and the day is curtailed from the day during thirty days; the night being ten parts precisely, and the day eight parts.

28. The sun now goes from the third gate, as it sets in the third gate in the west; but returning to the east, it proceeds by the second gate of the east for thirty days.

29. In like manner also it sets in the second gate in the west of heaven.

30. At that period the night is eleven parts, and the day seven parts.

31. Then the sun goes at that time from the second gate, as it sets in the second gate in the west; but returns to the east, _proceeding_ by the first gate, for thirty-one days.

32. And sets in the west in the first[171] gate.

33. At that period the night is lengthened as much again as the day.

34. It is twelve[172] parts precisely, while the day is six parts.

35. The sun has _thus_ completed its beginnings, and a second time goes round from these beginnings.

36. Into that gate it enters for thirty days, and sets in the west, in the opposite part _of heaven_.

37. At that period the night is contracted in its length a fourth part, that is, one portion, and becomes eleven parts.

38. The day is seven parts.

39. Then the sun returns, and enters into the second gate of the east.

40. It returns by these beginnings thirty days, rising and setting.

41. At that period the night is contracted in its length. It becomes ten[173] parts, and the day eight parts. Then the sun goes from that second gate, and sets in the west; but returns to the east, and rises in the east, in the third gate, thirty-one days, setting in the west of heaven.

42. At that period the night becomes shortened. It is nine parts. And the night is equal with the day. The year is precisely three hundred and sixty-four days.

43. The lengthening of the day and night, and the contraction of the day and night, are made to differ from each other by the progress of the sun.

44. By means of this progress the day is daily lengthened, and the night greatly shortened.[174]

45. This is the law and progress of the sun, and its turning when it turns back, turning during sixty days,[175] and going forth. This is the great everlasting luminary, that which he names the sun for ever and ever.

46. This also is that which goes forth a great luminary, and which is named after its peculiar kind, as God commanded.

47. And thus it goes in and out, neither slackening nor resting; but running on in its chariot by day and by night. It shines with a seventh portion of light from the moon; but the dimensions of both are equal.

Footnote 168:

Paris MS.

Footnote 169:

_the places of their nativity._

Footnote 170:

_And he._

Footnote 171:

_second._ A manifest error. The Paris MS. is correct.

Footnote 172:

_eleven._ A mistake of the transcriber. In the Paris MS. it is _twelve_.

Footnote 173:

_seven._ Another error.

Footnote 174:

_approaches._

Footnote 175:

That is, it is sixty days in the same gates, viz. thirty days twice every year.

CHAP. LXXII. [SECT. XIV.[176]]

1. After this law I beheld another law of an inferior luminary, the name of which is the moon, and the orb of which is as the orb of heaven.

2. Its chariot, _which_ it secretly ascends, the wind blows; and light is given to it by measure.

3. Every month at its exit and entrance it becomes changed; and its periods are as the periods of the sun. And when in like manner its light is to exist, its light is a seventh portion from the light of the sun.

4. Thus it rises, and at its commencement towards the east goes forth for thirty days.

5. At that time it appears, and becomes to you the beginning of the month. Thirty days _it is_ with the sun in the gate from which the sun goes forth.

6. Half of it is in extent seven portions, one _half_; and the whole of its orb is void of light, except a seventh portion out of the fourteen portions of its light. And in a day it receives a seventh portion, or half _that portion_, of its light. Its light is by sevens, by one portion, and by the half _of a portion_. It sets with the sun.

7. And when the sun rises, the moon rises with it; receiving half a portion of light.

8. On that night, when it commences its period,[177] previously to the day of the month, the moon sets with the sun.

9. And on that night it is dark _in_ its fourteen portions, that is, _in each_ half; but it rises on that day with one seventh portion precisely, and in its progress declines from the rising of the sun.

10. During the remainder of its period[178] its light increases to fourteen portions.

Footnote 176:

Paris MS.

Footnote 177:

_at the beginning of its morning_, or _day_.

Footnote 178:

_of its day._

CHAP. LXXIII.

1. Then I saw another progress and regulation which He effected in the law of the moon.[179] The progress of the moons, and everything _relating to them_, Uriel showed me, the holy angel who conducted them all.

2. Their stations I wrote down as he showed them to me.

3. I wrote down their months, as they occur, and the appearance of their light, until it is completed in fifteen days.

4. In each of its two seven portions it completes all its light at rising and at setting.

5. On stated months it changes _its_ settings; and on stated months it makes its progress _through_ each _gate_. In two _gates_ the moon sets with the sun, _viz._ in those two gates which are in the midst, in the third and fourth gate. _From the third gate_ it goes forth for seven days, and makes its circuit.

6. Again it returns to the gate whence the sun goes forth, and in that completes the whole of its light. Then it declines from the sun, and enters in eight days into the sixth gate, _and returns in seven days to the third gate_, from which the sun goes forth.

7. When the sun proceeds to the fourth gate, the _moon_ goes forth for seven days, until it passes from the fifth _gate_.

8. Again it returns in seven days to the fourth gate, and completing all its light, declines, and passes on by the first gate in eight days;

9. And returns in seven days to the fourth gate, from which the sun goes forth.

10. Thus I beheld their stations, as according to the fixed order of the months the sun rises and sets.

11. At those times there is an excess of thirty days belonging to the sun in five years; all the days belonging to each year of the five years, when completed, amount to three hundred and sixty-four days; and to the sun and stars belong six days; six days in each of the five years; _thus_ thirty days belong to them;

12. So that the moon has thirty days less than the sun and stars.

13. The moon brings on all the years exactly, that their stations may come neither too forwards nor too backwards a single day; but that the years may be changed with correct precision in three hundred and sixty-four days. In three years the days are one thousand and ninety-two; in five years they are one thousand eight hundred and twenty; and in eight years two thousand nine hundred and twelve days.

14. To the moon alone belong in three years one thousand and sixty-two days; in five years it has fifty days less _than the sun_, for an addition being made to the _one thousand and_ sixty-two days, in five years there are one thousand seven hundred and seventy days; and the days of the moon in eight years are two thousand eight hundred and thirty-two days.

15. For its days in eight years are less _than those of the sun by_ eighty days, which eighty days are its diminution in eight years.

16. The year then becomes truly complete according to the station of the moons, and the station of the sun; which rise in the _different_ gates; which rise and set in them for thirty days.

Footnote 179:

_in that law._

CHAP. LXXIV.

1. _These are_ the leaders of the chiefs of the thousands, _those_ which _preside_ over all creation, and over all the stars; with the four _days_ which are added and never separated from the place allotted them, according to the complete computation of the year.

2. And these serve four days, which are not computed in the computation of the year.

3. Respecting them, men greatly err, for these luminaries truly serve, in the mansion of the world, one _day_ in the first gate, one in the third gate, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth gate.

4. And the harmony of the world becomes complete every three hundred and sixty-fourth state of it. For the signs,

5. The seasons,

6. The years,

7. And the days, Uriel showed me; the angel whom the Lord of glory appointed over all the luminaries.

8. Of heaven in heaven, and in the world; that they might rule in the face of the sky, and appearing over the earth, become

9. Conductors of the days and nights: the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the ministers of heaven, which make their circuit with all the chariots of heaven.

10. Thus Uriel showed me twelve gates open for the circuit of the chariots of the sun in heaven, from which the rays of the sun shoot forth.

11. From these proceed heat over the earth, when they are opened in their stated seasons. They are for the winds, and the spirit of the dew, when in their seasons they are opened; opened in heaven at _its_ extremities.

12. Twelve gates I beheld in heaven, at the extremities of the earth, through which the sun, moon, and stars, and all the works of heaven, proceed at their rising and setting.

13. Many windows also are open on the right and on the left.

14. One window at a _certain_ season grows extremely hot. So also are there gates from which the stars go forth as they are commanded, and in which they set according to their number.

15. I saw likewise the chariots of heaven, running in the world above to those gates in which the stars turn, which never set. One of these is greater than all, which goes round the whole world.

CHAP. LXXV. [SECT. XV.[180]]

1. And at the extremities of the earth I beheld twelve gates open for all the winds, from which they proceed and blow over the earth.

2. Three of them are open in the front of heaven, three in the west, three on the right side of heaven, and three on the left. The first three are those which are towards the east, three are towards the north, three behind those which are upon the left, towards the south, and three on the west.

3. From four of them proceed winds of blessing, and of health; and from eight proceed winds of punishment; when they are sent to destroy the earth, and the heaven above it, all its inhabitants, and all which are in the waters, or on dry land.

4. The first of these winds proceeds from the gate termed the eastern, through the first gate on the east, which inclines southwards. From this goes forth destruction, drought, heat, and perdition.

5. From the second gate, the middle one, proceeds equity. There issue from it rain, fruitfulness, health, and dew; and from the third gate northwards, proceed cold and drought.

6. After these proceed the south winds through three principal gates; through their first gate, which inclines eastwards, proceeds a hot wind.

7. But from the middle gate proceed grateful odour, dew, rain, health, and life.

8. From the third gate, which is westwards, proceed dew, rain, blight, and destruction.

9. After these are the winds to the north, which is called the sea. _They proceed_ from three gates. The first[181] gate _is that_ which is on the east, inclining southwards; from this proceed dew, rain, blight, and destruction. From the middle direct gate proceed rain, dew, life, and health. And from the third gate, which is westwards, inclining towards the south,[182] proceed mist, frost, snow, rain, dew, and blight.

10. After these _in the_ fourth _quarter_ are the winds to the west. From the first gate, inclining northwards, proceed dew, rain, frost, cold, snow, and chill; from the middle gate proceed rain, health, and blessing;

11. And from the last gate, which is southwards, proceed drought, destruction, scorching, and perdition.

12. The _account of the_ twelve gates of the four quarters of heaven is ended.

13. All their laws, all their _infliction_ of punishment, and the health _produced_ by them, have I explained to thee, my son Mathusala.

Footnote 180:

Paris MS.

Footnote 181:

_seventh._ Perhaps the seventh which had been enumerated.

Footnote 182:

_the north._ An error in both MSS.

CHAP. LXXVI.

1. The first wind is called the eastern, because it is the first.

2. The second is called the south, because the Most High there descends, and frequently there descends _he who_ is blessed for ever.

3. The western wind has the name of diminution, because there all the luminaries of heaven are diminished, and descend.

4. The fourth wind, which is named the north, is divided into three parts; one of which is for the habitation of man; another for seas of water, with valleys, woods, rivers, shady places, and snow; and the third part _contains_ paradise.

5. Seven high mountains I beheld, higher than all the mountains of the earth, from which frost proceeds; while days, seasons, and years depart and pass away.

6. Seven rivers I beheld upon earth, greater than all rivers, one of which takes its course from the west; into a great sea its water flows.

7. Two come from the north to the sea, their waters flowing into the Erythræan sea, on the east. And with respect to the remaining four, they take their course in the cavity of the north, _two_ to their sea, the Erythræan sea, and two are poured into a great sea, where also it is said _there is_ a desert.

8. Seven great islands I saw in the sea and on the earth. Seven in the great sea.

CHAP. LXXVII.

1. The names of the sun are these: one Aryares, the other Tomas.

2. The moon has four names. The first is Asonya; the second, Ebla; the third, Benase; and the fourth, Erae.

3. These are the two great luminaries, whose orbs are as the orbs of heaven; and the dimensions of both are equal.