ETHIOPIC MS. BY THE LATE RICHARD LAURENCE, BISHOP OF CASHEL.
CHAP 19
1. Then URIEL said, here the angels, who cohabited with women, appointed
their leaders;
2. And being numerous in appearance made men profand, and caused them to
err; so that they sacrificed to devils as to gods. For in the great day
their shall be a judgment, with which they shall be judged, until they
are consumed; and their wives also shall be judged, who led astray the
angels of heaven that they might salute them.
3. And I, ENOCH, I alone saw the likeness of the end of all things. Nor
did any human being see it, as I saw it.
CHAP 20
1. These are the names of the angels who watch.
2. URIEL, one of the holy angels, who presides over clamour and terror.
3. RAPHAEL, one of the holy angels, who presides over the spirits of men.
4. RAGUEL, one of the holy angels, who inflicts punishment on the world
and the luminaries.
5. MICHAEL, one of the holy angels, who, presiding over human virtue,
commands the nations.
6. SARAKIEL, one of the holy angels, who presides over the spirits of
the children of men that transgress.
7. GABRIEL, one of the holy angels, who presides over IKISAT,
(proper name), over paradise, and over the CHERUBIM.
CHAP 21
1. Then I made a circuit to a place in which nothing was completed.
2. And there I beheld neither the tremendous workmanship of an exalted
heaven, nor of an estaablished earth, but a desolate spot, prepared and
terrific.
3. There, too, I beheld seven stars of heaven bound in it together, like
great mountains, and like a blazing fire. I exclaimed, For what species
of crime have they been bound, and why have they been removed to this
place? Then, URIEL, one of the holy angels who was with me, and who
conducted me, answered: ENOCH, wherefore dost thou ask; wherefore reason
with thyself, and anxiously inquire? These are those of the stars which
have transgressed the commandment of the most high GOD; and are here
bound, until the infinite number of the days of their crimes be completed.
4. From thence I afterwards passed on to an other terrific place;
5. Where I beheld the operation of a great fire blazing and glittering,
in the midst of which there was a division. Columns of fire struggled
together to the end of the abyss, and deep was their descent. But neither
its measurement nor magnitude was I able to discover!
6. URIEL, one of the holy angels who was with me , answered and said:
ENOCH, why art thou alarmed and amazed at this terrific place, at the
sight of this place of suffering? This, he said, is the prison of the
angels; And here they are kept for ever.
CHAP 22
1. From thence I proceeded to another spot, where I saw on the west a
great and lofty mountain, a strong rock, and four delightful places.
2. Internally it was deep, capacious, and very smooth; as smooth as if
it had been rolled over: it was both deep and dark to behold.
3. Then RAPHAEL, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered and
said, These are the delightful places where the spirits, the souls of
the dead will be collected; for them were they formed; and here will be
collected all the souls of the sons of men.
4. These places, in which they dwell, shall they occupy until the day of
judgment, and until their appointed period.
5. Their appointed period will be long, even until the great judgment.
And I saw the spirits of the sons of men who were dead; and their voices
reached to heaven, while they were accusing.
6. Then I inquired of RAPHAEL, an angel who was with me, and said, Whose
spirit is that, the voice of which reaches to heaven, and accuses?
7. He answered, saying, This is the spirit of ABEL, who was slain by CAIN
his brother; and who will accuse that brother, until his seed be destroyed
from the face of the earth;
8. Until his seed perish from the seed of the human race.
9. At that time therefore I inquired respecting him, and respecting the
general judgement, saying, Why is one separated from another? He answered,
Three separaations have been made between the spirits of the dead , and
thus have the spirits of the righteous been separated.
10. Namely, by a chasm, by water, and by light above it.
11. And in the same way likewise are sinners separated when they die,
and are buried in the earth; judgment not overtaking them in their lifetime.
12. Here their souls are separated. Moreover, abundant is their suffering
until the time of the great judgment, the castigation, and the torment of
those who eternally execrate, whose souls are punished and bound there
for ever.
13. And thus has it been from the beginning of the world. Thus has there
existed a separation between the souls of those who utter complaints, and
of those who watch for their destruction, to slaughte them in the day of
sinners.
14. A receptacle of this sort has been formed for the souls of unrighteous
men, and of sinners; of those who have completed crime, and associated
with the impious, whom they resemble. Their souls shall not be annihilated
in the day of judgment, meither shall they arise from this place. Then
I blessed God,
15. And said, Blessed be my LORD, the LORD of glory and of righteousness,
who reigns over all for ever and for ever.
CHAP 23
1. From thence I went to another place, towards the west, unto the
extremities of the earth.
2. There I beheld a fire blazing and running along without cessation,
which intermitted its course neither by day nor by night; but continued
always the same.
3. I inquired, saying, What is this, which never ceases?
4. Then RAGUEL, one of the holy angels who were with me, answered,
5. And said, This blazing fire, which thou beholdest running towards
the west, in that of all the luminaries of heaven.
CHAP 24
1. I went from thence to another place, and saw a mountain of fire
flashing both by day and night. I proceeded towards it; and perceived
seven splendid mountains, which were all different from each other
2. Their stones were brilliant and beautiful; all were brilliant and
splended to behold; and beautiful was their surface. Three mountains
were towards the east, and strengthened by being placed one upon another;
and three were towards the south, strengthened in a similar manner. There
were likewise deep valleys wich did not approach each other. And the
seventh mountain was in the midst of them. In length they all resembled
the seat of a throne, and oderiferous trees surrounded them.
3. Among these there was a tree of an unceasing smell; nor of those which
were in EDEN was there one of all the fragrant trees which smelt like
this. Its leaf, its flowers, and its bark never withered, and its fruit
was beautiful.
4. Its fruit resembled the cluster of the palm. I exclaimed, Behold!
this tree is goodly in aspect, pleasing in its leaf, and the sight of
its fruit is delightful to the eye. Then MICHAEL, one of the holy and
glorious angels who were with me, and one who presided over them, answered,
5. And said; ENOCH, why dost thou inquire respecting the odour of this tree?
6. Why art thou inquisitive to know it?
7. Then I, ENOCH , replied to him, and said, Concerning everything I am
desirous of instruction, but particularly concerning this tree.
8. He answered me, saying, That mountain which thou beholdest, the extent
of whose head resembles the seat of the LORD, will be the seat on which
shall sit the holy and great LORD of glory, the everlasting King, when he
shall come and descend to visit the earth with goodness.
9. And that tree of an agreeable smell, not one of carnal odour, there
shall be no power to touch, until the period of the great judgement.
When all shall be punished and consumed for ever, this shall be bestowed
on the righteous and humble. The fruit of this tree shall be given to the
elect. For towards the north life shall be planted in the holy place,
towards the habitation of the everlasting KING.
10. Then shall they greatly rejoice and exult in the Holy One. The sweet
odour shall enter into their bones; and they shall live a long life on
the earth, as thy forefathers have lived; neither in their days shall
sorrows, distress, trouble, and punishment afflict them.
11. And I blessed the Lord of glory, the everlasting King, because He
has prepared this tree for the saints, formed it, and declared that he
would give it to them.
CHAP 25
1. From thence I proceeded to the middle of the earth, and beheld a happy
and fertile spot, which contained branches continually sprouting from the
trees which were planted in it. There I saw a holy mountain, and underneath
it water on the eastern side, which flowed towards the south. I saw also
on the east another mountain as high as that; and between them were deep,
but not wide valleys.
2. Water ran towards the mountain to the west of this; and underneath
there was likewise another mountain .
3. There was a valley, but not a wide one, below it; and in the midst of
them were other deep and dry valleys,which were deep, but not wide,
consisted of a strong rock, with a tree which was planted in them. And
I wondered at the rock and at the valleys, being extremely surprized.
CHAP 26
1. Then I said, What means this blessed land, all these lofty trees,
and the accursed vally between them?
2. Then URIEL, one of the holy angels who were with me, replied, this
valley is the accursed of the accursed for ever. Here shall be collected
all who utter with their mouths unbecoming language against God, and
speak harsh things of His glory. Here shall they be collected. Here
shall be their territory.
3. In the latter days an example of judgement shall be made of them
in righteousness before the saints; while those who have received mercy
shall for ever, all their days, bless God, the everlasting King.
4. And at the period of judgement shall they bless Him for his mercy,
as he has distributed it to them. Then I blessed God, addressing myself
to him, and making mention, as was meet, of His greatness.
