ETHIOPIC MS. BY THE LATE RICHARD LAURENCE, BISHOP OF CASHEL.
CHAP 59
1. Then another angel, who proceeded with me, spoke to me;
2. And showed me the first and last secrets in heaven above, and in
the depths of the earth:
3. In the extremities of heaven, and in the foundation of it, and in
the receptacle of the winds.
4. He showed me how their spirits were divided; how they were balanced;
and how both the springs and the winds were numbered according to
the force of their spirits.
5. He showed me the power of the moon's light, that its power is a
just one; as well as the divisions of the stars, according to their
respective names;
6. That every division is divided; that the lightning flashes;
7. That its troops immediatly obey; and that a cessation takes place
during thunder in continuance of its sound. Nor are the thunder and
the lightning separated; neither do both of them move with one spirit;
yet are they not separated.
8. For when the lightning lightens, the thunder sounds, and the spirit
at a proper period pauses, making an equal division between them; for
the receptacle, upon which their periods depend, is loose as sand.
Each of them at a proper season is restrained with a bridle; and turned
by the power of the spirit, which thus propels them according to the
spacious extent of the earth.
9. The spirit likewise of the sea is potent and strong; and as a
strong power causes it to ebb, so is it driven forwards, and scattered
against the mountains of the earth. The spirit of the frost has its
angel; in the spirit of hail there is a good angel; the spirit of snow
ceases in its strength, annd a solitary spirit is in it, which ascends
from it like vapour, and is called refrigeration.
10. The spirit also of mist dwells with them in their receptacle; but
it has a receptacle to itself; for its progress is in splendour.
11. In light, and in darkness, in winter and in summer, Its receptacle
is bright, and an angel is in it.
12. The spirit of dew has its abode in the extremities of heaven, in
connection with the receptacle of rain; and its progress is in winter
and in summer. The cloud produced by it, and the cloud of the mist,
become united; one gives to the other; and when the spirit of rain is
in motion from its receptacle, angels come, and opening its receptacle,
bring it forth.
13. When likewise it is sprinkled over all the earth, it forms a union
with every kind of water on the ground; for the waters remain on the
ground, because they afford nourishment to the earth from the Most High,
who is in heaven.
14. Upon this account therefore there is a regulation in the quantity
of rain, which the angels receive.
15. These things I saw; all of them, even paradise.
CHAP 60
1. In those days I bheld long ropes given to those angels; who took
to their wings, and fled, advancing towards the north.
2. And I inquired of the angel , saying, Wherefore have they taken
those long ropes, and gone forth? He said, they are gone forth to
measure.
3. The angel, who proceeded with me, said, These are the measures of
the righteous; and cords shall the righteous bring, that they may
trust in the name of the Lord of spirits for ever and ever.
4. The elect shall begin to dwell with the elect.
5. And these are the measures which shall be given to faith, and
which shall strengthen the words of righteousness.
6. These measures shall reveal all the secrets in the depth of
the earth.
7. And it shall be, that those who have been destroyed in the desert,
and who have been devoured by the fish of the sea, and by wild beasts,
shall return, and trust in the day of the Elect One; for none shall
perish in the presence of the Lord of spirits, nor shall any be capable
of perishing
8. Then they received the commandment, all who were in the heavens
above; to whom a combined power, voice, and splendour, like fire, were
given.
9. And first, with their voice, the blessed him, they exalted him,
they glorified him with wisdom,and ascribed to him wisdom with the
word, and with the breath of life.
10. Then the Lord of spirits seated upon the throne of his glory the
Elect One;
11. Who shall judge all the works of the holy, in heaven above, and
in a balance shall he weigh their actions. And when he shall lift up
his countenance to judge their secret ways in the word of the name of
the Lord of spirits, and their progress in the path of the righteous
judgment of God most high;
12. They shall all speak with united voice; and bless, glorify, exalt,
and praise, in the name of the Lord of spirits
13. He shall call to every power of the heavens, to all the holy above,
and to the power of God. The CHERUBIM, the SERAPHIM, and the OPHANIN,
all the angels of power, and all the angels of the Lords, namely of the
Elect One, and of the other Power, who was upon earth over the water
on that day,
14. Shall raise their united voices ; shall bless, glorify, praise,
and exalt with the spirit of faith, with the spirit of wisdom and
patience, with the spirit of mercy, with the spirit of judgment and
peace, and with the spirit of benevolence; all shall say with united
voice: Blessed is He; and the name of the Lord of spirits shall be
blesses for ever and for ever; all, who sleep not, shall bless it in
heaven above.
15. All the holy in heaven shall bless it; all the elect who dwell in
the garden of life; and every spirit of light, who is capable of
blessing, glorifying, exalting, and praising the holy name; and
every mortal man, more than the powers of heaven, shall glorify and
bless thy name for ever and ever.
16. For great is the mercy of the Lord of spirits; long-suffering
is he; and all his works, all his power, great as are the things
which he has done, has he revealed to the saints and to the elect,
in the name of the Lord of spirits.
CHAP 61
1. Thus the Lord commanded the kings, the princes, the exalted,
and those who dwell on earth, saying, Open your eyes, and lift up
your horns, if you are capable of comprehending the Elect One.
2. The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory.
3. And the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him.
4. The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the
ungodly, who shall perish at his presence.
5. In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and
those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he
is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints
shall be judged in righteousness;
6. And that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken
in vain.
7. Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose
labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and
she finds it difficult to bring forth.
8. One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be
astonished, and shall humble their countenance;
9. And trouble shall seize them, when the shall behold this son of
woman sitting upon the throne of his glory.
10. Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth,
glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed;
for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most
High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect.
11. He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and
all the elect shall stand before him in that day.
12. All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over
the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall
worship him.
13. They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him,
and petition him for mercy.
14. Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his
presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces
shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment,
that vengence may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his
children and his elect. And they shall become aon example to the
saints and to his elect. through them shall these be made joyful;
for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them.
15. Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their
blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the
face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold.
16. The Lord of spirits shall remain over them:
17. And with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and
rise up, for ever and ever.
18. The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left
off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the
garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits,
in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your
glory dimminish.
CHAP 62
1. In those days the kings who possess the earth shall be punished by
the angels of his wrath, wheresover they shall be delivered up, that
he may give rest for a short period; and that thy may fall down and
worship before the Lord of spirits, confessing their sins before him.
2. They shall bless and glorify the Lord of spirits, saying , Blessed
is the Lord of spirits , the Lord of kings , the Lord of princes, the
Lord of the rich, the Lord of glory, and the Lord of wisdom.
3. He shall enlighten every secret thing.
4. Thy power is from generation to generation; and thy glory for ever
and ever.
5. Deep are all thy secrets, and numberless, and thy righteousness
cannot be computed.
6. Now we know, that we should glorify and bless the Lord of kings,
him who is king over all things.
7. They shall also say, Who has granted us rest to glorify, laud,
bless, and confess in the presence of his glory?
8. And now small is the rest we desire; but we do not find it; we
reject, and do not possess it. Light has passed away from before us;
and darkness has covered our thrones for ever,
9. For we have not confessed before him; we have not glorified the
name of the Lord of kings; we have not glorified the Lord in all
his works; but we have trusted in the sceptre of our dominion and of
our glory.
10. In the day of our suffering and of our trouble he will not save
us, neither shall we find rest. We confess that our Lord is faithful
in all his works, in all his judgements, and in his righteousness.
11.In his judgments he pays no respect to persons; and we must depart
from his presence, on account of our evil deeds.
12. All our sins are truly without number.
13. Then shall they say to themselves, Our souls are satiated with
the instruments of crime;
14. But that prevents us not from descending to the flaming womb of hell.
15. Afterwards, their countenances shall be filled with darkness and
confusion before the Son of man; from whose presence they shall be
expelled, and before whom the sword shall remain to expel them.
16. Thus saith the Lord of spirits, This is the decree and the judgment
against the princes, the kings, the exalted, and those who possess
the earth, in the presence of the Lord of spirits.
CHAP 63
1. I saw also other countenances in that secret place. I heard the
voice of an angel, saying, These are the angels who have descended
from heaven to earth, and have revealed secrets to the sons of men,
and have seduced the sons of men to the commission of sin.
