23. No angel was capable of penetrating to view the face of Him, the
Glorious and the Effulgent; nor could any mortal behold Him. A fire was
flaming[48] around Him.
24. A fire also of great extent continued to rise up before Him; so that
not one of those who surrounded Him was capable of approaching Him,
among the myriads of myriads who were before Him. To Him holy
consultation was needless.[49] Yet did not the sanctified, who were near
Him, depart far from Him either by night or by day; nor were they
removed from Him. I also was so far advanced, with a veil on my face,
and trembling. Then the Lord with his _own_ mouth called me, saying,
Approach hither, Enoch, at my holy word.
25. And He raised me up, making me draw near even to the entrance. My
eye was directed to the ground.
Footnote 40:
_in all the days of the world._
Footnote 41:
_clouds invited me, and a mist invited me._
Footnote 42:
_the running of the stars._
Footnote 43:
_hastening me._
Footnote 44:
_hail, crystal._
Footnote 45:
_a tongue of fire._
Footnote 46:
_the course of the._
Footnote 47:
_and their heaven_ (i.e. _whose heaven_) was _water_.
Footnote 48:
_A fire of flaming fire._
Footnote 49:
_And he required not holy counsel._