1. There I beheld the Ancient of days,[97] whose head was like white
wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of man. His
countenance was full of grace, like _that of_ one of the holy angels.
Then I inquired of one of the angels,[98] who went with me, and who
showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was;
whence he was; and why he accompanied the Ancient of days.
2. He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom
righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will
reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of
spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed[99] all before the
Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
3. This Son of man, whom thou beholdest, shall raise up kings and the
mighty from their couches, and the powerful from their thrones; shall
loosen the bridles of the powerful, and break in pieces the teeth of
sinners.
4. He shall hurl kings from their thrones and their dominions; because
they will not exalt and praise him, nor humble themselves _before him_,
by whom[100] their kingdoms were granted to them. The countenance
likewise of the mighty shall He cast down, filling them with confusion.
Darkness shall be their habitation, and worms shall be their bed; nor
from _that_ their bed shall they hope to be again raised, because they
exalted not the name of the Lord of spirits.
5. They shall condemn the stars of heaven, shall lift up their hands
against the Most High, shall tread upon and inhabit the earth,
exhibiting all their works of iniquity, even their works of iniquity.
Their strength shall be in their riches, and their faith in the gods
whom they have formed with their own hands. They shall deny the name of
the Lord of spirits, and shall expel him from the temples, in which they
assemble;
6. And _with him_ the faithful, who suffer in the name of the Lord of
spirits.
Footnote 97:
_The Chief_ or _Head of days_, Dan. vii. 9.
Footnote 98:
The words, _Then I inquired of one of the angels_, are omitted in the
Bodleian MS. They occur in the Paris MS.
Footnote 99:
_conquered._
Footnote 100:
_from whence._