1. In that place I beheld a fountain of righteousness, which never
failed, encircled by many springs of wisdom. Of these all the thirsty
drank, and were filled with wisdom, having their habitation with the
righteous, the elect, and the holy.
2. In that hour was this Son of man invoked before the Lord of spirits,
and his name in the presence of the Ancient of days.
3. Before the sun and the signs were created, before the stars of heaven
were formed, his name was invoked in the presence of the Lord of
spirits. A support shall he be for the righteous and the holy to lean
upon, without falling; and he shall be the light of nations.
4. He shall be the hope of those whose hearts are troubled. All, who
dwell on earth, shall fall down and worship before him; shall bless and
glorify him, and sing praises to the name of the Lord of spirits.
5. Therefore the Elect and the Concealed One existed in his presence,
before the world was created, and for ever.
6. In his presence _he existed_, and has revealed to the saints and to
the righteous the wisdom of the Lord of spirits; for he has preserved
the lot of the righteous, because they have hated and rejected this
world of iniquity, and have detested all its works and ways, in the name
of the Lord of spirits.
7. For in his name shall they be preserved; and his will shall be their
life. In those days shall the kings of the earth and the mighty men, who
have gained the world by their achievements,[102] become humble in
countenance.
8. For in the day of their anxiety and trouble their souls shall not be
saved; and _they shall be_ in subjection to[103] those whom I have
chosen.
9. I will cast them like hay into the fire, and like lead into the
water. Thus shall they burn in the presence of the righteous, and sink
in the presence of the holy; nor shall a tenth part of them be found.
10. But in the day of their trouble, the world shall obtain
tranquillity.[104]
11. In his presence shall they fall, and not be raised up again; nor
shall there be any one to take them out of his hands, and to lift them
up: for they have denied the Lord of spirits, and his Messiah. The name
of the Lord of spirits shall be blessed.
Footnote 102:
_by the work of their own hands._
Footnote 103:
_in the hand of._
Footnote 104:
_rest shall be on earth._