1. In those days Noah saw that the earth became inclined, and that
destruction approached.
2. Then he lifted up his feet, and went to the ends of the earth, to the
dwelling of his great-grandfather Enoch.
3. And Noah cried with a bitter voice, Hear me; hear me; hear me: three
times. And he said, Tell me what is transacting upon earth; for the
earth labours, and is violently shaken. Surely I shall perish with it.
4. After this there was a great perturbation on earth, and a voice was
heard from heaven. I fell down on my face, when my great-grandfather
Enoch came and stood by me.
5. He said to me, Why hast thou cried out to me with a bitter cry and
lamentation?
6. A commandment has gone forth from the Lord against those who dwell on
the earth, that they may be destroyed;[136] for they know every secret
of the angels, every oppressive and secret power of the devils,[137] and
every power of those who commit sorcery, as well as of those who make
molten _images_ in the whole earth.
7. _They know_ how silver is produced from the dust of the earth, and
how on the earth the _metallic_ drop exists; for lead and tin are not
produced from earth, as the primary fountain of their production.
8. There is an angel standing upon it, and that angel struggles to
prevail.
9. Afterwards my great-grandfather Enoch seized me with his hand,
raising me up, and saying to me, Go, for I have asked the Lord of
spirits respecting this perturbation of the earth; who replied, On
account of their impiety have their innumerable judgments been
consummated before me. Respecting the moons have they inquired, and they
have known that the earth will perish with those who dwell upon it, and
that to these there will be _no place of_ refuge for ever.
10. They have discovered secrets, and _they are_ those who have been
judged; but not thou, my son. The Lord of spirits knows that thou art
pure and good, _free_ from the reproach of _discovering_ secrets.
11. He, the holy One, will establish thy name in the midst of the
saints, and will preserve thee from those who dwell upon the earth. He
will establish thy seed in righteousness, with dominion and great
glory;[138] and from thy seed shall spring forth[139] righteous and holy
men without number for ever.
Footnote 135:
Chapters lxiv. lxv. lxvi. and the first verse of lxvii. evidently
contain a vision of Noah, and not of Enoch.
Footnote 136:
_their end may be._
Footnote 137:
_the Satans._
Footnote 138:
_for kings, and for great glory._
Footnote 139:
_shall go forth a spring of._