2. She became pregnant by him, and brought forth a child, the flesh of
which was as white as snow, and red as a rose; the hair of whose head
was white like wool, and long; and whose eyes were beautiful. When he
opened them, he illuminated all the house, like the sun; the whole house
abounded with light.
3. And when he was taken from the hand of the midwife, opening also his
mouth, he spoke to the Lord of righteousness. Then Lamech his father was
afraid of him; and flying away came to his own father Mathusala, and
said, I have begotten a son, unlike _to other children_.[301] He is not
human; but, resembling the offspring of the angels of heaven, is of a
different nature _from ours_, being altogether unlike to us.
4. His eyes are _bright_ as the rays of the sun; his countenance
glorious, and he looks not as if he belonged to me, but to the angels.
5. I am afraid, lest something miraculous should take place on earth in
his days.
6. And now, my father, let me entreat and request you to go to our
progenitor Enoch, and to learn from him the truth; for his residence is
with the angels.
7. When Mathusala heard the words of his son, he came to me at the
extremities of the earth; for he had been informed that I was there: and
he cried out.
8. I heard his voice, and went to him saying, Behold, I am _here_, my
son; since thou art come to me.
9. He answered and said, On account of a great event have I come to
thee; and on account of a sight difficult _to be comprehended_ have I
approached thee.
10. And now, my father, hear me; for to my son Lamech a child has been
born, who resembles not him; and whose nature is not like the nature of
man. His colour is whiter than snow; he is redder than the rose; the
hair of his head is whiter than white wool; his eyes are like the rays
of the sun; and when he opened them he illuminated the whole house.
11. When also he was taken from the hand of the midwife, he opened his
mouth, and blessed the Lord of heaven.
12. His father Lamech feared, and fled to me, believing not that _the
child_ belonged to him, but that he resembled the angels of heaven. And
behold I am come to thee, that thou mightest point out to me the truth.
13. Then I, Enoch, answered and said, The Lord will effect a new thing
upon the earth. This have I explained, and seen in a vision. I have
shown thee that _in_ the generations of Jared my father, those who were
from heaven disregarded the word of the Lord. Behold they committed
crimes; laid aside their class, and intermingled with women. With them
also they transgressed; married with them, and begot children.
14. A great destruction therefore shall come upon all the earth; a
deluge, a great destruction, shall take place in one year.
15. This child which is born to you shall survive on the earth, and his
three sons shall be saved with him. When all mankind who are on earth
shall die, he shall be safe.
16. And his posterity shall beget on the earth giants, not spiritual,
but carnal. Upon the earth shall a great punishment be inflicted, and it
shall be washed from all corruption. Now therefore inform thy son
Lamech, that he who is born is his child in truth; and he shall call his
name _Noah_, for he shall be to you a survivor. He and his children
shall be saved from the corruption which shall take place in the world;
from all the sin and from all the iniquity which shall be consummated on
earth in his days. Afterwards shall greater impiety take place than that
which had been before consummated on the earth; for I am acquainted with
holy mysteries, which the Lord himself has discovered and explained to
me; and which I have read in the tablets of heaven.
17. In them I saw it written, that generation after generation shall
transgress, until a righteous race shall arise; until transgression and
crime perish from off the earth; until all goodness come upon it.