LXV. 1. And in those days Noah saw the earth that it had sunk down and
its destruction was nigh. 2. And he arose from thence and went to the
ends of the earth, and cried aloud to his grandfather Enoch: and Noah
said three times with an embittered voice: ‘Hear me, hear me, hear me.’
3. And I said unto him: ‘Tell me what it is that is falling out on the
earth that the earth is in such evil plight and shaken, lest perchance I
shall perish with it.’ 4. And thereupon there was a great commotion on
the earth, and a voice was heard from heaven, and I fell on my face. 5.
And Enoch my grandfather came and stood by me, and said unto me: ‘Why
hast thou cried unto me with a bitter cry and weeping?
6. And a command has gone forth from the presence of the Lord concerning
those who dwell on the earth that their ruin is accomplished because
they have learnt all the secrets of the angels, and all the violence of
the Satans, and all their powers—the most secret ones—and all the power
of those who practise sorcery, and the power of witchcraft, and the
power of those who make molten images for the whole earth: 7. And how
silver is produced from the dust of the earth, and how soft metal
originates in the earth. 8. For lead and tin are not produced from the
earth like the first: it is a fountain that produces them, and an angel
stands therein, and that angel is pre-eminent.’ 9. And after that my
grandfather Enoch took hold of me by my hand and raised me up, and said
unto me: ‘Go, for I have asked the Lord of Spirits as touching this
commotion on the earth. 10. And He said unto me: “Because of their
unrighteousness their judgement has been determined upon and shall not
be =withheld= by Me for ever. Because of the =sorceries= which they have
searched out and learnt, the earth and those who dwell upon it shall be
destroyed.” 11. And these—they have no =place of repentance= for ever,
because they have shown them what was hidden, and they are the damned:
but as for thee, my son, the Lord of Spirits knows that thou art pure,
and guiltless of this reproach concerning the secrets.
12. And He has destined thy name to be among the holy,
And will preserve thee amongst those who dwell on the earth,
And has destined thy righteous seed both for kingship and for great
honours,
And from thy seed shall proceed a fountain of the righteous and holy
without number for ever.’