LXXVI. 1. And at the ends of the earth I saw twelve portals open to all
the =quarters= (of the heaven), from which the winds go forth and blow
over the earth. 2. Three of them are open on the face (_i. e._ the east)
of the heavens, and three in the west, and three on the right (_i. e._
the south) of the heaven, and three on the left (_i. e._ the north). 3.
And the three first are those of the east, and three are of †the north,
and three [after those on the left] of the south†, and three of the
west. 4. Through four of these come winds of blessing and prosperity,
and from those eight come hurtful winds: when they are sent, they bring
destruction on all the earth and on the water upon it, and on all who
dwell thereon, and on everything which is in the water and on the land.
5. And the first wind from those portals, called the east wind, comes
forth through the first portal which is in the east, inclining towards
the south: from it come forth desolation, drought, heat, and
destruction. 6. And through the second portal in the middle comes what
is fitting, and from it there come rain and fruitfulness and prosperity
and dew; and through the third portal which lies toward the north come
cold and drought.
7. And after these come forth the south winds through three portals:
through the first portal of them inclining to the east comes forth a hot
wind. 8. And through the middle portal next to it there come forth
fragrant smells, and dew and rain, and prosperity and health. 9. And
through the third portal lying to the west come forth dew and rain,
locusts and desolation.
10. And after these the north winds: from the seventh portal in the east
come dew and rain, locusts and desolation. 11. And from the middle
portal come in a direct direction health and rain and dew and
prosperity; and through the third portal in the west come cloud and
hoar-frost, and snow and rain, and dew and locusts.
12. And after these [four] are the west winds: through the first portal
adjoining the north come forth dew and hoar-frost, and cold and snow and
frost. 13. And from the middle portal come forth dew and rain, and
prosperity and blessing; and through the last portal which adjoins the
south come forth drought and desolation, and burning and destruction.
14. And the twelve portals of the four =quarters= of the heaven are
therewith completed, and all their laws and all their plagues and all
their benefactions have I shown to thee, my son Methuselah.
LXXVII. _The Four Quarters of the World: the Seven Mountains, the Seven
Rivers, &c._
LXXVII. 1. And the first =quarter= is called the east, because it is the
first: and the second, the south, because the Most High =will descend=
there, yea, there in quite a special sense will He who is blessed for
ever =descend=. 2. And the west =quarter= is named the diminished,
because there all the luminaries of the heaven wane and go down. 3. And
the fourth =quarter=, named the north, is divided into three parts: the
first of them is for the dwelling of men: and the second contains seas
of water, and the abysses and forests and rivers, and darkness and
clouds; and the third part contains the garden of righteousness.
4. I saw seven high mountains, higher than all the mountains which are
on the earth: and thence comes forth hoar-frost, and days, seasons, and
years pass away. 5. I saw seven rivers on the earth larger than all the
rivers: one of them coming from the †west† pours its waters into the
Great Sea. 6. And these two come from the north to the sea and pour
their waters into the Erythraean Sea in the east. 7. And the remaining
four come forth on the side of the north to their own sea, ‹two of them
to› the Erythraean Sea, and two into the Great Sea and discharge
themselves there [and some say: into the desert]. 8. Seven great islands
I saw in the sea and in the mainland: two in the mainland and five in
the Great Sea.