1 Enoch (Ethiopic) Parallel Translations

LXV

1,2And in those days Noah saw the earth that it had sunk down and its destruction was nigh. And he arose from thence and went to the ends of the earth, and cried aloud to his grandfather Enoch: 3and Noah said three times with an embittered voice: 'Hear me, hear me, hear me.' 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 4and shaken, lest perchance I shall perish with it?' And thereupon there was a great commotion , on the earth, and a voice was heard from heaven, and I fell on my face. 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?

6And 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 practice sorcery, and the power of witchcraft, and the power of those who make molten images 7for the whole earth: And how silver is produced from the dust of the earth, and how soft metal 8originates in the earth. For lead and tin are not produced from the earth like the first: it is a fountain 9that produces them, and an angel stands therein, and that angel is pre-eminent.' 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 10asked the Lord of Spirits as touching this commotion on the earth. 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 11who dwell upon it shall be destroyed." 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.

12And 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.

64

(57)

(57) Chapters 64, 65, 66 and the first verse of 67 evidently contain a vision of Noah and not of Enoch (Laurence, p. 78).

64:1 In those days Noah saw that the earth became inclined, and that destruction approached.

64:2 Then he lifted up his feet, and went to the ends of the earth, to the dwelling of his great-grandfather Enoch.

64:3 And Noah cried with a bitter voice, Hear me; hear me; hear me: three times. And he said, Tell me what is transacting upon the earth; for the earth labours, and is violently shaken. Surely I shall perish with it.

64:4 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.

64:5 He said to me, Why have you cried out to me with a bitter cry and lamentation?

64:6 A commandment has gone forth from the Lord against those who dwell on the earth, that they may be destroyed; for they know every secret of the angels, every oppressive and secret power of the devils, (58) and every power of those who commit sorcery, as well as of those who make molten [images] in the whole earth.

(58) The devils. Literally, "the Satans" (Laurence, p. 78).

64:7 [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.

64:8 There is an angel standing upon it, and that angel struggles to prevail.

64:9 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, (59) and that to these there will be [no place of] refuge for ever.

(59) Respecting the moons…dwell upon it. Or, "Because of the sorceries which they have searched out and learnt, the earth and those who dwell upon it will be destroyed" (Knibb, p. 155).

64:10 They have discovered secrets, and [they are] those who have been judged; but not you my son. The Lord of spirits knows that you are pure and good, [free] from the reproach of [discovering] secrets.

64:11 He, the holy One, will establish your name in the midst of the saints, and will preserve you from those who dwell upon the earth. He will establish your seed in righteousness, with dominion and great glory; (60) and from your seed shall spring forth righteousness and holy men without number for ever.

(60) With dominion…glory. Literally, "for kings, and for great glory" (Laurence, p. 79).