1 Enoch (Ethiopic) Parallel Translations

LXXXIX

LXXXIX.1-9. THE DELUGE AND THE DELIVERANCE OF NOAH.

1And one of those four went to that white bull and instructed him in a secret, without his being terrified: he was born a bull and became a man, and built for himself a great vessel and dwelt thereon; 2and three bulls dwelt with him in that vessel and they were covered in. And again I raised mine eyes towards heaven and saw a lofty roof, with seven water torrents thereon, and those torrents 3flowed with much water into an enclosure. And I saw again, and behold fountains were opened on the surface of that great enclosure, and that water began to swell and rise upon the surface, 4and I saw that enclosure till all its surface was covered with water. And the water, the darkness, and mist increased upon it; and as I looked at the height of that water, that water had risen above the height of that enclosure, and was streaming over that enclosure, and it stood upon the earth. 5And all the cattle of that enclosure were gathered together until I saw how they sank and were 6swallowed up and perished in that water. But that vessel floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and camels and asses sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could no longer 7see them, and they were not able to escape, [but] perished and sank into the depths. And again I saw in the vision till those water torrents were removed from that high roof, and the chasms 8of the earth were leveled up and other abysses were opened. Then the water began to run down into these, till the earth became visible; but that vessel settled on the earth, and the darkness 9retired and light appeared. But that white bull which had become a man came out of that vessel, and the three bulls with him, and one of those three was white like that bull, and one of them was red as blood, and one black: and that white bull departed from them.

LXXXIX.10-27. FROM THE DEATH OF NOAH TO THE EXODUS.

10And they began to bring forth beasts of the field and birds, so that there arose different genera: lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, hyenas, wild boars, foxes, squirrels, swine, falcons, vultures, kites, 11eagles, and ravens; and among them was born a white bull. And they began to bite one another; but that white bull which was born amongst them begat a wild ass and a white bull with it, and the 12wild asses multiplied. But that bull which was born from him begat a black wild boar and a white 13sheep; and the former begat many boars, but that sheep begat twelve sheep. And when those twelve sheep had grown, they gave up one of them to the asses, and those asses again gave up that sheep 14to the wolves, and that sheep grew up among the wolves. And the Lord brought the eleven sheep to live with it and to pasture with it among the wolves: and they multiplied and became many 15flocks of sheep. And the wolves began to fear them, and they oppressed them until they destroyed their little ones, and they cast their young into a river of much water: but those sheep began to 16cry aloud on account of their little ones, and to complain unto their Lord. And a sheep which had been saved from the wolves fled and escaped to the wild asses; and I saw the sheep how they lamented and cried, and besought their Lord with all their might, till that Lord of the sheep descended 17at the voice of the sheep from a lofty abode, and came to them and pastured them. And He called that sheep which had escaped the wolves, and spake with it concerning the wolves that it should 18admonish them not to touch the sheep. And the sheep went to the wolves according to the word of the Lord, and another sheep met it and went with it, and the two went and entered together into the assembly of those wolves, and spake with them and admonished them not to touch the 19sheep from henceforth. And thereupon I saw the wolves, and how they oppressed the sheep 20exceedingly with all their power; and the sheep cried aloud. And the Lord came to the sheep and they began to smite those wolves: and the wolves began to make lamentation; but the sheep became 21quiet and forthwith ceased to cry out. And I saw the sheep till they departed from amongst the wolves; but the eyes of the wolves were blinded, and those wolves departed in pursuit of the sheep 22with all their power. And the Lord of the sheep went with them, as their leader, and all His sheep 23followed Him: and his face was dazzling and glorious and terrible to behold. But the wolves 24began to pursue those sheep till they reached a sea of water. And that sea was divided, and the water stood on this side and on that before their face, and their Lord led them and placed Himself between 25them and the wolves. And as those wolves did not yet see the sheep, they proceeded into the midst of that sea, and the wolves followed the sheep, and {those wolves} ran after them into that sea. 26And when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to flee before His face, but that sea gathered itself together, and became as it had been created, and the water swelled and rose till it covered 27those wolves. And I saw till all the wolves who pursued those sheep perished and were drowned.

LXXXIX.28-40. ISRAEL IN THE DESERT, THE GIVING OF THE LAW, THE ENTRANCE INTO PALESTINE.

28But the sheep escaped from that water and went forth into a wilderness, where there was no water and no grass; and they began to open their eyes and to see; and I saw the Lord of the sheep 29pasturing them and giving them water and grass, and that sheep going and leading them. And that 30sheep ascended to the summit of that lofty rock, and the Lord of the sheep sent it to them. And after that I saw the Lord of the sheep who stood before them, and His appearance was great and 31terrible and majestic, and all those sheep saw Him and were afraid before His face. And they all feared and trembled because of Him, and they cried to that sheep with them {which was amongst 32them}: 'We are not able to stand before our Lord or to behold Him.' And that sheep which led them again ascended to the summit of that rock, but the sheep began to be blinded and to wander 33from the way which he had showed them, but that sheep wot not thereof. And the Lord of the sheep was wrathful exceedingly against them, and that sheep discovered it, and went down from the summit of the rock, and came to the sheep, and found the greatest part of them blinded and fallen 34away. And when they saw it they feared and trembled at its presence, and desired to return to their 35folds. And that sheep took other sheep with it, and came to those sheep which had fallen away, and began to slay them; and the sheep feared its presence, and thus that sheep brought back those 36sheep that had fallen away, and they returned to their folds. And I saw in this vision till that sheep became a man and built a house for the Lord of the sheep, and placed all the sheep in that house. 37And I saw till this sheep which had met that sheep which led them fell asleep: and I saw till all the great sheep perished and little ones arose in their place, and they came to a pasture, and 38approached a stream of water. Then that sheep, their leader which had become a man, withdrew 39from them and fell asleep, and all the sheep sought it and cried over it with a great crying. And I saw till they left off crying for that sheep and crossed that stream of water, and there arose the two sheep as leaders in the place of those which had led them and fallen asleep [lit. 'had fallen asleep and led 40them']. And I saw till the sheep came to a goodly place, and a pleasant and glorious land, and I saw till those sheep were satisfied; and that house stood amongst them in the pleasant land.

LXXXIX.41-50. FROM THE TIME OF THE JUDGES TO THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

41And sometimes their eyes were opened, and sometimes blinded, till another sheep arose and led them and brought them all back, and their eyes were opened. 42And the dogs and the foxes and the wild boars began to devour those sheep till the Lord of the sheep raised up {another sheep} a ram from their 43midst, which led them. And that ram began to butt on either side those dogs, foxes, and wild 44boars till he had destroyed them all. And that sheep whose eyes were opened saw that ram, which was amongst the sheep, till it forsook its glory and began to butt those sheep, and trampled upon them, and behaved itself 45unseemly. And the Lord of the sheep sent the lamb to another lamb and raised it to being a ram and leader of the sheep instead of that 46ram which had forsaken its glory. And it went to it and spake to it alone, and raised it to being a ram, and made it the prince and leader of the sheep; but during all these things those dogs 47oppressed the sheep. And the first ram pursued that second ram, and that second ram arose and fled before it; and I saw till those dogs pulled 48down the first ram. And that second ram arose 49and led the {little} sheep. And those sheep grew and multiplied; but all the dogs, and foxes, and wild boars feared and fled before it, and that ram butted and killed the wild beasts, and those wild beasts had no longer any power among the 48bsheep and robbed them no more of ought. And that ram begat many sheep and fell asleep; and a little sheep became ram in its stead, and became prince and leader of those sheep. 50And that house became great and broad, and it was built for those sheep: [and] a tower lofty and great was built on the house for the Lord of the sheep, and that house was low, but the tower was elevated and lofty, and the Lord of the sheep stood on that tower and they offered a full table before Him.

LXXXIX.51-67. THE TWO KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

51And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, 52but the sheep began to slay them. And one of them was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it from 53the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there. And many other sheep He sent 54to those sheep to testify unto them and lament over them. And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of the Lord and His tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw the Lord of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until 55those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place. And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild 56beasts, and those wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep. And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, 57into the hand of all the wild beasts. And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to the Lord of the sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured 58by all the wild beasts. But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts. 59And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: 'Let each individual of you pasture the sheep 60henceforward, and everything that I shall command you that do ye. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed-and them destroy ye.' And 61He gave over unto them those sheep. And He called another and spake unto him: 'Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than 62I have commanded them. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record [namely] how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he 63effects. And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a testimony against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my 64command which I have commanded them. But they shall not know it, and thou shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which 65the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.' And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered 66those sheep into the hand of the lions. And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep, and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished 67that house. And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house.

LXXXIX.68-71. FIRST PERIOD OF THE ANGELIC RULERS -FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM TO THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY.

68And the shepherds and their associates delivered over those sheep to all the wild beasts, to devour them, and each one of them received in his time a definite number: it was written by the other 69in a book how many each one of them destroyed of them. And each one slew and destroyed many 70more than was prescribed; and I began to weep and lament on account of those sheep. And thus in the vision I saw that one who wrote, how he wrote down every one that was destroyed by those shepherds, day by day, and carried up and laid down and showed actually the whole book to the Lord of the sheep-[even] everything that they had done, and all that each one of them had made 71away with, and all that they had given over to destruction. And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and He took the book from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down.

LXXXIX.72-77. SECOND PERIOD -FROM THE TIME OF CYRUS TO THAT OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

72And forthwith I saw how the shepherds pastured for twelve hours, and behold three of those sheep turned back and came and entered and began to build up all that had fallen down of that 73house; but the wild boars tried to hinder them, but they were not able. And they began again to build as before, and they reared up that tower, and it was named the high tower; and they began again to place a table before the tower, but all the bread on it was polluted and not pure. 74And as touching all this the eyes of those sheep were blinded so that they saw not, and [the eyes of] their shepherds likewise; and they delivered them in large numbers to their shepherds for 75destruction, and they trampled the sheep with their feet and devoured them. And the Lord of the sheep remained unmoved till all the sheep were dispersed over the field and mingled with them [i.e. the 76beasts], and they [i.e. the shepherds] did not save them out of the hand of the beasts. And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it before the Lord of the sheep, and implored Him on their account, and besought Him on their account as he showed Him all the doings 77of the shepherds, and gave testimony before Him against all the shepherds. And he took the actual book and laid it down beside Him and departed.

88

88:1 Then one of those four went to the white cows, and taught them a mystery. While the cow was trembling, it was born, and became a man, (98) and fabricated for himself a large ship. In this he dwelt, and three cows (99) dwelt with him in that ship, which covered them.

(98) Noah.
(99) Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

88:2 Again I lifted up my eyes towards heaven, and saw a lofty roof. Above it were seven cataracts, which poured fourth on a certain village much water.

88:3 Again I looked, and behold there were fountains open on the earth in that large village.

88:4 The water began to boil up, and rose over the earth; so that the village was not seen, while its whole soil was covered with water.

88:5 Much water was over it, darkness, and clouds. Then I surveyed the height of this water; and it was elevated above the village.

88:6 It flowed over the village, and stood higher than the earth.

88:7 Then all the cows which were collected there, while I looked on them, were drowned, swallowed up, and destroyed in the water.

88:8 But the ship floated above it. All the cows, the elephants, the camels, and the asses, were drowned on the earth, and all cattle. Nor could I perceive them. Neither were they able to get out, but perished, and sunk into the deep.

88:9 Again I looked in the vision until those cataracts from that lofty roof were removed, and the fountains of the earth became equalized, while other depths were opened;

88:10 Into which the water began to descend, until the dry ground appeared.

88:11 The ship remained on the earth; the darkness receded; and it became light.

88:12 Then the white cow, which became a man, went out of the ship, and the three cows with him.

88:13 One of the three cows was white, resembling that cow; one of them was red as blood; and one of them was black. And the white cow left them.

88:14 Then began wild beasts and birds to bring forth.

88:15 Of all these the different kinds assembled together, lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, and the hanzar.

88:16 The siset, the avest, kites, the phonkas, and ravens.

88:17 Then the white cow (100) was born in the midst of them.

(100) Abraham.

88:18 And they began to bite each other; when the white cow, which was born in the midst of them, brought forth a wild ass and a white cow at the same time, and [after that] many wild asses. Then the white cow, (101) which was born, brought forth a black wild sow and a white sheep. (102)

(101) Isaac.
(102) Esau and Jacob.

88:19 That wild sow also brought forth many swine.

88:20 And that sheep brought forth twelve sheep. (103)

(103) The twelve patriarchs.

88:21 When those twelve sheep grew up, they delivered one of them (104) to the asses. (105)

(104) Joseph.
(105) The Midianites.

88:22 Again those asses delivered that sheep to the wolves, (106)

(106) The Egyptians.

88:23 And he grew up in the midst of them.

88:24 Then the Lord brought the eleven [other] sheep, that they might dwell and feed with him in the midst of the wolves.

88:25 They multiplied, and there was abundance of pasture for them.

88:26 But the wolves began to frighten and oppress them, while they destroyed their young ones.

88:27 And they left their young in torrents of deep water.

88:28 Now the sheep began to cry out on account of their young, and fled for refuge to their Lord. One (107) however, which was saved, escaped, and went away to the wild asses.

(107) Moses.

88:29 I beheld the sheep moaning, crying, and petitioning their Lord.

88:30 With all their might, until the Lord of the sheep descended at their voice from [his] lofty habitation; went to them; and inspected them.

88:31 He called to that sheep which had secretly stolen away from the wolves, and told him to make the wolves understand that they were not to touch the sheep.

88:32 Then that sheep went to the wolves with the word of the Lord, when another met him, (108) and proceeded with him.

(108) Aaron.

88:33 Both of them together entered the dwelling of the wolves; and conversing with them made them understand, that thenceforwards they were not to touch the sheep.

88:34 Afterwards I perceived the wolves greatly prevailing over the sheep with their whole force. The sheep cried out; and their Lord came to them.

88:35 He began to strike the wolves, who commenced a grievous lamentation; but the sheep were silent, nor from that time did they cry out.

88:36 I then looked at them, until they departed from the wolves. The eyes of the wolves were blind, who went out and followed them with all their might. But the Lord of the sheep proceeded with them, and conducted them.

88:37 All his sheep followed him.

88:38 His countenance [was] terrific and splendid, and glorious was his aspect. Yet the wolves began to follow the sheep, until they overtook them in a certain lake of water. (109)

(109) The Red Sea.

88:39 Then that lake became divided; the water standing up on both sides before their face.

88:40 And while their Lord was conducting them, he placed himself between them and the wolves.

88:41 The wolves however perceived not the sheep, but went into the midst of the lake, following them, and running after them into the lake of water.

88:42 But when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to fly from before his face.

88:43 Then the water of the lake returned, and that suddenly, according to its nature. It became full, and was raised up, until it covered the wolves. And I saw that all of them which had followed the sheep perished, and were drowned.

88:44 But the sheep passed over this water, proceeding to a wilderness, which was without both water and grass. And they began to open their eyes and to see.

88:45 Then I beheld the Lord of the sheep inspecting them, and giving them water and grass.

88:46 The sheep [already mentioned] was proceeding [with them], and conducting them.

88:47 And when he had ascended the top of the lofty rock, the Lord of the sheep sent him to them.

88:48 Afterwards I perceived their Lord standing before them, with an aspect terrific and severe.

88:49 And when they all beheld him, they were frightened at his countenance.

88:50 All of them were alarmed, and trembled. They cried out after that sheep; and to the other sheep who had been with him, and who was in the midst of them, [saying], We are not able to stand before our Lord, or to look upon him.

88:51 Then that sheep who conducted them went away, and ascended the top of the rock;

88:52 When the [rest of the] sheep began to grow blind, and to wander from the path which he had shown them; but he knew it not.

88:53 Their Lord however was moved with great indignation against them; and when that sheep had learned [what had happened],

88:54 He descended from the top of the rock, and coming to them, found that there were many,

88:55 Which had become blind;

88:56 And had wandered from his path. As soon as they beheld him, they feared, and trembled at his presence;

88:57 And became desirous of returning to their fold,

88:58 Then that sheep, taking with him other sheep, went to those which had wandered.

88:59 And afterwards began to kill them. They were terrified at his countenance. Then he caused those which had wandered to return; who went back to their fold.

88:60 I likewise saw there in the vision, that this sheep became a man, built a house (110) for the Lord of the sheep, and made them all stand in the house.

(110) A house. A tabernacle (Milik, p. 205).

88:61 I perceived also that the sheep which proceeded to meet this sheep, their conductor, died. I saw, too, that all the great sheep perished, while smaller ones rose up in their place, entered into a pasture, and approached a river of water. (111)

(111) The river Jordan.

88:62 Then that sheep, their conductor, who became a man, was separated from them, and died.

88:63 All the sheep sought after him, and cried for him with bitter lamentation.

88:64 I saw likewise that they ceased to cry after that sheep, and passed over the river of water.

88:65 And that there arose other sheep, all of whom conducted them, (112) instead of those who were dead, and who had [previously] conducted them.

(112) The Judges of Israel.

88:66 Then I saw that the sheep entered into a goodly place, and a territory delectable and glorious.

88:67 I saw also that they became satiated; that their house was in the midst of a delectable territory; and that sometimes their eyes were opened, and that sometimes they were blind; until another sheep (113) arose and conducted them. He brought them all back; and their eyes were opened.

(113) Samuel.

88:68 Then dogs, foxes, and wild boars began to devour them, until [again] another sheep (114) arose, the master of the flock, one of themselves, a ram, to conduct them. This ram began to butt on every side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars, until they all perished.

(114) Saul.

88:69 But the [former] sheep opened his eyes, and saw the ram in the midst of them, who had laid aside his glory.

88:70 And he began to strike the sheep, treading upon them, and behaving himself without dignity.

88:71 Then their Lord sent the [former] sheep [again] to a still different sheep, (115) and raised him up to be a ram, and to conduct them instead of that sheep who had laid aside his glory.

(115) David.

88:72 Going therefore to him, and conversing with him alone, he raised up that ram, and made him a prince and leader of the flock. All the time that the dogs (116) troubled the sheep,

(116) The Philistines.

88:73 The first ram paid respect to this latter ram.

88:74 Then the latter ram arose, and fled away from before his face. And I saw that those dogs caused the first ram to fall.

88:75 But the latter ram arose, and conducted the smaller sheep.

88:76 That ram likewise begat many sheep, and died.

88:77 Then there was a smaller sheep, (117) a ram, instead of him, which became a prince and leader, conducting the flock.

(117) Solomon.

88:78 And the sheep increased in size, and multiplied.

88:79 And all the dogs, foxes, and wild boars feared, and fled away from him.

88:80 That ram also struck and killed all the wild beasts, so that they could not again prevail in the midst of the sheep, nor at any time ever snatch them away.

88:81 And that house was made large and wide; a lofty tower being built upon it by the sheep, for the Lord of the sheep.

88:82 The house was low, but the tower was elevated and very high.

88:83 Then the Lord of the sheep stood upon that tower, and caused a full table to approach before him.

88:84 Again I saw that those sheep wandered, and went various ways, forsaking that their house;

88:85 And that their Lord called to some among them, whom he sent (118) to them.

(118) The prophets.

88:86 But these the sheep began to kill. And when one of them was saved from slaughter (119) he leaped, and cried out against those who were desirous of killing him.

(119) Elijah.

88:87 But the Lord of the sheep delivered him from their hands, and made him ascend to him, and remain with him.

88:88 He sent also many others to them, to testify, and with lamentations to exclaim against them.

88:89 Again I saw, when some of them forsook the house of their Lord, and his tower; wandering on all sides, and growing blind,

88:90 I saw that the Lord of the sheep made a great slaughter among them in their pasture, until they cried out to him in consequence of that slaughter. Then he departed from the place [of his habitation], and left them in the power of lions, tigers, wolves, and the zeebt, (120) and in the power of foxes, and of every beast.

(120) Zeebt. Hyenas. (Knibb, p. 209).

88:91 And the wild beasts began to tear them.

88:92 I saw, too, that he forsook the house of their fathers, and their tower; giving them all into the power of lions to tear and devour them; into the power of every beast.

88:93 Then I began to cry out with all my might, imploring the Lord of the sheep, and showing him how the sheep were devoured by all the beasts of prey.

88:94 But he looked on in silence, rejoicing that they were devoured, swallowed up, and carried off; and leaving them in the power of every beast for food. He called also seventy shepherds, and resigned to them [the care of] the sheep, that they might overlook them;

88:95 Saying to them and to their associates, Every one of you henceforwards overlook the sheep, and whatsoever I command you, do; and I will deliver [them] to you numbered.

88:96 I will tell you which of them shall be slain; these destroy. And he delivered the sheep to them.

88:97 Then he called to another, and said, Understand, and watch everything which the shepherds shall do to these sheep; for many more of them shall perish than I have commanded.

88:98 Of every excess and slaughter, which the shepherds shall commit, [there shall be] an account; as, how many may have perished by my command, and how many they may have destroyed of their own heads.

88:99 Of all the destruction [brought about by] each of the shepherds there shall be an account; and according to the number I will cause a recital to be made before me, how many they have destroyed of their own heads, and how many they have delivered up to destruction, that I may have this testimony against them; that I may know all their proceedings; and that, delivering [the sheep] to them, I may see what they will do; whether they will act as I have commanded them, or not.

88:100 [Of this], however, they shall be ignorant; neither shall you make any explanation to them, neither shall you reprove them; but there shall be an account of all the destruction [done] by them in their respective seasons. Then they began to kill, and destroy more than it was commanded them.

88:101 And they left the sheep in the power of the lions, so that very many of them were devoured and swallowed up by lions and tigers; and wild boars preyed upon them. That tower they burnt, and overthrew that house.

88:102 Then I grieved extremely on account of the tower, and because the house of the sheep was overthrown.

88:103 Neither was I afterwards able to perceive whether they [again] entered that house.

88:104 The shepherds likewise, and their associates, delivered them to all the wild beasts, that they might devour them. Each of them in his season, according to his number, was delivered up; each of them, one with another, was described in a book, how many of them, one with another, were destroyed, in a book.

88:105 More, however, than was ordered, every [shepherd] killed and destroyed.

88:106 Then I began to weep, and was greatly indignant, on account of the sheep.

88:107 In like manner also I saw in the vision him who wrote, how he wrote down one, destroyed by the shepherds, every day. He ascended, remained, and exhibited each of his books to the Lord of the sheep, [containing] all which they had done, and all which each of them had made away with;

88:108 And all which they had delivered up to destruction.

88:109 He took the book up in his hands, read it, sealed it, and deposited it.

88:110 After this, I saw shepherds overlooking for twelve hours.

88:111 And behold three of the sheep (121) departed, arrived, went in; and began building all which was fallen down of that house.

(121) Zerubbabel, Joshua, and Nehemiah.

88:112 But the wild boars (122) hindered them, although they prevailed not.

(122) The Samaritans.

88:113 Again they began to build as before, and raised up that tower, which was called a lofty tower.

88:114 And again they began to place before the tower a table, with every impure and unclean kind of bread upon it.

88:115 Moreover also all the sheep were blind, and could not see, as were the shepherds likewise.

88:116 Thus were they delivered up to the shepherds for a great destruction, who trod them under foot, and devoured them.

88:117 Yet was their Lord silent, until all the sheep in the field were destroyed. The shepherds and the sheep were all mixed together; but they did not save them from the power of the beasts.

88:118 Then he who wrote the book ascended, exhibited it, and read it at the residence of the Lord of the sheep. He petitioned him for them, and prayed, pointing out every act of the shepherds, and testifying before him against them all. Then taking the book, he deposited it with him, and departed.