1 The book of the courses of the luminaries of the heaven,
the relations of each, according to their classes, their
dominion and their seasons, according to their names and
places of origin, and according to their months, which
Uriel, the holy angel, who was with me, who is their guide,
showed me; and he showed me all their laws exactly as they
are, and how it is with regard to all the years of the
world 2 and unto eternity, till the new creation is
accomplished which dureth till eternity. And this is the
first law of the luminaries: the luminary the Sun has its
rising in the eastern portals of the heaven, 3 and its
setting in the western portals of the heaven. And I saw six
portals in which the sun rises, and six portals in which
the sun sets and the moon rises and sets in these portals,
and the leaders of the stars and those whom they lead: six
in the east and six in the west, and all following each
other 4 in accurately corresponding order: also many
windows to the right and left of these portals. And first
there goes forth the great luminary, named the Sun, and his
circumference is like the 5 circumference of the heaven,
and he is quite filled with illuminating and heating fire.
The chariot on which he ascends, the wind drives, and the
sun goes down from the heaven and returns through the north
in order to reach the east, and is so guided that he comes
to the appropriate (lit. ' that ') portal and 6
shines in the face of the heaven. In this way he rises in
the first month in the great portal, which 7 is the fourth
[those six portals in the cast]. And in that fourth portal
from which the sun rises in the first month are twelve
window-openings, from which proceed a flame when they are
opened in 8 their season. When the sun rises in the heaven,
he comes forth through that fourth portal thirty, 9
mornings in succession, and sets accurately in the fourth
portal in the west of the heaven. And during this period
the day becomes daily longer and the night nightly shorter
to the thirtieth 10 morning. On that day the day is longer
than the night by a ninth part, and the day amounts exactly
to ten parts and the night to eight parts. And the sun
rises from that fourth portal, and sets in the fourth and
returns to the fifth portal of the east thirty mornings,
and rises from it and sets in the fifth 12 portal. And then
the day becomes longer by two parts and amounts to eleven
parts, and the night 13 becomes shorter and amounts to
seven parts. And it returns to the east and enters into the
sixth 14 portal, and rises and sets in the sixth portal
one-and-thirty mornings on account of its sign. On that day
the day becomes longer than the night, and the day becomes
double the night, and the day 15 becomes twelve parts, and
the night is shortened and becomes six parts. And the sun
mounts up to make the day shorter and the night longer, and
the sun returns to the east and enters into the 16 sixth
portal, and rises from it and sets thirty mornings. And
when thirty mornings are accomplished, 17 the day decreases
by exactly one part, and becomes eleven parts, and the
night seven. And the sun goes forth from that sixth portal
in the west, and goes to the east and rises in the fifth
portal for 18 thirty mornings, and sets in the west again
in the fifth western portal. On that day the day decreases
by two parts, and amounts to ten parts and the night to
eight parts. And the sun goes forth from that fifth portal
and sets in the fifth portal of the west, and rises in the
fourth portal for one- 20 and-thirty mornings on account of
its sign, and sets in the west. On that day the day is
equalized with the night, [and becomes of equal length],
and the night amounts to nine parts and the day to 21 nine
parts. And the sun rises from that portal and sets in the
west, and returns to the east and rises 22 thirty mornings
in the third portal and sets in the west in the third
portal. And on that day the night becomes longer than the
day, and night becomes longer than night, and day shorter
than day till the thirtieth morning, and the night amounts
exactly to ten parts and the day to eight 23 parts. And the
sun rises from that third portal and sets in the third
portal in the west and returns to the east, and for thirty
mornings rises 24 in the second portal in the east, and in
like manner sets in the second portal in the west of the
heaven. And on that day the night amounts to eleven 25
parts and the day to seven parts. And the sun rises on that
day from that second portal and sets in the west in the
second portal, and returns to the east into the first
portal for one-and-thirty 26 mornings, and sets in the
first portal in the west of the heaven. And on that day the
night becomes longer and amounts to the double of the day:
and the night amounts exactly to twelve parts and 27 the
day to six. And the sun has (therewith) traversed the
divisions of his orbit and turns again on those divisions
of his orbit, and enters that portal thirty mornings and
sets also in the west 28 opposite to it. And on that night
has the night decreased in length by a ninth part, and the
night 29 has become eleven parts and the day seven parts.
And the sun has returned and entered into the second portal
in the east, and returns on those his divisions of his
orbit for thirty mornings, rising 30 and setting. And on
that day the night decreases in length, and the night
amounts to ten parts 31 and the day to eight. And on that
day the sun rises from that portal, and sets in the west,
and returns to the east, and rises in the third portal for
one-and-thirty mornings, and sets in the west of the
heaven. 32 On that day the night decreases and amounts to
nine parts, and the day to nine parts, and the night 33 is
equal to the day and the year is exactly as to its days
three hundred and sixty-four. And the length of the day and
of the night, and the shortness of the day and of the night
arise-through the course 34 of the sun these distinctions
are made (lit. ' they are separated '). So it comes
that its course becomes 35 daily longer, and its course
nightly shorter. And this is the law and the course of the
sun, and his return as often as he returns sixty times and
rises, i.e. the great luminary which is named the sun, for
ever and ever. And that which (thus) rises is the great
luminary, and is so named according to 37 its appearance,
according as the Lord commanded. As he rises, so he sets
and decreases not, and rests not, but runs day and night,
and his light is sevenfold brighter than that of the moon;
but as regards size they are both equal.
[Chapter 73]
1 And after this law I saw another law dealing with the
smaller luminary, which is named the Moon. And her
circumference is like the circumference of the heaven,
and her chariot in which she rides is driven by the wind,
and light is given to her in (definite) measure. And her
rising and setting change every month: and her days are
like the days of the sun, and when her light is uniform
(i.e. full) it amounts to the seventh part of the light
of the sun. And thus she rises. And her first phase in
the east comes forth on the thirtieth morning: and on
that day she becomes visible, and constitutes for you the
first phase of the moon on the thirtieth day together
with the sun in the portal where the sun rises. And the
one half of her goes forth by a seventh part, and her
whole circumference is empty, without light, with the
exception of one-seventh part of it, (and) the 6
fourteenth part of her light. And when she receives
one-seventh part of the half of her light, her light 7
amounts to one-seventh part and the half thereof. And she
sets with the sun, and when the sun rises the moon rises
with him and receives the half of one part of light, and
in that night in the beginning of her morning [in the
commencement of the lunar day] the moon sets with the
sun, and 8 is invisible that night with the fourteen
parts and the half of one of them. And she rises on that
day with exactly a seventh part, and comes forth and
recedes from the rising of the sun, and in her remaining
days she becomes bright in the (remaining) thirteen
parts.
[Chapter 74]
1 And I saw another course, a law for her, (and) how
according to that law she performs her monthly 2
revolution. And all these Uriel, the holy angel who is
the leader of them all, showed to me, and their
positions, and I wrote down their positions as he showed
them to me, and I wrote down their months 3 as they were,
and the appearance of their lights till fifteen days were
accomplished. In single seventh parts she accomplishes
all her light in the east, and in single seventh parts
accomplishes all her 4 darkness in the west. And in
certain months she alters her settings, and in certain
months she pursues 5 her own peculiar course. In two
months the moon sets with the sun: in those two middle
portals the 6 third and the fourth. She goes forth for
seven days, and turns about and returns again through the
portal where the sun rises, and accomplishes all her
light: and she recedes from the sun, and in eight 7 days
enters the sixth portal from which the sun goes forth.
And when the sun goes forth from the fourth portal she
goes forth seven days, until she goes forth from the
fifth and turns back again in seven days into the fourth
portal and accomplishes all her light: and she recedes
and enters into the 8 first portal in eight days. And she
returns again in seven days into the fourth portal from
which the 9, 10 sun goes forth. Thus I saw their position
-how the moons rose and the sun set in those days. And if
five years are added together the sun has an overplus of
thirty days, and all the days which accrue 11 to it for
one of those five years, when they are full, amount to
364 days. And the overplus of the sun and of the stars
amounts to six days: in 5 years 6 days every year come to
30 days: and the 12 moon falls behind the sun and stars
to the number of 30 days. And the sun and the stars bring
in all the years exactly, so that they do not advance or
delay their position by a single day unto eternity; but
complete the years with perfect justice in 364 days. In 3
years there are 1,092 days, and in 5 years 1,820 days, so
that in 8 years there are 2,912 days. For the moon alone
the days amount in 3 years to 1,062 days, and in 5 years
she falls 50 days behind: [i.e. to the sum (of 1,770)
there is 5 to be added (1,000 and) 62 days.] And in 5
years there are 1,770 days, so that for the moon the days
6 in 8 years amount to 21,832 days. [For in 8 years she
falls behind to the amount of 80 days], all the 17 days
she falls behind in 8 years are 80. And the year is
accurately completed in conformity with their
world-stations and the stations of the sun, which rise
from the portals through which it (the sun) rises and
sets 30 days.
[Chapter 75]
1 And the leaders of the heads of the thousands, who are
placed over the whole creation and over all the stars,
have also to do with the four intercalary days, being
inseparable from their office, according to the reckoning
of the year, and these render service on the four days
which are not 2 reckoned in the reckoning of the year.
And owing to them men go wrong therein, for those
luminaries truly render service on the world-stations,
one in the first portal, one in the third portal of the
heaven, one in the fourth portal, and one in the sixth
portal, and the exactness of the year is 3 accomplished
through its separate three hundred and sixty-four
stations. For the signs and the times and the years and
the days the angel Uriel showed to me, whom the Lord of
glory hath set for ever over all the luminaries of the
heaven, in the heaven and in the world, that they should
rule on the face of the heaven and be seen on the earth,
and be leaders for the day and the night, i.e. the sun,
moon, and stars, and all the ministering creatures which
make their revolution in all the chariots 4 of the
heaven. In like manner twelve doors Uriel showed me, open
in the circumference of the sun's chariot in the
heaven, through which the rays of the sun break forth:
and from them is warmth 5 diffused over the earth, when
they are opened at their appointed seasons. [And for the
winds and 6 the spirit of the dew when they are opened,
standing open in the heavens at the ends.] As for the
twelve portals in the heaven, at the ends of the earth,
out of which go forth the sun, moon, and stars, 7 and all
the works of heaven in the east and in the west, There
are many windows open to the left and right of them, and
one window at its (appointed) season produces warmth,
corresponding (as these do) to those doors from which the
stars come forth according as He has commanded them, 8
and wherein they set corresponding to their number. And I
saw chariots in the heaven, running 9 in the world, above
those portals in which revolve the stars that never set.
And one is larger than all the rest, and it is that that
makes its course through the entire world.
[Chapter 76]
1 And at the ends of the earth I saw twelve portals open
to all the quarters (of the heaven), from 2 which the
winds go forth and blow over the earth. 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 3 three on the left (i.e. the
north). And the three first are those of the east, and
three are of the 4 north, and three [after those on the
left] of the south, and three of the west. 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, 6 and destruction. 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 8 them inclining to the east comes forth a hot
wind. And through the middle portal next to it there 9
come forth fragrant smells, and dew and rain, and
prosperity and health. 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. 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. 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. 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.
[Chapter 77]
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 2 descend. And the
west quarter is named the diminished, because there all
the luminaries of the 3 heaven wane and go down. 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 5 comes forth hoar-frost,
and days, seasons, and years pass away. 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 7 east.
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: 8 into the desert]. Seven great
islands I saw in the sea and in the mainland: two in the
mainland and five in the Great Sea.
[Chapter 78]
1, 2 And the names of the sun are the following: the
first Orjares, and the second Tomas. And the moon has
four names: the first name is Asonja, the second Ebla,
the third Benase, and the fourth 3 Erae. These are the
two great luminaries: their circumference is like the
circumference of the 4 heaven, and the size of the
circumference of both is alike. In the circumference of
the sun there are seven portions of light which are added
to it more than to the moon, and in definite measures it
is s transferred till the seventh portion of the sun is
exhausted. And they set and enter the portals of the
west, and make their revolution by the north, and come
forth through the eastern portals 6 on the face of the
heaven. And when the moon rises one-fourteenth part
appears in the heaven: 7 [the light becomes full in her]:
on the fourteenth day she accomplishes her light. And
fifteen parts of light are transferred to her till the
fifteenth day (when) her light is accomplished, according
to the sign of the year, and she becomes fifteen parts,
and the moon grows by (the addition of) fourteenth 8
parts. And in her waning (the moon) decreases on the
first day to fourteen parts of her light, on the second
to thirteen parts of light, on the third to twelve, on
the fourth to eleven, on the fifth to ten, on the sixth
to nine, on the seventh to eight, on the eighth to seven,
on the ninth to six, on the tenth to five, on the
eleventh to four, on the twelfth to three, on the
thirteenth to two, on the 9 fourteenth to the half of a
seventh, and all her remaining light disappears wholly on
the fifteenth. And 10 in certain months the month has
twenty-nine days and once twenty-eight. And Uriel showed
me another law: when light is transferred to the moon,
and on which side it is transferred to her by the sun.
During all the period during which the moon is growing in
her light, she is transferring it to herself when
opposite to the sun during fourteen days [her light is
accomplished in the heaven, 12 and when she is illumined
throughout, her light is accomplished full in the heaven.
And on the first 13 day she is called the new moon, for
on that day the light rises upon her. She becomes full
moon exactly on the day when the sun sets in the west,
and from the east she rises at night, and the moon shines
the whole night through till the sun rises over against
her and the moon is seen over against the sun. On the
side whence the light of the moon comes forth, there
again she wanes till all the light vanishes and all the
days of the month are at an end, and her circumference is
empty, void of 5 light. And three months she makes of
thirty days, and at her time she makes three months of
twenty- nine days each, in which she accomplishes her
waning in the first period of time, and in the first 6
portal for one hundred and seventy-seven days. And in the
time of her going out she appears for three months (of)
thirty days each, and for three months she appears (of)
twenty-nine each. At night she appears like a man for
twenty days each time, and by day she appears like the
heaven, and there is nothing else in her save her light.
[Chapter 79]
1 And now, my son, I have shown thee everything, and the
law of all the stars of the heaven is 2 completed. And he
showed me all the laws of these for every day, and for
every season of bearing rule, and for every year, and for
its going forth, and for the order prescribed to it every
month 3 and every week: And the waning of the moon which
takes place in the sixth portal: for in this 4 sixth
portal her light is accomplished, and after that there is
the beginning of the waning: (And the waning) which takes
place in the first portal in its season, till one hundred
and seventy-seven 5 days are accomplished: reckoned
according to weeks, twenty-five (weeks) and two days. She
falls behind the sun and the order of the stars exactly
five days in the course of one period, and when 6 this
place which thou seest has been traversed. Such is the
picture and sketch of every luminary which Uriel the
archangel, who is their leader, showed unto me.
[Chapter 80]
1 And in those days the angel Uriel answered and said to
me: ' Behold, I have shown thee everything, Enoch,
and I have revealed everything to thee that thou shouldst
see this sun and this moon, and the leaders of the stars
of the heaven and all those who turn them, their tasks
and times and departures.
2 And in the days of the sinners the years shall be
shortened,
And their seed shall be tardy on their lands and
fields,
And all things on the earth shall alter,
And shall not appear in their time:
And the rain shall be kept back
And the heaven shall withhold (it).
3 And in those times the fruits of the earth shall be
backward,
And shall not grow in their time,
And the fruits of the trees shall be withheld in their
time.
4 And the moon shall alter her order,
And not appear at her time.
5 [And in those days the sun shall be seen and he
shall journey in the evening on the extremity of the
great chariot in the west]
And shall shine more brightly than accords with the
order of light.
6 And many chiefs of the stars shall transgress the
order (prescribed).
And these shall alter their orbits and tasks,
And not appear at the seasons prescribed to them.
7 And the whole order of the stars shall be concealed
from the sinners,
And the thoughts of those on the earth shall err
concerning them,
[And they shall be altered from all their ways],
Yea, they shall err and take them to be gods.
8 And evil shall be multiplied upon them,
And punishment shall come upon them So as to destroy
all.'
[Chapter 81]
1 And he said unto me:
' Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets,
And read what is written thereon,
And mark every individual fact.'
2 And I observed the heavenly tablets, and read
everything which was written (thereon) and understood
everything, and read the book of all the deeds of
mankind, and of all the children of flesh 3 that shall
be upon the earth to the remotest generations. And
forthwith I blessed the great Lord the King of glory
for ever, in that He has made all the works of the
world,
And I extolled the Lord because of His patience,
And blessed Him because of the children of men.
4 And after that I said:
' Blessed is the man who dies in righteousness and
goodness,
Concerning whom there is no book of unrighteousness
written,
And against whom no day of judgement shall be
found.'
5 And those seven holy ones brought me and placed me
on the earth before the door of my house, and said to
me: ' Declare everything to thy son Methuselah, and
show to all thy children that no 6 flesh is righteous
in the sight of the Lord, for He is their Creator. One
year we will leave thee with thy son, till thou givest
thy (last) commands, that thou mayest teach thy
children and record (it) for them, and testify to all
thy children; and in the second year they shall take
thee from their midst.
7 Let thy heart be strong,
For the good shall announce righteousness to the good;
The righteous with the righteous shall rejoice,
And shall offer congratulation to one another.
8 But the sinners shall die with the sinners,
And the apostate go down with the apostate.
9 And those who practice righteousness shall die on
account of the deeds of men,
And be taken away on account of the doings of the
godless.'
10 And in those days they ceased to speak to me, and I
came to my people, blessing the Lord of the world.
[Chapter 82]
1 And now, my son Methuselah, all these things I am
recounting to thee and writing down for thee! and I have
revealed to thee everything, and given thee books
concerning all these: so preserve, my son Methuselah, the
books from thy father's hand, and (see) that thou
deliver them to the generations of the world.
2 I have given Wisdom to thee and to thy children,
[And thy children that shall be to thee],
That they may give it to their children for
generations,
This wisdom (namely) that passeth their thought.
3 And those who understand it shall not sleep,
But shall listen with the ear that they may learn this
wisdom,
And it shall please those that eat thereof better than
good food.
4 Blessed are all the righteous, blessed are all those
who walk In the way of righteousness and sin not as the
sinners, in the reckoning of all their days in which
the sun traverses the heaven, entering into and
departing from the portals for thirty days with the
heads of thousands of the order of the stars, together
with the four which are intercalated which divide the
four portions of the year, which 5 lead them and enter
with them four days. Owing to them men shall be at
fault and not reckon them in the whole reckoning of the
year: yea, men shall be at fault, and not recognize
them 6 accurately. For they belong to the reckoning of
the year and are truly recorded (thereon) for ever, one
in the first portal and one in the third, and one in
the fourth and one in the sixth, and the year is
completed in three hundred and sixty-four days. 7 And
the account thereof is accurate and the recorded
reckoning thereof exact; for the luminaries, and months
and festivals, and years and days, has Uriel shown and
revealed to me, to whom the 8 Lord of the whole
creation of the world hath subjected the host of
heaven. And he has power over night and day in the
heaven to cause the light to give light to men -sun,
moon, and stars, 9 and all the powers of the heaven
which revolve in their circular chariots. And these are
the orders of the stars, which set in their places, and
in their seasons and festivals and months. 10 And these
are the names of those who lead them, who watch that
they enter at their times, in their orders, in their
seasons, in their months, in their periods of dominion,
and in their positions. Their four leaders who divide
the four parts of the year enter first; and after them
the twelve leaders of the orders who divide the months;
and for the three hundred and sixty (days) there are
heads over thousands who divide the days; and for the
four intercalary days there are the leaders which
sunder 12 the four parts of the year. And these heads
over thousands are intercalated between 13 leader and
leader, each behind a station, but their leaders make
the division. And these are the names of the leaders
who divide the four parts of the year which are
ordained: Milki'el, Hel'emmelek, and
Mel'ejal, 14 and Narel. And the names of those who
lead them: Adnar'el, and Ijasusa'el, and
'Elome'el- these three follow the leaders of
the orders, and there is one that follows the three
leaders of the orders which follow those leaders of
stations that divide the four parts of the year. In the
beginning of the year Melkejal rises first and rules,
who is named Tam'aini and sun, and 16 all the days
of his dominion whilst he bears rule are ninety-one
days. And these are the signs of the days which are to
be seen on earth in the days of his dominion: sweat,
and heat, and calms; and all the trees bear fruit, and
leaves are produced on all the trees, and the harvest
of wheat, and the rose-flowers, and all the flowers
which come forth in the field, but the trees of the
winter season become withered. And these are the names
of the leaders which are under them: Berka'el,
Zelebs'el, and another who is added a head of a
thousand, called Hilujaseph: and the days of the
dominion of this (leader) are at an end. 18 The next
leader after him is Hel'emmelek, whom one names the
shining sun, and all the days 19 of his light are
ninety-one days. And these are the signs of (his) days
on the earth: glowing heat and dryness, and the trees
ripen their fruits and produce all their fruits ripe
and ready, and the sheep pair and become pregnant, and
all the fruits of the earth are gathered in, and
everything that is 20 in the fields, and the winepress:
these things take place in the days of his dominion.
These are the names, and the orders, and the leaders of
those heads of thousands: Gida'ljal, Ke'el, and
He'el, and the name of the head of a thousand which
is added to them, Asfa'el: and the days of his
dominion are at an end.
From
The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old
Testament
by R.H. Charles, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913
Scanned and Edited by Joshua Williams, Northwest Nazarene
College, 1995
