Apocryphal books (Old Testament); Enoch (Biblical figure); Ethiopic book of Enoch -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
II. 1. Observe ye every thing that takes place in the heaven, how they
do not change their orbits, ⌜and⌝ the luminaries which are in the
heaven, how they all rise and set in order each in its season, and
transgress not against their appointed order. 2. Behold ye the earth,
and give heed to the things which take place upon it from first to last,
⌜how =steadfast= they are⌝, how ⌜none of the things upon earth⌝ change,
⌜but⌝ all the works of God appear ⌜to you⌝. 3. Behold the summer and the
winter, 〚how the whole earth is filled with water, and clouds and dew
and rain lie upon it〛.
III. Observe and see how (in the winter) all the trees 〚seem〛 as though
they had withered and shed all their leaves, except fourteen trees,
which do not lose their foliage but retain the old foliage from two to
three years till the new comes.
IV. And again, observe ye the days of summer how the sun is above the
earth over against it. And you seek shade and shelter by reason of the
heat of the sun, and the earth also burns with glowing heat, and so you
cannot tread on the earth, or on a rock by reason of its heat.
V. 1. Observe 〚ye〛 how the trees cover themselves with green leaves and
bear fruit: wherefore give ye heed ⌜and know⌝ with regard to all ⌜His
works⌝, and recognize how He that liveth for ever hath made them so.
2. And ⌜all⌝ His works go on ⌜thus⌝ from year to year ⌜for ever⌝, and
all the tasks ⌜which⌝ they accomplish for Him, and ⌜their tasks⌝ change
not, but according as 〚God〛 hath ordained so is it done.
3. And behold how the sea and the rivers in like manner accomplish ⌜and
change not⌝ their tasks ⌜from His commandments⌝.
4. But ye—ye have not been steadfast, nor done the commandments of
the Lord,
But ye have turned away and spoken proud and hard words
With your impure mouths against His greatness.
Oh, ye hard-hearted, ye shall find no peace.
5. Therefore shall ye execrate your days,
And the years of your life shall perish,
And ⌜the years of your destruction⌝ shall be multiplied in eternal
execration,
And ye shall find no mercy.
6_a._ In those days ye shall make your names an eternal execration
unto all the righteous,
_b._ And by you shall ⌜all⌝ who curse, curse.
_c._ ⌜And all⌝ the sinners ⌜and godless⌝ shall imprecate by you,
7_c._ And for you, the godless, there shall be a curse.
6_d._ ⌜And all the ... shall rejoice,
_e._ And there shall be forgiveness of sins,
_f._ And every mercy and peace and forbearance:
_g._ There shall be salvation unto them, a goodly light.
_i._ And for all of you sinners there shall be no salvation,
_j._ But on you all shall abide a curse⌝.
7_a._ But for the elect there shall be light and grace and peace,
_b._ And they shall inherit the earth.
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