Book of Enoch

iconChapter - 7

1They raised me up into a certain place, where the angels were like the appearance of a burning fire; and when they pleased they assumed the likeness of men.
2They carried me to a lofty spot, to a mountain, the top of which reach to heaven.
3And I beheld the receptacles of light and of thunder at the extremities of the place, where it was deepest.
4There was a bow of fire, and arrows in their quiver, a sword of fire, and every species of lightning.
5Then they elevated me to water of life, which spoke, and to a fire in the west, which received all the setting of the sun.
6I came to a river of fire, which flowed like water, and emptied itself into the great sea westwards.
7I saw every large river, until I arrived at the great darkness.
8I went to where all of flesh migrate; and I beheld the mountains of the gloom which constitutes winter, and the place from which issues the water in every abyss.
9I saw also the mouths of all the rivers in the world, and the mouths of the deep.
10I then surveyed the receptacles of all the winds, perceiving that they contributed to adorn the whole creation, and to preserve the foundation of the earth.
11I surveyed the stone which supports the corners of the earth.
12I also beheld the four winds, which bear up the earth, and the firmament of heaven.
13And I beheld the winds occupying the exalted sky.
14Arising in the midst of heaven and of earth, and constituting the pillars of heaven.
15I saw the winds which turn the sky, which cause the orb of the sun and of all the stars to set; and over the earth I saw the winds which support the clouds.
16I saw the path of the angels.
17I perceived at the extremity of the earth the firmament of heaven above it. Then I passed on towards the south;
18Where burnt, both by day and night, six mountains formed of glorious stones; three towards the east, and three towards the south.
19Those which were towards the east were of a variegated stone; one of which was of margarite, and another of antimony.
20Those towards the south were of a red stone.
21The middle one reached to heaven like the throne of God; a throne composed of alabaster, the top of which was of sapphire. I saw, too, a blazing fire hanging over all the mountains.
22And there I saw a place on the other side of an extended territory, where waters were collected.
23I likewise beheld terrestrial fountains, deep in the fiery columns of heaven.
24And in the columns of heaven I beheld fires, which descended without number, but neither on high, nor into the deep.
25Over these fountains also I perceived a place which had neither the firmament of heaven above it, nor the solid ground underneath it; neither was there water above it; nor anything on wing; but the spot was desolate.
26And there I beheld seven stars, like great blazing mountains, and like spirits entreating me.
27Then the angel said, This place, until the consummation of heaven and earth, will be the prison of the stars, and the host of heaven.
28The stars which roll over fire are those which transgressed the commandment of God before their time arrived; for they came not in their proper season.
29Therefore was He offended with them, and bound them, until the period of the consummation of their crimes in the secret year.