BOOKS NOT INCLUDED IN BIBLE 1a

Early Church Fathers
The Didache or Teaching of the Apostles
APOSTOLIC FATHERS (trans. and ed., J. B. Lightfoot)

1:1 There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.
1:2 {The way of life} is this.
1:3 First of all, {thou shalt love the God} that made thee;
1:4 secondly, {thy neighbour as thyself.}
1:5 {And all things whatsoever thou wouldest not have befal thyself neither do thou unto another.}
1:6 Now of these words the doctrine is this.
1:7 {Bless them that curse you, and pray for} your enemies and fast for {them that persecute you;
1:8 for what thank is it, if ye love them that love you? Do not even the Gentiles the same? But do ye love them that hate you,} and ye shall not have an enemy.
1:9 Abstain thou from fleshly and bodily lusts.
1:10 {If any man give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also,} and thou shalt be perfect;
1:11 {if a man impress thee to go with him, one mile, go with him twain;
1:12 if a man take away thy cloak, give him thy coat also;
1:13 if a man take away from thee that which is thine own, ask it not back,} for neither art thou able.
1:14 {To every man that asketh of thee give, and ask not back;}
1:15 for the Father desireth that gifts be given to all from His own bounties.
1:16 Blessed is he that giveth according to the commandment;
1:17 for he is guiltless.
1:18 Woe to him that receiveth;
1:19 for, if a man receiveth having need, he is guiltless;
1:20 but he that hath no need shall give satisfaction why and wherefore he received;
1:21 and being put in confinement he shall be examined concerning the deeds that he hath done, and {he shall not come out thence until he hath given back the last farthing.}
1:22 Yea, as touching this also it is said;
1:23 {Let thine alms sweat into thine hands, until thou shalt have learnt to whom to give.}
2:1 And this is the second commandment of the teaching.
2:2 {Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery,} thou shalt not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, {thou shalt not steal,} thou shalt not deal in magic, thou shalt do no sorcery, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born, {thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods, thou shalt not perjure thyself, thou shalt not bear false witness,} thou shalt not speak evil, thou shalt not cherish a grudge, thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued;
2:3 for the double tongue is a snare of death.
2:4 Thy word shall not be false or empty, but fulfilled by action.
2:5 Thou shalt not be avaricious nor a plunderer nor a hypocrite nor ill-tempered nor proud.
2:6 Thou shalt not entertain an evil design against thy neighbour.
2:7 {Thou shalt not hate} any man, {but some thou shalt reprove,} and for others thou shalt pray, {and others thou shalt love} more than thy life.
3:1 My child, flee from every evil and everything that resembleth it.
3:2 Be not angry, for anger leadeth to murder, nor jealous nor contentious nor wrathful;
3:3 for of all these things murders are engendered.
3:4 My child, be not lustful, for lust leadeth to fornication, neither foul-speaking neither with uplifted eyes;
3:5 for of all these things adulteries are engendered.
3:6 My child, {be no dealer in omens,} since it leads to idolatry, nor an enchanter nor an astrologer nor a magician, neither be willing to look at them;
3:7 for from all these things idolatry is engendered.
3:8 My child, be not a liar, since lying leads to theft, neither avaricious neither vainglorious;
3:9 for from all these things thefts are engendered.
3:10 My child, be not a murmurer, since it leadeth to blasphemy, neither self-willed neither a thinker of evil thoughts;
3:11 for from all these things blasphemies are engendered.
3:12 But be meek, since {the meek shall inherit the earth.}
3:13 Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and {quiet} and kindly {and} always {fearing the words} which thou hast heard.
3:14 Thou shalt not exalt thyself, neither shalt thou admit boldness into thy soul.
3:15 Thy soul shall not cleave together with the lofty, but with the righteous and humble shalt thou walk.
3:16 The accidents that befal thee thou shalt receive as good, knowing that nothing is done without God.
4:1 My child, {thou shalt remember him that speaketh unto thee the word of God} night and day, and shalt honour him as the Lord;
4:2 for whencesoever the Lordship speaketh, there is the Lord.
4:3 Moreover thou shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, that thou mayest find rest in their words.
4:4 Thou shalt not make a schism, but thou shalt pacify them that contend;
4:5 thou shalt judge righteously, thou shalt not make a difference in a person to reprove him for transgressions.
4:6 Thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not be.
4:7 {Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive, but drawing them in as to giving.}
4:8 If thou hast ought passing through thy hands, thou shalt give a ransom for thy sins.
4:9 Thou shalt not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when giving;
4:10 for thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward.
4:11 Thou shalt not turn away from him that is in want, but shalt make thy brother partaker in all things, and shalt not say {that anything is thine own.}
4:12 For if ye are fellow-partakers in that which is imperishable, how much rather in the things which are perishable? Thou shalt not withhold thy hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but from their youth thou shalt teach them the fear of God.
4:13 Thou shalt not command thy bondservant or thine handmaid in thy bitterness, who trust in the same God as thyself, lest haply they should cease to fear the God who is over both of you;
4:14 for He cometh, not to call men with respect of persons, but He cometh to those whom the Spirit hath prepared.
4:15 But ye, servants, shall be subject unto your masters, as to a type of God, in shame and fear.
®LA1¯4:16 Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord.
4:17 Thou shalt never forsake the commandments of the Lord;
4:18 but shalt keep those things which thou hast received, neither adding to them nor taking away from them.
4:19 In church thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and shalt not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience.
4:20 This is the way of life.
5:1 But the way of death is this.
5:2 First of all, it is evil and full of a curse murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magical arts, witchcrafts, plunderings, false witnessings, hypocrisies, doubleness of heart, treachery, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetousness, foul-speaking, jealousy, boldness, exaltation, boastfulness;
5:3 persecutors of good men, hating truth, loving a lie, not perceiving the reward of righteousness, not {cleaving to the good} nor to righteous judgment, wakeful not for that which is good but for that which is evil;
5:4 from whom gentleness and forbearance stand aloof;
5:5 loving vain things, pursuing a recompense, not pitying the poor man, not toiling for him that is oppressed with toil, not recognizing Him that made them, murderers of children, corrupters of the creatures of God, turning away from him that is in want, oppressing him that is afflicted, advocates of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful.
5:6 May ye be delivered, my children, from all these things.
6:1 See lest any man lead you astray from this way of righteousness, for he teacheth thee apart from God.
6:2 For if thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou shalt be perfect;
6:3 but if thou art not able, do that which thou art able.
6:4 But concerning eating, bear that which thou art able;
6:5 yet abstain by all means from meat sacrificed to idols;
6:6 for it is the worship of dead gods.
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.
8:1 And let not your fastings be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and the fifth day of the week;
8:2 but do ye keep your fast on the fourth and on the preparation (the sixth) day.
8:3 Neither pray ye {as the hypocrites,} but as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, {thus pray ye.
8:4 Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
8:5 Thy kingdom come;
8:6 Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth;
8:7 give us this day our daily bread;
8:8 and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors;
8:9 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one;}
8:10 for Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.
8:11 Three times in the day pray ye so.
9:1 But as touching the eucharistic thanksgiving give ye thanks thus.
9:2 First, as regards the cup:
9:3 We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Thy son David, which Thou madest known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;
9:4 Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
9:5 Then as regards the broken bread:
9:6 We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou didst make known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;
9:7 Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
9:8 As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being gathered together became one, so may Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom;
9:9 for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
9:10 But let no one eat or drink of this eucharistic thanksgiving, but they that have been baptized into the name of the Lord;
9:11 for concerning this also the Lord hath said:
9:12 {Give not that which is holy to the dogs.}
10:1 And after ye are satisfied thus give ye thanks:
10:2 We give Thee thanks, Holy Father, for Thy holy name, which Thou hast made to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which Thou hast made known unto us through Thy Son Jesus;
10:3 Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
10:4 Thou, Almighty Master, didst create all things for Thy name's sake, and didst give food and drink unto men for enjoyment, that they might render thanks to Thee;
10:5 but didst bestow upon us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Thy Son.
10:6 Before all things we give Thee thanks that Thou art powerful;
10:7 Thine is the glory for ever and ever.
10:8 Remember, Lord, Thy Church to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Thy love;
10:9 and {gather it together from the four winds}--even the Church which has been sanctified--into Thy kingdom which Thou hast prepared for it;
10:10 for Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.
10:11 May grace come and may this world pass away.
10:12 Hosanna to the God of David.
10:13 If any man is holy, let him come;
10:14 if any man is not, let him repent. Maran Atha. Amen.
10:15 But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving as much as they desire.
11:1 Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these things that have been said before, receive him;
11:2 but if the teacher himself be perverted and teach a different doctrine to the destruction thereof, hear him not;
11:3 but if to the increase of righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
11:4 But concerning the apostles and prophets, so do ye according to the ordinance of the Gospel.
11:5 Let every apostle, when he cometh to you, be received as the Lord;
11:6 but he shall not abide more than a single day, or if there be need, a 11:7 but if he abide three days, he is a false prophet.
11:8 And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing save bread, until he findeth shelter;
11:9 but if he ask money, he is a false prophet.
11:10 And any prophet speaking in the Spirit ye shall not try neither discern;
11:11 for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven.
11:12 Yet not every one that speaketh in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he have the ways of the Lord.
11:13 From his ways therefore the false prophet and the prophet shall be recognized.
11:14 And no prophet when he ordereth a table in the Spirit shall eat of it;
11:15 otherwise he is a false prophet.
11:16 And every prophet teaching the truth, if he doeth not what he teacheth, is a false prophet.
11:17 And every prophet approved and found true, if he doeth ought as an outward mystery typical of the Church, and yet teacheth you not to do all that he himself doeth, shall not be judged before you;
11:18 he hath his judgment in the presence of God;
11:19 for in like manner also did the prophets of old time.
11:20 And whosoever shall say in the Spirit, Give me silver or anything else, ye shall not listen to him;
11:21 but if he tell you to give on behalf of others that are in want, let no man judge him.
12:1 But let every one {that cometh in the name of the Lord} be received;
12:2 and then when ye have tested him ye shall know him, for ye shall have understanding on the right hand and on the left.
12:3 If the comer is a traveller, assist him, so far as ye are able;
12:4 but he shall not stay with you more than two or three days, if it be necessary.
12:5 But if he wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work for and eat his bread.
12:6 But if he has no craft, according to your wisdom provide how he shall live as a Christian among you, but not in idleness.
12:7 If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Christ.
12:8 Beware of such men.
13:1 But every true prophet desiring to settle among you {is worthy of his food.}
13:2 In like manner a true teacher {is} also {worthy,} like {the workman, of his food.}
13:3 Every firstfruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the threshing-floor, of thy oxen and of thy sheep, thou shalt take and give as the firstfruit to the prophets;
13:4 for they are your chief-priests.
13:5 But if ye have not a prophet, give them to the poor.
13:6 If thou makest bread, take the firstfruit and give according to the commandment.
13:7 In like manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the firstfruit and give to the prophets;
13:8 yea and of money and raiment and every possession take the firstfruit, as shall seem good to thee, and give according to the commandment.
14:1 And on the Lord's own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
14:2 And let no man, having his dispute with his fellow, join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled;
14:3 for this sacrifice it is that was spoken of by the Lord;
14:4 {In every place and at every time offer Me a pure sacrifice;
14:5 for I am a great king, saith the Lord and My name is wonderful among the nations.}
15:1 Appoint for yourselves therefore bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved;
15:2 for unto you they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers.
15:3 Therefore despise them not;
15:4 for they are your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers.
15:5 And reprove one another, not in anger but in peace, as ye find in the Gospel;
15:6 and let no one speak to any that has gone wrong towards his neighbour, neither let him hear a word from you, until he repent.
15:7 But your prayers and your almsgivings and all your deeds so do ye as ye find it in the Gospel of our Lord.
16:1 {Be watchful} for your life;
16:2 {let your lamps not be quenched and your loins not ungirded, but be ye ready;
16:3 for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh.}
16:4 And ye shall gather yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls;
16:5 for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season.
16:6 For in the last days {the false prophets} and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate.
16:7 For as lawlessness increaseth, {they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray.
16:8 And then} the world-deceiver {shall appear} as a son of God;
16:9 {and shall work signs and wonders,} and the earth shall be delivered into his hands;
16:10 and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began.
16:11 Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many shall be offended and perish;
16:12 {but they that endure} in their faith {shall be saved} by the Curse Himself.
16:13 {And then shall the signs} of the truth {appear;}
16:14 first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead;
16:15 yet not of all, but as it was said:
16:16 {The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him.
16:17 Then shall} the world {see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.}
THE DIDACHE
(Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.)

Translated by Charles H. Hoole

CHAPTER 1
1:1 There are two paths, one of life and one of death, and the difference is great between the two paths.
1:2 Now the path of life is this -- first, thou shalt love the God who made thee, thy neighbour as thyself, and all things that thou wouldest not should be done unto thee, do not thou unto another.
1:3 And the doctrine of these maxims is as follows. Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies. Fast on behalf of those that persecute you; for what thank is there if ye love them that love you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? But do ye love them that hate you, and ye will not have an enemy.
1:4 Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If any one give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn unto him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect; if any one compel thee to go a mile, go with him two; if a man take away thy cloak, give him thy coat also; if a man take from thee what is thine, ask not for it again, for neither art thou able to do so.
1:5 Give to every one that asketh of thee, and ask not again; for the Father wishes that from his own gifts there should be given to all. Blessed is he who giveth according to the commandment, for he is free from guilt; but woe unto him that receiveth. For if a man receive being in need, he shall be free from guilt; but he who receiveth when not in need, shall pay a penalty as to why he received and for what purpose; and when he is in tribulation he shall be examined concerning the things that he has done, and shall not depart thence until he has paid the last farthing.
1:6 For of a truth it has been said on these matters, let thy almsgiving abide in thy hands until thou knowest to whom thou hast given.
CHAPTER 2
2:1 But the second commandment of the teaching is this.
2:2 Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not corrupt youth; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not use soothsaying; thou shalt not practise sorcery; thou shalt not kill a child by abortion, neither shalt thou slay it when born; thou shalt not covet the goods of thy neighbour;
2:3 thou shalt not commit perjury; thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt not speak evil; thou shalt not bear malice;
2:4 thou shalt not be double-minded or double-tongued, for to be double tongued is the snare of death.
2:5 Thy speech shall not be false or empty, but concerned with action.
2:6 Thou shalt not be covetous, or rapacious, or hypocritical, or malicious, or proud; thou shalt not take up an evil design against thy neighbour;
2:7 thou shalt not hate any man, but some thou shalt confute, concerning some thou shalt pray, and some thou shalt love beyond thine own soul.
CHAPTER 3
3:1 My child, fly from everything that is evil, and from everything that is like to it.
3:2 Be not wrathful, for wrath leadeth unto slaughter; be not jealous, or contentious, or quarrelsome, for from all these things slaughter ensues.
3:3 My child, be not lustful, for lust leadeth unto fornication; be not a filthy talker; be not a lifter up of the eye, for from all these things come adulteries.
3:4 My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leadeth to idolatry, nor a user of spells, nor an astrologer, nor a travelling purifier, nor wish to see these things, for from all these things idolatry ariseth.
3:5 My child, be not a liar, for lying leadeth unto theft; be not covetous or conceited, for from all these things thefts arise.
3:6 My child, be not a murmurer, since it leadeth unto blasphemy; be not self-willed or evil-minded, for from all these things blasphemies are produced;
3:7 but be thou meek, for the meek shall inherit the earth;
3:8 be thou longsuffering, and compassionate, and harmless, and peaceable, and good, and fearing alway the words that thou hast heard.
3:9 Thou shalt not exalt thyself, neither shalt thou put boldness into thy soul. Thy soul shall not be joined unto the lofty, but thou shalt walk with the just and humble.
3:10 Accept the things that happen to thee as good, knowing that without God nothing happens.
CHAPTER 4
4:1 My child, thou shalt remember both night and day him that speaketh unto thee the Word of God; thou shalt honour him as thou dost the Lord, for where the teaching of the Lord is given, there is the Lord;
4:2 thou shalt seek out day by day the favour of the saints, that thou mayest rest in their words;
4:3 thou shalt not desire schism, but shalt set at peace them that contend; thou shalt judge righteously; thou shalt not accept the person of any one to convict him of transgression;
4:4 thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not.
4:5 Be not a stretcher out of thy hand to receive, and a drawer of it back in giving.
4:6 If thou hast, give by means of thy hands a redemption for thy sins.
4:7 Thou shalt not doubt to give, neither shalt thou murmur when giving; for thou shouldest know who is the fair recompenser of the reward.
4:8 Thou shalt not turn away from him that is in need, but shalt share with thy brother in all things, and shalt not say that things are thine own; for if ye are partners in what is immortal, how much more in what is mortal?
4:9 Thou shalt not remove thine heart from thy son or from thy daughter, but from their youth shalt teach them the fear of God.
4:10 Thou shalt not command with bitterness thy servant or thy handmaid, who hope in the same God as thyself, lest they fear not in consequence the God who is over both; for he cometh not to call with respect of persons, but those whom the Spirit hath prepared.
4:11 And do ye servants submit yourselves to your masters with reverence and fear, as being the type of God.
4:12 Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to God;
4:13 thou shalt not abandon the commandments of the Lord, but shalt guard that which thou hast received, neither adding thereto nor taking therefrom;
4:14 thou shalt confess thy transgressions in the Church, and shalt not come unto prayer with an evil conscience. This is the path of life.
CHAPTER 5
5:1 But the path of death is this. First of all, it is evil, and full of cursing; there are found murders, adulteries, lusts, fornication, thefts, idolatries, soothsaying, sorceries, robberies, false witnessings, hypocrisies, double-mindedness, craft, pride, malice, self-will, covetousness, filthy talking, jealousy, audacity, pride, arrogance;
5:2 there are they who persecute the good -- lovers of a lie, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for the good but for the bad, from whom meekness and patience are afar off, loving things that are vain, following after recompense, having no compassion on the needy, nor labouring for him that is in trouble, not knowing him that made them, murderers of children, corrupters of the image of God, who turn away from him that is in need, who oppress him that is in trouble, unjust judges of the poor, erring in all things. From all these, children, may ye be delivered.
CHAPTER 6
6:1 See that no one make thee to err from this path of doctrine, since he who doeth so teacheth thee apart from God.
6:2 If thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect; but if thou art not able, what thou art able, that do.
6:3 But concerning meat, bear that which thou art able to do. But keep with care from things sacrificed to idols, for it is the worship of the infernal deities.
CHAPTER 7
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;
7:2 but if thou hast not running water, baptize in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water;
7:3 but if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
7:4 But before the baptism, let him who baptizeth and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able. And thou shalt command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.
CHAPTER 8
8:1 But as for your fasts, let them not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth days of the week, but do ye fast on the fourth and sixth days.
8:2 Neither pray ye as the hypocrites, but as the Lord hath commanded in his gospel so pray ye: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil: for thine is the power, and the glory, for ever.
8:3 Thrice a day pray ye in this fashion.
CHAPTER 9
9:1 But concerning the Eucharist, after this fashion give ye thanks.
9:2 First, concerning the cup. We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine, David thy Son, which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus Christ thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
9:3 And concerning the broken bread. We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
9:4 As this broken bread was once scattered on the mountains, and after it had been brought together became one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth unto thy kingdom; for thine is the glory, and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever.
9:5 And let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such as have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for of a truth the Lord hath said concerning this, Give not that which is holy unto dogs.
CHAPTER 10
10:1 But after it has been completed, so pray ye.
10:2 We thank thee, holy Father, for thy holy name, which thou hast caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
10:3 Thou, Almighty Master, didst create all things for the sake of thy name, and hast given both meat and drink, for men to enjoy, that we might give thanks unto thee, but to us thou hast given spiritual meat and drink, and life everlasting, through thy Son.
10:4 Above all, we thank thee that thou art able to save; to thee be the glory for ever.
10:5 Remember, Lord, thy Church, to redeem it from every evil, and to perfect it in thy love, and gather it together from the four winds, even that which has been sanctified for thy kingdom which thou hast prepared for it; for thine is the kingdom and the glory for ever.
10:6 Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the Son of David. If any one is holy let him come (to the Eucharist); if any one is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen.
10:7 But charge the prophets to give thanks, so far as they are willing to do so.
CHAPTER 11
11:1 Whosoever, therefore, shall come and teach you all these things aforesaid, him do ye receive;
11:2 but if the teacher himself turn and teach another doctrine with a view to subvert you, hearken not to him; but if he come to add to your righteousness, and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
11:3 But concerning the apostles and prophets, thus do ye according to the doctrine of the Gospel.
11:4 Let every apostle who cometh unto you be received as the Lord.
11:5 He will remain one day, and if it be necessary, a second; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet.
11:6 And let the apostle when departing take nothing but bread until he arrive at his resting-place; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.
11:7 And ye shall not tempt or dispute with any prophet who speaketh in the spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven.
11:8 But not every one who speaketh in the spirit is a prophet, but he is so who hath the disposition of the Lord; by their dispositions they therefore shall be known, the false prophet and the prophet.
11:9 And every prophet who ordereth in the spirit that a table shall be laid, shall not eat of it himself, but if he do otherwise, he is a false prophet;
11:10 and every prophet who teacheth the truth, if he do not what he teacheth is a false prophet;
11:11 and every prophet who is approved and true, and ministering in the visible mystery of the Church, but who teacheth not others to do the things that he doth himself, shall not be judged of you, for with God lieth his judgment, for in this manner also did the ancient prophets.
11:12 But whoever shall say in the spirit, Give me money, or things of that kind, listen not to him; but if he tell you concerning others that are in need that ye should give unto them, let no one judge him.
CHAPTER 12
12:1 Let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be received, but afterwards ye shall examine him and know his character, for ye have knowledge both of good and evil.
12:2 If the person who cometh be a wayfarer, assist him so far as ye are able; but he will not remain with you more than two or three days, unless there be a necessity.
12:3 But if he wish to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work, and so eat;
12:4 but if he know not any craft, provide ye according to you own discretion, that a Christian may not live idle among you;
12:5 but if he be not willing to do so, he is a trafficker in Christ. From such keep aloof.
CHAPTER 13
13:1 But every true prophet who is willing to dwell among you is worthy of his meat,
13:2 likewise a true teacher is himself worthy of his meat, even as is a labourer.
13:3 Thou shalt, therefore, take the firstfruits of every produce of the wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and sheep, and shalt give it to the prophets, for they are your chief priests;
13:4 but if ye have not a prophet, give it unto the poor.
13:5 If thou makest a feast, take and give the firstfruits according to the commandment;
13:6 in like manner when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the firstfruits and give it to the prophets;
13:7 take also the firstfruits of money, of clothes, and of every possession, as it shall seem good unto thee, and give it according to the commandment.
CHAPTER 14
14:1 But on the Lord's day, after that ye have assembled together, break bread and give thanks, having in addition confessed your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure.
14:2 But let not any one who hath a quarrel with his companion join with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be polluted,
14:3 for it is that which is spoken of by the Lord. In every place and time offer unto me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the Gentiles.
CHAPTER 15
15:1 Elect, therefore, for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not covetous, and true and approved, for they perform for you the service of prophets and teachers.
15:2 Do not, therefore, despise them, for they are those who are honoured among you, together with the prophets and teachers.
15:3 Rebuke one another, not in wrath but peaceably, as ye have commandment in the Gospel; and, but let no one speak to any one who walketh disorderly with regard to his neighbour, neither let him be heard by you until he repent.
15:4 But your prayers and your almsgivings and all your deeds so do, as ye have commandment in the Gospel of our Lord.
CHAPTER 16
16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour at which our Lord cometh.
16:2 But be ye gathered together frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless ye be found perfect in the last time.
16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;
16:4 and because iniquity aboundeth they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world.
16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offence itself.
16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead
16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him;
16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven.
{The End of the Didache}
THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNA

Charles H. Hoole's 1885 translation
CHAPTER 0
1 The church of God which sojourneth in Smyrna, to the church of God that sojourneth in Philomelia, and to all the settlements of the holy and Catholic Church in every place, mercy, peace, and love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you.
CHAPTER 1
1:1 We have written unto you, brethren, the things respecting those who were martyred, and concerning the blessed Polycarp, who made the persecution to cease, having as it were set his seal to it by his testimony. For almost all the things that went before happened in order that the Lord might show us from above the testimony that is according to the gospel;
1:2 for he endured to be betrayed, even as did the Lord, that we might become imitators of him, not as considering the things that concern ourselves only, but also the things that concern our neighbours; for it belongeth to true and firm love not only to desire to be saved itself, but also that all the brethren should be saved.
CHAPTER 2
2:1 Blessed, therefore, and noble are all the testimonies that happened according to the will of God, for it is right that we should be the more careful, and should ascribe unto God the authority over all things.
2:2 For who would not admire their nobility and endurance and obedience? who, though they were torn with stripes so that the internal arrangement of their flesh became evident even as far as the veins and arteries within, endured it, so that even the bystanders compassionated them and bemoaned them; and that others even arrived at such a pitch of nobility that none of them would either sob or groan, showing all of us that in that hour the martyrs of Christ departed being tortured in the flesh, or rather that the Lord, standing by, associated himself with them.
2:3 And applying themselves to the grace of Christ, they despised the torture of this world, purchasing by the endurance of a single hour remission from eternal punishment; and the fire of their harsh tormentors was cold to them, for they had before their eyes to escape the eternal and never-quenched fire; and with the eyes of their heart they looked up to the good things that are reserved for those that endure, which neither hath ear heard, nor eye seen, nor hath it entered into the heart of man; but which were shown by the Lord unto them, who were no longer men, but already angels.
2:4 And in like manner they who had been condemned to the wild beasts endured dreadful punishments, lying upon beds of prickles, and punished with various other tortures, in order that, if it were possible, the tyrant might turn them by assiduous punishment to a denial of the faith.
CHAPTER 3
3:1 For the devil contrived many things against them, but thanks be unto God, for he prevailed not against all. For the most noble Germanicus strengthened their cowardice through the patience that was in him, who also in a notable way fought against wild beasts. For when the proconsul would have persuaded him, charging him to have compassion on his youth, he drew upon himself the wild beast by force, wishing to be the sooner freed from their unjust and lawless life.
3:2 From this, therefore, all the multitude, wondering at the nobleness of the God-loving and God-fearing race of Christians, called out, Away with the Atheists; let Polycarp be sought for.
CHAPTER 4
4:1 But a certain man named Quintus, a Phrygian, who had newly come from Phrygia, when he saw the wild beasts, became afraid. This was he who constrained himself and others to come in of their own accord. This man, the proconsul, with much importunity, persuaded to swear and to sacrifice. On this account, brethren, we praise not them that give themselves up, since the gospel doth not so teach.
CHAPTER 5
5:1 But the most admirable Polycarp at the first, when he heard these things, was not disturbed, but desired to remain in the city. But the majority persuaded him to withdraw secretly; and he departed secretly to a villa not far from the city, and remained there with a few men, doing no other thing either by night or day but pray concerning all men, and for the churches that are in the world, as was his custom;
5:2 and as he prayed he fell into a trance three days before he was taken, and saw his pillow burning with fire, and he turned and said prophetically to those who were with him, I must be burned alive.
CHAPTER 6
6:1 And when those who sought him continued in the pursuit, he departed unto another villa, and straightway they who sought him came up. And when they found him not, they apprehended two lads, of whom the one, when put to the torture, confessed.
6:2 For it was impossible for him to escape their notice, since they who betrayed him were of his own household. For the Eirenarchus, which is the same office as Cleronomus, Herodes by name, hasted to bring him into the arena, that he indeed might fulfil his proper lot, by becoming a partaker of Christ, and that they who betrayed him might undergo the same punishment as Judas.
CHAPTER 7
7:1 Having, therefore, with them the lad, on the day of the preparation, at the hour of dinner, there came out pursuers and horsemen, with their accustomed arms, as though going out against a thief. And having departed together late in the evening, they found him lying in a certain house, in an upper chamber. And he might have departed from thence unto another place, but was unwilling, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
7:2 And when he heard that they were present, he descended and talked with them. And they who were present wondered at the vigour of his age and his soundness of body, and that they had had to use so much trouble to capture so old a man. He straightway commanded that meat and drink should be set before them at that hour, as much as they wished, and asked them to grant him an hour to pray without molestation.
7:3 And when they suffered him, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not be silent for two hours, and they that heard him were astonished, and many repented that they had come against so divine an old man.
CHAPTER 8
8:1 And when he had finished his prayer, having made mention of all who had at any time come into contact with him, both small and great, noble and ignoble, and of the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, when the hour of his departure had come, having seated him on an ass, they led him into the city, it being the great Sabbath.
8:2 And the Eirenarch Herodes and his father Nicetes met him in a chariot, who, having transferred him into their car, seating themselves beside him, would have persuaded him, saying, What is the harm to say, Caesar, Caesar, and to sacrifice, and to do such like things, and thus to be saved? But he at the first did not answer them; but when they persisted, he said, I will not do that which ye advise me.
8:3 But they, when they had failed to persuade him, said unto him dreadful words, and thrust him with such haste from the chariot that in descending from the car he grazed his shin. And paying no attention to it, as though he had suffered nothing, he proceeded zealously and with eagerness, being led to the arena, there being such a noise in the arena that no one could even be heard.
CHAPTER 9
9:1 But to Polycarp, as he entered the arena, there came a voice from heaven, saying, Be strong, and play the man, O Polycarp. And the speaker no man saw; but the voice those of our people who were present heard. And when he was brought in there was a great tumult, when men heard that Polycarp was apprehended.
9:2 Then, when he had been brought in, the proconsul asked him if he was Polycarp. And when he confessed, he would have persuaded him to deny, saying, Have respect unto thine age, and other things like these, as is their custom to say: Swear by the fortunes of Caesar; Repent; Say, Away with the Atheists. But Polycarp, when he had looked with a grave face at all the multitude of lawless heathen in the arena, having beckoned unto them with his hand, sighed, and looking up unto heaven, said, Away with the Atheists!
9:3 And when the proconsul pressed him, and said, Swear, and I will release thee, revile Christ; Polycarp said, Eighty and six years have I served him, and in nothing hath he wronged me; and how, then, can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?
CHAPTER 10
10:1 But when he again persisted, and said, Swear by the fortune of Caesar, he answered, If thou art vainly confident that I shall swear by the fortune of Caesar, as thou suggestest, and pretendest to be ignorant of me who I am, hear distinctly, I am a Christian. But if thou desirest to learn the scheme of Christianity, give me a day to speak, and hearken unto me.
10:2 The proconsul said, Persuade the people. But Polycarp said, I have thought thee indeed worthy to receive explanation, for we have been taught to render such honour as is fitting, and as does not injure us, to the powers and authorities ordained by God; but those I consider not worthy that I should make my defence before them.
CHAPTER 11
11:1 But the proconsul said unto him, I have wild beasts; I will deliver thee unto them, unless thou repentest. But he said, Call them, for repentance from the better to the worse is impossible for us; but it is a good thing to change from evil deeds to just ones.
11:2 But he said again unto him, I will cause thee to be consumed by fire if thou despisest the wild beasts, unless thou repentest. But Polycarp said, Thou threatenest me with fire that burneth but for a season, and is soon quenched. For thou art ignorant of the fire of the judgment to come, and of the eternal punishment reserved for the wicked. But why delayest thou? Bring whatever thou wishest.
CHAPTER 12
12:1 While he was saying these and more things, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was filled with grace; so that he not only was not troubled and confused by the things said unto him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald into the midst of the arena to proclaim a third time: Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian.
12:2 When this had been said by the herald, the whole multitude, both of Gentiles and Jews, that inhabit Smyrna, with irrestrainable anger and a loud voice, called out, This is the teacher of impiety, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of your gods, who teacheth many neither to sacrifice nor to worship the gods. Saying these things, they shouted out, and asked the Asiarch Philip to let loose a lion at Polycarp. But Philip replied that it was not lawful for him to do so, since he had finished the exhibition of wild beasts.
12:3 Then it seemed good unto them to shout with one voice that Polycarp should be burnt alive; for it was necessary that the vision that appeared unto him on his pillow should be fulfilled, when seeing it burning, he prayed, and said prophetically, turning to the faithful who were with him, I must be burnt alive.
CHAPTER 13
13:1 These things, therefore, happened with so great rapidity, that they took less time than the narration, the multitude quickly collecting logs and brushwood from the workshops and baths, the Jews especially lending their services zealously for this purpose, as is their custom.
13:2 But when the pyre was ready, having put off all his garments, and having loosed his girdle, he essayed to take off his shoes; not being in the habit of doing this previously, because each of the faithful used to strive which should be the first to touch his body, for, on account of his good conversation, he was, even before his martyrdom, adorned with every good gift.
13:3 Straightway, therefore, there were put around him the implements prepared for the pyre. And when they were about besides to nail him to it, he said, Suffer me thus, for he who gave me to abide the fire will also allow me, without the security of your nails, to remain on the pyre without moving.
CHAPTER 14
14:1 They, therefore, did not nail him, but bound him. But he, having placed his hands behind him, and being bound, like a notable ram appointed for offering out of a great flock, prepared as a whole burnt-offering acceptable unto God, having looked up unto heaven, said, O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received our knowledge concerning thee, the God of angels and powers, and of the whole creation, and of all the race of the just who lived before thee,
14:2 I thank thee that thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I should have my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among these may I be received before thee this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou hast prepared and made manifest beforehand, and hast fulfilled, thou who art the unerring and true God.
14:3 On this account, and concerning all things, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, together with the eternal and heavenly Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, with whom to thee and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
CHAPTER 15
15:1 And when he had uttered the Amen, and had finished his prayer, the men who superintended the fire kindled it. And a great flame breaking out, we, to whom it was given to see, saw a great wonder; for to this end also were we preserved, that we might announce what happened to the rest of mankind.
15:2 For the fire, assuming the form of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled with the wind, defended the body of the martyr roundabout; and it was in the midst of the flame not like flesh burning, but like bread being baked, or like gold and silver glowing in the furnace. And we perceived such a sweet-smelling savour, as though from the breath of incense, or some other precious perfume.
CHAPTER 16
16:1 At last these wicked men, perceiving that his body could not be consumed by the fire, commanded the slaughterer to come near and plunge in a sword. And when he had done this, there came out a dove and an abundance of blood, so that it quenched the fire, and all the multitude wondered that there was such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.
16:2 Of whom this most admirable martyr Polycarp was one, having been in our time an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic church which is in Smyrna. For every word which he uttered from his mouth both hath been fulfilled, and shall be fulfilled.
CHAPTER 17
17:1 But the evil one, who is the opponent and envier, who is the enemy to the race of men, beholding both the greatness of his testimony and his conversation blameless from the beginning, how he was crowned with a crown of immortality, and how he carried off a prize that could not be spoken against, contrived that not even a relic of him should be taken by us, though many desired to do this, and to communicate with his holy flesh.
17:2 He suborned, therefore, Nicetes, the father of Herodes, and the brother of Alce, to make interest with the governor so as not to give his body to the tomb, Lest, said he, they abandon the crucified and begin to worship this man. And these things they said at the suggestion and instance of the Jews, who also kept watch when we were about to take the body from the fire, not knowing that we shall never be able to abandon Christ, who suffered for the salvation of the whole world of those who are saved, the blameless on behalf of sinners, nor to worship any one else.
17:3 Him we adore as the Son of God; but the martyrs, as the disciples and imitators of the Lord, we love according to their deserts, on account of their incomparable love for their King and Teacher, with whom may it be our lot to be partners and fellow-disciples.
CHAPTER 18
18:1 Therefore, the centurion, seeing the strife that had risen among the Jews, placed the body in the midst of the fire and burned it.
18:2 Thus we, having afterwards taken up his bones, more valuable than precious stones, laid them where it was suitable.
18:3 There, so far as is allowed us, when we are gathered together in exultation and joy, the Lord will enable us to celebrate the birthday of the martyrs, both for the memory of those who have contended, and for the exercise and preparation of those to come.
CHAPTER 19
19:1 Such were the things that happened to the blessed Polycarp, who together with those from Philadelphia was the twelfth who suffered martyrdom in Smyrna; but he alone is held in memory by all, so that he is spoken of in every place even by the Gentiles; not only being a distinguished teacher, but also an eminent martyr, whose testimony we desire to imitate, since it happened according to the Gospel of Christ.
19:2 For having overcome by patience the unjust governor, and so having received the crown of immortality, rejoicing together with the apostles and all the just, he glorifieth God and the Father, and blesseth our Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of our souls, and the pilot of our bodies, and the shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world.
CHAPTER 20
20:1 Ye therefore desired that the things that had happened should be shown unto you more at length; but we for the present have related them unto you briefly by means of our brother Marcus. Now do ye, when ye have read these things, send on the letter to the brethren who are further off, that they also may glorify the Lord, who is making a selection from among his own servants.
20:2 To him who is able to bring us all in, by his grace and gift, into his eternal kingdom, through his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; to him be the glory, honour, strength, majesty for ever. Amen. Salute all the saints. They who are with us salute you, and Evarestus who wrote these things, and all his house.
CHAPTER 21
21:1 Now the blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the month Xanthicus, on the twenty-fifth of April, on the great Sabbath, at the eighth hour. But he was apprehended by Herodes, when Philip of Tralles was high priest, Statius Quadratus being proconsul, and Jesus Christ king for ever, to whom be glory, honour, majesty, and eternal throne, from generation to generation. Amen.
CHAPTER 22
22:1 We pray, brethren, that you may fare well, walking by the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to God and the Father, and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the holy elect, even as the blessed Polycarp hath born witness, in whose steps may we be found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
22:2 These things have been transcribed by Gaius, from the manuscripts of Irenaeus, the disciple of Polycarp, who also was a fellow-citizen to Irenaeus. But I, Socrates, made a copy in Corinth from the copies of Gaius. Grace be with you all.
22:3 But I, Pionius, afterwards copied them from the above written, having sought them out, after that the blessed Polycarp had made them manifest to me by a revelation, as I will show in what follows; having gathered them together, when they had already become almost obliterated by time, in order that the Lord Jesus Christ may gather me also together with his elect, unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
APOSTOLIC FATHERS (LIGHTFOOT)

0:1 Polycarp and the presbyters that are with him unto the Church of God which sojourneth at Philippi;
0:2 mercy unto you and peace from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Saviour be multiplied.
1:1 I rejoiced with you greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ, for that ye received the followers of the true Love and escorted them on their way, as befitted you--those men encircled in saintly bonds which are the diadems of them that be truly chosen of God and our Lord;
1:2 and that the stedfast root of your faith which was famed from primitive times abideth until now and beareth fruit unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured to face even death for our sins, {whom God raised, having loosed the pangs of Hades;
1:3 on whom, though ye saw Him not, ye believe with joy unutterable and full of glory;}
1:4 unto which joy many desire to enter in;
1:5 forasmuch as ye know that it is {by grace ye are saved, not of works,} but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.
2:1 {Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear} and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, {for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto Him glory} and a throne on His right hand;
2:2 unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth;
2:3 to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service;
2:4 who cometh as {judge of quick and dead;}
2:5 whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient unto Him.
2:6 Now {He that raised Him} from the dead {will raise us also;}
2:7 if we do His will and walk in His commandments and love the things which He loved, abstaining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness;
2:8 {not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing} or blow for blow or cursing for cursing;
2:9 but remembering the words which the Lord spake as He taught;
2:10 {Judge not that ye be not judged.
2:11 Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you.
2:12 Have mercy that ye may receive mercy.
2:13 With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;}
2:14 and again {Blessed are the poor and they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.}
3:1 These things, brethren, I write unto you concerning righteousness, not because I laid this charge upon myself, but because ye invited me.
3:2 For neither am I, nor is any other like unto me, able to follow the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when he came among you taught face to face with the men of that day the word which concerneth truth carefully and surely;
3:3 who also, when he was absent, wrote a letter unto you, into the which if ye look diligently, ye shall be able to be builded up unto the faith given to you, {which is the mother of us all,} while hope followeth after and love goeth before--love toward God and Christ and toward our neighbour.
3:4 For if any man be occupied with these, he hath fulfilled the commandment of righteousness;
3:5 for he that hath love is far from all sin.
4:1 {But the love of money is the beginning of all troubles.}
4:2 Knowing therefore that {we brought nothing into the world neither can we carry anything out,} let us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness, and let us teach ourselves first to walk in the commandment of the Lord;
4:3 and then our wives also, to walk in the faith that hath been given unto them and in love and purity, cherishing their own husbands in all truth and loving all men equally in all chastity, and to train their children in the training of the fear of God.
4:4 Our widows must be sober-minded as touching the faith of the Lord, making intercession without ceasing for all men, abstaining from all calumny, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and every evil thing, knowing that they are God's altar, and that all sacrifices are carefully inspected, and nothing escapeth Him either of their thoughts or intents or any of the secret things of the heart.
5:1 Knowing then that {God is not mocked,} we ought to walk worthily of Him commandment and His glory.
5:2 In like manner deacons should be blameless in the presence of His righteousness, as deacons of God and Christ and not of men;
5:3 not calumniators, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord who became {a minister (deacon) of all.}
5:4 For if we be well pleasing unto Him in this present world, we shall receive the future world also, according as He promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we conduct ourselves worthily of Him {we shall also reign with Him,} if indeed we have faith.
5:5 In like manner also the younger men must be blameless in all things, caring for purity before everything and curbing themselves from every evil.
5:6 For it is a good thing to refrain from lusts in the world, for every {lust warreth against the Spirit,} and {neither whoremongers nor effeminate persons nor defilers of themselves with men shall inherit the kingdom of God,} neither they that do untoward things.
5:7 Wherefore it is right to abstain from all these things, submitting yourselves to the presbyters and deacons as to God and Christ.
5:8 The virgins must walk in a blameless and pure conscience.
6:1 And the presbyters also must be compassionate, merciful towards all men, {turning back the sheep that are gone astray,} visiting all the infirm, not neglecting a widow or an orphan or a poor man:
6:2 but {providing always for that which is honorable in the sight of God and of men,} abstaining from all anger, respect of persons, unrighteous judgment, being far from all love of money, not quick to believe anything against any man, not hasty in judgment, knowing that we all are debtors of sin.
6:3 If then we entreat the Lord that He would forgive us, we also ought to forgive:
6:4 for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and we must {all stand at the judgment-seat of Christ,} and {each man must give an account of himself.}
6:5 Let us therefore so serve Him with fear and all reverence, as He himself gave commandment and the Apostles who preached the Gospel to us and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of our Lord;
6:6 being zealous as touching that which is good, abstaining from offences and from the false brethren and from them that bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who lead foolish men astray.
7:1 For every one {who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist:}
7:2 and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil;
7:3 and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the first-born of Satan.
7:4 Wherefore let us forsake the vain doing of the many and their false teachings, and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning, {being sober unto prayer} and constant in fastings, entreating the all-seeing God with supplications that He {bring us not into temptation,} according as the Lord said, {The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.}
8:1 Let us therefore without ceasing hold fast by our hope and by the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ who {took up our sins in His own body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,} but for our sakes He endured all things, that we might live in Him.
8:2 Let us therefore become imitators of His endurance;
8:3 and if we should suffer for His name's sake, let us glorify Him.
8:4 For He gave this example to us in His own person, and we believed this.
9:1 I exhort you all therefore to be obedient unto the word of righteousness and to practise all endurance, which also ye saw with your own eyes in the blessed Ignatius and Zosimus and Rufus, yea and in others also who came from among yourselves, as well as in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles;
9:2 being persuaded that all these {ran not in vain} but in faith and righteousness, and that they are in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered.
9:3 For they {loved not the present world,} but Him that died for our sakes and was raised by God for us.
10:1 Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord, {being firm in the faith} and {immovable, in love of the brotherhood kindly affectioned one to another,} partners with the truth, {forestalling one another} in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man.
10:2 {When ye are able to do good,} defer it not, for {Pitifulness delivereth from death.
10:3 Be ye all subject one to another, having your conversation} unblameable {among the Gentiles, that from your good works} both ye may receive praise and the Lord may not be blasphemed in you.
10:4 But {woe to him through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed.}
10:5 Therefore teach all men soberness, in which ye yourselves also walk.
11:1 I was exceedingly grieved for Valens, who aforetime was a presbyter among you, because he is so ignorant of the office which was given unto him.
11:2 I warn you therefore that ye refrain from covetousness, and that ye be pure and truthful.
11:3 Refrain from all evil.
11:4 But he who cannot govern himself in these things, how doth he enjoin this upon another? If a man refrain not from covetousness, he shall be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as one of the Gentiles who {know not the judgment of the Lord.
11:5 Nay, know we not, that the saints shall judge the world,} as Paul teacheth? But I have not found any such thing in you, neither have heard thereof, among whom the blessed Paul laboured, who were his {letters} in the beginning.
11:6 For {he boasteth of you in} all those {churches} which alone at that time knew God;
11:7 for we knew Him not as yet.
11:8 Therefore I am exceedingly grieved for him and for his wife, unto whom may the Lord grant true repentance.
11:9 Be ye therefore yourselves also sober herein, and {hold not such as enemies,} but restore them as frail and erring members, that ye may save the whole body of you.
11:10 For so doing, ye do edify one another.
12:1 For I am persuaded that ye are well trained in the sacred writings, and nothing is hidden from you.
12:2 But to myself this is not granted.
12:3 Only, as it is said in these scriptures, {Be ye angry and sin not,} and {Let not the sun set on your wrath.}
12:4 Blessed is he that remembereth this;
12:5 and I trust that this is in you.
12:6 Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High-priest Himself, the [Son of] God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness and in all avoidance of wrath and in forbearance and long suffering and in patient endurance and in purity;
12:7 and may He grant unto you a lot and portion among His saints, and to us with you, and to all that are under heaven, who shall believe on our Lord and God Jesus Christ and on His Father {that raised Him from the dead.
12:8 Pray for all the saints.}
12:9 Pray also {for kings} and powers and princes, and {for them that persecute} and hat {you,} and for {the enemies of the cross,} that your fruit may be {manifest among all men,} that ye may be perfect in Him.
13:1 Ye wrote to me, both ye yourselves and Ignatius, asking that if any one should go to Syria he might carry thither the letters from you.
13:2 And this I will do, if I get a fit opportunity, either I myself, or he whom I shall send to be ambassador on your behalf also.
13:3 The letters of Ignatius which were sent to us by him, and others as many as we had by us, we send unto you, according as ye gave charge;
13:4 the which are subjoined to this letter;
13:5 from which ye will be able to gain great advantage.
13:6 For they comprise faith and endurance and every kind of edification, which pertaineth unto our Lord.
13:7 Moreover concerning Ignatius himself and those that were with him, if ye have any sure tidings, certify us.
14:1 I write these things to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you recently and now commend unto you:
14:2 for he hath walked blamelessly with us;
14:3 and I believe also with you in like manner.
14:4 But ye shall have his sister commended, when she shall come to you.
14:5 Fare ye well in the Lord Jesus Christ in grace, ye and all yours. Amen.
THE EPISTLE OF MATHETES TO DIOGNETUS
CHAP. I. OCCASION OF THE EPISTLE.

SINCE I see thee, most excellent Diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping God prevalent among the Christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what God they trust in, and what form of religion they observe,[1] so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise death, while they neither esteem those to be gods that are reckoned such by the Greeks, nor hold to the superstition of the Jews; and what is the affection which they cherish among themselves; and why, in fine, this new kind or practice [of piety] has only now entered into the world,[2] and not long ago; I cordially welcome this thy desire, and I implore God, who enables us both to speak and to hear, to grant to me so to speak, that, above all, I may hear you have been edified,[3] and to you so to hear, that I who speak may have no cause of regret for having done so.
CHAP. II.THE VANITY OF IDOLS.
Come, then, after you have freed[4] yourself from all prejudices possessing your mind, and laid aside what you have been accustomed to, as something apt to deceive[5] you, and being made, as if from the beginning, a new man, inasmuch as, according to your own confession, you are to be the hearer of a new [system of] doctrine; come and contemplate, not with your eyes only, but with your understanding, the substance and the form[6] of those whom ye declare and deem to be gods. Is not one of them a stone similar to that on which we tread? Is[7] not a second brass, in no way superior to those vessels which are constructed for our ordinary use? Is not a third wood, and that already rotten? Is not a fourth silver, which needs a man to watch it, lest it be stolen? Is not a fifth iron, consumed by rust? Is not a sixth earthenware, in no degree more valuable than that which is formed for the humblest purposes? Are not all these of corruptible matter? Are they not fabricated by means of iron and fire? Did not the sculptor fashion one of them, the brazier a second, the silversmith a third, and the potter a fourth? Was not every one of them, before they were formed by the arts of these [workmen] into the shape of these [gods], each in its[8] own way subject to change? Would not those things which are now vessels, formed of the same materials, become like to such, if they met with the same artificers? Might not these, which are now worshipped by you, again be made by men vessels similar to others? Are they not all deaf? Are they not blind? Are they not without life? Are they not destitute of feeling? Are they not incapable of motion? Are they not all liable to rot? Are they not all corruptible? These things ye call gods; these ye serve; these ye worship; and ye become altogether like to them. For this reason ye hate the Christians, because they do not deem these to be gods. But do not ye yourselves, who now think and suppose [such to be gods], much more cast contempt upon them than they [the Christians do]? Do ye not much more mock and insult them, when ye worship those that are made of stone and earthenware, without appointing any persons to guard them; but those made of silver and gold ye shut up by night, and appoint watchers to look after them by day, lest they be stolen? And by those gifts which ye mean to present to them, do ye not, if they are possessed of sense, rather punish [than honour] them? But if, on the other hand, they are destitute of sense, ye convict them of this fact, while ye worship them with blood and the smoke of sacrifices. Let any one of you suffer such indignities![9] Let any one of you endure to have such things done to himself! But not a single human being will, unless compelled to it, endure such treatment, since he is endowed with sense and reason. A stone, however, readily bears it, seeing it is insensible. Certainly you do not show [by your[1] conduct] that he [your God] is possessed of sense. And as to the fact that Christians are not accustomed to serve such gods, I might easily find many other things to say; but if even what has been said does not seem to any one sufficient, I deem it idle to say anything further.
CHAP. III.SUPERSTITIONS OF THE JEWS.
And next, I imagine that you are most desirous of hearing something on this point, that the Christians do not observe the same forms of divine worship as do the Jews. The Jews, then, if they abstain from the kind of service above described, and deem it proper to worship one God as being Lord of all, [are right]; but if they offer Him worship in the way which we have described, they greatly err. For while the Gentiles, by offering such things to those that are destitute of sense and hearing, furnish an example of madness; they, on the other hand by thinking to offer these things to God as if He needed them, might justly reckon it rather an act of folly than of divine worship. For He that made heaven and earth, and all that is therein, and gives to us all the things of which we stand in need, certainly requires none of those things which He Himself bestows on such as think of furnishing them to Him. But those who imagine that, by means of blood, and the smoke of sacrifices and burntofferings, they offer sacrifices [acceptable] to Him, and that by such honours they show Him respect,these, by[2] supposing that they can give anything to Him who stands in need of nothing, appear to me in no respect to differ from those who studiously confer the same honour on things destitute of sense, and which therefore are unable to enjoy such honours.
CHAP. IV.THE OTHER OBSERVANCES OF THE JEWS.
But as to their scrupulosity concerning meats, and their superstition as respects the Sabbaths, and their boasting about circumcision, and their fancies about fasting and the new moons, which are utterly ridiculous and unworthy of notice,I do not[3] think that you require to learn anything from me. For, to accept some of those things which have been formed by God for the use of men as properly formed, and to reject others as useless and redundant,how can this be lawful? And to speak falsely of God, as if He forbade us to do what is good on the Sabbathdays,how is not this impious? And to glory in the circumcision[4] of the flesh as a proof of election, and as if, on account of it, they were specially beloved by God,how is it not a subject of ridicule? And as to their observing months and days,[5] as if waiting upon[6] the stars and the moon, and their distributing,[7] according to their own tendencies, the appointments of God, and the vicissitudes of the seasons, some for festivities,[8] and others for mourning,who would deem this a part of divine worship, and not much rather a manifestation of folly? I suppose, then, you are sufficiently convinced that the ChriStians properly abstain from the vanity and error common [to both Jews and Gentiles], and from the busybody spirit and vain boasting of the Jews; but you must not hope to learn the mystery of their peculiar mode of worshipping God from any mortal.
CHAP. V.THE MANNERS OF THE CHRISTIANS.
For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking[9] method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring.[10] They have a common table, but not a common bed.[1] They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh.[2] They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven.[3] They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life.[4] They are poor, yet make many rich;[5] they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless;[6] they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evildoers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.
CHAP. VI.THE RELATION OF CHRISTIANS TO THE WORLD.
To sum up all in one wordwhat the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world.[7] The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible. The flesh hates the soul, and wars against it,[8] though itself suffering no injury, because it is prevented from enjoying pleasures; the world also hates the Christians, though in nowise injured, because they abjure pleasures. The soul loves the flesh that hates it, and [loves also] the members; Christians likewise love those that hate them. The soul is imprisoned in the body, yet preserves[9] that very body; and Christians are confined in the world as in a prison, and yet they are the preservers[9] of the world. The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tabernacle; and Christians dwell as sojourners in corruptible [bodies], looking for an incorruptible dwelling[10] in the heavens. The soul, when but illprovided with food and drink, becomes better; in like manner, the Christians, though subjected day by day to punishment, increase the more in number.[11] God has assigned them this illustrious position, which it were unlawful for them to forsake.
CHAP. VII.THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST.
For, as I said, this was no mere earthly invention which was delivered to them, nor is it a mere human system of opinion, which they judge it right to preserve so carefully, nor has a dispensation of mere human mysteries been committed to them, but truly God Himself, who is almighty, the Creator of all things, and invisible, has sent from heaven, and placed among men, [Him who is] the truth, and the holy and incomprehensible Word, and has firmly established Him in their hearts. He did not, as one might have imagined, send to men any servant, or angel, or ruler, or any one of those who bear sway over earthly things, or one of those to whom the government of things in the heavens has been entrusted, but the very Creator and Fashioner of all thingsby whom He made the heavensby whom he enclosed the sea within its proper boundswhose ordinances[12] all the stars[13] faithfully observefrom whom the sun[14] has received the measure of his daily course to be observed[15]whom the moon obeys, being commanded to shine in the night, and whom the stars also obey, following the moon in her course; by whom all things have been arranged, and placed within their proper limits, and to whom all are subjectthe heavens and the things that are therein, the earth and the things that are therein, the sea and the things that are thereinfire, air, and the abyssthe things which are in the heights, the things which are in the depths, and the things which lie between. This [messenger] He sent to them. Was it then, as one[16] might conceive, for the purpose of exercising tyranny, or of inspiring fear and terror? By no means, but under the influence of clemency and meekness. As a king sends his son, who is also a king, so sent He Him; as God[17] He sent Him; as to men He sent Him; as a Saviour He sent Him, and as seeking to persuade, not to compel us; for violence has no place in the character of God. As calling us He sent Him, not as vengefully pursuing us; as loving us He sent Him, not as judging us. For He will yet send Him to judge us, and who shall endure His appearing?[18] ... Do you not see them exposed to wild beasts, that they may be persuaded to deny the Lord, and yet not overcome? Do you not see that the more of them are punished, the greater becomes the number of the rest? This does not seem to be the work of man: this is the power of God; these are the evidences of His manifestation.
CHAP. VIII.THE MISERABLE STATE OF MEN BEFORE THE COMING OF THE WORD.
For, who of men at all understood before His coming what God is? Do you accept of the vain and silly doctrines of those who are deemed trustworthy philosophers? of whom some said that fire was God, calling that God to which they themselves were by and by to come; and some water; and others some other of the elements formed by God. But if any one of these theories be worthy of approbation, every one of the rest of created things might also be declared to be God. But such declarations are simply the startling and erroneous utterances of deceivers;[1] and no man has either seen Him, or made Him known,[2] but He has revealed Himself. And He has manifested Himself through faith, to which alone it is given to behold God. For God, the Lord and Fashioner of all things, who made all things, and assigned them their several positions, proved Himself not merely a friend of mankind, but also longsuffering [in His dealings with them.] Yea, He was always of such a character, and still is, and will ever be, kind and good, and free from wrath, and true, and the only one who is [absolutely] good;[3] and He formed in His mind a great and unspeakable conception, which He communicated to His Son alone. As long, then, as He held and preserved His own wise counsel in concealment,[4] He appeared to neglect us, and to have no care over us. But after He revealed and laid open, through His beloved Son, the things which had been prepared from the beginning, He conferred every blessing[5] all at once upon us, so that we should both share in His benefits, and see and be active[6] [in His service]. Who of us would ever have expected these things? He was aware, then, of all things in His own mind, along with His Son, according to the relation[7] subsisting between them.
CHAP. IX.WHY THE SON WAS SENT SO LATE.
As long then as the former time[8] endured, He permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts. This was not that He at all delighted in our sins, but that He simply endured them; nor that He approved the time of working iniquity which then was, but that He sought to form a mind conscious of righteousness,[9] so that being convinced in that time of our unworthiness of attaining life through our own works, it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward,[10] punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how[11] the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great longsuffering, and bore with us,[12] He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors![13] Having therefore convinced us in the former time[14] that our nature was unable to attain to life, and having now revealed the Saviour who is able to save even those things which it was [formerly] impossible to save, by both these facts He desired to lead us to trust in His kindness, to esteem Him our Nourisher, Father, Teacher, Counsellor, Healer, our Wisdom, Light, Honour, Glory, Power, and Life, so that we should not be anxious[15] concerning clothing and food.
CHAP. X.THE BLESSINGS THAT WILL FLOW FROM FAITH.
If you also desire [to possess] this faith, you likewise shall receive first of all the knowledge of the Father.[1] For God has loved mankind, on whose account He made the world, to whom He rendered subject all the things that are in it,[2] to whom He gave reason and understanding, to whom alone He imparted the privilege of looking upwards to Himself, whom He formed after His own image, to whom He sent His onlybegotten Son, to whom He has promised a kingdom in heaven, and will give it to those who have loved Him. And when you have attained this knowledge, with what joy do you think you will be filled? Or, how will you love Him who has first so loved you? And if you love Him, you will be an imitator of His kindness. And do not wonder that a man may become an imitator of God. He can, if he is willing. For it is not by ruling over his neighbours, or by seeking to hold the supremacy over those that are weaker, or by being rich, and showing violence towards those that are inferior, that happiness is found; nor can any one by these things become an imitator of God. But these things do not at all constitute His majesty. On the contrary he who takes upon himself the burden of his neighbour; he who, in whatsoever respect he may be superior, is ready to benefit another who is deficient; he who, whatsoever things he has received from God, by distributing these to the needy, becomes a god to those who receive [his benefits]: he is an imitator of God. Then thou shalt see, while still on earth, that God in the heavens rules over [the universe]; then thou shall begin to speak the mysteries of God; then shalt thou both love and admire those that suffer punishment because they will not deny God; then shall thou condemn the deceit and error of the world when thou shall know what it is to live truly in heaven, when thou shalt despise that which is here esteemed to be death, when thou shalt fear what is truly death, which is reserved for those who shall be condemned to the eternal fire, which shall afflict those even to the end that are committed to it. Then shalt thou admire those who for righteousness' sake endure the fire that is but for a moment, and shalt count them happy when thou shalt know [the nature of] that fire.
CHAP. XI.THESE THINGS ARE WORTHY TO BE KNOWN AND BELIEVED.
I do not speak of things strange to me, nor do I aim at anything inconsistent with right reason;[3] but having been a disciple of the Apostles, I am become a teacher of the Gentiles. I minister the things delivered to me to those that are disciples worthy of the truth. For who that is rightly taught and begotten by the loving[4] Word, would not seek to learn accurately the things which have been clearly shown by the Word to His disciples, to whom the Word being manifested has revealed them, speaking plainly [to them], not understood indeed by the unbelieving, but conversing with the disciples, who, being esteemed faithful by Him, acquired a knowledge of the mysteries of the Father? For which s reason He sent the Word, that He might be manifested to the world; and He, being despised by the people [of the Jews], was, when preached by the Apostles, believed on by the Gentiles.[6] This is He who was from the beginning, who appeared as if new, and was found old, and yet who is ever born afresh in the hearts of the saints. This is He who, being from everlasting, is today called[7] the Son; through whom the Church is enriched, and grace, widely spread, increases in the saints. furnishing understanding, revealing mysteries, announcing times, rejoicing over the faithful. giving[8] to those that seek, by whom the limits of faith are not broken through, nor the boundaries set by the fathers passed over. Then the fear of the law is chanted, and the grace of the prophets is known, and the faith of the gospels is established, and the tradition of the Apostles is preserved, and the grace of the Church exults; which grace if you grieve not, you shall know those things which the Word teaches, by whom He wills, and when He pleases. For whatever things we are moved to utter by the will of the Word commanding us, we communicate to you with pains, and from a love of the things that have been revealed to us.
CHAP. XII.THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE TO TRUE SPIRITUAL LIFE.
When you have read and carefully listened to these things, you shall know what God bestows on such as rightly love Him, being made [as ye are] a paradise of delight, presenting[9] in yourselves a tree bearing all kinds of produce and flourishing well, being adorned with various fruits. For in this place[10] the tree of knowledge and the tree of life have been planted; but it is not the tree of knowledge that destroys it is disobedience that proves destructive. Nor truly are those words without significance which are written, how God from the beginning planted the tree of life in the midst of paradise, revealing through knowledge the way to life,[1] and when those who were first formed did not use this [knowledge] properly, they were, through the fraud of the Serpent, stripped naked.[2] For neither can life exist without knowledge, nor is knowledge secure without life. Wherefore both were planted close together. The Apostle, perceiving the force [of this conjunction], and blaming that knowledge which, without true doctrine, is admitted to influence life,[3] declares, "Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth." For he who thinks he knows anything without true knowledge, and such as is witnessed to by life, knows nothing, but is deceived by the Serpent, as not[4] loving life. But he who combines knowledge with fear, and seeks after life, plants in hope, looking for fruit. Let your heart be your wisdom; and let your life be true knowledge[5] inwardly received. Bearing this tree and displaying its fruit, thou shalt always gather[6] in those things which are desired by God, which the Serpent cannot reach, and to which deception does not approach; nor is Eve then corrupted,[7] but is trusted as a virgin; and salvation is manifested, and the Apostles are filled with understanding, and the Passover[8] of the Lord advances, and the choirs[9] are gathered together, and are arranged in proper order, and the Word rejoices in teaching the saints,by whom the Father is glorified: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.[10]
First Clement
APOSTOLIC FATHERS (trans. and ed., J. B. Lightfoot)

1:1 THE EPISTLE OF ST. CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS
1:2 The Church of God which sojourneth in Rome to the Church of God which sojourneth in Corinth,
1:3 to them which are called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 Grace to you and peace from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied.
1:5 By reason of the sudden and repeated calamities and reverses which are befalling us, brethren, we consider that we have been somewhat tardy in giving heed to the matters of dispute that have arisen among you, dearly beloved,
1:6 and to the detestable and unholy sedition, so alien and strange to the elect of God,
1:7 which a few headstrong and self-willed persons have kindled to such a pitch of madness that your name, once revered and renowned and lovely in the sight of all men, hath been greatly reviled.
1:8 For who that had sojourned among you did not approve your most virtuous and stedfast faith?
1:9 Who did not admire your sober and forbearing piety in Christ?
1:10 Who did not publish abroad your magnificent disposition of hospitality?
1:11 Who did not congratulate you on your perfect and sound knowledge?
1:12 For ye did all things without respect of persons, and ye walked after the ordinances of God, submitting yourselves to your rulers and rendering to the older men among you the honour which is their due.
1:13 On the young too ye enjoined modest and seemly thoughts and the women ye charged to perform all their duties in a blameless and seemly and pure conscience, cherishing their own husbands, as is meet;
1:14 and ye taught them to keep in the rule of obedience, and to manage the affairs of their household in seemliness, with all discretion.
2:1 And ye were all lowly in mind and free from arrogance, yielding rather than claiming submission, {more glad to give than to receive}, and content with the provisions which God supplieth.
2:2 And giving heed unto His words, ye laid them up diligently in your hearts, and His sufferings were before your eyes.
2:3 Thus a profound and rich peace was given to all, and an insatiable desire of doing good.
2:4 An abundant outpouring also of the Holy Spirit fell upon all;
2:5 and, being full of holy counsel, in excellent zeal and with a pious confidence ye stretched out your hands to Almighty God, supplicating Him to be propitious, if unwillingly ye had committed any sin.
2:6 Ye had conflict day and night for all the brotherhood, that the number of His elect might be saved with fearfulness and intentness of mind.
2:7 Ye were sincere and simple and free from malice one towards another.
2:8 Every sedition and every schism was abominable to you.
2:9 Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours ye judged their shortcomings to be your own.
2:10 Ye repented not of any welldoing, but were {ready unto every good work}.
2:11 Being adorned with a most virtuous and honourable life, ye performed all your duties in the fear of Him.
2:12 The commandments and the ordinances of the Lord were {written on the tables of your hearts}.
3:1 All glory and enlargement was given unto you, and that was fulfilled which is written;
3:2 {My beloved ate and drank and was enlarged and waxed fat and kicked}.
3:3 Hence come jealousy and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and tumult, war and captivity.
3:4 So men were stirred up, {the mean against the honourable}, the ill-reputed against the highly-reputed, the foolish against the wise, {the young against the elder}.
3:5 For this cause {righteousness} and {peace stand aloof}, while each man hath forsaken the fear of the Lord and become purblind in the faith of Him,
3:6 neither walketh in the ordinances of His commandments nor liveth according to that which becometh Christ,
3:7 but each goeth after the lusts of his evil heart, seeing that they have conceived an unrighteous and ungodly jealousy, through which also {death entered into the world}.
4:1 For so it is written, {And it came to pass after certain days that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God, and Abel he also brought of the firstlings of the sheep and of their fatness.
4:2 And God looked upon Abel and upon his gifts, but unto Cain and unto his sacrifices He gave no heed.
4:3 And Cain sorrowed exceedingly, and his countenance fell.
4:4 And God said unto Cain, Wherefore art thou very sorrowful?
4:5 and wherefore did thy countenance fall?
4:6 If thou hast offered aright and hast not divided aright, didst thou not sin?
4:7 Hold thy peace.
4:8 Unto thee shall he turn, and thou shalt rule over him.
4:9 And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go over unto the plain.
4:10 And it came to pass, while they were in the plain, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him}.
4:11 Ye see, brethren, jealousy and envy wrought a brother's murder.
4:12 By reason of jealousy our father Jacob ran away from the face of Esau his brother.
4:13 Jealousy caused Joseph to be persecuted even unto death, and to come even unto bondage.
4:14 Jealousy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt while it was said to him by his own countryman, {Who made thee a judge or a decider over us?
4:15 Wouldest thou slay me, even as yesterday thou slewest the Egyptian}?
4:16 By reason of jealousy Aaron and Miriam were lodged outside the camp.
4:17 Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiram down alive to hades, because they made sedition against Moses the servant of God.
4:18 By reason of jealousy David was envied not only by the Philistines, but was persecuted also by Saul [king of Israel].
5:1 But, to pass from the examples of ancient days, let us come to those champions who lived nearest to our time.
5:2 Let us set before us the noble examples which belong to our generation.
5:3 By reason of jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted, and contended even unto death.
5:4 Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles.
5:5 There was Peter who by reason of unrighteous jealousy endured not one nor two but many labours, and thus having borne his testimony went to his appointed place of glory.
5:6 By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance.
5:7 After that he had been seven times in bonds, had been driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached in the East and in the West,
5:8 he won the noble renown which was the reward of his faith, having taught righteousness unto the whole world and having reached the farthest bounds of the West;
5:9 and when he had borne his testimony before the rulers, so he departed from the world and went unto the holy place, having been found a notable pattern of patient endurance.
6:1 Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the elect, who through many indignities and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, set a brave example among ourselves.
6:2 By reason of jealousy women being persecuted, after that they had suffered cruel and unholy insults as Danaids and Dircae,
6:3 safely reached the goal in the race of faith, and received a noble reward, feeble though they were in body.
6:4 Jealousy hath estranged wives from their husbands and changed the saying of our father Adam, {This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh}.
6:5 Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities and uprooted great nations.
7:1 These things, dearly beloved, we write, not only as admonishing you, but also as putting ourselves in remembrance.
7:2 For we are in the same lists, and the same contest awaiteth us.
7:3 Wherefore let us forsake idle and vain thoughts;
7:4 and let us conform to the glorious and venerable rule which hath been handed down to us;
7:5 and let us see what is good and what is pleasant and what is acceptable in the sight of Him that made us.
7:6 Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how precious it is unto His Father, because being shed for our salvation it won for the whole world the grace of repentance.
7:7 Let us review all the generations in turn, and learn how from generation to generation the Master hath given a place for repentance unto them that desire to turn to Him.
7:8 Noah preached repentance, and they that obeyed were saved.
7:9 Jonah preached destruction unto the men of Nineveh;
7:10 but they, repenting of their sins, obtained pardon of God by their supplications and received salvation, albeit they were aliens from God.
8:1 The ministers of the grace of God through the Holy Spirit spake concerning repentance.
8:2 Yea and the Master of the universe Himself spake concerning repentance with an oath ;
8:3 {For, as I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, so much as his repentance};
8:4 and He added also a merciful judgment:
8:5 {Repent ye, O house of Israel, of your iniquity;
8:6 say unto the sons of My people, Though your sins reach from the earth even unto the heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth,
8:7 and ye turn unto Me with your whole heart and say Father, I will give ear unto you as unto a holy people}.
8:8 And in another place He saith on this wise, {Wash, be ye clean.
8:9 Put away your iniquities from your souls out of My sight.
8:10 Cease from your iniquities;
8:11 learn to do good;
8:12 seek out judgment;
8:13 defend him that is wronged:
8:14 give judgment for the orphan, and execute righteousness for the widow;
8:15 and come and let us reason together, saith He;
8:16 and though your sins be as crimson, I will make them white as snow;
8:17 and though they be as scarlet, I will make them white as wool.
8:18 And if ye be willing and will hearken unto Me, ye shall eat the good things of the earth;
8:19 but if ye be not wiling, neither hearken unto Me, a sword shall devour you;
8:20 for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things}.
8:21 Seeing then that He desireth all His beloved to be partakers of repentance, He confirmed it by an act of His almighty will.
9:1 Wherefore let us be obedient unto His excellent and glorious bill;
9:2 and presenting ourselves as suppliants of His mercy and goodness, let us fall down before Him and betake ourselves unto His compassions, forsaking the vain toil and the strife and the jealousy which leadeth unto death.
9:3 Let us fix our eyes on tbem that ministered perfectly unto His excellent glory.
9:4 Let us set before us Enoch, who being found righteous in obedience was translated, and his death was not found.
9:5 Noah, being found faithful, by his ministration preached regeneration unto the world, and through him the Master saved the living creatures that entered into the ark in concord.
10:1 Abraham, who was called the `friend,' was found faithful in that he rendered obedience unto the words of God.
10:2 He through obedience went forth from his land and from his kindred and from his father's house, that leaving a scanty land and a feeble kindred and a mean house he might inherit the promises of God.
10:3 For He saith unto him;
10:4 {Go forth from thy land and from thy kindred and from thy father's house unto the land which I shall show thee, and I will make thee into a great nation, and I will bless thee and will magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.
10:5 And I will bless them that bless thee, and I will curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed}.
10:6 And again, when he was parted from Lot, God said unto him ;
10:7 {Look up with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art unto the north and the south and the sunrise and the sea;
10:8 for all the land which thou seest, I will give it unto thee and to thy seed for ever, and I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth.
10:9 If any man can count the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be counted}.
10:10 And again He saith;
10:11 {God led Abraham forth and said unto him, Look up unto the heaven and count the stars, and see whether thou canst number them.
10:12 So shall thy seed be.
10:13 And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness}.
10:14 For his faith and hospitality a son was given unto him in old age, and by obedience he offered him a sacrifice unto God on one of the mountains which He showed him.
11:1 For his hospitality and godliness Lot was saved from Sodom, when all the country round about was judged by fire and brimstone;
11:2 the Master having thus foreshown that He forsaketh not them which set their hope on Him, but appointeth unto punishment and torment them which swerve aside.
11:3 For when his wife had gone forth with him, being otherwise-minded and not in accord,
11:4 she was appointed for a sign hereunto, so that she became a pillar of salt unto this day,
11:5 that it might be known unto all men that they which are double-minded and they which doubt concerning the power of God are set for a judgment and for a token unto all the generations.
12:1 For her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved.
12:2 For when the spies were sent forth unto Jericho by Joshua the son of Nun, the king of the land perceived that they were come to spy out his country, and sent forth men to seize them, that being seized they might be put to death.
12:3 So the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them in the upper chamber under the flaxstalks.
12:4 And when the messengers of the king came near and said, {The spies of our land entered in unto thee:
12:5 bring them forth, for the king so ordereth}:
12:6 then she answered, {The men truly, whom ye seek, entered in unto me, but they departed forthwith and are journeying on the way;
12:7 and she pointed out to them the opposite road}.
12:8 And she said unto the men, {Of a surety I perceive that the Lord your God delivereth this city unto you;
12:9 for the fear and the dread of you is fallen upon the inhabitants thereof.
12:10 When therefore it shall come to pass that ye take it, save me and the house of my father}.
12:11 And they said unto her, {It shall be even so as thou hast spoken unto us.
12:12 Whensoever therefore thou perceivest that we are coming, thou shalt gather all thy folk beneath thy roof and they shall be saved;
12:13 for as many as shall be found without the house shall perish}.
12:14 And moreover they gave her a sign, that she should hang out from her house a scarlet thread, thereby showing beforehand that through the blood of the Lord there shall be redemption unto all them that believe and hope on God.
12:15 Ye see, dearly beloved, not only faith, but prophecy, is found in the woman.
13:1 Let us therefore be lowly-minded, brethren, laying aside all arrogance and conceit and folly and anger, and let us do that which is written.
13:2 For the Holy Ghost saith, {Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, neither the rich in his riches;
13:3 but he that boasteth let hid boast in the Lord that he may seek Him out, and do judgment and righteousness};
13:4 most of all remembering the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching forbearance and long-suffering:
13:5 for thus He spake;
13:6 {Have mercy, that ye may receive mercy:
13:7 forgive, that it maybe forgiven to you.
13:8 As ye do, so shall it be done to you.
13:9 As ye give, so shall it be given unto you.
13:10 As ye judge, so shall ye be judged.
13:11 As ye show kindness, so shall kindness be showed unto you.
13:12 With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured withal to you}.
13:13 With this commandment and these precepts let us confirm ourselves, that we may walk in obedience to His hallowed words, with lowliness of mind.
13:14 For the holy word saith, {Upon whom shall I look, save upon him that is gentle and quiet and feareth Mine oracles}?
14:1 Therefore it is right and proper, brethren, that we should be obedient unto God, rather than follow those who in arrogance and unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy.
14:2 For we shall bring upon us no common harm, but rather great peril,
14:3 if we surrender ourselves recklessly to the purposes of men who launch out into strife and seditions, so as to estrange us from that which is right.
14:4 Let us be good one towards another according to the compassion and sweetness of Him that made us.
14:5 For it is written:
14:6 {The good shall be dwellers in the land, and the innocent shall be left on it;
14:7 but they that transgress shall be destroyed utterly from it}.
14:8 And again He saith;
14:9 {I saw the ungodly lifted up on high and exalted as the cedars of Lebanon.
14:10 And I passed by, and behold he was not, and I sought out his place, and I found it not.
14:11 Keep innocence and behold uprightness, for there is a remnant for the peaceful man}.
15:1 Therefore let us cleave unto them that practise peace with godliness, and not unto them that desire peace with dissimulation.
15:2 For He saith in a certain place;
15:3 {This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me;
15:4 and again, They blessed with their mouth, but they cursed with their heart}.
15:5 And again He saith, {They loved Him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto Him;
15:6 and their heart was not upright with Him, neither were they stedfast in His covenant.
15:7 For this cause let the deceitful lips be made dumb which speak iniquity against the righteous}.
15:8 And again;
15:9 {May the Lord utterly destroy all the deceitful lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things, even them that say, Let us magnify our tongue;
15:10 our lips are our own, who is lord over us?
15:11 For the misery of the needy and for the groaning of the poor I will now arise, saith the Lord.
15:12 I will set him in safety I will deal boldly by him}.
16:1 For Christ is with them that are lowly of mind, not with them that exalt themselves over the flock.
16:2 The sceptre [of the majesty] of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the pomp of arrogance or of pride, though He might have done so, but in lowliness of mind, according as the Holy Spirit spake concerning Him.
16:3 For He saith;
16:4 {Lord, who believed our report?
16:5 and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?
16:6 We announced Him in His presence.
16:7 As a child was He, as a root in a thirsty ground.
16:8 There is no form in Him, neither glory.
16:9 And we beheld Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was mean, lacking more than the form of men.
16:10 He was a man of stripes and of toil and knowing how to bear infirmity:
16:11 for His face is turned away.
16:12 He was dishonoured and held of no account.
16:13 He beareth our sins and suffereth pain for our sakes and we accounted Him to be in toil and in stripes and in affliction.
16:14 And He was wounded for our sins and hath been afflicted for our iniquities.
16:15 The chastisement of our peace is upon Him.
16:16 With His bruises we were healed.
16:17 We all went astray like sheep, each man went astray in his own path:
16:18 and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins.
16:19 And He openeth not His mouth, because He is afflicted.
16:20 As a sheep He was led to slaughter;
16:21 and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so openeth He not His mouth.
16:22 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away.
16:23 His generation who shall declare?
16:24 For His life is taken away from the earth.
16:25 For the iniquities of my people He is come to death.
16:26 And I will give the wicked for His burial, and the rich for His death;
16:27 for He wrought no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth.
16:28 And the Lord desireth to cleanse Him from His stripes.
16:29 If ye offer for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed.
16:30 And the Lord desireth to take away from the toil of His soul, to show Him light and to mould Him with understanding, to justify a Fust One that is a good servant unto many.
16:31 And He shall bear their sins.
16:32 Therefore He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoils of the strong;
16:33 because His soul was delivered unto death, and He was reckoned unto the transgressors;
16:34 and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered up}.
16:35 And again He Himself saith;
16:36 {But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and an outcast of the people.
16:37 All they that beheld me mocked at me;
16:38 they spake with their lips:
16:39 they wagged their heads, saying, He hoped on the Lord;
16:40 let Him deliver him, or let Him save him, for He desireth him}.
16:41 Ye see, dearly beloved, what is the pattern that hath been given unto us;
16:42 for, if the Lord was thus lowly of mind, what should we do, who through Him have been brought under the yoke of His grace?
17:1 Let us be imitators also of them which went about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ.
17:2 We mean Elijah and Elisha and likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those men also that obtained a good report.
17:3 Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and was called the friend of God;
17:4 and looking stedfastly on the glory of God, he saith in lowliness of mind, {But I am dust and ashes}.
17:5 Moreover concerning Job also it is thus written;
17:6 {And Fob was righteous and unblameable, one that was true and honoured God and abstained from all evil}.
17:7 Yet he himself accuseth himself saying, {No man is clean from filth;
17:8 no, not though his life be but for a day}.
17:9 Moses was called {faithful in all His house}, and through his ministration God judged Egypt with the plagues and the torments which befel them.
17:10 Howbeit he also, though greatly glorified, yet spake no proud words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at the bush, {Who am I, that Thou sendest me?
17:11 Nay, I am feeble of speech and slow of tongue}.
17:12 And again he saith, {But I am smoke from the pot}.
18:1 But what must we say of David that obtained a good report?
18:2 of whom God said, {I have found a man after My heart, David the son of Jesse:
18:3 with eternal mercy have I anointed him}.
18:4 Yet he too saith unto God;
18:5 {Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out mine iniquity.
18:6 Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
18:7 For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.
18:8 Against Thee only did I sin, and I wrought evil in Thy sight;
18:9 that Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and mayest conquer in Thy pleading.
18:10 For behold, in iniquities was I conceived, and in sins did my mother bear me.
18:11 For behold Thou hast loved truth the dark and hidden things of Thy wisdom hast Thou showed unto me.
18:12 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean.
18:13 Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow.
18:14 Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and gladness.
18:15 The bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.
18:16 Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
18:17 Make a clean heart within me, O God, and renew a right spirit in mine innermost parts.
18:18 Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
18:19 Restore unto me the joy of The salvation, and strengthen me with a princely spirit.
18:20 I will teach sinners Thy ways, and godless men shall be converted unto Thee.
18:21 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.
18:22 My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness.
18:23 Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall declare Thy praise.
18:24 For, if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it:
18:25 in whole burnt offerings Thou wilt have no pleasure.
18:26 A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit, a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise}.
19:1 The humility therefore and the submissiveness of so many and so great men,
19:2 who have thus obtained a good report, hath through obedience made better not only us but also the generations which were before us, even them that received His oracles in fear and truth.
19:3 Seeing then that we have been partakers of many great and glorious doings, let us hasten to return unto the goal of peace which hath been handed down to us from the beginning,
19:4 and let us look stedfastly unto the Father and Maker of the whole world, and cleave unto His splendid and excellent gifts of peace and benefits.
19:5 Let us behold Him in our mind, and let us look with the eyes of our soul unto His long-suffering will.
19:6 Let us note how free from anger He is towards all His creatures.
20:1 The heavens are moved by His direction and obey Him in peace.
20:2 Day and night accomplish the course assigned to them by Him, without hindrance one to another.
20:3 The sun and the moon and the dancing stars according to His appointment circle in harmony within the bounds assigned to them, without any swerving aside.
20:4 The earth, bearing fruit in fulfilment of His will at her proper seasons, putteth forth the food that supplieth abundantly both men and beasts and all living things which are thereupon, making no dissension,
20:5 neither altering anything which He hath decreed.
20:6 Moreover, the inscrutable depths of the abysses and the unutterable statutes of the nether regions are constrained by the same ordinances.
20:7 The basin of the boundless sea, gathered together by His workmanship {into its reservoirs}, passeth not the barriers wherewith it is surrounded;
20:8 but even as He ordered it, so it doeth.
20:9 For He said, {So far shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee}.
20:10 The ocean which is impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it, are directed by the same ordinances of the Master.
20:11 The seasons of spring and summer and autumn and winter give way in succession one to another in peace.
20:12 The winds in their several quarters at their proper season fulfil their ministry without disturbance;
20:13 and the everflowing fountains, created for enjoyment and health, without fail give their breasts which sustain the life for men.
20:14 Yea, the smallest of living things come together in concord and peace.
20:15 All these things the great Creator and Master of the universe ordered to be in peace and concord, doing good unto all things,
20:16 but far beyond the rest unto us who have taken refuge in His compassionate mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever and ever.
20:17 Amen.
21:1 Look ye, brethren, lest His benefits, which are many, turn unto judgment to all of us, if we walk not worthily of Him, and do those things which are good and wellpleasing in His sight with concord.
21:2 For He saith in a certain place, {The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the closets of the belly}.
21:3 Let us see how near He is, and how that nothing escapeth Him of our thoughts or our devices which we make.
21:4 It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from His will.
21:5 Let us rather give offence to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God.
21:6 Let us fear the Lord Jesus [Christ], whose blood was given for us.
21:7 Let us reverence our rulers;
21:8 let us honour our elders;
21:9 let us instruct our young men in the lesson of the fear of God.
21:10 Let us guide our women toward that which is good let them show forth their lovely disposition of purity ;
21:11 let them prove their sincere affection of gentleness ;
21:12 let them make manifest the moderation of their tongue through their silence;
21:13 let them show their love, not in factious preferences but without partiality towards all them that fear God, in holiness.
21:14 Let our children be partakers of the instruction which is in Christ:
21:15 let them learn how lowliness of mind prevaileth with God, what power chaste love hath with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and saveth all them that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness.
21:16 For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires;
21:17 whose breath is in us, and when He listeth, He shall take it away.
22:1 Now all these things the faith which is in Christ confirmeth :
22:2 for He Himself through the Holy Spirit thus inviteth us:
22:3 {Come, my children, hearken unto Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
22:4 What man is he that desireth life and loveth to see good days?
22:5 Make thy tongue to cease from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.
22:6 Turn aside from evil and do good.
22:7 Seek peace and ensue it.
22:8 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are turned to their prayers.
22:9 But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth.
22:10 The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his troubles.
22:11 Many are the troubles of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver him from them all}.
22:12 And again, {Many are the stripes of the sinner, but them that set their hope on the Lord mercy shall compass about}.
23:1 The Father, who is pitiful in all things, and ready to do good, hath compassion on them that fear Him,
23:2 and kindly and lovingly bestoweth His favours on them that draw nigh unto Him with a single mind.
23:3 Wherefore let us not be double-minded, neither let our soul indulge in idle humours respecting His exceeding and glorious gifts.
23:4 Let this scripture be far from us where He saith;
23:5 {Wretched are the double-minded, which doubt in their soul and say, These things we did hear in the days of our fathers also, and behold we have grown old, and none of these things hath befallen us.
23:6 Ye fools, compare yourselves unto a tree;
23:7 take a vine.
23:8 First it sheddeth its leaves, then a shoot cometh, then a leaf, then a flower, and after these a sour berry, then a full ripe grape.
23:9 } Ye see that in a little time the fruit of the tree attaineth unto mellowness.
23:10 Of a truth quickly and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, the scripture also bearing witness to it, saying;
23:11 {He shall come quickly and shall not tarry;
23:12 and the Lord shall come suddenly into His temple, even the Holy One, whom ye expect}.
24:1 Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the Master continually showeth unto us the resurrection that shall be hereafter;
24:2 whereof He made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from the dead.
24:3 Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection which happeneth at its proper season.
24:4 Day and night show unto us the resurrection.
24:5 The night falleth asleep, and day ariseth;
24:6 the day departeth, and night cometh on.
24:7 Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner the sowing taketh place.
24:8 {The sower goeth forth} and casteth into the earth each of the seeds ;
24:9 and these falling into the earth dry and bare decay :
24:10 then out of their decay the mightiness of the Master's providence raiseth them up, and from being one they increase manifold and bear fruit.
25:1 Let us consider the marvellous sign which is seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the parts about Arabia.
25:2 There is a bird, which is named the phoenix.
25:3 This, being the only one of its kind, liveth for five hundred years;
25:4 and when it hath now reached the time of its dissolution that it should die, it maketh for itself a coffin of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into the which in the fulness of time it entereth, and so it dieth.
25:5 But, as the flesh rotteth, a certain worm is engendered, which is nurtured from the moisture of the dead creature and putteth forth wings.
25:6 Then, when it is grown lusty, it taketh up that coffin where are the bones of its parent, and carrying them journeyeth from the country of Arabia even unto Egypt, to the place called the City of the Sun ;
25:7 and in the day time in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the Sun, it layeth them thereupon;
25:8 and this done, it setteth forth to return.
25:9 So the priests examine the registers of the times, and they find that it hath come when the five hundredth year is completed.
26:1 Do we then think it to be a great and marvellous thing, if the Creator of the universe shall bring about the resurrection of them that have served Him with holiness in the assurance of a good faith,
26:2 seeing that He showeth to us even by a bird the magnificence of His promise?
26:3 For He saith in a certain place;
26:4 {And Thou shalt raise me up, and I will praise Thee};
26:5 and;
26:6 {I went to rest and slept, I was awaked, for Thou art with me}.
26:7 And again Job saith;
26:8 {And Thou shalt raise this my flesh which hath endured all these things}.
2:1 With this hope therefore let our souls be bound unto Him that is faithful in His promises and that is righteous in His judgments.
2:2 He that commanded not to lie, much more shall He Himself not lie:
2:3 for nothing is impossible with God save to lie.
2:4 Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled within us, and let us understand that all things are nigh unto Him.
2:5 By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe;
2:6 and by a word He can destroy it.
2:7 {Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done?
2:8 or who shall resist the might of His strength?
2:9 When He listeth, and as He listeth, He will do all things;
2:10 and nothing shall pass away of those things that He hath decreed.
2:11 All things are in His sight, and nothing escapeth His counsel, seeing that {The heavens declare the glow' of God, and the firmament proclaimeth His handiwork.
2:12 Day uttereth word unto day, and night proclaimeth knowledge unto night;
2:13 and there are neither words nor speeches, whose voices are not heard}.
28:1 Since therefore all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and forsake the abominable lusts of evil works, that we may be shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments.
28:2 For where can any of us escape from His strong hand?
28:3 And what world will receive any of them that desert from His service?
28:4 For the holy writing saith in a certain place;
28:5 {Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from The face?
28:6 If I ascend into the heaven, Thou art there;
28:7 if I depart into the farthest parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand;
28:8 if I make my bed in the depths, there is The Spirit}.
28:9 Whither then shall one depart, or where shall one flee, from Him that embraceth the universe?
29:1 Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father who made us an elect portion unto Himself.
29:2 For thus it is written:
29:3 {When the Most High divided the nations, when He dispersed the sons of Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.
29:4 His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the measurement of His inheritance}.
29:5 And in another place He saith;
29:6 {Behold, the Lord taketh for Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man the firstfruits of his threshing floor;
29:7 and the holy of holies shall come forth from that nation}.
30:1 Seeing then that we are the special portion of a Holy God,
30:2 let us do all things that pertain unto holiness, forsaking evil speakings, abominable and impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride;
30:3 {For God}, He saith, {resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the lowly}.
30:4 Let us therefore cleave unto those to whom grace is given from God.
30:5 Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being lowly-minded and temperate, holding ourselves aloof from all backbiting and evil speaking, being justified by works and not by words.
30:6 For He saith;
30:7 {He that saith much shall hear also again.
30:8 Doth the ready talker think to be righteous?
30:9 Blessed is the offspring of a woman that liveth but a short time.
30:10 Be not thou abundant in words}.
30:11 Let our praise be with God, and not of ourselves:
30:12 for God hateth them that praise themselves.
30:13 Let the testimony to our welldoing be given by others, as it was given unto our fathers who were righteous.
30:14 Boldness and arrogance and daring are for them that are accursed of God;
30:15 but forbearance and humility and gentleness are with them that are blessed of God.
31:1 Let us therefore cleave unto His blessing, and let us see what are the ways of blessing.
31:2 Let us study the records of the things that have happened from the beginning.
31:3 Wherefore was our father Abraham blessed?
31:4 Was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?
31:5 Isaac with confidence, as knowing the future, was led a willing sacrifice.
31:6 Jacob with humility departed from his land because of his brother, and went unto Laban and served;
31:7 and the twelve tribes of Israel were given unto him.
32:1 If any man will consider them one by one in sincerity, he shall understand the magnificence of the gifts that are given by Him.
32:2 For of Jacob are all the priests and levites who minister unto the altar of God;
32:3 of him is the Lord Jesus as concerning the flesh;
32:4 of him are kings and rulers and governors in the line of Judah ;
32:5 yea and the rest of his tribes are held in no small honour, seeing that God promised saying, {Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven}.
32:6 They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will.
32:7 And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus,
32:8 are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning;
32:9 to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
32:10 Amen.
33:1 What then must we do, brethren?
33:2 Must we idly abstain from doing good, and forsake love?
33:3 May the Master never allow this to befal us at least but let us hasten with instancy and zeal to accomplish every good work.
33:4 For the Creator and Master of the universe Himself rejoiceth in His works.
33:5 For by His exceeding great might He established the heavens, and in His incomprehensible wisdom He set them in order.
33:6 And the earth He separated from the water that surroundeth it, and He set it firm on the sure foundation of His own will;
33:7 and the living creatures which walk upon it He commanded to exist by His ordinance.
33:8 Having before created the sea and the living creatures therein, He enclosed it by His own power.
33:9 Above all, as the most excellent and exceeding great work of His intelligence, with His sacred and faultless hands He formed man in the impress of His own image.
33:10 For thus saith God;
33:11 {Let us make man after our image and after our likeness.
33:12 And God made man;
33:13 male and female made He them}.
33:14 So having finished all these things, He praised them and blessed them and said, {Increase and multiply}.
33:15 We have seen that all the righteous were adorned in good works.
33:16 Yea, and the Lord Himself having adorned Himself with works rejoiced.
33:17 Seeing then that we have this pattern, let us conform ourselves with all diligence to His will;
33:18 let us with all our strength work the work of righteousness.
34:1 The good workman receiveth the bread of his work with boldness, but the slothful and careless dareth not look his employer in the face.
34:2 It is therefore needful that we should be zealous unto welldoing, for of Him are all things since He forewarneth us saying, {Behold, the Lord, and His reward is before His face, to recompense each man according to his work}.
34:3 He exhorteth us therefore to believe on Him with our whole heart, and to he not idle nor careless unto every good work.
34:4 Let our boast and our confidence be in Him:
34:5 let us submit ourselves to His will;
34:6 let us mark the whole host of His angels, how they stand by and minister unto His will.
34:7 For the scripture saith;
34:8 {Ten thousands of ten thousands stood by Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him:
34:9 and they, cried aloud, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth all creation is full of His Glory}.
34:10 Yea, and let us ourselves then, being gathered together in concord with intentness of heart,
34:11 cry unto Him as from one mouth earnestly that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises.
34:12 For He saith, {Eye hath not seen and ear hath not heard, and it hath not entered into the heart of man what great things He hath prepared for them that patiently await Him.
35:1 How blessed and marvellous are the gifts of God, dearly beloved, Life in immortality, splendour in righteousness, truth in boldness, faith in confidence, temperance in sanctification! And all these things fall under our apprehension.
35:2 What then, think ye, are the things preparing for them that patiently await Him?
35:3 The Creator and Father of the ages, the All-holy One Himself knoweth their number and their beauty.
35:4 Let us therefore contend, that we may be found in the number of those that patiently await Him, to the end that we may be partakers of His promised gifts.
35:5 But how shall this be, dearly beloved?
35:6 If our mind be fixed through faith towards God;
35:7 if we seek out those things which are well pleasing and acceptable unto Him;
35:8 if we accomplish such things as beseem His faultless will, and follow the way of truth,
35:9 casting off from ourselves all unrighteousness and iniquity, covetousness, strifes, malignities and deceits, whisperings and backbitings, hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality.
35:10 For they that do these things are hateful to God;
35:11 and not only they that do them, but they also that consent unto them.
35:12 For the scripture saith;
35:13 {But unto the sinner said God, Wherefore dost thou declare Mine ordinances, and takest My covenant upon thy lips?
35:14 Yet thou didst hate instruction and didst east away My words behind thee.
35:15 If thou sawest a thief thou didst keep company with him, and with the adulterers thou didst set thy portion.
35:16 The mouth multiplied wickedness, and thy tongue wove deceit.
35:17 Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother, and against the son of thy mother thou didst lay a stumblingblock.
35:18 These things thou hast done, and I kept silence.
35:19 Thou thoughtest, unrighteous man, that I should be like unto thee.
35:20 I will convict thee and will set thee face to face with thyself.
35:21 Now understand ye these things, ye that forget God, lest at any time He seize you as a lion,andtherebenonetodeliver
35:22 The sacrafice of praise shall glorify Me, and there is the way wherein I will show him the salvation of God}.
36:1 This is the way, dearly beloved, wherein we found our salvation, even Jesus Christ the High Priest of our offerings, the Guardian and Helper of our weakness.
36:2 Through Him let us look stedfastly unto the heights of the heavens;
36:3 through Him we behold as in a mirror His faultless and most excellent visage;
36:4 through Him the eyes of our hearts were opened;
36:5 through Him our foolish and darkened mind springeth up unto the light;
36:6 through Him the Master willed that we should taste of the immortal knowledge;
36:7 {Who being the brightness of His majesty is so much greater than angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name}.
36:8 For so it is written;
36:9 {Who maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire};
36:10 but of His Son the Master said thus;
36:11 {Thou art My Son, I this day have begotten Thee.
36:12 Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Thy possession}.
36:13 And again He saith unto Him;
36:14 "Sit Thou an My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for The feet}.
36:15 Who then are these enemies?
36:16 They that are wicked and resist His will.
37:1 Let us therefore enlist ourselves, brethren, with all earnestness in His faultless ordinances.
37:2 Let us mark the soldiers that are enlisted under our rulers, how exactly, how readily, how submissively, they execute the orders given them.
37:3 All are not prefects, nor rulers of thousands, nor rulers of hundreds, nor rulers of fifties, and so forth;
37:4 but each man in his own rank executeth the orders given by the king and the governors.
37:5 The great without the small cannot exist, neither the small without the great.
37:6 There is a certain mixture in all things, and therein is uility.
37:7 Let us take our body as an example.
37:8 The head without the feet is nothing;
37:9 so likewise the feet without the head are nothing:
37:10 even the smallest limbs of our body are necessary and useful for the whole body:
37:11 but all the members conspire and unite in subjection, that the whole body may be saved.
38:1 So in our case let the whole body be saved in Christ Jesus, and let each man be subject unto his neighbour, according as also he was appointed with his special grace.
38:2 Let not the strong neglect the weak;
38:3 and let the weak respect the strong.
38:4 Let the rich minister aid to the poor;
38:5 and let the poor give thanks to God, because He hath given him one through whom his wants may be supplied.
38:6 Let the wise display his wisdom, not in words, but in good works.
38:7 He that is lowly in mind, let him not bear testimony to himself, but leave testimony to be borne to him by his neighbour.
38:8 He that is pure in the flesh, let him be so, and not boast, knowing that it is Another who bestoweth his continence upon him.
38:9 Let us consider, brethren, of what matter we were made ;
38:10 who and what manner of beings we were, when we came into the world;
38:11 from what a sepulchre and what darkness He that moulded and created us brought us into His world, having prepared His benefits aforehand ere ever we were born.
38:12 Seeing therefore that we have all these things from Him, we ought in all things to give thanks to Him, to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
38:13 Amen.
39:1 Senseless and stupid and foolish and ignorant men jeer and mock at us, desiring that they themselves should be exalted in their imaginations.
39:2 For what power hath a mortal?
39:3 or what strength hath a child of earth?
39:4 For it is written;
39:5 {There was no form before mine eyes;
39:6 only I heard a breath and a voice.
39:7 What then?
39:8 Shall a mortal be clean in the sight of the Lord;
39:9 or shall a man be unblameable for his works?
39:10 seeing that He is distrustful against His servants and noteth some perversity against His angels.
39:11 Nay, the heaven is not clean in His sight.
39:12 Away then, ye that dwell in houses of clay, whereof, even of the same clay, we ourselves are made.
39:13 He smote them like a moth, and from morn to even they are no more.
39:14 Because they could not succour themselves, they perished.
39:15 He breathed upon them and they died, because they had no wisdom.
39:16 But call thou, if perchance one shall obey thee, or if thou shalt see one of the holy angels.
39:17 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth him that is gone astray.
39:18 And I have seen fools throwing out roots, but forthwith their habitation was eaten up.
39:19 Far be their sons from safety.
39:20 May they be mocked at the gates of inferiors, and there shall be none to deliver them.
39:21 For the things which are prepared for them, the righteous shall eat;
39:22 but they themselves shall not be delivered from evils.
40:1 Forasmuch then as these things are manifest beforehand, and have searched into the depths of the Divine knowledge, we ought to do all things in order, as many as the Master hath commanded us to perform at their appointed seasons.
40:2 Now the offerings and ministrations He commanded to be performed with care, and not to be done rashly or in disorder, but at fixed times and seasons.
40:3 And where and by whom He would have them performed, He Himself fixed by His supreme will:
40:4 that all things being done with piety according to His good pleasure might be acceptable to His will.
40:5 They therefore that make their offerings at the appointed seasons are acceptable and blessed :
40:6 for while they follow the institutions of the Master they cannot go wrong.
40:7 For unto the high priest his proper services have been assigned, and to the priests their proper office is appointed, and upon the levites their proper ministrations are laid.
40:8 The layman is bound by the layman's ordinances.
41:1 Let each of you, brethren, in his own order give thanks unto God, maintaining a good conscience and not transgressing the appointed rule of his service, but acting with all seemliness.
41:2 Not in every place, brethren, are the continual daily sacrifices offered, or the freewill offerings, or the sin offerings and the trespass offerings, but in Jerusalem alone.
41:3 And even there the offering is not made in every place, but before the sanctuary in the court of the altar;
41:4 and this too through the high priest and the aforesaid ministers, after that the victim to be offered hath been inspected for blemishes.
41:5 They therefore who do any thing contrary to the seemly ordinance of His will receive death as the penalty.
41:6 Ye see, brethren, in proportion as greater knowledge hath been vouchsafed unto us, so much the more are we exposed to danger.
42:1 The Apostles received the Gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ;
42:2 Jesus Christ was sent forth from God.
42:3 So then Christ is from God, and the Apostles are from Christ.
42:4 Both therefore came of the will of God in the appointed order.
42:5 Having therefore received a charge, and having been fully assured through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and confirmed in the word of God with full assurance of the Holy Ghost,
42:6 they went forth with the glad tidings that the kingdom of God should come.
42:7 So preaching everywhere in country and town, they appointed their first fruits, when they had proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons unto them that should believe.
42:8 And this they did in no new fashion;
42:9 for indeed it had been written concerning bishops and deacons from very ancient times;
42:10 for thus saith the scripture in a certain place, {I will appoint their bishops in righteousness and their deacons in faith}.
43:1 And what marvel, if they which were entrusted in Christ with such a work by God appointed the aforesaid persons?
43:2 seeing that even the blessed Moses who was a {faithful servant in all His house} recorded for a sign in the sacred hooks all things that were enjoined upon him.
43:3 And him also the rest of the prophets followed, bearing witness with him unto the laws that were ordained by him.
43:4 For he, when jealousy arose concerning the priesthood, and there was dissension among the tribes which of them was adorned with the glorious name,
43:5 commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes to bring to him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe.
43:6 And he took them and tied them and sealed them with the signet rings of the chiefs of the tribes, and put them away in the tabernacle of the testimony on the table of God.
43:7 And having shut the tabernacle he sealed the keys and likewise also the doors.
43:8 And he said unto them, Brethren, the tribe whose rod shall bud, this hath God chosen to be priests and ministers unto Him.
43:9 Now when morning came, he called together all Israel, even the six hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the chiefs of the tribes and opened the tabernacle of the testimony and drew forth the rods.
43:10 And the rod of Aaron was found not only with buds, but also bearing fruit.
43:11 What think ye, dearly beloved?
43:12 Did not Moses know beforehand that this would come to pass?
43:13 Assuredly he knew it.
43:14 But that disorder might not arise in Israel, he did thus, to the end that the Name of the true and only God might be glorified :
43:15 to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
43:16 Amen.
44:1 And our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the name of the bishop's office.
44:2 For this cause therefore, having received complete foreknowledge, they appointed the aforesaid persons,
44:3 and afterwards they provided a continuance, that if these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministration.
44:4 Those therefore who were appointed by them, or afterward by other men of repute with the consent of the whole Church,
44:5 and have ministered unblameably to the flock of Christ bin lowliness of mind, peacefully and with all modesty, and for long time have borne a good report with all these men we consider to be unjustly thrust out from their ministration.
44:6 For it will be no light sin for us, if we thrust out those who have offered the gifts of the bishop's office unblameably and holily.
44:7 Blessed are those presbyters who have gone before, seeing that their departure was fruitful and ripe:
44:8 for they have no fear lest any one should remove them from their appointed place.
44:9 For we see that ye have displaced certain persons, though they were living honourably, from the ministration which had been respected by them blamelessly.
45:1 Be ye contentious, brethren, and jealous about the things that pertain unto salvation.
45:2 Ye have searched the scriptures, which are true, which were given through the Holy Ghost;
45:3 and ye know that nothing unrighteous or counterfeit is written in them.
45:4 Ye will not find that righteous persons have been thrust out by holy men.
45:5 Righteous men were persecuted, but it was by the lawless;
45:6 they were imprisoned, but it was by the unholy.
45:7 They were stoned by transgressors :
45:8 they were slain by those who had conceived a detestable and unrighteous jealousy.
45:9 Suffering these things, they endured nobly.
45:10 For what must we say, brethren?
45:11 Was Daniel cast into the lions' den by them that feared God?
45:12 Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up in the furnace of fire by them that professed the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High?
45:13 Far be this from our thoughts.
45:14 Who then were they that did these things?
45:15 Abominable men and full of all wickedness were stirred up to such a pitch of wrath,
45:16 as to bring cruel suffering upon them that served God in a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the Most High is the champion and protector of them that in a pure conscience serve His excellent Name:
45:17 unto whom be the glory for ever and ever.
45:18 Amen.
45:19 But they that endured patiently in confidence inherited glory and honour;
45:20 they were exalted, and had their names recorded by God in their memorial for ever and ever.
45:21 Amen.
46:1 To such examples as these therefore, brethren, we also ought to cleave.
46:2 For it is written;
46:3 {Cleave unto the saints, for they that cleave unto them shall be sanctified}.
46:4 And again He saith in another place;
46:5 {With the guiltless man thou shalt be guiltless, and with the elect thou shalt be elect, and with the crooked thou shalt deal crookedly}.
46:6 Let us therefore cleave to the guiltless and righteous:
46:7 and these are the elect of God.
46:8 Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and war among you?
46:9 Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was shed upon us?
46:10 And is there not one calling in Christ?
46:11 Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the members of Christ, and stir up factions against our own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as to forget that we are members one of another?
46:12 Remember the words of Jesus our Lord :
46:13 for He said, {Woe unto that man;
46:14 it were good for him if he had not been born, rather than that he should offend one of Mine elect.
46:15 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about him, and he cast into the sea, than that he should pervert one of Mine elect}.
46:16 Your division hath perverted many;
46:17 it hath brought many to despair, many to doubting, and all of us to sorrow.
46:18 And your sedition still continueth.
47:1 Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle.
47:2 What wrote he first unto you in the beginning of the Gospel?
47:3 Of a truth he charged you in the Spirit concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos, because that even then ye had made parties.
47:4 Yet that making of parties brought less sin upon you;
47:5 for ye were partisans of Apostles that were highly reputed, and of a man approved in their sight.
47:6 But now mark ye, who they are that have perverted you and diminished the glory of your renowned love for the brotherhood.
47:7 It is shameful, dearly beloved, yes, utterly shameful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ,
47:8 that it should be reported that the very stedfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one or two persons, maketh sedition against its presbyters.
47:9 And this report hath reached not only us, but them also which differ from us, so that ye even heap blasphemies on the Name of the Lord by reason of your folly, and moreover create peril for yourselves.
48:1 Let us therefore root this out quickly, and let us fall down before the Master and entreat Him with tears,
48:2 that He may show Himself propitious and be reconciled unto us, and may restore us to the seemly and pure conduct which belongeth to our love of the brethren.
48:3 For this is a gate of righteousness opened unto life, as it is written;
48:4 {Open me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter in thereby and praise the Lord.
48:5 This is the gate of the Lord;
48:6 the righteous shall enter in thereby}.
48:7 Seeing then that many gates are opened,
48:8 this is that gate which is in righteousness, even that which is in Christ, whereby all are blessed that have entered in and direct their path in holiness and righteousness, performing all things without confusion.
48:9 Let a man be faithful, let him be able to expound a deep saying, let him be wise in the discernment of words, let him be strenuous in deeds, let him be pure;
48:10 for so much the more ought lie to be lowly in mind, in pro portion as he seemeth to be the greater;
48:11 and he ought to seek the common advantage of all, and not his own.
49:1 Let him that hath love in Christ fulfil the commandments of Christ.
49:2 Who can declare the bond of the love of God?
49:3 Who is sufficient to tell the majesty of its beauty?
49:4 The height, whereunto love exalteth, is unspeakable.
49:5 Love joineth us unto God;
49:6 {love covereth a multitude of sins};
49:7 love endureth all things, is long-suffering in all things.
49:8 There is nothing coarse, nothing arrogant in love.
49:9 Love hath no divisions, love maketh no seditions, love doeth all things in concord.
49:10 in love were all the elect of God made perfect;
49:11 without love nothing is wellpleasing to God:
49:12 in love the Master took us unto Himself;
49:13 for the love which He had toward us, Jesus Christ our Lord hath given His blood for us by the will of God, and His flesh for our flesh and His life for our lives.
50:1 Ye see, dearly beloved, how great and marvellous a thing is love, and there is no declaring its perfection.
50:2 Who is sufficient to be found therein, save those to whom God shall vouchsafe it?
50:3 Let us therefore entreat and ask of His mercy, that we may be found blameless in love, standing apart from the factiousness of men.
50:4 All the generations from Adam unto this day have passed away:
50:5 but they that by God's grace were perfected in love dwell in the abode of the pious;
50:6 and they shall be made manifest in the visitation of the Kingdom of God.
50:7 For it is written;
50:8 {Enter into the closet for a very little while, until Mine anger and My wrath shall pass away, and I will remember a good day and will raise you from your tombs}.
50:9 Blessed were we, dearly beloved, if we should be doing the commandments of God in concord of love, to the end that our sins may through love be forgiven us.
50:10 For it is written;
50:11 {Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
50:12 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall impute no sin, neither is quite in his mouth}.
50:13 This declaration of blessedness was pronounced upon them that have been elected by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
50:14 Amen.
51:1 For all our transgressions which we have committed through any of the wiles of the adversary, let us entreat that we may obtain forgiveness.
51:2 Yea and they also, who set themselves up as leaders of faction and division, ought to look to the common ground of hope.
51:3 For such as walk in fear and love desire that they themselves should fall into suffering rather than their neighbours;
51:4 and they pronounce condemnation against themselves rather than against the harmony which hath been handed down to us nobly and righteously.
51:5 For it is good for a man to make confession of his trespasses rather than to harden his heart, as the heart of those was hardened who made sedition against Moses the servant of God;
51:6 whose condemnation was clearly manifest, for they went down to hades alive, and {Death shall be their shepherd}.
51:7 Pharaoh and his host and all the rulers of Egypt, {their chariots and their horsemen}, were overwhelmed in the depths of the Red Sea,
51:8 and perished for none other reason but because their foolish hearts were hardened after that the signs and the wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses the servant of God.
52:1 The Master, brethren, hath need of nothing at all.
52:2 He desireth not anything of any man, save to confess unto Him.
52:3 For the elect David saith;
52:4 {I will confess unto the Lord, and it shall please Him more than a young calf that groweth horns and hoofs.
52:5 Let the poor see it, and rejoice}.
52:6 And again He saith;
52:7 {Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to the Most High:
52:8 and call upon Me in the day of thine affliction, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
52:9 For a sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit}.
53:1 For ye know, and know well, the sacred scriptures, dearly beloved, and ye have searched into the oracles of God.
53:2 We write these things therefore to put you in remembrance.
53:3 When Moses went up into the mountain and had spent forty days and forty nights in fasting and humiliation, God said unto him;
53:4 {Moses, Moses, come down quickly hence,
53:5 for My people whom thou leddest forth from the land of Egypt have wrought iniquity they have transgressed quickly out of the way which thou didst command unto them:
53:6 they have made for themselves molten images.
53:7 And the Lord said unto him;
53:8 I have spoken unto thee once and twice, saying, I have seen this people, and behold it is stiffnecked.
53:9 Let Me destroy them utterly, and I will blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make of thee a nation great and wonderful and numerous more than this}.
53:10 And Moses said;
53:11 {Nay, not so, Lord.
53:12 Forgive this people their sin, or blot me also out of the book of the living}.
53:13 O mighty love! O unsurpassable perfection! The servant is bold with his Master;
53:14 he asketh forgiveness for the multitude, or he demandeth that himself also be blotted out with them.
54:1 Who therefore is noble among you?
54:2 Who is compassionate?
54:3 Who is fulfilled with love?
54:4 Let him say;
54:5 if by reason of me there be faction and strife and divisions, I retire, I depart, whither ye will, and I do that which is ordered by the people:
54:6 only let the flock of Christ be at peace with its duly appointed presbyters.
54:7 He that shall have done this, shall win for himself great renown in Christ, and every place will receive him:
54:8 for {the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof}.
54:9 Thus have they done and will do, that live as citizens of that kingdom of God which bringeth no regrets.
55:1 But, to bring forward examples of Gentiles also;
55:2 many kings and rulers, when some season of pestilence pressed upon them, being taught by oracles have delivered themselves over to death, that they might rescue their fellow citizens through their own blood.
55:3 Many have retired from their own cities, that they might have no more seditions.
55:4 We know that many among ourselves have delivered themselves to bondage, that they might ransom others.
55:5 Many have sold themselves to slavery, and receiving the price paid for themselves have fed others.
55:6 Many women being strengthened through the grace of God have performed many manly deeds.
55:7 The blessed Judith, when the city was beleaguered, asked of the elders that she might be suffered to go forth into the camp of the aliens.
55:8 So she exposed herself to peril and went forth for love of her country and of her people which were beleaguered;
55:9 and the Lord delivered Holophernes into the hand of a woman.
55:10 To no less peril did Esther also, who was perfect in faith, expose herself, that she might deliver the twelve tribes of Israel, when they were on the point to perish.
55:11 For through her fasting and her humiliation she entreated the all-seeing Master, the God of the ages;
55:12 and He, seeing the humility of her soul, delivered the people for whose sake she encountered the peril.
56:1 Therefore let us also make intercession for them that are in any transgression, that forbearance and humility may be given them, to the end that they may yield not unto us, but unto the will of God.
56:2 For so shall the compassionate remembrance of them with God and the saints be fruitful unto them, and perfect.
56:3 Let us accept chastisement, whereat no man ought to be vexed, dearly beloved.
56:4 The admonition which we give one to another is good and exceeding useful;
56:5 for it joineth us unto the will of God.
56:6 For thus saith the holy word;
56:7 {The Lord hath indeed chastened me, and hath not delivered me over unto death.
56:8 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.
56:9 For the righteous}, it is said, {shall chasten me in mercy and shall reprove me, but let not the mercy of sinners anoint my head}.
56:10 And again He saith;
56:11 {Blessed is the man whom the Lord hath reproved, and refuse not thou the admonition of the Almighty.
56:12 For He causeth pain, and He restoreth again He hath smitten, and His hands have healed.
56:13 Six times shall He rescue thee from afflictions:
56:14 and at the seventh no evil shall touch thee.
56:15 In famine He shall deliver thee from death, and in war He shall release thee from the arm of the sword.
56:16 And from the scourge of the tongue shall He hide thee, and thou shall not be afraid when evils approach.
56:17 Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and wicked, and of the wild beasts thou shall not be afraid.
56:18 For wild beasts shall be at peace with thee.
56:19 Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be at peace:
56:20 and the abode of thy tabernacle shall not go wrong, and thou shalt know that thy seed is many, and thy children as the plenteous herbage of the field.
56:21 And thou shalt come to the grave as ripe corn reaped in due season, or as the heap of the threshing floor gathered together at the right time}.
56:22 Ye see, dearly beloved, how great protection there is for them that are chastened by the faster:
56:23 for being a kind father He chasteneth us to the end that we may obtain mercy through His holy chastisement.
57:1 Ye therefore that laid the foundation of the sedition, submit yourselves unto the presbyters and receive chastisement unto repentance, bending the knees of your heart.
57:2 Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the arrogant and proud stubbornness of your tongue.
57:3 For it Is better for you to be found little in the flock of Christ and to have your name on God's roll, than to be had in exceeding honour and yet be cast out from the hope of Him.
57:4 For thus saith the All-virtuous Wisdom;
57:5 {Behold I will pour out for you a saying of My breath, and I will teach you My word.
57:6 Because I called and ye obeyed not, and I held out words and ye heeded not, but made My counsels of none effect, and were disobedient unto My reproofs;
57:7 therefore I also will laugh at your destruction,
57:8 and will rejoice over you when ruin cometh upon you, and when confusion over taketh you suddenly, and your overthrow is at hand like a whirlwind, or when anguish and beleaguerment come upon you.
57:9 For it shall be, when ye call upon Me, yet will I not hear you.
57:10 Evil men shall seek Me and shall not find Me:
57:11 for they hated wisdom, and chose not the far of the Lord, neither would they give heed unto My counsels, but mocked at My reproofs.
57:12 Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.
57:13 For because they wronged babes, they shall be slain, and inquisition shall destroy the ungodly.
57:14 But he that heareth Me shall dwell solely trusting in hope, and shall be quiet from fear of all evil}.
58:1 Let us therefore be obedient unto His most holy and glorious Name,
58:2 thereby escaping the threatenings which were spoken of old by the mouth of Wisdom against them which disobey, that we may dwell safely, trusting in the most holy Name of His majesty.
58:3 Receive our counsel, and ye shall have no occasion of regret.
58:4 For as God liveth, and the Lord Jesus Christ liveth, and the Holy Spirit, who are the faith and the hope of the elect,
58:5 so surely shall he, who with lowliness of mind and instant in gentleness hath without regretfulness performed the ordinances and commandments that are given by God,
58:6 be enrolled and have a name among the number of them that are saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory unto Him for ever and ever.
58:7 Amen.
59:1 But if certain persons should be disobedient unto the words spoken by Him through us, let them understand that they will entangle themselves in no slight transgression and danger;
59:2 but we shall be guiltless of this sin.
59:3 And we will ask, with instancy of prayer and supplication,
59:4 that the Creator of the universe may guard intact unto the end the number that hath been numbered of His elect throughout the whole world,
59:5 through His beloved Son Jesus Christ, through whom He called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to the full knowledge of the glory of His Name.
59:6 [Grant unto us, Lord,] that we may set our hope on Thy Name which is the primal source of all creation, and open the eyes of our hearts,
59:7 that we may know Thee, who alone {abidest Highest in the lofty, Holy in the holy};
59:8 who {layest low the insolence of the proud}, who {scatterest the imaginings of nations};
59:9 who {settest the lowly on high, and bringest the lofty low};
59:10 who {makest rich and makest poor};
59:11 who {killest and makest alive};
59:12 who alone art the Benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh;
59:13 who {lookest into the abysses}, who scannest the works of man;
59:14 the Succour of them that are in peril, the {Saviour of them that are in despair};
59:15 the Creator and Overseer of every spirit ;
59:16 who multipliest the nations upon earth, and hast chosen out from all men those that love Thee through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, through whom Thou didst instruct us, didst sanctify us, didst honour us.
59:17 We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be {our help and succour}.
59:18 Save those among us who are in tribulation;
59:19 have mercy on the lowly;
59:20 lift up the fallen;
59:21 show Thyself unto the needy;
59:22 heal the ungodly;
59:23 convert the wanderers of Thy people;
59:24 feed the hungry;
59:25 release our prisoners;
59:26 raise up the weak;
59:27 comfort the faint-hearted.
59:28 {Let all the Gentiles know that Thou art God alone}, and Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and {we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture}.
60:1 Thou through Thine operations didst make manifest the everlasting fabric of the world.
60:2 Thou, Lord, didst create the earth.
60:3 Thou that art faithful throughout all generations, righteous in Thy judgments, marvellous in strength and excellence,
60:4 Thou that art wise in creating and prudent in establishing that which Thou hast made, that art good in the things which are seen and faithful with them that trust on Thee, {pitiful and compassionate},
60:5 forgive us our iniquities and our unrighteousnesses and our transgressions and shortcomings Lay not to our account every sin of Thy servants and Thine handmaids,
60:6 but cleanse us with the cleansing of Thy truth,
60:7 and {guide our steps to walk in holiness} and righteousness and singleness {of heart} and {to do such things as are good and wellpleasing in Thy sight} and in the sight of our rulers.
60:8 Yea, Lord, {make Thy face to shine upon us} in peace for our good, that we may be sheltered {by Thy mighty hand and} delivered from every sin {by Thine uplifted arm}.
60:9 And deliver us from them that hate us wrongfully.
60:10 Give concord and peace to us and to all that dwell on the earth, as Thou gavest to our fathers, {when they called on Thee in faith and truth} with holiness,
60:11 [that we may be saved,] while we render obedience to Thine almighty and most excellent Name, and to our rulers and governors upon the earth.
61:1 Thou, Lord and Master, hast given them the power of sovereignty through Thine excellent and unspeakable might,
61:2 that we knowing the glory and honour which Thou hast given them may submit ourselves unto them, in nothing resisting Thy will.
61:3 Grant unto them therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the government which Thou hast given them without failure.
61:4 For Thou, O heavenly Master, King of the ages, givest to the sons of men glory and honour and power over all things that are upon the earth.
61:5 Do Thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and wellpleasing in Thy sight, that, administering in peace and gentleness with godliness the power which Thou hast given them,
61:6 they may obtain Thy favour.
61:7 O Thou, who alone art able to do these things and things far more exceeding good than these for us, we praise Thee through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ,
61:8 through whom be the glory and the majesty unto Thee both now and for all generations and for ever and ever.
61:9 Amen.
62:1 As touching those things which befit our religion and are most useful for a virtuous life to such as would guide [their steps] in holiness and righteousness, we have written fully unto you, brethren.
62:2 For concerning faith and repentance and genuine love and temperance and sobriety and patience we have handled every argument,
62:3 putting you in remembrance, that ye ought to please Almighty God in righteousness and truth and long-suffering with holiness, laying aside malice and pursuing concord in love and peace, being instant in gentleness;
62:4 even as our fathers, of whom we spake before, pleased Him, being lowly-minded towards their Father and God and Creator and towards all men.
62:5 And we have put you in mind of these things the more gladly, since we knew well that we were writing to men who are faithful and highly accounted and have diligently searched into the oracles of the teaching of God.
63:1 Therefore it is right for us to give heed to so great and so many examples and to submit the neck and occupying the place of obedience to take our side with them that are the leaders of our souls,
63:2 that ceasing from this foolish dissension we may attain unto the goal which lieth before us in truthfulness, keeping aloof from every fault.
63:3 For ye will give us great joy and gladness, if ye render obedience unto the things written by us through the Holy Spirit,
63:4 and root out the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty which we have made for peace and concord in this letter.
63:5 And we have also sent faithful and prudent men that have walked among us from youth unto old age unblameably, who shall also be witnesses between you and us.
63:6 And this we have done that ye might know that we have had, and still have, every solicitude that ye should be speedily at peace.
64:1 Finally may the All-seeing God and Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through Him for a peculiar people,
64:2 grant unto every soul that is called after His excellent and holy Name faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, temperance, chastity and soberness,
64:3 that they may be wellpleasing unto His Name through our High Priest and Guardian Jesus Christ, through whom unto Him be glory and majesty, might and honour, both now and for ever and ever.
64:4 Amen.
65:1 Now send ye back speedily unto us our messengers Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, together with Fortunatus also, in peace and with joy,
65:2 to the end that they may the more quickly report the peace and concord which is prayed for and earnestly desired by us, that we also may the more speedily rejoice over your good order.
65:3 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all men in all places who have been called by God and through Him, through whom be glory and honour, power and greatness and eternal dominion, unto Him, from the ages past and for ever and ever. Amen.
Second Clement
APOSTOLIC FATHERS (trans. and ed., J. B. Lightfoot)

An Ancient Homily, Commonly Called the Second Epistle of St. Clement
1:1 Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as of the Judge of quick and dead.
1:2 And we ought not to think mean things of our Salvation for when we think mean things of Him, we expect also to receive mean things.
1:3 And they that listen as concerning mean things do wrong;
1:4 and we ourselves do wrong, not knowing whence and by whom and unto what place we were called, and how many things Jesus Christ endured to suffer for our sakes.
1:5 What recompense then shall we give unto Him?
1:6 or what fruit worthy of His own gift to us?
1:7 And how many mercies do we owe to Him, I For He bestowed the light upon us;
1:8 He spake to us, as a father to his sons;
1:9 He saved us, when we were perishing.
1:10 What praise then shall we give to Him?
1:11 or what payment of recompense for those things which we received?
1:12 we who were maimed in our understanding, and worshipped stocks and stones and gold and silver and bronze, the works of men;
1:13 and our whole life was nothing else but death.
1:14 While then we were thus wrapped in darkness and oppressed with this thick mist in our vision, we recovered our sight, putting off by His will the cloud wherein we were wrapped.
1:15 For He had mercy on us, and in His compassion saved us, having beheld in us much error and perdition, even when we had no hope of salvation, save that which came from Him.
1:16 For He called us, when we were not, and from not being He willed us to be.
2:1 {Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not! Break out and cry, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
2:2 } In that He said {Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not,} He spake of us:
2:3 for our Church was barren, before that children were given unto her.
2:4 And in that He said, {Cry aloud, thou that travailest not,} He meaneth this;
2:5 Let us not, like women in travail, grow weary of offering up our prayers with simplicity to God.
2:6 Again, in that He said, {For the children of the desolate are more than of her that hath the husband,} He so spake,
2:7 because our people seemed desolate and forsaken of God, whereas now, having believed, we have become more than those who seemed to have God.
2:8 Again another scripture saith, {I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
2:9 } He meaneth this;
2:10 that it is right to save them that are perishing.
2:11 For this indeed is a great and marvellous work, to establish, not those things which stand, but those which are falling.
2:12 So also Christ willed to save the things which were perishing.
2:13 And He saved many, coming and calling us when we were even now perishing.
3:1 Seeing then that He bestowed so great mercy on us;
3:2 first of all, that we, who are living, do not sacrifice to these dead gods, neither worship them, but through Him have known the Father of truth.
3:3 What else is this knowledge to Himward, but not to deny Him through whom we have known Him?
3:4 Yea, He Himself saith, {Whoso confesseth Me, Him will I confess before the Father.
3:5 } This then is our reward, if verily we shall confess Him through whom we were saved.
3:6 But wherein do we confess Him?
3:7 When we do that which He saith and are not disobedient unto His commandments, and not only {honour Him with our lips, but with our whole heart and with our whole mind.
3:8 } Now He saith also in Isaiah, {This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
3:9 } 4.
3:10 Let us therefore not only call Him Lord, for this will not save us:
3:11 for He saith, {Not every one that saith unto file, Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that doeth righteousness.
3:12 } So then, brethren, let us confess Him in our works, by loving one another, by not committing adultery nor speaking evil one against another nor envying, hut being temperate, merciful, kindly.
3:13 And we ought to have fellow-feeling one with another and not to be covetous.
3:14 By these works let us confess Him, and not by the contrary.
3:15 And we ought not rather to fear men but God.
3:16 For this cause, if ye do these things, the Lord said, {Though ye be gathered together with Me in My bosom, and do not My commandments, I will cast you away and will say unto you,
3:17 Depart from Me, I know you not whence ye are, ye workers of iniquity.
3:18 } 5.
3:19 Wherefore, brethren, let us forsake our sojourn in this world and do the will of Him that called us, and let us not be afraid to depart out of this world.
3:20 For the Lord saith, {Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves.
3:21 } But Peter answered and said unto Him, {What then, of the wolves should tear the lambs?
3:22 } Jesus said unto Peter, {Let not the lambs fear the wolves after they are dead;
3:23 and ye also, fear ye not them that kill you and are not able to do anything to you;
3:24 but fear Him that after ye are dead hath power over soul and body, to cast them into the gehenna of fire.
3:25 } And ye know, brethren, that the sojourn of this flesh in this world is mean and for a short time, but the promise of Christ is great and marvellous,
3:26 even the rest of the kingdom that shall be and of life eternal.
3:27 What then can we do to obtain them, but walk in holiness and righteousness, and consider these worldly things as alien to us, and not desire them?
3:28 For when we desire to obtain these things we fall away from the righteous path.
6:1 But the Lord saith, {No servant can serve two masters.
6:2 } If we desire to serve both God and mammon, it is unprofitable for us:
6:3 {For what advantage is it, if a man gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
6:4 } Now this age and the future are two enemies.
6:5 The one speaketh of adultery and defilement and avarice and deceit, but the other biddeth farewell to these.
6:6 We cannot therefore be friends of the two, but must bid farewell to the one and hold companionship with the other.
6:7 Let us consider that it is better to hate the things which are here,
6:8 because they are mean and for a short time and perishable, and to love the things which are there, for they are good and imperishable.
6:9 For, if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest;
6:10 but if otherwise, then nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we should disobey His commandments.
6:11 And the scripture also saith in Ezekiel, {Though Noah and Job and Daniel should rise up, they shall not deliver their children} in the captivity.
6:12 But if even such righteous men as these cannot by their righteous deeds deliver their children, with what confidence shall we, if we keep not our baptism pure and undefiled,
6:13 enter into the kingdom of God?
7:1 So then, my brethren, let us contend, knowing that the contest is nigh at hand, and that, while many resort to the corruptible contests, contended bravely.
7:2 Let us then contend that we all may be crowned.
7:3 Wherefore let us run in the straight course, the incorruptible contest.
7:4 And let us resort to it in throngs and contend, that we may also he crowned.
7:5 And if we cannot all be crowned, let us at least come near to the crown.
7:6 We ought to know that he which contendeth in the corruptible contest, if he be found dealing corruptly with it, is first flogged, and then removed and driven out of the race-course.
7:7 What think ye?
7:8 What shall be done to him that hath dealt corruptly with the contest of incorruption?
7:9 For as concerning them that have not kept the seal, He saith, {Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh}.
8:1 While we are on earth then, let us repent for we are clay under the craftsman's hand.
8:2 For in like manner as the potter, if he be making a vessel, and it get twisted or crushed in his hands, reshapeth it again;
8:3 but if he have once put it into the fiery oven, he shall no longer mend it:
8:4 so also let us, while we are in this world, repent with our whole heart of the evil things which we have done in the flesh, that we may be saved by the Lord, while we have yet time for repentance.
8:5 For after that we have departed out of the world, we can no more make confession there, or repent any more.
8:6 Wherefore, brethren, if we shall have done the will of the Father and kept the flesh pure and guarded the commandments of the Lord, we shall receive life eternal.
8:7 For the Lord saith in the Gospel, {If ye kept not that which is little, who shall give unto you that which is great?
8:8 For I ay unto you that he which is faithful in the least, is faithful also in much.
8:9 } So then He meaneth this, Keep the flesh pure and the seal unstained, to the end that we may receive life.
9:1 And let not any one of you say that this flesh is not judged neither riseth again.
9:2 Understand ye.
9:3 In what were ye saved?
9:4 In what did ye recover your sight?
9:5 if ye were not in this flesh.
9:6 We ought therefore to guard the flesh as a temple of God :
9:7 for in like manner as ye were called in the flesh, ye shall come also in the flesh.
9:8 If Christ the Lord who saved us, being first spirit, then became flesh, and so called us, in like manner also shall we in this flesh receive our reward.
9:9 Let us therefore love one another, that we all may come unto the kingdom of God.
9:10 While we have time to be healed, let us place ourselves in the hands of God the physician, giving Him a recompense.
9:11 What recompense?
9:12 Repentance from a sincere heart.
9:13 For He discerneth all things beforehand and knoweth what is in our heart.
9:14 Let us therefore give unto Him eternal praise, not from our lips only, but also from our heart, that He may receive us as sons.
9:15 For the Lord also said, {These are My brethren, which do the will of My Father.
9:16 } 10.
9:17 Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father which called us, that we may live;
9:18 and let us the rather pursue virtue, but forsake vice as the forerunner of our sins, and let us flee from ungodliness, lest evils overtake us.
9:19 For if we be diligent in doing good, peace will pursue us.
9:20 For for this cause is a man unable to attain happiness, seeing that they call in the fears of men, preferring rather the enjoyment which is here than the promise which is to come.
9:21 For they know not how great torment the enjoyment which is here bringeth, and what delight the promise which is to come bringeth.
9:22 And if verily they were doing these things by themselves alone, it had been tolerable but now they continue teaching evil to innocent souls,
9:23 not knowing that they shall have their condemnation doubled, both themselves and their hearers.
11:1 Let us therefore serve God in a pure heart, and we shall he righteous;
11:2 but if we serve Him not, because we believe not the promise of God, we shall be wretched.
11:3 For the word of prophecy also saith:
11:4 {Wretched are the double-minded, that doubt in their heart and say, These things we heard of old in the days of our fathers also, yet we have waited day after day and have seen none of them.
11:5 Ye fools! compare yourselves unto a tree;
11:6 take a vine.
11:7 First it sheddeth its leaves, then a shoot cometh, after this a sour berry, then a fill ripe grape.
11:8 So likewise My people had tumults and afflictions:
11:9 but afterward they shall receive good things.
11:10 } Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be double-minded but endure patiently in hope, that we may also obtain our reward.
11:11 {For faithful is He that promised} to pay to each man the recompense of his works.
11:12 If therefore we shall have wrought righteousness in the sight of God,
11:13 we shall enter into His kingdom and shall receive the promises which {ear hath not heard nor eye seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of man.
11:14 } 12.
11:15 Let us therefore await the kingdom of God betimes in love and righteousness, since we know not the day of God's appearing.
11:16 For the Lord Himself, being asked by a certain person when His kingdom would come, said, {When the two shall be one, and the outside as the inside, and the male with the female, neither male nor female.
11:17 } Now {the two} are {one}, when we speak truth among ourselves, and in two bodies there shall be one soul without dissimulation.
11:18 And by {the outside as the inside} He meaneth this:
11:19 by the inside He meaneth the soul and by the outside the body.
11:20 Therefore in like manner as thy body appeareth, so also let thy soul be manifest in its good works.
11:21 And by {the male with the female, neither male nor female,} He meaneth this;
11:22 that a brother seeing a sister should have no thought of her as of a female, and that a sister seeing a brother should not have any thought of him as of a male.
11:23 These things if ye do, saith He, the kingdom of my Father shall come.
13:1 Therefore, brethren, let us repent forthwith.
13:2 Let us be sober unto that which is good:
13:3 for we are full of much folly and wickedness.
13:4 Let us wipe away from us our former sins, and let us repent with our whole soul and be saved.
13:5 And let us not be found men-pleasers.
13:6 Neither let us desire to please one another only, but also those men that are without, by our righteousness, that the Name be not blasphemed by reason of us.
13:7 For the Lord saith, {Every way My Name is blasphemed among all the Gentiles,} and again, {Woe unto him, by reason of whom My Name is blasphemed.
13:8 } Wherein is it blasphemed?
13:9 In that ye do not the things which I desire.
13:10 For the Gentiles, when they hear from our mouth the oracles of God, marvel at them for their beauty and greatness;
13:11 then, when they discover that our works are not worthy of the words which we speak, forthwith they betake themselves to blasphemy, saying that it is an idle story and a delusion.
13:12 For when they hear from us that God saith, {It is no thank unto you, if ye love them that love you, but this is thank unto you, if ye love your enemies and them that hate you;
13:13 } when they hear these things, I say, they marvel at their exceeding goodness;
13:14 but when they see that we not only do not love them that hate us, but not even them that love us, they laugh us to scorn, and the Name is blasphemed.
14:1 Wherefore, brethren, if we do the will of God our Father, we shall be of the first Church, which is spiritual, which was created before the sun and moon;
14:2 but if we do not the will of the Lord, we shall be of the scripture that saith, {My house was made a den of robbers.
14:3 } So therefore let us choose rather to be of the Church of life, that we may be saved.
14:4 And I do not suppose ye are ignorant that the living Church is {the body of Christ:
14:5 } for the scripture saith, {God made man, male and female.
14:6 } The male is Christ and the female is the Church.
14:7 And the Books and the Apostles plainly declare that the Church existeth not now for the first time, but hath been from the beginning:
14:8 for she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, but was manifested in the last days that He might save us.
14:9 Now the Church, being spiritual, was manifested in the flesh of Christ,
14:10 thereby showing us that, if any of us guard her in the flesh and defile her not, he shall receive her again in the Holy Spirit :
14:11 for this flesh is the counterpart and copy of the spirit.
14:12 No man therefore, when he hath defiled the copy, shall receive the original for his portion.
14:13 This therefore is what He meaneth, brethren;
14:14 Guard ye the flesh, that ye may partake of the spirit.
14:15 But if we say that the flesh is the Church and the spirit is Christ, then he that hath dealt wantonly with the flesh hath dealt wantonly with the Church.
14:16 Such an one therefore shall not partake of the spirit, which is Christ.
14:17 So excellent is the life and immortality which this flesh can receive as its portion, if the Holy Spirit be joined to it.
14:18 No man can declare or tell {those things which the Lord hath prepared} for His elect.
15:1 Now I do not think that I have given any mean counsel respecting continence, and whosoever performeth it shall not repent thereof, but shall save both himself and me his counsellor.
15:2 For it is no mean reward to convert a wandering and perishing soul, that it may be saved.
15:3 For this is the recompense which we are able to pay to God who created us, if he that speaketh and heareth both speak and hear with faith and love.
15:4 Let us therefore abide in the things which we believed,
15:5 in righteousness and holiness, that we may with boldness ask of God who saith, {Whiles thou art still speaking I will say, Behold, I am here.
15:6 } For this word is the token of a great promise for the Lord saith of Himself that He is more ready to give than he that asketh to ask.
15:7 Seeing then that we are partakers of so great kindness, let us not grudge ourselves the obtaining of so many good things.
15:8 For in proportion as the pleasure is great which these words bring to them that have performed them, so also is the condemnation great which they bring to them that have been disobedient.
16:1 Therefore, brethren, since we have found no small opportunity for repentance, seeing that we have time, let us turn again unto God that called us, while we have still One that receiveth us.
16:2 For if we bid farewell to these enjoyments and conquer our soul in refusing to fulfil its evil lusts, we shall be partakers of the mercy of Jesus.
16:3 But ye know that the day of judgment cometh even now {as a burning oven, and the powers of the heavens shall melt,} and all the earth as lead melting on the fire, and then shall appear the secret and open works of men.
16:4 Alms giving therefore is a good thing, even as repentance from sin.
16:5 Fasting is better than prayer, but almsgiving than both.
16:6 And {love covereth a multitude of sins,} but prayer out of a good conscience delivereth from death.
16:7 Blessed is every man that is found full of these.
16:8 For alms-giving lifteth off the burden of sin.
17:1 Let us therefore repent with our whole heart, lest any of us perish by the way.
17:2 For if we have received commands,
17:3 that we should make this also our business, to tear men away from idols and to instruct them, how much more is it wrong that a soul which knoweth God already should perish!
17:4 Therefore let us assist one another, that we may also lead the weak upward as touching that which is good, to the end that we all may be saved:
17:5 and let us convert and admonish one another.
17:6 And let us not think to give heed and believe now only, while we are admonished by the presbyters;
17:7 but likewise when we have departed home, let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not suffer ourselves to be dragged off the other way by our worldly lusts;
17:8 but coming hither more frequently, let us strive to go forward in the commands of the Lord, that we all having the same mind may be gathered together unto life.
17:9 For the Lord said, {I come to gather together all the nations, tribes, and languages.
17:10 } Herein He speaketh of the day of His appearing, when He shall come and redeem us, each man according to his works.
17:11 {And} the unbelievers {shall see His glory} and His might:
17:12 and they shall be amazed when they see the kingdom of the world given to Jesus, saying, Woe unto us, for Thou wast, and we knew it not, and believed not;
17:13 and we obeyed not the presbyters when they told us of our salvation.
17:14 And {Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh.
17:15 } He speaketh of that day of judgment, when men shall see those among us that lived ungodly lives and dealt falsely with the commandments of Jesus Christ.
17:16 But the righteous, having done good and endured torments and hated the pleasures of the soul, when they shall behold them that have done amiss and denied Jesus by their words
17:17 or by their deeds, how that they are punished with grievous torments in unquenchable fire, shall give glory to God, saying, There will be hope for him that hath served God with his whole heart.
18:1 Therefore let us also be found among those that give thanks, among those that have served God, and not among the ungodly that are judged.
18:2 For I myself too, being an utter sinner and not yet escaped from temptation,
18:3 but being still amidst the engines of the devil,do my diligence to follow after righteousness, that I may prevail so far at least as to come near unto it, while I fear the judgment to come.
19:1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, after the God of truth hath been heard,
19:2 I read to you an exhortation to the end that ye may give heed to the things which are written, so that ye may save both yourselves and him that readeth in the midst of you.
19:3 For I ask of you as a reward that ye repent with your whole heart, and give salvation and life to yourselves.
19:4 For doing this we shall set a goal for all the young who desire to toil in the study of piety and of the goodness of God.
19:5 And let us not be displeased and vexed, fools that we are, whensoever any one admonisheth us and turneth us aside from unrighteousness unto righteousness.
19:6 For sometimes while we do evil things, we perceive it not by reason of the double-mindedness and unbelief
19:7 which is in our breasts, and {we are darkened in our understanding} by our vain lusts.
19:8 Let us therefore practise righteousness that we may be saved unto the end.
19:9 Blessed are they that obey these ordinances.
19:10 Though they may endure affliction for a short time in the world, they will gather the immortal fruit of the resurrection.
19:11 Therefore let not the godly be grieved, if he be miserable in the times that now are:
19:12 a blessed time awaiteth him.
19:13 He shall live again in heaven with the fathers, and shall have rejoicing throughout a sorrowless eternity.
20:1 Neither suffer ye this again to trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous possessing wealth, and the servants of God straitened.
20:2 Let us then have faith, brothers and sisters.
20:3 We are contending in the lists of a living God;
20:4 and we are trained by the present life, that we may be crowned with the future.
20:5 No righteous man hath reaped fruit quickly, but waiteth for it.
20:6 For if God had paid the recompense of the righteous speedily, then straightway we should have been training ourselves in merchandise, and not in godliness;
20:7 for we should seem to be righteous, though we were pursuing not that which is godly, but that which is gainful.
20:8 And for this cause Divine judgment overtaketh a spirit that is not just, and loadeth it with chains.
21:1 To the only God invisible, the Father of truth.
CLEMENT OF ROME, Second Epistle

Translated by Archbishop Wake
CHAPTER 1
That we ought to value our salvation; and to show that we do, by a sincere obedience.
1. Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God as of the judge of the living and the dead; nor should we think any less of our salvation.
2. For if we think little things of him, we shall hope only to receive some small things from him.
3. And if we do so, we shall sin; not considering from where we have been called, and by whom, and to what place; and how much Jesus Christ condescended to suffer for our sakes.
4. What recompense then shall we render unto him? Or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us?
5. For indeed, how great are those advantages which we owe to him in relation to our holiness? He has illuminated us; as a father, he has called us his children; he has saved us who were lost and undone.
6. What praise shall we give to him? Or what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received?
7. We were defective in our understandings, worshipping stones and wood, gold, and silver, and brass, the works of men's hands; and our whole life was nothing else but death.
8. But being surrounded by darkness, and having such a mist before our eyes, we have looked up, and through his will have laid aside the cloud with which we were surrounded.
9. For he had compassion upon us, and being moved in his affection towards us, he saved us, having beheld in us much error and destruction, and seen that we had no hope of salvation, but only through him.
10. For he called us who were not, and was pleased from nothing to give us being.
CHAPTER 2
1. That God had before prophesied by Isaiah that the Gentiles should be saved. 8. That this ought to engage them especially to live well, without which they will still miscarry.
1. Rejoice, you barren that bear not, break forth and cry you that travail not; for she that is desolate has many more children than she that has an husband. [Isa. 54:1]
2. In that he said, Rejoice you barren that bear not, he spoke of us: for our church was barren before children were given to it.
3. And again; when he said, Cry you that travail not; he implied thus much: That after the manner of women in travail, we should not cease to put up our prayers to God abundantly.
4. And for what follows, because she that is desolate has more children than she that has an husband: it was therefore added, because our people which seem to have been forsaken by God, now believing in him, are become more than they who seemed to have God.
5. And another Scripture saith, I came not to call the righteous but sinners. The meaning of which is this: that those who were lost must be saved. [Matt. 9:13]
6. For that is, indeed, truly great and wonderful, not to confirm those things that are yet standing, but those which are falling.
7. Even so did it seem good to Christ to save what was lost; and when he came into the world, he saved many, and called us who were already lost.
8. Seeing then he has showed so great mercy towards us; and chiefly for that, we who are alive, do now no longer sacrifice to dead gods, nor pay any worship to them, but have by him been brought to the knowledge of the Father of truth.
9. Whereby shall we show that we do indeed know him, but by not denying him by whom we have come to the knowledge of him?
10. For even he himself saith, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father [Matt. 10:32, 33]. This therefore is our reward if we shall confess him by whom we have been saved.
11. But, wherein must we confess him? Namely, in doing those things which he says, and not disobeying his commandments: by worshipping him not with our lips only, but with all our heart, and with all our mind. For he says in Isaiah: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. [Isa. 29:13]
12. Let us then not only call him Lord; for that will not save us. For he says: Not every one that says to me Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that does righteousness. [Matt. 7:21]
13. Wherefore, brethren, let us confess him by our works; by loving one another; in not committing adultery, not speaking evil against each other, not envying one another; but by being temperate, merciful, good.
14. Let us also have a mutual sense of one another's sufferings; and not be covetous of money: but let us by our good works confess God, and not by those that are otherwise.
15. Also let us not fear men, but rather God. Wherefore, if we should do such wicked things, the Lord has said: Though you should be joined to me, even in my very bosom, and not keep my commandments, I would cast you off, and say to you: Depart from me; I know not where you are, you workers of iniquity. [Matt. 7:23; Luke 13:26, 27]
CHAPTER 3
1. That while we secure the other world, we need not fear what can befall us in this. 5. That if we follow the interests of this present world, we cannot escape the punishment of the other. 10. Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness, 14. and that quickly: because in this world is the only time for repentance.
1. Wherefore, brethren, leaving willingly for conscience sake our sojourning in this world, let us do the will of him who has called us, and not fear to depart out of this world.
2. For the Lord saith, You shall be as sheep in the midst of wolves [Matthew 10:16]. Peter answered and said, What if the wolves shall tear in pieces the sheep? Jesus said to Peter, Let not the sheep fear the wolves after death: also fear not those that kill you, and after that have no more that they can do to you; but fear him who after you are dead, has power to cast both soul and body into hell-fire. [Luke 12:4, 5]
3. For consider, brethren, that the sojourning of this flesh in the present world is but little, and of a short continuance, but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom that is to come, and of eternal life.
4. What then must we do that we may attain to it? We must order our conversation holily and righteously, and look upon all the things of this world as none of ours, and not desire them. For, if we desire to possess them we fall from the way of righteousness.
5. For thus says the Lord, No servant can serve two masters. If therefore we shall desire to serve God and Mammon it will be without profit to us [Luke 16:13]. For what will it profit, if one gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [Matthew 16:26]
6. Now this world and that to come are two enemies. This speak of adultery and corruption, of covetousness and deceit; but renounces these things.
7. We cannot, therefore, be the friends of both; but we must resolve by forsaking the one, to enjoy the other. And we think it is better to hate the present things, as little, short- lived, and corruptible, and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible.
8. For, if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest: but if not, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment if we shall disobey his commands. For even thus says the Scripture in the prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they shall not deliver their children in captivity. [Ezekiel 14:14, 20]
9. Wherefore, if such righteous men are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children; how can we hope to enter into the kingdom of God, except we keep our baptism holy and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we shall be found to have done what is holy and just?
10. Let us therefore, my brethren, contend with all earnestness, knowing that our combat is at hand; and that many go long voyages to encounter for a corruptible reward.
11. And yet all are not crowned, but they only that labor much, and strive gloriously. Let us, therefore, so contend that we may all be crowned. Let us run in the straight road, the race that is incorruptible: and let us in great numbers pass into it, and strive that we may receive the crown. But and if we cannot all be crowned, let us come as near to it as we are able.
12. Moreover, we must consider, that he who contends in a corruptible combat, if he be found doing anything that is not fair, is taken away and scourged, and cast out of the lists. What think ye then that he shall suffer, who does anything that is not fitting in the combat of immortality?
13. Thus speaks the prophet concerning those who keep not their seal; Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be for a spectacle to all flesh. [Isaiah 66:24]
14. Let us therefore repent, while we are yet upon the earth: for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer. For as the potter, if he make a vessel, and it be turned amiss in his hands, or broken, again forms it anew; but if he has gone so far as to throw it into the furnace of fire, he cannot more bring any remedy to it.
15. So we, while we are in this world, should repent with our whole heart for whatsoever evil we have done in the flesh; while we have yet the time of repentance, that we may be saved by the Lord.
16. For after we shall have departed out of this world, we shall no longer be able to confess our sins or repent in the other.
17. Wherefore, brethren, let us be doing the will of the Father, and keeping our flesh pure, and observing the commandments of the Lord, lay hold on eternal life: for the Lord saith in the gospel, If ye have not kept that which was little, who will give you that which is great? For I say to you, he that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. [Luke 16:10]
18. This, therefore, is what he is saying: keep your bodies pure, and your seal without spot, that you may receive eternal life.
CHAPTER 4
1. We shall rise, and be judged in our bodies; therefore we must live well in them, 6. that we ought, for own interest, to live well; though few seem to mind what really is for their advantage, 10. and not deceive ourselves: seeing God will certainly judge us, and render to all of us according to our works.
1. And let not any one among you say, that this very flesh is not judged, neither raised up. Consider, in what were you saved; in what did you look up, if not while you were in this flesh.
2. We must, therefore, keep our flesh as the temple of God. For in like manner as ye were called in the flesh, ye shall also come to judgment in the flesh. Our one Lord Jesus Christ, who has saved us, being first a spirit, was made flesh, and so called us; even so we also shall in this flesh receive the reward.
3. Let us, therefore, love one another, that we may attain to the kingdom of God. While we have time to be healed, let us deliver up ourselves to God our physician, giving our reward to him.
4. And what reward shall we give? Repentance out of a pure heart. For he knows all things beforehand, and searches out our very hearts.
5. Let us, therefore, give praise to him, not only with our mouths, but with all our souls so he may receive us as children. For so the Lord has said: They are my brethren, who do the will of my Father. [Matthew 12:50]
6. Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father, who has called us that we may live. Let us pursue virtue and forsake wickedness, which leads us into sins; and let us flee all ungodliness, so that evils overtake us not.
7. For if we shall do our diligence to live well, peace will follow us. And yet how hard is it to find a man that does this? For almost all are led by human fears, choosing rather the present enjoyments than the future promise.
8. For they know not how great a torment the present enjoyments bring with them, nor what delights the future promise.
9. And if only they themselves did this, it might the more easily be endured; but now they go on to infect innocent souls with their evil doctrines, not knowing that both themselves and those that hear them will receive a double condemnation.
10. Let us, therefore, serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous; but if we shall not serve him because we do not believe the promise of God, we shall be miserable.
11. For thus says the prophet: Miserable are the double-minded who doubt in their heart and say, These things we have heard even in the time of our fathers, but we have seen none of them, though we have expected them from day to day.
12. O ye fools! Compare yourselves to a tree; take the vine for an example. First it sheds its leaves, then it buds, then come the sour grapes, then the ripe fruit; even so my people have borne disorders and afflictions, but will hereafter receive good things.
13. Therefore my brethren, let us not doubt in our minds, but let us expect with hope, that we may receive our reward; for he is faithful, who has promised that he will render to every one a reward according to his works.
14. If, therefore, we shall do what is just in the sight of God, we shall enter into his kingdom and shall receive the promises: Which neither eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man. [Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9]
15. So let us every hour expect the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, because we know not the day of God's appearing.
CHAPTER 5 (A fragment)
Of the Lord's kingdom.
1. For the Lord himself, being asked by a certain person when his kingdom should come, answered, When two will be one, and that which is without as that which is within, and the male with the female is neither male nor female.
2. Now two are one, when we speak the truth to each other, and there is, without hypocrisy, one soul in two bodies:
3. And by that which is without as that which is within, he means this: he calls the soul that which is within, and the body that which is without. As therefore your body appears, so let your soul be seen by its good works.
4. And by the male with the female is neither male nor female, he means this: he calls our anger the male and our concupiscence the female.
5. When therefore a man is come to such a pass that he is subject neither to the one nor the other of these (both of which, through the prevalence of custom, and an evil education, cloud and darken the reason,)
6. But rather, having dispelled the mist arising from them, and being full of shame, will by repentance have united both his soul and spirit in the obedience of reason; then, as Paul says, there is in us neither male nor female. [Galatians 3:28]
Old Testament Pseudepigrapha Section
VITA ADAE ET EVAE
From "The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament"
R.H. Charles
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913

Other books concerning the life of Adam and Eve are
The Apocalypse of Moses
and The Slavonic Adam and Eve
i 1 When they were driven out from paradise, they made themselves a booth, and spent seven days mourning and lamenting in great grief.
ii 1 But after seven days, they began to be hungry and started to look for victual to eat, and they
2 found it not. Then Eve said to Adam: 'My lord, I am hungry. Go, look for (something) for us to eat. Perchance the Lord God will look back and pity us and recall us to the place in which we were before.
iii I And Adam arose and walked seven days over all that land, and found no victual such as they
2 used to have in paradise. And Eve said to Adam: 'Wilt thou slay me? that I may die, and perchance God the Lord will bring thee into paradise, for on my account hast thou been driven thence.'
3 Adam answered: 'Forbear, Eve, from such words, that peradventure God bring not some other curse upon us. How is it possible that I should stretch forth my hand against my own flesh? Nay, let us arise and look for something for us to live on, that we fail not.'
iv 1 And they walked about and searched for nine days, and they found none such as they were used to have in paradise, but found only animals'
2 food. And Adam said to Eve: 'This hath the Lord provided for animals and brutes to eat;
3 but we used to have angels' food. But it is just and right that we lament before the sight of God who made us. Let us repent with a great penitence: perchance the Lord will be gracious to us and will pity us and give us a share of something for our living.'
v 1 And Eve said to Adam: 'What is penitence? Tell me, what sort of penitence am I to do? Let us not put too great a labour on ourselves, which we cannot endure, so that the Lord will not hearken to our prayers: and will turn away His countenance from us, because we have not
3 fulfilled what we promised. My lord, how much penitence hast thou thought (to do) for I have brought trouble and anguish upon thee?'
vi 1 And Adam said to Eve: 'Thou canst not do so much as I, but do only so much as thou hast strength for. For I will spend forty days fasting, but do thou arise and go to the river Tigris and lift up a stone and stand on it in the water up to thy neck in the deep of the river. And let no speech proceed out of thy mouth, since we are unworthy to address the Lord, for our lips are unclean from the unlawful and forbidden tree.
2 And do thou stand in the water of the river thirty-seven days. But I will spend forty days in the water of Jordan, perchance the Lord God will take pity upon us.'
vii 1 And Eve walked to the river Tigris and did
2 as Adam had told her. Likewise, Adam walked to the river Jordan and stood on a stone up to his neck in water.
viii 1 And Adam said: 'I tell thee, water of Jordan, grieve with me, and assemble to me all swimming (creatures), which are in thee, and let them surround me and mourn in company with me. Not for themselves let them lament, but for me; for it is not they that have sinned, but I.'
3 Forthwith, all living things came and surrounded him, and, from that hour, the water of Jordan stood (still) and its current was stayed.'
ix 1 And eighteen days passed by; then Satan was wroth and transformed himself into the brightness of angels, and went away to the river
2 Tigris to Eve, and found her weeping, and the devil himself pretended to grieve with her, and he began to weep and said to her: 'Come out of the river and lament no more. Cease now from sorrow and moans. Why art thou anxious
3 and thy husband Adam? The Lord God hath heard your groaning and hath accepted your penitence, and all we angels have entreated on your behalf, and made supplication to the Lord;
4 and he hath sent me to bring you out of the water and give you the nourishment which you had in paradise, and for which you are crying
5 out. Now come out of the water and I will conduct you to the place where your victual hath been made ready.'
x 1 But Eve heard and believed and went out of the water of the river, and her flesh was (trembling)
2 like grass, from the chill of the water. And when she had gone out, she fell on the earth and the devil raised her up and led her to Adam.
3 But when Adam had seen her and the devil with her, he wept and cried aloud and said: 'O Eve, Eve, where is the labour of thy penitence?
4 How hast thou been again ensnared by our adversary, by whose means we have been estranged from our abode in paradise and spiritual joy?'
xi 1 And when she heard this, Eve understood that (it was) the devil (who) had persuaded her to go out of the river; and she fell on her face on the earth and her sorrow and groaning and wailing
2 was redoubled. And she cried out and said: 'Woe unto thee, thou devil. Why dost thou attack us for no cause? What hast thou to do with us? What have we done to thee? for thou pursuest us with craft? Or why doth thy malice
3 assail us? Have we taken away thy glory and caused thee to be without honour? Why dost thou harry us, thou enemy (and persecute us) to the death in wickedness and envy?'
xii 1 And with a heavy sigh, the devil spake: 'O Adam! all my hostility, envy, and sorrow is for thee, since it is for thee that I have been expelled from my glory, which I possessed in the heavens
2 in the midst of the angels and for thee was I cast out in the earth.' Adam answered, 'What dost
3 thou tell me? What have I done to thee or what is my fault against thee? Seeing that thou hast received no harm or injury from us, why dost thou pursue us?'
xiii 1 The devil replied, 'Adam, what dost thou tell me? It is for thy sake that I have been hurled
2 from that place. When thou wast formed. I was hurled out of the presence of God and banished from the company of the angels. When God blew into thee the breath of life and thy face and likeness was made in the image of God, Michael also brought thee and made (us) worship thee in the sight of God; and God the Lord spake: Here is Adam. I have made thee in our image and likeness.'
xiv 1 And Michael went out and called all the angels saying: 'Worship the image of God as the Lord God hath commanded.' And Michael himself worshipped first; then he called me and said: 'Worship the image of God
3 the Lord.' And I answered, 'I have no (need) to worship Adam.' And since Michael kept urging me to worship, I said to him, 'Why dost thou urge me? I will not worship an inferior and younger being (than I). I am his senior in the Creation, before he was made was I already made. It is his duty to worship me.'
xv 1,2 When the angels, who were under me, heard this, they refused to worship him. And Michael saith, 'Worship the image of God, but if thou wilt not worship him, the Lord God will be wrath
3 with thee.' And I said, 'If He be wrath with me, I will set my seat above the stars of heaven and will be like the Highest.'
xvi 1 And God the Lord was wrath with me and banished me and my angels from our glory; and on
2 thy account were we expelled from our abodes into this world and hurled on the earth. And
3 straightway we were overcome with grief, since we had been spoiled of so great glory. And we
4 were grieved when we saw thee in such joy and luxury. And with guile I cheated thy wife and caused thee to be expelled through her (doing) from thy joy and luxury, as I have been driven out of my glory.
xvii 1 When Adam heard the devil say this, he cried out and wept and spake: 'O Lord my God, my life is in thy hands. Banish this Adversary far from me, who seeketh to destroy my soul, and give
2,3 me his glory which he himself hath lost.' And at that moment, the devil vanished before him. But Adam endured in his penance, standing for forty days (on end) in the water of Jordan.
xviii 1 And Eve said to Adam: 'Live thou, my Lord, to thee life is granted, since thou hast committed neither the first nor the second error. But I have erred and been led astray for I have not kept the commandment of God; and now banish me from the light of thy life and I will go to the sunsetting,
2 and there will I be, until I die.' And she began to walk towards the western parts and to mourn
3 and to weep bitterly and groan aloud. And she made there a booth, while she had in her womb offspring of three months old.
xix 1 And when the time of her bearing approached, she began to be distressed with pains, and she
2 cried aloud to the Lord and said: 'Pity me, O Lord, assist me.' And she was not heard and the
3 mercy of God did not encircle her. And she said to herself: 'Who shall tell my lord Adam? I implore you, ye luminaries of heaven, what time ye return to the east, bear a message to my lord Adam.'
xx 1 But in that hour, Adam said: 'The complaint of Eve hath come to me. Perchance, once more hath the serpent fought with her.'
2 And he went and found her in great distress. And Eve said: 'From the moment I saw thee, my lord, my grief-laden soul was refreshed. And now entreat the Lord God on my behalf to
3 hearken unto thee and look upon me and free me from my awful pains.' And Adam entreated the Lord for Eve.
xxi 1 And behold, there came twelve angels and two 'virtues', standing on the right and on the left
2 of Eve; and Michael was standing on the right; and he stroked her on the face as far as to the breast and said to Eve: 'Blessed art thou, Eve, for Adam's sake. Since his prayers and intercessions are great, I have been sent that thou mayst receive our help. Rise up now, and
3 prepare thee to bear. And she bore a son and he was shining; and at once the babe rose up and ran and bore a blade of grass in his hands, and gave it to his mother, and his name was called Cain.
xxii 1 And Adam carried Eve and the boy and led
2 them to the East. And the Lord God sent divers seeds by Michael the archangel and gave to Adam and showed him how to work and till the ground, that they might have fruit by which they and all their generations might live.
3 For thereafter Eve conceived and bare a son, whose name was Abel; and Cain and Abel used to stay together.
4 And Eve said to Adam: 'My lord, while I slept, I saw a vision, as it were the blood of our son Abel in the hand of Cain, who was gulping it down in his mouth. Therefore I have sorrow.'
5 And Adam said, 'Alas if Cain slew Abel. Yet let us separate them from each other mutually, and let us make for each of them separate dwellings.'
xxiii 1 And they made Cain an husbandman, (but) Abel they made a shepherd; in order that in this wise they might be mutually separated.
2 And thereafter, Cain slew Abel, but Adam was then one hundred and thirty years old, but Abel was slain when he was one hundred and twenty-two years. And thereafter Adam knew his wife and he begat a son and called his name Seth.
xxiv 1 And Adam said to Eve, 'Behold, I have begotten a son, in place of Abel, whom Cain slew.'
2 And after Adam had begotten Seth, he lived eight hundred years and begat thirty sons and thirty daughters; in all sixty-three children. And they were increased over the face of the earth in their nations.
xxv 1 And Adam said to Seth, 'Hear, my son Seth, that I may relate to thee what I heard and
2 saw after your mother and I had been driven out of paradise. When we were at prayer, there
3 came to me Michael the archangel, a messenger of God. And I saw a chariot like the wind and its wheels were fiery and I was caught up into the Paradise of righteousness, and I saw the Lord sitting and his face was flaming fire that could not be endured. And many thousands of angels were on the right and the left of that chariot.
xxvi 1 When I saw this, I was confounded, and terror seized me and I bowed myself down before
2 God with my face to the earth. And God said to me, 'Behold thou diest, since thou hast transgressed the commandment of God, for thou didst hearken rather to the voice of thy wife, whom I gave into thy power, that thou mightst hold her to thy will. Yet thou didst listen to her and didst pass by My words.'
xxvii 1 And when I heard these words of God, I fell prone on the earth and worshipped the Lord and said, 'My Lord, All powerful and merciful God, Holy and Righteous One, let not the name that is mindful of Thy majesty be blotted out, but convert my soul, for I die and my
2 breath will go out of my mouth. Cast me not out from Thy presence, (me) whom Thou didst form of the clay of the earth. Do not banish from Thy favour him whom Thou didst nourish.'
3 And lo! a word concerning thee came upon me and the Lord said to me, 'Since thy days were fashioned, thou hast been created with a love of knowledge; therefore there shall not be taken from thy seed for ever the (right) to serve Me.'
xxviii 1 And when I heard these words. I threw myself on the earth and adored the Lord God and said, 'Thou art the eternal and supreme God; and all creatures give thee honour and praise.
2 'Thou art the true Light gleaming above all light(s), the Living Life, infinite mighty Power. To Thee, the spiritual powers give honour and praise. Thou workest on the race of men the abundance of Thy mercy.'
3 After I had worshipped the Lord, straightway Michael, God's archangel, seized my hand and
4 cast me out of the paradise of 'vision' and of God's command. And Michael held a rod in his hand, and he touched the waters, which were round about paradise, and they froze hard.
xxix 1 And I went across, and Michael the archangel went across with me, and he led me back to
2 the place whence he had caught me up. Hearken, my son Seth, even to the rest of the secrets [and sacraments] that shall be, which were revealed to me, when I had eaten of the tree of the
3 knowledge, and knew and perceived what will come to pass in this age; [what God intends to do
4 to his creation of the race of men. The Lord will appear in a flame of fire (and) from the mouth of His majesty He will give commandments and statutes [from His mouth will proceed a two-edged sword] and they will sanctify Him in the house of the habitation of His majesty.
5 And He will show them the marvellous place of His majesty. And then they will build a house to the Lord their God in the land which He shall prepare for them and there they will transgress His statutes and their sanctuary will be burnt up and their land will be deserted and they
6 themselves will be dispersed; because they have kindled the wrath of God. And once more He will cause them to come back from their dispersion; and again they will build the house of God;
7 and in the last time the house of God will be exalted greater than of old. And once more iniquity will exceed righteousness. And thereafter God will dwell with men on earth [in visible form]; and then, righteousness will begin to shine. And the house of God will be honoured in the age and their enemies will no more be able to hurt the men, who are believing in God; and God will stir up for Himself a faithful people, whom He shall save for eternity, and the impious shall be punished
8 by God their king, the men who refused to love His law. Heaven and earth, nights and days, and all creatures shall obey Him, and not overstep His commandment. Men shall not change their
9 works, but they shall be changed from forsaking the law of the Lord. Therefore the Lord shall repel from Himself the wicked, and the just shall shine like the sun, in the sight of God. And
10 in that time, shall men be purified by water from their sins. But those who are unwilling to be purified by water shall be condemned. And happy shall the man be, who hath ruled his soul, when the Judgement shall come to pass and the greatness of God be seen among men and their deeds be inquired into by God the just judge.
xxx 1 After Adam was nine hundred and thirty years old, since he knew that his days were coming to an end, he said: 'Let all my sons assemble themselves to me, that I may bless them before I die, and speak with them.'
2 And they were assembled in three parts, before his sight, in the house of prayer, where they used
3 to worship the Lord God. And they asked him (saying): 'What concerns thee, Father, that thou shouldst assemble us, and why dost thou lie on
4 thy bed? 'Then Adam answered and said: 'My sons, I am sick and in pain.' And all his sons said to him: 'What does it mean, father, this illness and pain?'
xxxi 1 Then said Seth his son: 'O (my) lord, perchance thou hast longed after the fruit of paradise, which thou wast wont to eat, and therefore thou liest in sadness? Tell me and I will go to the nearest gates of paradise and put dust on my head and throw myself down on the earth before the gates of paradise and lament and make entreaty to God with loud lamentation; perchance he will hearken to me and send his angel to bring me the fruit, for which thou hast longed.'
2 Adam answered and said: 'No, my son, I do not long (for this), but I feel weakness and great
3 pain in my body.' Seth answered, 'What is pain, my lord father? I am ignorant; but hide it not from us, but tell us (about it).'
And Adam answered and said: 'Hear me, my sons. When God made us, me and your mother, and placed us in paradise and gave us every tree bearing fruit to eat, he laid a prohibition on us concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is in the midst of paradise; (saying)
2 'Do not eat of it.' But God gave a part of paradise to me and (a part) to your mother: the trees of the eastern part and the north, which is over against Aquilo he gave to me, and to your mother he gave the part of the south and the western part.
xxxiii 1 (Moreover) God the Lord gave us two angels
2 to guard us. The hour came when the angels had ascended to worship in the sight of God; forthwith the adversary [the devil] found an opportunity while the angels were absent and the devil led your mother astray to eat of the
3 unlawful and forbidden tree. And she did eat and gave to me.
xxxiv 1 And immediately, the Lord God was wrath with us, and the Lord said to me: 'In that thou hast left behind my commandment and hast not kept my word, which I confirmed to thee; behold, I will bring upon thy body, seventy blows; with divers griefs, shalt thou be tormented, beginning at thy head and thine eyes and thine ears down to thy nails on thy toes, and in every
2 separate limb. These hath God appointed for chastisement. All these things hath the Lord sent to me and to all our race.'
xxxv 1 Thus spake Adam to his sons, and he was seized with violent pains, and he cried out with a loud voice, 'What shall I do? I am in distress. So cruel are the pains with which I am beset.' And when Eve had seen him weeping, she also began to weep herself, and said: 'O Lord my God, hand over to me his pain, for it is I who sinned.'
3 And Eve said to Adam: 'My lord, give me a part of thy pains, for this hath come to thee from fault of mine.'
xxxvi 1 And Adam said to Eve: 'Rise up and go with my son Seth to the neighbourhood of paradise, and put dust on your heads and throw yourselves on the ground and lament in the sight of
2 God. Perchance He will have pity (upon you) and send His angel across to the tree of His mercy, whence floweth the oil of life, and will give you a drop of it, to anoint me with it, that I may have rest from these pains, by which I am being consumed.' Then Seth and his mother went off towards the gates of paradise. And while they were walking, lo! suddenly there came a beast
2 [a serpent] and attacked and bit Seth. And as soon as Eve saw it, she wept and said: 'Alas, wretched woman that I am. I am accursed since I have not kept the commandment of God.'
3 And Eve said to the serpent in a loud voice: 'Accursed beast! how (is it that) thou hast not feared to let thyself loose against the image of God, but hast dared to fight with it?'
xxxviii 1 The beast answered in the language of men: 'Is it not against you, Eve, that our malice (is directed)? Are not ye the objects of our rage?
2 Tell me, Eve, how was thy mouth opened to eat of the fruit? But now if I shall begin to reprove thee thou canst not bear it.'
xxxix 1 Then said Seth to the beast: 'God the Lord revile thee. Be silent, be dumb, shut thy mouth, accursed enemy of Truth, confounder and destroyer. Avaunt from the image of God till the day when the Lord God shall order thee to be brought to the ordeal.' And the beast said to Seth: 'See, I leave the presence of the image of God, as thou hast said.' Forthwith he left Seth, wounded by his teeth.
xl 1 But Seth and his mother walked to the regions of paradise for the oil of mercy to anoint the sick Adam: and they arrived at the gates of paradise, (and) they took dust from the earth and placed it on their heads, and bowed themselves with their faces to the earth and began to lament and
2 make loud moaning, imploring the Lord God to pity Adam in his pains and to send His angel to give them the oil from the 'tree of His mercy'.
xli 1 But when they had been praying and imploring for many hours, behold, the angel Michael ap-
2 peared to them and said: 'I have been sent to you from the Lord -I am set by God over the
3 bodies of men- I tell thee, Seth, (thou) man of God, weep not nor pray and entreat on account of the oil of the tree of mercy to anoint thy father Adam for the pains of his body.
xlii 1 'For I tell thee that in no wise wilt thou be able to receive thereof save in the last days.'
2 [When five thousand five hundred years have been fulfilled, then will come upon earth the most beloved king Christ, the son of God, to revive the body of Adam and with him to revive
3 the bodies of the dead. He Himself, the Son of God, when He comes will be baptized in the river of Jordan, and when He hath come out of the water of Jordan, then He will anoint from the
4 oil of mercy all that believe in Him. And the oil of mercy shall be for generation to generation for those who are ready to be born again of
5 water and the Holy Spirit to life eternal. Then the most beloved Son of God, Christ, descending on earth shall lead thy father Adam to Paradise to the tree of mercy.]
xliii 1 'But do thou, Seth, go to thy father Adam, since the time of his life is fulfilled. Six days hence, his soul shall go off his body and when it shall have gone out, thou shalt see great marvels in the heaven and in the earth and the
2 luminaries of heaven. With these words, straightway Michael departed from Seth.
3 And Eve and Seth returned bearing with them herbs of fragrance, i.e. nard and crocus and calamus and cinnamon.
xliv 1 And when Seth and his mother had reached Adam, they told him, how the beast [the serpent]
2 bit Seth. And Adam said to Eve: 'What hast thou done? A great plague hast thou brought upon us, transgression and sin for all our generations: and this which thou hast done, tell thy
3 children after my death, [for those who arise from us shall toil and fail but they shall be
4 wanting and curse us (and) say, All evils have our parents brought upon us, who were at the
5 beginning].' When Eve heard these words, she began to weep and moan.
xlv 1 And just as Michael the archangel had fore-
2 told, after six days came Adam's death. When Adam perceived that the hour of his death was at hand, he said to all his sons: 'Behold, I am nine hundred and thirty years old, and if I die,
3 bury me towards the sunrising in the field of yonder dwelling.' And it came to pass that when he had finished all his discourse, he gave up the ghost. (Then) was the sun darkened and the moon
xlvi 1 and the stars for seven days, and Seth in his mourning embraced from above the body of his father, and Eve was looking on the ground with hands folded over her head, and all her children wept most bitterly. And behold, there appeared
2 Michael the angel and stood at the head of Adam and said to Seth: 'Rise up from the body of thy
3 father and come to me and see what is the doom of the Lord God concerning him. His creature is he, and God hath pitied him.'
And all angels blew their trumpets, and cried:
xlvii 1 'Blessed art thou, O Lord, for thou hast had pity on Thy creature.'
xlviii 1 Then Seth saw the hand of God stretched out holding Adam and he handed him over to
2 Michael, saying: 'Let him be in thy charge till the day of Judgement in punishment, till the last years when I will convert his sorrow into joy.
3 Then shall he sit on the throne of him who hath been his supplanter.'
4 And the Lord said again to the angels Michael and Uriel: 'Bring me three linen clothes of byssus and spread them out over Adam and other linen clothes over Abel his son and bury Adam and Abel his son.'
5 And all the 'powers' of angels marched before Adam, and the sleep of the dead was
6 consecrated. And the angels Michael and Uriel buried Adam and Abel in the parts of Paradise, before the eyes of Seth and his mother
7 [and no one else], and Michael and Uriel said: 'Just as ye have seen, in like manner, bury your dead.'
xlix 1 Six days after, Adam died; and Eve perceived that she would die, (so) she assembled all her sons
2 and daughters, Seth with thirty brothers and thirty sisters, and Eve said to all, 'Hear me, my children, and I will tell you what the archangel Michael said to us when I and your father transgressed the command of God
3 On account of your transgression, Our Lord will bring upon your race the anger of his judgement, first by water, the second time by fire; by these two, will the Lord judge the whole human race
l 1 But hearken unto me, my children. Make ye then tables of stone and others of clay, and write
2 on them, all my life and your father's (all) that ye have heard and seen from us. If by water the Lord judge our race, the tables of clay will be dissolved and the tables of stone will remain; but if by fire, the tables of stone will be broken up and the tables of clay will be baked (hard).'
3 When Eve had said all this to her children, she spread out her hands to heaven in prayer, and bent her knees to the earth, and while she worshipped the Lord and gave him thanks, she gave up the ghost. Thereafter, all her children buried her with loud lamentation.
li 1 When they had been mourning four days, (then) Michael the archangel appeared and said
2 to Seth: 'Man of God, mourn not for thy dead more than six days, for on the seventh day is the sign of the resurrection and the rest of the age to come; on the seventh day the Lord rested from all His works.'
3 Thereupon Seth made the tables.
SLAVONIC VITA ADAE ET EVAE
From-The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament
R.H. Charles
Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1913

xxviii 1 And we sat together before the gate of paradise, Adam weeping with his face bent down to the earth, lay on the ground lamenting. And seven days passed by and we had nothing
2 to eat and were consumed with great hunger, and I Eve cried with a loud voice: 'Pity me, O Lord, My Creator; for my sake Adam suffereth thus!'
xxxix 1 And I said to Adam: 'Rise up! my lord, that we may seek us food; for now my spirit faileth me and my heart within me is brought low.' Then Adam spake to me: 'I have thoughts of
2 killing thee, but I fear since God created thine image and thou showest penitence and criest to God; hence my heart hath not departed from thee.'
xxx 1 And Adam arose and we roamed through all lands and found nothing to eat save nettles (and) grass of the field. And we returned again to the gates of paradise and cried aloud and entreated: 'Have compassion on thy creature.
2 O Lord Creator, allow us food.'
xxxi 1 And for fifteen days continuously we entreated. Then we heard Michael the archangel and Joel
2 praying for us, and Joel the archangel was commanded by the Lord, and he took a seventh part of paradise and gave it to us. Then the
3 Lord said: 'Thorns and thistles shall spring up from under thy hands; and from thy sweat shalt thou eat (bread), and thy wife shall tremble when she looketh upon thee.'
xxxii 1 The archangel Joel said to Adam: 'Thus saith the Lord; I did not create thy wife to command thee, but to obey; why art thou obedient to thy wife?' Again Joel the archangcl bade Adam separate the cattle and all kinds of flying and creeping things and animals, both wild and tame; and to give names to all things. Then indeed
3 he took the oxen and began to plough.
xxxiii 1 Then the devil approached and stood before the oxen, and hindered Adam in tilling the field and said to Adam: 'Mine are the things of
2 earth, the things of Heaven are God's; but if thou wilt be mine, thou shalt labour on the earth; but if thou wilt be God's, (pray) go away to paradise.' Adam said: 'The things
3 of Heaven are the Lord's, and the things of earth and Paradise and the whole Universe.'
xxxiv 1 The devil said: 'I do not suffer thee to till the field, except thou write the bond that thou art mine.' Adam replied: 'Whosoever is lord of
2 the earth, to the same do I (belong) and my children.' Then the devil was overcome with joy. (But Adam was not ignorant that the Lord
3 would descend on earth and tread the devil under foot.) The devil said: 'Write me thy
4 bond.' And Adam wrote: 'Who is lord of the earth, to the same do I belong and my children.'
xxxv 1 Eve said to Adam, 'Rise up, my lord, let us pray to God in this cause that He set us free from that devil, for thou art in this strait on my account.'
But Adam said: 'Eve, since thou repentest of
2 thy misdeed, my heart will hearken to thee, for the Lord created thee out of my ribs. Let us fast forty days perchance the Lord will have pity on us and will leave us understanding and life.' I, for my part, said: 'Do thou, (my) lord,
3 fast forty days, but I will fast forty-four.'
xxxvi 1 And Adam said to me: 'Haste thee to the river, named Tigris, and take a great stone and place it under thy feet, and enter into the stream and clothe thyself with water, as with a cloak, up to the neck, and pray to God in thy heart and let no word proceed out of thy mouth.' And
2 I said: 'O (my) lord, with my whole heart will I call upon God.' And Adam said to me:
3 'Take great care of thyself. Except thou seest me and all my tokens, depart not out of the water, nor trust in the words, which are said to thee, lest thou fall again into the snare.' And
4 Adam came to Jordan and he entered into the water and he plunged himself altogether into the flood, even (to) the hairs of his head, while he made supplication to God and sent (up) prayers to Him.
xxxvii 1And there, the angels came together and all living creatures, wild and tame, and all birds that fly, (and) they surrounded Adam, like a wall, praying to God for Adam.
xxxviii 1 The devil came to me, wearing the form and brightness of an angel, and shedding big teardrops, (and) said to me: 'Come out of the water,
2 Eve, God hath heard thy prayers and (heard) us angels. God hath fulfilled the prayers of those who intercede on thy behalf. God hath sent me to thee, that thou mayst come out of the water.'
xxxix 1 But I (Eve) perceived that he was the devil and answered him nothing. But Adam (when) he returned from Jordan, saw the devil's footprints, and feared lest perchance he had deceived me; but when he had remarked me standing in the water he was overcome with joy (and) he took
2 me and led me out of the water.
xl 1 Then Adam cried out with a loud voice: 'Be silent, Eve, for already is my spirit straitened in my body; arise, go forth, utter prayers to God, till I deliver up my spirit to God.'
(Passage follows exactly parallel to Apocalypsis Mosis xxxii. seq., but in abbreviated form.)
The Apocalypse of Adam

Nag Hammadi Codex V,5.
Translated by George W. MacRae
The revelation of Adam`s origin as told to his son Seth
The revelation which Adam taught his son Seth in the seven hundredth year, saying, Listen to my words, my son Seth. When God had created me out of the earth along with Eve, your mother, I went about with her in a glory which she had seen in the Aeon from which we had come forth. She taught me a word of knowledge of the eternal God. And we resembled the great angels, for we were higher than the God who had created us and the powers with him, whom we did not know.
Then God, the ruler of the Aeons and the powers, divided us in wrath. Then we became two Aeons. And the glory in our hearts left us , me and your mother Eve, along with the first knowledge that breathed within us.And glory fled from us; not from this Aeon from which we had come forth, I and Eve your mother.But knowledge entered into the seed of great Aeons.For this reason I myself have called you by the name of that man who is the seed of the great generation or from whom it comes.After those days the eternal knowledge of the God of truth withdrew from me and your mother Eve.Since that time we learned about dead things, like men.Then we recognized the God who had created us. For we were not strangers to his powers.And we served him in fear and slavery.And after these events we became darkened in our hearts. Now I slept in the thought of my heart.
And I saw three men before me whose likeness I was unable to recognize, since they were not from the powers of the God who had created us. They surpassed glory, and men, saying to me , "Arise, Adam, from the sleep of death and hear about the Aeon and the seed of that man to whom life has come, who came from you and from Eve, your wife"
When I had heard these words from the great men who were standing before me, then we sighed, I and Eve, in our hearts.And the Lord, the God who had created us, stood before us.He said to us , "Adam, why were you both sighing in your hearts? Do you not know that I am the God who created you? And I breathed into you a spirit of life as a living soul" Then darkness came upon our eyes.
Then the God, who created us, created a son from himself and Eve, your mother.I knew sweet desire for your mother.Then the vigor of our eternal knowledge was destroyed in us, and weakness pursued us. Therefore the days of our lives became few.For I knew that I had come under the authority of death.
Now then, my son Seth, I will reveal to you the things which those men whom I saw before me at first revealed to me after I have completed the times of this generation and the years of the generation has been accomplished.
For rain-showers of God the almighty will be poured forth so that he might destroy all the flesh of God the almighty, so that he might destroy all flesh from the earth by means of that which is around them, along with those from the seed of the men to whom passed the life of the knowledge, that came from me and Eve, your mother.For they were strangers to him.Afterwards the great angels will come on high clouds, who will bring those men into the place where the spirit of life dwells in glory there.Then the whole multitude of the flesh will be left behind in the waters.
Then God will rest from his wrath.And he will cast his power upon the waters, and give power to his power to his sons and their wives by means of the ark along with the animals, whichever he pleased, and the birds of heaven, which he called and released upon the earth. And God will say to Noah - whom the generations will call Deucalion - -"Behold, I have protected you in the ark along with your wife and your sons and their wives and their animals and the birds of heaven, which you called and released upon the earth.Therefore I will give the earth to you - you and your sons.In kingly fashion you will rule over it - you and your sons.And no seed will come from you of the men who will not stand in my prescense in another glory."
Then they will become as the cloud of the great light.Those men will come who have been cast forth from the knowledge of the great Aeon and the angels.They will stand before Noah and the Aeons.And God will say to Noah, "Why have you departed from what I told you? You have created another generation so that you may scorn my power" Then Noah will say , "I shall testify before your might that the generation of these men did not come from me nor from my sons."
And he will bring those men into their proper land and build them a holy dwelling place.And they will be called by that name and dwell there six hundred years in a knowledge of imperishability. And the angels of the great Light will dwell with them.No foul deed will dwell in their hearts, but only the knowledge of the true God.
The Noah will divide the whole earth among his sons, Ham and Japheth and Shem.He will say to them "My sons, listen to my words. Behold, I have divided the earth among you.But serve him in fear and slavery all the days of your life.Let not your seed depart from the face of God the almighty. My seed will be pleasing before you and before your power. Seal it by your strong hand with fear and commandment, so that the whole seed which came forth from me may not be inclined away from you and God the almighty, but it will serve in humility and fear of its knowledge."
Then others from the seed of Ham and Japheth will come, four hundred thousand men, and enter into another land and sojourn with those men who came forth from the great eternal knowledge. For the shadow of their power will protect those who have sojourned with them from every evil thing and every unclean desire.Then the seed of Ham and Japheth will form twelve kingdoms, and their seed also will enter into the kingdom of another people, and will take counsel from the great aeons of imperishability.And they will go to Sacla, their God.They who go in to the powers, accusing the great men who are in their glory.
They will say to Sacla "What is the power of these men who stood in your prescense, who were taken from the seed of Ham and Japheth, who will number four hundred thousand men? They have been received into another aeon from which they had come forth, and they have overturned all the glory of your power and the dominion of your hand. For the seed of Noah through his son has done all your will, and so have all the powers in the Aeons over which your might rules, while both those men and the ones who are sojourners in their glory have not done your will.But they have turned aside your whole throng".
Then the God of the Aeons will give them some of those who serve him. They will come upon that land where the great men will be who have not been defiled, nor will be defiled by any desire.For their soul did not come from a defiled hand, but it came from a great commandment of the eternal angel.Then fire and sulphur and asphalt will be cast upon those men, and fire and blinding mist will come over those Aeons, and the eyes of the powers of the illuminators will be darkened, and the Aeons will not see them in those days.And the great clouds of light will descend, and other clouds of light will come down upon them from the great Aeons.
Abrasax and Sablo and Gamaliel will descend and bring those men out of the fire and the wrath, and take them above the Aeons and the Rulers of the powers, and take them away there, with the holy angels and the Aeons.The men will be like those angels, for they are not strangers to them.But they work in the imperishable seed.
Once again, for the third time, the illuminator of knowledge will pass by in great glory, in order to leave something of the seed of Noah and the sons of Ham and Japheth - to leave for himself fruitbearing trees. And he will redeem their souls from the day of death.For the whole creation that came from the dead earth will be under the authority of death.But those who reflect upon the knowledge of the eternal God in their hearts will not perish.For they have not received spirit from this kingdom alone, but they have received it from one of the eternal angels.The illuminator will come. And he will perform signs and wonders in order to scorn the powers and their ruler.
Then the God of the powers will be disturbed, saying , "What is the power of this man who is higher than we?" Then he will arouse a great wrath against that man.And the glory will withdraw and dwell in holy houses which it has chosen for itself.And the powers will not see it with their eyes, nor will they see the illuminator either.Then they will punish the flesh of the man upon whom the holy spirit has come.
Then the angels and all the generations of the powers will use the name in error, asking, "Where did the error come from?" or "Where did the words of deception, which all the powers have failed to discover, come from?"
Now the first kingdom says of him.....[]
He was nourished in the heavens.
He received the glory of that one and the power.
He came to the bosom of his mother.
And thus he came to the water.
And the second kingdom says about him that he came from a great prophet. And a bird came, took the child who was born and brought him onto a high mountain.And he was nourished by the bird of Heaven.An Angel came forth there.He said to him "Arise! God has given glory to you"
He received glory and strength.
And thus he came to the water.
The third kingdom says of him that he came from a virgin womb. He was cast out of his city, he and his mother; he was brought to a desert place.
He was nourished there.
And thus he came to the water.
The fourth kingdom says of him that he came from a virgin.... Solomon sought her, he and Phersalo and Sauel and his armies, which had been sent out. Solomon himself sent his army of demons to seek out the virgin. And they did not find the one whom they sought, but the virgin who as given them.It was she whom they fetched. Solomon took her.The virgin became pregnant and gave birth to the child there.
She nourished him on a border of the desert.When he had been nourished, he received glory and power from the seed from which he was begotten. And thus he came to the water.
And the fifth kingdom says of him that he came from a drop from Heaven.He was thrown into the sea.The Abyss received him, gave birth to him, and brought him to Heaven.
He received glory and power.
And thus he came to the water.
And the sixth kingdom says that [.....] down to the Aeon which is below, in order to gather flowers.She became pregnant from the desire of the flowers. She gave birth to him in that place.The angels of the flower garden nourished him.He received glory there and power. And thus he came to the water.
And the seventh kingdom says of him that he is a drop.It came from Heaven to earth.Dragons brought him down to caves.He became a child.A spirit came upon him and brought him on high to the place where the drop had come forth.He received glory and power there. And thus he came to the water.
And the eight kingdom says of him that a cloud came upon the earth and enveloped a rock.He came from it.The angels who were above the cloud nourished him.He received glory and power there. And thus he came to the water.
And the ninth kingdom says of him that from the nine Muses one separated away.She came to a high mountain and spent some time seated there, so that she desired herself alone in order to become androgynous.She fulfilled her desire and became pregnant from her desire.He was born.The angels who were over the desire nourished him. He received glory and power there.
And thus he came to the water.
The tenth kingdom says of him that his god loved a cloud of desire. He begot in his hand and cast upon the cloud above him some of the drop, and he was born. He received glory and power there.
And thus he came to the water.
The Eleventh kingdom says of him that the father desired his own daughter.She herself became pregnant from her father.She cast [....] tomb out in the desert. The angel nourished him there.
And thus he came to the water.
And the twelfth kingdom says of him that he came from two illuminators. He was nourished there.
He received glory and power.
And thus he came to the water.
And the thirteenth kingdom says of him that every birth of their ruler is a word.And this word received a mandate there. He received glory and power.
And thus he came to the water.
But the generation without a king over it says that God chose him from all the Aeons. He caused a knowledge of the undefiled one of truth to come to be in him. He said, "Out of a foreign air, from a great Aeon, the great illuminator came forth.And he made the generation of those men whom he had chosen for himself shine, so that they should shine upon the whole Aeon"
Then the seed, those who will receive his name upon the water and that of them all, will fight against the power. And a cloud of darkness will come upon them.
Then the peoples will cry out with a great voice, saying, "Blessed is the soul of those men because they have known God with a knowledge of the truth! They shall live forever, because they have not been corrupted by their desire, along with the angels, nor have they accomplished the works of the powers, but they have stood in his prescense in a knowledge of God like light that has come forth from fire and blood. But we have done every deed of the powers senselessly. We have boasted in the transgression of all our works.We have cried against the God of truth because all his work is eternal.These are against our spirits.For now we have known that our souls will die the death."
Then a voice came to them, saying "Micheu and Michar and Mnesinous, who are over the holy baptism and the living water, why were you crying out against the living God with lawless voices and tongues without law over them, and souls full of blood and foul deeds? You are full of works that are not of the truth, but your ways are full of joy and rejoicing. Having defiled the water of life, you have drawn it within the will of the powers to whom you have been given to serve them. And your thought is not like that of those men whom you persecute.Their fruit do not wither.But they will be known up to the great Aeons, because the words they had kept, of the God of the Aeons, were not committed to the book, nor were they written.But angelic beings will bring them, whom all the generations of men will not know. For they will be on the high mountain , upon a rock of truth.Therefore they will be named "The words of Imperishability and Truth" for those who know the eternal God in wisdom and knowledge and teaching of angels forever, for he knows all things."
These are the revelations which Adam made known to Seth his son, And his son taught his seed about them. This is the hidden knowledge of Adam, which he gave to Seth, which is the holy baptism of those who know the eternal knowledge through those born of the word and the imperishable illuminators, who came from the holy seed: Yesseus. Mazareus Yessedekeus, the living water.

The First Book of Adam and Eve

Prologue
The First Book of Adam and Eve details the life and times of Adam and Eve after they were expelled from the garden to the time that Cain kills his brother Abel. It tells of Adam and Eve’s first dwelling - the Cave of Treasures; their trials and temptations; Satan’s many apparitions to them; the birth of Cain, Abel, and their twin sisters; and Cain’s love for his beautiful twin sister, Luluwa, whom Adam and Eve wished to join to Abel.
This book is considered by many scholars to be part of the "Pseudepigrapha" (soo-duh-pig-ruh-fuh). The "Pseudepigrapha" is a collection of historical biblical works that are considered to be fiction. Because of that stigma, this book was not included in the compilation of the Holy Bible. This book is a written history of what happened in the days of Adam and Eve after they were cast out of the garden. Although considered to be pseudepigraphic by some, it carries significant meaning and insight into events of that time. It is doubtful that these writings could have survived all the many centuries if there were no substance to them.
This book is simply a version of an account handed down by word of mouth, from generation to generation, linking the time that the first human life was created to the time when somebody finally decided to write it down. This particular version is the work of unknown Egyptians. The lack of historical allusion makes it difficult to precisely date the writing, however, using other pseudepigraphical works as a reference, it was probably written a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. Parts of this version are found in the Jewish Talmud, and the Islamic Koran, showing what a vital role it played in the original literature of human wisdom. The Egyptian author wrote in Arabic, but later translations were found written in Ethiopic. The present English translation was translated in the late 1800’s by Dr. S. C. Malan and Dr. E. Trumpp. They translated into King James English from both the Arabic version and the Ethiopic version which was then published in The Forgotten Books of Eden in 1927 by The World Publishing Company.

Chapter I - The crystal sea, God commands Adam, expelled from Eden, to live in the Cave of Treasures.
1 On the third day, God planted the garden in the east of the earth, on the border of the world eastward, beyond which, towards the sun-rising, one finds nothing but water, that encompasses the whole world, and reaches to the borders of heaven.
2 And to the north of the garden there is a sea of water, clear and pure to the taste, unlike anything else; so that, through the clearness thereof, one may look into the depths of the earth.
3 And when a man washes himself in it, he becomes clean of the cleanness thereof, and white of its whiteness -- even if he were dark.
4 And God created that sea of his own good pleasure, for He knew what would come of the man He would make; so that after he had left the garden, on account of his transgression, men should be born in the earth. Among them are righteous ones who will die, whose souls God would raise at the last day; when all of them will return to their flesh, bathe in the water of that sea, and repent of their sins.
5 But when God made Adam go out of the garden, He did not place him on the border of it northward. This was so that he and Eve would not be able to go near to the sea of water where they could wash themselves in it, be cleansed from their sins, erase the transgression they had committed, and be no longer reminded of it in the thought of their punishment.
6 As to the southern side of the garden, God did not want Adam to live there either; because, when the wind blew from the north, it would bring him, on that southern side, the delicious smell of the trees of the garden.
7 Wherefore God did not put Adam there. This was so that he would not be able to smell the sweet smell of those trees, forget his transgression, and find consolation for what he had done by taking delight in the smell of the trees and yet not be cleansed from his transgression.
8 Again, also, because God is merciful and of great pity, and governs all things in a way that He alone knows He made our father Adam live in the western border of the garden, because on that side the earth is very broad.
9 And God commanded him to live there in a cave in a rock the Cave of Treasures below the garden.

Chapter II - Adam and Eve faint when they leave the Garden. God sends His Word to encourage them.

1 But when our father Adam, and Eve, went out of the garden, they walked the ground on their feet, not knowing they were walking.
2 And when they came to the opening of the gate of the garden, and saw the broad earth spread before them, covered with stones large and small, and with sand, they feared and trembled, and fell on their faces, from the fear that came over them; and they were as dead.
3 Because—whereas until this time they had been in the garden land, beautifully planted with all manner of trees they now saw themselves, in a strange land, which they knew not, and had never seen.
4 And because, when they were in the garden they were filled with the grace of a bright nature, and they had not hearts turned toward earthly things.
5 Therefore God had pity on them; and when He saw them fallen before the gate of the garden, He sent His Word to our father, Adam and Eve, and raised them from their fallen state.

Chapter III - Concerning the promise of the great five and a half days.

1 God said to Adam, "I have ordained on this earth days and years, and you and your descendants shall live and walk in them, until the days and years are fulfilled; when I shall send the Word that created you, and against which you have transgressed, the Word that made you come out of the garden, and that raised you when you were fallen.
2 Yes, the Word that will again save you when the five and a half days are fulfilled."
3 But when Adam heard these words from God, and of the great five and a half days, he did not understand the meaning of them.
4 For Adam was thinking there would be only five and a half days for him until the end of the world.
5 And Adam cried, and prayed to God to explain it to him.
6 Then God in his mercy for Adam who was made after His own image and likeness, explained to him, that these were 5,000 and 500 years; and how One would then come and save him and his descendants.
7 But before that, God had made this covenant with our father, Adam, in the same terms, before he came out of the garden, when he was by the tree where Eve took of the fruit and gave it to him to eat.
8 Because, when our father Adam came out of the garden, he passed by that tree, and saw how God had changed the appearance of it into another form, and how it shriveled.
9 And as Adam went to it he feared, trembled and fell down; but God in His mercy lifted him up, and then made this covenant with him.
10 And again, when Adam was by the gate of the garden, and saw the cherub with a sword of flashing fire in his hand, and the cherub grew angry and frowned at him, both Adam and Eve became afraid of him, and thought he meant to put them to death. So they fell on their faces, trembled with fear.
11 But he had pity on them, and showed them mercy; and turning from them went up to heaven, and prayed to the Lord, and said;
12 "Lord, You sent me to watch at the gate of the garden, with a sword of fire.
13 But when Your servants, Adam and Eve, saw me, they fell on their faces, and were as dead. O my Lord, what shall we do to Your servants?"
14 Then God had pity on them, and showed them mercy, and sent His Angel to keep the garden.
15 And the Word of the Lord came to Adam and Eve, and raised them up.
16 And the Lord said to Adam, "I told you that at the end of the five and a half days, I will send my Word and save you.
17 Strengthen your heart, therefore, and stay in the Cave of Treasures, of which I have before spoken to you."
18 And when Adam heard this Word from God, he was comforted with that which God had told him. For He had told him how He would save him.
Chapter IV - Adam mourns over the changed conditions. Adam and Eve enter the Cave of Treasures.
1 But Adam and Eve cried for having come out of the garden, their first home.
2 And indeed, when Adam looked at his flesh, that was altered, he cried bitterly, he and Eve, over what they had done. And they walked and went gently down into the Cave of Treasures.
3 And as they came to it, Adam cried over himself and said to Eve, "Look at this cave that is to be our prison in this world, and a place of punishment!
4 What is it compared with the garden? What is its narrowness compared with the space of the other?
5 What is this rock, by the side of those groves? What is the gloom of this cavern, compared with the light of the garden?
6 What is this overhanging ledge of rock to shelter us, compared with the mercy of the Lord that overshadowed us?
7 What is the soil of this cave compared with the garden land? This earth, strewed with stones; and that, planted with delicious fruit trees?"
8 And Adam said to Eve, "Look at your eyes, and at mine, which before beheld angels praising in heaven; and they too, without ceasing.
9 But now we do not see as we did; our eyes have become of flesh; they cannot see like they used to see before."
10 Adam said again to Eve, "What is our body today, compared to what it was in former days, when we lived in the garden?"
11 After this, Adam did not want to enter the cave, under the overhanging rock; nor would he ever want to enter it.
12 But he bowed to God’s orders; and said to himself, "Unless I enter the cave, I shall again be a transgressor."
Chapter V - Eve makes a noble and emotional intercession, taking the blame on herself.
1 Then Adam and Eve entered the cave, and stood praying, in their own tongue, unknown to us, but which they knew well.
2 And as they prayed, Adam raised his eyes and saw the rock and the roof of the cave that covered him overhead. This prevented him from seeing either heaven or God’s creatures. So he cried and beat his chest hard, until he dropped, and was as dead.
3 And Eve sat crying; for she believed he was dead.
4 Then she got up, spread her hands toward God, appealing to Him for mercy and pity, and said, "O God, forgive me my sin, the sin which I committed, and don’t remember it against me.
5 For I alone caused Your servant to fall from the garden into this condemned land; from light into this darkness; and from the house of joy into this prison.
6 O God, look at this Your servant fallen in this manner, and bring him back to life, that he may cry and repent of his transgression which he committed through me.
7 Don’t take away his soul right now; but let him live that he may stand after the measure of his repentance, and do Your will, as before his death.
8 But if You do not bring him back to life, then, O God, take away my own soul, that I be like him, and leave me not in this dungeon, one and alone; for I could not stand alone in this world, but with him only.
9 For You, O God, caused him to fall asleep, and took a bone from his side, and restored the flesh in the place of it, by Your divine power.
10 And You took me, the bone, and make me a woman, bright like him, with heart, reason, and speech; and in flesh, like to his own; and You made me after the likeness of his looks, by Your mercy and power.
11 O Lord, I and he are one, and You, O God, are our Creator, You are He who made us both in one day.
12 Therefore, O God, give him life, that he may be with me in this strange land, while we live in it on account of our transgression.
13 But if You will not give him life, then take me, even me, like him; that we both may die the same day."
14 And Eve cried bitterly, and fell on our father Adam; from her great sorrow.
Chapter VI - God’s reprimand to Adam and Eve in which he points out how and why they sinned.
1 But God looked at them; for they had killed themselves through great grief.
2 But He decided to raise them and comfort them.
3 He, therefore, sent His Word to them; that they should stand and be raised immediately.
4 And the Lord said to Adam and Eve, "You transgressed of your own free will, until you came out of the garden in which I had placed you.
5 Of your own free will have you transgressed through your desire for divinity, greatness, and an exalted state, such as I have; so that I deprived you of the bright nature in which you then were, and I made you come out of the garden to this land, rough and full of trouble.
6 If only you had not transgressed My commandment and had kept My law, and had not eaten of the fruit of the tree which I told you not to come near! And there were fruit trees in the garden better than that one.
7 But the wicked Satan did not keep his faith and had no good intent towards Me, that although I had created him, he considered Me to be useless, and sought the Godhead for himself; for this I hurled him down from heaven so that he could not remain in his first estate—it was he who made the tree appear pleasant in your eyes, until you ate of it, by believing his words.
8 Thus have you transgressed My commandment, and therefore I have brought on you all these sorrows.
9 For I am God the Creator, who, when I created My creatures, did not intend to destroy them. But after they had sorely roused My anger, I punished them with grievous plagues, until they repent.
10 But, if on the contrary, they still continue hardened in their transgression, they shall be under a curse forever."
Chapter VII - The beasts are appeased.
1 When Adam and Eve heard these words from God, they cried and sobbed yet more; but they strengthened their hearts in God, because they now felt that the Lord was to them like a father and a mother; and for this very reason, they cried before Him, and sought mercy from Him.
2 Then God had pity on them, and said: "O Adam, I have made My covenant with you, and I will not turn from it; neither will I let you return to the garden, until My covenant of the great five and a half days is fulfilled."
3 Then Adam said to God, "O Lord, You created us, and made us fit to be in the garden; and before I transgressed, You made all beasts come to me, that I should name them.
4 Your grace was then on me; and I named every one according to Your mind; and you made them all subject to me.
5 But now, O Lord God, that I have transgressed Your commandment, all beasts will rise against me and will devour me, and Eve Your handmaid; and will cut off our life from the face of the earth.
6 I therefore beg you, O God, that since You have made us come out of the garden, and have made us be in a strange land, You will not let the beasts hurt us."
7 When the Lord heard these words from Adam, He had pity on him, and felt that he had truly said that the beasts of the field would rise and devour him and Eve, because He, the Lord, was angry with the two of them on account of their transgressions.
8 Then God commanded the beasts, and the birds, and all that moves on the earth, to come to Adam and to be familiar with him, and not to trouble him and Eve; nor yet any of the good and righteous among their offspring.
9 Then all the beasts paid homage to Adam, according to the commandment of God; except the serpent, against which God was angry. It did not come to Adam, with the beasts.
Chapter VIII - The "Bright Nature" of man is taken away.
1 Then Adam cried and said, "O God, when we lived in the garden, and our hearts were lifted up, we saw the angels that sang praises in heaven, but now we can’t see like we used to; no, when we entered the cave, all creation became hidden from us."
2 Then God the Lord said to Adam, "When you were under subjection to Me, you had a bright nature within you, and for that reason could you see things far away. But after your transgression your bright nature was withdrawn from you; and it was not left to you to see things far away, but only near at hand; after the ability of the flesh; for it is brutish."
3 When Adam and Eve had heard these words from God, they went their way; praising and worshipping Him with a sorrowful heart.
4 And God ceased to commune with them.
Chapter IX - Water from the Tree of Life. Adam and Eve near drowning.
1 Then Adam and Eve came out of the Cave of Treasures, and went near to the garden gate, and there they stood to look at it, and cried for having come away from it.
2 And Adam and Eve went from before the gate of the garden to the southern side of it, and found there the water that watered the garden, from the root of the Tree of Life, and that split itself from there into four rivers over the earth.
3 Then they came and went near to that water, and looked at it; and saw that it was the water that came forth from under the root of the Tree of Life in the garden.
4 And Adam cried and wailed, and beat his chest, for being severed from the garden; and said to Eve:
5 "Why have you brought on me, on yourself, and on our descendants, so many of these plagues and punishments?"
6 And Eve said to him, "What is it you have seen that has caused you to cry and to speak to me in this manner?"
7 And he said to Eve, "Do you not see this water that was with us in the garden, that watered the trees of the garden, and flowed out from there?
8 And we, when we were in the garden, did not care about it; but since we came to this strange land, we love it, and turn it to use for our body."
9 But when Eve heard these words from him, she cried; and from the soreness of their crying, they fell into that water; and would have put an end to themselves in it, so as never again to return and behold the creation; for when they looked at the work of creation, they felt they must put an end to themselves.
Chapter X - Their bodies need water after they leave the garden.
1 Then God, merciful and gracious, looked at them thus lying in the water, and close to death, and sent an angel, who brought them out of the water, and laid them on the seashore as dead.
2 Then the angel went up to God, was welcome, and said, "O God, Your creatures have breathed their last."
3 Then God sent His Word to Adam and Eve, who raised them from their death.
4 And Adam said, after he was raised, "O God, while we were in the garden we did not require, or care for this water; but since we came to this land we cannot do without it."
5 Then God said to Adam, "While you were under My command and were a bright angel, you knew not this water.
6 But now that you have transgressed My commandment, you can not do without water, wherein to wash your body and make it grow; for it is now like that of beasts, and is in want of water."
7 When Adam and Eve heard these words from God, they cried a bitter cry; and Adam entreated God to let him return into the garden, and look at it a second time.
8 But God said to Adam, "I have made you a promise; when that promise is fulfilled, I will bring you back into the garden, you and your righteous descendants."
9 And God ceased to commune with Adam.
Chapter XI - A recollection of the glorious days in the Garden.
1 Then Adam and Eve felt themselves burning with thirst, and heat, and sorrow.
2 And Adam said to Eve, "We shall not drink of this water, even if we were to die. O Eve, when this water comes into our inner parts, it will increase our punishments and that of our descendants."
3 Both Adam and Eve then went away from the water, and drank none of it at all; but came and entered the Cave of Treasures.
4 But when in it Adam could not see Eve; he only heard the noise she made. Neither could she see Adam, but heard the noise he made.
5 Then Adam cried, in deep affliction, and beat his chest; and he got up and said to Eve, "Where are you?"
6 And she said to him, "Look, I am standing in this darkness."
7 He then said to her, "Remember the bright nature in which we lived, when we lived in the garden!
8 O Eve! Remember the glory that rested on us in the garden. O Eve! Remember the trees that overshadowed us in the garden while we moved among them.
9 O Eve! Remember that while we were in the garden, we knew neither night nor day. Think of the Tree of Life, from below which flowed the water, and that shed luster over us! Remember, O Eve, the garden land, and the brightness thereof!
10 Think, oh think of that garden in which was no darkness, while we lived in it.
11 Whereas no sooner did we come into this Cave of Treasures than darkness surrounded us all around; until we can no longer see each other; and all the pleasure of this life has come to an end."
Chapter XII - How darkness came between Adam and Eve.
1 Then Adam beat his chest, he and Eve, and they mourned the whole night until the crack of dawn, and they sighed over the length of the night in Miyazia.
2 And Adam beat himself, and threw himself on the ground in the cave, from bitter grief, and because of the darkness, and lay there as dead.
3 But Eve heard the noise he made in falling on the ground. And she felt about for him with her hands, and found him like a corpse.
4 Then she was afraid, speechless, and remained by him.
5 But the merciful Lord looked on the death of Adam, and on Eve’s silence from fear of the darkness.
6 And the Word of God came to Adam and raised him from his death, and opened Eve’s mouth that she might speak.
7 Then Adam stood up in the cave and said, "O God, why has light departed from us, and darkness covered us? Why did you leave us in this long darkness? Why do you plague us like this?
8 And this darkness, O Lord, where was it before it covered us? It is because of this that we cannot see each other.
9 For so long as we were in the garden, we neither saw nor even knew what darkness is. I was not hidden from Eve, neither was she hidden from me, until now that she cannot see me; and no darkness came over us to separate us from each other.
10 But she and I were both in one bright light. I saw her and she saw me. Yet now since we came into this cave, darkness has covered us, and separated us from each other, so that I do not see her, and she does not see me.
11 O Lord, will You then plague us with this darkness?"
Chapter XIII - The fall of Adam. Why night and day were created.
1 Then when God, who is merciful and full of pity, heard Adam’s voice, He said to him: --
2 "O Adam, so long as the good angel was obedient to Me, a bright light rested on him and on his hosts.
3 But when he transgressed My commandment, I deprived him of that bright nature, and he became dark.
4 And when he was in the heavens, in the realms of light, he knew nothing of darkness.
5 But he transgressed, and I made him fall from the heaven onto the earth; and it was this darkness that came over him.
6 And on you, O Adam, while in My garden and obedient to Me, did that bright light rest also.
7 But when I heard of your transgression, I deprived you of that bright light. Yet, of My mercy, I did not turn you into darkness, but I made you your body of flesh, over which I spread this skin, in order that it may bear cold and heat.
8 If I had let My wrath fall heavily on you, I should have destroyed you; and had I turned you into darkness, it would have been as if I had killed you.
9 But in My mercy, I have made you as you are; when you transgressed My commandment, O Adam, I drove you from the garden, and made you come forth into this land; and commanded you to live in this cave; and darkness covered you, as it did over him who transgressed My commandment.
10 Thus, O Adam, has this night deceived you. It is not to last forever; but is only of twelve hours; when it is over, daylight will return.
11 Sigh not, therefore, neither be moved; and say not in your heart that this darkness is long and drags on wearily; and say not in your heart that I plague you with it.
12 Strengthen your heart, and be not afraid. This darkness is not a punishment. But, O Adam, I have made the day, and have placed the sun in it to give light; in order that you and your children should do your work.
13 For I knew you would sin and transgress, and come out into this land. Yet I wouldn’t force you, nor be heard over you, nor shut up; nor doom you through your fall; nor through your coming out from light into darkness; nor yet through your coming from the garden into this land.
14 For I made you of the light; and I willed to bring out children of light from you and like to you.
15 But you did not keep My commandment one day; until I had finished the creation and blessed everything in it.
16 Then, concerning the tree, I commanded you not to eat of it. Yet I knew that Satan, who deceived himself, would also deceive you.
17 So I made known to you by means of the tree, not to come near him. And I told you not to eat of the fruit thereof, nor to taste of it, nor yet to sit under it, nor to yield to it.
18 Had I not been and spoken to you, O Adam, concerning the tree, and had I left you without a commandment, and you had sinned—it would have been an offence on My part, for not having given you any order; you would turn around and blame Me for it.
19 But I commanded you, and warned you, and you fell. So that My creatures cannot blame Me; but the blame rests on them alone.
20 And, O Adam, I have made the day so that you and your descendants can work and toil in it. And I have made the night for them to rest in it from their work; and for the beasts of the field to go forth by night and look for their food.
21 But little of darkness now remains, O Adam, and daylight will soon appear."
Chapter XIV - The earliest prophesy of the coming of Christ.
1 Then Adam said to God: "O Lord, take You my soul, and let me not see this gloom any more; or remove me to some place where there is no darkness."
2 But God the Lord said to Adam, "Indeed I say to you, this darkness will pass from you, every day I have determined for you, until the fulfillment of My covenant; when I will save you and bring you back again into the garden, into the house of light you long for, in which there is no darkness*. I will bring you to it—in the kingdom of heaven."
3 Again said God to Adam, "All this misery that you have been made to take on yourself because of your transgression, will not free you from the hand of Satan, and will not save you.
4 But I will. When I shall come down from heaven, and shall become flesh of your descendants, and take on Myself the infirmity from which you suffer, then the darkness that covered you in this cave shall cover Me in the grave, when I am in the flesh of your descendants.
5 And I, who am without years, shall be subject to the reckoning of years, of times, of months, and of days, and I shall be reckoned as one of the sons of men, in order to save you."
6 And God ceased to commune with Adam.
* Reference: John 12:46
Chapter XV - Adam and Eve grieve over the suffering of God to save them from their sins.
1 Then Adam and Eve cried and sorrowed by reason of God’s word to them, that they should not return to the garden until the fulfillment of the days decreed on them; but mostly because God had told them that He should suffer for their salvation.
Chapter XVI - The first sunrise. Adam and Eve think it is a fire coming to burn them.
1 After this, Adam and Eve continued to stand in the cave, praying and crying, until the morning dawned on them.
2 And when they saw the light returned to them, they retrained from fear, and strengthened their hearts.
3 Then Adam began to come out of the cave. And when he came to the mouth of it, and stood and turned his face towards the east, and saw the sunrise in glowing rays, and felt the heat thereof on his body, he was afraid of it, and thought in his heart that this flame came forth to plague him.
4 He then cried and beat his chest, then he fell on the ground on his face and made his request, saying:
5 "O Lord, plague me not, neither consume me, nor yet take away my life from the earth."
6 For he thought the sun was God.
7 Because while he was in the garden and heard the voice of God and the sound He made in the garden, and feared Him, Adam never saw the brilliant light of the sun, neither did its flaming heat touch his body.
8 Therefore he was afraid of the sun when flaming rays of it reached him. He thought God meant to plague him therewith all the days He had decreed for him.
9 For Adam also said in his thoughts, as God did not plague us with darkness, behold, He has caused this sun to rise and to plague us with burning heat.
10 But while he was thinking like this in his heart, the Word of God came to him and said:
11 "O Adam, get up on your feet. This sun is not God; but it has been created to give light by day, of which I spoke to you in the cave saying, ‘that the dawn would come, and there would be light by day.’
12 But I am God who comforted you in the night."
13 And God ceased to commune with Adam.
Chapter XVII - The Chapter of the Serpent.
1 The Adam and Eve came out at the mouth of the cave, and went towards the garden.
2 But as they went near it, before the western gate, from which Satan came when he deceived Adam and Eve, they found the serpent that became Satan coming at the gate, and sorrowfully licking the dust, and wiggling on its breast on the ground, by reason of the curse that fell on it from God.
3 And whereas before the serpent was the most exalted of all beasts, now it was changed and become slippery, and the meanest of them all, and it crept on its breast and went on its belly.
4 And whereas it was the fairest of all beasts, it had been changed, and was become the ugliest of them all. Instead of feeding on the best food, now it turned to eat the dust. Instead of living, as before, in the best places, now it lived in the dust.
5 And, whereas it had been the most beautiful of all beasts, all of which stood dumb at its beauty, it was now abhorred of them.
6 And, again, whereas it lived in one beautiful home, to which all other animals came from elsewhere; and where it drank, they drank also of the same; now, after it had become venomous, by reason of God’s curse, all beasts fled from its home, and would not drink of the water it drank; but fled from it.
Chapter XVIII - The mortal combat with the serpent.
1 When the accursed serpent saw Adam and Eve, it swelled its head, stood on its tail, and with eyes blood red, acted like it would kill them.
2 It made straight for Eve, and ran after her; while Adam standing by, cried because he had no stick in his hand with which to hit the serpent, and did not know how to put it to death.
3 But with a heart burning for Eve, Adam approached the serpent, and held it by the tail; when it turned towards him and said to him:
4 "O Adam, because of you and of Eve, I am slippery, and go on my belly." Then with its great strength, it threw down Adam and Eve and squeezed them, and tried to kill them.
5 But God sent an angel who threw the serpent away from them, and raised them up.
6 Then the Word of God came to the serpent, and said to it, "The first time I made you slick, and made you to go on your belly; but I did not deprive you of speech.
7 This time, however, you will be mute, and you and your race will speak no more; because, the first time My creatures were ruined because of you, and this time you tried to kill them."
8 Then the serpent was struck mute, and was no longer able to speak.
9 And a wind blew down from heaven by the command of God and carried away the serpent from Adam and Eve, and threw it on the seashore where it landed in India.
Chapter XIX - Beasts made subject to Adam.
1 But Adam and Eve cried before God. And Adam said to Him:
2 "O Lord, when I was in the cave, I said this to you, my Lord, the beasts of the field would rise and devour me, and cut off my life from the earth."
3 Then Adam, because of what had happened to him, beat his chest and fell on the ground like a corpse. Then the Word of God came to him, who raised him, and said to him,
4 "O Adam, not one of these beasts will be able to hurt you; because I have made the beasts and other moving things come to you in the cave. I did not let the serpent come with them because it might have risen against you and made you tremble; and the fear of it should fall into your hearts.
5 For I knew that the accursed one is wicked; therefore I would not let it come near you with the other beasts.
6 But now strengthen your heart and fear not. I am with you to the end of the days I have determined on you."
Chapter XX - Adam wishes to protect Eve.
1 Then Adam cried and said, "O God, take us away to some other place, where the serpent can not come near us again, and rise against us. For fear that it might find Your handmaid Eve alone and kill her; for its eyes are hideous and evil."
2 But God said to Adam and Eve, "From now on, don’t be afraid, I will not let it come near you; I have driven it away from you, from this mountain; neither will I leave in it the ability to hurt you."
3 Then Adam and Eve worshipped before God and gave Him thanks, and praised Him for having delivered them from death.
Chapter XXI - Adam and Eve attempt suicide.
1 Then Adam and Eve went in search of the garden.
2 And the heat beat like a flame on their faces; and they sweated from the heat, and cried before the Lord.
3 But the place where they cried was close to a high mountain, facing the western gate of the garden.
4 Then Adam threw himself down from the top of that mountain; his face was torn and his flesh was ripped; he lost a lot of blood and was close to death.
5 Meanwhile Eve remained standing on the mountain crying over him, thus lying.
6 And she said, "I don’t wish to live after him; for all that he did to himself was through me."
7 Then she threw herself after him; and was torn and ripped by stones; and remained lying as dead.
8 But the merciful God, who looks over His creatures, looked at Adam and Eve as they lay dead, and He sent His Word to them, and raised them.
9 And said to Adam, "O Adam, all this misery which you have brought on yourself, will have no affect against My rule, neither will it alter the covenant of the 5, 500 years."
Chapter XXII - Adam in a gracious mood.
1 Then Adam said to God, "I dry up in the heat, I am faint from walking, and I don’t want to be in this world. And I don’t know when You will take me out of it to rest."
2 Then the Lord God said to him, "O Adam, it cannot be now, not until you have ended your days. Then shall I bring you out of this miserable land."
3 And Adam said to God, "While I was in the garden I knew neither heat, nor languor, neither moving about, nor trembling, nor fear; but now since I came to this land, all this affliction has come over me.
4 Then God said to Adam, "So long as you were keeping My commandment, My light and My grace rested on you. But when you transgressed My commandment, sorrow and misery came to you in this land."
5 And Adam cried and said, "O Lord, do not cut me off for this, neither punish me with heavy plagues, nor yet repay me according to my sin; for we, of our own will, transgressed Your commandment, and ignored Your law, and tried to become gods like you, when Satan the enemy deceived us."
6 Then God said again to Adam, "Because you have endured fear and trembling in this land, languor and suffering, treading and walking about, going on this mountain, and dying from it, I will take all this on Myself in order to save you."
Chapter XXIII - Adam and Eve strengthen themselves and make the first altar ever built.
1 Then Adam cried more and said, "O God, have mercy on me, so far as to take on yourself, that which I will do."
2 But God withdrew His Word from Adam and Eve.
3 Then Adam and Eve stood on their feet; and Adam said to Eve, "Strengthen yourself, and I also will strengthen myself." And she strengthened herself, as Adam told her.
4 Then Adam and Eve took stones and placed them in the shape of an altar; and they took leaves from the trees outside the garden, with which they wiped, from the face of the rock, the blood they had spilled.
5 But that which had dropped on the sand, they took together with the dust with which it was mingled and offered it on the altar as an offering to God.
6 Then Adam and Eve stood under the Altar and cried, thus praying to God, "Forgive us our trespass* and our sin, and look at us with Your eye of mercy. For when we were in the garden our praises and our hymns went up before you without ceasing.
7 But when we came into this strange land, pure praise was not longer ours, nor righteous prayer, nor understanding hearts, nor sweet thoughts, nor just counsels, nor long discernment, nor upright feelings, neither is our bright nature left us. But our body is changed from the likeness in which it was at first, when we were created.
8 Yet now look at our blood which is offered on these stones, and accept it at our hands, like the praise we used to sing to you at first, when in the garden."
9 And Adam began to make more requests of God.
.
ORIGINAL OF THE LORD’S PRAYER SAID TO BE USED ABOUT 150 YEARS BEFORE OUR LORD :

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, be gracious unto us, O Lord our God, hallowed be Your Name, and let the remembrance of You be glorified Heaven above and upon earth here below.
Let Your kingdom reign over us now and forever. The Holy Men of old said remit and forgive unto all men whatsoever they have done unto me. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil thing; for Your is the kingdom and Thou shall reign in glory forever and forevermore,
AMEN.

Chapter XXIV - A vivid prophecy of the life and death of Christ.
1 Then the merciful God, good and lover of men, looked at Adam and Eve, and at their blood, which they had held up as an offering to Him; without an order from Him for so doing. But He wondered at them; and accepted their offerings.
2 And God sent from His presence a bright fire, that consumed their offering.
3 He smelled the sweet savor of their offering, and showed them mercy.
4 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said to him, "O Adam, as you have shed your blood, so will I shed My own blood when I become flesh of your descendants; and as you died, O Adam, so also will I die. And as you built an altar, so also will I make for you an altar of the earth; and as you offered your blood on it, so also will I offer My blood on an altar on the earth.
5 And as you sued for forgiveness through that blood, so also will I make My blood forgiveness of sins, and erase transgressions in it.
6 And now, behold, I have accepted your offering, O Adam, but the days of the covenant in which I have bound you are not fulfilled. When they are fulfilled, then will I bring you back into the garden.
7 Now, therefore, strengthen your heart; and when sorrow comes over you, make Me an offering, and I will be favorable to you."
Chapter XXV - God represented as merciful and loving. The establishing of worship.
1 But God knew that Adam believed he should frequently kill himself and make an offering to Him of his blood.
2 Therefore He said to him, "O Adam, don’t ever kill yourself like this again, by throwing yourself down from that mountain."
3 But Adam said to God, "I was thinking to put an end to myself at once, for having transgressed Your commandments, and for my having come out of the beautiful garden; and for the bright light of which You have deprived me; and for the praises which poured forth from my mouth without ceasing, and for the light that covered me.
4 Yet of Your goodness, O God, do not get rid of me altogether; but be favorable to me every time I die, and bring me to life.
5 And thereby it will be made known that You are a merciful God, who does not want anyone to perish; who loves not that one should fall; and who does not condemn any one cruelly, badly, and by whole destruction."
6 Then Adam remained silent.
7 And the Word of God came to him, and blessed him, and comforted him, and covenanted with him, that He would save him at the end of the days determined for him.
8 This, then, was the first offering Adam made to God; and so it became his custom to do.
Chapter XXVI - A beautiful prophecy of eternal life and joy (v. 15). The fall of night.
1 Then Adam took Eve, and they began to return to the Cave of Treasures where they lived. But when they got closer to it and saw it from a distance, heavy sorrow fell on Adam and Eve when they looked at it.
2 Then Adam said to Eve, "When we were on the mountain we were comforted by the Word of God that conversed with us; and the light that came from the east shown over us.
3 But now the Word of God is hidden from us; and the light that shown over us is so changed as to disappear, and let darkness and sorrow come over us.
4 And we are forced to enter this cave which is like a prison, in which darkness covers us, so that we are separated from each other; and you can not see me, neither can I see you."
5 When Adam had said these words, they cried and spread their hands before God; for they were full of sorrow.
6 And they prayed to God to bring the sun to them, to shine on them, so that darkness would not return to them, and that they wouldn’t have to go under this covering of rock. And they wished to die rather than see the darkness.
7 Then God looked at Adam and Eve and at their great sorrow, and at all they had done with a fervent heart, on account of all the trouble they were in, instead of their former well-being, and on account of all the misery that came over them in a strange land.
8 Therefore God was not angry with them; nor impatient with them; but he was patient and forbearing towards them, as towards the children He had created.
9 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said to him, "Adam, as for the sun, if I were to take it and bring it to you, days, hours, years and months would all stop, and the covenant I have made with you, would never be fulfilled.
10 But then you would be deserted and stuck in a perpetual plague, and you would never be saved.
11 Yes, rather, bear long and calm your soul while you live night and day; until the fulfillment of the days, and the time of My covenant is come.
12 Then shall I come and save you, O Adam, for I do not wish that you be afflicted.
13 And when I look at all the good things in which you lived, and why you came out of them, then would I willingly show you mercy.
14 But I cannot alter the covenant that has gone out of My mouth; otherwise I would have brought you back into the garden.
15 When, however, the covenant is fulfilled, then shall I show you and your descendants mercy, and bring you into a land of gladness, where there is neither sorrow nor suffering; but abiding joy and gladness, and light that never fails, and praises that never cease; and a beautiful garden that shall never pass away."
16 And God said again to Adam, "Be patient and enter the cave, for the darkness, of which you were afraid, shall only be twelve hours long; and when ended, light shall come up."
17 Then when Adam heard these words from God, he and Eve worshipped before Him, and their hearts were comforted. They returned into the cave after their custom, while tears flowed from their eyes, sorrow and wailing came from their hearts, and they wished their soul would leave their body.
18 And Adam and Eve stood praying until the darkness of night came over them, and Adam was hid from Eve, and she from him.
19 And they remained standing in prayer.
Chapter XXVII - The second tempting of Adam and Eve. The devil takes on the form of a beguiling light.
1 When Satan, the hater of all good, saw how they continued in prayer, and how God communed with them, and comforted them, and how He had accepted their offering Satan made an apparition.
2 He began with transforming his hosts; in his hands was a flashing fire, and they were in a great light.
3 He then placed his throne near the mouth of the cave because he could not enter into it by reason of their prayers. And he shed light into the cave, until the cave glistened over Adam and Eve; while his hosts began to sing praises.
4 And Satan did this, in order that when Adam saw the light, he should think within himself that it was a heavenly light, and that Satan’s hosts were angels; and that God had sent them to watch at the cave, and to give him light in the darkness.
5 So that when Adam came out of the cave and saw them, and Adam and Eve bowed to Satan, then he would overcome Adam thereby, and a second time humble him before God.
6 When, therefore, Adam and Eve saw the light, fancying it was real, they strengthened their hearts; yet, as they were trembling, Adam said to Eve:
7 "Look at that great light, and at those many songs of praise, and at that host standing outside who won’t come into our cave. Why don’t they tell us what they want, where they are from, what the meaning of this light is, what those praises are, why they have been sent to this place, and why they won’t come in?
8 If they were from God, they would come into the cave with us, and would tell us why they were sent."
9 Then Adam stood up and prayed to God with a burning heart, and said:
10 "O Lord, is there in the world another god besides You, who created angels and filled them with light, and sent them to keep us, who would come with them?
11 But, look, we see these hosts that stand at the mouth of the cave; they are in a great light; they sing loud praises. If they are of some other god than You, tell me; and if they are sent by you, inform me of the reason for which You have sent them."
12 No sooner had Adam said this, than an angel from God appeared to him in the cave, who said to him, "O Adam, fear not. This is Satan and his hosts; he wishes to deceive you as he deceived you at first. For the first time, he was hidden in the serpent; but this time he is come to you in the likeness of an angel of light; in order that, when you worshipped him, he might enslave you, in the very presence of God."
13 Then the angel went from Adam and seized Satan at the opening of the cave, and stripped him of the pretense he had assumed, and brought him in his own hideous form to Adam and Eve; who were afraid of him when they saw him.
14 And the angel said to Adam, "This hideous form has been his ever since God made him fall from heaven. He could not have come near you in it; he therefore transformed himself into an angel of light."
15 Then the angel drove away Satan and his hosts from Adam and Eve, and said to them, "Fear not; God who created you, will strengthen you."
16 And the angel left them.
17 But Adam and Eve remained standing in the cave; no consolation came to them; they divided in their thoughts.
18 And when it was morning they prayed; and then went out to seek the garden. For their hearts were towards it, and they could get no consolation for having left it.
Chapter XXVIII - The Devil pretends to lead Adam and Eve to the water to bathe.
1 But when the crafty Satan saw them, that they were going to the garden, he gathered together his host, and came in appearance on a cloud, intent on deceiving them.
2 But when Adam and Eve saw him thus in a vision, they thought they were angels of God come to comfort them about having left the garden, or to bring them back again into it.
3 And Adam spread his hands before God, beseeching Him to make him understand what they were.
4 Then Satan, the hater of all good, said to Adam, "O Adam, I am an angel of the great God; and, behold the hosts that surround me.
5 God has sent us to take you and bring you to the border of the garden northwards; to the shore of the clear sea, and bathe you and Eve in it, and raise you to your former gladness, that you return again to the garden."
6 These words sank into the heart of Adam and Eve.
7 Yet God withheld His Word from Adam, and did not make him understand at once, but waited to see his strength; whether he would be overcome as Eve was when in the garden, or whether he would prevail.
8 Then Satan called to Adam and Eve, and said, "Behold, we go to the sea of water," and they began to go.
9 And Adam and Eve followed them at some little distance.
10 But when they came to the mountain to the north of the garden, a very high mountain, without any steps to the top of it, the Devil drew near to Adam and Eve, and made them go up to the top in reality, and not in a vision; wishing, as he did, to throw them down and kill them, and to wipe off their name from the earth; so that this earth should remain to him and his hosts alone.
Chapter XXIX - God tells Adam of the Devil’s purpose. (v. 4).
1 But when the merciful God saw that Satan wished to kill Adam with his many tricks, and saw that Adam was meek and without guile, God spoke to Satan in a loud voice, and cursed him.
2 Then he and his hosts fled, and Adam and Eve remained standing on the top of the mountain, from there they saw below them the wide world, high above which they were. But they saw none of the host which time after time were by them.
3 They cried, both Adam and Eve, before God, and begged for forgiveness of Him.
4 Then came the Word from God to Adam, and said to him, "Know you and understand concerning this Satan, that he seeks to deceive you and your descendants after you."
5 And Adam cried before the Lord God, and begged and prayed to Him to give him something from the garden, as a token to him, wherein to be comforted.
6 And God considered Adam’s thought, and sent the angel Michael as far as the sea that reaches India, to take from there golden rods and bring them to Adam.
7 This did God in His wisdom in order that these golden rods, being with Adam in the cave, should shine forth with light in the night around him, and put an end to his fear of the darkness.
8 Then the angel Michael went down by God’s order, took golden rods, as God had commanded him, and brought them to God.
Chapter XXX - Adam receives the first worldly goods.
1 After these things, God commanded the angel Gabriel to go down to the garden, and say to the cherub who kept it, "Behold, God has commanded me to come into the garden, and to take from it sweet smelling incense, and give it to Adam."
2 Then the angel Gabriel went down by God’s order to the garden, and told the cherub as God had commanded him.
3 The cherub then said, "Well." And Gabriel went in and took the incense.
4 Then God commanded his angel Raphael to go down to the garden, and speak to the cherub about some myrrh, to give to Adam.
5 And the angel Raphael went down and told the cherub as God had commanded him, and the cherub said, "Well." Then Raphael went in and took the myrrh.
6 The golden rods were from the Indian sea, where there are precious stones. The incense was from the eastern border of the garden; and the myrrh from the western border, from where bitterness came over Adam.
7 And the angels brought these things to God, by the Tree of Life, in the garden.
8 Then God said to the angels, "Dip them in the spring of water; then take them and sprinkle their water over Adam and Eve, that they be a little comforted in their sorrow, and give them to Adam and Eve.
9 And the angels did as God had commanded them, and they gave all those things to Adam and Eve on the top of the mountain on which Satan had placed them, when he sought to make an end of them.
10 And when Adam saw the golden rods, the incense and the myrrh, he was rejoiced and cried because he thought that the gold was a token of the kingdom from where he had come, that the incense was a token of the bright light which had been taken from him, and that the myrrh was a token of the sorrow in which he was.
Chapter XXXI - They make themselves more comfortable in the Cave of Treasures on the third day.
1 After these things God said to Adam, "You asked Me for something from the garden, to be comforted therewith, and I have given you these three tokens as a consolation to you; that you trust in Me and in My covenant with you.
2 For I will come and save you; and kings shall bring me when in the flesh, gold, incense and myrrh; gold as a token of My kingdom; incense as a token of My divinity; and myrrh as a token of My suffering and of My death.
3 But, O Adam, put these by you in the cave; the gold that it may shed light over you by night; the incense, that you smell its sweet savor; and the myrrh, to comfort you in your sorrow."
4 When Adam heard these words from God, he worshipped before Him. He and Eve worshipped Him and gave Him thanks, because He had dealt mercifully with them.
5 Then God commanded the three angels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, each to bring what he had brought, and give it to Adam. And they did so, one by one.
6 And God commanded Suriyel and Salathiel to bear up Adam and Eve, and bring them down from the top of the high mountain, and to take them to the Cave of Treasures.
7 There they laid the gold on the south side of the cave, the incense on the eastern side, and the myrrh on the western side. For the mouth of the cave was on the north side.
8 The angels then comforted Adam and Eve, and departed.
9 The gold was seventy rods; * the incense, twelve pounds; and the myrrh, three pounds.
10 These remained by Adam in the Cave of Treasures. **
11 God gave these three things to Adam on the third day after he had come out of the garden, in token of the three days the Lord should remain in the heart of the earth.
12 And these three things, as they continued with Adam in the cave, gave him light by night; and by day they gave him a little relief from his sorrow.
* A rod is a unit of linear measure equivalent to 5.5 yards and also a unit of area measure equivalent to 30.25 square yards. In this case, the word rod simply means a kind of long, thin piece of gold of unspecified size and weight.
** This is the original text which appears to contain embedded editorial content: "These remained by Adam in the House of Treasures; therefore was it called ‘of concealment.’ But other interpreters say it was called the ‘Cave of Treasures,’ by reason of the bodies of righteous men that were in it.
Chapter XXXII - Adam and Eve go into the water to pray.
1 And Adam and Eve remained in the Cave of Treasures until the seventh day; they neither ate of the fruit the earth, nor drank water.
2 And when it dawned on the eighth day, Adam said to Eve, "O Eve, we prayed God to give us something from the garden, and He sent his angels who brought us what we had desired.
3 But now, get up, let us go to the sea of water we saw at first, and let us stand in it, praying that God will again be favorable to us and take us back to the garden; or give us something; or that He will give us comfort in some other land than this in which we are."
4 Then Adam and Eve came out of the cave, went and stood on the border of the sea in which they had before thrown themselves, and Adam said to Eve:
5 Come, go down into this place, and come not out of it until the end of thirty days, when I shall come to you. And pray to God with burning heart and a sweet voice, to forgive us.
6 And I will go to another place, and go down into it, and do like you."
7 Then Eve went down into the water, as Adam had commanded her. Adam also went down into the water; and they stood praying; and besought the Lord to forgive them their offense, and to restore them to their former state.
8 And they stood like that praying, until the end of the thirty-five days.
Chapter XXXIII - Satan falsely promises the "bright light."
1 But Satan, the hater of all good, sought them in the cave, but found them not, although he searched diligently for them.
2 But he found them standing in the water praying and thought within himself, "Adam and Eve are standing like that in that water praying to God to forgive them their transgression, and to restore them to their former state, and to take them from under my hand.
3 But I will deceive them so that they shall come out of the water, and not fulfil their vow."
4 Then the hater of all good, went not to Adam, but he went to Eve, and took the form of an angel of God, praising and rejoicing, and said to her:
5 "Peace be to you! Be glad and rejoice! God is favorable to you, and He sent me to Adam. I have brought him the glad tidings of salvation, and of his being filled with bright light as he was at first.
6 And Adam, in his joy for his restoration, has sent me to you, that you come to me, in order that I crown you with light like him.
7 And he said to me, ‘Speak to Eve; if she does not come with you, tell her of the sign when we were on the top of the mountain; how God sent his angels who took us and brought us to the Cave of Treasures; and laid the gold on the southern side; incense, on the eastern side; and myrrh on the western side.’ Now come to him."
8 When Eve hear these words from him, she rejoiced greatly. And thinking Satan’s appearance was real, she came out of the sea.
9 He went before, and she followed him until they came to Adam. Then Satan hid himself from her, and she saw him no more.
10 She then came and stood before Adam, who was standing by the water and rejoicing in God’s forgiveness.
11 And as she called to him, he turned around, found her there and cried when he saw her, and beat his chest; and from the bitterness of his grief, he sank into the water.
12 But God looked at him and at his misery, and at his being about to breathe his last. And the Word of God came from heaven, raised him out of the water, and said to him, "Go up the high bank to Eve." And when he came up to Eve he said to her, "Who told you to come here?"
13 Then she told him the discourse of the angel who had appeared to her and had given her a sign.
14 But Adam grieved, and gave her to know it was Satan. He then took her and they both returned to the cave.
15 These things happened to them the second time they went down to the water, seven days after their coming out of the garden.
16 They fasted in the water thirty-five days; altogether forty-two days since they had left the garden.
Chapter XXXIV - Adam recalls the creation of Eve. He eloquently appeals for food and drink.
1 And on the morning of the forty-third day, they came out of the cave, sorrowful and crying. Their bodies were lean, and they were parched from hunger and thirst, from fasting and praying, and from their heavy sorrow on account of their transgression.
2 And when they had come out of the cave they went up the mountain to the west of the garden.
3 There they stood and prayed and besought God to grant them forgiveness of their sins.
4 And after their prayers Adam began to beg God, saying, "O my Lord, my God, and my Creator, You commanded the four elements* to be gathered together, and they were gathered together by Your order.
5 Then You spread Your hand and created me out of one element, that of dust of the earth; and You brought me into the garden at the third hour, on a Friday, and informed me of it in the cave.
6 Then, at first, I knew neither night nor day, for I had a bright nature; neither did the light in which I lived ever leave me to know night or day.
7 Then, again, O Lord, in that third hour in which You created me, You brought to me all beasts, and lions, and ostriches, and fowls of the air, and all things that move in the earth, which You had created at the first hour before me of the Friday.
8 And Your will was that I should name them all, one by one, with a suitable name. But You gave me understanding and knowledge, and a pure heart and a right mind from you, that I should name them after Your own mind regarding the naming of them.
9 O God, You made them obedient to me, and ordered that not one of them break from my sway, according to Your commandment, and to the dominion which You had given me over them. But now they are all estranged from me.
10 Then it was in that third hour of Friday, in which You created me, and commanded me concerning the tree, to which I was neither to go near, nor to eat thereof; for You said to me in the garden, ‘When you eat of it, of death you shall die.’
11 And if You had punished me as You said, with death, I should have died that very moment.
12 Moreover, when You commanded me regarding the tree, I was neither to approach nor to eat thereof, Eve was not with me; You had not yet created her, neither had You yet taken her out of my side; nor had she yet heard this order from you.
13 Then, at the end of the third hour of that Friday, O Lord, You caused a slumber and a sleep to come over me, and I slept, and was overwhelmed in sleep.
14 Then You drew a rib out of my side, and created it after my own likeness and image. Then I awoke; and when I saw her and knew who she was, I said, ‘This is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; from now on she shall be called woman.’
15 It was of Your good will, O God, that You brought a slumber in a sleep over me, and that You immediately brought Eve out of my side, until she was out, so that I did not see how she was made; neither could I witness, O my Lord, how awful and great are Your goodness and glory.
16 And of Your goodwill, O Lord, You made us both with bodies of a bright nature, and You made us two, one; and You gave us Your grace, and filled us with praises of the Holy Spirit; that we should be neither hungry nor thirsty, nor know what sorrow is, nor yet faintness of heart; neither suffering, fasting nor weariness.
17 But now, O God, since we transgressed Your commandment and broke Your law, You have brought us out into a strange land, and have caused suffering, and faintness, hunger and thirst to come over us.
18 Now, therefore, O God, we pray you, give us something to eat from the garden, to satisfy our hunger with it; and something wherewith to quench our thirst.
19 For, behold, many days, O God, we have tasted nothing and drunk nothing, and our flesh is dried up, and our strength is wasted, and sleep is gone from our eyes from faintness and crying.
20 Then, O God, we dare not gather anything from the fruit of trees, from fear of you. For when we transgress at first You spared us and did not make us die.
21 But now, we thought in our hearts, if we eat of the fruit of the trees, without God’s order, He will destroy us this time, and will wipe us off from the face of the earth.
22 And if we drink of this water, without God’s order, He will make an end of us and root us up at once.
23 Now, therefore, O God, that I am come to this place with Eve, we beg You to give us some fruit from the garden, that we may be satisfied with it.
24 For we desire the fruit that is on the earth, and all else that we lack in it."
* The medieval belief that there were only four elements - fire, earth, air, and water - was widely accepted until about 1500 AD when the current atomic theory was in its infancy.
Chapter XXXV - God’s reply.
1 Then God looked again at Adam and his crying and groaning, and the Word of God came to him, and said to him:
2 "O Adam, when you were in My garden, you knew neither eating nor drinking; neither faintness nor suffering; neither leanness of flesh, nor change; neither did sleep depart from your eyes. But since you transgressed, and came into this strange land, all these trials are come over you."

Chapter XXXVI - Figs.
1 Then God commanded the cherub, who kept the gate of the garden with a sword of fire in his hand, to take some of the fruit of the fig-tree, and to give it to Adam.
2 The cherub obeyed the command of the Lord God, and went into the garden and brought two figs on two twigs, each fig hanging to its leaf; they were from two of the trees among which Adam and Eve hid themselves when God went to walk in the garden, and the Word of God came to Adam and Eve and said to them, "Adam, Adam, where are you?"
3 And Adam answered, "O God, here I am. When I heard the sound of You and Your voice, I hid myself, because I am naked."
4 Then the cherub took two figs and brought them to Adam and Eve. But he threw them to them from a distance; for they might not come near the cherub by reason of their flesh, that could not come near the fire.
5 At first, angels trembled at the presence of Adam and were afraid of him. But now Adam trembled before the angels and was afraid of them.
6 Then Adam came closer and took one fig, and Eve also came in turn and took the other.
7 And as they took them up in their hands, they looked at them, and knew they were from the trees among which they had hidden themselves.
Chapter XXXVII - Forty-three days of penance do not redeem one hour of sin (v. 6).
1 Then Adam said to Eve, "Do you not see these figs and their leaves, with which we covered ourselves when we were stripped of our bright nature? But now, we do not know what misery and suffering may come over us from eating them.
2 Now, therefore, O Eve, let us restrain ourselves and not eat of them, you and I; and let us ask God to give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life."
3 Thus did Adam and Eve restrain themselves, and did not eat of these figs.
4 But Adam began to pray to God and to beseech Him to give him of the fruit of the Tree of Life, saying thus: "O God, when we transgressed Your commandment at the sixth hour of Friday, we were stripped of the bright nature we had, and did not continue in the garden after our transgression, more than three hours.
5 But in the evening You made us come out of it. O God, we transgressed against You one hour, and all these trials and sorrows have come over us until this day.
6 And those days together with this the forty-third day, do not redeem that one hour in which we transgressed!
7 O God, look at us with an eye of pity, and do not avenge us according to our transgression of Your commandment, in Your presence.
8 O God, give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life, that we may eat of it, and live, and turn not to see sufferings and other trouble, in this earth; for You are God.
9 When we transgressed Your commandment, You made us come out of the garden, and sent a cherub to keep the Tree of Life, lest we should eat thereof, and live; and know nothing of faintness after we transgressed.
10 But now, O Lord, behold, we have endured all these days, and have borne sufferings. Make these forty-three days an equivalent for the one hour in which we transgressed."
Chapter XXXVIII - "When 5500 years are fulfilled. . . ."
1 After these things the Word of God came to Adam, and said to him:
2 "O Adam, as to the fruit on the Tree of Life that you have asked for, I will not give it to you now, but only when the 5500 years are fulfilled. At that time I will give you fruit from the Tree of Life, and you will eat, and live forever, you, and Eve, and your righteous descendants.
3 But these forty-three days cannot make amends for the hour in which you transgressed My commandment.
4 O Adam, I gave you the fruit of the fig-tree to eat in which you hid yourself. Go and eat of it, you and Eve.
5 I will not deny your request, neither will I disappoint your hope; therefore, endure until the fulfillment of the covenant I made with you."
6 And God withdrew His Word from Adam.
Chapter XXXIX - Adam is cautious—but too late.
1 Then Adam returned to Eve, and said to her, "Get up, and take a fig for yourself, and I will take another; and let us go to our cave."
2 Then Adam and Eve took each a fig and went towards the cave; the time was about the setting of the sun; and their thoughts made them long to eat of the fruit.
3 But Adam said to Eve, "I am afraid to eat of this fig. I know not what may come over me from it."
4 So Adam cried, and stood praying before God, saying, "Satisfy my hunger, without my having to eat this fig; for after I have eaten it, what will it profit me? And what shall I desire and ask of you, O God, when it is gone?"
5 And he said again, "I am afraid to eat of it; for I know not what will befall me through it."
Chapter XL - The first Human hunger.
1 Then the Word of God came to Adam, and said to him, "O Adam, why didn’t you have this dread, or this fasting, or this care before now? And why didn’t you have this fear before you transgressed?
2 But when you came to live in this strange land, your animal body could not survive on earth without earthly food, to strengthen it and to restore its powers."
3 And God withdrew His Word for Adam.
Chapter XLI - The first Human thirst.
1 Then Adam took the fig, and laid it on the golden rods. Eve also took her fig, and put it on the incense.
2 And the weight of each fig was that of a water-melon; for the fruit of the garden was much larger than the fruit of this land.*
3 But Adam and Eve remained standing and fasting the whole of that night, until the morning dawned.
4 When the sun rose they were still praying, but after they had finished praying, Adam said to Eve:
5 "O Eve, come, let us go to the border of the garden looking south; to the place from where the river flows, and is parted into four heads. There we will pray to God, and ask Him to give us some of the Water of Life to drink .
6 For God has not fed us with the Tree of Life, in order that we may not live. Therefore, we will ask him to give us some of the Water of Life, and to quench our thirst with it, rather than with a drink of water of this land."
7 When Eve heard these words from Adam, she agreed; and they both got up and came to the southern border of the garden, at the edge of the river of water a short distance from the garden.
8 And they stood and prayed before the Lord, and asked Him to look at them this once, to forgive them, and to grant them their request.
9 After this prayer from both of them, Adam began to pray with his voice before God, and said;
10 "O Lord, when I was in the garden and saw the water that flowed from under the Tree of Life, my heart did not desire, neither did my body require to drink of it; neither did I know thirst, for I was living; and above that which I am now.
11 So that in order to live I did not require any Food of Life, neither did I drink of the Water of Life.
12 But now, O God, I am dead; my flesh is parched with thirst. Give me of the Water of Life that I may drink of it and live.
13 Of Your mercy, O God, save me from these plagues and trials, and bring me into another land different from this, if You will not let me live in Your garden."
* This is substantiated by Genesis 3:7 whereby the leaves of the fig tree were large enough that Adam and Eve
could fashion garments from them.
Chapter XLII - A promise of the Water of Life. The third prophecy of the coming of Christ.
1 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said to him:
2 "O Adam, as to what you said, ‘Bring me into a land where there is rest,’ it is not another land than this, but it is the kingdom of heaven where alone there is rest.
3 But you can not make your entrance into it at present; but only after your judgment is past and fulfilled.
4 Then will I make you go up into the kingdom of heaven, you and your righteous descendants; and I will give you and them the rest you ask for at present.
5 And if you said, ‘Give me of the Water of Life that I may drink and live’—it cannot be this day, but on the day that I shall descend into hell, and break the gates of brass, and bruise in pieces the kingdoms of iron.
6 Then will I in mercy save your soul and the souls of the righteous, to give them rest in My garden. And that shall be when the end of the world is come.
7 And, again, in regards to the Water of Life you seek, it will not be granted you this day; but on the day that I shall shed My blood on your head* in the land of Golgotha. **
8 For My blood shall be the Water of Life to you at that time, and not to just you alone, but to all your descendants who shall believe in Me***; that it be to them for rest forever."
9 The Lord said again to Adam, "O Adam, when you were in the garden, these trials did not come to you.
10 But since you transgressed My commandment, all these sufferings have come over you.
11 Now, also, does your flesh require food and drink; drink then of that water that flows by you on the face of the earth.
12 Then God withdrew His Word from Adam.
13 And Adam and Eve worshipped the Lord, and returned from the river of water to the cave. It was noon-day; and when they drew near to the cave, they saw a large fire by it.
* This phrase indicates that the bleeding will take place in an elevated position above the populace. This is believed to be a reference to the cross whereby Christ bled profusely above the people below.
** Golgotha (goal-goth-uh) was the hill outside the walls of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. Its exact location is not precisely known, but the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is believed to have been constructed on this hill.
*** Reference: John 6:25 and 7:38
Chapter XLIII - The Devil attempts arson.
1 Then Adam and Eve were afraid, and stood still. And Adam said to Eve, "What is that fire by our cave? We have done nothing in it to cause this fire.
2 We neither have bread to bake therein, nor broth to cook there. As to this fire, we have never known anything like it, neither do we know what to call it.
3 But ever since God sent the cherub with a sword of fire that flashed and lightened in his hand, from fear of which we fell down and were like corpses, have we not seen the like.
4 But now, O Eve, behold, this is the same fire that was in the cherub’s hand, which God has sent to keep the cave in which we live.
5 O Eve, it is because God is angry with us, and will drive us from it.
6 O Eve, we have again transgressed His commandment in that cave, so that He had sent this fire to burn around it, and to prevent us from going into it.
7 If this be really so, O Eve, where shall we live? And where shall we flee from before the face of the Lord? Since, in regards to the garden, He will not let us live in it, and He has deprived us of the good things thereof; but He has placed us in this cave, in which we have borne darkness, trials and hardships, until at last we have found comfort therein.
8 But now that He has brought us out into another land, who knows what may happen in it? And who knows but that the darkness of that land may be far greater than the darkness of this land?
9 Who knows what may happen in that land by day or by night? And who knows whether it will be far or near, O Eve? Where it will please God to put us, may be far from the garden, O Eve? Or where God will prevent us from beholding Him, because we have transgressed His commandment, and because we have made requests of Him at all times?
10 O Eve, if God will bring us into a strange land other than this, in which we find consolation, it must be to put our souls to death, and blot out our name from the face of the earth.
11 O Eve, if we are further alienated from the garden and from God, where shall we find Him again, and ask Him to give us gold, incense, myrrh, and some fruit of the fig-tree?
12 Where shall we find Him, to comfort us a second time? Where shall we find Him, that He may think of us, as regards the covenant He has made on our behalf?"
13 Then Adam said no more. And they kept looking, He and Eve, towards the cave, and at the fire that flared up around it.
14 But that fire was from Satan. For he had gathered trees and dry grasses, and had carried and brought them to the cave, and had set fire to them, in order to consume the cave and what was in it.
15 So that Adam and Eve should be left in sorrow, and he should cut off their trust in God, and make them deny Him.
16 But by the mercy of God he could not burn the cave, for God sent His angel around the cave to guard it from such a fire, until it went out.
17 And this fire lasted from noon-day until the break of day. That was the forty-fifth day.
Chapter XLIV - The power of fire over man.
1 Yet Adam and Eve were standing and looking at the fire, and unable to come near the cave from their dread of the fire.
2 And Satan kept on bringing trees and throwing them into the fire, until the flames of the fire rose up on high, and covered the whole cave, thinking, as he did in his own mind, to consume the cave with much fire. But the angel of the Lord was guarding it.
3 And yet he could not curse Satan, nor injure him by word, because he had no authority over him, neither did he take to doing so with words from his mouth.
4 Therefore the angel tolerated him, without saying one bad word, until the Word of God came who said to Satan, "Go away from here; once before you deceived My servants, and this time you seek to destroy them.
5 Were it not for My mercy I would have destroyed you and your hosts from off the earth. But I have had patience with you, until the end of the world."
6 Then Satan fled from before the Lord. But the fire went on burning around the cave like a coal-fire the whole day; which was the forty-sixth day Adam and Eve had spent since they came out of the garden.
7 And when Adam and Eve saw that the heat of the fire had somewhat cooled down, they began to walk towards the cave to get into it as they usually did; but they could not, by reason of the heat of the fire.
8 Then they both began crying because of the fire that separated them from the cave, and that came towards them, burning. And they were afraid.
9 Then Adam said to Eve, "See this fire of which we have a portion in us: which formerly yielded to us, but no longer does so, now that we have transgressed the limit of creation, and changed our condition, and our nature is altered. But the fire is not changed in its nature, nor altered from its creation. Therefore it now has power over us; and when we come near it, it scorches our flesh."
Chapter XLV - Why Satan didn’t fulfil his promises. Description of hell.
1 Then Adam rose and prayed to God, saying, "See, this fire has separated us from the cave in which You have commanded us to live; but now, behold, we cannot go into it."
2 Then God heard Adam, and sent him His Word, that said:
3 "O Adam, see this fire! How different the flame and heat thereof are from the garden of delights and the good things in it!
4 When you were under My control, all creatures yielded to you; but after you have transgressed My commandment, they all rise over you."
5 God said again to him, "See, O Adam, how Satan has exalted you! He has deprived you of the Godhead, and of an exalted state like Me, and has not kept his word to you; but has, after all, become your enemy. He is the one who made this fire in which he meant to burn you and Eve.
6 Why, O Adam, has he not kept his agreement with you, not even one day; but has deprived you of the glory that was on you—when you yielded to his command?
7 Do you think, Adam, that he loved you when he made this agreement with you? Or that he loved you and wished to raise you on high?
8 But no, Adam, he did not do all that out of love to you; but he wished to make you come out of light into darkness; and from an exalted state to degradation; from glory to abasement; from joy to sorrow; and from rest to fasting and fainting."
9 God also said to Adam, "See this fire kindled by Satan around your cave; see this wonder that surrounds you; and know that it will encompass about both you and your descendants, when you obey his command; that he will plague you with fire; and that you will go down into hell after you are dead.
10 Then you will see the burning of his fire, that will be burning around you and likewise your descendants. You will not be delivered from it until My coming; just like you cannot go into your cave right now because of the great fire around it; not until My Word comes and makes a way for you on the day My covenant is fulfilled.
11 There is no way for you at present to come from this life to rest, not until My Word comes, who is My Word. Then He will make a way for you, and you shall have rest." Then God called with His Word to the fire that burned around the cave, that it split itself in half, until Adam had gone through it. Then the fire parted itself by God’s order, and a way was made for Adam.*
12 And God withdrew His Word from Adam.
* Reference: Exodus 14:21,22 and Joshua 3:15-17
Chapter XLVI - "How many times have I delivered you out of his hand . . ."
1 Then Adam and Eve began again to come into the cave. And when they came to the way between the fire, Satan blew into the fire like a whirlwind, and caused the burning coal-fire to cover Adam and Eve; so that their bodies were singed; and the coal-fire scorched them.*
2 And from the burning of the fire Adam and Eve screamed, and said, "O Lord, save us! Leave us not to be consumed and plagued by this burning fire; neither require us for having transgressed Your commandment."
3 Then God looked at their bodies, on which Satan had caused fire to burn, and God sent His angel that stayed the burning fire. But the wounds remained on their bodies.
4 And God said to Adam, "See Satan’s love for you, who pretended to give you the Godhead and greatness; and, behold, he burns you with fire, and seeks to destroy you from off the earth.
5 Then look at Me, O Adam; I created you, and how many times have I delivered you out of his hand? If not, wouldn’t he have destroyed you?"
6 God said again to Eve, "What is that he promised you in the garden, saying, ‘As soon as you eat from the tree, your eyes will be opened, and you shall become like gods, knowing good and evil.’ But look! He has burnt your bodies with fire, and has made you taste the taste of fire, for the taste of the garden; and has made you see the burning of fire, and the evil of it, and the power it has over you.
7 Your eyes have seen the good he has taken from you, and in truth he has opened your eyes; and you have seen the garden in which you were with Me, and you have also seen the evil that has come over you from Satan. But as to the Godhead he cannot give it to you, neither fulfil his speech to you. No, he was bitter against you and your descendants, that will come after you."
8 And God withdrew His Word form them.
* At this time, the garments that the Lord had given them in Genesis 3:21 were burned off so that Adam and Eve were again naked. Reference chapter L whereby Adam and Eve seek garments with which to cover their nakedness..
Chapter XLVII - The Devil’s own Scheming.
1 Then Adam and Eve came into the cave, yet trembling at the fire that had scorched their bodies. So Adam said to Eve:
2 "Look, the fire has burnt our flesh in this world; but how will it be when we are dead, and Satan shall punish our souls? Is not our deliverance long and far off, unless God come, and in mercy to us fulfil His promise?"
3 Then Adam and Eve passed into the cave, blessing themselves for coming into it once more. For it was in their thoughts, that they never should enter it, when they saw the fire around it.
4 But as the sun was setting the fire was still burning and nearing Adam and Eve in the cave, so that they could not sleep in it. After the sun had set, they went out of it. This was the forty-seventh day after they came out of the garden.
5 Adam and Eve then came under the top of hill by the garden to sleep, as they were accustomed.
6 And they stood and prayed God to forgive them their sins, and then fell asleep under the summit of the mountain.
7 But Satan, the hater of all good, thought within himself: "Whereas God has promised salvation to Adam by covenant, and that He would deliver him out of all the hardships that have befallen him—but has not promised me by covenant, and will not deliver me out of my hardships; no, since He has promised him that He should make him and his descendants live in the kingdom in which I once was I will kill Adam.
8 The earth shall be rid of him; and shall be left to me alone; so that when he is dead he may not have any descendants left to inherit the kingdom that shall remain my own realm; God will then be wanting me, and He will restore it to me and my hosts."
Chapter XLVIII - Fifth apparition of Satan to Adam and Eve.
1 After this Satan called to his hosts, all of which came to him, and said to him:
2 "O, our lord, what will you do?"
3 He then said to them, "You know that this Adam, whom God created out of the dust, is the one who has taken our kingdom, come, let us gather together and kill him; or hurl a rock at him and at Eve, and crush them under it."
4 When Satan’s hosts heard these words, they came to the part of the mountain where Adam and Eve were asleep.
5 Then Satan and his host took a huge rock, broad and even, and without blemish, thinking within himself, "If there should be a hole in the rock, when it fell on them, the hole in the rock might come over them, and so they would escape and not die."
6 He then said to his hosts, "Take up this stone, and throw it flat on them, so that it doesn’t roll off them to somewhere else. And when you have hurled it, get away from there quickly."
7 And they did as he told them. But as the rock fell down from the mountain toward Adam and Eve, God commanded the rock to become a dome over them,* that did them no harm. And so it was by God’s order.
8 But when the rock fell, the whole earth quaked with it,** and was shaken from the size of the rock.
9 And as it quaked and shook, Adam and Eve awoke from sleep, and found themselves under a dome of rock. But they didn’t know what had happened; because when the fell asleep they were under the sky, and not under a dome; and when they saw it, they were afraid.
10 Then Adam said to Eve, "Wherefore has the mountain bent itself, and the earth quaked and shaken on our account? And why has this rock spread itself over us like a tent?
11 Does God intend to plague us and to shut us up in this prison? Or will He close the earth over us?
12 He is angry with us for our having come out of the cave, without His order; and for our having done so of our own accord, without consulting Him, when we left the cave and came to this place."
13 Then Eve said, "If, indeed, the earth quaked for our sake, and this rock forms a tent over us because of our transgression, then we will be sorry, O Adam, because our punishment will be long.
14 But get up and pray to God to let us know concerning this, and what this rock is that is spread over us like a tent."
15 Then Adam stood up and prayed before the Lord, to let him know what had brought about this difficult time. And Adam stood praying like that until the morning.
* The word "dome" is used here but the text does not specifically suggest that the covering was round - only that it covered them on all sides, however a dome is the most likely shape that would have be able to withstand the impact with the ground. From verse 9 that says "when they saw it" and verse 11 that says "shut us up in this prison", we can conclude that the dome had holes in its sides that were big enough to let in light and air but were too small to allow Adam and Eve to escape. Another conclusion would be that the holes were large but too high up for Adam and Eve to reach, however the former is more likely.
** In verse 7 of the next chapter (XLIX), God tells Adam and Eve that the ground was also lowered under them - "I commanded ... the rock under you to lower itself".
Chapter XLIX - The first prophecy of the Resurrection.
1 Then the Word of God came and said:
2 "O Adam, who counseled you, when you came out of the cave, to come to this place?"
3 And Adam said to God, "O Lord, we came to this place because of the heat of the fire, that came over us inside the cave."
4 Then the Lord God said to Adam, "O Adam, you dread the heat of fire for one night, but how will it be when you live in hell?
5 Yet, O Adam, don’t be afraid, and don’t believe that I have placed this dome of rock over you to plague you with it.
6 It came from Satan, who had promised you the Godhead and majesty. It is he who threw down this rock to kill you under it, and Eve with you, and thus to prevent you from living on the earth.
7 But, in mercy for you, just as that rock was falling down on you, I commanded it to form an dome over you; and the rock under you to lower itself.
8 And this sign, O Adam, will happen to Me at My coming on earth: Satan will raise the people of the Jews to put Me to death; and they will lay Me in a rock, and seal a large stone over Me, and I shall remain within that rock three days and three nights.
9 But on the third day I shall rise again, and it shall be salvation to you, O Adam, and to your descendants, to believe in Me. But, O Adam, I will not bring you from under this rock until three days and three nights have passed."
10 And God withdrew His Word from Adam.
11 But Adam and Eve lived under the rock three days and three nights, as God had told them.
12 And God did so to them because they had left their cave and had come to this same place without God’s order.
13 But, after three days and three nights, God created an opening in the dome of rock and allowed them to get out from under it. Their flesh was dried up, and their eyes and hearts were troubled from crying and sorrow.
Chapter L - Adam and Eve seek to cover their nakedness.
1 Then Adam and Eve went forth and came into the Cave of Treasures, and they stood praying in it the whole of that day, until the evening.
2 And this took place at the end of the fifty days after they had left the garden.
3 But Adam and Eve rose again and prayed to God in the cave the whole of that night, and begged for mercy from Him.
4 And when the day dawned, Adam said to Eve, "Come! Let us go and do some work for our bodies."
5 So they went out of the cave, and came to the northern border of the garden, and they looked for something to cover their bodies with.* But they found nothing, and knew not how to do the work. Yet their bodies were stained, and they were speechless from cold and heat.
6 Then Adam stood and asked God to show him something with which to cover their bodies.
7 Then came the Word of God and said to him, "O Adam, take Eve and come to the seashore where you fasted before. There you will find skins of sheep that were left after lions ate the carcasses. Take them and make garments for yourselves, and clothe yourselves with them.
* Chapter XLVI, verse 1, says "Satan blew into the fire ... so that their bodies were singed". At this time, the garments that the Lord had given them in Genesis 3:21 were burned off so that Adam and Eve were again naked.
Chapter LI - "What is his beauty that you should have followed him?"
1 When Adam heard these words from God, he took Eve and went from the northern end of the garden to the south of it, by the river of water where they once fasted.
2 But as they were going on their way, and before they got there, Satan, the wicked one, had heard the Word of God communing with Adam respecting his covering.
3 It grieved him, and he hastened to the place where the sheep-skins were, with the intention of taking them and throwing them into the sea, or of burning them with fire, so that Adam and Eve would not find them.
4 But as he was about to take them, the Word of God came from heaven, and bound him by the side of those skins until Adam and Eve came near him. But as they got closer to him they were afraid of him, and of his hideous look.
5 Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, and said to them, "This is he who was hidden in the serpent, and who deceived you, and stripped you of the garment of light and glory in which you were.
6 This is he who promised you majesty and divinity. Where, then, is the beauty that was on him? Where is his divinity? Where is his light? Where is the glory that rested on him?
7 Now his figure is hideous; he is become abominable among angels; and he has come to be called Satan.
8 O Adam, he wished to take from you this earthly garment of sheep-skins, and to destroy it, and not let you be covered with it.
9 What, then, is his beauty that you should have followed him? And what have you gained by obeying him? See his evil works and then look at Me; at Me, your Creator, and at the good deeds I do you.
10 See, I bound him until you came and saw him and beheld his weakness, that no power is left with him."
11 And God released him from his bonds.
Chapter LII - Adam and Eve sew the first shirt.
1 After this Adam and Eve said no more, but cried before God on account of their creation, and of their bodies that required an earthly covering.
2 Then Adam said to Eve, "O Eve, this is the skin of beasts with which we shall be covered, but when we put it on, behold, we shall be wearing a token of death on our bodies. Just as the owners of these skins have died and have wasted away, so also shall we die and pass away."
3 Then Adam and Eve took the skins, and went back to the Cave of Treasures; and when in it, they stood and prayed as they were accustomed.
4 And they thought how they could make garments of those skins; for they had no skill for it.
5 Then God sent to them His angel to show them how to work it out. And the angel said to Adam, "Go forth, and bring some palm-thorns." Then Adam went out, and brought some, as the angel had commanded him.
6 Then the angel began before them to work out the skins, after the manner of one who prepares a shirt. And he took the thorns and stuck them into the skins, before their eyes.
7 Then the angel again stood up and prayed God that the thorns in those skins should be hidden, so as to be, as it were, sewn with one thread.
8 And so it was, by God’s order; they became garments for Adam and Eve, and He clothed them therewith.
9 From that time the nakedness of their bodies was covered from the sight of each other’s eyes.
10 And this happened at the end of the fifty-first day.
11 Then when Adam’s and Eve’s bodies were covered, they stood and prayed, and sought mercy of the Lord, and forgiveness, and gave Him thanks for that He had had mercy on them, and had covered their nakedness. And they ceased not from prayer the whole of that night.
12 Then when the morning dawned at the rising of the sun, they said their prayers after their custom; and then went out of the cave.
13 And Adam said to Eve, "Since we don’t know what there is to the west of this cave, let us go out and see it today." Then they came forth and went toward the western border.
Chapter LIII - The prophecy of the Western Lands and of the great flood.
1 They were not very far from the cave, when Satan came towards them, and hid himself between them and the cave, under the form of two ravenous lions three days without food, that came towards Adam and Eve, as if to break them in pieces and devour them.
2 Then Adam and Eve cried, and prayed God to deliver them from their paws.
3 Then the Word of God came to them, and drove away the lions from them.
4 And God said to Adam, "O Adam, what do you seek on the western border? And why have you left of your own accord the eastern border, in which was your living place?
5 Now then, turn back to your cave, and remain in it, so that Satan won’t deceive you or work his purpose over you.
6 For in this western border, O Adam, there will go from you a descendant, that shall replenish it; and that will defile themselves with their sins, and with their yielding to the commands of Satan, and by following his works.
7 Therefore will I bring over them the waters of a flood, and overwhelm them all. But I will deliver what is left of the righteous among them; and I will bring them to a distant land, and the land in which you live now shall remain desolate and without one inhabitant in it.
8 After God had thus spoken to them, they went back to the Cave of Treasures. But their flesh was dried up, and they were weak from fasting and praying, and from the sorrow they felt at having trespassed against God.
Chapter LIV - Adam and Eve go exploring.
1 Then Adam and Eve stood up in the cave and prayed the whole of that night until the morning dawned. And when the sun was risen they both went out of the cave; their heads were wandering from heaviness of sorrow and they didn’t know where they were going.
2 And they walked in that condition to the southern border of the garden. And they began to go up that border until they came to the eastern border beyond which there was no more land.
3 And the cherub who guarded the garden was standing at the western gate, and guarding it against Adam and Eve, lest they should suddenly come into the garden. And the cherub turned around, as if to put them to death; according to the commandment God had given him.
4 When Adam and Eve came to the eastern border of the garden—thinking in their hearts that the cherub was not watching—as they were standing by the gate as if wishing to go in, suddenly came the cherub with a flashing sword of fire in his hand; and when he saw them, he went forth to kill them. For he was afraid that God would destroy him if they went into the garden without His order.
5 And the sword of the cherub seemed to shoot flames a distance away from it. But when he raised it over Adam and Eve, the flame of the sword did not flash forth.
6 Therefore the cherub thought that God was favorable to them, and was bringing them back into the garden. And the cherub stood wondering.
7 He could not go up to Heaven to determine God’s order regarding their getting into the garden; he therefore continued to stand by them, unable as he was to part from them; for he was afraid that if they should enter the garden without permission, God would destroy him.
8 When Adam and Eve saw the cherub coming towards them with a flaming sword of fire in his hand, they fell on their faces from fear, and were as dead.
9 At that time the heavens and the earth shook; and another cherubim came down from heaven to the cherub who guarded the garden, and saw him amazed and silent.
10 Then, again, other angels came down close to the place where Adam and Eve were. They were divided between joy and sorrow.
11 They were glad, because they thought that God was favorable to Adam, and wished him to return to the garden; and wished to restore him to the gladness he once enjoyed.
12 But they sorrowed over Adam, because he was fallen like a dead man, he and Eve; and they said in their thoughts, "Adam has not died in this place; but God has put him to death, for his having come to this place, and wishing to get into the garden without His permission."
Chapter LV - The Conflict between God and Satan.
1 Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, and raised them from their dead state, saying to them, "Why did you come up here? Do you intend to go into the garden, from which I brought you out? It cannot be today; but only when the covenant I have made with you is fulfilled."
2 Then Adam, when he heard the Word of God, and the fluttering of the angels whom he did not see, but only heard the sound of them with his ears, he and Eve cried, and said to the angels:
3 "O Spirits, who wait on God, look at me, and at my being unable to see you! For when I was in my former bright nature, then I could see you. I sang praises as you do; and my heart was far above you.
4 But now, that I have transgressed, that bright nature is gone from me, and I am come to this miserable state. And now I have come to this, that I cannot see you, and you do not serve me like you used to do. For I have become animal flesh.
5 Yet now, O angels of God, ask God with me, to restore me to that wherein I was formerly; to rescue me from this misery, and to remove from me the sentence of death He passed on me, for having trespassed against Him."
6 Then, when the angels heard these words, they all grieved over him; and cursed Satan who had misled Adam, until he came from the garden to misery; from life to death; from peace to trouble; and from gladness to a strange land.
7 Then the angels said to Adam, "You obeyed Satan, and ignored the Word of God who created you; and you believed that Satan would fulfil all he had promised you.
8 But now, O Adam, we will make known to you, what came over us though him, before his fall from heaven.
9 He gathered together his hosts, and deceived them, promising to give them a great kingdom, a divine nature; and other promises he made them.
10 His hosts believed that his word was true, so they yielded to him, and renounced the glory of God.
11 He then sent for us—according to the orders in which we were—to come under his command, and to accept his vein promise. But we would not, and we did not take his advice.
12 Then after he had fought with God, and had dealt forwardly with Him, he gathered together his hosts, and made war with us. And if it had not been for God’s strength that was with us, we could not have prevailed against him to hurl him from heaven.
13 But when he fell from among us, there was great joy in heaven, because of his going down from us. For if he had remained in heaven, nothing, not even one angel would have remained in it.
14 But God in His mercy, drove him from among us to this dark earth; for he had become darkness itself and a worker of unrighteousness.
15 And he has continued, O Adam, to make war against you, until he tricked you and made you come out of the garden, to this strange land, where all these trials have come to you. And death, which God brought to him, he has also brought to you, O Adam, because you obeyed him, and trespassed against God."
16 Then all the angels rejoiced and praised God, and asked Him not to destroy Adam this time, for his having sought to enter the garden; but to bear with him until the fulfillment of the promise; and to help him in this world until he was free from Satan’s hand.
Chapter LVI - A chapter of divine comfort.
1 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said to him:
2 "O Adam, look at that garden of joy and at this earth of toil, and behold the garden is full of angels, but look at yourself alone on this earth with Satan whom you obeyed.
3 Yet, if you had submitted, and been obedient to Me, and had kept My Word, you would be with My angels in My garden.
4 But when you transgressed and obeyed Satan, you became his guests among his angels, that are full of wickedness; and you came to this earth, that brings forth to you thorns and thistles.
5 O Adam, ask him who deceived you, to give you the divine nature he promised you, or to make you a garden as I had made for you; or to fill you with that same bright nature with which I had filled you.
6 Ask him to make you a body like the one I made you, or to give you a day of rest as I gave you; or to create within you a reasonable soul, as I created for you; or to take you from here to some other earth than this one which I gave you. But, O Adam, he will not fulfil even one of the things he told you.
7 Acknowledge, then, My favor towards you, and My mercy on you, My creature; that I have not avenged you for your transgression against Me, but in My pity for you I have promised you that at the end of the great five and a half days I will come and save you."
8 Then God said again to Adam and Eve, "Get up, go down from here, before the cherub with a sword of fire in his hand destroys you."
9 But Adam’s heart was comforted by God’s words to him, and he worshipped before Him.
10 And God commanded His angels to escort Adam and Eve to the cave with joy, instead of the fear that had come over them.
11 Then the angels took up Adam and Eve, and brought them down from the mountain by the garden, with songs and psalms, until they arrived at the cave. There the angels began to comfort and to strengthen them, and then departed from them towards heaven, to their Creator, who had sent them.
12 But after the angels had departed from Adam and Eve, Satan came with shamefacedness, and stood at the entrance of the cave in which were Adam and Eve. He then called to Adam, and said, "O Adam, come, let me speak to you."
13 Then Adam came out of the cave, thinking he was one of God’s angels that was come to give him some good counsel.
Chapter LVII - "Therefore I fell. . . . "
1 But when Adam came out and saw his hideous figure, he was afraid of him, and said to him, "Who are you?"
2 Then Satan answered and said to him, "It is I, who hid myself within the serpent, and who spoke to Eve, and who enticed her until she obeyed my command. I am he who sent her, using my deceitful speech, to deceive you, until you both ate of the fruit of the tree and abandoned the command of God."
3 But when Adam heard these words from him, he said to him, "Can you make me a garden as God made for me? Or can you clothe me in the same bright nature in which God had clothed me?
4 Where is the divine nature you promised to give me? Where is that slick speech of yours that you had with us at first, when we were in the garden?"
5 Then Satan said to Adam, "Do you think that when I have promised one something that I would actually deliver it to him or fulfil my word? Of course not. For I myself have never even thought of obtaining what I promised.
6 Therefore I fell, and I made you fall by that for which I myself fell; and with you also, whosoever accepts my counsel, falls thereby.
7 But now, O Adam, because you fell you are under my rule, and I am king over you; because you have obeyed me and have transgressed against your God. Neither will there be any deliverance from my hands until the day promised you by your God."
8 Again he said, "Because we do not know the day agreed on with you by your God, nor the hour in which you shall be delivered, for that reason we will multiply war and murder on you and your descendants after you.
9 This is our will and our good pleasure, that we may not leave one of the sons of men to inherit our orders in heaven.
10 For as to our home, O Adam, it is in burning fire; and we will not stop our evil doing, no, not one day nor one hour. And I, O Adam, shall set you on fire when you come into the cave to live there."
11 When Adam heard these words he cried and mourned, and said to Eve, "Hear what he said; that he won’t fulfil any of what he told you in the garden. Did he really then become king over us?
12 But we will ask God, who created us, to deliver us out of his hands."
Chapter LVIII - "About sunset on the 53rd day. . ."
1 Then Adam and Eve spread their hands before God, praying and begging Him to drive Satan away from them so that he can’t harm them or force them to deny God.
2 Then God sent to them at once, His angel, who drove away Satan from them. This happened about sunset, on the fifty-third day after they had come out of the garden.
3 Then Adam and Eve went into the cave, and stood up and turned their faces to the ground, to pray to God.
4 But before they prayed Adam said to Eve, "Look, you have seen what temptations have befallen us in this land. Come, let us get up, and ask God to forgive us the sins we have committed; and we will not come out until the end of the day next to the fortieth. And if we die in here, He will save us."
5 Then Adam and Eve got up, and joined together in entreating God.
6 They continued praying like this in the cave; neither did they come out of it, by night or by day, until their prayers went up out of their mouths, like a flame of fire.
Chapter LIX - Eighth apparition of Satan of Satan to Adam and Eve.
1 But Satan, the hater of all good, did not allow them to finish their prayers. For he called to his hosts, and they came, all of them. Then he said to them, "Since Adam and Eve, whom we deceived, have agreed together to pray to God night and day, and to beg Him to deliver them, and since they will not come out of the cave until the end of the fortieth day.
2 And since they will continue their prayers as they have both agreed to do, that He will deliver them out of our hands, and restore them to their former state, see what we shall do to them." And his hosts said to him, "Power is your, O our lord, to do what you list."
3 Then Satan, great in wickedness, took his hosts and came into the cave, in the thirtieth night of the forty days and one; and he beat Adam and Eve, until he left them dead.
4 Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, who raised them from their suffering, and God said to Adam, "Be strong, and be not afraid of him who has just come to you."
5 But Adam cried and said, "Where were you, O my God, that they should punish me with such blows, and that this suffering should come over us; over me and over Eve, Your handmaiden?"
6 Then God said to him, "O Adam, see, he is lord and master of all you have, he who said, he would give you divinity. Where is this love for you? And where is the gift he promised?
7 Did it please him just once, O Adam, to come to you, comfort you, strengthen you, rejoice with you, or send his hosts to protect you; because you have obeyed him, and have yielded to his counsel; and have followed his commandment and transgressed Mine?"
8 Then Adam cried before the Lord, and said, "O Lord because I transgressed a little, You have severely punished me in return for it, I ask You to deliver me out of his hands; or else have pity on me, and take my soul out of my body now in this strange land."
9 Then God said to Adam, "If only there had been this sighing and praying before, before you transgressed! Then would you have rest from the trouble in which you are now."
10 But God had patience with Adam, and let him and Eve remain in the cave until they had fulfilled the forty days.
11 But as to Adam and Eve, their strength and flesh withered from fasting and praying, from hunger and thirst; for they had not tasted either food or drink since they left the garden; nor were the functions of their bodies yet settled; and they had no strength left to continue in prayer from hunger, until the end of the next day to the fortieth. They were fallen down in the cave; yet what speech escaped from their mouths, was only in praises.
Chapter LX - The Devil appears like an old man. He offers "a place of rest."
1 Then on the eighty-ninth day, Satan came to the cave, clad in a garment of light, and girt about with a bright girdle.
2 In his hands was a staff of light, and he looked most awful; but his face was pleasant and his speech was sweet.
3 He thus transformed himself in order to deceive Adam and Eve, and to make them come out of the cave, before they had fulfilled the forty days.
4 For he said within himself, "Now that when they had fulfilled the forty days’ fasting and praying, God would restore them to their former state; but if He did not do so, He would still be favorable to them; and even if He had not mercy on them, would He yet give them something from the garden to comfort them; as already twice before."
5 Then Satan drew near the cave in this fair appearance, and said:
6 "O Adam, get up, stand up, you and Eve, and come along with me, to a good land; and don’t be afraid. I am flesh and bones like you; and at first I was a creature that God created.
7 And it was so, that when He had created me, He placed me in a garden in the north, on the border of the world.
8 And He said to me, ‘Stay here!’ And I remained there according to His Word, neither did I transgress His commandment.
9 Then He made a slumber to come over me, and He brought you, O Adam, out of my side, but did not make you stay with me.
10 But God took you in His divine hand, and placed you in a garden to the eastward.
11 Then I worried about you, for that while God had taken you out of my side, He had not let you stay with me.
12 But God said to me: ‘Do not worry about Adam, whom I brought out of your side; no harm will come to him.
13 For now I have brought out of his side a help-meet* for him; and I have given him joy by so doing.’ "
14 Then Satan said again, "I did not know how it is you are in this cave, nor anything about this trial that has come over you—until God said to me, ‘Behold, Adam has transgressed, he whom I had taken out of your side, and Eve also, whom I took out of his side; and I have driven them out of the garden; I have made them live in a land of sorrow and misery, because they transgressed against Me, and have obeyed Satan. And look, they are in suffering until this day, the eightieth.’
15 Then God said to me, ‘Get up, go to them, and make them come to your place, and suffer not that Satan come near them, and afflict them. For they are now in great misery; and lie helpless from hunger.’
16 He further said to me, ‘When you have taken them to yourself, give them to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, and give them to drink of the water of peace; and clothe them in a garment of light, and restore them to their former state of grace, and leave them not in misery, for they came from you. But grieve not over them, nor repent of that which has come over them.
17 But when I heard this, I was sorry; and my heart could not patiently bear it for your sake, O my child.
18 But, O Adam, when I heard the name of Satan, I was afraid, and I said within myself, I will not come out because he might trap me as he did my children, Adam and Eve.
19 And I said, ‘O God, when I go to my children, Satan will meet me in the way, and war against me, as he did against them.’
20 Then God said to me, ‘Fear not; when you find him, hit him with the staff that is in your hand, and don’t be afraid of him, for you are of old standing, and he shall not prevail against you.’
21 Then I said, ‘O my Lord, I am old, and cannot go. Send Your angels to bring them.’
22 But God said to me, ‘Angels, verily, are not like them; and they will not consent to come with them. But I have chosen you, because they are your offspring and are like you, and they will listen to what you say.’
23 God said further to me, ‘If you don’t have enough strength to walk, I will send a cloud to carry you and set you down at the entrance of their cave; then the cloud will return and leave you there.
24 And if they will come with you, I will send a cloud to carry you and them.’
25 Then He commanded a cloud, and it bear me up and brought me to you; and then went back.
26 And now, O my children, Adam and Eve, look at my old gray hair and at my feeble state, and at my coming from that distant place. Come, come with me, to a place of rest."
27 Then he began to cry and to sob before Adam and Eve, and his tears poured on the ground like water.
28 And when Adam and Eve raised their eyes and saw his beard, and heard his sweet talk, their hearts softened towards him; they obeyed him, for they believed he was true.
29 And it seemed to them that they were really his offspring, when they saw that his face was like their own; and they trusted him.
* The existence of the two words helpmeet and helpmate, meaning exactly the same thing, is a comedy of errors. God’s promise to Adam, as rendered in the King James version of the Bible, was to give him an help meet for him (that is, a helper fit for him). In the 17th century the two words help and meet in this passage were mistaken for one word, applying to Eve, and thus helpmeet came to mean a wife. Then in the 18th century, in a misguided attempt to make sense of the word, the spelling helpmate was introduced. Both errors are now beyond recall, and both spellings are acceptable.
Chapter LXI - They begin to follow Satan.
1 Then he took Adam and Eve by the hand, and began to bring them out of the cave.
2 But when they had come a little ways out of it, God knew that Satan had overcome them, and had brought them out before the forty days were ended, to take them to some distant place, and to destroy them.
3 Then the Word of the Lord God again came and cursed Satan, and drove him away from them.
4 And God began to speak to Adam and Eve, saying to them, "What made you come out of the cave, to this place?"
5 Then Adam said to God, "Did you create a man before us? For when we were in the cave there suddenly came to us a friendly old man who said to us, ‘I am a messenger from God to you, to bring you back to some place of rest.’
6 And we believed, O God, that he was a messenger from you; and we came out with him; and knew not where we should go with him."
7 Then God said to Adam, "See, that is the father of evil arts, who brought you and Eve out of the Garden of Delights. And now, indeed, when he saw that you and Eve both joined together in fasting and praying, and that you came not out of the cave before the end of the forty days, he wished to make your purpose vein, to break your mutual bond; to cut off all hope from you, and to drive you to some place where he might destroy you.
8 Because he couldn’t do anything to you unless he showed himself in the likeness of you.
9 Therefore he came to you with a face like your own, and began to give you tokens as if they were all true.
10 But because I am merciful and am favorable to you, I did not allow him to destroy you; instead I drove him away from you.
11 Now, therefore, O Adam, take Eve, and return to your cave, and remain in it until the morning after the fortieth day. And when you come out, go towards the eastern gate of the garden."
12 Then Adam and Eve worshipped God, and praised and blessed Him for the deliverance that had come to them from Him. And they returned towards the cave. This happened in the evening of the thirty-ninth day.
13 Then Adam and Eve stood up and with a fiery passion, prayed to God, to give them strength; for they had become weak because of hunger and thirst and prayer. But they watched the whole of that night praying, until morning.
14 Then Adam said to Eve, "Get up, let us go towards the eastern gate of the garden as God told us."
15 And they said their prayers as they were accustomed to do every day; and they left the cave to go near to the eastern gate of the garden.
16 Then Adam and Eve stood up and prayed, and appealed to God to strengthen them, and to send them something to satisfy their hunger.
17 But after they finished their prayers, they were too weak to move.
18 Then came the Word of God again, and said to them, "O Adam, get up, go and bring the two figs here."
19 Then Adam and Eve got up, and went until they came near to the cave.
Chapter LXII - Two fruit trees.
1 But Satan the wicked was envious, because of the consolation God had given them.
2 So he prevented them, and went into the cave and took the two figs, and buried them outside the cave, so that Adam and Eve should not find them. He also had in his thoughts to destroy them.
3 But by God’s mercy, as soon as those two figs were in the ground, God defeated Satan’s counsel regarding them; and made them into two fruit trees, that overshadowed the cave. For Satan had buried them on the eastern side of it.
4 Then when the two trees were grown, and were covered with fruit, Satan grieved and mourned, and said, "It would have been better to have left those figs where they were; for now, behold, they have become two fruit trees, whereof Adam will eat all the days of his life. Whereas I had in mind, when I buried them, to destroy them entirely, and to hide them forever.
5 But God has overturned my counsel; and would not that this sacred fruit should perish; and He has made plain my intention, and has defeated the counsel I had formed against His servants."
6 Then Satan went away ashamed because he hadn’t thought his plans all the way through.
Chapter LXIII - The first joy of trees.
1 But Adam and Eve, as they got closer to the cave, saw two fig trees, covered with fruit, and overshadowing the cave.
2 Then Adam said to Eve, "It seems to me that we have gone the wrong way. When did these two trees grow here? It seems to me that the enemy wishes to lead us the wrong way. Do you suppose that there is another cave besides this one in the earth?
3 Yet, O Eve, let us go into the cave, and find in it the two figs; for this is our cave, in which we were. But if we should not find the two figs in it, then it cannot be our cave."
4 They went then into the cave, and looked into the four corners of it, but found not the two figs.
5 And Adam cried and said to Eve, "Did we go to the wrong cave, then, O Eve? It seems to me these two fig trees are the two figs that were in the cave." And Eve said, "I, for my part, do not know."
6 Then Adam stood up and prayed and said, "O God, You commanded us to come back to the cave, to take the two figs, and then to return to you.
7 But now, we have not found them. O God, have you taken them, and sown these two trees, or have we gone astray in the earth; or has the enemy deceived us? If it be real, then, O God, reveal to us the secret of these two trees and of the two figs."
8 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said to him, "O Adam, when I sent you to fetch the figs, Satan went before you to the cave, took the figs, and buried them outside, eastward of the cave, thinking to destroy them; and not sowing them with good intent.
9 Not for his mere sake, then, have these trees grown up at once; but I had mercy on you and I commanded them to grow. And they grew to be two large trees, that you be overshadowed by their branches, and find rest; and that I made you see My power and My marvelous works.
10 And, also, to show you Satan’s meanness, and his evil works, for ever since you came out of the garden, he has not ceased, no, not one day, from doing you some harm. But I have not given him power over you."
11 And God said, "From now on, O Adam, rejoice on account of the trees, you and Eve; and rest under them when you feel weary. But do not eat any of their fruit or come near them."
12 Then Adam cried, and said, "O God, will You again kill us, or will You drive us away from before Your face, and cut our life from off the face of the earth?
13 O God, I beg you, if You know that there be in these trees either death or some other evil, as at the first time, root them up from near our cave, and with them; and leave us to die of the heat, of hunger and of thirst.
14 For we know Your marvelous works, O God, that they are great, and that by Your power You can bring one thing out of another, without one’s wish. For Your power can make rocks to become trees, and trees to become rocks."
Chapter LXIV - Adam and Eve partake of the first earthly food.
1 Then God looked at Adam and at his strength of mind, at his endurance of hunger and thirst, and of the heat. And He changed the two fig trees into two figs, as they were at first, and then said to Adam and to Eve, "Each of you may take one fig." And they took them, as the Lord commanded them.
2 And He said to them, "You must now go into the cave and eat the figs, and satisfy your hunger, or else you will die."
3 So, as God commanded them, they went into the cave about sunset. And Adam and Eve stood up and prayed during the setting sun.
4 Then they sat down to eat the figs; but they knew not how to eat them; for they were not accustomed to eat earthly food. They were afraid that if they ate, their stomach would be burdened and their flesh thickened, and their hearts would take to liking earthly food.
5 But while they were thus seated, God, out of pity for them, sent them His angel, so they wouldn’t perish of hunger and thirst.
6 And the angel said to Adam and Eve, "God says to you that you do not have the strength that would be required to fast until death; eat, therefore, and strengthen your bodies; for you are now animal flesh and cannot subsist without food and drink."
7 Then Adam and Eve took the figs and began to eat of them. But God had put into them a mixture as of savory bread and blood.
8 Then the angel went from Adam and Eve, who ate of the figs until they had satisfied their hunger. Then they put aside what was left; but by the power of God, the figs became whole again, because God blessed them.
9 After this Adam and Eve got up, and prayed with a joyful heart and renewed strength, and praised and rejoiced abundantly the whole of that night. And this was the end of the eighty-third day.
Chapter LXV - Adam and Eve acquire digestive organs. Final hope of returning to the Garden is lost.
1 And when it was day, they got up and prayed, after their custom, and then went out of the cave.
2 But they became sick from the food they had eaten because they were not used to it, so they went about in the cave saying to each other:
3 "What has our eating caused to happen to us, that we should be in such pain? We are in misery, we shall die! It would have been better for us to have died keeping our bodies pure than to have eaten and defiled them with food."
4 Then Adam said to Eve, "This pain did not come to us in the garden, neither did we eat such bad food there. Do you think, O Eve, that God will plague us through the food that is in us, or that our innards will come out; or that God means to kill us with this pain before He has fulfilled His promise to us?"
5 Then Adam besought the Lord and said, "O Lord, let us not perish through the food we have eaten. O Lord, don’t punish us; but deal with us according to Your great mercy, and forsake us not until the day of the promise You have made us."
6 Then God looked at them, and then fitted them for eating food at once; as to this day; so that they should not perish.
7 Then Adam and Eve came back into the cave sorrowful and crying because of the alteration of their bodies. And they both knew from that hour that they were altered beings, that all hope of returning to the garden was now lost; and that they could not enter it.
8 For that now their bodies had strange functions; and all flesh that requires food and drink for its existence, cannot be in the garden.
9 Then Adam said to Eve, "Behold, our hope is now lost; and so is our trust to enter the garden. We no longer belong to the inhabitants of the garden; but from now on we are earthy and of the dust, and of the inhabitants of the earth. We shall not return to the garden, until the day in which God has promised to save us, and to bring us again into the garden, as He promised us."
10 Then they prayed to God that He would have mercy on them; after which, their mind was quieted, their hearts were broken, and their longing was cooled down; and they were like strangers on earth. That night Adam and Eve spent in the cave, where they slept heavily by reason of the food they had eaten.
Chapter LXVI - Adam does his first day’s work.
1 When it was morning, the day after they had eaten food, Adam and Eve prayed in the cave, and Adam said to Eve, "Look, we asked for food of God, and He gave it. But now let us also ask Him to give us a drink of water."
2 Then they got up, and went to the bank of the stream of water, that was on the south border of the garden, in which they had before thrown themselves. And they stood on the bank, and prayed to God that He would command them to drink of the water.
3 Then the Word of God came to Adam, and said to him, "O Adam, your body has become brutish, and requires water to drink. Take some and drink it, you and Eve, then give thanks and praise."
4 Adam and Eve then went down to the stream and drank from it, until their bodies felt refreshed. After having drunk, they praised God, and then returned to their cave, after their former custom. This happened at the end of eighty-three days.
5 Then on the eighty-fourth day, they took the two figs and hung them in the cave, together with the leaves thereof, to be to them a sign and a blessing from God. And they placed them there so that if their descendants came there, they would see the wonderful things God had done for them.
6 Then Adam and Eve again stood outside the cave, and asked God to show them some food with which they could nourish their bodies.
7 Then the Word of God came and said to him, "O Adam, go down to the westward of the cave until you come to a land of dark soil, and there you shall find food."
8 And Adam obeyed the Word of God, took Eve, and went down to a land of dark soil, and found there wheat* growing in the ear and ripe, and figs to eat; and Adam rejoiced over it.
9 Then the Word of God came again to Adam, and said to him, "Take some of this wheat and make yourselves some bread with it, to nourish your body therewith." And God gave Adam’s heart wisdom, to work out the corn until it became bread.
10 Adam accomplished all that, until he grew very faint and weary. He then returned to the cave; rejoicing at what he had learned of what is done with wheat, until it is made into bread for one’s use.
* In this book, the terms ‘corn’ and ‘wheat’ are used interchangeably. The reference is possibly used to indicate a type of ancient grain resembling Egyptian Corn also known as Durra. Durra is a wheat-like cereal grain frequently cultivated in dry regions such as Egypt.
Chapter LXVII - "Then Satan began to lead astray Adam and Eve. . . ."
1 When Adam and Eve went down to the land of black mud and came near to the wheat God had showed them and saw that it was ripe and ready for reaping, they did not have a sickle to reap it with. So they readied themselves, and began to pull up the wheat by hand, until it was all done.
2 Then they heaped it into a pile; and, faint from heat and from thirst, they went under a shady tree, where the breeze fanned them to sleep.
3 But Satan saw what Adam and Eve had done. And he called his hosts, and said to them, "Since God has shown to Adam and Eve all about this wheat, wherewith to strengthen their bodies—and, look, they have come and made a big pile of it, and faint from the toil are now asleep—come, let us set fire to this heap of corn, and burn it, and let us take that bottle of water that is by them, and empty it out, so that they may find nothing to drink, and we kill them with hunger and thirst.
4 Then, when they wake up from their sleep, and seek to return to the cave, we will come to them in the way, and will lead them astray; so that they die of hunger and thirst; when they may, perhaps, deny God, and He destroy them. So shall we be rid of them."
5 Then Satan and his hosts set the wheat on fire and burned it up.
6 But from the heat of the flame Adam and Eve awoke from their sleep, and saw the wheat burning, and the bucket of water by them, poured out.
7 Then they cried and went back to the cave.
8 But as they were going up from below the mountain where they were, Satan and his hosts met them in the form of angels, praising God.
9 Then Satan said to Adam, "O Adam, why are you so pained with hunger and thirst? It seems to me that Satan has burnt up the wheat." And Adam said to him, "Yes."
10 Again Satan said to Adam, "Come back with us; we are angels of God. God sent us to you, to show you another field of corn, better than that; and beyond it is a fountain of good water, and many trees, where you shall live near it, and work the corn field to better purpose than that which Satan has consumed."
11 Adam thought that he was true, and that they were angels who talked with him; and he went back with them.
12 Then Satan began to lead astray Adam and Eve eight days, until they both fell down as if dead, from hunger, thirst, and faintness. Then he fled with his hosts, and left them.
Chapter LXVIII - How destruction and trouble is of Satan when he is the master. Adam and Eve establish the custom of worship.
1 Then God looked at Adam and Eve, and at what had come over them from Satan, and how he had made them perish.
2 God, therefore, sent His Word, and raised up Adam and Eve from their state of death.
3 Then, Adam, when he was raised, said, "O God, You have burnt and taken from us the corn You have given us, and You have emptied out the bucket of water. And You have sent Your angels, who have caused us to lose our way from the corn field. Will You make us perish? If this be from you, O God, then take away our souls; but punish us not."
4 Then God said to Adam, "I did not burn down the wheat, and I did not pour the water out of the bucket, and I did not send My angels to lead you astray.
5 But it is Satan, your master who did it; he to whom you have subjected yourself; my commandment being meanwhile set aside. He it is, who burnt down the corn, and poured out the water, and who has led you astray; and all the promises he has made you were just a trick, a deception, and a lie.
6 But now, O Adam, you shall acknowledge My good deeds done to you."
7 And God told His angels to take Adam and Eve, and to bear them up to the field of wheat, which they found as before, with the bucket full of water.
8 There they saw a tree, and found on it solid manna; and wondered at God’s power. And the angels commanded them to eat of the manna when they were hungry.
9 And God admonished Satan with a curse, not to come again, and destroy the field of corn.
10 Then Adam and Eve took of the corn, and made of it an offering, and took it and offered it up on the mountain, the place where they had offered up their first offering of blood.
11 And they offered this offering again on the altar they had built at first. And they stood up and prayed, and besought the Lord saying, "Thus, O God, when we were in the garden, our praises went up to you, like this offering; and our innocence went up to you like incense. But now, O God, accept this offering from us, and don’t turn us away, deprived of Your mercy."
12 Then God said to Adam and Eve, "Since you have made this offering and have offered it to Me, I shall make it My flesh, when I come down on earth to save you; and I shall cause it to be offered continually on an altar, for forgiveness and for mercy, for those who partake of it duly."
13 And God sent a bright fire over the offering of Adam and Eve, and filled it with brightness, grace, and light; and the Holy Ghost came down on that offering.
14 Then God commanded an angel to take fire tongs, like a spoon, and with it to take an offering and bring it to Adam and Eve. And the angel did so, as God had commanded him, and offered it to them.
15 And the souls of Adam and Eve were brightened, and their hearts were filled with joy and gladness and with the praises of God.
16 And God said to Adam, "This shall be to you a custom, to do so, when affliction and sorrow come over you. But your deliverance and your entrance in to the garden, shall not be until the days are fulfilled as agreed between you and Me; were it not so, I would, of My mercy and pity for you, bring you back to My garden and to My favor for the sake of the offering you have just made to My name."
17 Adam rejoiced at these words which he heard from God; and he and Eve worshipped before the altar, to which they bowed, and then went back to the Cave of Treasures.
18 And this took place at the end of the twelfth day after the eightieth day, from the time Adam and Eve came out of the garden.
19 And they stood up the whole night praying until morning; and then went out of the cave.
20 Then Adam said to Eve, with joy of heart, because of the offering they had made to God, and that had been accepted of Him, "Let us do this three times every week, on the fourth day Wednesday, on the preparation day Friday, and on the Sabbath Sunday, all the days of our life."
21 And as they agreed to these words between themselves, God was pleased with their thoughts, and with the resolution they had each taken with the other.
22 After this, came the Word of God to Adam, and said, "O Adam, you have determined beforehand the days in which sufferings shall come over Me, when I am made flesh; for they are the fourth Wednesday, and the preparation day Friday.
23 But as to the first day, I created in it all things, and I raised the heavens. And, again, through My rising again on this day, will I create joy, and raise them on high, who believe in Me; O Adam, offer this offering, all the days of your life."
24 Then God withdrew His Word from Adam.
25 But Adam continued to offer this offering thus, every week three times, until the end of seven weeks. And on the first day, which is the fiftieth, Adam made an offering as he was accustomed, and he and Eve took it and came to the altar before God, as He had taught them.
Chapter LXIX - Twelfth apparition of Satan to Adam and Eve, while Adam was praying over the offering on the altar; when Satan beat him.
1 Then Satan, the hater of all good, envious of Adam and of his offering through which he found favor with God, hastened and took a sharp stone from among the sharp iron stones; appeared in the form of a man, and went and stood by Adam and Eve.
2 Adam was then offering on the altar, and had begun to pray, with his hands spread before God.
3 Then Satan hastened with the sharp iron stone he had with him, and with it pierced Adam on the right side, from which flowed blood and water, then Adam fell on the altar like a corpse. And Satan fled.
4 Then Eve came, and took Adam and placed him below the altar. And there she stayed, crying over him; while a stream of blood flowed from Adam’s side over his offering.
5 But God looked at the death of Adam. He then sent His Word, and raised him up and said to him, "Fulfil your offering, for indeed, Adam, it is worth much, and there is no shortcoming in it."
6 God said further to Adam, "Thus will it also happen to Me, on the earth, when I shall be pierced and blood and water shall flow from My side and run over My body, which is the true offering; and which shall be offered on the altar as a perfect offering."
7 Then God commanded Adam to finish his offering, and when he had ended it he worshipped before God, and praised Him for the signs He had showed him.
8 And God healed Adam in one day, which is the end of the seven weeks; and that is the fiftieth day.
9 Then Adam and Eve returned from the mountain, and went into the Cave of Treasures, as they were used to do. This completed for Adam and Eve, one hundred and forty days since their coming out of the garden.
10 Then they both stood up that night and prayed to God. And when it was morning, they went out, and went down westward of the cave, to the place where their corn was, and there rested under the shadow of a tree, as they were accustomed.
11 But when there a multitude of beasts came all around them. It was Satan’s doing, in his wickedness; in order to wage war against Adam through marriage.
Chapter LXX - Thirteenth apparition of Satan, to trick Adam into marrying Eve.
1 After this Satan, the hater of all good, took the form of an angel, and with him two others, so that they looked like the three angels who had brought to Adam gold, incense, and myrrh.
2 They passed before Adam and Eve while they were under the tree, and greeted Adam and Eve with fair words that were full of deceit.
3 But when Adam and Eve saw their pleasant expression, and heard their sweet speech, Adam rose, welcomed them, and brought them to Eve, and they remained all together; Adam’s heart the while, being glad because he thought concerning them, that they were the same angels, who had brought him gold, incense, and myrrh.
4 Because, when they came to Adam the first time, there came over him from them, peace and joy, through their bringing him good tokens; so Adam thought that they had come a second time to give him other tokens for him to rejoice therewith. For he did not know it was Satan; therefore he received them with joy and consorted with them.
5 Then Satan, the tallest of them, said, "Rejoice, O Adam, and be glad. Look, God has sent us to you to tell you something."
6 And Adam said, "What is it?" Then Satan answered, "It is a simple thing, yet it is the Word of God, will you accept it from us and do it? But if you will not accept it, we will return to God, and tell Him that you would not receive His Word."
7 And Satan said again to Adam, "Don’t be afraid and don’t tremble; don’t you know us?"
8 But Adam said, "I do not know you."
9 Then Satan said to him, "I am the angel that brought you gold, and took it to the cave; this other angel is the one that brought you incense; and that third angel, is the one who brought you myrrh when you were on top of the mountain, and who carried you to the cave.
10 But as to the other angels our fellows, who bare you to the cave, God has not sent them with us this time; for He said to us, ‘You will be enough’. "
11 So when Adam heard these words he believed them, and said to these angels, "Speak the Word of God, that I may receive it."
12 And Satan said to him, "Swear, and promise me that you will receive it."
13 Then Adam said, "I do not know how to swear and promise."
14 And Satan said to him, "Hold out your hand, and put it inside my hand."
15 Then Adam held out his hand, and put it into Satan’s hand; when Satan said to him, "Say, now—So true as God is living, rational, and speaking, who raised the stars in heaven, and established the dry ground on the waters, and has created me out of the four elements,* and out of the dust of the earth—I will not break my promise, nor renounce my word."
16 And Adam swore thus.
17 Then Satan said to him, "Look, it is now some time since you came out of the garden, and you know neither wickedness nor evil. But now God says to you, to take Eve who came out of your side, and to marry her so that she will bear you children, to comfort you, and to drive from you trouble and sorrow; now this thing is not difficult, neither is there any scandal in it to you.
* See the previous footnote in chapter XXXIV regarding the ‘four elements’.
Chapter LXXI - Adam is troubled by the thought of marrying Eve.
1 But when Adam heard these words from Satan, he sorrowed much, because of his oath and of his promise, and said, "Shall I commit adultery with my flesh and my bones, and shall I sin against myself, for God to destroy me, and to blot me out from off the face of the earth?
2 Since, when at first, I ate of the tree, He drove me out of the garden into this strange land, and deprived me of my bright nature, and brought death over me. If, then, I should do this, He will cut off my life from the earth, and He will cast me into hell, and will plague me there a long time.
3 But God never spoke the words that you have said; and you are not God’s angels, and you weren’t sent from Him. But you are devils that have come to me under the false appearance of angels. Away from me; you cursed of God!"
4 Then those devils fled from before Adam. And he and Eve got up, and returned to the Cave of Treasures, and went into it.
5 Then Adam said to Eve, "If you saw what I did, don’t tell anyone; for I sinned against God in swearing by His great name, and I have placed my hand another time into that of Satan." Eve, then, held her peace, as Adam told her.
6 Then Adam got up, and spread his hands before God, beseeching and entreating Him with tears, to forgive him what he had done. And Adam remained thus standing and praying forty days and forty nights. He neither ate nor drank until he dropped down on the ground from hunger and thirst.
7 Then God sent His Word to Adam, who raised him up from where he lay, and said to him, "O Adam, why have you sworn by My name, and why have you made agreement with Satan another time?"
8 But Adam cried, and said, "O God, forgive me, for I did this unwittingly; believing they were God’s angels."
9 And God forgave Adam, saying to him, "Beware of Satan."
10 And He withdrew His Word from Adam.
11 Then Adam’s heart was comforted; and he took Eve, and they went out of the cave, to prepare some food for their bodies.
12 But from that day Adam struggled in his mind about his marrying Eve; afraid that if he was to do it, God would be angry with him.
13 Then Adam and Eve went to the river of water, and sat on the bank, as people do when they enjoy themselves.
14 But Satan was jealous of them; and planned to destroy them.
Chapter LXXII - Adam’s heart is set on fire. Satan appears as beautiful maidens.
1 Then Satan, and ten from his hosts, transformed themselves into maidens, unlike any others in the whole world for grace.
2 They came up out of the river in presence of Adam and Eve, and they said among themselves, "Come, we will look at the faces of Adam and Eve, who are of the men on earth. How beautiful they are, and how different is their look from our own faces." Then they came to Adam and Eve, and greeted them; and stood wondering at them.
3 Adam and Eve looked at them also, and wondered at their beauty, and said, "Is there, then, under us, another world, with such beautiful creatures as these in it?"
4 And those maidens said to Adam and Eve, "Yes, indeed, we are an abundant creation."
5 Then Adam said to them, "But how do you multiply?"
6 And they answered him, "We have husbands who have married us, and we bear them children, who grow up, and who in their turn marry and are married, and also bear children; and thus we increase. And if so be, O Adam, you will not believe us, we will show you our husbands and our children."
7 Then they shouted over the river as if to call their husbands and their children, who came up from the river, men and children; and every man came to his wife, his children being with him.
8 But when Adam and Eve saw them, they stood dumb, and wondered at them.
9 Then they said to Adam and Eve, "See all our husbands and our children? You should marry Eve, as we have married our husbands, so that you will have children as we have." This was a device of Satan to deceive Adam.
10 Satan also thought within himself, "God at first commanded Adam concerning the fruit of the tree, saying to him, ‘Eat not of it; else of death you shall die.’ But Adam ate of it, and yet God did not kill him; He only decreed on him death, and plagues and trials, until the day he shall come out of his body.
11 Now, then, if I deceive him to do this thing, and to marry Eve without God’s permission, God will kill him then."
12 Therefore Satan worked this apparition before Adam and Eve; because he sought to kill him, and to make him disappear from off the face of the earth.
13 Meanwhile the fire of sin came over Adam, and he thought of committing sin. But he restrained himself, fearing that if he followed this advice of Satan, God would put him to death.
14 Then Adam and Eve got up, and prayed to God, while Satan and his hosts went down into the river, in presence of Adam and Eve; to let them see that they were going back to their own world.
15 Then Adam and Eve went back to the Cave of Treasures, as they usually did; about evening time.
16 And they both got up and prayed to God that night. Adam remained standing in prayer, yet not knowing how to pray, by reason of the thoughts in his heart regarding his marrying Eve; and he continued so until morning.
17 And when light came up, Adam said to Eve, "Get up, let us go below the mountain, where they brought us gold, and let us ask the Lord concerning this matter."
18 Then Eve said, "What is that matter, O Adam?"
19 And he answered her, "That I may request the Lord to inform me about marrying you; for I will not do it without His permission or else He will make us perish, you and me. For those devils have set my heart on fire, with thoughts of what they showed us, in their sinful apparitions.
20 Then Eve said to Adam, "Why need we go below the mountain? Let us rather stand up and pray in our cave to God, to let us know whether this counsel is good or not."
21 Then Adam rose up in prayer and said, "O God, you know that we transgressed against you, and from the moment we transgressed, we were stripped of our bright nature; and our body became brutish, requiring food and drink; and with animal desires.
22 Command us, O God, not to give way to them without Your permission, for fear that You will turn us into nothing. Because if you do not give us permission, we shall be overpowered, and follow that advice of Satan; and You will again make us perish.
23 If not, then take our souls from us; let us be rid of this animal lust. And if You give us no order respecting this thing, then sever Eve from me, and me from her; and place us each far away from the other.
24 Then again, O God, if You separate us from each other, the devils will deceive us with their apparitions that resemble us, and destroy our hearts, and defile our thoughts towards each other. Yet if it is not each of us towards the other, it will, at all events, be through their appearance when the devils come to us in our likeness." Here Adam ended his prayer.
Chapter LXXIII - The marriage of Adam and Eve.
1 Then God considered the words of Adam that they were true, and that he could long await His order, respecting the counsel of Satan.
2 And God approved Adam in what he had thought concerning this, and in the prayer he had offered in His presence; and the Word of God came to Adam and said to him, "O Adam, if only you had had this caution at first, before you came out of the garden into this land!"
3 After that, God sent His angel who had brought gold, and the angel who had brought incense, and the angel who had brought myrrh to Adam, that they should inform him respecting his marriage to Eve.
4 Then those angels said to Adam, "Take the gold and give it to Eve as a wedding gift, and promise to marry her; then give her some incense and myrrh as a present; and be you, you and she, one flesh."
5 Adam obeyed the angels, and took the gold and put it into Eve’s bosom in her garment; and promised to marry her with his hand.
6 Then the angels commanded Adam and Eve to get up and pray forty days and forty nights; when that was done, then Adam was to have sexual intercourse with his wife; for then this would be an act pure and undefiled; so that he would have children who would multiply, and replenish the face of the earth.
7 Then both Adam and Eve received the words of the angels; and the angels departed from them.
8 Then Adam and Eve began to fast and pray, until the end of the forty days; and then they had sexual intercourse, as the angels had told them. And from the time Adam left the garden until he wedded Eve, were two hundred and twenty-three days, that is seven months and thirteen days.
9 Thus was Satan’s war with Adam defeated.
Chapter LXXIV - The birth of Cain and Luluwa. Why they received those names.
1 And they lived on the earth working in order to keep their bodies in good health; and they continued so until the nine months of Eve’s pregnancy were over, and the time drew near when she must give birth.
2 Then she said to Adam, "The signs placed in this cave since we left the garden indicate that this is a pure place and we will be praying in it again some time. It is not appropriate then, that I should give birth in it. Let us instead go to the sheltering rock cave that was formed by the command of God when Satan threw a big rock down on us in an attempt to kill us with it.
3 Adam then took Eve to that cave. When the time came for her to give birth, she strained a lot. Adam felt sorry, and he was very worried about her because she was close to death and the words of God to her were being fulfilled: "In suffering shall you bear a child, and in sorrow shall you bring forth a child."
4 But when Adam saw the distress in which Eve was, he got up and prayed to God, and said, "O Lord, look at me with the eye of Your mercy, and bring her out of her distress."
5 And God looked at His maid-servant Eve, and delivered her, and she gave birth to her first-born son, and with him a daughter.
6 The Adam rejoiced at Eve’s deliverance, and also over the children she had borne him. And Adam ministered to Eve in the cave, until the end of eight days; when they named the son Cain, and the daughter Luluwa.
7 The meaning of Cain is "hater," because he hated his sister in their mother’s womb; before they came out of it. Therefore Adam named him Cain.
8 But Luluwa means "beautiful," because she was more beautiful than her mother.
9 Then Adam and Eve waited until Cain and his sister were forty days old, when Adam said to Eve, "We will make an offering and offer it up in behalf of the children."
10 And Eve said, "We will make one offering for the first-born son and then later we shall make one for the daughter."
Chapter LXXV - The family revisits the Cave of Treasures. Birth of Abel and Aklia.
1 Then Adam prepared an offering, and he and Eve offered it up for their children, and brought it to the altar they had built at first.
2 And Adam offered up the offering, and asked God to accept his offering.
3 Then God accepted Adam’s offering, and sent a light from heaven that shown on the offering. Adam and his son drew near to the offering, but Eve and the daughter did not approach it.
4 Adam and his son were joyful as they came down from on the altar. Adam and Eve waited until the daughter was eighty days old, then Adam prepared an offering and took it to Eve and to the children. They went to the altar, where Adam offered it up, as he was accustomed, asking the Lord to accept his offering.
5 And the Lord accepted the offering of Adam and Eve. Then Adam, Eve, and the children, drew near together, and came down from the mountain, rejoicing.
6 But they returned not to the cave in which they were born; but came to the Cave of Treasures, in order that the children should go around in it, and be blessed with the tokens brought from the garden.
7 But after they had been blessed with these tokens, they went back to the cave in which they were born.
8 However, before Eve had offered up the offering, Adam had taken her, and had gone with her to the river of water, in which they threw themselves at first; and there they washed themselves. Adam washed his body and Eve hers also clean, after the suffering and distress that had come over them.
9 But Adam and Eve, after washing themselves in the river of water, returned every night to the Cave of Treasures, where they prayed and were blessed; and then went back to their cave, where their children were born.
10 Adam and Eve did this until the children had been weaned. After they were weaned, Adam made an offering for the souls of his children in addition to the three times every week he made an offering for them.
11 When the children were weaned, Eve again conceived, and when her pregnancy came to term, she gave birth to another son and daughter. They named the son Abel and the daughter Aklia.
12 Then at the end of forty days, Adam made an offering for the son, and at the end of eighty days he made another offering for the daughter, and treated them, as he had previously treated Cain and his sister Luluwa.
13 He brought them to the Cave of Treasures, where they received a blessing, and then returned to the cave where they were born. After these children were born, Eve stopped having children.
Chapter LXXVI - Cain becomes jealous of Abel because of his sisters.
1 And the children began to grow stronger and taller; but Cain was hard-hearted, and ruled over his younger brother.
2 Often when his father made an offering, Cain would remain behind and not go with them, to offer up.
3 But, as to Abel, he had a meek heart, and was obedient to his father and mother. He frequently moved them to make an offering, because he loved it. He prayed and fasted a lot.
4 Then came this sign to Abel. As he was coming into the Cave of Treasures, and saw the golden rods, the incense and the myrrh, he asked his parents, Adam and Eve, to tell him about them and asked, "Where did you get these from?"
5 Then Adam told him all that had befallen them. And Abel felt deeply about what his father told him.
6 Furthermore his father, Adam, told him of the works of God, and of the garden. After hearing that, Abel remained behind after his father left and stayed the whole of that night in the Cave of Treasures.
7 And that night, while he was praying, Satan appeared to him under the figure of a man, who said to him, "You have frequently moved your father into making offerings, fasting and praying, therefore I will kill you, and make you perish from this world."
8 But as for Abel, he prayed to God, and drove away Satan from him; and did not believe the words of the devil. Then when it was day, an angel of God appeared to him, who said to him, "Do not cut short either fasting, prayer, or offering up an offering to your God. For, look, the Lord had accepted your prayer. Be not afraid of the figure which appeared to you in the night, and who cursed you to death." And the angel departed from him.
9 Then when it was day, Abel came to Adam and Eve, and told them of the vision he had seen. When they heard it, they grieved much over it, but said nothing to him about it; they only comforted him.
10 But as to the hard-hearted Cain, Satan came to him by night, showed himself and said to him, "Since Adam and Eve love your brother Abel so much more than they love you, they wish to join him in marriage to your beautiful sister because they love him. However, they wish to join you in marriage to his ugly sister, because they hate you.
11 Now before they do that, I am telling you that you should kill your brother. That way your sister will be left for you, and his sister will be cast away."
12 And Satan departed from him. But the devil remained behind in Cain’s heart, and frequently aspired to kill his brother.
Chapter LXXVII - Cain, 15 years old, and Abel 12 years old, grow apart.
1 But when Adam saw that the older brother hated the younger, he endeavored to soften their hearts, and said to Cain, "O my son, take of the fruits of your sowing and make an offering to God, so that He might forgive you for your wickedness and sin."
2 He said also to Abel, "Take some of your sowing and make an offering and bring it to God, so that He might forgive you for your wickedness and sin."
3 Then Abel obeyed his father’s voice, took some of his sowing, and made a good offering, and said to his father, Adam, "Come with me and show me how to offer it up."
4 And they went, Adam and Eve with him, and they showed him how to offer up his gift on the altar. Then after that, they stood up and prayed that God would accept Abel’s offering.
5 Then God looked at Abel and accepted his offering. And God was more pleased with Abel than with his offering, because of his good heart and pure body. There was no trace of guile in him.
6 Then they came down from the altar, and went to the cave in which they lived. But Abel, by reason of his joy at having made his offering, repeated it three times a week, after the example of his father Adam.
7 But as to Cain, he did not want to make an offering, but after his father became very angry, he offered up a gift once. He took the smallest of his sheep for an offering and when he offered it up, his eyes were on the lamb.
8 Therefore God did not accept his offering, because his heart was full of murderous thoughts.
9 And they all thus lived together in the cave in which Eve had brought forth, until Cain was fifteen years old, and Abel twelve years old.
Chapter LXXVIII - Jealousy overcomes Cain. He makes trouble in the family. How the first murder was planned.
1 Then Adam said to Eve, "Behold the children are grown up; we must think of finding wives for them."
2 Then Eve answered, "How can we do it?"
3 Then Adam said to her, "We will join Abel’s sister in marriage to Cain, and Cain’s sister to Abel.
4 The said Eve to Adam, "I do not like Cain because he is hard-hearted; but let them stay with us until we offer up to the Lord in their behalf."
5 And Adam said no more.
6 Meanwhile Satan came to Cain in the figure of a man of the field, and said to him, "Behold Adam and Eve have taken counsel together about the marriage of you two; and they have agreed to marry Abel’s sister to you, and your sister to him.
7 But if it was not that I love you, I would not have told you this thing. Yet if you will take my advice, and obey me, I will bring to you on your wedding day beautiful robes, gold and silver in plenty, and my relations will attend you."
8 Then Cain said with joy, "Where are your relations?"
9 And Satan answered, "My relations are in a garden in the north, where I once meant to bring your father Adam; but he would not accept my offer.
10 But you, if you will receive my words and if you will come to me after your wedding, you shall rest from the misery in which you are; and you shall rest and be better off than your father Adam."
11 At these words of Satan Cain opened his ears, and leaned towards his speech.
12 And he did not remain in the field, but he went to Eve, his mother, and beat her, and cursed her, and said to her, "Why are you planning to take my sister to wed her to my brother? Am I dead?"
13 His mother, however, quieted him, and sent him to the field where he had been.
14 Then when Adam came, she told him of what Cain had done.
15 But Adam grieved and held his peace, and said not a word.
16 Then on the next morning Adam said to Cain his son, "Take of your sheep, young and good, and offer them up to your God; and I will speak to your brother, to make to his God an offering of corn."
17 They both obeyed their father Adam, and they took their offerings, and offered them up on the mountain by the altar.
18 But Cain behaved haughtily towards his brother, and shoved him from the altar, and would not let him offer up his gift on the altar; but he offered his own on it, with a proud heart, full of guile, and fraud.
19 But as for Abel, he set up stones that were near at hand, and on that, he offered up his gift with a heart humble and free from guile.
20 Cain was then standing by the altar on which he had offered up his gift; and he cried to God to accept his offering; but God did not accept it from him; neither did a divine fire come down to consume his offering.
21 But he remained standing over against the altar, out of humor and meanness, looking towards his brother Abel, to see if God would accept his offering or not.
22 And Abel prayed to God to accept his offering. Then a divine fire came down and consumed his offering. And God smelled the sweet savor of his offering; because Abel loved Him and rejoice in Him.
23 And because God was well pleased with him, He sent him an angel of light in the figure of a man who had partaken of his offering, because He had smelled the sweet savor of his offering, and they comforted Abel and strengthened his heart.
24 But Cain was looking on all that took place at his brother’s offering, and was angry because of it.
25 Then he opened his mouth and blasphemed God, because He had not accepted his offering.
26 But God said to Cain, "Why do you look sad? Be righteous, that I may accept your offering. Not against Me have you murmured, but against yourself.
27 And God said this to Cain in rebuke, and because He abhorred him and his offering.
28 And Cain came down from the altar, his color changed and with a sad face, and came to his father and mother and told them all that had befallen him. And Adam grieved much because God had not accepted Cain’s offering.
29 But Abel came down rejoicing, and with a glad heart, and told his father and mother how God had accepted his offering. And they rejoiced at it and kissed his face.
30 And Abel said to his father, "Because Cain shoved me from the altar, and would not allow me to offer my gift on it, I made an altar for myself and offered my gift on it."
31 But when Adam heard this he was very sorry, because it was the altar he had built at first, and on which he had offered his own gifts.
32 As to Cain, he was so resentful and so angry that he went into the field, where Satan came to him and said to him, "Since your brother Abel has taken refuge with your father Adam, because you shoved him from the altar, they have kissed his face, and they rejoice over him, far more than over you."
33 When Cain heard these words of Satan, he was filled with rage; and he let no one know. But he was laying wait to kill his brother, until he brought him into the cave, and then said to him:
34 "O brother, the country is so beautiful, and there are such beautiful and pleasurable trees in it, and charming to look at! But brother, you have never been one day in the field to take your pleasure in that place.
35 Today, O, my brother, I very much wish you would come with me into the field, to enjoy yourself and to bless our fields and our flocks, for you are righteous, and I love you much, O my brother! But you have alienated yourself from me."
36 Then Abel consented to go with his brother Cain into the field.
37 But before going out, Cain said to Abel, "Wait for me, until I fetch a staff, because of wild beasts."
38 Then Abel stood waiting in his innocence. But Cain, the forward, fetched a staff and went out.
39 And they began, Cain and his brother Abel, to walk in the way; Cain talking to him, and comforting him, to make him forget everything.
Chapter LXXIX - A wicked plan is carried to a tragic conclusion. Cain is frightened. "Am I my brother’s keeper?" The seven punishments. Peace is shattered.
1 And so they went on, until they came to a lonely place, where there were no sheep; then Abel said to Cain, "Behold, my brother, we are tired from walking; for we see none of the trees, nor of the fruits, nor of the flourishing green plants, nor of the sheep, nor any one of the things of which you told me. Where are those sheep of your you told me to bless?"
2 Then Cain said to him, "Come on, and you shall see many beautiful things very soon, but go before me, until I catch up to you."
3 Then went Abel forward, but Cain remained behind him.
4 And Abel was walking in his innocence, without guile; not believing his brother would kill him.
5 Then Cain, when he came up to him, comforted him with his talk, walking a little behind him; then he ran up to him and beat him with the staff, blow after blow, until he was stunned.
6 But when Abel fell down on the ground, seeing that his brother meant to kill him, he said to Cain, "O, my brother, have pity on me. By the breasts we have sucked, don’t hit me! By the womb that bore us and that brought us into the world, don’t beat me to death with that staff! If you will kill me, take one of these large stones and kill me outright."
7 Then Cain, the hard-hearted, and cruel murderer, took a large stone, and beat his brother’s head with it, until his brains oozed out, and he wallowed in his blood, before him.
8 And Cain repented not of what he had done.
9 But the earth, when the blood of righteous Abel fell on it, trembled, as it drank his blood, and would have destroyed Cain because of it.
10 And the blood of Abel cried mysteriously to God, to avenge him of his murderer.
11 Then Cain began at once to dig the ground wherein to lay his brother; for he was trembling from the fear that came over him, when he saw the earth tremble on his account.
12 He then cast his brother into the pit he made, and covered him with dust. But the ground would not receive him; but it threw him up at once.
13 Again Cain dug the ground and hid his brother in it; but again the ground threw him up on itself; until three times the ground thus threw up on itself the body of Abel.
14 The muddy ground threw him up the first time, because he was not the first creation; and it threw him up the second time and would not receive him, because he was righteous and good, and was killed without a cause; and the ground threw him up the third time and would not receive him, that there might remain before his brother a witness against him.
15 And so the earth mocked Cain, until the Word of God, came to him concerning his brother.
16 Then was God angry, and much displeased at Abel’s death; and He thundered from heaven, and lightning's went before Him, and the Word of the Lord God came from heaven to Cain, and said to him, "Where is Abel your brother?"
17 Then Cain answered with a proud heart and a gruff voice, "How, O God? Am I my brother’s keeper?"
18 Then God said to Cain, "Cursed be the earth that has drunk the blood of Abel your brother; and as for you, you will always be trembling and shaking; and this will be a mark on you so that whoever finds you, will kill you."
19 But Cain cried because God had said those words to him; and Cain said to Him, "O God, whosoever finds me shall kill me, and I shall be blotted out from the face of the earth."
20 Then God said to Cain, "Whoever finds you will not kill you;" because before this, God had been saying to Cain, "I shall put seven punishments on anyone that kills Cain." For as to the word of God to Cain, "Where is your brother?" God said it in mercy for him, to try and make him repent.
21 For if Cain had repented at that time, and had said, "O God, forgive me my sin, and the murder of my brother," God would then have forgiven him his sin.
22 And as to God saying to Cain, "Cursed be the ground that has drunk the blood of your brother" That also, was God’s mercy on Cain. For God did not curse him, but He cursed the ground; although it was not the ground that had killed Abel, and committed a wicked sin.
23 For it was fitting that the curse should fall on the murderer; yet in mercy did God so manage His thoughts as that no one should know it, and turn away from Cain.
24 And He said to him, "Where is your brother?" To which he answered and said, "I know not." Then the Creator said to him, "Be trembling and quaking."
25 Then Cain trembled and became terrified; and through this sign did God make him an example before all the creation, as the murderer of his brother. Also did God bring trembling and terror over him, that he might see the peace in which he was at first, and see also the trembling and terror he endured at the last; so that he might humble himself before God, and repent of his sin, and seek the peace that he enjoyed at first.
26 And in the word of God that said, "I will put seven punishments on anyone who kills Cain," God was not seeking to kill Cain with the sword, but He sought to make him die of fasting, and praying and crying by hard rule, until the time that he was delivered from his sin.
27 And the seven punishments are the seven generations during which God awaited Cain for the murder of his brother.
28 But as to Cain, ever since he had killed his brother, he could find no rest in any place; but went back to Adam and Eve, trembling, terrified, and defiled with blood. . . .
The Second Book of Adam and Eve.

CHAP. I.
The grief stricken family. Cain marries Luluwa and they move away.
WHEN Luluwa heard Cams words, she wept and went to call her father and mother, and told them how that Cain had killed his brother Abel.
2 Then they all cried aloud and lifted up their voices, and slapped their faces, and threw dust upon their heads, and rent asunder their garments, and went out and came to the place where Abel was killed.
3 And they found him lying on the earth, killed, and beasts around him; while they wept and cried because of this just one. From his body, by reason of its purity, went forth a smell of sweet spices.
4 And Adam carried him, his tears streaming down his face; and went to the Cave of Treasures, where he laid him, and wound him up with sweet spices and myrrh.
5 And Adam and Eve continued by the burial of him in great grief a hundred and forty days. Abel was fifteen and a half years old, and Cain seventeen years’ and a half.
6 As for Cain, when the mourning for his brother was ended, he took his sister Luluwa and married her, without leave from his father and mother; for they could not keep him from her, by reason of their heavy heart.
7 He then went down to the bottom of the mountain, away from the garden, near to the lace where he had killed his brother.
8 And in that place were many fruit trees and forest trees. His sister bare him children, who in their turn began to multiply by degrees until they filled that place.
9 But as for Adam and Eve, they came not together after Abel’s funeral, for seven years. After this, however, Eve conceived; and while she was with child, Adam said to her, "Come, let us take an offering and offer it up unto God, and ask Him to give us a fair child, in whom we may find comfort, and whom we may join in marriage to Abel’s sister."
10 Then they prepared an offering and brought it up to the altar, and offered it before the Lord, and began to entreat Him to accept their offering, and to give them a good offspring.
11 And God heard Adam and accepted his offering. Then, they worshipped, Adam, Eve, and their daughter, and came down to the Cave of Treasures and placed a lamp in it, to burn by night and by day, before the body of Abel.
12 Then Adam and Eve continued fasting and praying until Eve’s time came that she should be delivered, when she said to Adam, "I wish to go to the cave in the rock, to bring forth in it."
13 And he said, "Go, and take with thee thy daughter to wait on thee; but I will remain in this Cave of Treasures before the body of my son Abel."
14 Then Eve hearkened to Adam, and went, she and her daughter. But Adam remained by himself in the Cave of Treasures.

CHAP. II.
A third son is born to Adam and Eve.
And Eve brought forth a son perfectly beautiful in figure and in countenance. His beauty was like that of his father Adam, yet more beautiful.
2 Then Eve was comforted when she saw him, and’ remained eight days in the cave; then she sent her daughter unto Adam to tell him to come and see the child and name him. But the daughter stayed in his place by the body of her brother, until Adam returned.’ So did she.
3 But when Adam came and saw the child’s good looks, his beauty, and his perfect figure, he rejoiced over him, and was comforted for Abel. Then he named the child Seth, that means, "that God has heard my prayer, and has delivered me out of my affliction." But it means also "power and strength."
4 Then after Adam had named the child, he returned to the Cave of Treasures; and his daughter went back to her mother.
5 But Eve continued in her cave, until forty days were fulfilled, when she came to Adam, and brought with her the child and her daughter.
6 And they came to a river of water, where Adam and his daughter washed themselves, be cause of their sorrow for Abel; but Eve and the babe washed for purification.
7 Then they returned, and took an offering, and went to the mountain and offered it up, for the babe; and God accepted
their offering, and sent His blessing upon them, and upon their son Seth; and they came back to the Cave of Treasures.
8 As for Adam, he knew not a ain his wife Eve, all the days his life; neither was any more offspring born of them; but only those five, Cain, Luluwa, Abel, Aldia, and Seth alone.
9 But Seth waxed in stature and in strength; and began to fast and pray, fervently.

CHAP. III
Satan appear: as a beautiful woman tempting Adam, telling him he is still a youth. "Spend thy youth in mirth and pleasure." (12) The different forms which Satan takes (15).
AS for our father Adam, at the end of seven years from t e day he had been severed from his wife Eve, Satan envied him, when he saw him thus separated from her; and strove to make him live with her again.
2 Then Adam arose and went up above the Cave of Treasures; and continued to sleep there night by night. But as soon as it was light every day he came down to the cave, to pray there and to receive a blessing from it.
3 But when it was evening he went up on the roof of the cave, where he slept by himself, fearing lest Satan should over-come him. And he continued thus apart thirty-nine days.
4 Then Satan, the hater of all good, when he saw Adam thus alone, fasting and praying, appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful woman, who came and stood before him in the night of the fortieth day, and said unto him:
5 "0 Adam, from the time ye have dwelt in this cave, we have experienced great peace from you, and your prayers have reached us, and we have been comforted about you.
6 "But now, 0 Adam, that thou hast gone up over the roof of the cave to sleep, we have had doubts about thee, and a great sorrow has come upon us because of thy separation from Eve. Then again, when thou art on the roof of this cave, thy prayer is poured out, and thy heart wanders from side to side.
7 "But when thou wast in the cave thy prayer was like fire gathered together; it came down to us, and thou didst find rest.
8 "Then I also grieved over thy children who are severed from thee; and my sorrow is great about the murder of thy son Abel; for he was righteous; and over a righteous man every one will grieve.
9 "But I rejoiced over the birth of thy son Seth; yet after a little while I sorrowed greatly over Eve, because she is my sister. For when God sent a deep sleep over thee, and drew her out of thy side, He brought me out also with her. But He raised her by placing her with thee, while He lowered me.
10 I rejoiced over my sister for her being with thee. But God had made me a promise be-fore, and said, ‘Grieve not; when Adam has gone up on the roof of the Cave of Treasures, and is separated from Eve his wife, I will send thee to him, thou shalt join thyself to him in marriage, and bear him five children, as Eve did bear him five.’
11 "And now, lo! God’s promise to me is fulfilled; for it is He who has sent me to thee for the wedding; because if thou wed me, I shall bear thee finer and better children than those of Eve
12 "Then again, thou art a’ yet but a youth; end not thy youth in this world in sorrow; but spend the days of thy youth in mirth and pleasure. For thy days are few and thy trial is great. Be strong; end thy days in this world in rejoicing. I shall take pleasure in thee, and thou shall rejoice with me in this wise, and without fear.
13 "Up, then, and fulfil the command of thy God," she then drew near to Adam, and embraced him.
14 But when Adam saw that he should be overcome by her, he prayed to God with a fervent heart to deliver him from her.
15 Then God sent His Word unto Adam, saying, "0 Adam, that figure is the one that promised thee the Godhead, and majesty; he is not favorably disposed towards thee; but shows himself to thee at one time in the form of a woman; another moment, in the likeness of an angel; on another occasions, in the similitude of a serpent; and at another time, in the semblance of a god; but he does all that only to destroy thy soul.
16 "Now, therefore, 0 Adam, understanding thy heart, I have delivered thee many a time from his hands; in order to show thee that I am a merciful God; and that I wish thy good, and that I do not wish thy ruin."
CHAP. IV.
Adam sees the Devil in his true colors.
Then God ordered Satan to show himself to Adam plainly, in his own hideous form.
2 But when Adam saw him, he feared, and trembled at the sight of him.
3 And God said to Adam, "Look at this devil, and at his hideous look, and know that he it is who made thee fall from brightness into darkness, from peace and rest to toil and misery.
4 And look, 0 Adam, at him, who said of himself that he is God! Can God be black? Would God take the form of a woman? Is there any one stronger than God? And can He be overpowered?
5 "See, then, 0 Adam, and behold him bound in thy presence, in the air, unable to flee away! Therefore, I say unto thee, be not afraid of him; henceforth take care, and beware of him, in whatever he may do to thee."
6 Then God drove Satan away from before Adam, whom He strengthened, and whose heart He comforted, saying to him, "Go down to the Cave of Treasures, and separate not thyself from Eve; I will quell in you all animal lust."
7 From that hour it left Adam and Eve, and they enjoyed rest by the commandment of God. But God did not the like to any one of Adam’s seed; but only to Adam and Eve.
8 Then Adam worshipped be-fore the Lord, for having delivered him, and for having laid his passions. And he came down from above the cave, and dwelt with Eve as aforetime.
9 This ended the forty days of his separation from Eve.
CHAP. V.
The devil paints a brilliant picture for Seth to feast his thoughts upon
As for Seth, when he was seven years old, he knew good and evil, and was consistent in fasting and praying and spent all his nights in en-treating God for mercy and forgiveness.
2 He also fasted when bringing up his offering every day, more than his father did; for he was of a fair countenance, like unto an angel of God. He also had a good heart, preserved the finest qualities of his soul; and for this reason he brought up his offering every day.
3 And God was pleased with his offering; but He was also pleased with his purity. And he continued thus in doing the will of God, and of his father and mother, until he was seven years old.
4 After that, as he was coming down from the altar, having ended his offering, Satan appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful angel, brilliant with light; with a staff of light in his hand, himself girt about with a girdle of light.
5 He greeted Seth with a beautiful smile, and began to beguile him with fair words, saying to him, "0 Seth, why abidest thou in this mountain? For it is rough, full of stones and of sand, and of trees with no good fruit on them; a wilderness without habitations and without towns; no good place to dwell in. But all is heat, weariness, and trouble."
6 He said further, ‘But we dwell in beautiful places, in an- -other world than this earth. Our world is one of light and our condition is of the best; our women are handsomer than any others; and I wish thee, 0 Seth, to wed one of them; because I see that thou art fair to look upon, and in this land there is not one woman good enough for thee. Besides, all those who live in this world, are only five souls.
7 "But in our world there are very many men and many maidens, all more beautiful one than another. I wish, therefore, to remove thee hence, that thou mayest see my relations and be wedded to which ever thou likest.
8 "Thou shalt then abide by me and be at peace; thou shalt be filled with splendour and light, as we are.
9 "Thou shalt remain in our world and rest from this world and the misery of it; thou shalt never again feel faint and weary; thou shalt never bring up an offering, nor sue for mercy; for thou shalt commit no more sin, nor be swayed by passions.
10 "And if thou wilt hearken to what I say, thou shalt wed one of my daughters; for with us it is no sin so to do; neither is it reckoned animal lust.
11 "For in our world we have no God; but we all are gods; we all are of the light, heavenly,,, powerful, strong and glorious.

CHAP. VI.
Seth's conscience helps him. He returns to Adam and Eve.
When Seth heard these words he was amazed and inclined his heart to Satan's treacherous speech, and said to him, "Saidst thou there is an other world created than this; and other creatures more beautiful than the creatures that are in this world?"
2 And Satan said "Yes behold thou hast heard me; but I will yet praise them and their ways, in thy hearing."
3 But Seth said to him, "Thy speech has amazed me; and the; beautiful description of it all.
4 "Yet I cannot go with thee to-day; not until I have gone t my father Adam and to m mother Eve, and told them a thou hast said to me. Then they give me leave to go wit thee I will come."
5 'Again Seth said, "I a afraid of doing any thing without my father's and mothers leave, lest I perish like my brother Cain, and like my father Adam, who transgressed the commandment of God. But, behold thou knowest this place; come and meet me here tomorrow.
6 When Satan heard this, he said to Seth, "If thou tellest thy father Adam what I have told thee, he will not let thee come with me.
7 But hearken to me; do tell thy father and mother what I have said to thee; but come with me today, to our world; where thou shalt see beautiful things and enjoy thyself there, and revel this day among my children, beholding them and taking thy fill of mirth; and rejoice ever more. Then I shall bring thee back to this place to-morrow; but if thou wouldest rather abide with me, so be it."
8 Then Seth answered, "The spirit of my father and of my mother, hangs on me; and if I hide from them one day, they will die, and God will hold me guilty of sinning against them.
9 "And except that they know I am come to this place to bring u p to it my offering, they would not be separated from me one hour; neither should I go to any other place, unless they let me. But they treat me most kindly, because I come back to them quickly."
10 Then Satan said to him, "What will happen to thee if thou hide thyself from them one night, and return to them at the break of day?"
11 But Seth, when he saw how he kept on talking, and that he would not leave him ran, and went up to the altar, and spread his hands unto God, and sought deliverance from Him.
12 Then God sent His Word, and cursed Satan, who fled from Him.
13 But as for Seth, he had gone up to the altar, saying thus 'a in his heart. "The altar is the place of offering, and God is there; a divine fire shall consume it; so shall Satan be unable to hurt me, and shall not take me away thence."
14 Then Seth came down he from the altar and went to his his father and mother, whom he found in the way, longing to hear his voice; for he had tarried a while.
15 He then began to tell them what had befallen him from Satan, under the form of an angel.
16 But when Adam heard his account, he kissed his face, and warned him against that angel, telling him it was Satan who thus appeared to him. Then Adam took Seth, and they went to the Cave of Treasures, and rejoiced therein.
17 But from that day forth Adam and Eve never parted from him, to whatever place he might go, whether for his offering or" for any thing else.
18 This sign happened to Seth, when 'he was nine years old.

CHAP. VII.
Seth marries Aklia. Adam lives to see grand children and great grand children.
When our father Adam saw that Seth was of a perfect heart, he wished him to marry; lest the enemy should appear to him another time, and overcome him.
2 So Adam said to his son Seth, "I wish, 0 my son, that thou wed thy sister Aklia, Abel's sister, that she may bear thee children, who shall replenish the earth, according to God's promise to us.
3 "Be not afraid, 0 my son; there is no disgrace in it. I wish thee to marry, from fear lest the enemy overcome thee."
4 Seth, however, did not wish to marry; but in obedience to his father and mother, he said not a word.
5 So Adam married him to Aklia. And he was fifteen years old.
6 But when he was twenty years of age, he begat a son whom he called Enos; and then begat other children than him
7 Then Enos grew up, married, and begat Cainan.
8 Cainan also grew up, married, and begat Mahalaleel.
9 Those fathers were born during Adam's lifetime, and dwelt by the Cave of Treasures.
10 Then were the days of Adam nine hundred and thirty years, and those of Mahalaleel one hundred. But Mahalaleel, when he was grown up, loved fasting, praying, and with hard labours, until the end of our father Adam's days drew near.

CHAP. VIII.
Adam's remarkable last words. He predicts the Flood. He exhorts his offspring to good. He reveals certain mysteries of life.
When our father Adam saw that his end was near, he called his son Seth, who came to him in the Cave of Treasures, and he said unto him:-
2 "0 Seth, my son bring me thy children and thy children's '1 children, that I may shed my blessing on them before I die."
3 When Seth heard these words from his father Adam, he went from him, shed a flood of tears over his face, and gathered together his children and his children's children, and brought them to his father Adam.
4 But when our father Adam saw them around him, he wept at having to be separated from them.
5 And when they saw him weeping, they all wept together, and fell upon his face saying, "How shalt thou be severed from us, 0 our father? And how shall the earth receive thee and hide thee from our eyes?" Thus did they lament much, and in like words.
6 Then our father Adam blessed them all, and said to Seth, after he had blessed them:-
7 "0 Seth, my son, thou knowest this world-that it is full of sorrow, and of weariness; and thou knowest all that has come upon us, from our trials in it I therefore now command thee in these words: to keep innocent, to be pure and just, and trusting in God; and lean not to the discourses of Satan, nor to the apparitions in which he will show himself to thee.
8 But keep the commandments that I give thee this day; then give the same to thy Son Enos; and let Enos give it to his son Cainan; and Cainan to his son Mahalaleel; so that this commandment abide firm among all your children.
9 "0 Seth, my son, the moment I am dead take ye my body 'and wind it up with 'myrrh aloes, and cassia, and leave me here in this Cave of Treasures in which are all these tokens which God gave us from the garden.
10 O my son, hereafter shall a flood' come and overwhelm all creatures, and leave out only eight souls.
11 "But, 0 my son, let those whom it will leave out from among your children at that time, take my body with them out of this cave; and when the have taken it with them, let the oldest among them command the children to lay my body in a ship until the flood has been assuaged and they come out of the ship
12 Then they shall take my body and lay it in the middle of the earth, shortly after they have been saved from the waters of the flood.
13 "For the place where my body shall be laid is the middle of the earth; God shall come from thence and shall save our kindred.
14 "But now, 0 Seth, my son place thyself at the head of thy people; tend them and watch over them in the fear of God and lead them in the good way. Command them to fast unto God; and make them understand they ought not to hearken Satan, lest he destroy them.
15 "Then, again, sever children and thy children's children from Cain's children; do not let them ever mix with those, nor come near them either in their words or in their deeds."
16 Then Adam let his blessing .1 descend upon Seth, and upon his children, and upon all his children's children.
17 He then turned to his son Seth, and to Eve his wife, and said to them, "Preserve this gold, this incense, and this myrrh, that God has given us for a sign; for in days that are coming, a flood will overwhelm the whole creation. But those who shall go into the ark shall take with them the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, together with my body; and will lay the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, with my body in the midst of the earth.
18 "Then, after a long time,. the city in which the gold, the incense, and the myrrh are found with my body, shall be plundered. But when it is spoiled, the gold the incense, and the myrrh shall be taken care of with the spoil that is kept; and naught of them shall perish, until the Word of God, made man shall come; when kings shall take them, and shall offer to Him, gold in token of His being King; incense, in token of His being God of heaven and earth; and myrrh, in token of His passion.
19 "Gold also, as a token of His overcoming Satan, and all our foes; incense as a token that He will rise from the dead, and be exalted above things in heaven and things in the earth; and myrrh, in token that He will drink bitter gall; and feel the pains of hell from Satan.
20 "And now, 0 Seth, my son, behold I have revealed unto thee hidden mysteries, which God had revealed unto me. Keep my commandment, for thyself, and for thy people."
CHAP. IX
The death of Adam.
WHEN Adam had ended his commandment to Seth, his limbs were loosened, his hands and feet lost all power his mouth became dumb, and' his tongue ceased altogether to speak. He closed his eyes and gave up the ghost.
2 But when his children saw that he was dead, they threw themselves over him, men and women, old and young, weeping.
3 The death of Adam took place at the end of nine hundred and thirty years that he lived upon the earth; on the fifteenth day of Barmudeh, after the reckoning of an epact of the sun, at the ninth hour.
4 It was on a Friday, the very day on which he was created and on which he rested; and the hour at which he died, was the same as that at which he came out of the garden.
5 Then Seth wound him up well, and embalmed him with plenty of sweet spices, from sacred trees and from the Holy Mountain; and he laid his body on the eastern side of the inside of the cave, the side of the incense; and placed in front of him a lamp-stand kept burning.
6 Then his children stood be-fore him weeping and wailing over him the whole night until break of day
7 Then Seth and his son Enos, and Cainan, the son of Enos, went out and took good offerings to present unto the Lord and they came to the altar upon which Adam offered gifts to God when he did offer.
8 But Eve said to them: "Wait until we have first asked God to accept our offering, and to keep by Him the soul 0 Adam His servant, and to take it up to rest."
9 And they all stood up and prayed.

CHAP. X.
"Adam was the first.
AND when they had ended their prayer, the Word of came and comforted them concerning their father Adam.
2 After this, they offered their gifts for themselves and for their father.
3 And when they had ended their offering, the Word of God came to Seth, the eldest among them, saying unto him, "0 Seth, Seth, Seth, three times. As I was with thy father, so also shall I be with thee, until the fulfillment of the promise I made him-thy father saying, I will send My Word and save thee and thy seed.
4 "But as to thy father Adam, keep thou the commandment he gave thee; and sever thy seed from that of Cain thy brother."
5 And God withdrew His Word from Seth.
6 Then Seth, Eve, and their children, came down from the mountain to the Cave of Treasures
7 But Adam was the first whose soul died in the land of Eden, in the Cave of Treasures; for no one died before him, but his son Abel, who died murdered.
8 Then all the children of Adam rose up, and wept over their father Adam, and made offerings to him, one hundred and forty days.

CHAP. XI.
Seth becomes head of the most happy and just tribe of people who ever lived.
AFTER the death of Adam and of Eve, Seth severed his children, and his children's children, from Cain's children. Cain and his seed went down and dwelt westward, below the place where he had killed his I brother Abel.
2 But Seth and his children, dwelt northwards upon the mountain of the Cave of Treasures, in order to be near to their father Adam.
3 And Seth the elder, tall and good, with a fine soul, and of a strong mind, stood at the head of his people; and tended them in innocence, penitence, and meekness, and did not allow one of them to go down to Cain's children.
4 But because of their own purity, they were named "Children of God," and they were with God, instead of the hosts of angels who fell; for they continued in praises to God, and in singing psalms unto Him, in their cave----the Cave of Treasures.
5 Then Seth stood before the body of his father Adam, and of his mother Eve, and prayed night and day, and asked for mercy towards himself and his children; and that when he had some difficult dealing with a child, He would give him counsel.
6 But Seth and his children did not like earthly work, but gave themselves to heavenly things; for they had no other thought than praises, doxologies, and psalms unto God.
7 Therefore did they at times hear the voices of angels, praising and glorifying God; from within the garden, or when they were sent by God on an errand, or when they were going up to heaven.
8 For Seth and his children by reason of their own purity heard and saw those angels Then, again, the garden was not far above them, but only some fifteen spiritual cubits.
9 Now one spiritual cubit an answers to three cubits of man, altogether forty-five cubits.
10 Seth and his children dwell on the mountain below the garden; they sowed not, neither did they reap; they wrought no food for the body not even wheat but only offerings. They ate of the fruit and of trees well flavoured that grew on the mountain where they dwelt.
11 Then Seth often fasted every forty days, as did also his eldest children. For the family of Seth smelled the smell of the trees in the garden, when the wind blew that way.
12 They were happy, innocent, without sudden fear, there was no jealousy, no evil action, no hatred among them. There was no animal passion; from no mouth among them went forth either foul words or curse; neither evil counsel nor fraud. For the men of that time never swore, but under hard circumstances, when men must swear, they swore by the blood of Abel the just.
13 But they constrained their children and their women every day in the cave to fast and pray, and to worship the most High God. They blessed themselves n the body of their father Adam, and anointed themselves with it.
14 And they did so until the end of Seth drew near.

CHAP. XII.
Seth's family affairs. His death. The headship of Enos. How the outcast branch of Adam's family fared.
Then Seth, the just, called his son Enos, and Cainan, son of Enos, and Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, and said unto them:-
2 "As my end is near, I wish to build a roof over the altar on which gifts are offered."
3 They hearkened to his commandment and went out, all of them, both old and young, and worked hard at it, and built a beautiful roof over the altar.
4 And Seth's thought, in so doing, was that a blessing should come upon his children on the mountain; and that he should present an offering for them before his death.
5 Then when the building of the roof was completed, he commanded them to make offerings They worked diligently at these, and brought them to Seth their father who took them and offered them upon the altar; and prayed God to accept their offerings, to have mercy on the souls of his children, and to keep them from the hand of Satan.
6 And God accepted his offering, and sent His blessing upon him and upon his children. And then God made a promise to Seth, saying, "At the end of the great five days and a half, concerning which I have made a promise to thee and to thy father, I will send My Word and save thee and thy seed."
7 Then Seth and his children, and his children's children, met together, and came down from the altar, and went to the Cave of Treasures-where they prayed, and blessed themselves in the body of our father Adam, and anointed themselves with it.
8 But Seth abode in the Cave of Treasures, a few days, and then suffered - sufferings unto death.
9 Then Enos, his first born son, came to him, with Cainan, his son, and Mahalaleel, Cainan's son, and Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, and Enoch, Jared's son, with their wives and children to receive a blessing from Seth.
10 Then Seth prayed over them, and blessed them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the just, saying, "I beg of you, my children, not to let one of you go down from this Holy and pure Mountain.
11 Make no fellowship with the children of Cain the murderer and the sinner, who killed his brother; for ye know, 0 my children, that we flee from him, and from all his sin with all our I might because he killed his brother Abel."
12 After having said this, Seth blessed Enos, his first-born son, and commanded him habitually to minister in purity b~ fore the body of our 'father Adam, all the days of his life; then, also, to go at times to the altar which he Seth had built. And he commanded him to feed his people in righteousness, in judgment and purity all the days of his life.
13 Then the limbs of Seth were loosened; his hands and feet lost all power; his mouth became dumb and unable to speak; and he gave up the ghost and died the day after his nine hundred and twelfth year; on the twenty-seventh day of the month Abib; Enoch being then twenty years old.
14 Then they wound up care-full the body of Seth, and embalmed him with sweet spices, and laid him in the Cave of Treasures, on the right side of our father Adam's body, and they mourned for him forty days. They offered gifts for him, as they had done for our father Adam.
15 After the death of Seth, Enos rose at the head of his people, whom he fed in righteousness, and judgment, as his father had commanded him.
16 But by the time Enos was eight hundred and twenty years old, Cain had a large progeny; for they married frequently, being given to animal lusts; until the land below the mountain, was filled with them.

CHAP. XIII.
"Among the children of Cain there was much robbery, murder and sin."
In those days lived Lamech he blind, who was of the sons of Cain. He had a son whose name was Atun, and the; two had much cattle.
2 But Lamech was in the habit of sending them to feed with a young shepherd, who tended them; and who, when coming home in the evening wept before his grandfather and before his father Atun ar his mother Hazina, and said to them, "As for me, I cannot feed those cattle alone, lest one rob me of some of them, or kill me for the sake of them." For among the children of Cain there was much robbery, murder and sin.
3 Then Lamech pitied him and he said, "Truly, he when alone, might be overpowered by the men of this place."
4 So Lamech arose, took a bow he had kept ever since was a youth, ere he became blind, and he took large arrows and smooth stones, and a sling which he had, and went to field with the young shepherd, and placed himself behind the cattle; while the young shepherd watched the cattle. Thus did Lamech many days
5 Meanwhile Cain, ever since God had cast him off, and I cursed him with trembling terror, could neither settle nor find rest in any one place; but wandered from place to place.
6 In his wanderings he came to Lamech's wives, and asked them about him. They said to him, "He is in the field with the cattle."
7 Then Cain went to look for him; and as he came into field, the young shepherd heard the noise he made, and the cattle herding together before him.
8 Then said he to Lamech "0 my lord, is that a wild beast or a robber?"
9 And Lamech said to him, "Make me understand which way he looks, when he comes up.
10 Then Lamech bent his bow, placed an arrow on it, and fitted a stone in the sling, and when Cain came out from the open country, the shepherd said to Lamech, "Shoot, behold, he is coming."
11 Then Lamech shot at Cain with his arrow and hit him in his side. And Lamech struck him with a stone from his sling, that fell upon his face, and knocked out both his eyes; then Cain fell at once and died.
12 Then Lamech and the young shepherd came up to him, and found him lying on the ground. And the young shepherd said to him, "It is Cain our grandfather, whom thou hast killed, 0 my lord!"
13 Then was Lamech sorry for it, and from the bitterness of his regret, he clapped his hands together, and struck with his flat palm the head of the youth, who fell as if dead; but Lamech thought it was a feint; so he took up a stone and smote him, and did smashed his head until he died.
CHAP. XIV.
Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears away another generation of men.
When Enos was nine hundred years old, all the children of Seth, and of Cainan, and his first-born, with their wives and children, gathered around for him, asking for a blessing from the him.
2 He then prayed over them the and blessed them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the just saying to them, "Let not one of your children go down from this Holy Mountain, and let them make no fellowship with him, the children of Cain the murderer."
3 Then Enos called his son Cainan and said to him, "See, o my son, and set thy heart on thy people, and establish them in righteousness, and in innocence; and stand ministering before the body of our father Adam, all the days of thy life."
4 After this Enos entered into rest, aged nine hundred and eighty-five years; and Cainan wound him up, and laid him in the Cave of Treasures on the left of his father Adam; and made offerings for him, after the custom of his fathers.

CHAP. XV.
The offspring of Adam continue to keep the Cave of Treasures as a family shrine.
AFTER the death of Enos, Cainan stood at the head his people in righteousness and innocence, as his father had commanded him; he also continued to minister before the body of Adam, inside the Cave of Treasures.
2 Then when he had lived nine hundred and ten years, suffering and affliction came upon him. And when he was about to enter into rest, all the fathers with their wives and children came to him, and he blessed them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel, the just, saying to them, "Let not one among you go down from this Holy Mountain; and make no fellow-ship with the children of Cain the murderer."
3 Mahalaleel, his first-born son, received this commandment from his father, who blessed him and died.
4 Then Mahalaleel embalmed him with sweet spices, and laid him in the Cave of Treasures, with his fathers; and they made offerings for him, after the custom of their fathers.
CHAP. XVI.
The good branch of the family is still afraid of the children of Cain.
Then Mahalaleel stood over his people, and fed them in righteousness and innocence, and watched them to see they held no intercourse with the children of Cain.
2 He also continued in the Cave of Treasures praying and ministering before the body of our father Adam, asking God for mercy on himself and on his people; until he was eight hundred and seventy years old, when he fell sick.
3 Then all his children gathered unto him, to see him, and to ask for his blessing on them all, ere he left this world.
4 Then Mahalaleel arose and sat on his bed, his tears streaming down his face, and he called his eldest son Jared, who came to him.
5 He then kissed his face, and said to him, "0 Jared, my son, I adjure thee by Him who made heaven and earth, to watch over thy people, and to feed them in righteousness and in innocence; and not to let one of them go down from this Holy Mountain to the children of Cain, lest he perish with them.
6 "Hear, 0 my son, hereafter there shall come a great destruction upon this earth on account of them; God will be angry with the world, and will destroy them with waters.
7 "But I also know that thy children will not hearken to thee, and that they will go down from this mountain and hold intercourse with the children of Cain, and that they shall perish with them.
8 "0 my son! teach them, and watch over them, that no guilt attach to thee on their account."
9 Mahalaleel said, moreover, to his son Jared, "When I die, embalm my body and lay it in the Cave of Treasures, by the bodies of my fathers; then stand thou by my body and pray to God; and take care of them, and fulfil thy ministry before them, until thou enterest into rest thyself."
10 Mahalaleel then blessed all his children; and then lay down on his bed, and entered into rest like his fathers.
11 But when Jared saw that his father Mahalaleel was dead, he wept, and sorrowed, and em-braced and kissed his hands and his feet; and so did all his children.
12 And his children embalmed him carefully, and laid him by the bodies of his fathers. Then they arose, and mourned for him forty days.

CHAP. XVII.
Jared turns martinet. He is lured away to the land of Cain where he sees many voluptuous sights. Jared barely escapes with a clean heart.
Then Jared kept his father' commandment, and arose like a lion over his people. He fed them in righteousness and innocence, and commanded them to do nothing without his counsel. For he was afraid concerning them, lest they should go to the children of Cain.
2 Wherefore did he give the orders repeatedly; and continued to do so until the end of the four hundred and eighty-fifth year of his life.
3 At the end of these said years, there came unto him this sign. As Jared was standing like a lion before the bodies his fathers, praying and warning his people, Satan envied him, and wrought a beautiful apparition, because Jared would not let his children do aught without his counsel.
4 Satan then appeared to him with thirty men of his hosts, in the form of handsome men; Satan himself being the elder and tallest among them, with a fine beard.
5 They stood at the mouth of the cave, and called out Jared, from within it.
6 He came out to them, and found them looking like fine men, full of light, and of great beauty. He wondered at their beauty and at their looks; and thought within himself whether they might not be of the children of Cain.
7 He said also in his heart, "As the children of Cain cannot come up to the height of this mountain, and none of them is so handsome as these appear to be; and among these men there is not one of my kindred-they must be strangers."
8 Then Jared and they exchanged a greeting and he said to the elder among them, "O my father, explain to me the wonder that is in thee, and tell me who these are, with thee; for they, look to me like strange men.
9 Then the elder began to weep, and the rest wept with him; and he said to Jared, "I am Adam whom God made first; and this is Abel my son, who was killed by his brother Cain, into whose heart Satan put to murder him.
10 "Then this is my son Seth, whom I asked of the Lord, who gave him to me, to comfort me instead of Abel.
11 Then this one is my son Enos, son of Seth, and that id other one is Cainan, son of Enos, and that other one is Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, thy father." But Jared remained wondering at their appearance, and at the speech of the elder to him,
13 Then the elder said to him, "Marvel not, 0 my son; we live in the land north of the garden, which God created before the world. He would not let us live there, but placed us inside the garden, below which ye are now dwelling.
14 "But after that I transgressed, He made me come out of it, and I was left to dwell in this cave; great and sore troubles came upon me; and when my death drew near, I commanded my son Seth to tend his people well; and this my commandment is to be handed from one to another, unto the end of the generations to come.
15 "But, 0 Jared, my son, we live in beautiful regions, while you live here in misery, as this thy father Mahalaleel informed me; telling me that a great flood will come and overwhelm the whole earth.
16 "Therefore, 0 my son, fearing for your sakes, I rose and took my children with me, and came hither for us to visit thee and thy children; but I found thee standing in this cave weeping, and thy children scattered about this mountain, in the heat and in misery.
17 "But, 0 my son, as we missed our way, and came as far as this, we found other men below this mountain; who in-habit a beautiful country, full of trees and of fruits, and of all manner of verdure; it is like a garden; so that when we found them we thought they were you; until thy father Mahalaleel told me they were no such thing.
18 "Now, therefore, 0 my son, hearken to my counsel, and go down to them, thou and thy children. Ye will rest from all this suffering in which ye are. But if thou wilt not go down to them, then, arise, take thy children, and come with us to our garden; ye shall live in our beautiful land, and ye shall rest from all this trouble, which thou and thy children are now bearing."
19 But Jared when he heard this discourse from the elder, wondered; and went hither and thither, but at that moment he found not one of his children.
20 Then he answered and said to the elder, "Why have you hidden yourselves until this day?"
21 And the elder replied, "If thy father had not told us, we should not have known it."
22 Then Jared believed his words were true.
23 So that elder said to Jared, "Wherefore didst thou turn about, so and so?" And he said, "I was seeking one of my children, to tell him about my going with you, and about their coming down to those about whom thou hast spoken to me."
24 When the elder heard Jared's intention, he said to him, "Let alone that purpose at present, and come with us; thou shalt see our country; if the land in which we dwell pleases thee, we and thou shall return hither and take thy family with us. But if our country does not p lease thee, thou shalt come back to thine own place."
25 And the elder urged Jared, to go before one of his children came to counsel him otherwise.
26 Jared, then, came out of the cave and went with them, and among them. And they comforted him, until they came to the top of the mountain of the sons of Cain.
27 Then said the elder to one of his companions, "We have forgotten something by the mouth of the cave, and that is the chosen garment we had brought to clothe Jared withal."
28 He then said to one of them, "Go back, thou, some one; and we will wait for thee here, until thou come back. Then will we clothe Jared and he shall be like us, good, handsome, and fit to come with us into our country."
29 Then that one went back.
30 But when he was a short distance off, the elder called to him and said to him, "Tarry thou, until I come up and speak to thee."
31 Then he stood still, and the elder went up to him and said to him, "One thing we forgot at the cave, it is this to put out the lamp that burns inside it, above the bodies that are therein. Then come back to us, quick"
32 That one went, and the elder came back to his fellows and to Jared. And they came down from the mountain, and Jared with them; and they stayed by a fountain of water, near the houses of the children of Cain, and waited for their companion until he brought the garment for Jared.
33 He, then, who went back to the cave, put out the lamp, and came to them and brought a phantom with him and showed it them. And when Jared saw it he wondered at the beauty and grace thereof, and rejoiced in his heart believing it was all true.
34 But while they were staying there, three of them went into houses of the sons of Cain, and said to them, "Bring us today some food by the fountain of water, for us and our companions to eat."
35 But when the sons of Cain saw them, they wondered at them and thought: "These are beautiful to look at, and such as we never saw before." So they rose and came with them to the fountain of water, to see their companions.
36 They found them so very handsome, that they cried aloud about their places for others to gather together and come and look at these beautiful beings. Then they gathered around them both men and women.
37 Then the elder said t them, "We are strangers in you land, bring us some good food and drink, you and your women to refresh ourselves with you.
38 When those men heard these words of the elder, every one of Cain's sons brought his wife, and another brought his daughter, and so, many women came to them; every one addressing Jared either for himself or for his wife; all alike.
39 But when Jared saw what they did, his very soul wrenched itself from them; neither would he taste of their food or of their drink.
40 The elder saw him as he wrenched himself from them, and said to him, "Be not sad; I am the great elder, as thou shalt see me do, do thyself in like manner."
41 Then he spread his hands and took one of the wQmen, and five of his companions did the same before Jared, that he should do as they did.
42 But when Jared saw them working infamy he wept, and said in his mind, My fathers never did the like.
43 He then spread his hands and prayed with a fervent heart, and with much weeping, and entreated God to deliver him from their hands.
44 No sooner did Jared begin to pray than the elder fled with his companions; for they could not abide in a place of prayer.
45 Then Jared turned round but could not see them, but found himself standing in the midst of the children of Cain.
46 He then wept and said, "O God, destroy me not with this race, concerning which my fathers have warned me; for now, 0 my Lord God, I was thinking that those who appeared unto me were my fathers; but I have found them out to be devils, who allured me by this beautiful apparition, until I believed them.
47 "But now I ask, Thee, 0 God, to deliver me from this race, among whom I am now staying, as Thou didst deliver me from those devils. Send Thy angel to draw me out of the midst of them; for I have not myself power to escape from among them.
48 When Jared had ended his prayer, God sent His angel in the midst of them, who took Jared and set him upon the mountain, and showed him the way, gave him counsel, and then departed from him.

CHAP. XVIII.
Confusion in the Cave of Treasures. Miraculous speech of the dead Adam.
The children of Jared were in the habit of visiting him hour after hour, to receive his blessing and to ask his advice for every thing they did; and when he had a work to do, they did it for him.
2 But this time when they went into the cave they found not Jared, but they found the lamp put out, and the bodies of the fathers thrown about, and voices came from them by the power of God, that said, "Satan in an apparition has deceived our son, wishing to destroy him, as he destroyed our son Cain."
3 They said also, "Lord God of heaven and earth, deliver our son from the hand of Satan, who wrought a great and false apparition before him." They also spake of other matters, by the power of God.
4 But when the children of Jared heard these voices they feared, and stood weeping for their father; for they knew not what had befallen him.
5 And they wept for him that day until the setting of the sun.
6 Then came Jared with a woeful countenance, wretched in mind and body, and sorrowful at having been separated from the bodies of his fathers.
7 But as he was drawing near to the cave, his children saw him, and hastened to the cave, and hung upon his neck, crying, and saying to him, "O father, where hast thou been, and why hast thou left us, as thou wast not wont to do?" And again, "0 father, when thou didst disappear, the lamp over the bodies of our fathers went out, the bodies were thrown about, and voices came from them."
8 When Jared heard this he was sorry, and went into the cave; and there found the bodies thrown about, the lamp put out, and the fathers themselves praying for his deliverance from the hand of Satan.
9 Then Jared fell upon the bodies and embraced them, and said, "0 my fathers, through your intercession, let God deliver me from the hand of Satan! And I beg you will ask God to keep me and to hide me from him unto the day of my death."
10 Then all the voices ceased save the voice of our father Adam, who spake to Jared by the power of God, just as one would speak to his fellow, saymg, "0 Jared, my son, offer gifts to God for having delivered thee from the hand of Satan; and when thou bringest those offerings, so be it that thou offerest them on the altar on which I did offer. Then also, beware of Satan; for he deluded me many a tune with his apparitions, wishing to destroy me, but God delivered me out of his hand.
11 "Command thy people that they be on their guard against him; and never cease to offer up gifts to God."
12 Then the voice of Adam also became silent; and Jared and his children wondered at this. Then they laid the bodies as they were at first; and Jared and his children stood praying the whole of that night, until break of day.
13 Then Jared made an offering and offered it up on the altar, as Adam had commanded him. And as he went up to the altar, he prayed to God for mercy and for forgiveness of his ~ concerning the lam p going out.
14 Then God app eared unto Jared on the altar and blessed him and his children, and accepted their offerings; and commanded Jared to take of the sacred fire from the altar, and with it to light the lamp that shed light on the body of Adam.

CHAP. XIX.
The children of Jared are led astray.
Then God revealed to him again the promise He had made to Adam; He explained to him the 5500 years, and revealed unto him the mystery of His coming upon the earth.
2 And God said to Jared, "As to that fire which thou hast taken from the altar to light the lamp. withal, let it abide with you to give light to the bodies; and let it not come out of the cave, until the body of Adam comes out of it.
3 But, 0 Jared, take care of' the fire, that it burn bright in the lamp; neither go thou again out of the cave, until thou receivest an order through a vision, and not in an apparition, when seen by thee.
4 "Then command again thy people not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain, and not to learn their ways; for I am God who loves not hatred and works of iniquity."
5 God gave also many other commandments to Jared, and blessed him. And then withdrew His Word from him.
6 Then Jared drew near with his children, took some fire, and came down to the cave, and lighted the lamp before the
body of Adam; and he gave his people commandments as God had told him to do.
7 This sign happened to Jared at the end of his four hundred and fiftieth year; as did also many other wonders, we do not record. But we record only this one for shortness sake, and in order not to lengthen our narrative.
8 And Jared continued to teach his children eighty years; but after that they began to transgress the commandments he had given them, and to do many things without his counsel. They began to go down from the Holy Mountain one after another, and to mix with the children of Cain in foul fellowships.
9 Now the reason for which the children of Jared went down the Holy Mountain, is this, that we will now reveal unto you.

CHAP. XX.
Ravishing music; strong drink loosed among the sons of Cain. They don colorful clothing. The children of Seth look on with longing eyes. They revolt from wise counsel; they descend the mountain into the valley of iniquity. They can not ascend the mountain again.
After Cain had gone down to the land of dark soil, and his children had multiplied therein, there was one of them, whose name was Genun, son of Lamech the blind who slew Cain.
2 But as to this Genun, Satan came into him in his childhood; and he made sundry trumpets and horns, and string instruments, cymbals and psalteries, and lyres and harps, and flutes; and he played on them at all times and at every hour.
3 And when he played on them, Satan came into them, so that from among them were heard beautiful and sweet sound; that ravished the heart.
4 Then he gathered companies upon companies to play on them; and when they played, it pleased well the children of Cain, who inflamed themselves with sin among themselves, and burnt as with fire; while Satan inflamed their hearts, one with another, and increased lust among them.
5 Satan also taught Genun to bring strong drink out of corn; and this Genun used to bring together companies upon companies 'in drink-houses; and brought into their hands all manner of fruits and flowers;-and they drank together.
6 Thus did this Genun multiply sin exceedingly; he also acted' with pride, and taught the children of Cain to commit all manner of the grossest wickedness, which they knew not- and put them up to manifold doings which they knew not before.
7 Then Satan, when he saw that they yielded to Genun and hearkened to him in every thing he told them, rejoiced greatly, increased Genun's understanding, until he took iron and with it made weapons of war.
8 Then when they were drunk, hatred and murder increased among them; one man used violence against another to teach him evil taking his children and defiling them before him.
9 And when men saw they were overcome, and saw others that were not overpowered, those who were beaten came to Genun, took refuge with him, and he made them his confederates.
10 Then sin increased among them greatly; until a man married his own sister, or daughter, or mother, and others; or the daughter of his father's sister, so that there was no more distinction of relationship, and they no longer knew what is iniquity; but did wickedly, and the earth was defiled with sin; and they angered God the Judge, who had created them.
11 But Genun gathered together companies upon companies, that played on horns and on all the other instruments we have already mentioned, at the foot of the Holy Mountain; and they did so in order that the children of Seth who were on the Holy Mountain should hear it.
12 But when the children of Seth heard the noise, they wondered, and came by companies, and stood on the top of the mountain to look at those below; and they did thus a whole year.
13 When, at the end of that year, Genun saw that they were being won over to him little by little, Satan entered into him, and taught him to make dyeing stuffs for garments of divers patterns, and made him understand how to dye crimson and purple and what not.
14 And the sons of Cain who wrought all this, and shone in beauty and gorgeous apparel, gathered together at the foot of the mountain in splendour, with ~ horns and gorgeous dresses, and horse races, committing all manner of abominations.
15 Meanwhile the children of Seth, who were on the Holy Mountain, prayed and praised God, in the place of the hosts of angels who had fallen; wherefore God had called them "angels,". because He rejoiced over them greatly.
16 But after this, they no longer kept His commandment, nor held by the promise He had made to their fathers; but they relaxed from their fasting and praying, and from the counsel of Jared their father. And they kept on gathering together on the top of the mountain, to look upon the children of Cain, from morning until evening, and upon what they did, upon their beautiful dresses and ornaments.
17 Then the children of Cain looked up from below, and saw the children of Seth, standing in troops on the top of the mountain; and they called to them to come down to them.
18 But the children of Seth said to them from above, "We don't know the way." Then Genun, the son of Lamech, heard them say they did not know the way, and he bethought himself how he might bring them down.
19 Then Satan appeared 'to him by night, saying, "There is no way for them to come down from the mountain on which they dwell; but when they come to-morrow, say to them, 'Come ye to the western side of the mountain; there you will find the way of a stream of water, that comes down to the foot of the mountain, between two hills; come down that way to us."
20 Then when it was day, Genun blew the horns and beat drums below the mountain, as he was wont. The children of Seth heard it, and came as they used to do.
21 Then Genun said to them from down below, "Go to the western side of the mountain there you will find the way to come down."
22 But when the children of Seth heard these words from him, they went back into the cave to Jared, to tell him all they had heard.
23 Then when Jared heard it he was grieved; for he knew that they would transgress his counsel.
24 After this a hundred men of the children of Seth gathered together, and said among themselves, "Come, let us go down to the children of Cain, and see what they do, and enjoy our selves with them."
25 But when Jared heard this of the hundred men, his very soul was moved, and his heart was grieved. He then arose with great fervour, and stood in the midst of them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the just, "Let not one of you go down from this holy and pure mountain, in which our fathers have ordered us to dwell."
26 But when Jared saw that they did not receive his words, he said unto them, "0 my good and innocent and holy children, know that when once you go down from this holy mountain, God will not allow you to return again to it."
27 He again adjured them, saying, "I adjure by the death of our father Adam, and by the blood of Abel, of Seth, of Enos, of Cainan, and of Mahalaleel, to hearken to me, and not to go down from this holy mountain; for the moment you leave it, you' will be reft of life and of mercy; and you shall no longer be called 'children of God,' but 'children of the devil.'"
28 But they would not hearken to his words.
29 Enoch at that time was already grown up, and in his zeal for God, he arose and said, "Hear me, 0 ye sons of Seth, small and great-when ye transgress the commandment of our fathers, and go down from this holy mountain ye shall not come up hither again for ever."
30 But they rose up against Enoch, and would not hearken to his words, but went down from the Holy Mountain.
31 And when they looked at the daughters of Cain, at beautiful figures, and at their hands and feet dyed with colour, and' tattooed in ornaments on their faces, the fire of sin was kindled in them
32 Then Satan made them look most beautiful before the sons of Seth, as he also made the sons of Seth appear of the fairest in the eyes of the daughters of Cain, so that the daughters of Cain lusted after the sons of Seth like ravenous beasts, and the sons of Seth after the daughters of Cain, until they committed abomination with them.
33 But after they had thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had come, and tried to ascend the Holy Mountain. But they could not, because the stones of that holy mountain were of fire flashing before them, by reason of which they could not go up again.
34 And God was angry 'with them, and repented of them because they had come down from glory, and had thereby lost or forsaken their own purity or innocence, and were fallen into the defilement of sin.
35 Then God sent His Word to Jared saying, These thy children, whom you did call 'My children' - behold they have transgressed My commandment, and have gone down to the abode of perdition, and of sin. Send a messenger to those that are left, that they may not go down, and be lost."
36 Then Jared wept before the Lord, and asked of Him mercy and forgiveness. But he wished that his soul might depart from his body, rather than hear these words from God about the going down of his children from the Holy Mountain.
37 But he followed God's order, and preached unto them not to go down from that holy mountain, and not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain.
38 But they heeded not his message, and would not obey his counsel.

CHAP. XXI.
Jared dies in sorrow for his sons who had gone astray. A prediction of the Flood.
After this another company gathered together, and they to look after their brethren; but they perished as well as they. And so it was, company after company, until only a few of them were left.
2 Then Jared sickened from grief, and his sickness was such that the day of his death drew near.
3 Then he called Enoch his eldest son, and Methuselah Enoch's son, and Lamech the son of Methuselah, and Noah the son of Lamech.
4 And when they were come to him he prayed over them and blessed them, and said to them, "Ye are righteous, innocent sons; go ye not down from this holy mountain; for behold, your children and your children's children have gone down from this holy mountain, and have estranged themselves from this holy mountain, through their abominable lust and transgression of God's commandment.
5 "But I know, through the power of God, that He will not leave you on this holy mountain, because your children have transgressed His commandment and that of our fathers, which we had received from them.
6 "But, 0 my sons, God will take you to a strange land, and ye never shall again return to behold with your eyes this garden and this holy mountain.
7 "Therefore, 0 my sons, set your hearts on your own selves, and keep the commandment of God which is with you. And when you go from this holy mountain, into a strange land which ye know not, take with you the body of our father Adam, and with it these three precious gifts and offerings, namely, the gold, the incense, and the myrrh; and let them be in the place where the body of our father Adam shall lay.
8 "And unto him of you who shall be left, 0 my sons, shall the Word of God come, and when he goes out of ~his land he shall take with him the body of our father Adam, and shall lay it in the middle of the earth, the place in which salvation shall be wrought."
9 Then Noah said unto him, "Who is he of us that shall be left?"
10 And Jared answered, "Thou art he that shall be left. And thou shalt take the body of our father Adam from the cave, and place it with thee in the ark when the flood comes
11 "And thy son Shem, who shall come out of thy loins, he it is who shall lay the body of our father Adam in the middle of the earth, in the place whence salvation shall come."
12 Then Jared turned to his son Enoch, and said unto him, "Thou, my son, abide in this cave, and minister diligently before the body of our father Adam all the days of thy life; and feed thy people in righteousness and innocence."
13 And Jared said no more. His hands were loosened, his eyes closed, and he entered into rest like his fathers. His death took place in the three hundred and sixtieth year of Noah, and in the nine hundred and eighty-ninth year of his own life; on the twelfth of Takhsas on a Friday.
14 But as Jared died, tears streamed down his face by reason of his great sorrow, for the children of Seth, who had fallen in his days.
15 Then Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah, these four, wept over him; embalmed him carefully, and then laid him in the Cave of Treasures. Then they rose and mourned for him forty days.
16 And when these days of mourning were ended, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah remained m sorrow of heart, be cause their father had departed from them, and they saw him no more.

CHAP. XXII.
Only three righteous men left in the world. The evil condition's of men prior to the Flood.
Enoch kept the commandment of Jared his father, and continued to minister in the cave.
2 It is this Enoch to whom many wonders happened, and who also wrote a celebrated book; but those wonders may not be told in this place.
3 Then after this, the children of Seth went astray and fell, they, their children and their wives. And when Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah saw them, their hearts suffered by reason of their fall into doubt full of unbelief; and they wept and sought of God mercy, to preserve them, and to bring them out ~ that wicked generation.
4 Enoch continued in his ministry before the Lord three hundred and eighty-five years, and at the end of that time he became aware through the grace of God, that God intended to remove him from the earth.
5 He then said to his son, O my son, I know that God intends to bring the waters of the Flood upon the earth, and to destroy our creation.
6 "And ye are the last rulers over this people on this mountain; for I know that not one will be left you to beget children on this holy mountain; neither shall any one of you rule over the children of his people; neither shall any great company be left of you, on this mountain."
7 Enoch said also to them, "Watch over your souls, and hold fast by your fear of God and by your service of Him, and worship Him in upright faith, and serve Him in righteousness, innocence and judgment, in repentance and also in purity."
8 When Enoch had ended his commandments to them, God transported him from that mountain to the land of life, to the mansions of the righteous and of the chosen, the abode of Paradise of joy, in light that reaches up to heaven; light that is outside the light of this world; for it is the light of God, that fills the whole world, but which no place can contain.
9 Thus, because Enoch was in the light of God, he found himself out of the reach of death; until God would have him die.
10 Altogether, not one of our fathers or of their children, remained on that holy mountain, except those three, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. For all the rest went down from the mountain and fell into sin with the children of Cain. Therefore were they forbidden that mountain, and none remained on it but those three men.
The Testament of Abraham

I. Abraham lived the measure of his life, nine hundred and ninety-five years, and having lived all the years of his life in quietness, gentleness, and righteousness, the righteous one was exceeding hospitable; for, pitching his tent in the cross-ways at the oak of Mamre, he received every one, both rich and poor, kings and rulers, the maimed and the helpless, friends and strangers, neighbours and travellers, all alike did the devout, all-holy, righteous, and hospitable Abraham entertain. Even upon him, however, there came the common, inexorable, bitter lot of death, and the uncertain end of life. Therefore the Lord God, summoning his archangel Michael, said to him: Go down, chief- captain (1) Michael, to Abraham and speak to him concerning his death, that he may set his affairs in order, for I have blessed him as the stars of heaven, and as the sand by the sea-shore, and he is in abundance of long life and many possessions, and is becoming exceeding rich. Beyond all men, moreover, he is righteous in every goodness, hospitable and loving to the end of his life; but do thou, archangel Michael, go to Abraham, my beloved friend, and announce to him his death and assure him thus: Thou shalt at this time depart from this vain world, and shalt quit the body, and go to thine own Lord among the good.
II. And the chief-captain departed from before the face of God, and went down to Abraham to the oak of Mamre, and found the righteous Abraham in the field close by, sitting beside yokes of oxen for ploughing, together with the sons of Masek and other servants, to the number of twelve. And behold the chief-captain came to him, and Abraham, seeing the chief-captain Michael coming from afar, like to a very comely warrior, arose and met him as was his custom, meeting and entertaining all strangers. And the chief-captain saluted him and said: Hail, most honoured father, righteous soul chosen I. It came to pass, when the days of the death of Abraham drew near, that the Lord said to Michael: Arise and go to Abraham, my servant, and say to him, Thou shall depart from life, for lo! the days of thy temporal life are fulfilled: so that he may set his house in order before he die.
II. And Michael went and came to Abraham, and found him sitting before his oxen for ploughing, and he was exceeding. old in appearance, and had his son in his arms. Abraham, therefore, seeing the archangel Michael, rose from the ground and saluted him, not knowing who he was, and said to him: The Lord preserve thee. May thy journey be prosperous with thee. And Michael answered him: Thou art kind, good father. Abraham answered and said to him: Come, draw near to me, brother, and sit down a little while, that I may order a beast to be brought that we may go to my house, and thou mayest rest with me, for it is toward evening, and in the morning arise and go of God, true son of the heavenly one. Abraham said to the chief-captain: Hail, most honoured warrior, bright as the sun and most beautiful above all the sons of men; thou art welcome; therefore I beseech thy presence, tell me whence the youth of thy age has come; teach me, thy suppliant, whence and from what army and from what journey thy beauty has come hither. The chief-captain said: I, O righteous Abraham, come from the great city. I have been sent by the great king to take the place of a good friend of his, for the king has summoned him. And Abraham said, Come, my lord, go with me as far as my field. The chief-captain said: I come; and going into the field of the ploughing, they sat down beside the company. And Abraham said to his servants, the sons of Masek: Go ye to the herd of horses, and bring two horses, quiet, and gentle and tame, so that I and this stranger may sit thereon. But the chief-captain said, Nay, my lord, Abraham, let them not bring horses, for I abstain from ever sitting upon any four-footed beast. Is not my king rich in much merchandise, having power both over men and all kinds of cattle? but I abstain from ever slitting upon any four-footed beast. Let us go, then, O righteous soul, walking lightly until we reach thy house. And Abraham said, Amen, be it so.
III. And as they went on from the field toward his house, beside that way there stood a cypress tree, and by the command of the Lord the tree cried out with a human voice, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God that calls himself to those that love him; but Abraham hid the mystery, thinking that the chief-captain had not heard the voice of the tree. And coming nigh to the house they sat down in the court, and Isaac seeing the face of the angel said to Sarah his mother, My lady mother, behold, the man sitting with my father Abraham is not a son of the race of those that dwell on the earth. And Isaac ran, and saluted him, and fell at the feet of the Incorporeal, and the Incorporeal blessed him and said, The Lord God will grant thee his promise that he made to thy father Abraham and to his seed, and will also grant thee the precious prayer of thy father and thy mother. Abraham said to Isaac his son, My son Isaac, draw water from the well, and bring it me in the vessel, that we may wash the feet of this stranger, for he is tired, having come to us from off a long journey. And Isaac ran to the well and drew water in the vessel and brought it to them, and Abraham went up and washed whithersoever thou wilt, lest some evil beast meet thee and do thee hurt. And Michael enquired of Abraham, saying: Tell me thy name, before I enter thy house, lest I be burdensome to thee. Abraham answered and said, My parents called me Abram, and the Lord named me Abraham, saying: Arise and depart from thy house, and from thy kindred, and go into the land which I shall show unto thee. And when I went away into the land which the Lord showed me, he said to me: Thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham. Michael answered and said to him: Pardon me, my father, experienced man of God, for I am a stranger, and I have heard of thee that thou didst go forty furlongs and didst bring a goat and slay it, entertaining angels in thy house, that they might rest there. Thus speaking together, they arose and went towards the house. And Abraham called one of his servants, and said to him: Go, bring me a beast that the stranger may sit upon it, for he is wearied with his journey. And Michael said: Trouble not the youth, but let us go lightly until we reach the house, for I love thy company.
III. And arising they went on, and as they drew nigh to the city, about three furlongs from it, they found a great tree having three hundred branches, like to a tamarisk tree. And they heard a voice from its branches singing, "Holy art thou, because thou hast kept the purpose for which thou wast sent." And Abraham heard the voice, and hid the mystery in his heart, saying within himself, What is the mystery that I have heard? As he came into the house, Abraham said to his servants, Arise, go out to the flocks, and bring three sheep, and slay them quickly, and make them ready that we may eat and drink, for this day is a feast for us. And the servants brought the sheep, and Abraham called his son Isaac, and said to him, My son Isaac, arise and put water in the vessel that we may wash the feet of this stranger. And he brought it as he was commanded, and Abraham said, I perceive, and so it shall be, that in this basin I shall never again wash the feet of any man coming to us as a guest. And Isaac hearing his father say this wept, and said to him, My father what is this that thou sayest, This is my last time to wash the feet of a stranger? And Abraham seeing his son weeping, also wept ex
the feet of the chief captain Michael, and the heart of Abraham was moved, and he wept over the stranger. And Isaac, seeing his father weeping, wept also, and the chief captain, seeing them weeping, also wept with them, and the tears of the chief captain fell upon the vessel into the water of the basin and became precious stones. And Abraham seeing the marvel, and being astonished, took the stones secretly, and hid the mystery, keeping it by himself in his heart.
IV. And Abraham said to Isaac his son: Go, my beloved son, into the inner chamber of the house and beautify it. Spread for us there two couches, one for me and one for this man that is guest with us this day. Prepare for us there a seat and a candlestick and a table with abundance of every good thing.
Beautify the chamber, my son, and spread under us linen and purple and fine linen. Burn there every precious and excellent incense, and bring sweet-smelling plants from the garden and fill our house with them. Kindle seven lamps full of oil, so that we may rejoice, for this man that is our guest this day is more glorious than kings or rulers, and his appearance surpasses all the sons of men. And Isaac prepared all things well, and Abraham taking the archangel Michael went into the chamber, and they both eat down upon the couches, and between them he placed a table with abundance of every good thing. Then the chief captain arose and went out, as if by constraint of his belly to make issue of water, and ascended to heaven in the twinkling of an eye, and stood before the Lord, and said to him: Lord and Master, let thy power know that I am unable to remind that righteous man of his death, for I
have not seen upon the earth a man like him, pitiful, hospitable, righteous, truthful, devout, refraining from every evil deed. And now know, Lord, that I
cannot remind him of his death. And the Lord said: Go down, chief-captain Michael, to my friend Abraham, and whatever he say to thee, that do thou also, and whatever he eat, eat thou also with him. And I will send my holy spirit upon his son Isaac, and will put the remembrance of his death into the heart of Isaac, so that even he in a dream may see the death of his father, and Isaac will relate the dream, and thou shalt interpret it, and he himself will know his end. And the chief-captain said, Lord, all the heavenly spirits are incorporeal, and neither eat nor drink, and this man has set before me a table with abundance of all good things earthly and corruptible. Now, Lord, what shall I do? How shall I escape him, ceedingly, and Michael seeing them weeping, wept also, and the tears of Michael fell upon the vessel and became a precious stone.
IV. When Sarah, being inside in her house, heard their weeping, she came out and said to Abraham, Lord, why is it that ye thus weep? Abraham answered, and mid to her, It is no evil. Go into thy house, and do thy own work, lest we be troublesome to the man. And Sarah went away, being about to prepare the supper. And the sun came near to setting, and Michael went out of the house, and was taken up into the heavens to worship before God, for at sunset all the angels worship God and Michael himself is the first of the angels. And they all worshipped him, and went each to his own place, but Michael spoke before the Lord and said, Lord, command me to be questioned before thy holy glory! And the Lord said to Michael, Announce whatsoever thou wilt! And the Archangel answered and said, Lord, thou didst send me to Abraham to say to him, Depart from thy body, and leave this world; the Lord calls thee; and I dare not, Lord, reveal myself to him, for he is thy friend, and a righteous man, and one that receives strangers. But I beseech thee, Lord, command the remembrance of the death of Abraham to enter into his own heart, and bid not me tell it him, for it is great abruptness to say, Leave the world, and especially to leave one's own body, for thou didst create him from the beginning to have pity on the souls of all men. Then the Lord said to Michael, Arise and go to Abraham, and lodge with him, and whatever thou seest him eat, eat thou also, and where-ever he shall sleep, sleep thou there also. For I will cast the thought of the death of Abraham into the heart of Isaac his son in a dream. sitting at one table with him? The Lord said: Go down to him, and take no thought for this, for when thou sittest down with him, I will send upon thee a devouring spirit, and it will consume out of thy hands and through thy mouth all that is on the table. Rejoice together with him in everything, only thou shalt interpret well the things of the vision, that Abraham may know the sickle of death and the uncertain end of life, and may make disposal of all his possessions, for I have blessed him above the sand of the sea and as the stars of heaven.
V. Then the chief captain went down to the house of Abraham, and sat down with him at the table, and Isaac served them. And when the supper was ended, Abraham prayed after his custom, and the chief-captain prayed together with him, and each lay down to sleep upon his couch. And Isaac said to his father, Father, I too would fain sleep with you in this chamber, that I also may hear your discourse, for I love to hear the excellence of the conversation of this virtuous man. Abraham said, Nay, my son, but go to thy own chamber and sleep on thy own couch, lest we be troublesome to this man. Then Isaac, having received the prayer from them, and having blessed them, went to his own chamber and lay down upon Iris couch. But the Lord east the thought of death into the heart of Isaac as in a dream, and about the third hour of the night Isaac awoke and rose up from his couch, and came running to the chamber where his father was sleeping together with the archangel. Isaac, therefore, on reaching the door cried out, saying, My father Abraham, arise and open to me quickly, that I may enter and hang upon thy neck, and embrace thee before they take thee away from me. Abraham therefore arose and opened to him, and Isaac entered and hung upon his neck, and began to weep with a loud voice. Abraham therefore being moved at heart, also wept with a loud voice, and the chief-captain, seeing them weeping, wept also. Sarah being in her room, heard their weeping, and came running to them, and found them embracing and weeping. And Sarah said with weeping, My lord Abraham, what is this that ye weep? Tell me, my lord, has this brother that has been entertained by us this day brought thee tidings of Lot, thy brother's son, that he is dead? is it for this that ye grieve thus? The chief-captain answered and said to her, Nay, my sister Sarah, it is not as thou sayest, but thy son Isaac, methinks, beheld a dream, and came to us weeping, and we seeing him were moved in our hearts and wept.
V. Then Michael went into the house of Abraham on that evening, and found them preparing the supper, and they ate and drank and were merry. And Abraham said to his son Isaac, Arise, my son, and spread the man's couch that he may sleep, and set the lamp upon the stand. And Isaac did as his father commanded him, and Isaac said to his father, I too am coming to sleep beside you. Abraham answered him, Nay, my son, lest we be troublesome to this man, but go to thy own chamber and sleep. And Isaac not wishing to disobey his father's command, went away and slept in his own chamber.
VI. And it happened about the seventh hour of the night Isaac awoke, and came to the door of his father's chamber, crying out and saying, Open, father, that I may touch thee before they take thee away from me. Abraham arose and opened to him, and Isaac entered and hung upon his father's neck weeping, and kissed him with lamentations. And Abraham wept together with his son, and Michael saw them weeping and wept likewise. And Sarah hearing them weeping called from her bed-chamber, saying, My lord Abraham, why is this weeping? Has the stranger told thee of thy brother's son Lot that he is dead? or has aught else befallen us? Michael answered and said to Sarah, Nay, Sarah, I have brought no tidings of Lot, but I knew of all your kindness of heart, that therein ye excel all men upon earth, and the Lord has remembered you.
VI. Then Sarah, hearing the excellence of the conversation of the chief-captain, straightway knew that it was an angel of the Lord that spoke. Sarah therefore signified to Abraham to come out towards the door, and said to him, My lord Abraham, knowest thou who this man is? Abraham said, I know not. Sarah said, Thou knowest, my lord, the three men from heaven that were entertained by us in our tent beside the oak of Mamre, when thou didst kill the kid without blemish, and set a table before them. After the flesh had been eaten, the kid rose again, and sucked its mother with great joy. owest thou not, my lord Abraham, that by promise they gave to us Isaac as the fruit of the womb? Of these three holy men this is one. Abraham said, O Sarah, in this thou speakest the truth. Glory and praise from our God and the Father. For late in the evening when I washed his feet in the basin I said in my heart, These are the feet of one of the three men that I washed then; and his tears that fell into the basin then became precious stones. And shaking them out from his lap he gave them to Sarah, saying, If thou believest me not, look now at these. And Sarah receiving them bowed down and saluted and said, Glory be to God that showeth us wonderful things. And now know, my lord Abraham, that there is among us the revelation of some thing, whether it be evil or good!
VII. And Abraham left Sarah, and went into the chamber, and said to Isaac, Come hither, my beloved son, tell me the truth, what it was thou sawest and what befell thee that thou camest so hastily to us. And Isaac answering began to say, I saw, my lord, in this night the sun and the moon above my head, surrounding me with its rays and giving me light. As I gazed at this and rejoiced, I saw the heaven opened, and a man bearing light descend from it, shining more than seven suns. And this man like the sun came and took away the sun from my head, and went up into the heavens from whence he came, but I was greatly grieved that he took away the sun from me. After a little, as I was still sorrowing and sore troubled, I saw this man come forth from heaven a second time, and he took away from me the moon also from off my head, and I
wept greatly and called upon that man of light, and said, Do not, my lord, take away my glory from me; pity me and hear me, and if thou takest away the sun from me, then leave the moon to me. He said, Suffer them to be taken up to the king above, for he wishes them there. And he took them away from me, but he left the Then Sarah said to Abraham, How durst thou weep when the man of God has come in to thee, and why have thy eyes (1) shed tears for to-day there is great rejoicing? Abraham said to her, How knowest thou that this is a man of God? Sarah answered and said, Because I say and declare that this is one of the three men who were entertained by us at the oak of Mamre, when one of the servants went and brought a kid and thou didst kill it, and didst say to me, Arise, make ready that we may eat with these men in our house. Abraham answered and said, Thou has perceived well, O woman, for I too, when I washed his feet knew in my heart that these were the feet which I had washed at the oak of Mamre, and when I began to enquire concerning his journey, he said to me, I go to preserve Lot thy brother from the men of Sodom, and then I knew the mystery.
VII. And Abraham said to Michael, Tell me, man of God, and show to me why thou hast come hither. And Michael said. Thy son Isaac will show thee. And Abraham said to his son, My beloved son, tell me what thou hast seen in thy dream to-day, and wast frightened. Relate it to me. Isaac answered his father, I saw in my dream the sun and the moon, and there was a crown upon my head, and there came from heaven a man of great size, and shining as the light that is called the father of light. He took the sun from my head, and yet left the rays behind with me. And I wept and said, I beseech thee, my lord, take not away the glory of my head, and the light of my house, and all my glory. And the sun and the moon and the stars lamented, saying, Take not away the glory of our power. And that shining man answered and said to me, Weep not that I take the light of thy house, for it is taken up from troubles into rest, from a low estate to a high one; they lift him up from a narrow to a wide place; they raise him from darkness to light. And I said to him, I beseech thee, Lord, take also the rays upon me. The chief-captain said, Hear, O righteous Abraham; the sun which thy son saw is thou his father, and the moon likewise is Sarah his mother. The man bearing light who descended from heaven, this is the one sent from God who is to take thy righteous soul from thee. And now know, O most honored Abraham, that at this time thou shalt leave this worldly life, and remove to God. Abraham said to the chief captain O strangest of marvels! and now art thou he that shall take my soul from me? The chief-captain said to him, I am the chief-captain Michael, that stands before the lord, and I was sent to thee to remind thee of thy death, and then I shall depart to him as I was commanded. Abraham said, Now I know that thou art an angel of the Lord, and wast sent to take my soul, but I will not go with thee; but do thou whatever thou art commanded.
VIII. The chief-captain hearing these words immediately vanished, and ascending into heaven stood before God, and told all that he had seen in the house of Abraham; and the chief-captain said this also to his Lord, Thus says thy friend Abraham, I will not go with thee, but do thou whatever thou art commanded; and now, O Lord Almighty, doth thy glory and immortal kingdom order aught? God said to the chief-captain Michael, Go to my friend Abraham yet once again, and speak to him thus, Thus saith the Lord thy God, he that brought thee into the land of promise, that blessed thee above the sand of the sea and above the stars of heaven, that opened the womb of barrenness of Sarah, and granted thee Isaac as the fruit of the womb in old age, Verily I say unto thee that blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thy seed, and I will give thee all that thou shalt ask from me, for I am the Lord thy God, and besides me there is no other. Tell me why thou hast rebelled against me, and why there is grief in thee, and why thou rebelled against my archangel Michael? Knowest thou not that all who have come from Adam and Eve have died, and that none of the prophets has escaped death? None of those that rule as kings is immortal; none of thy forefathers has escaped the mystery of death.
They have all died, they have all departed into Hades, they are all gathered by the sickle of death. But upon thee I have not sent death, I have not suffered any deadly disease to come upon thee, I have not permitted the sickle of death to meet thee, I have not allowed the nets of Hades to enfold thee, I
have never wished thee to meet with any evil. But for good comfort I have sent my rays with it. He said to me, There are twelve hours of the day, and then I
shall take all the rays. As the shining man said this, I saw the sun of my house ascending into heaven, but that crown I saw no more, and that sun was like thee my father. And Michael said to Abraham, Thy son Isaac has spoken truth, for thou shalt go, and be taken up into the heavens, but thy body shall remain on earth, until seven thousand ages are fulfilled, for then all flesh shall arise. Now therefore, Abraham, set thy house in order, and thy children, for thou hast heard fully what is decreed concerning thee.
chief-captain Michael to thee, that thou mayst know thy departure from the world, and set thy house in order, and all that belongs to thee, and bless Isaac thy beloved son. And now know that I have done this not wishing to grieve thee. Wherefore then hast thou said to my chief-captain, I will not go with thee? Wherefore hast thou spoken thus? Knowest thou not that if I give leave to death and he comes upon thee, then I should see whether thou wouldst come or not?
IX. And the chief-captain receiving the exhortations of the Lord went down to Abraham, and seeing him the righteous one fell upon his face to the ground as one dead, and the chief-captain told him all that he had heard from the Most High. Then the holy and just Abraham rising with many tears fell at the feet of the Incorporeal, and besought him, saying, I beseech thee, chief-captain of the hosts above, since thou hast wholly deigned to come thyself to me a sinner and in all things thy unworthy servant, I beseech thee even now, O chief-captain, to carry my word yet again to the Most High, and thou shalt say to him, Thus saith Abraham thy servant, Lord, Lord, in every work and word which I have asked of thee thou hast heard me, and hast fulfilled all my counsel. Now, Lord, I resist not thy power, for I too know that I am not immortal but mortal. Since therefore to thy command all things yield, and fear and tremble at the face of thy power, I also fear, but I ask one:request of thee, and now, Lord and Master, hear my prayer, for while still in this body I desire to see all the inhabited earth, and all the creations which thou didst establish by one word, and when I see these, then if I shall depart from life I shall be without sorrow. So the chief-captain went back again, and stood before God, and told him all, saying, Thus saith thy friend Abraham, I desired to behold all the earth in my lifetime before I died. And the Most High hearing this, again commanded the chief-captain Michael, and said to him, Take a cloud of light, and the angels that have power over the chariots, and go down, take the righteous Abraham upon a chariot of the cherubim, and exalt him into the air of heaven that he may behold all the earth.
X. And the archangel Michael went down and took Abraham upon a chariot of the cherubim, and exalted him into the air of heaven, and led him upon the cloud together with sixty angels, and Abraham ascended upon the chariot over all the earth. And Abraham saw the world as it was in that day, some ploughing, others driving wains, in one place men herding flocks, and in another Abraham answered and said to Michael, I beseech thee, lord, if I shall depart from my body, I have desired to be taken up in my body that I may see the creatures that the Lord my God has created in heaven and on earth. Michael answered and said, This is not for me to do, but I shall go and tell the Lord of this, and if I am commanded I shall show thee all these things.
VIII. And Michael went up into heaven, and spoke before the Lord concerning Abraham, and the Lord answered Michael, Go and take up Abraham in the body, and show him all things, and whatsoever he shall say to thee do to him as to my friend. So Michael went forth and took up Abraham in the body on a cloud, and brought him to the river of Ocean.
watching them by night, and dancing and playing and harping, in another place men striving and contending at law, elsewhere men weeping and having the dead in remembrance. He saw also the newly-wedded received with honour, and in a word he saw all things that are done in the world, both good and bad. Abraham therefore passing over them saw men bearing swords, wielding in their hands sharpened swords, and Abraham asked the chief-captain, Who are these? The chief-captain said, These are thieves, who intend to commit murder, and to steal and burn and destroy. Abraham said, Lord, Lord, hear my voice, and command that wild beasts may come out of the wood and devour them. And even as he spoke there came wild beasts out of the wood and devoured them. And he saw in another place a man with a woman committing fornication with each other, and said, Lord, Lord, command that the earth may open and swallow them, and straightway the earth was cleft and swallowed them. And he saw in another place men digging through a house, and carrying away other men's possessions, and he said, Lord, Lord, command that fire may come down from heaven and consume them. And even as he spoke, fire came down from heaven and consumed them. And straightway there came a voice from heaven to the chief-captain, saying thus, O chief-captain Michael, command the chariot to stop, and turn Abraham away that he may not see all the earth, for if he behold all that live in wickedness, he will destroy all creation. For behold, Abraham has not sinned, and has no pity on sinners, but I have made the world, and desire not to destroy any one of them, but wait for the death of the sinner, till he be converted and live. But take Abraham up to the first gate of heaven, that he may see there the judgments and recompenses, and repent of the souls of the sinners that he has destroyed.
XI. So Michael turned the chariot and brought Abraham to the east, to the first gate of heaven; and Abraham saw two ways, the one narrow and contracted, the other broad and spacious, and there he saw two gates, the one broad on the broad way, and the other narrow on the narrow way. And outside the two gates there he saw a man sitting upon a gilded throne, and the appearance of that man was terrible, as of the Lord. (1) And they saw many souls driven by angels and led in through the broad gate, and other souls, few in number, that were taken by the angels through the narrow gate. And when the XII. And after Abraham had seen the place of judgment, the cloud took him down upon the firmament below, and Abraham, looking down upon the earth, saw a man committing adultery with a wedded woman. And Abraham turning said to Michael, Seest thou this wickedness? but, Lord, send fire from heaven to consume them. And straightway there came down fire and consumed them, for the Lord had said to Michael, Whatsoever Abraham shall ask thee to do for him, do thou. Abraham looked again, and saw other men railing at their companions, and said, Let the earth open and swallow them, and as he spoke the earth swallowed them alive. Again the cloud led him to another place, and Abraham saw some going into a desert place to commit murder, and he said to Michael, Seest thou this wickedness? but let wild beasts come out of the desert, and tear them in pieces, and that same hour wild beasts came out of the desert, and devoured them. Then the Lord God spoke to Michael saying, Turn away Abraham to his own house, and let him not go round all the creation that I have made, because he has no compassion on sinners, but I have compassion on sinners that they may turn and live, and repent of their sins and be saved.
(VIII.) And Abraham looked and saw two gates, the one small and the other large, and between the two gates sat a man upon a throne of great glory, and a multitude of angels round about him, and he was weeping, and again laughing, but his weeping exceeded his laughter seven-fold. And Abraham said to Michael, Who is this that sits between the two gates in great glory; sometimes he laughs, and sometimes he weeps, and his weeping exceeds his laughter seven-fold? And Michael said to Abraham, Knowest thou not who it is? And he said, No, lord. And Michael said to Abraham, Seest thou these two gates, the small and the great? These are they which
wonderful one who sat upon the golden throne saw few entering through the narrow gate, and many entering through the broad one, straightway that wonderful one tore the hairs of his head and the sides of his beard, and threw himself on the ground from his throne, weeping and lamenting. But when he saw many souls entering through the narrow gate, then he arose from the ground and sat upon his throne in great joy, rejoicing and exulting. And Abraham asked the chief-captain, My lord chief-captain, who is this most marvelous man, adorned with such glory, and sometimes he weeps and laments, and sometimes he rejoices and exults? The incorporeal one said: This is the first-created Adam who is in such glory, and he looks upon the world because all are born from him, and when he sees many souls going through the narrow gate, then he arises and sits upon his throne rejoicing and exulting in joy, because this narrow gate is that of the just, that leads to life, and they that enter through it go into Paradise. For this, then, the first-created Adam rejoices, because he sees the souls being saved. But when he sees many souls entering through the broad gate, then he pulls out the hairs of his head, and casts himself on the ground weeping and lamenting bitterly, for the broad gate is that of sinners, which leads to destruction and eternal punishment. And for this the first-formed Adam falls from his throne weeping and lamenting for the destruction of sinners, for they are many that are lost, and they are few that are saved, for in seven thousand there is scarcely found one soul saved, being righteous and undefiled.
XII. While he was yet saying these things to me, behold two angels, fiery in aspect, and pitiless in mind, and severe in look, and they drove on thousands of souls, pitilessly lashing them with fiery thongs. The angel laid hold of one soul, and they drove all the souls in at the broad gate to destruction. So we also went along with the angels, and came within that broad gate, and between the two gates stood a throne terrible of aspect, of terrible crystal, gleaming as fire, and upon it sat a wondrous man bright as the sun, like to the Son of God. Before him stood a table like crystal, all of gold and fine linen, and upon the table there was lying a book, the thickness of it six cubits, and the breadth of it ten cubits, and on the right and left of it stood two angels holding paper and ink and pen. Before the table sat an angel of light, holding in his hand a balance, and on his left sat an angel all fiery, pitiless, and severe, holding in his hand a trumpet, having within it lead to life and to destruction. This man that sits between them is Adam, the first man whom the Lord created, and set him in this place to see every soul that departs from the body, seeing that all are from him. When, therefore, thou seest him weeping, know that he has seen many souls being led to destruction, but when thou seest him laughing, he has seen many souls being led into life. Seest thou how his weeping exceeds his laughter? Since he sees the greater part of the world being led away through the broad gate to destruction, therefore his weeping exceeds his laughter seven-fold.
IX. And Abraham said, And he that cannot enter through the narrow gate, can he not enter into life? Then Abraham wept, saying, Woe is me, what shall I do? for I am a man broad of body, and how shall I be able to enter by the narrow gate, by which a boy of fifteen years cannot enter? Michael answered and said to Abraham, Fear not, father, nor grieve, for thou shalt enter by it unhindered, and all those who are like thee.
And as Abraham stood and marveled. behold an angel of the Lord driving sixty thousand souls of sinners to destruction, And Abraham said to Michael, Do all these go into destruction? And Michael said to him, Yea, but lat us go and search among these souls, if there is among them even one righteous. And when they went, they found an angel holding in his hand one soul of a woman from among these sixty thousand, because he had found her sins weighing equally with all her works, and they were neither in motion nor at rest, but in a state between; but the other souls he led away to destruction. Abraham said to Michael, Lord, is this the angel that removes the souls from the body or not? Michael answered and said, This is death, and he leads them into the place of judgment, that the judge may try them.
X. And Abraham said, My lord, I beseech thee to lead me to the place of judgment so all-consuming fire with which to try the sinners. The wondrous man who sat upon the throne himself judged and sentenced the souls, and the two angels on the right and on the left wrote down, the one on the right the righteousness and the one on the left the wickedness. The one before the table, who held the balance, weighed the souls, and the fiery angel, who held the fire, tried the souls. And Abraham asked the chief-captain Michael, What is this that we behold? And the chief-captain said, These things that thou seest, holy Abraham, airs the judgment and recompense. And behold the angel holding the soul in his hand, and he brought it before the judge, and the judge said to one of the angels that served him, Open me this book, and find me the sins of this soul. And opening the book he found its sins and its righteousness equally balanced, and he neither gave it to the tormentors, nor to those that were saved, but set it in the midst.
XIII. And Abraham said, My lord chief-captain, who is this most wondrous judge? and who are the angels that write down? and who is the angel like the sun, holding the balance? and who is the fiery angel holding the fire? The chief-captain said, "Seest thou, most holy Abraham, the terrible man sitting upon the throne? This is the son of the first created Adam, who is called Abel, whom the wicked Cain killed, and he sits thus to judge all creation, and examines righteous men and sinners. For God has said, I shall not judge you, but every man born of man shall be judged. Therefore he has given to him judgment, to judge the world until his great and glorious coming, and then, O righteous Abraham, is the perfect judgment and recompense, eternal and unchangeable, which no one can alter. For every man has come from the first-created, and therefore they are first judged here by his son, and at the second coming they shall be judged by the twelve tribes of Israel, that I too may see how they are judged. Then Michael took Abraham upon a cloud, and led him into Paradise, and when he came to the place where the judge was, the angel came and gave that soul to the judge. And the soul said, Lord have mercy on me. And the judge said, How shall I have mercy upon thee, when thou hadst no mercy upon thy daughter which thou hadst, the fruit of thy womb? Wherefore didst thou slay her? It answered, Nay, Lord, slaughter has not been done by me, but my daughter has lied upon me. But the judge commanded him to come that wrote down the records, and behold cherubim carrying two books. And there was with them a man of exceeding great stature, having on his head three crowns, and the one crown was higher than the other two. These are called the crowns of witness. And the man had in his hand a golden pen, and the judge said to him, Exhibit the sin of this soul. And that man. opening one of the books of the cherubim, sought out the sin of the woman's soul and found it. And the judge said, O wretched soul, why sayest thou that thou hast not done murder? Didst thou not, after the death of thy husband, go and commit adultery with thy daughter's husband, and kill her? And he convicted her also of her other sins, whatsoever she had done from her youth. Hearing these things the woman cried out, saying, Woe is me, all the sins that I did in the world I forgot, but here they were not forgotten. Then they took her away also and gave her over to the tormentors.
XI. And Abraham said to Michael, Lord, who is this judge, and who is the other, who convicts the sins? And Michael said to Abraham, Seest thou the judge? This is Abel, who first testified, and God brought him hither to judge, and he that bears witness here is the teacher of heaven and earth, and the scribe of righteousness, Enoch, for the Lord sent them hither to write down the sins and righteousnesses of each one. Abraham said, And how can Enoch bear the weight of the souls, not having seen death? or how can he give sentence to all the souls? Michael said, If he gives sentence concerning the souls, it is not permitted; but Enoch himself does not give sentence, but it is the Lord who does so, and he has no more to do than only to write. For Enoch prayed to the Lord saying, I desire not, Lord, to give sentence on the souls, lest I be grievous to anyone; and the Lord said to Enoch, I shall command thee to write down the sins of the soul that makes atonement and it shall enter every breath and every creature. But the third time they shall be judged by the Lord God of all, and then, indeed, the end of that judgment is near, and the sentence terrible, and there is none to deliver. And now by three tribunals the judgment of the world and the recompense is made, and for this reason a matter is not finally confirmed by one or two witnesses, but by three witnesses shall everything be established. The two angels on the right hand and on the left, these are they that write down the sins and the righteousness, the one on the right hand writes down the righteousness, and the one on the left the sins. The angel like the sun, holding the balance in his hand, is the archangel, Dokiel the just weigher, and he weighs the righteousnesses and sins with the righteousness of God. The fiery and pitiless angel, holding the fire in his hand, is the archangel Puruel, who has power over fire, and tries the works of men through fire, and if the fire consume the work of any man, the angel of judgment immediately seizes him, and carries him away to the place of sinners, a most bitter place of punishment. But if the fire approves the work of anyone, and does not seize upon it, that man is justified, and the angel of righteousness takes him and carries him up to be saved in the lot of the just. And thus, most righteous Abraham, all things in all men are tried by fire and the balance."
XIV. And Abraham said to the chief-captain, My lord the chief-captain, the soul which the angel held in his hand, why was it adjudged to be set in the midst? The chief-captain said, Listen, righteous Abraham. Because the judge found its sins. and its righteousnesses equal, he neither committed it to judgment nor to be saved, until the judge of all shall come. Abraham said to the chief-captain, And what yet is wanting for the soul to be saved? The chief-captain said, If it obtains one righteousness above its sins, it enters into salvation. Abraham said to the chief-captain, Come hither, chief-captain Michael, let us make prayer for this soul, and see whether God will hear us. The chief-captain said, Amen, be it so; and they made prayer and entreaty for the soul, and God heard them, and when they rose up from their prayer they did not see the soul standing there. And Abraham said to the angel, Where is the soul that thou didst hold in the midst? And the angel answered, It has been saved by thy righteous prayer, and behold an angel of light has taken it and carried it up into Paradise. Abraham said, I glorify the name of God, the Most High, and his immeasurable mercy. And Abra into life, and if the soul make not atonement and repent, thou shalt find its sins written down and it shall be cast into punishment.
ham said to the chief-captain, I beseech thee, archangel, hearken to my prayer, and let us yet call upon the Lord, and supplicate his compassion, and entreat his mercy for the souls of the sinners whom I formerly, in my anger, cursed and destroyed, whom the earth devoured, and the wild beasts tore in pieces, and the fire consumed through my words. Now I know that I have sinned before the Lord our God. Come then, O Michael, chief-captain of the hosts above, come, let us call upon God with tears that he may forgive me my sin, and grant them to me. And the chief-captain heard him, and they made entreaty before the Lord, and when they had called upon him for a long space, there came a voice from heaven saying, Abraham, Abraham, I have hearkened to thy voice and thy prayer, and forgive thee thy sin, and those whom thou thinkest that I destroyed I have called up and brought them into life by my exceeding kindness, because for a season I have requited them in judgment, and those whom I destroy living upon earth, I will not requite in death.
XV. And the voice of the Lord said also to the chief-captain Michael, Michael, my servant, turn back Abraham to his house, for behold his end has come nigh, and the measure of his life is fulfilled, that he may set all things in order, and then take him and bring him to me. So the chief-captain, turning the chariot and the cloud, brought Abraham to his house, and going into his chamber he sat upon his couch. And Sarah his wife came and embraced the feet of the Incorporeal, and spoke humbly, saying, I give thee thanks, my lord, that thou hast brought my lord Abraham, for behold we thought he had been taken up from us. And his son Isaac also came and fell upon his neck, and in the same way all his men-slaves and women-slaves surrounded Abraham and embraced him, glorifying God. And the Incorporeal one said to them, Hearken, righteous Abraham. Behold thy wife Sarah, behold also thy beloved son Isaac, behold also all thy men-servants and maid-servants round about thee. Make disposition of all that thou hast, for the day has come nigh in which thou shalt depart from the body and go to the Lord once for all. Abraham said, Has the Lord said it, or sayest thou this of thyself? The chief-captain answered, Hearken, righteous Abraham. The Lord has commanded, and I tell it thee. Abraham said, I will not go with thee. The chief-captain, hearing these words, straightway went forth from the presence of Abraham, and went up into the heavens, and And about the ninth hour Michael brought Abraham back to his house. But Sarah his wife, not seeing what had become of Abraham, was consumed with grief, and gave up the ghost, and after the return of Abraham he found her dead, and buried her.
stood before God the Most High, and said, Lord Almighty, behold I have hearkened to Thy friend Abraham in all he has said to Thee, and have fulfilled his requests. I have shown to him Thy power, and all the earth and sea that is under heaven. I have shown to him judgment and recompense by means of cloud and chariots, and again he says, I will not go with thee. And the Most High said to the angel, Does my friend Abraham say thus again, I will not go with thee? The archangel said, Lord Almighty, he says thus, and I refrain from laying hands on him, because from the beginning he is Thy friend, and has done all things pleasing in Thy sight. There is no man like him on earth, not even Job the wondrous man, and therefore I refrain from laying hands on him.
Command, therefore, Immortal King, what shall be done.
XVI. Then the Most High said, Call me hither Death that is called the shameless countenance and the pitiless look. And Michael the Incorporeal went and said to Death, Come hither; the lord of creation, the immortal king, calls thee. And Death, hearing this, shivered and trembled, being possessed with great terror, and coming with great fear it stood before the invisible father, shivering, groaning and trembling, awaiting the command of the Lord. Therefore the invisible God said to Death, Come hither, thou bitter and fierce name of the world, hide thy fierceness, cover thy corruption, and cast away thy bitterness from thee, and put on thy beauty and all thy glory, and go down to Abraham my friend, and take him and bring him to me. But now also I tell thee not to terrify him, but bring him with fair speech, for he is my own friend. Having heard this, Death went out from the presence of the Most High, and put on a robe of great brightness, and made his appearance like the sun, and became fair and beautiful above the sons of men, assuming the form of an archangel, having his cheeks flaming with fire, and he departed to Abraham. Now the righteous Abraham went out of his chamber, and sat under the trees of Mamre, holding his chin in his hand, and awaiting the coming of the archangel Michael. And behold, a smell of sweet odor came to him, and a flashing of light, and Abraham turned and saw Death coming towards him in great glory and beauty, And Abraham arose and went to meet him, thinking that it was the chief-captain of God, and Death beholding him saluted him, saying, Rejoice, precious Abraham, righteous soul, true friend of the Most High God, and companion of the holy angels.
XIII. But when the day of the death of Abraham drew nigh, the Lord God said to Michael, Death will not dare to go near to take away the soul of my servant, because he is my friend, but go thou and adorn Death with great beauty, and send him thus to Abraham, that he may see him with his eyes. And Michael straightway, as he was commanded, adorned Death with great beauty, and sent him thus to Abraham that he might see him. And he sat down near to Abraham, and Abraham seeing Death sitting near to him was afraid with a great fear. And Death said to Abraham, Hail, holy soul! hail, friend of the Lord God! hail, consolation and entertainment of travelers! And Abraham said, Thou art welcome, servant of the Most High God. I beseech thee, tell me who thou art; and entering into my house partake of food and drink, and depart from me, for since I have seen thee sitting near to me my soul has been troubled. For I am not at all worthy to come near thee, for thou art an exalted spirit and I am flesh and blood, and therefore I cannot bear thy glory, for I see that thy beauty is not of this world. And Death said to Abraham, I tell thee, in all the creation that God has made, there has not been found one like thee, for even the Lord himself by searching has not found such an one upon the whole earth. And Abraham said to Death, How durst thou lie? for I see that thy
Abraham said to Death, Hail thou of appearance and form like the sun, most glorious helper, bringer of light, wondrous man, from whence does thy glory come to us, and who art thou, and whence comest thou? Then Death said, Most righteous Abraham, behold I tell thee the truth. I am the bitter lot of death. Abraham said to him, Nay, but thou art the comeliness of the world, thou art the glory and beauty of angels and men, thou art fairer in form than every other, and sayest thou, I am the bitter lot of death, and not rather, I am fairer than every good thing. Death said, I tell thee the truth. What the Lord has named me, that also I tell thee. Abraham said, For what art thou come hither? Death said, For thy holy soul am I come. Then Abraham said, I know what thou meanest, but I will not go with thee; and Death was silent and answered him not a word.
XVII. Then Abraham arose, and went into his house, and Death also accompanied him thither. And Abraham went up into his chamber, and Death went up with him. And Abraham lay down upon his couch, and Death came and sat by his feet. Then Abraham said, Depart, depart from me, for I desire to rest upon my couch. Death said, I will not depart until I take thy spirit from thee. Abraham said to him, By the immortal God I charge thee to tell me the truth. Art thou death? Death said to him, I am Death. I am the destroyer of the world. Abraham said, I beseech thee, since thou art Death, tell me if thou comest thus to all in such fairness and glory and beauty? Death said, Nay, my lord Abraham, for thy righteousnesses, and the boundless sea of thy hospitality, and the greatness of thy love towards God has become a crown upon my head, and in beauty and great peace and gentleness I approach the righteous, but to sinners I come in great corruption and fierceness and the greatest bitterness and with fierce and pitiless look. Abraham said, I beseech thee, hearken to me, and show me thy fierceness and all thy corruption and bitterness. And Death said, Thou canst not behold my fierceness, most righteous Abraham. Abraham said, Yes, I shall be able to behold all thy fierceness by means of the name of the living God, for the might of my God that is in heaven is with me. Then Death put off all his comeliness and beauty, and all his glory and the form like the sun with which he was clothed, and put upon himself a tyrant's robe, and made his appearance gloomy and fiercer than all kind of wild beasts, and more unclean than all uncleanness. And he showed to Abraham seven beauty is not of this world. And Death said to Abraham, Think not, Abraham, that this beauty is mine, or that I come thus to every man. Nay, but if any one is righteous like thee, I thus take crowns and come to him, but if it is a sinner I come in great corruption, and out of their sin I make a crown for my head, and I shake them with great fear, so that they are dismayed. Abraham therefore said to him, And whence comes thy beauty? And Death said, There is none other more full of corruption than I am. Abraham said to him, And art thou indeed he that is called Death? He answered him and said, I am the bitter name. I am weeping....
XIV. And Abraham said to Death, Show us thy corruption. And Death made manifest his corruption; and he had two heads, the one had the face of a serpent and by it some die at once by asps, and the other bead was like a sword; by it some die by the sword as by bows.
fiery heads of serpents and fourteen faces, (one) of flaming fire and of great fierceness, and a face of darkness, and a most gloomy face of a viper, and a face of a most terrible precipice, and a face fiercer than an asp, and a face of a terrible lion, and a face of a cerastes and basilisk. He showed him also a face of a fiery scimitar, and a sword-bearing face, and a face of lightning, lightening terribly, and a noise of dreadful thunder. He showed him also another face of a fierce stormy sea, and a fierce rushing river, and a terrible three-headed serpent, and a cup mingled with poisons, and in short he showed to him great fierceness and unendurable bitterness, and every mortal disease as of the odour of Death. And from the great bitterness and fierceness there died servants and maid-servants in number about seven thousand, and the righteous Abraham came into indifference of death so that his spirit failed him.
XVIII. And the all-holy Abraham, seeing these things thus, said to Death, I beseech thee, all-destroying Death, hide thy fierceness, and put on thy beauty and the shape which thou hadst before. And straightway Death hid his fierceness, and put on his beauty which he had before. And Abraham said to Death, Why hast thou done this, that thou hast slain all my servants and maidservants? Has God sent thee hither for this end this day? Death said, Nay, my lord Abraham, it is not as thou sayest, but on thy account was I sent hither. Abraham said to Death, How then have these died? Has the Lord not spoken it? Death said, Believe thou, most righteous Abraham, that this also is wonderful, that thou also wast not taken away with them. Nevertheless I tell thee the truth, for if the right hand of God had not been with thee at that time, thou also wouldst have had to depart from this life. The righteous Abraham said, Now I know that I have come into indifference of death, so that my spirit fails, but I beseech thee, all-destroying Death, since my servants have died before their time, come let us pray to the Lord our God that he may hear us and raise up those who died by thy fierceness before their time. And death said, Amen, be it so. Therefore Abraham arose and fell upon the face of the ground in prayer, and Death together with him, and the Lord sent a spirit of life upon those that were dead and they were made alive again. Then the righteous Abraham gave glory to God.
XIX. And going up into his chamber he lay down, and Death came and stood before him. And Abraham said to him, Depart from me, for I desire to rest, because my In that day the servants of Abraham died through fear of Death, and Abraham seeing them prayed to the Lord, and he raised them up.
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spirit is in indifference. Death said, I will not depart from thee until I take thy soul. And Abraham with an austere countenance and angry look said to Death, Who has ordered thee to say this? Thou sayest these words of thyself boastfully, and I will not go with thee until the chief-captain Michael come to me, and I shall go with him. But this also I tell thee, if thou desirest that I shall accompany thee, explain to me all thy changes, the seven fiery heads of serpents and what the face of the precipice is, and what the sharp sword, and what the loud-roaring river, and what the tempestuous sea that rages so fiercely. Teach me also the unendurable thunder, and the terrible lightning, and the evil-smelling cup mingled with poisons. Teach me concerning all these. And Death answered, Listen, righteous Abraham. For seven ages I destroy the world and lead all down to Hades, kings and rulers, rich and poor, slaves and free men, I convoy to the bottom of Hades, and for this I showed thee the seven heads of serpents. The face of fire I showed thee because many die consumed by fire, and behold death through a face of fire. The face of the precipice I showed thee, because many men die descending from the tops of trees or terrible precipices and losing their life, and see death in the shape of a terrible precipice. The face of the sword I showed thee because many are slain in wars by the sword, and see death as a sword. The face of the great rushing river I showed thee because many are drowned and perish snatched away by the crossing of many waters and carried off by great rivers, and see death before their time. The face of the angry raging sea I showed thee because many in the sea falling into great surges and becoming shipwrecked are swallowed up and behold death as the sea. The unendurable thunder and the terrible lightning I showed thee because many men in the moment of anger meet with unendurable thunder and terrible lightning coming to seize upon men, and see death thus. I showed thee also the poisonous wild beasts, asps and basilisks, leopards and lions and lions' whelps, bears and vipers, and in short the face of every wild beast I showed thee, most righteous one, because many men are destroyed by wild beasts, and others by poisonous snakes, serpents and asps and cerastes and basilisks and vipers, breathe out their life and die. I showed thee also the destroying cups mingled with poison, because many men being given poison to drink by other men straightway depart unexpectedly.
XX. Abraham said, I beseech thee, is there also an unexpected death? Tell me. Death said, Verily, verily, I tell thee in the truth of God that there are seventy-two deaths. One is the just death, buying its fixed time, and many men in one hour enter into death being given over to the grave. Behold, I have told thee all that thou hast asked, now I tell thee, most righteous Abraham, to dismiss all counsel, and cease from asking anything once for all, and come, go with me, as the God and judge of all has commanded me. Abraham said to Death, Depart from me yet a little, that I may rest on my couch, for I am very faint at heart, for since I have seen thee with my eyes my strength has failed me, all the limbs of my flesh seem to me a weight as of lead, and my spirit is distressed exceedingly. Depart for a little; for I have said I cannot bear to see thy shape. Then Isaac his son came and fell upon his breast weeping, and his wife Sarah came and embraced his feet, lamenting bitterly. There came also his men slaves and women slaves and surrounded his couch, lamenting greatly. And Abraham came into indifference of death, and Death said to Abraham, Come, take my right hand, and may cheerfulness and life and strength come to thee. For Death deceived Abraham, and he took his right hand, and straightway his soul adhered to the hand of Death. And immediately the archangel Michael came with a multitude of angels and took up his precious soul in his hands in a divinely woven linen cloth, and they tended the body of the just Abraham with divine ointments and perfumes until the third day after his death, and buried him in the land of promise, the oak of Mamre, but the angels received his precious soul, and ascended into heaven, singing the hymn of "thrice holy" to the Lord the God of all, and they set it there to worship the God and Father. And after great praise and glory had been given to the Lord, and Abraham bowed down to worship, there came the undefiled voice of the God and Father saying thus, Take therefore my friend Abraham into Paradise, where are the tabernacles of my righteous ones, and the abodes of my saints isaac and Jacob in his bosom, where there is no trouble, nor grief, nor sighing, but peace and rejoicing and life unending. (And let us, too, my beloved brethren, imitate the hospitality of the patriarch Abraham, and attain to his virtuous way of life, that we may be thought worthy of the life eternal, glorifying the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; to whom be glory and power forever. Amen.)
But God returned and removed the soul of Abraham as in a dream, and the archangel Michael took it up into the heavens. And Isaac buried his father beside his mother Sarah, glorifying and praising God, for to him is due glory, honour and worship, of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, now and always and to all eternity. Amen.
Revelation of Moses

ACCOUNT and life of Adam and Eve, the first-created, revealed by God to His servant Moses, when he received from the hand of the Lord the tables of the law of the covenant, instructed by the archangel Michael.
This is the account of Adam and Eve. After they went forth out of paradise, Adam took Eve his wife, and went up into the east. And he remained there eighteen years and two months; and Eve conceived and brought forth two sons, Diaphotus called Cain, and Amilabes
(1) called Abel.
And after this, Adam and Eve were with one another; and when they lay down, Eve said to Adam her lord: My lord, I have seen in a dream this night the blood of my son Amilabes, who is called Abel, thrown into the mouth of Cain his brother, and he drank it without pity. And he entreated him to grant him a little of it, but he did not listen to him, but drank it all up; and it did not remain in his belly, but came forth out of his mouth. And Adam said to Eve: Let us arise, and go and see what has happened to them, lest perchance the enemy should be in any way warring against them.
And having both gone, they found Abel killed by the hand of Cain his brother. And God says to the archangel Michael: Say to Adam, Do not relate the mystery which thou knowest to thy son Cain, for he is a son of wrath. But grieve thyself not; for I will give thee instead of him another son, who shall show thee all things, as many as thou shalt do to him; but do thou tell him nothing. This God said to His angel; and Adam kept the word in his heart, and with him Eve also, having grief about Abel their son.
And after this, Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and brought forth Seth. And Adam says to Eve: Behold, we have brought forth a son instead of Abel whom Cain slew; let us give glory and sacrifice to God.
And Adam had (2) thirty sons and thirty daughters. (3) And he fell into disease, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Let all my sons come to me, that I may see them before I die. And they were all brought together, for the earth was inhabited in three parts; and they all came to the door of the house into which he had entered to pray to God. And his son Seth said: Father Adam, what is thy disease? And he says: My children, great trouble has hold of me. And they say:
What is the trouble and disease? And Seth answered and said to him: Is it that thou rememberest the fruits of paradise of which thou didst eat, and grievest thyself because of the desire of them? If it is so, tell me, and I will go and bring thee fruit from paradise. For I will put dung upon my head, and weep and pray, and the Lord will hearken to me, and send his angel; and I Shall bring it to thee, (4) that thy trouble may cease from thee. Adam says to him: No, my son Seth; but I have disease and trouble. Seth says to him: And how have they come upon thee? Adam said to him: When God made us, me and your mother, for whose sake also I die, He gave us every plant in paradise; but about one he commanded us not to eat of it, because on account of it we should die.
And the hour was at hand for the angels who guarded your mother to go up and worship the Lord; and the enemy gave to her, and she ate of the tree, knowing that I was not near her, nor the holy angels; then she gave me also to eat. And when we had both eaten, God was angry with us. And the Lord, coming into paradise, set His throne, and called with a dreadful voice, saying, Adam, where art thou? and why art thou hidden from my face? shall the house be hidden from him that built it? And He says, Since thou hast forsaken my covenant, I have brought upon thy body seventy strokes. (5) The trouble of the first stroke is the injury of the eyes; the trouble of the second stroke, of the hearing; and so in succession, all the strokes shall overtake thee.
And Adam thus speaking to his sons, groaned out loud, and said: What shall I do? I am in great grief. And Eve also wept, saying: My lord Adam, arise, give me the half of thy disease,
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and let me bear it, because through me this has happened to thee; through me thou art in distresses and troubles. And Adam said to Eve: Arise, and go with our son Seth near paradise, and put earth upon your heads, and weep, beseeching the Lord that He may have compassion upon me, and send His angel to paradise, and give me of the tree in which flows the oil out of it, and that thou mayest bring it to me; and I shall anoint myself, and have rest, and show thee the manner in which we were deceived at first.
And Seth and Eve went into the regions of paradise. And as they were going along, Eve saw her son, and a wild beast fighting with him. And Eye wept, saying: Woe's me, woe's me; for if I come to the day of the resurrection, all who have sinned will curse me, saying, Eve did not keep the commandment of God.
And Eve cried out to the wild beast, saying: O thou evil wild beast, wilt thou not be afraid to fight with the image of God? How has thy mouth been opened? how have thy teeth been strengthened? how hast thou not been mindful of thy subjection, that thou wast formerly subject to the image of God? Then the wild beast cried out, saying:
O Eve, not against: us thy upbraiding nor thy weeping, but against thyself, since the beginning of the wild beasts was from thee. How was thy mouth opened to eat of the tree about which God had commanded thee not to eat of it? For this reason also our nature has been changed. Now, therefore, thou shall not be able to bear up, if I begin to reproach thee. And Seth says to the wild beast: Shut thy mouth and be silent, and stand off from the image of God till the day of judgment.
Then the wild beast says to Seth: Behold, I stand off, Seth, from the image of God. Then the wild beast fled, and left him wounded, and went to his covert.
And Seth went with his mother Eve near paradise: and they wept there, beseeching God to send His angel, to give (1) them the oil of compassion. And God sent to them the archangel Michael, and he said to them these words: Seth, man of God, do not weary thyself praying in this supplication about the tree in which flows the oil to anoint thy father Adam; for it will not happen to thee now, but at the last times.
Then shall arise all flesh from Adam even to that great day, as many as shall be a holy people; then shall be given to them all the delight of paradise, and God shall be in the midst of them; and there shall not any more be sinners before Him, because the wicked heart shall be taken from them, and there shall be given to them a heart made to understand what is good, and to worship God only. Do thou again go to thy father, since the measure of his life has been fulfilled, equal to (2) three days. And when his soul goes out, thou wilt behold its dreadful passage.
And the angel, having said this, went away from them. And Seth and Eve came to the tent where Adam was lying. And Adam says to Eve: Why didst thou work mischief against us, and bring upon us great wrath, which is death, holding sway over all our race? And he says to her: Call all our children, and our children's children, and relate to them the manner of our transgression.
Then Eve says to them: Listen, all my children, and my children's children, and I shall relate to you how our enemy deceived us. It came to pass, while we were keeping paradise, that we kept each the portion allotted to him by God. And I was keeping in my lot the south and west. And the devil went into the lot of Adam where were the male wild beasts; since God parted to us the wild beasts, and had given all the males to your father, and all the females He gave to me, and each of us watched his own. And the devil spoke to the serpent, saying, Arise, come to me, and I shall tell you a thing in which thou mayst be of service.
Then the serpent came to him, and the devil says to him, I hear that thou art more sagacious than all the wild beasts, and I have come to make thy acquaintance; (3) and I have found thee greater than all the wild beasts, and they associate with thee; notwithstanding, thou doest reverence to one far inferior. Why eatest thou of the tares (4) of Adam and his wife, and not of the fruit of paradise? Arise and come hither, and we shall make him be cast out of paradise through his wife, as we also were cast out through him. The serpent says to him, I am afraid test the Lord be angry with me.
The devil says to him, Be not afraid; only become my instrument, and I will speak through thy mouth a word by which thou shalt be able to deceive him. Then straightway he hung by the walls of paradise about the hour when the angels of God went up to worship. Then Satan came in the form of an angel, and praised God as did the angels; and looking out from the wall, I saw him like an angel. And says he to me, Art thou Eve? And I said to him, I am. And says he to me, What doest thou in paradise? And I said to him, God has set us to keep it, and to eat of it. The devil answered me through the mouth of the serpent, Ye do well, but you do not eat of every plant. And I
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say to him, Yes, of every plant we eat, but one only which is in the midst of paradise, about which God has commanded us not to eat of it, since you will die the death. Then says the serpent to me, As God liveth, I am grieved for you, because you are like cattle. For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this; but rise, come hither, listen to me, and eat, and perceive the value of the tree, as He told us. But I said to him, I am afraid lest God be angry with me. And he says to me, Be not afraid; for as soon as thou eatest, thine eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods in knowing what is good and what is evil. And God, knowing this, that ye shall be like Him, has had a grudge against you, and said, Ye shall not eat of it.
But do thou observe the plant, and thou shalt see great glory about it. And I observed the plant, and saw great glory about it, And I said to him, It is beautiful to the eyes to perceive; and I was afraid to take of the fruit. And he says to me, Come, I will give to thee: follow me. And I opened to him, and he came inside into paradise, and went through it before me. And having walked a little, he turned, and says to me, I have changed my mind, and will not give thee to eat.
And this he said, wishing at last to entice and destroy me. And he says to me, Swear to me that thou wilt give also to thy husband. And I said to him. I know not by what oath I shall swear to thee; but what I know I say to thee, By the throne of the Lord, and the cherubim, and the tree of life, I will give also to my husband to eat. And when he had taken the oath from me, then he went and ascended upon it.
And he put upon the fruit which he gave me to eat the poison of his wickedness, that is, of his desire; for desire is the head (1) of all sin. And I bent down the branch to the ground, and took of the fruit, and ate. And in that very hour mine eyes were opened. and I knew that I was stripped (2) of the righteousness with which I had been clothed; and I wept, saying, What is this thou hast done to me, because I have been deprived of the glory with which I was clothed?
And I wept too about the oath. And he came down out of the tree, and went out of sight. And I sought leaves in my portion, (3) that I might cover my shame; and I did not find them from the plants of paradise, since, at the time that I ate, the leaves of all the plants in my portion fell, except of the fig alone. And having taken leaves off it, I made myself a girdle, and it is from those plants of which I ate.
And I cried out with a loud voice, saying, Adam, Adam, where art thou? Arise, come to me, and I shall show thee a great mystery. And when your father came, I said to him words of wickedness, which brought us down from great glory. For as soon as he came I opened my mouth, and the devil spoke; and I began to advise him, saying, Come hither, my lord Adam, listen to me, and eat of the fruit of the tree of which God said to us not to eat of it, and thou shalt be as God. And your father answered and said, I am afraid lest God be angry with me. And I said to him, Be not afraid, for as soon as thou shalt eat thou shalt know good and evil.
And then I quickly persuaded him, and he ate; and his eyes were opened, and he was aware, he also, of his nakedness. And he says to me, O wicked woman, why hast thou wrought mischief in us? Thou hast alienated me from the glory of God. And that same hour we heard the archangel Michael sounding his trumpet, calling the angels, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Come with me to paradise, and hear the word in which I judge Adam.
And when we heard the archangel sounding, we said, Behold, God is coming into paradise to judge us. And we were afraid, and hid ourselves. And God came up into paradise, riding upon a chariot of cherubim, and the angels praising Him. When God came into paradise, the plants both of Adam's lot and of my lot bloomed, and all lifted themselves up; and the throne of God was made ready where the tree of life was. And God called Adam, saying. Adam, where art thou hidden, thinking that I shall not find thee? Shall the house be bidden from him that built it?
Then your father answered and said, Not, Lord, did we hide ourselves as thinking that we should not be found by Thee; but I am afraid, because I am naked, and stand in awe of Thy power, O Lord. God says to him, Who hath shown thee that thou art naked, unless it be that thou hast forsaken my commandment which I thee to keep it? Then Adam remembered the word which I spake to him when I wished to deceive him, I will put thee out of danger from God. And he turned and said to me, Why hast thou done this?
And I also remembered the word of the serpent, and said, The serpent deceived me. God says to Adam, Since thou hast disobeyed my commandment, and obeyed thy wife, cursed is the ground in thy labours. For whenever thou labourest it, and it will not give its strength, thorns and thistles shall it raise for thee; and in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat thy bread. And thou shall be in distresses of many kinds. Thou shall weary thyself, and rest not; thou shalt be afflicted by bitterness, and shall not taste of sweetness; thou shalt be afflicted by heat, and oppressed by cold; and thou shalt toil much, and not grow rich; and thou shalt make haste, (4) and not attain
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thine end; and the wild beasts, of which thou wast lord, shall rise up against thee in rebellion, because thou hast not kept my commandment. And having turned to me, the Lord says to me, Since thou hast obeyed the serpent, and disobeyed my commandment, thou shall be in distresses (1) and unbearable pains; thou shall bring forth children with great tremblings; and in one hour shale thou come to bring them forth, (2) and lose thy life in consequence of thy great straits and pangs. And thou shale confess, and say, Lord, Lord, save me; and I shall not return to the sin of the flesh. And on this account in thine own words I shall judge thee, on account of the enmity which the enemy hath put in thee; and thou shale turn again to thy husband, and he shall be thy lord.
(3) And after speaking thus to me, He spoke to the serpent in great wrath, saying to him, Since thou hast done this, and hast become an ungracious instrument until thou shouldst deceive those that were remiss in heart, cursed art thou of all the beasts. Thou shale be deprived of the food which thou eatest; and dust shale thou eat all the days of thy life; upon thy breast and belly shale thou go, and thou shalt be deprived both of thy hands and feet; there shall not be granted thee ear, nor wing, nor one limb of all which those have whom thou hast enticed by thy wickedness, and hast caused them to be cast out of paradise.
And I shall put enmity between thee and between his seed. He shall lie in wait for (4) thy head, and thou for his heel, until the day of judgment. And having thus said, He commands His angels that we be cast out of paradise. And as we were being driven along, and were lamenting, your father Adam entreated the angels, saying, Allow me a little, that I may entreat God, and that He may have compassion upon me, and pity me, for I only have sinned. And they stopped driving him. And Adam cried out with weeping, saying, Pardon me, Lord, what I have done.
Then says the Lord to His angels, Why have you stopped driving Adam out of paradise? It is not that the sin is mine, or that I have judged ill? Then the angels, failing to the ground, worshipped the Lord, saying, Just art Thou, Lord, and judgest what is right. And turning to Adam, the Lord said, I will not permit thee henceforth to be in paradise. And Adam answered and said, Lord, give me of the tree of life, that I may eat before I am cast out.
Then the Lord said to Adam, Thou shalt not now take of it, for it has been assigned to the cherubim and the flaming sword, which turneth to guard it on account of thee, that thou mayst not taste of it and be free from death for ever, but that thou mayst have the war which the enemy has set in thee. But when thou art gone out of paradise, if thou shalt keep thyself from all evil, as being destined to die, I will again raise thee up when the resurrection comes, and then there shall be given thee of the tree of life, and thou shalt be free from death for ever.
And having thus said, the Lord commanded us to be cast out of paradise. And your father wept before the angels over against paradise. And the angels say to him, What dost thou wish that we should do for thee, Adam? And your father answered and said to the angels, Behold, you cast me out. I beseech you, allow me to take sweet odours out of paradise, in order that, after I go out, I may offer sacrifice to God, that God may listen to me.
And the angels, advancing, said to God, Jael, eternal King, order to be given to Adam sacrifices (5) of sweet odour out of paradise. And God ordered Adam to go, that he might take perfumes of sweet odour out of paradise for his food. And the angels let him go, and he gathered both kinds--saffron and spikenard, and calamus (6) and cinnamon, and other seeds for his food; and having taken them, he went forth out of paradise. And we came to the earth. (7)
Now, then, my children, I have shown you the manner in which we were deceived. But do ye watch over yourselves, so as not to forsake what is good.
And when she had thus spoken in the midst of her sons, and Adam was lying in his disease, and he had one other day before going out of the body, Eve says to Adam: Why is it that thou diest, and I live? or how long time have I to spend after thou diest? tell me. Then says Adam to Eve: Do not trouble thyself about matters; for thou wilt not be long after me, but we shall both die alike, and thou wilt be laid into my place. (8) And when I am dead you will leave (9) me, and let no one touch me, until the angel of the Lord shall say something about me; for God will not forget me, but will seek His own vessel which He fashioned. Arise, rather, pray to God until I restore my spirit into the hands of Him who has given it; because we know not how we shall meet Him who made us, whether He shall be angry with us, or turn and have mercy upon us. Then arose Eve, and went
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outside; and falling to the ground, she said: I have sinned, O God; I have sinned, O Father of all; I have sinned to Thee, I have sinned against Thy chosen angels, I have sinned against the cherubim, I have sinned against Thine unshaken throne; I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned much, I have sinned before Thee, and every sin (1) through me has come upon the creation. And while Eve was still praying, being on her knees, behold, there came to her the angel of humanity, and raised her up, saying: Arise, Eve, from thy repentance; for, behold, Adam thy husband has gone forth from his body; arise and see his spirit carried up to Him that made (2) it, to meet Him.
And Eve arose, and covered her face with her hand; and the angel says to her: Raise thyself from the things of earth. And Eve gazed up into heaven, and she saw a chariot of light going along under four shining eagles--and it was not possible for any one born of woman (3) to tell the glory of them, or to see the face of them--and angels going before the chariot. And when they I came to the place where your father Adam was lying, the chariot stood still, and the
seraphim between your father and the chariot. And I saw golden censers, and three vials; and, behold, all the angels with incense, and the censers, and the vials, came to the altar, and blew them up, and the smoke of the incense covered the firmaments. And the angels fell down and worshipped God, crying out and saying: Holy Jael, forgive; for he is Thine mage, and the work of Thine holy hands.
And again, I Eve saw two great and awful mysteries standing before God. And I wept for fear, and cried out to my son Seth, saying: Arise, Seth, from the body of thy father Adam, and come to me, that thou mayst see what the eye of no one bath ever seen; and they are praying for thy father Adam. (4)
Then Seth arose and went to his mother, and said to her: What has befallen thee? and why weepest thou? She says to him: Look up with thine eyes, and see the seven firmaments opened, and see with thine eyes how the body of thy, father lies upon its face, and all the holy angels with him, praying for him, and saying: Pardon him, O Father of the universe; for he is Thine image.
What then, my child Seth, will this be? and when will he be delivered into the hands of our invisible Father and God? And who are the two dark-faced ones who stand by at the prayer of thy father? And Seth says to his mother: These are the sun and the moon, and they are falling down and praying for my father Adam. Eve says to him: And where is their light, and why have they become black-looking? And Seth says to her: They cannot shine in the presence of the Light of the universe, (5) and for this reason the light from them has been hidden.
And while Seth was speaking to his mother, the angels lying upon their faces sounded their trumpets, and cried out with an awful voice, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord upon what He has made, for He has had compassion upon Adam, the work of His hands. When the angels had sounded this forth, there came one of the six-winged seraphim, and hurried Adam to the Acherusian lake, and washed him in presence of God. And he spent three hours (6) lying, and thus the Lord of the universe, sitting upon His holy
throne, stretched forth His hands, and raised Adam, and delivered him to the archangel Michael, saying to him: Raise him into paradise, even to the third heaven, and let him be there until that great and dreadful day which I am to bring upon the world. And the archangel Michael, having taken Adam, led him away, and anointed him, as God said to him at the pardoning of Adam.
After all these things, therefore, the archangel asked about the funeral rites of the remains; and God commanded that all the angels should come together into His presence, each according to his rank. And all the angels were assembled, some with censers, some with trumpets. And the Lord of Hosts went up, (7) and the winds drew Him, and cherubim riding upon the winds, and the angels of heaven went before Him; and they came to where the body of Adam was, and took it. And they came to paradise, and all the trees of paradise were moved so that all begotten from Adam hung their heads in sleep at the sweet smell, except Seth, because he had been begotten according to the appointment of God.
The body of Adam, then, was lying on the ground in paradise, and Seth was grieved exceedingly about him. And the Lord God says: Adam, why hast thou done this? If thou hadst kept my commandment, those that brought thee down to this place would not have rejoiced. Nevertheless I say unto thee, that I will turn their joy into grief, but I will turn thy grief into joy; and having turned, I will set thee in thy kingdom, on the throne of him that deceived thee; and he shall be cast into this place, that thou mayst sit upon him. Then shall be condemned, he and those who hear him; and they shall be much rieved, and shall weep, seeing thee sitting upon his glorious throne.
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And then He said to the archangel Michael: Go into paradise, into the third heaven, and bring me three cloths of fine linen and silk. And God said to Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael: (1) Cover Adam's body with the cloths, and bring olive oil of sweet odour, and pour upon him. And having thus done, they prepared his body for burial. And the Lord said: Let also the body of Abel be brought. And having brought other cloths, they prepared it also for burial, since it had not been prepared for burial since the day on which his brother Cain slew him.
For the wicked Cain, having taken great pains to hide it, had not been able; for the earth did not receive it, saying: I will not receive a body into companionship (2) until that dust which was taken up and fashioned upon me come to me. And then the angels took it up, and laid it on the rock until his father died. And both were buried, according to the commandment of God, in the regions of paradise, in the place in which God found the dust. (3) And God sent seven angels into paradise, and they brought many sweet-smelling herbs, and laid them in the earth; and thus they took the two bodies, and buried them in the place which they had dug and built.
And God called Adam, and said: Adam, Adam. And the body answered out of the ground, and said: Here am I, Lord. And the Lord says to him: I said to thee, Dust (4) thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return. Again I promise thee the resurrection. I will raise thee up in the last day in the resurrection, with every man who is of thy seed.
And after these words God made a three-cornered seal, and sealed the tomb, that no one should do anything to him in the six days, until his rib should return to him. And the beneficent God and the holy angels having laid him in his place, after the six days Eve also died. And while she lived she wept about her falling asleep, because she knew not where her body was to be laid. For when the Lord was present in paradise when they buried Adam, both she and her children fell asleep, except Seth, as I said.
And Eve, in the hour of her death, besought that she might be buried where Adam her husband was, saying thus: My Lord, Lord and God of all virtue, do not separate me, Thy servant, from the body of Adam, for of his members Thou madest me; but grant to me, even me, the unworthy and the sinner, to be buried by his body. And as I was along with him in paradise, and not separated from him after the transgression, so also let no one separate us. After having prayed, therefore, she looked up into heaven, and stood up, and said, beating her breast: God of all, receive my spirit.And straightway she gave up her spirit to God.
And when she was dead, the archangel Michael stood beside her; and there came three angels, and took her body, and buried it where the body of Abel was. And the archangel Michael said to Seth: Thus bury every man that dies, until the day of the resurrection. And after having given this law, he said to him: Do not mourn beyond six days.
And on the seventh day, rest, and rejoice in it, because in it God and we the angels rejoice in the righteous soul that has departed from earth. Having thus spoken, the archangel Michael went up into heaven, glorifying, and saying the Alleluia: (5) Holy, holy, holy Lord, to the glory of God the Father, because to Him is due glory, honour, and adoration, with His unbeginning and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
APOCALYPSIS MOSIS
From-The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament
R.H. Charles
Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1913

i 1 This is the story of Adam and Eve after they had gone out of Paradise. And Adam knew his wife
2 Eve and went upwards to the sun-rising and abode there eighteen years and two months. And
3 Eve conceived and bare two sons; Adiaphotos, who is called Cain and Amilabes who is called Abel.
ii 1 And after this, Adam and Eve were with one another and while they were sleeping, Eve said to Adam her lord: 'My lord, Adam, behold,
2 I have seen in a dream this night the blood of my son Amilabes who is styled Abel being poured into the mouth of Cain his brother and he went on drinking it without pity. But he begged him to leave him a little of it. Yet he hearkened
3 not to him, but gulped down the whole; nor did it stay in his stomach, but came out of his mouth. And Adam said, 'Let us arise and go
4 and see what has happened to them. (I fear) lest the adversary may be assailing them somewhere.'
iii 1 And they both went and found Abel murdered. I by the hand of Cain his brother. And God
2 saith to Michael the archangel: 'Say to Adam: " Reveal not the secret that thou knowest to Cain thy son, for he is a son of wrath. But grieve not, for I will give thee another son in his stead; he shall show (to thee) all that thou shalt do. Do thou tell him nothing."' Thus spake the archangel
3 to Adam. But he kept the word in his heart, and with him also Eve, though they grieved concerning Abel their son.
iv 1 And after this, Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Seth.
And Adam said to Eve: 'See! we have
2 begotten a son in place of Abel, whom Cain slew, let us give glory and sacrifice to God.'
v 1 And Adam begat thirty sons and thirty daughters and Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years; and he fell sick and cried with a loud
2 voice and said, 'Let all my sons come to me that I may see them before I die.'
3 And all assembled, for the earth was divided into three parts. And Seth his son said to him:
4 'Father Adam, what is thy complaint?'
5 And he saith, 'MY children, I am crushed by the burden of trouble.' And they say to him, 'What is trouble?'
vi 1 And Seth answered and said to him: 'Hast thou called to mind, father, the fruit of paradise of which thou usedst to eat, and hast been grieved in yearning for it?'
'If this be so, tell me, (and) I will go and
2 bring thee fruit from paradise. For I will set dung upon my head and will weep and pray that the Lord will hearken to me and send his angel (and bring me a plant from paradise), and I will bring it thee that thy trouble may cease from thee.'
Adam saith to him: 'Nay, my son Seth, but
3 I have (much) sickness and trouble!' Seth saith to him: 'And how hath this come upon thee?'
vii 1 And Adam said to him: 'When God made us, me and your mother, through whom also I die, He gave us power to eat of every tree which is in paradise, but, concerning that one only, He charged us not to eat of it, and through this one we are to die. And the hour drew nigh for the angels
2 who were guarding your mother to go up and worship the Lord, and I was far from her, and the enemy knew that she was alone and gave to her, and she ate of the tree of which she had been told not to eat.
3 Then she gave also to me to eat.
viii 1 'And God was wroth with us, and the Lord came into paradise and called me in a terrible voice and said: "Adam, where art thou? And why hidest thou from my face? Shall the house be able to hide itself from its builder?" And he saith to me: "Since thou hast abandoned my covenant, I have brought upon thy body seventy-two strokes; the trouble of the first stroke is a pain of the eyes, the second stroke an affection of the hearing, and likewise in turn all the strokes shall befall thee."'
ix 1 As he said this to his sons, Adam groaned sore and said: 'What shall I do? I am in great distress.'
And Eve wept and said: 'My lord
2 Adam, rise up and give me half of thy trouble and I will endure it; for it is on my account that this hath happened to thee, on my account thou art beset with toils and troubles.' But Adam
3 said to Eve, 'Arise and go with my son Seth near to paradise, and put earth upon your heads and weep and pray God to have mercy upon me and send his angel to paradise, and give me of the tree out of which the oil floweth, and bring it me, and I shall anoint myself and shall have rest from my complaint.'
x 1 Then Seth and Eve went towards paradise, and Eve saw her son, and a wild beast assailing him, and Eve wept and said: 'Woe is me; if
2 I come to the day of the Resurrection, all those who have sinned will curse me saying: Eve hath not kept the commandment of God.' And she
3 spake to the beast: 'Thou wicked beast, fearest thou not to fight with the image of God? How was thy mouth opened? How were thy teeth made strong? How didst thou not call to mind thy subjection? For long ago wast thou made subject to the image of God.' Then the beast
4 cried out and said:
xi 1 'It is not our concern, Eve, thy greed and thy wailing, but thine own; for (it is) from thee that the rule of the beasts hath arisen. How was thy
2 mouth opened to eat of the tree concerning which God enjoined thee not to eat of it? On this account, our nature also hath been transformed. Now therefore thou canst not endure it,
3 if I begin to reprove thee.'
xii 1 Then Seth speaketh to the beast, 'Close thy mouth and be silent and stand off from the image of God until the day of Judgment.' Then saith
2 the beast to Seth: 'Behold, I stand off from the image of God.' And he went to his lair.
xiii 1 And Seth went with Eve near paradise, and I they wept there, and prayed God to send his angel and give them the oil of mercy.
And God
2 sent the archangel Michael and he spake to Seth: 'Seth, man of God, weary not thyself with prayers and entreaties concerning the tree which floweth with oil to anoint thy father Adam. For it shall not be thine now, but in the end of the times.
3 Then shall all flesh be raised up from Adam till that great day,-all that shall be of the holy people. Then shall the delights of paradise be given to them and God shall be in their midst. And they shall no longer sin before his face, for the evil heart shall be taken from them and there shall be given them a heart understanding the good and to serve God only.
But do thou go back to thy father. For the
6 term of his life hath been fulfilled and he will live three days from to-day and will die. But when his soul is departing, thou shalt behold the awful (scene of) his passing.'
xiv 1 Thus spake the angel and departed from them. And Seth and Eve came to the hut where Adam was laid. And Adam saith to Eve: 'Eve, what
2 hast thou wrought in us? Thou hast brought upon us great wrath which is death, [lording it over all our race].' And he saith to her, 'Call all
3 our children and our children's children and tell them the manner of our transgression.'
xv 1 Then saith Eve to them: 'Hear all my children and children's children and I will relate to you
2 how the enemy deceived us. It befell that we were guarding paradise, each of us the portion
3 allotted to us from God. Now I guarded in my lot, the west and the south. But the devil went to Adam's lot, where the male creatures were. [For God divided the creatures; all the males he gave to your father and all the females he gave to me.]
xvi 1 And the devil spake to the serpent saying, Rise up, come to me and I will tell thee a word
2 whereby thou mayst have profit." And he arose and came to him. And the devil saith to him:
3 "I hear that thou art wiser than all the beasts, and I have come to counsel thee. Why dost thou eat of Adam's tares and not of paradise? Rise up and we will cause him to be cast out of paradise, even
4 as we were cast out through him." The serpent saith to him, "I fear lest the Lord be wroth with
5 me." The devil saith to him: "Fear not, only be my vessel and I will speak through thy mouth words to deceive him."
xvii 1 And instantly he hung himself from the wall of paradise, and when the angels ascended to
2 worship God, then Satan appeared in the form of an angel and sang hymns like the angels. And I bent over the wall and saw him, like an angel. But he saith to me: "Art thou Eve?" And I said
3 to him, "I am." 'What art thou doing in paradise?" And I said to him, "God set us to guard and
4 to eat of it." The devil answered through the mouth of the serpent: 'Ye do well but ye do not eat
5 of every plant." And I said: "Yea, we eat of all. save one only, which is in the midst of paradise, concerning which, God charged us not to eat of it: for, He said to us, on the day on which ye eat of it, ye shall die the death."
xviii 1 Then the serpent saith to me, "May God live! but I am grieved on your account, for I would not have you ignorant. But arise, (come) hither, hearken to me and eat and mind the value of that tree."
2,3 But I said to him, " I fear lest God be wroth with me as he told us." And he saith to me: "Fear not, for as soon as thou eatest of it, ye too shall be as God, in that ye shall know good and evil.
4 But God perceived this that ye would be like Him, so he envied you and said, Ye shall not eat of
5,6 it. Nay, do thou give heed to the plant and thou wilt see its great glory." Yet I feared to take of the fruit. And he saith to me: "Come hither, and I will give it thee. Follow me."
xix 1 And I opened to him and he walked a little way, then turned and said to me: "I have changed my
2 mind and I will not give thee to eat until thou swear to me to give also to thy husband." (And) I said. "What sort of oath shall I swear to thee? Yet what I know, I say to thee: By the throne of the
3 Master, and by the Cherubim and the Tree of Life! I will give also to my husband to eat." And when he had received the oath from me, he went and poured upon the fruit the poison of his wickedness, which is lust, the root and beginning of every sin, and he bent the branch on the earth and I took of the fruit and I ate.
xx 1 And in that very hour my eyes were opened, and forthwith I knew that I was bare of the righteousness
2 with which I had been clothed (upon), and I wept and said to him: "Why hast thou
3 done this to me in that thou hast deprived me of the glory with which I was clothed?" But I wept also about the oath, which I had sworn. But he descended from the tree and vanished.
4 And I began to seek, in my nakedness, in my part for leaves to hide my shame, but I found none, for, as soon as I had eaten, the leaves showered down from all the trees in my part, except the fig tree
5 only. But I took leaves from it and made for myself a girdle and it was from the very same plant of which I had eaten.
xxi 1 And I cried out in that very hour, 'Adam, Adam, where art thou? Rise up, come to me and
2 I will show thee a great secret." But when your father came, I spake to him words of transgression
3 [which have brought us down from our great glory]. For, when he came, I opened my mouth and the devil was speaking, and I began to exhort him and said, "Come hither, my lord Adam, hearken to me and eat of the fruit of the tree of which God told us not to eat of it, and thou shalt be as
4 a God." And your father answered and said, "I fear lest God be wroth with me." And I said to
5 him, "Fear not, for as soon as thou hast eaten thou shalt know good and evil." And speedily I persuaded him, and he ate and straightway his eyes were opened and he too knew his nakedness.
6 And to me he saith, "O wicked woman! what have I done to thee that thou hast deprived me of the glory of God?"
xxii 1 And in that same hour, we heard the archangel Michael blowing with his trumpet and calling to
2 the angels and saying: "Thus saith the Lord, Come with me to Paradise and hear the judgement with which I shall judge Adam."
3 And when God appeared in paradise, mounted on the chariot of his cherubim with the angels proceeding before him and singing hymns of praises, all the plants of paradise, both of your father's lot
4 and mine, broke out into flowers. And the throne of God was fixed where the Tree of Life was.
xxiii 1 And God called Adam saying, "Adam, where art thou? Can the house be hidden from the presence
2 of its builder? "Then your father answered; "It is not because we think not to be found by thee, Lord, that we hide, but I was afraid, because I am naked, and I was ashamed before thy might,
3 (my) Master." God saith to him, "Who showed thee that thou art naked, unless thou hast forsaken my
4 commandment, which I delivered thee to keep (it)." Then Adam called to mind the word which I spake to him, (saying) "I will make thee secure before God"; and he turned and said to me: "Why hast thou done this?" And I said, "The serpent deceived me."
xxiv 1 God saith to Adam: 'Since thou hast disregarded my commandment and hast hearkened to thy wife, cursed is the earth in thy labours. Thou shalt work it and it shall not give its strength: thorns and thistles shall spring up for thee, and in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread. [Thou shalt be in manifold toils; thou shalt be crushed by bitterness, but of sweetness shalt thou not taste.]
3 Weary shalt thou be and shalt not rest; by heat shalt thou be tired, by cold shalt thou be straitened: abundantly shalt thou busy thyself, but thou shalt not be rich; and thou shalt grow fat, but come to no end.
4 The beasts, over whom thou didst rule, shall rise up in rebellion against thee, for thou hast not kept my commandment."
xxv 1 And the Lord turned to me and said: "Since thou hast hearkened to the serpent, and turned
2 a deaf ear to my commandment, thou shalt be in throes of travail and intolerable agonies; thou shalt bear children in much trembling and in one hour thou shalt come to the birth, and lose thy
3 life, from thy sore trouble and anguish. But thou shalt confess and say: 'Lord, Lord, save me, and
4 I will turn no more to the sin of the flesh.' And on this account, from thine own words I will judge thee, by reason of the enmity which the enemy has planted in thee."
xxvi 1 But he turned to the serpent [in great wrath] and said: "Since thou hast done this, and become a thankless vessel until thou hast deceived the innocent hearts, accursed art thou among all beasts.
2 Thou shalt be deprived of the victual of which thou didst eat and shalt feed on dust all the days of
3 thy life: on thy breast and thy belly shalt thou walk and be robbed of hands and feet. There shall not be left thee ear nor wing, nor one limb of all that with which thou didst ensnare them in
4 thy malice and causedst them to be cast out of paradise; and I will put enmity between thee and his seed: he shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel until the day of Judgement." xxvii 1,2 Thus he spake and bade the angels have us cast out of paradise: and as we were being driven out amid our loud lamentations, your father Adam besought the angels and said: "Leave me a little (space) that I may entreat the Lord that he have compassion on me and pity me, for I only
3 have sinned." And they left off driving him and Adam cried aloud and wept saying: "Pardon me O Lord, my deed." Then the Lord saith to the angels, "Why have ye ceased from driving Adam from paradise? Why do ye not cast him out? Is it I who have done wrong? Or is my judgement
5 badly judged?" Then the angels fell down on the ground and worshipped the Lord saying, "Thou art just, O Lord, and thou judgest righteous judgement."
xxviii 1 But the Lord turned to Adam and said: 'I will not suffer thee henceforward to be in paradise."
2 And Adam answered and said, " Grant me, O Lord, of the Tree of Life that I may eat of it, before
3 I be cast out." Then the Lord spake to Adam, "Thou shalt not take of it now, for I have commanded the cherubim with the flaming sword that turneth (every way) to guard it from thee that
4 thou taste not of it; but thou hast the war which the adversary hath put into thee, yet when thou art gone out of paradise, if thou shouldst keep thyself from all evil, as one about to die, when again the Resurrection hath come to pass, I will raise thee up and then there shall be given to thee the Tree of Life."
xxix 1,2 Thus spake the Lord and ordered us to be cast out of paradise. But your father Adam wept before the angels opposite paradise and the angels say to him: "What wouldst thou have us to do,
3 Adam? "And your father saith to them, "Behold, ye cast me out. I pray you, allow me to take away fragrant herbs from paradise, so that I may offer an offering to God after I have gone out of paradise that he hear me." And the angels approached God and said: "JA'EL, Eternal King, command, my Lord, that there be given to Adam incense of sweet odour from paradise and seeds
5 for his food." And God bade Adam go in and take sweet spices and fragrant herbs from paradise
6 and seeds for his food. And the angels let him go and he took four kinds: crocus and nard and calamus and cinnamon and the other seeds for his food: and, after taking these, he went out of
7 paradise. And we were on the earth.
xxx 1 Now then, my children, I have shown you the way in which we were deceived; and do ye guard yourselves from transgressing against the good.'
xxxi 1 And when Eve had said this in the midst of her sons, while Adam was lying ill and bound to die
2 after a single day from the sickness which had fastened upon him, she saith to him: 'How is it that
3 thou diest and I live or how long have I to live after thou art dead? Tell me.' And Adam saith to her: 'Reck not of this, for thou tarriest not after me, but even both of us are to die together. And she shall lie in my place. But when I die, anoint me and let no man touch me till the
4 angel of the Lord shall speak somewhat concerning me. For God will not forget me, but will seek His own creature; and now arise rather and pray to God till I give up my spirit into His hands who gave it me. For we know not how we are to meet our Maker, whether He be wroth with us, or be merciful and intend to pity and receive us.'
xxxii 1,2 And Eve rose up and went outside and fell on the ground and began to say: I have sinned, O God, I have sinned, O God of All, I have sinned against Thee. I have sinned against the elect angels. I have sinned against the Cherubim. I have sinned against Thy fearful and unshakable Throne. I have sinned before Thee and all sin hath begun through my doing in the creation.'
3 Even thus prayed Eve on her knees; (and) behold, the angel of humanity came to her, and raised
4 her up and said: 'Rise up, Eve, (from thy penitence), for behold, Adam thy husband hath gone out of his body. Rise up and behold his spirit borne aloft to his Maker.'
xxxiii 1 And Eve rose up and wiped off her tears with her hand, and the angel saith to her, ' Lift Up thyself
2 from the earth.' And she gazed steadfastly into heaven, and beheld a chariot of light, borne by four bright eagles, (and) it were impossible for any man born of woman to tell the glory of them or
3 behold their face -and angels going before the chariot- and when they came to the place where your father Adam was, the chariot halted and the Seraphim. And I beheld golden censers, between your father and the chariot, and all the angels with censers and frankincense came in haste to the
5 incense-offering and blew upon it and the smoke of the incense veiled the firmaments. And the angels fell down and worshipped God, crying aloud and saying, JA'EL, Holy One, have pardon, for he is Thy image, and the work of Thy holy hands.'
xxxiv 1 And I Eve beheld two great and fearful wonders standing in the presence of God and I wept for
2 fear, and I cried aloud to my son Seth and said, 'Rise up, Seth, from the body of thy father Adam and come to me, and thou shalt see a spectacle which no man's eye hath yet beheld.'
xxxv 1 Then Seth arose and came to his mother and to her he saith: 'What is thy trouble? Why weepest thou?' (And) she saith to him: 'Look
2 up and see with thine eyes the seven heavens opened, and see how the soul of thy father lies on its face and all the holy angels are praying on his behalf and saying: 'Pardon him, Father of All, for he is Thine image." 'Pray, my child
3 Seth, what shall this mean? And will he one day be delivered into the hands of the Invisible Father, even our God? But who are the two
4 negroes who stand by at the prayers for thy father Adam?'
xxxvi 1 And Seth telleth his mother, that they are the sun and moon and themselves fall down and pray on behalf of my father Adam. Eve saith
2 to him: 'And where is their light and why have they taken on such a black appearance?' And
3 Seth answereth her, 'The light hath not left them, but they cannot shine before the Light of the Universe, the Father of Light; and on this account their light hath been hidden from them.
xxxvii 1 Now while Seth was saying this to his mother, lo, an angel blew the trumpet, and there stood up all the angels (and they were) lying on their faces, and they cried aloud in an awful voice and said: 'Blessed (be) the glory of the Lord from
2 the works of His making, for He hath pitied Adam the creature of His hands.' But when the
3 angels had said these words, lo, there came one of the seraphim with six wings and snatched up Adam and carried him off to the Acherusian lake, and washed him thrice, in the presence of God.
xxxix 1 And God saith to him: 'Adam, what hast thou done? If thou hadst kept my commandment, there would now be no rejoicing among those who are bringing thee down to this place. Yet, I tell thee that I will turn their joy to grief
2 and thy grief will I turn to joy, and I will transform thee to thy former glory? and set thee on the throne of thy deceiver. But he shall be cast
3 into this place to see thee sitting above him, then he shall be condemned and they that heard him, and he shall be grieved sore when he seeth thee sitting on his honourable throne.'
xxxvii
4 And he stayed there three hours, lying down, and thereafter the Father of all, sitting on his holy throne stretched out his hand, and took Adam and handed him over to the archangel Michael saying: 'Lift him up into Paradise unto the third Heaven, and leave him there until that fearful day of my reckoning, which I will make in the world.' Then Michael took Adam and left
6 him where God told him.
xxxviii 1 But after all this, the archangel asked concerning the laying out of the remains. And God
2 commanded that all the angels should assemble in His presence, each in his order, and all the angels assembled, some having censers in their hands, and others trumpets. And lo ! the 'Lord
3 of Hosts' came on and four winds drew Him and cherubim mounted on the winds and the angels from heaven escorting Him and they came on the earth, where was the body of Adam. And
4 they came to paradise and all the leaves of paradise were stirred so that all men begotten of Adam slept from the fragrance save Seth alone, because he was born 'according to the appointment of God '. Then Adam's body lay there in
5 paradise on the earth and Seth grieved exceedingly over him.
xl 1 Then God spake to the archangel(s) Michael, (Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael): 'Go away
2 to Paradise in the third heaven, and strew linen clothes and cover the body of Adam and bring oil of the 'oil of fragrance' and pour it over him. And they acted thus did the three great angels and they prepared him for burial. And God said: 'Let the body of Abel also be
3 brought.' And they brought other linen clothes and prepared his (body) also. For he was unburied since the day when Cain his brother slew him; for wicked Cain took great pains to conceal (him) but could not, for the earth would not receive him for the body sprang up from the earth and a voice went out of the earth saying: 'I will not
5 receive a companion body, till the earth which was taken and fashioned in me cometh to me.' At that time, the angels took it and placed it on a rock, till Adam his father was buried. And
6 both were buried, according to the commandment of God, in the spot where God found the dust, and He caused the place to be dug for two. And God sent seven angels to paradise and they
7 brought many fragrant spices and placed them in the earth, and they took the two bodies and placed them in the spot which they had digged and builded.
xli 1 And God called and said, 'Adam, Adam.' And the body answered from the earth and said: 'Here am I, Lord.' And God saith to him: 'I told
2 thee (that) earth thou art and to earth shalt thou return. Again I promise to thee the Resurrection; I will raise thee up in the Resurrection with every man who is of thy seed.'
xlii 1 After these words, God made a seal and sealed the tomb, that no one might do anything to him for six days till his rib should return to him. Then the Lord and his angels went to their place.
2 And Eve also, when the six days were fulfilled,
3 fell asleep. But while she was living, she wept bitterly about Adam's falling on sleep, for she knew not where he was laid. For when the Lord came to paradise to bury Adam she was asleep, and her sons too, except Seth, till He bade Adam be prepared for burial; and no man knew on earth, except her son Seth. And Eve prayed (in
4 the hour of her death) that she might be buried in the place where her husband Adam was. And after she had finished her prayer, she saith: 'Lord,
5 Master, God of all rule, estrange not me thy handmaid from the body of Adam, for from his members didst thou make me. But deem me
6 worthy, even me unworthy that I am and a sinner, to enter into his tabernacle, even as I was with him in paradise, both without separation from each other; just as in our transgression, we were
7 (both) led astray and transgressed thy command, but were not separated. Even so, Lord, do not
8 separate us now.' But after she had prayed, she gazed heavenwards and groaned aloud and smote her breast and said: 'God of All, receive my spirit,' and straightway she delivered up her spirit to God.
xliii 1 And Michael came and taught Seth how to prepare Eve for burial. And there came three angels and they buried her (body) where Adam's body was and Abel's. And thereafter Michael
2 spake to Seth and saith: 'Lay out in this wise every man that dieth till the day of the Resurrection.' And after giving him this rule; he
3 saith to him: 'Mourn not beyond six days, but on the seventh day, rest and rejoice on it, because on that very day, God rejoiceth (yea) and we angels (too) with the righteous soul, who hath passed away from the earth.' Even thus spake
4 the angel, and ascended into heaven, glorifying (God) and saying: 'Allelujah.'
[Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, in the glory of
5 God the Father, for to Him it is meet to give glory, honour and worship, with the eternal life-giving spirit now and always and for ever. Amen.]
[Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. To whom be glory and power for ever and for ever Amen.]
[Then the archangel Joel glorified God; saying, 'Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, heaven and earth are full of thy glory.']