The Book of Enoch 97
Book V The Epistle of Enoch Chapters 91–108 · 2nd - 1st century BCE
Enoch's testament to his children: woes against the wicked and rich, comfort for the righteous, the Apocalypse of Weeks, and a closing appendix on the miraculous birth of Noah.
Dating & manuscripts. The Apocalypse of Weeks is one of the earliest datable parts. Chapters 106-107 (the Birth of Noah) are a later appendix drawn from a separate Noah tradition.
In the manuscripts the Apocalypse of Weeks runs 93:1-10 then 91:11-17; Charles rearranged the verses to restore that order, which is why some editions number these chapters differently.
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
Woes on Those Who Build Unrighteousness
Angels of heaven rejoice over the destruction of sinners as the Most High remains mindful of their end.
1elieve, ye righteous, that the sinners will become a shame And perish in the day of unrighteousness.
2 Be it known unto you (ye sinners) that the Most High is mindful of your destruction, And the angels of heaven rejoice over your destruction.
3 What will ye do, ye sinners, And whither will ye flee on that day of judgement, When ye hear the voice of the prayer of the righteous ?
4 Yea, ye shall fare like unto them, Against whom this word shall be a testimony: " Ye have been companions of sinners."
5 And in those days the prayer of the righteous shall reach unto the Lord, And for you the days of your judgement shall come.
6 And all the words of your unrighteousness shall be read out before the Great Holy One, And your faces shall be covered with shame, And He will reject every work which is grounded on unrighteousness.
7 Woe to you, ye sinners, who live on the mid ocean and on the dry land, Whose remembrance is evil against you.
8 Woe to you who acquire silver and gold in unrighteousness and say: " We have become rich with riches and have possessions; And have acquired everything we have desired.
9 And now let us do what we purposed: For we have gathered silver, 9c. And many are the husbandmen in our houses." 9d. And our granaries are (brim) full as with water,
10 Yea and like water your lies shall flow away; For your riches shall not abide But speedily ascend from you; For ye have acquired it all in unrighteousness, And ye shall be given over to a great curse.
Did You Know?
Angels of heaven rejoice over the destruction of sinners as the Most High remains mindful of their end.
Sinners will have nowhere to flee on the day of judgement when they hear the voice of the prayer of the righteous.
All the words of unrighteousness shall be read out before the Great Holy One and the faces of sinners shall be covered with shame.
Woe is declared to sinners who live on the mid ocean and on the dry land whose remembrance is evil against them.
Riches acquired in unrighteousness shall not abide but speedily ascend from owners who shall be given over to a great curse.
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Commentary
In brief
The chapter urges the righteous to believe that sinners will perish in shame on the day of judgment, when their prayers reach the Most High and the angels rejoice. It warns the wicked who gain silver and gold unrighteously that their riches will flow away like water and they will face a great curse.