The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 19

H¹🔗ear, then, concerning the seven heavens.

²🔗 The lowest is for this cause more gloomy, in that it is near all the iniquities of men.

³🔗 The second hath fire, snow, ice, ready for the day of the ordinance of the Lord, in the righteous judgment of God: in it are all the spirits of the retributions for vengeance on the wicked.

⁴🔗 In the third are the hosts of the armies which are ordained for the day of judgment, to work vengeance on the spirits of deceit and of Beliar.

⁵🔗 And the heavens up to the fourth above these are holy, for in the highest of all dwelleth the Great Glory, in the holy of holies, far above all holiness.

⁶🔗 In the heaven next to it are the angels of the presence of the Lord, who minister and make propitiation to the Lord for all the ignorances of the righteous; and they offer to the Lord a reasonable sweet-smelling savour, and a bloodless offering.

⁷🔗 And in the heaven below this are the angels who bear the answers to the angels of the presence of the Lord.

⁸🔗 And in the heaven next to this are thrones, dominions, in which hymns are ever offered to God.

⁹🔗 Therefore, whenever the Lord looketh upon us, all of us are shaken; yea, the heavens, and the earth, and the abysses, are shaken at the presence of His majesty; but the sons of men, regarding not these things, sin, and provoke the Most High.