Chapter 99

 

 

1 In those days the angels shall descend into places of concealment, and gather together in one spot all who have assisted in crime. 2 In that day shall the Most High rise up to execute the great judgment upon all sinners, and to commit the guardianship of all the righteous and holy to the holy angels, that they may protect them as the apple of an eye, until every evil and every sin is put to end. 3Whether or not the righteous sleep securely,233 wise men shall then truly perceive. 4And the sons of the earth shall understand every word of that book, knowing that their riches cannot save them in the ruin of their sins 5Woe to you, ye sinners, when you shall be afflicted on account of the righteous in the day of the great trouble; shall be burnt in the fire; and be repaid according to your deeds. 6Woe to you, ye perverted in heart, who are watchful to obtain an accurate knowledge of evil, and to discover terrors. No one shall assist you. 7Woe to you, ye sinners; for with the words of your mouths, and with the work of your hands, have you acted impiously; in the flame of a blazing fire shall you be burnt. 8And now know ye, that the angels shall inquire into your conduct in heaven; of the sun, the moon, and the stars, shall they inquire respecting your sins; for upon earth you exercise jurisdiction over the righteous. 9Every cloud shall bear witness against you, the snow, the dew, and the rain: for all of them shall be withheld from you, that they may not descend upon you, nor become subservient to your sins. 10Now then bring gifts of salutation to the rain; that, not being withheld, it may descend upon you; and to the dew, if it has received from you gold and silver. But when the frost, snow, cold, every snowy wind, and every suffering belonging to them, fall upon you, in those days you will be utterly incapable of standing before them.

Chapter 100

 

 

1Attentively consider heaven, all you progeny of heaven, and all the works of the Most High; fear him, nor conduct yourselves sinfully in front of him.2 If He shut up the windows of heaven, restraining the rain and dew, that it not descend upon the earth on your account, what will you do? 3And if He sends his wrath upon you, and upon all your deeds, you are not they who can supplicate him; you who utter234 against his righteousness, language proud and powerful.235 For you there shall be no peace. 4Do you not see the commanders236 of ships, how their vessels are tossed about by the waves, torn to pieces by the winds, and exposed to the greatest peril? 5That they therefore fear, because their whole property is embarked with them on the ocean; and that they think the worst in their hearts, because it may swallow them up, and they may perish in it? 6 Is not the whole sea, all its waters, and all its commotion, the work of him, the Most High; of him who has sealed up all its exertions, and girded it on every side with sand? 7 Is it not at his rebuke dried up, and alarmed; while all its fish with everything contained in it die? And will not you, ye sinners, who are on earth, fear him? Is not He the maker of heaven and earth, and of all things which are in them? 8And who has given knowledge and wisdom to all that move on the ground, and over the sea? 9Do not those commanders of ships fear the ocean? And yet sinners do not fear the Most High.