3 Baruch - Greek Apocalypse of Baruch

3 Baruch

A revelation of Baruch concerning the hidden things he saw by the command of God.

I, Baruch, stood by the river, weeping over the captivity of Jerusalem. I mourned because Nebuchadnezzar had been permitted to destroy the city of God. I said, “Lord, why have you burned your vineyard and laid it waste? Why did you hand us over to nations who reproach us and say, ‘Where is their God?’”

While I was grieving and speaking these things, an angel of the Lord came to me and said, “Understand, greatly beloved man, and do not trouble yourself so greatly concerning Jerusalem. The Lord God Almighty has heard your prayer. He sent me to show you the mysteries of God.”

When he had spoken, I became silent. The angel said, “Cease contending with God, and I will show you mysteries greater than these.”

I said, “As the Lord God lives, if you show me and I hear your word, I will speak no more against the judgment of God.”

The angel of the powers said to me, “Come, and I will show you the mysteries of God.”

He took me and brought me to the place where the firmament is fixed, beside a river that no one can cross and that no wind among those created by God can pass. He led me to the first heaven and showed me a great gate. We entered through it as though carried on wings, travelling the distance of about thirty days.

Within that heaven he showed me a vast plain. Men dwelt there whose faces were like oxen, whose horns were like those of deer, whose feet were like those of goats, and whose hind parts were like those of sheep.

I asked the angel, “Tell me, I pray, how thick is this heaven through which we have travelled? How far does it extend, and what is this plain, so that I may tell the children of men?”

The angel, whose name was Phamael, said to me, “The gate you see is the gate of heaven. As great as the distance from earth to heaven, so great is its thickness; and as great as the distance from north to south, so great is the length of the plain you saw.”

The angel of the powers said, “Come, and I will show you greater mysteries.”

But I said, “First tell me who these men are.”

He said, “These are the men who built the tower of rebellion against God, and the Lord drove them away.”

The angel of the Lord took me and led me to the second heaven. He showed me another gate like the first and said, “Let us enter.” We entered, carried as though on wings, travelling the distance of about sixty days.

There also he showed me a plain filled with men. Their appearance was like that of dogs, and their feet were like those of deer.

I asked the angel, “My lord, tell me who these are.”

He said, “These are the men who advised the building of the tower. Those whom you see drove great crowds of men and women to make bricks. A woman giving birth was not permitted to stop her labour. She brought forth her child while making bricks, carried the child in her apron, and continued her work.”

“When they had raised the tower to a height of four hundred and sixty-three cubits, the Lord appeared and confused their speech. They took an instrument and tried to pierce the heaven, saying, ‘Let us learn whether heaven is made of clay, bronze, or iron.’ When God saw this, he did not permit it. He struck them with blindness, confused their speech, and changed them into the form you see.”

I said, “Behold, my lord, you have shown me great and astonishing things. Now show me all things for the sake of the Lord.”

The angel said, “Come; let us go on.”

From that place I travelled with the angel for about one hundred and eighty-five days. He showed me a plain and a serpent whose length appeared to be two hundred plethra. He also showed me Hades, dark and dreadful in appearance.

I said, “Who is this dragon, and what is this great thing beside it?”

The angel said, “The dragon devours the bodies of those who lived wickedly, and by them it is nourished. The dark thing beside it is Hades, whose nature resembles the dragon. Hades drinks from the sea, yet the sea does not diminish.”

I said, “How can this be?”

The angel said, “The Lord God made three hundred and sixty rivers. Chief among them are Alphias, Abyrus, and Gericus. Because of them the sea does not diminish.”

I said, “Show me, I pray, the tree through which Adam was led astray.”

The angel said, “It was the vine planted by the angel Samael. The Lord God was angry with him and cursed him and his plant. Because of it Adam was deceived.”

I said, “If the vine caused so great an evil and came under the curse of God, why is it useful now?”

The angel said, “You have asked rightly. When God brought the flood upon the earth and destroyed all flesh, and the waters rose fifteen cubits above the highest mountains, the waters entered paradise and destroyed every plant. But the shoot of the vine was cast outside the boundary of paradise.”

“When the earth appeared again and Noah came out of the ark, he began to plant the plants he found. He found the shoot of the vine and took it, but he reasoned within himself, ‘What is this? Shall I plant it? Adam was destroyed through it. Let me not also provoke the anger of God because of it.’”

“Noah prayed for forty days, weeping and asking God to reveal what he should do with the plant. Then God sent the angel Sarasael, who said to him, ‘Rise, Noah, and plant the shoot of the vine. Its bitterness will be changed into sweetness, and its curse into blessing.’”

“Know therefore, Baruch: as Adam received condemnation through this tree and was stripped of the glory of God, so those who drink its wine without restraint transgress more greatly than Adam. They separate themselves from the glory of God and deliver themselves to punishment.”

“From drunkenness arise murders, adulteries, sexual corruption, false oaths, thefts, strife, jealousy, slander, murmuring, divination, and many other evils. A brother has no mercy on his brother, a father on his son, or children on their parents.”

I said to the angel, “My lord, let me ask one thing. Since you said that the dragon drinks from the sea, tell me how great its belly is.”

The angel said, “Its belly is Hades. Its depth is as great as the distance a plummet would fall if three hundred men cast it down together. Come, and I will show you greater works than these.”

He took me to the place from which the sun goes forth. He showed me a chariot with four beneath it, and fire burned under it. In the chariot sat a figure wearing a crown of fire, and forty angels drew the chariot.

Before the sun flew a bird, circling at a distance of about nine cubits.

I said to the angel, “What is this bird?”

He said, “It is the guardian of the earth.”

I said, “My lord, teach me how it guards the earth.”

The angel said, “The bird flies beside the sun and spreads out its wings to receive the fiery rays. If it did not receive them, neither the human race nor any living creature would survive. God appointed the bird for this purpose.”

The bird spread its wings, and I saw on its right wing letters of gold, very large, as broad as a threshing floor.

The angel said, “Read them.”

I read: “Neither earth nor heaven gave me birth; wings of fire brought me forth.”

I said, “My lord, what is the name of this bird?”

He said, “Its name is Phoenix.”

I said, “What does it eat?”

He said, “The manna of heaven and the dew of the earth.”

I said, “Does the bird cast out waste?”

He said, “It casts out a worm, and from the worm comes cinnamon, which kings and princes use. But wait, and you will see the glory of God.”

While he was speaking with me, there came a sound like thunder, and the place where we stood was shaken.

I asked the angel, “My lord, what is this sound?”

He said, “The angels are now opening the three hundred and sixty-five gates of heaven, and light is being separated from darkness.”

A voice cried out, “Giver of light, give radiance to the world.”

Then I heard the cry of the bird and said, “My lord, what is this sound?”

He said, “This bird awakens the cocks on earth. As people give commands with their mouths, so the cock announces in its own speech to those in the world. The angels prepare the sun, and the cock crows.”

I said, “Where does the sun begin its labour after the cock has crowed?”

The angel said, “Listen, Baruch. All that I have shown you until now belongs to the first and second heavens. Through the third heaven the sun passes and gives light to the world. Wait, and you will see the glory of God.”

As I spoke with him, I saw the bird pass before us. It became smaller and smaller, then returned to its full size. Behind it I saw the shining sun and the angels who drew it. A crown was upon its head, and we could not look steadily at it.

When the sun shone, the Phoenix spread out its wings. When I saw such glory, I fell in great fear and hid beneath the wings of the angel.

The angel said, “Do not fear, Baruch. Wait, and you will also see the setting of the sun.”

He took me toward the west. When the time of setting came, I saw the bird again going before the sun. Then the angels lifted the crown from the sun’s head, and the bird stood exhausted with its wings drawn in.

I said, “My lord, why did they remove the crown from the head of the sun, and why is the bird exhausted?”

The angel said, “When the sun has completed the day, four angels take its crown and carry it up to heaven to be renewed, because it and its rays have been defiled upon the earth. Therefore it is renewed every day.”

I said, “My lord, why are its rays defiled upon the earth?”

He said, “Because they behold the lawlessness and injustice of people: sexual corruption, adultery, theft, oppression, idolatry, drunkenness, murder, strife, jealousy, slander, murmuring, secret accusation, divination, and other deeds displeasing to God. Because the sun beholds these things, it is defiled and must be renewed.”

“The bird is exhausted because throughout the day it restrains the fiery rays and burning heat of the sun. Unless its wings screened those rays, no living creature would survive.”

When the sun and its attendants had withdrawn, night fell. Then came the chariot of the moon together with the stars.

I said, “My lord, show me also how the moon goes forth, where it travels, and in what form it moves.”

The angel said, “Wait, and you will see.”

On the next day I saw the moon in the form of a woman seated upon a wheeled chariot. Oxen and lambs were before the chariot, and a multitude of angels accompanied it.

I said, “My lord, what are the oxen and lambs?”

He said, “They too are angels.”

I asked, “Why does the moon sometimes increase and sometimes decrease?”

He said, “Listen, Baruch. God made the moon beautiful beyond all others. But at the transgression of the first Adam, it was near Samael when he took the serpent as a garment. The moon did not hide itself, but increased its light. God was angry with it and diminished it and shortened its days.”

I said, “Why does it not shine always, but only at night?”

The angel said, “As courtiers cannot speak freely in the presence of a king, so the moon and stars cannot shine openly in the presence of the sun. The stars remain in their places, but their light is hidden by the sun; and the moon, though not destroyed, is weakened by the sun’s heat.”

When I had learned these things from the archangel, he took me and led me into the fourth heaven. I saw an even plain, and in its midst a pool of water. Around it were multitudes of birds of every kind, but they were unlike the birds of earth. I saw a crane as large as great oxen, and all the birds were greater than those in the world.

I asked the angel, “What is this plain, what is this pool, and who are these multitudes of birds?”

The angel said, “Listen, Baruch. The plain containing the pool and these wonders is the place to which the souls of the righteous come. They dwell together there and converse in choirs.”

“The water is that which the clouds receive and pour down upon the earth, causing the fruits to grow.”

I asked again, “What are these birds?”

He said, “They are those who continually sing praise to the Lord.”

I said, “My lord, people say that the rain descends from the sea.”

The angel said, “The water that descends as rain comes both from the sea and from the waters upon the earth; but the water that gives strength to the fruits comes from this heavenly pool. From it also comes what is called the dew of heaven.”

The angel took me from there and led me to the fifth heaven. Its gate was closed.

I said, “My lord, will this gate not be opened so that we may enter?”

The angel said, “We cannot enter until Michael comes, for he holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Wait, and you will see the glory of God.”

There came a great sound like thunder.

I said, “My lord, what is this sound?”

He said, “Michael, commander of the angels, is descending to receive the prayers of humankind.”

A voice cried, “Let the gates be opened.” The gates opened with a roar like thunder, and Michael came forth. The angel who was with me met him face to face and said, “Peace to you, commander of us and of all our order.”

Michael said, “Peace also to you, our brother, interpreter of revelations to those who pass through life in righteousness.”

After they had greeted one another, they stood still. I saw Michael holding an exceedingly great vessel. Its depth was as great as the distance from heaven to earth, and its breadth as great as the distance from north to south.

I said, “My lord, what is the vessel Michael is holding?”

He said, “Into this vessel enter the merits of the righteous and the good works they perform, which are carried before God in heaven.”

While I was speaking with them, angels came bearing baskets full of flowers and gave them to Michael.

I asked the angel, “My lord, who are these, and what have they brought?”

He said, “These are the angels appointed over the righteous.”

Michael took the baskets and poured their contents into the vessel.

The angel said to me, “These flowers are the merits of the righteous.”

Then I saw other angels carrying baskets that were neither empty nor full. They lamented and did not dare draw near, because their offerings were incomplete.

Michael called out, “Come near, you angels also, and bring what you have brought.”

Michael and the angel who was with me were deeply grieved because these angels had not filled the vessel.

After them came other angels weeping and mourning. They said with fear, “Look, O lord, how we are darkened, for we have been entrusted with wicked people, and we wish to leave them.”

Michael said, “You may not leave them, lest the adversary prevail against them completely. Tell me what you ask.”

They said, “We ask you, Michael our commander, transfer us from them. We cannot remain with wicked and senseless people, for no good is found in them, but every kind of injustice and greed.”

“Where there is murder, they are there; where there is adultery, sexual corruption, theft, slander, false oath, jealousy, drunkenness, strife, envy, murmuring, secret accusation, idolatry, divination, and deeds worse than these, there they work. Therefore we ask that we may depart from them.”

Michael said to the angels, “Remain until I learn from the Lord what shall be done.”

At once Michael departed, and the gates were closed. There came a sound like thunder.

I asked the angel, “What is this sound?”

He said, “Michael is now presenting the merits of humankind before God.”

In that same hour Michael descended, and the gate was opened. He brought oil.

To the angels who had brought full baskets, he gave oil and said, “Take this and reward our friends a hundredfold, those who laboured and performed good works. Those who sowed in righteousness shall reap in righteousness.”

To those who had brought half-filled baskets he said, “Come near, you also. Receive reward according to what you brought, and carry it to the children of men.”

Then he turned to those who had brought nothing and said, “Thus says the Lord: Do not be downcast, do not weep, and do not abandon the children of men. Because they have provoked me by their deeds, go and stir them to jealousy and anger through a people that is not a people, a people without understanding.”

“Send against them the caterpillar, the wingless locust, mildew, devouring locusts, hail, lightning, and wrath. Punish them severely with sword and death, and let their children be troubled by evil spirits. They did not listen to my voice, keep my commandments, or obey those who proclaimed my words to them.”

While he was still speaking, the gate was closed, and we withdrew. The angel took me and returned me to the place where I had been at the beginning.

When I came to myself, I glorified God, who had counted me worthy to see such honour. Therefore you also who receive this revelation, glorify God, that he may glorify you now, always, and through all ages. Amen.