1 Enoch 59

In those days my eyes saw the secrets of the lightnings and of the lights, and the judgments they carry out. They flash either for a blessing or for a curse, as the Lord of Spirits wills.

1In those days mine eyes saw the secrets of the lightnings, and of the lights, and the judgements they execute (lit. ‘their judgement’): and they lighten for a blessing or a curse as the Lord of Spirits willeth.

Note"In those days" is a set formula used throughout this part of 1 Enoch to open a new vision; it does not point to a particular date, and the chapter it opens here is a short block of sky-lore that breaks off abruptly from the material around it. "The lights" are the heavenly lights, the lamps of the sky: sun, moon and stars, though paired with lightning the word may also cover flashes of light in the storm itself. "Lord of Spirits" is this book's usual title for God, roughly "master of all living beings," and it takes the place that "Lord of Hosts" holds in the Hebrew prophets. "Judgments" here means sentences actually being carried out, acts of punishment or reward, not verdicts announced in a courtroom; the point is that the same flash may fall as a blessing on one person and as a penalty on another.

2And there I saw the secrets of the thunder, and how, when it sounds above in the sky, its noise is heard. He let me see the judgments carried out on the earth, whether they are for well-being and blessing, or for a curse, according to the word of the Lord of Spirits.

2And there I saw the secrets of the thunder, and how when it resounds above in the heaven, the sound thereof is heard, and he caused me to see the judgements executed on the earth, whether they be for well-being and blessing, or for a curse according to the word of the Lord of Spirits.

3After that, all the secrets of the lights and lightnings were shown to me. They flash for blessing and for satisfying.

3And after that all the secrets of the lights and lightnings were shown to me, and they lighten for blessing and for satisfying.

Note"For satisfying" translates an Ethiopic word for being filled or contented. Applied to lightning it points to the storm that brings rain, and so to full crops and enough to eat; the older sense of the English word is satisfying a need, not pleasing a taste.