the Gnostic Book of Lamech CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 1-25

Otherwise called the Writings of Abraham, the text appears to be a second version of the book of
Lamech, no forgery, for it parallels the Dead Sea scroll's tattered Book of Lamech quite nearly.
The book is also named the Testaments of Lamech, Noah, and Abraham. It is translated from the
Egyptian papyri found around 1831. (Compare with the Dead Sea scrolls edition.)

BOOK OF LAMECH [0]

Prologue
1.
Behold my son, I have caused to come into thine hands a fragment of the writings of Abraham
wherein he hath left a record of his sojourn among men and of the blessings of the Lord unto him.
2.
This I have brought to thee, that thou might restore that that is lost
that the fullness of the record in its original purity might be found again among the sons of God.

3.
Behold, these things are sacred, wherefore, send them not forth unto the children of men
yet let them be for the edification of the elect so that your hearts may be turned unto the Fathers
and ye may draw close to them and they to you.
4.
Thus will the veil be withdrawn,
and ye will commune with the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn,
and shall even be ushered back unto my presence.
5.
Go now and do this work that I have placed in thine hands.

Amen.

BOOK OF LAMECH 1-4

1.
1. I, Abraham, was born the son of Terah,
who was Prime Minister to Nimrod who reigned in Ur of the Chaldeans.
2.
2. Now this Nimrod was a wicked man and an idolater and my father was led to follow after his
abominations.
3.
3. Moreover, Nimrod was a man of mighty power, for he was Master Mahan and had in his hands
the secrets of the ancients as they had come down from Cain
wherein he knew the words of power and the signs for using them
and he had the holy garments given unto Adam in the garden, and that great power was in.
4.
4. All of this power did Nimrod use to get gain after the manner of the secret combination.
5.
5. With his power he had set out to build a tower which would reach to heaven,
even the city of my father Enoch that had been taken up, so that he, Nimrod,
might depose God from his throne for God had taken up his abode among the people of Enoch.

6.
6. Yet God frustrated the plans of Nimrod by confounding the language of him
and his people that they could no longer remember the sacred words
and they scattered forth over the face of the Earth.
7.
7. At that time Nimrod came and established the city of Ur which is the City of Light,
for he yet retained his determination to build a city to rival the city of God
that the light and power might center in him (Nimrod).
8.
8. And through the ministration of Satan he did receive again some of the words of power
and did reorganize the secret combination among his people;
yet he had not power as at the first for the fullness of the pure language was not restored to him
according to the decree of the Most High God.
9.
9. Now, in all the wickedness of Nimrod, my father stood by his side
for he was deceived by the subtle cunning and power which Nimrod possessed.
BOOK OF LAMECH 2
 10.
My father Terah was the son of Nahor and Nahor was the son of Serug and Serug was the son of
Reu and Reu was the son of Peleg in whose days the earth was divided.
11.
2. Peleg was the son of Eber (II) who was the son of Eber (the I)
who was the son of Salah
who was the son of Arphaxad the son of Shem,
who was Melchizedek,
that by interpretation is king priest, for he was a king and a priest of the Most High God.

BOOK OF LAMECH 3
12.
Noah was the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,
who was taken up with his city that they might minister unto
they in the flesh that sought a higher law than was available to them on the Earth.
13.
2. Now the birth of Noah was after this manner:

While his father Lamech was journeying toward his home from preaching the gospel among the
sons of men, most of whom had rejected his testimony, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him
and saluted him, saying,
14.
“Hail Lamech, thou favored one of God,
for according to the promise of the Lord God to thy father Enoch,
thou hast been chosen to be father to him though whom the seed of the Gods will be preserved
through the great flood that the Gods will send upon the earth in judgment,
15.
for all the sons of men have gone astray
through the corruptions of those angels who fell from among the Gods
and mingled their seed with the daughters of men
and begat sons of great strength and mighty wickedness.
16.
3. Yea, these have caused all flesh to corrupt their way before the Lord;
wherefore they shall be destroyed,
except thy son who shall be the seed of the angels.”

BOOK OF LAMECH 4
17.
The mother of Noah was also the daughter of Methuselah,
for Lamech and his wife had the same father but different mothers.
18.
2. And when Noah was born, his body was full of light,
and that caused great consternation to his father and mother,
and his father's wives and children, and all his house.
19.
3. Moreover, the child stood upon his feet when he had come forth from the womb
and his tongue was loosed, and he did sing praises unto the Lord saying,

20.
I will praise thee, O Lord, for thou art the source of all power,
yea, the well spring whence it floweth unto the sons of God,

and thou art also abounding in wisdom and great and mighty counsel unto thy servants.
21.
4. Nevertheless, though thou art a God who is long-suffering in judgment,

the sins of the children of men have come up before thy face
and thy fury hath waxed strong
and will be visited with judgments upon the earth.
22.
5. Thy mercies, O Lord, are beyond number,

yet thou art a God that visiteth wrongdoing upon the children of men
who the fullness of their iniquity hath come upon them.
23.
6. Therefore shall the earth be destroyed, according to the word of God that cannot fail.
24.
7. For the waters of the flood shall come upon the earth
and all things shall perish from before thy face, O Lord.
25.
8. Nevertheless, in thee do we put our trust,
for in whatsoever thou doest, O Lord, thou hast ever done justly.

Amen.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER TWO

Divisions 26-45

BOOK OF LAMECH 5-9

26.
These things were a source of amazement and concern unto Lamech
who thereupon went unto his father, Methuselah,
and finding him in the temple he said,
My father, this day did my wife, thy daughter, bear a man-child.
27.
2. And at his birth the room was so full of light that we could not look upon him
and when we could look upon him, behold, the child's hair was white
and fire seemed to come from his eyes
and then he stood upon his feet and sang a hymn of praise unto the Lord
and lo, he seemed to have the tongue of an angel.
28.
3. Tell me now the meaning of these things and how can I raise such a son?

BOOK OF LAMECH 6
29.
Hearing these words, Methuselah, too, was troubled and said, Fear not, my son,
for although I know now the meaning of these things, I will go unto my father, Enoch,
for he is privy to the angels and he will be able to explain all things to us.
30.
2. Whereupon, Methuselah traveled to the top of the highest mountain whence he could speak unto
his father, Enoch, and he said unto him,

My father, my daughter the wife of my son Lamech, hath this day brought forth a man-child.
31.
3. And at his birth the room was full of light so that they could not look upon him and when they
could look upon him,
32.
Behold the child's hair was white and fire seemed to come from his eyes and then he stood upon
his feet and sang a hymn of praise unto the Lord and lo, he seemed to have the tongue of an angel.
33.
4. Thus saith my son Lamech, who is greatly perplexed as to the meaning of these things
and how he can raise that type of a son.

BOOK OF LAMECH 7
34.
Hearing this report, Enoch comforted his son Methuselah, saying,

Fear not, my son, nor fret thyself about this matter,

35.
for did not a holy angel visit thy son Lamech
and tell him that this should be the seed of the angels? And was it not so?
36.
2. For this cause have these things happened;
yet on the 8th day when the child is circumcised, he shall be covered
and shall appear as other men except that his hair shall remain white
as a token that through him the Lord will do a mighty work.

37.
3. This word did Methuselah return to his son Lamech, and he was comforted.

BOOK OF LAMECH 8
38.
And on the 8th day when the child was circumcised,
he was covered with a blanket so that he became as other men except that his hair remained white
39.
and they called his name Noah,
that by interpretation is comfort, because, Lamech said,
Mine heart is comforted to know that my seed shall be preserved through the great flood.

BOOK OF LAMECH 9
40.
And the child grew and waxed strong in wisdom and mighty in the power of the priesthood
for he was initiated into the Order of the Ancients in his childhood
41.
and learned the rites and ordinances
and the powers of the holy priesthood with the signs and tokens and key words
wherewith he could call upon the powers of heaven to combat the forces of the adversary.
42.
2. And when he was come of age, he took [12] wives
and begat many sons and daughters who grew up in righteousness
and served the Lord all their days
and some died and others were caught up unto the city of Enoch.
43.
3. Yet in the next generation they corrupted themselves,
for the daughters of Noah's sons did go forth and lay with the sons of men,
which thing was an abomination in the eyes of God.
44.
4. Wherefore, the Lord said unto Noah,
Behold, the daughters of thy sons have sold themselves,
for behold, mine anger is kindled against the sons of men,
for they will not hearken to my voice;
45.
wherefore, all those who go in unto them will be destroyed with them.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER THREE

Divisions 46-70

BOOK OF LAMECH 10-12

46.
And when Noah was 450 years old, he begat a son and he called his name Japheth.
47.
2. 42 years later he begat another son of her who was the mother of Japheth,
and he called his name Shem.
48.
3. 8 years later Noah begat a son of his wife Naamah, who was of the seed of Cain,
and he called his name Ham, for he said,
Through him will the curse be preserved in the land.

BOOK OF LAMECH 11
49.
Now Noah had taken a wife of the seed of Cain, and she was a righteous woman;
nevertheless, the curse remained with her seed according to the word of God.
50.
2. And Noah took her on this wise:
For the word of the Lord came unto Noah, saying,

Take unto thee Naamah, the daughter of Lamech, who dwelleth here in the city of thy fathers,
for she hath been faithful to my gospel, (evidence of Gnostic or Clementine authorship)
wherefore I shall preserve through her the seed of Cain through the flood.
51.
3. Lamech who was the father of Naamah was of the seed of Cain
the son of Methusael, the son of Mahujael, the son of Irad, the son of Enoch, the son of Cain.
52.
4. Lamech had married Adah and Zillah, the daughters of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth,
the son of Adam.
53.
Adah bare children unto Lamech,
yet Zillah was barren until her old age when the Lord opened her womb,
and she conceived and bore a son and a daughter.
54.
5. Her son she named Tubal Cain, saying,
After I had withered away have I obtained him from the Almighty God.
55.
6. Her daughter she named Naamah, saying,
After I had withered away have I obtained pleasure and delight.

BOOK OF LAMECH 12
56.
While Naamah was yet a child, great consternation fell upon the seed of Cain,
for Irad the Son of Enoch, the son of Cain,
had become a member of the secret combination and was privy to all it secrets
until one night when the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,
57.
Irad, thou hast done evil instead of good
and hast followed after Satan rather than God;
wherefore, I shall destroy thee and thine house when I send in the floods upon the earth.
58.
2. Yet Irad was pricked in his heart
and pled with the Lord to show mercy and preserve his seed through the great flood.
59.
3. Seeing that his penitence was true, the Lord said to him,
Irad, if thou wilt repent and reveal the evils of the secret combination unto the sons of Seth,
I will have mercy upon thee
and I will join thy seed unto the seed of Seth so that it may be preserved through the great flood.
60.
4. Wherefore, Irad went forth
and began to reveal the secrets of the sons of Cain unto the sons of Seth.
61.
5. Lamech, being Master Mahan at that time,
found Irad sitting in his garden with Joram, the young son of Irad,
and slew him.
62.
6. Thus Lamech slew Irad for the sake of the oath of the secret combination
and he slew Irad's son with him.
63.
7. Yet Tubal Cain, the son of Lamech,
had followed him and viewed his evil deed which he had committed
and he revealed it unto his mother Zillah and she unto her sister Adah.

64.
8. Wherefore, Adah and Zillah confronted Lamech with his evil
and cursed him in the name of the Lord
for having slain Irad who had repented of his wickedness from among the sons of men.
65.
9. And Lamech said unto his wives Adah and Zillah,
Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech;
hearken unto my speech, for I have slain a man to my wounding and a young man to my hurt.
66.
10. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech shall be seventy and seven fold.

67.
11. Lamech's wives, therefore, feared to confront him further,
yet Lamech repented not of his evil deeds and finding his son Tubal Cain at prayer,
he slew him for having revealed his murders.

68.
12. When Adah and Zillah, the wives of Lamech, learned of this,
they took their remaining sons and daughters and went unto their father Cainan's city
and revealed the remainder of the secrets of this evil combination among the sons of Adam.
69.
13. Thus did Naamah come to dwell among the sons of Adam
and she grew up before the Lord in righteousness
and was known for her tender care toward the sick and the unfortunate.
70.
14. Nevertheless, she had not husband because she was of the forbidden race.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER FOUR

Divisions 71-105

BOOK OF LAMECH 13-18

71.
When the word of the Lord came unto Noah, saying,
Take unto thyself Naama, the daughter of Lamech who dwelleth here in the city of thy fathers,
for she hath been faithful to my gospel,
wherefore, I shall preserve through her the seed of Cain through the flood,
then Noah went unto his father, Methuselah.
72.
2. Methuselah inquired of the Lord, and returned this word unto his son Lamech:

Verily, thus saith the Lord,

Mine handmaiden Naamah have I given unto my son Noah
so that the seed of Cain might be preserved through the great flood that I will send upon the Earth.
73.
3. Wherefore, let not my son Noah fear to take her to wife,
for in so doing he shall be blessed for through him will come all nations.
74.
4. Wherefore, say unto him,
Noah, my son, I have looked upon the evils of the sons of men that have come up before me,
for they have corrupted the whole Earth except only this city that thou dwellest in.
75.
5. Therefore, I will send in the floods upon the Earth
yet thou and thy seed will I preserve through the flood,
for I will send mine angels to instruct thee in the building of an ark wherein ye shall be saved.
76.
6. Behold, I shall establish thy seed before me forever
and I will spread them abroad over the earth as numerous as the sand upon the seashore.
77.
7. Thy seed shall not cease as long as the Earth shall stand but through thee
and thy priesthood that will be preserved in thy seed shall all nations be blessed.

BOOK OF LAMECH 14
78.
When Lamech returned this word to his son, Noah rejoiced and praised the Lord saying,
I give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
for thou hast been unto me a strong wall against all that would seek my destruction.
79.
2. Yea, thou hast promised to shelter my from the disasters that are coming upon the Earth,
that the floods shall not come in upon me to destroy my seed from the Earth.
80.
3. Thou hast set my foot upon a rock that the sons of men shall not prevail against me.
81.
4. Yea, I will walk in the way of the Ancients;
in the paths that thou hast appointed will I spend my days,
for thou art my Shield and my Deliverer
and in Thee will I trust all the days on my life.

Amen.

BOOK OF LAMECH 15
 82.
Thus did Noah take to wife Naamah, the daughter of Zillah, the wife of Lamech of the seed of
Cain, and she bare him a son whom he named Ham,
and thus was the curse preserved in the land through the great flood.
83.
2. For when the patience of God was ended,
wherein He did grant a space of time for repentance unto the sons of men,
the floods came in upon the Earth
and destroyed all flesh from off the face of the Earth except 8 souls only,
84.
for Noah and his youngest wife Adah,
and his three sons Shem, Japheth, and Ham
and one of each of their wives were preserved
in the ark that the angels had instructed Noah in building.
85.
3. The remainder of the righteous had died
or been caught up into Enoch's city prior to the time of the flood, Cappdocia caves?
and these 8 were saved.

BOOK OF LAMECH 16
86.
Now when the flood had abated and the ark had come to rest upon the top of a mountain,
Noah and his family descended the mountain,
and after offering sacrifices unto the Lord and dedicating the land,
they began to till the ground and raise all manner of crops.
87.
2. And when the grape harvest was come in,
Noah made wine and drank of the new wine in his tent
and his heart was made glad
and he rejoiced before the Lord God for the bounty that the Lord God had given him.
88.
3. And it was upon the Feast of Pentecost when Noah drank of the new wine before the Lord
and he lay down naked in his tent to sleep. mid-May
89.
4. When Ham, the son of Noah, entered the tent
he saw his father sleeping naked upon his bed
with the sacred garments that had been given to Adam in the garden of Eden laying nearby.

90.
5. Ham knew that he and his posterity could not bear the priesthood
because of the curse of Cain that was upon them
and knowing there was great power in the sacred garments,
he stole them form his Father Noah and hurried to his tents.
91.
6. Rousing his family, Ham instructed them to strike their tents
and led them away to the plain of Shinar where he dwelt and where Ham died.

92.
7. Now Ham's wife was named Zeptah
and she was also of the seed of Cain
and they had a daughter named Zeptah.
93.
8. The daughter Zepta, after the death of Ham,
led a body of his people westward until they reached a body of water in the land of Zeptah,
that is Egypt, where they settled and as the waters receded from off the land,
they spread out and build many cities and temples.
the first Egpyptian immigrants from Damascus

BOOK OF LAMECH 17
95.
Before the death of Ham, the sacred garments were given secretly by him to his son Cush
96.
2. Cush also kept them hidden and in his old age gave them unto his son Nimrod
and when Nimrod was 20 years of age,
he put on the garments and he derived great strength and power from them.
97.
3. Moreover, Nimrod was instructed in all the secrets of the evil combination by his father Cain,
for Cain had not perished in the flood.
98.
4. Wherefore, Nimrod became a mighty man among the sons of men
and established his kingdom
and grew stronger and stronger in wickedness
after the order of the secret combination which was from the beginning,
for Nimrod spread his dominion over all mankind except those in the city of Shalom.

BOOK OF LAMECH 18
99.
Shem ruled in the city of Shalom and he was called Melchizedek,
for the reigned as king under his father Noah,
and was a priest of the Most High God.
100.
2. After the departure of Ham from the presence of his father Noah,
Shem and Japheth dwelt together in peace under the benign rule of Noah;
101.
yet in time, conflict arose among them,
and Noah led the seed of Shem to a new land that the Lord God showed him
where they built a city which they called Shalom, the City of Peace.
102.
3. Noah invested his son Shem with authority to reign as Prince of Peace,
and Noah devoted his days to instructing his people after the Order of the Ancients.
103.
4. And his people dwelt in righteousness and worshiped the Lord their God and served Him.
104.
5. They established the order of heaven among them
and sought after the City of Enoch
105.
and the Lord came among them and ministered to them
and those who sought for the gain of this world went out from among them,
for they held all things common after the order of Enoch and no man had above his neighbor.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER FIVE

Divisions 106-130

BOOK OF LAMECH 19
106.
Among those who went forth from the city of Shalom was Peleg,
who traveled to the northwest and established a city after the order of his father Noah,
for Peleg was the son of Eber, the son of Salah, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem;
107.
and his people sought after the heavenly order
and obtained it for they were caught up like the City of Enoch. Tyre, Mt. Herman?
108.
2. Yet Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, followed not after the way of his fathers,
for he sought after gain for himself;
wherefore, he led those who were of a like mind with him out from the City of Peleg
and they journeyed even unto the land of Shinar and became confederated with Nimrod.
109.
3. Under the direction of Nimrod, Serug and his companions entered into the secret combination
and became men of power and wealth in Nimrod's kingdom.
110.
4. In the land of Shinar, Serug begat Nahor, and Nahor begat Terah, my father.
111.
5. And Terah became great in the eyes of Nimrod,
and Nimrod elevated him over all his people
to stand at his right hand and advise him on all matters.

BOOK OF LAMECH 20
 112.
Now, my father Terah took many wives and begat many children.
113.
2. And when he was 65 years of age, he took to wife Amthelo,
the daughter of Cornebo, the son of Serug,
and she was a young woman of 15 years.
114.
3. And when Terah was 70 years old, his wife Amthelo conceived
and bare him a son whom he named Abram, interpreted to be Exalted Father, for he said,

Nimrod hath raised me on high over all his host,

wherefore, my seed shall reign as gods forever.
115.
4. Now this prophecy he spake, not knowing that it was of the Lord God.

BOOK OF LAMECH 21
116.
On the night that I was born, their were great sings in the heavens,
and when Nimrod's astrologers saw them, they were astonished
and they spake evil of me to the king, saying that surely I should overthrow his kingdom.
117.
2. Wherefore, they counseled the king to purchase me of my father
so that they might slay me and thus frustrate the plans of God.
118.
3. King Nimrod thereupon sent for my father, Terah,
and spake unto him of the words of the astrologers
and asked for his son in return for a great sum of gold and silver.
119.
4. Yet the Spirit of the Lord wrought a heart upon my father
so that he was loathe to give me up to the king.
120.
5. On the night that I was born, a son was also born unto one of my father's concubines
and this child my father took unto the king and the king slew him in my stead,
for thus had God ordained that I might grow up to serve Him, the only wise and true God,
and strive to establish His order in the Earth all my days.

BOOK OF LAMECH 22
121.
Thus was my life saved by my father Terah,
and he took me with my mother, Amthelo, and my nurse, Edna,
unto a cave hidden in the mountains some distance from the city of Ur
where he secreted us and visited us each month at the New Moon.
122.
2. For my father thus informed the king that he went each month on the New Moon
to a spot sacred to his family deity.
3. For in the kingdom of Nimrod, each man worshiped gods of his own make,
gods of wood and stone, each after the imagination of his own heart.
123.
4. Thus did I dwell in the cave with my mother, Amthelo, and my nurse, Edna,
and spoke to no other man save my father, Terah,
and my elder brothers, Haran and Nahor, who accompanied my father on his visits.

BOOK OF LAMECH 23
124.
When I was [1]3 years of age,
the Lord God visited me in a dream of the night and he said unto me, “Abram.”
125.
2. And I said, “Here am I.”
126.
3. And he said unto me,
“Abram, I am the God of thy fathers Peleg, and Shem, and Noah.

127.
4. It is I who preserved thy life when the wicked king Nimrod would have destroyed thee,
for I softened the heart of thy father that he should hide thee away.
128.
5. This I did for I have a mighty work for thee to do in establishing mine order upon the Earth,
and, verily, I say unto thee,
through thee shall this wicked Nimrod be destroyed from off the face of the Earth.
129.
6. Behold, thou shalt remain in this cave with thy mother and thy nurse for yet 7 years,
and at the end of that time thou shalt depart
and I will send mine angel to guide thee unto the city of thy father Noah
where thou shalt be instructed in the way of life.
130.
7. And from that time forth the Lord instructed me often in dreams of the night
so that my mind was opened to the ways of his kingdom.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER SIX

Divisions 131-170

BOOK OF LAMECH 24-28

131.
When I was 10 years of age, I left from the cave by night while my mother and my nurse slept
and the angel of God met me
and led me to the city of Shalom where Noah and his son Shem dwelt,
and no man knew where I was.
132.
2. And I dwelt with Noah and Shem for 39 years,
being instructed in all the ways of the Most High God.
133.
3. And finding great happiness and peace and rest therein,
I sought for the blessings of the Fathers and I received, under the direction of Noah and Shem,
those instructions whereby I might enter into the Order of the ancients
and I became a rightful heir and high priest, holding the right belonging to the Fathers.
134.
For I was ushered into the Church of the Firstborn, and tasted of the fruits of heavenly life.

BOOK OF LAMECH 25
135.
In my 50th year, Father Shem called my into his presence
and instructed me to return to the house of my father,
for there were many there now who were seeking after light and truth
for they had seen the foolishness of worshiping idols of wood and stone,
yet they knew not where to find the true God.
136.
2. And Father Shem blessed me saying,
Blessed art thou Abram of the Most High god for He hath looked upon thee
and found thine heart right before Him.
137.
3. For this cause, the Most High shall visit thee
and thou shalt stand at the head and be the father of a multitude,
for many nations shall spring forth from thy loins.
138.
4. Behold, in thy father's house dwelleth she to whom the promises belong,
for she is a princess in the house of the Most High
and shall reign as a queen over thy posterity forever.
139.
5. Seek after her and take her to wife for she will be the mother of the promised seed.
140.
6. The blessings of the God of Noah attend thee, my son,
as thou journeyest on thy way for, from this time forth,
thou shalt be a wanderer in the Earth until thy seed shall come in to inherit this land
by the power of the Lord God and the sword of His might.

141.
7. Be faithful always, preach the truth in soberness and be valiant in the cause of God,
and thou shalt be blessed forevermore.

Amen.

BOOK OF LAMECH 26
142.
With this blessing resting upon me, I gathered together my family,
for I had taken 7 wives in the city of Shalom who had borne me 50 daughters.
143.
2. And although I had no sons of mine own flesh,
I had adopted 12 sons of those who were faithful to the Order of the Ancients,
and foremost among these was Eliezer of Damascus
who had come to the city of Shalom seeking after the blessings of the Fathers
and had remained as my son.
144.
3. Him I appointed as steward over all I possessed for this journey,
for he stood as mine heir for I loved him as my son and brother.
145.
4. Yet Father Shem said unto me,
Eliezer is a good and righteous man and he shall be greatly blessed in time and in eternity,
yet he shall not be thine heir who shall be thine heir who shall take in the house of thy father,
for she is ordained to be thy queen of queens and the mother of thine heir.
146.
5. Wherefore, as I have said,
I gathered together my wives and my daughters and my adopted sons and their wives and children,
and I said unto them,

147.
Hear my words, beloved and hearken unto my speech,
for I have been sent with a mission unto the house of my father in the land of Shinar
to gather out the pure in heart who are seeking after the true God.
148.
6. Gather together all your goods and make you tents to dwell in
and saddle your asses to travel upon
for the Most High God hath declared that we shall be wanderers upon the Earth
from this time forth until our seed shall come in to inherit this land by the power of God and the
sword of his might.

BOOK OF LAMECH 27
149.
Then commenced they their preparations and on the appointed day, all was in readiness for our
departure.
150.
2. And when Father Shem came forth to bless us, Father Noah came also with him.
151.
3. Now Father Noah dwelt in the temple in the heart of the city of Shalom
and seldom came out of the holy place,
for I had never seen him without its sacred precincts.
152.
4. Yet he came forth at this time and lifted up his hands
and blessed us in the name of the Most High God
and we left from his house.

BOOK OF LAMECH 28
153.
We journeyed slowly for there sake of the women and children
and we journeyed not upon the Sabbath day nor upon any of the holy days,
for we thought it better to worship the Lord our God according to the pattern of Heaven
than to proceed rapidly upon our way,
154.
and we did know that the Lord God prospered us in our journey
and protected us from the power of all our enemies
because we did faithfully serve Him and worship before His throne according to the divine pattern.
155.
2. Yet at length we did arrive in the land of Shinar at the city of Ur.
156.
3. Now the size of this city was immense.
157.
4. Its buildings were grand and beautiful with gardens upon the rooftops
and rivers of water running down from level to level.
158.
5. The streets were wide and smooth and the inhabitants wealthy, dwelling in luxury.
159.
6. Merchant caravans continually entered and left her gates
and the great of all nations came here to pay homage to the might King Nimrod.
160.
7. Nevertheless, the wealth of this great city was built upon sin
for the people served many idol gods
and offered upon their altars men, women, and children after the same manner as the Egyptians.
161.
8. And they had numerous slaves who were kept down in bondage and poverty
and were driven like dumb beasts to provide the luxury in which their masters dwelt.
162.
9. Behold, the inhabitants of the city did delight in whoredom and adultery
and murder and all manner of evil, whereby they might get gain.
163.
10. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them.
164.
11. Nevertheless, he did let them go on
that they might be fully ripened in iniquity before the fullness of his wrath should fall upon them.
165.
12. All of these things did the Lord God show unto me
in a dream on the night before we entered into the city of Ur; and He said unto me,
166.
Abram, this city is vile and corrupt,
yet in it are some few souls who have not bowed the knee to their idol gods
167.
and it is because of their prayers that I have brought you here,
that they might be taught to worship the true God after the order of heaven
and be led out from wickedness and bondage.
168.
13. Wherefore, go unto thy father's house, for thy mother hath sorrowed for these many years,
and I have softened the heart of thy father toward these that he shall make thee welcome and will
protect these against the anger of the king such that thou shalt be able to accomplish thy mission.
169.
14. Behold, Abram, I am the Lord God of thy Fathers Shem and Noah,
and of all the righteous Fathers back to Adam.
170.
15. Wherefore, I will remain with thee and confirm upon thee all the blessings of the Fathers
and thou shalt stand at the head of a multitude.

Amen.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER SEVEN

Divisions 171-195

BOOK OF LAMECH 29-32

171.
In the morning before entering the city, I gathered my family together
consisting of my 7 wives, my 50 daughters, my 12 adopted sons,
and 350 manservants whom Shem had sent with their families,
being in all 6,370 souls.
172.
2. And I said unto them, Behold, this great city is steeped in wickedness and sin
for the secret combinations that was from the beginning doth hold her sway.
173.
3. Wherefore, ye shall remain here under the direction of Eliezer
while I go alone into the city unto my father's house,
for the Lord God of Shem and of Noah hath promised me
that he will protect me against the anger of the king
so that I shall be able to accomplish my mission.
174.
4. I led my family in prayer before the Lord,
kissed them all and departing from them, entered into the city.

BOOK OF LAMECH 30
175.
Being led by the Spirit of the Lord God, I found my father's house,
and entering the gate, addressed the guard who was standing there, saying,
176.
Behold, I am Abram, son of Terah,
who hath spent these 40 years in the house of Shem.
177.
2. Take me now to my father.
176.
3. The guard stood as one dumbfounded, knowing not what to make of such a greeting,
yet at length called a boy whom he dispatched to locate my father.
177.
4. At length the lad returned, followed closely by my father who was greatly surprised to see me,
yet who recognized me as his son by the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord God.
178.
5. By this time my arrival had caused great excitement throughout my father's household,
that was very large,
and my mother, having heard of my coming, hastened to the place where we were,
weeping and rejoicing for she had thought that I had wandered from the cave
and been slain by wild beasts in the wilderness.
179.
6. At length she led me away to her chamber to talk with me
and I told her of all that had transpired with me since my leaving the cave
180.
of my being led by the angel to the city of Shalom,
of being instructed under the direction of Shem,
of the increase of my family
and of the mercies of the true God of heaven exercised in my behalf.
181.
7. I talked to her of the futility of worshiping idols of wood and stone made by men's hands
that have no power in them
and of the Order of the Ancients that was preserved in the city of Shalom under Noah and Shem
so that I had been sent to proclaim in the great city of Ur.

BOOK OF LAMECH 31
182.
My mother heard all my words and rejoiced in them
for she was one whose heart had been turned from the worship of dumb idols
to the worship of the unknown God.
183.
2. Moreover, a small body of believers numbering 100 souls met secretly in my father's house
to worship the unseen God and pray for further light concerning his ways,
among whom were my brother Haran,
with his son Lot and his daughters Milcah and Sarai, and my brother Nahor.

184.
3. Now, when my mother had heard my words,
she bade me remain with her until evening when the believers were to meet in her rooms.
185.
4. Wherefore, that night I met with those who had rejected the idolatry of their fathers
and they were all of the seed of those who had come out from the city of Peleg.
186.
5. Wherefore, I rehearsed unto them all the things I had told unto my mother
and they likewise rejoiced therein.
187.
6. Yet unto my father I spake not of these things at this time
for he was yet privy to Nimrod and was steeped in his evil ways.
BOOK OF LAMECH 32
 188.
When I had dwelt in my father's house for 7 days teaching the word of life unto the believers,
I went unto my father as he sat in his outer court with his servants attending to affairs of state.
189.
2. And when he would hear me, I said unto him,
Father, where is the God who created heaven and earth and all the hosts of them?
190.
3. My father Terah answered me and said,
Behold, my son, those gods who created all things are here with us in the house.
191.
4. My lord, show them to me I pray thee, I exclaimed.
192.
5. Whereupon my father Terah led me unto a chamber in the center of his house
wherein were 12 great idol gods and numerous smaller ones.
193.
6. And my father said unto me,
Behold, my son, these 12 great ones are rulers among the gods
194.
and this largest one is ruler above all
and these others were their assistants in creating all things.
195.
7. And my father Terah bowed down and worshiped before his idol gods,
and we left from them.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER EIGHT

Divisions 196-220

BOOK OF LAMECH 33-36

196.
When I departed from the presence of my father, I went unto my mother and said unto her,

My mother, there is a great evil in this place

197.
for my father keepeth a room full of idols in the center of his house
which is a thing contrary to the commandments of God,
wherefore the wrath of God shall not leave from this house until they are destroyed.
198.
2. Let one of the young men be sent, therefore,
to fetch a kid of the goats and make thereof savory meat
for therewith shall I destroy these idols in which is neither life nor power.
199.
3. My mother, therefore, summoned one of the young men who was with her in the house
and sent him to fetch a kid of the goats whereof she made savory meat.
200.
4. When it was prepared, I took the savory meat from her
and went unto the room where my father kept his gods
and I prayed there unto the Lord my God saying,
201.
O Lord god of Shem and of Noah,
look upon me here in my weakness and strengthen mine arm that I may destroy these false gods
and give me the wisdom and strength to go through all that follows
and endure unto the end in service unto my God.
202.
5. When I had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, even the Spirit of prophecy,
and I was led to exclaim,

Woe unto my father and this wicked and corrupt people among whom he dwelleth,
293.
whose hearts are all inclined to vanity, for they serve idols of wood and stone,
the workmanship of their own hands, that neither eat nor smell nor hear nor speak,
for there is no power in them
204.
and those who serve them shall likewise be powerless to escape
when the wrath of God shall overtake them in a day they think not.
BOOK OF LAMECH 34
 205.
At this time the Spirit of God fell upon me in mighty power to strengthen mine arm,
and picking up a hatchet that I had brought with me for that purpose,
I destroyed all my father's idols, both wood and stone, by the power of God that was in me,
except for the largest in whose hand I placed the hatchet.
206.
2. Then going to my father I said unto him, My Father,
I have seen a wondrous thing for my mother did make me savory meat this day
to offer before the gods who created all things.
207.
3. And when I took the meat in unto them, they all reached forth their hands to partake thereof.
208.
4. When the one who is ruler above all saw their words,
he being angered left the room and returned with a hatchet
wherewith he destroyed the other gods, both wood and stone;

and behold, he standeth there even now with the hatchet in his hand
and the savory meat before him.

BOOK OF LAMECH 35
209.
Hearing these words, my father hastened unto the room of his gods and found it even as I had said,
and his anger was kindled against me and he said,
This is an idle tale thou hast told me and false.
210.
2. Why hast thou done this thing and lied unto me?
211.
3. These gods have no life in them to do these things for they are wood and stone
and behold, I myself have had them made by the craftsmen.
212.
4. Why hast thou then come into mine house to destroy my gods?

BOOK OF LAMECH 36
213.
The Spirit of the Lord fell upon me at this time that I should answer my father and I said unto him,
How is it thou servest these idols of wood and stone,
the handiwork of the craftsmen wherein is neither life nor power to act?
214.
2. Can these that cannot deliver their lives from the hatchet
deliver thee from the power of the enemy?
215.
3. Can they hear thy prayers
when thou callest upon them from out of the midst of thine afflictions?
216.
4. Surely it is an evil thing that thou and thy people should serve these false gods,
for the Lord Jehovah, he is the God who created Heaven and Earth and all that in them is,
and he hath commanded all men to worship him only and to serve him all their days.
217.
5. Behold, your fathers in the days before the great flood worshiped false idols
after the same evil combination that ye have entered into,
and because of their perversions, they were destroyed.
218.
6. Will ye also go on in their wickedness to bring down the wrath of the Most High God upon you
that ye, too, should be destroyed from under heaven?
219.
7. Nay, my father, but repent of this evil and turn unto the Lord thy God and live.
220.
8. So saying, I took the hatchet from the hands of the remaining idol
and smote him with it until he was destroyed.
the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER NINE
Divisions 221-240

BOOK OF LAMECH 37-40

221.
My father, hearing my words and seeing what I had done, increased in anger against me
and hastened from his house unto the king, for he had access to King Nimrod both day and night.
222.
2. When he had entered the kings' presence, he bowed down before him and he saith unto him,

My lord king, 50 years ago a male-child was born unto my wife Amthelo,
and when he was 10 years old, we went on the New Moon to worship our ancestral god
when my son wandered off into the desert and was lost.
223.
3. Yet he was found by the people of the desert and raised by them
and he hath recently found his way back into my house
and I have received him with honor as my son.
224.
4. Notwithstanding this, he did this day enter into the room of my gods and destroy them,
and hath spoken against our gods, and against that ancient order
that hath been handed down from our first father whereunto we are called.
225.
5. Now, therefore, my lord king,
send for him that he may be judged according to our law that this evil may be put away from
among us.
226.
6. The king thereupon sent three of his mighty men who fetched me from my father's house and
brought me before the king.

BOOK OF LAMECH 38
227.
When I appeared before King Nimrod, he was seated upon his throne in all his glory,
yet it was as darkness to me.
228.
2. At his right hand sat my father Terah
and around them sat the princes and noble ones of his realm.
229.
3. And the king said unto me,
What is this thing that thy father saith unto me,
that thou didst this day enter into the room of his gods and destroy them

and that thou hast spoken against our gods and against that ancient order
that hath been handed down from our first father whereunto we are called?

BOOK OF LAMECH 39
230.
I answered the king saying,
Why dost thou go on in wickedness to worship these dumb idols
wherein there is no power even to save theimselves?
231.
2. Not only this, yet thou hast led others to worship them and to enter into that order that is most
abominable in the eyes of the Most High God,
for your father form whence it cometh is the devil
and it is full of lies and blasphemies and all manner of evil
so that men should lie and murder to get gain.
232.
3. Why wilt thou not serve the Most High God who created all things in heaven and on earth,
who hath created these and holdeth the power to sustain thy life or to destroy thee?
233.
4. O foolish, ignorant, wicked king, woe shall be unto thee forever and ever,
for thou art the son of Perdition for it is he who is thy father.
234.
5. Thou hast corrupted the earth with thy sins and with the sins of thy people who follow thee.
235.
6. It was for entering into this wicked combination to get gain
that you ancestors were destroyed in the flood when only 8 souls were saved.
236.
7. Wilt thou and thy people follow in their paths?
237.
8. Then the wrath of the Most High God will descend upon thee to smite thee from before his face.
238.
9. Now put away these evil ways and turn unto the Most High God
and serve Him that there may be hope for thee.
239.
10. Yet behold, I see that thine heart is hardened in iniquity that there is no repentance for thee,
for the evil one hath sealed thee his;
wherefore all thy ways shall come to naught
and thou and thy people shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

BOOK OF LAMECH 40
240.
Then I lifted up mine hands to heaven and prayed saying,

O Lord God, thou who sees all the ways of the wicked
and who will bring every evil deed into judgment,
look upon these evil ones and destroy them
so that the whole earth be not corrupted by them and brought to destruction.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER TEN

Divisions 241-270

BOOK OF LAMECH 41-46

241.
When the king heard my words and the prayer which I uttered,
he ordered me to be cast into the prison house until he had determined what to do with me.
242.
2. And after 10 days, the king gathered together all his counselors
and rehearsed unto them all things concerning me.
243.
3. And when he had rehearsed all things unto them, he asked them, saying,
What judgment shall such an one receive
who hath reviled the king and our gods and our holy order?
244.
4. And they returned judgment unto him saying,

The man who revileth the king should be hanged from a tree until he is dead
and the tree then felled to the ground while all the people shall shout,
Thus shall it befall him who revileth the king.
245.
5. Yet this man hath not only reviled the king yet also our gods and our holy order,
and according to our law, such a one shall be cast into a furnace of fire until he be consumed
that naught remain of him in the Earth.
246.
6. Let therefore the fire be increased in the king's furnace that is in Casdim
where the king's bricks are made
and let this blasphemer be cast into the fire that he be consumed.

BOOK OF LAMECH 42
247.
The king so commanded, and for 3 days and 3 nights was the fire preparing in Casdim
and at the end of that time I was brought forth from the prison to be cast therein.
248.
2. Nevertheless, while I was in the prison, the Lord God sent His angels to minister unto me a
nd to comfort me and they said unto me,

Fear not, Abram, for thy work is not yet finished

249.
for thou shalt yet become the father of many nations
and thou shalt preach the gospel in far places,
even in the land of Egypt shalt thou declare the mysteries of thy God.
250.
3. And though they cast thee into the furnace,
is not the Lord God able to deliver thee therefrom?
251.
4. For through thy deliverance shall many be brought to bow down and worship the Lord thy God
and forsake the evils of Nimrod.

BOOK OF LAMECH 43
252.
Therefore, I came forth from the prison confident in the power of my God
and in His promise that I should be delivered from the fire.
253.
2. Yet as I came forth, the astrologers of the king looked upon me
and by the power of Satan they recognized me, for they saw me clothed in light.
254.
3. And they cried out unto the king saying,
O king of all the earth, surely this is the man of whom we spake unto thee 50 years ago
that he should rise up to overthrow thy kingdom.
255.
4. Wherefore was he not slain?

BOOK OF LAMECH 44
256.
Hearing these words, the king was greatly troubled,
and calling my father Terah before him, he exclaimed,
Is this then thy son who was to have been slain?
257.
2. And what child then did I slay at his birth?
256.
3. Speak now the truth and thou shalt go free;
yet if thou speakest not the truth, thou shalt die with thy son.
257.
4. And Nimrod caused my father to swear concerning the matter.

BOOK OF LAMECH 45
258.
And my father answered the king saying, My lord king, I am guilty.
259.
2. For because of my tender feelings toward my son,
I did substitute for him the son of my concubine who was born on the same night.
260.
3. The king's wrath mounted and in his anger he cried,
Who advised thee to do this thing?
261.
4. Surely that man shall die.
262.
5. My father, being terrified at the kings' anger said,
I was my son Haran who so advised me.
263.
6. Now Haran had not advised my father of anything,
yet the Spirit of the Lord had wrought upon my father
so that he was loathe to give me up to the king.
264.
7. Nevertheless, Haran was privy to what my father had done
and Haran was one of the believers in the true God of heaven,
yet his heart was not firm nor his faith sure.
265.
8. Wherefore, Haran said in his heart,
If Abram be delivered from the furnace,
then shall I know that the God of Abram is indeed the true God.
266.
9. Wherefore, Haran wavered in his faith
and his confidence waxed not great in the Most High God,
yet my confidence was secure,
for I knew that it rested upon the Rock of my salvation, and that the word of God faileth not.

BOOK OF LAMECH 46
267.
Now when the king heard the words of my father,
he caused that Haran should also be taken with me,
and leading us to the vale of Casdim,
they stripped us of all our clothing and bound us with cords and cast us into the fire.
268.
2. Now Haran, because his faith was not perfect in the Lord his God,
he was was consumed in the fire so that no traceof his body remained,
269.
yet my faith remained firm in the Lord God
and He sent His angels to sustain me and release me from my bonds
270.
and I was 3 days and 3 nights in the furnace with the angels,
conversing with them and beings instructed by them.

the 2nd book of Lamech CHAPTER ELEVEN

Divisions 271-300

BOOK OF LAMECH 47-50

271.
After the 3rd day, the king sent his servants to govern the fire
that it might again be used for making brick.
272.
2. Yet when they came up to the furnace,
behold, I was sitting therein conversing with the angels whom God had sent.
273.
3. Therefore, the servants of the king, being greatly astonished, went and told him of this matter,
yet he would not believe them.
274.
4. However, when the men persisted in their tale and showed great consternation,
King Nimrod came unto the furnace,
yet he angels had departed and I sat alone in the flames.

275.
5. When he saw me therein unconsumed, the king cried out in alarm,
O Abram, art thou a sorcerer greater than ours
that thou shouldst live in the flames unconsumed?
276.
6. Yet I answered him,
Not so, O king, yet the God of Heaven who is the true god above all
hath sent his angels unto me and hath preserved me from this fire.
277.
7. Being much amazed the king exclaimed,
Come forth then from the fire for I see that no power of mine can harm thee.

BOOK OF LAMECH 48
278.
Whereupon, I ascended from the furnace and stood before the king and his counselors
who examined me closely yet, behold, even mine hair was not singed.
279.
2. Wherefore, the king caused garments from his own wardrobe to be brought
and I was clothed therein
and he caused me to be seated upon a throne at his right hand where my father was wont to sit
and he said unto me,

What of Haran thy brother who was cast into the furnace with thee?
280.
3. Did the angels carry him away to some far place that he might be saved?
281.
4. Yet I replied unto him,
Nay, yet the faith of my brother was not perfect in the Most High God;
wherefore he was consumed in the flames.

282.
5. Upon hearing this, the king marveled and permitted me to speak in his court
concerning the Most High God
and the redemption that should be wrought in behalf of those who believed on his name.
283.
6. Nevertheless, the heart of the king was not changed, for he gloried in power
and he thought to learn from my power by permitting me to speak.

7. Yet about 300 men of those who sat in the king's court were converted unto the Lord God
and followed no more after the evil order of Nimrod,
wherefore, they were cast out of the king's presence;
284.
yet as for me, the king gave me many gifts and sent me away in peace
and many were joined unto the believers in the Lord God from that day.

8. For having heard of my salvation from the fire,

multitudes came to my father's house to hear of the God who could do such mighty things
and many were converted unto the truth.

BOOK OF LAMECH 49
285.
Now, among the believers were Lot, the son of Haran,
and Haran's daughters, Milcah and Sarai.
286.
2. Milcah was fair, yet Sarai was beautiful above all women. Milcah, the mother of Rebecca
287.
3. Her face was as that of an angel filled with light,
her cheeks as two roses in full bloom,
her hair as spun gold that men treasure above all,
288.
her eyes as pools of blue reflecting the glory of God's sky,
her nose delicate and lovely,
and her appearance truly was fair as the sun.
289.
4. Her breasts like 2 mountains rising above the plain of Shinar were fair to behold,
and her complexion truly like the clouds in purity.
290.
5. Her arms were comely, her hands perfect and delightful to behold,
always in the service of those in need and quick to hasten to the service of the Lord her God.
291.
6. Her palms were lovely, unmarred by her constant labor,
her fingers long and slender.
292.
7. Her feet were comely and always set in the path of truth.
293.
8. Her thighs were well rounded and soft,
yet never failing to sustain her in her labor of love in behalf of the servants of God.
294.
9. Truly no maiden was fairer than Sarai, the daughter of Haran,
for her beauty was greater than all other women and she excelled them all.
295.
10. Yet with her beauty was great wisdom and perfect faith in the Lord
and constant service in behalf of the saints,
for her hands never cease from blessing the people of God.
296.
11. Wherefore, my brother Nahor took Milcah, the daughter of Haran, to wife,
yet I Abram, took Sarai at the direction of the Lord
and I found great joy with her.

BOOK OF LAMECH 50
 297.
Yet, behold, Satan was not content to have me continue to disrupt his kingdom in peace;
therefore, he sent a dream unto Kingdom Nimrod
wherein the king did see that I should be the destruction of him and of his kingdom.
298.
2. Moreover, it was shown the king in his dream that three of his own household,
even Zeptah, Lilith, and Nefritiri, daughters to Onitah, the son of Nimrod, who were virgins,
had joined the believers of the Most High God.
299.
3. When the king awoke from his sleep, he was angry and he caused that I,
with these three virgins, Zeptah, Lilith, and Nefritiri, should be seized and bound
and carried to Photiphar's hill at the head of the plain of Olishem
to be sacrificed unto the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
300.
4. And these 3 virgins did the priest of Pharaoh offer up upon the altar
and they died singing praises to the Lord and bearing witness to the truth,
wherefore, they shall be blessed forever for they have entered into the rest of the Lord.

The text ends abruptly, indicating that there could be lines missing from the end of the story.

Translated by J. Bryant