A long chapter continuing the woe oracles with heightened intensity. Enoch swears by the wisdom of the Great One that the sinners' deeds are known in heaven. He condemns those who build houses with the labor of others, who gain wealth through fraud, and who manufacture idols. The chapter also contains a remarkable passage on the origin of sin — humans were not created to sin; they have brought destruction upon themselves.
Verses 4-5 contain one of the most important theological statements in 1 Enoch: 'Sin has not been sent upon the earth, but man of himself has created it.' This directly challenges the Watchers tradition of chapters 6-16, where sin entered through angelic corruption. The tension is deliberate — both angelic and human responsibility coexist in the Enochic worldview, much as Genesis holds both the serpent and Adam/Eve responsible.
The assertion that humans created sin themselves sits uneasily alongside the Watchers narrative. Scholars debate whether this represents a different source, a theological evolution, or a complementary perspective (external temptation plus internal choice). The text does not resolve the tension.
Genesis 3 — the origin of human sin. James 1:13-15 — 'each person is tempted when they are lured and enticed by their own desire.' Romans 5:12 — 'sin came into the world through one man.' Deuteronomy 30:15-19 — the choice between life and death placed before Israel.
Ge'ez: wa-ye'zē 'emmahalu — 'and now I swear'
Now I swear to you — both the wise and the foolish — for you will have many experiences on the earth.
REF And now I swear unto you, to the wise and to the foolish, for ye shall have manifold experiences on the earth.
Ge'ez: 'esma 'antemu — 'for you men'
For you men will put on more adornments than a woman, and more colorful garments than a young woman — in royalty, grandeur, and power, in silver, gold, and purple, in splendor and in food poured out like water.
REF For ye men shall put on more adornments than a woman, and coloured garments more than a virgin: in royalty and in grandeur and in power, and in silver and in gold and in purple, and in splendour and in food they shall be poured out as water.
Ge'ez: wa-ba'enti zeku — 'therefore they'
Therefore they will lack wisdom and understanding. They will perish along with their possessions, their glory, and their splendor. In shame, slaughter, and great destitution, their spirits will be cast into the furnace of fire.
REF Therefore they shall be wanting in doctrine and wisdom, and they shall perish thereby together with their possessions and with all their glory and their splendour, and in shame and in slaughter and in great destitution, their spirits shall be cast into the furnace of fire.
Ge'ez: 'emmahalu lakemu — 'I have sworn unto you'
I swear to you, sinners: just as a mountain has not become a slave, and a hill does not become the handmaid of a woman, so sin was not sent upon the earth — humans created it themselves. Under a great curse will those who commit it fall.
REF I have sworn unto you, ye sinners, as a mountain has not become a slave, and a hill does not become the handmaid of a woman, even so sin has not been sent upon the earth, but man of himself has created it, and under a great curse shall they fall who commit it.
Ge'ez: wa-'ī-tetfaṭrat — 'and barrenness'
Barrenness has not been imposed on a woman — rather, because of the deeds of her own hands, she dies without children.
REF And barrenness has not been given to the woman, but on account of the deeds of her own hands she dies without children.
Ge'ez: 'emmahalu lakemu — 'I have sworn unto you'
I swear to you, sinners, by the Holy Great One, that all your evil deeds are revealed in the heavens, and none of your deeds of oppression are covered or hidden.
REF I have sworn unto you, ye sinners, by the Holy Great One, that all your evil deeds are revealed in the heavens, and that none of your deeds of oppression are covered and hidden.
Ge'ez: wa-'iye-tebelu — 'and do not think'
Do not think in your spirit or say in your heart that you do not know and do not see — for every sin is recorded in heaven daily in the presence of the Most High.
REF And do not think in your spirit nor say in your heart that ye do not know and that ye do not see that every sin is every day recorded in heaven in the presence of the Most High.
Ge'ez: wa-ye'zē ta'ammeru — 'from henceforth ye know'
From now on, know that all your oppression is written down every day until the day of your judgment.
REF From henceforth ye know that all your oppression wherewith ye oppress is written down every day till the day of your judgement.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you, fools — for through your folly you will perish. You transgress against the wise, and so no good fortune will be your portion.
REF Woe to you, ye fools, for through your folly shall ye perish: and ye transgress against the wise, and so good hap shall not be your portion.
Ge'ez: wa-ye'zē ta'ammeru — 'and now know ye'
Now know that you are prepared for the day of destruction. Do not hope to live, sinners — you will depart and die. You know no ransom, for you are prepared for the day of the great judgment, the day of tribulation and great shame for your spirits.
REF And now, know ye that ye are prepared for the day of destruction: wherefore do not hope to live, ye sinners, but ye shall depart and die; for ye know no ransom; for ye are prepared for the day of the great judgement, for the day of tribulation and great shame for your spirits.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you, stubborn of heart, who work wickedness and consume blood — where do you get your good food, drink, and abundance? From all the good things the Lord Most High placed abundantly on the earth. Therefore you will have no peace.
REF Woe to you, ye obstinate of heart, who work wickedness and eat blood: Whence have ye good things to eat and to drink and to be filled? From all the good things which the Lord the Most High has placed in abundance on the earth; therefore ye shall have no peace.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you who love the deeds of unrighteousness — why do you hope for good fortune? Know that you will be delivered into the hands of the righteous, and they will cut off your necks and slay you without mercy.
REF Woe to you who love the deeds of unrighteousness: wherefore do ye hope for good hap unto yourselves? Know that ye shall be delivered into the hands of the righteous, and they shall cut off your necks and slay you, and have no mercy upon you.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you who rejoice over the suffering of the righteous — for no grave will be dug for you.
REF Woe to you who rejoice in the tribulation of the righteous; for no grave shall be dug for you.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you who dismiss the words of the righteous — for you will have no hope of life.
REF Woe to you who set at nought the words of the righteous; for ye shall have no hope of life.
Ge'ez: way lakemu — 'woe to you'
Woe to you who write down lying and godless words — for they write their lies so that people may hear them and act with godlessness toward their neighbor.
REF Woe to you who write down lying and godless words; for they write down their lies that men may hear them and act godlessly towards their neighbour.
Ge'ez: wa-ba'enti zeku — 'therefore they'
Therefore they will have no peace but will die a sudden death.
REF Therefore they shall have no peace but die a sudden death.