Chapter 2

Premium narration

And now, my children, hearken unto me; that I may open your eyes to see and to understand the works of God; and to choose that which He hath chosen, and to reject that which He hath rejected; that ye may walk perfectly in all His ways, and not pursue after the thoughts of a guilty inclination, nor after fornicating eyes.

For many have erred therein. Mighty men have stumbled by them, from former times even unto this day. They walked in the stubbornness of their heart, the Watchers of the heavens fell. They were caught therein because they kept not the precepts of God. So also their sons, that grew tall like the cedars, and whose bodies were as mountains. All flesh that was upon the dry land died; for they fell as though they had not been — because they did their own pleasure, and kept not the commandment of their Maker — until His wrath was kindled against them.

And by it the children of Noah, and their families, were cut off — by it they were lost. Abraham did not walk in it; but he was reckoned a friend of God for the keeping of the precepts. He delivered not unto unclean lust; he begot Isaac and Jacob; and they kept God's commandments, and were reckoned for friends of God, and lords of the covenant for ever.

The sons of Jacob strayed thereby; and they were punished according to their straying. And their sons in Egypt walked in the stubbornness of their heart — taking counsel against the precepts of God, and doing each man what was right in his own eyes. They ate the blood; and the males were cut off in the wilderness.

And He said unto them at Kadesh: Go up and possess the land. But they hardened their spirit; they hearkened not unto the voice of their Maker, the precepts of their Teacher; rather, they murmured in their tents. So God's wrath was kindled against their congregation. And by it their children perished; and through it their kings were cut off; and through it their mighty men perished; and through it their land was made desolate.

Through it the first to enter the covenant became guilty, and were given over to the sword — for they had forsaken the covenant of God; and they had chosen their own pleasure; and they had walked after the stubbornness of their heart, doing each man what was right in his own eyes.