NINE BEATITUDES

FROM THE BOOK OF THE SECRETS OF ENOCH

Then I said, I tell you my children:

(1) Blessed is he that feareth the Name of the Lord,
and serveth continually before His face,

and bringeth his gifts with fear in this life continually,
and liveth righteously all his life until he die.

(2) Blessed is he that executeth a just judgment,
not for recompense thereof,

but the rather for righteousness' sake,

expecting no good in return:

A sincere judgment shall come unto him thereafter.

(3) Blessèd is he that doth clothe the naked with a garment,

and bestoweth his bread on the hungry.

(4) Blessèd is he that rendereth a just judgment unto the orphan and the widow,

and hasteth to the help of everyone who suffereth wrong.

(5) Blessèd is he that turneth about

from the unstable path of this vain world,

and walketh in the righteous path

which leadeth to eternal life.

(6) Blessèd is he that soweth the seed of justice:
Behold, sevenfold shall he reap.

(7) Blessèd is he who hath love on his lips, and lovingkindness in his heart.

(9) Blessed is he that understandeth every work of the Lord and magnifieth the Lord his God:

For the works of the Lord are altogether just.

But as for the works of man, some there be that are good, and other some are evil.

And by their works shall they, that have wrought them, be known.

CHRISTIAN APOCRYPHAL BEATITUDES

THIRTEEN BEATITUDES

FROM THE ACTS OF PAUL AND THEKLA.

(Purity: Ascetic Ethics Toward the Flesh)

(1) Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they shall see God;

(2) Blessed are they that have kept the flesh chaste,

for they shall become a temple of God;

(3) Blessed are they that do exercise control over themselves,

for God shall speak with them;

(4) Blessed are they that have kept aloof from this world, for they shall be pleasing to God;

(5) Blessed are they that have wives as having them not, for they shall, to their portion, receive God.

(Worship: Ascetic Religion Toward the Spirit)

(1) Blessed are they that endure the fear of God, for they shall become as angels of God;

(2) Blessed are they that do tremble at the word of God, for they shall be comforted;

(3) Blessed are they that have taken unto themselves the wisdom of Jesus Christ,

for they shall be called the sons of the Most High;

(4) Blessed are they that have kept their baptism,

for they shall be refreshed of the Father and of the Son; (5) Blessed are they that have come to a true knowledge of the Christ,

for they shall dwell and have their being in the light.

(Mercy: Ascetic Ethics Toward the World)

(1) Blessed are they that, for the love of God, have come out from conformity with the world,

for they shall judge even angels,

and stand up blessèd at the right hand of the Father;

(2) Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy,

and shall not behold the bitter day of judgment.

(3) Blessed are the bodies of the holy virgins,

for they shall be well pleasing unto God,

and shall lose the reward nowise of their chastity.

AFTERWORD

BEING A PARAPHRASE

OF A NAVAHO BENEDICTION

O God, Thou who revealest Thyself, whose abode is in the white light of heaven:

In beauty may we walk with Thee [as becometh children of

the light!]

With beauty before us do Thou cause us to go forward,
With beauty behind us do Thou cause us to go forward
With beauty beneath us do Thou cause us to go forward
With beauty high above us do Thou cause us to go forward
With beauty enfolding us all about do Thou cause us to go

forward

[In the path appointed unto us of Thee];

For all things soever that were, are made perfect only of Thee in

blessed beauty,

Whatso now hath his being is perfecting in beauty,
And all that shall be, will be made perfect in beauty,
Yea, all things are made perfect of Thee in Thine exceeding
beauty, [O glorious God of light!]

EDITOR'S NOTES