First Book of Adam and Eve | Page 5

was comforted with that which God had told him. For He had told him how He would save him.


Chapter IV
- Adam mourns over the changed conditions. Adam and Eve enter the Cave of Treasures.
1 But Adam and Eve cried for having come out of the garden, their first home.
2 And indeed, when Adam looked at his flesh, that was altered, he cried bitterly, he and Eve, over what they had done. And they walked and went gently down into the Cave of Treasures.
3 And as they came to it, Adam cried over himself and said to Eve, "Look at this cave that is to be our prison in this world, and a place of punishment!
4 What is it compared with the garden? What is its narrowness compared with the space of the other?
5 What is this rock, by the side of those groves? What is the gloom of this cavern, compared with the light of the garden?
6 What is this overhanging ledge of rock to shelter us, compared with the mercy of the Lord that overshadowed us?
7 What is the soil of this cave compared with the garden land? This earth, strewed with stones; and that, planted with delicious fruit trees?"
8 And Adam said to Eve, "Look at your eyes, and at mine, which before beheld angels praising in heaven; and they too, without ceasing.
9 But now we do not see as we did; our eyes have become of flesh; they cannot see like they used to see before."
10 Adam said again to Eve, "What is our body today, compared to what it was in former days, when we lived in the garden?"
11 After this, Adam did not want to enter the cave, under the overhanging rock; nor would he ever want to enter it.
12 But he bowed to God's orders; and said to himself, "Unless I enter the cave, I shall again be a transgressor."


Chapter V
- Eve makes a noble and emotional intercession, taking the blame on herself.
1 Then Adam and Eve entered the cave, and stood praying, in their own tongue, unknown to us, but which they knew well.
2 And as they prayed, Adam raised his eyes and saw the rock and the roof of the cave that covered him overhead. This prevented him from seeing either heaven or God's creatures. So he cried and beat his chest hard, until he dropped, and was as dead.
3 And Eve sat crying; for she believed he was dead.
4 Then she got up, spread her hands toward God, appealing to Him for mercy and pity, and said, "O God, forgive me my sin, the sin which I committed, and don't remember it against me.
5 For I alone caused Your servant to fall from the garden into this condemned land; from light into this darkness; and from the house of joy into this prison.
6 O God, look at this Your servant fallen in this manner, and bring him back to life, that he may cry and repent of his transgression which he committed through me.
7 Don't take away his soul right now; but let him live that he may stand after the measure of his repentance, and do Your will, as before his death.
8 But if You do not bring him back to life, then, O God, take away my own soul, that I be like him, and leave me not in this dungeon, one and alone; for I could not stand alone in this world, but with him only.
9 For You, O God, caused him to fall asleep, and took a bone from his side, and restored the flesh in the place of it, by Your divine power.
10 And You took me, the bone, and make me a woman, bright like him, with heart, reason, and speech; and in flesh, like to his own; and You made me after the likeness of his looks, by Your mercy and power.
11 O Lord, I and he are one, and You, O God, are our Creator, You are He who made us both in one day.
12 Therefore, O God, give him life, that he may be with me in this strange land, while we live in it on account of our transgression.
13 But if You will not give him life, then take me, even me, like him; that we both may die the same day."
14 And Eve cried bitterly, and fell on our father Adam; from her great sorrow.


Chapter VI
- God's reprimand to Adam and Eve in which he points out how and why they sinned.
1 But God looked at them; for they had killed themselves through great grief.
2 But He decided to raise them and comfort them.
3 He, therefore, sent His Word to them; that they should stand and be raised immediately.
4 And the Lord said to Adam and Eve, "You transgressed of