CHAPTER 7
1 And the men took me and brought me to the second heaven, and showed me the darkness, and there I saw the prisoners suspended, reserved for (and) awaiting the eternal judgement.
2 And these angels were gloomy in appearance, more than the darkness of the earth. And they unceasingly wept every hour, and I said to the men who were with me: ‘Why are these men continually tortured?’
3 And the men answered me: ‘These are they who apostatized from the Lord: who obeyed not the commandments of God, and took counsel of their own will and transgressed together with their prince and have been already confined to the second heaven.ʼ
4 And I felt great pity for them. And lo! the angels made obeisance to me, and said to me: “O man of God! pray for us to the Lord,”
5 And I answered them: “Who am I, a mortal man, that I should pray for angels? Who knows whither I go, or what awaits me: or who prays for me?”