Kebra Nagast

Concerning the Angels who rebelled And the angels answered and said ashes and dust." unto Kim, Adam " ? " May we declare before Thee the sin of And God said unto them, " Declare ye [his and I will hearken unto you, and I Myself will answer you in respect of Adam My servant." For God " And God of Adam. I sin], had worked on behalf said, created him out of the dust, and I will not cast away I brought him forth out that which I have fashioned. of non-existence, and I will not make My handiwork a laughingstock for his enemies." " And those angels said, be unto Thee, O Lord. For Thou, the Knower of hearts, knowest that we have reviled Adam because he hath transgressed Thy commandment that he was not to eat of one tree after Thou hadst made him Praise lord over everything which Thou hast created, and hadst set him over every work of Thy hands. And if Thou hadst not told him, and if Thou hadst not commanded him not to eat of one tree there would have been no offence [on his part] ; and if he had eaten because of a lack of food there would have been no offence [on his part]. But Thy word made him to know, and Thou didst say, As surely as thou eatest of this tree thou shalt die.' * And he, after hearing this, made bold and ate. Thou didst not let him lack sweet fruits to eat from the Garden, and Thou didst not let him lack one ' to comfort him and a companion like unto himself. And these things we say and make known unto Thee, and we have revealed unto Thee how he hath transgressed Thy commandment." And the Merciful One and the Lover of mercy answered them on behalf of Adam, and said unto them, " You have I created out of fire and air with the one intent [that ye should] praise [Me]. Him have I created of twice as many elements as you of dust and water, and of wind and fire ; and he became [a being] of flesh and blood. And in him are ten thoughts (or, 1 Genesis ii, 17. 185