{"collection":"Judaism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/jud/ohpe/ohpe06.htm","path":"jud/ohpe/ohpe06.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/jud/ohpe/ohpe06.htm","text":"Original Hebrew of a Portion of Ecclesiasticus, by A.E. Cowley and A. Neubauer, [1897]\n(Cambridge, recto.)\n| XXXIX. 15c | [With songs of the harp and of stringed instruments, | | and thus with a shout shalt thou say; | \n| 16 | All [the works of] God are good, | | and he supplieth every need in its season. | \n| 17c | . . . . appraise . . . . | | and the utterance of his mouth is his treasure. | \n| 18 | In [his] place he maketh his pleasure to prosper, | | and there is no restraint to his salvation. | \n| 19 | The works of all flesh are before him, | | and there is nothing hid from before his eyes. | \n| 20 | He beholdeth from everlasting to everlasting: | | [is there] limit to his salvation? | \n| 20c | There is nothing small or light with him, | | and there is nothing too wonderful or hard for him. | \n| 21 | None may say, Wherefore is this? | | or all things are chosen for their uses. | \n| 21c | None may [say], This is worse than that, | | for all things prevail in their season. | \n| 22 | He maketh his blessings to overflow as the Nile, | | and it saturateth the land like a river. | \n| 23 | For his wrath dispossesseth nations, | | and he turneth a watered land into salt. | \n| 24 | [The path]s of the perfect man are plain, | | so to strangers do they oppose themselves. | \n| 25 | [Good things] he allotted to the [g]ood from the beginning, | | so to the evil good and evil; | \n| 26 | [The chief things] for the life of man are water, | | and fire, and iron, and salt, | \n| 26c | [Flour of wheat], milk, and honey, | | the blood of the grape, fresh oil, and clothing. | \n| 27 | All th[ese] bring good to the [g]ood, | | so for the evil they are turned to evil; | \n| 28 | There be w[inds which are formed [for vengeance], | | . . . [they] remove mountains. | \n| 28c | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | \n(Cambridge, verso.)\n| 29 | Fire and hail, evil and pestilence, | | these also are [formed] for judgement. | \n| 30 | Beast of tooth, scorpion and cobra, | | and a sword of vengeance to ban [the wicked]. | \n| 30c | All these are created for their uses, | | and they are in his treasure-house, against the time when they are required. | \n| 31 | When he commandeth them they rejoice, | | and in their prescribed tasks they rebel not against his word. | \n| 32 | Therefore from the beginning I took my stand, and I considered, and set it down in writing; | | | \n| 33 | All the works of God are good; | | he sufficeth for every need in its season. | \n| 34 | None may say, This is evil, What is this? | | for he maketh all things to prevail in their season. | \n| 35 | Now with all (your) heart sing aloud, | | and bless the name of the H[oly One]. | \n| XL. 1 | Great occupation hath God allotted, | | and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of men; | \n| 1c | From the day of his coming forth from his mother's womb, | | until the day of his returning to the mother of all living; | \n| 3 | From him that sitteth loftily on a throne, | | even unto him that is clothed in dust and ashes. | \n| 4 | From him that weareth a diadem and (priestly) plate, | | even unto him that weareth a mantle [of poverty]: | \n| 5 | Anger, jealousy, anxiety, and fear, | | the terror of death, strife, and contention: | \n| 5c | And in the time when he resteth upon his bed, | | the sleep of night changeth [his thoughts]; | \n| 6 | A little . . . . for a moment he is quiet, | | and from the midst of terror[s he is perturbed?]; | \n| 6c | . . . . . from the vision of his soul, | | (he is) as a fugitive [hurrying on before] the pursuer. | \n| 9 | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [aw]aketh | | . . . visions (?) . . . rest. | \n| 8 | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | \n(Oxford, fol. 1 recto.)\n| 9 | [Pestile]nce and bloodshed, fever and drought, | | devastation and destruction, evil and death. | \n| 10 | Against the wicked, evil is created, | | and because of him ruin departeth [not?]. | \n| 11 | All things that are from the earth return to the earth, | | and that which is from the height (returneth) to the height. | \n| 13 | Riches born of (?) riches are like an ever-flowing stream, | | and as a mighty water-course in the flashing of thunder: | \n| 14 | With his lifting up of (his) hands men rejoice, | | for suddenly he perisheth for ever. | \n| 15 | The branch of violence shall not be unpunished, | | for the root of the godless is on the point of a crag. | \n| 16 | Like axes (?) upon the bank of a stream, | | before all rain they are extinguished. | \n| 17 | But kindness shall never be moved, | | and righteousness (or almsgiving) shall be established for ever. | \n| 18 | A life of wine and strong drink is sweet, | | but he that findeth a treasure is above them both. | \n| 19 | A child and a city establish a name, | | but he that findeth wisdom is above them both. | \n| 19c | Offspring (of cattle) and planting make a name flourish, | | but a woman beloved is above them both. | \n| 20 | Wine and strong drink cause the heart to exult, | | but the love of lovers is above them both. | \n| 21 | Pipe and harp make sweet the song, | | but a sincere tongue is above them both. | \n| 22 | [Grace and beauty] delight the eye, | | but the growing things of the field are above them both. | \n| 23 | [A friend and a partner] behave [as occasion requires], | | but a prudent wife is above them both. | \n| 24 | A brother [and a helper are for a ti]me of adversity, | | but righteousness (or almsgiving) delivereth above them both. | \n| 25 | Gold and silver [make the foot stand sure]: | | but [good counsels] is above them both. | \n| 26 | Riches and strength lift up the heart, | | but the fear of God is above them both. | \n(fol. 1 verso.)\n| 26c | In the fear of the Lord there is no want, | | and it needeth not to seek for [treasure] with it. | \n| 27 | The fear of God is as an Eden of blessing, | | and so all glory is its canopy. | \n| 28 | My son, live not a life that subsists on giving: | | better is he that is taken away (in death) than he that is importunate. | \n| 29 | A man that looketh at the table of a stranger, | | his life is not to be numbered as a life; | \n| 29c | His dainties are a loathing of the soul; | | to a man that hath understanding (they are as) pains of the bowels. | \n| 30 | Begging is sweet to the greedy man, | | but in his inward parts it burneth as fire. | \n| XLI. 1 | Ah Death! how [bit]ter is the remembrance of thee | | to a man that liveth qui[etly] in his place; | \n| 1c | To a man that is at ease and prospereth in all things, | | and that hath yet strength to receive pleasure. | \n| 2 | Aha Death! for acceptable (lit. good) is thy sentence | | unto him that hath no might, and lacketh strength; | \n| 2c | (To) the man that stumbleth and striketh against all things, | | who loveth contradiction and hath lost hope. | \n| 3 | Be not afraid of death (which is) thy sentence, | | remember that they which went before and they which come after (will be) with thee. | \n| 4 | This is the portion of all flesh from God, | | and why dost thou refuse the law of the Most High? | \n| 4c | Whether it be for a thousand years, or an hundred, or ten, | | there are no corrections in Sh[eo]l. | \n| 5 | A reprobate progeny is a byword of the evil, | | and the offspring of the foolish is [. . . of the wic]ked. | \n| 6 | From an unrighteous son cometh a rule of evil, | | [and with his] seed [abideth want] | \n| 7 | An ungodly father a [chi]l[d] doth curse, | | because [on his] acc[ount he suffereth reproach]. | \n| 8 | [Woe] to [you, ye wicked, | | because ye have forsaken the law of the Most] High. | \n| 9 | If [ye increase, it shall be into] the hands of bodily mishap; | | [and if ye] beget, it shall be for sighing. | \n(fol. 2 recto.)\n| | If ye stumble, it shall be for perpetual joy; | 9b | and if ye die, it shall be for a curse. | \n| 10 | All things from nothing turn to nothing again, | | so the godless (go) from emptiness to emptiness. | \n| 11 | The vanity of man is in his body, | | but a godly name shall not be cut off. | \n| 12 | Fear for (thy) name, for that will accompany thee, | | more than thousands of precious treasures. | \n| 13 | The goodness of life hath days that may be numbered, | | but goodness of name hath days without number. | \n| 14b | Buried wisdom and a hidden treasure, | | what profit is in them both? | \n| 15 | Better is a man that hideth his foolishness, | | than a man that hideth his wisdom. | \n| | The discipline of shame. | | | \n| 14a | Hearken, O children, to the discipline of shame, | 16 | and be abashed according to my judgement. | \n| 16b | Not every kind of shame is it fitting to retain, | | nor is every kind of abashment approved. | \n| 17 | Be ashamed before father and mother, of whoredom; | | before a prince sitting (in judgement), of a lie; | \n| 18 | Before master and mistress of deceit; | | before the congregation and the people, of transgression; | \n| 18c | [Before a partner] and a friend, of trespass; | 19 | and before the place where thou sojournest, of [a stranger; | \n| 19b | [Of breaking an oath and a covenant, | | of stretching out the elbow at meat; | \n| 19d | Of refusing to grant a request; | 21 | of reckoning the face of thy friend; | \n| 21b | Of reckoning the dividing of a portion; | 20 | before him that saluteth, of silence; | \n| 20b | Of gazing on a woman [that is a harlot?]; | 21c | and of . . . . . | \n| 22c | Before a friend, of reproachful [word]s; | | and after giving, spurn not. | \n(fol. 2 verso.)\n| XLII. 1 | Of repeating a word that thou hearest, | | and of laying bare any secret counsel: | \n| lc | So shalt thou be truly shamefast, | | and finding favour in the sight of all living. | \n| 1e | But of these things be not ashamed, | | and accept not persons unto sin: | \n| 2 | Of the law of the Most High and the statute, | | and of judgement to do justice to the wicked, | \n| 3 | Of reckoning with a partner and a master, | | and of the division of an inheritance and a property, | \n| 4a | Of the small dust of the scales and balance, | 5a | and of exchange by ephah and stone (weight), | \n| 4b | Of buying between much and little, | 5c | and of smiting a deceitful [servant]. | \n| 6 | Upon an evil woman sets a seal, | | but a place of weak hands thou mayest open. | \n| 7 | In the place where thou committest a deposit, [count, | | and let giving and receiving all be in writing. | \n| 8 | (Be not ashamed) of the correction of the simple and the fool, | | or of him that is grey-headed and very aged, and that (yet) taketh counsel for whoredom. | \n| 8c | So shalt thou be well-advised in truth, | | and lowly before all living. | \n| 9 | A daughter is to a father a deceptive treasure, | | and the care of her [putteth away his sleep]: | \n| 9c | In her youth lest she commit adultery, | | and in her virginity lest [she be defiled], | \n| 10 | In her virginity lest she be seduced, | | and in the house of [her lord lest she bear not?], | \n| 10c | In the house of her father lest [she play the harlot?], | | and in the house of her hu[sband lest] . . . . | \n| 11 | [My son, keep a strict watch over thy daughter, | | lest she make thee] a name of evil odour, | \n| 11c | A byword in the city and a cursing of the people, | | and shame thee [in the congregation of the gate. | \n(fol. 3 recto.)\n| 11e | In the place where she lodgeth let there be no lattice, | | nor a chamber looking upon the entrance round about. | \n| 12 | Let her not show her beauty to any male, | | and in the house of women let her not converse. | \n| 13 | For from a garment cometh forth a moth, | | and from a woman a woman's wickedness. | \n| 14 | Better is the wickedness of a man than the goodness of a woman, | | and the house of her that causeth shame poureth forth reproach. | \n| 15 | I will remember now the works of God, | | and that which I have seen I will recount. | \n| 15c | By the word of God is his pleasure, | | and him that doeth his pleasure he hath accepted. | \n| 16 | The rising sun is revealed over all things, | | so the glory of the Lord is over all his works. | \n| 17 | The saints of God do not suffice | | to recount the wonders of the Lord'. | \n| 17c | God hath given strength unto his hosts, | | that they may endure firmly before his glory. | \n| 18 | He searcheth out the deep and the heart, | | and understandeth all their nakednesses; | \n| 19 | Declaring things that are past and that are to come, | | and revealing the remotest of hidden things. | \n| 20 | No knowledge is lacking to him, | | and no matter escapeth him. | \n| 21 | [The might of his wisdom] he hath regulated, | | he is one from everlasting. | \n| 21c | Nothing [hath been added (unto him), or] diminished (from him), | | and he hath no need of any instructor. | \n| 23a | He [establisheth all things for ever], | 25a | one thing upon another for the sake of its good. | \n| 25b | And who can [be filled with [beholding (his) beauty?] | XLIII. 1a | . . . . . . . . . . | \n| XLIII. 1b | And the body of heaven beholding his majesty, | XLII. 23b | and all things are obedient to every use. | \n(fol. 3 verso.)\n| 24 | All of them are different, one from another, | | and he hath made none of them [in vain]. | \n| XLIII. 2 | The sun, when he goeth forth, poureth out warmth: | | how terrible are the works of the Lord! | \n| 3 | By his shining he heateth the world; | | before his drought who can maintain himself? | \n| 4 | A fierce furnace is established by them (?), | | the sun being sent forth setteth the mountains in a blaze. | \n| 4c | A tongue of light consumeth the inhabited(country), | | and with its fire the eye is scorched; | \n| 5 | For great is the Lord that made him, | | and (with) his words he maketh brilliant (?) his mighty ones. | \n| 6 | Moreover moon by moon the seasons return, | | (for) a limited rule, but an everlasting sign; | \n| 7 | By her are the appointed feast and the prescribed times, | | and in her circuit [she doeth] (her) business; | \n| 8 | With every (new) month she is renewed, | | how terrible is she in her changing! | \n| 8c | An instrument of the host of the (rain-)vessels on high, | | paving the firmament with her shining: | \n| 9 | The beauty of heaven, and the glory of a star, | | and her light shining in the heights of God. | \n| 10 | By the word of God a statute is established, | | and they sleep not in their watches. | \n| 11 | Behold the (rain)bow, and bless him that made it, | | for exceeding majestic is it [in glory; | \n| 12 | It compasseth with its glory the vault (of heaven), | | and the hand of God hath stretched it out in [its pride]. | \n| 13 | His might marketh out the lightning, | | and maketh brilliant the flashes [in judgement]. | \n| 14 | On that account he hath created a treasure-house, | | and hath made [the clouds?] to fly forth . . . . | \n| | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | \n| 17 | The voice of his thunder maketh his land to be in anguish, | | the hot winds of the north, the tempest, and the whirlwind. | \n(fol. 4 recto.)\n| 17c | Like darting flashes he sheddeth abroad his snow, | | and like locusts (when) they settle is the falling down thereof; | \n| 18 | The beauty of its whiteness dazzleth the eyes, | | and the heart is disquieted at the raining of it. | \n| 19 | The hoar-frost also he poureth out like salt, | | and maketh it to bloom with flowers like sapphire. | \n| 20 | The cold of the north wind he causeth to blow, | | and congealeth his spring like rottenness (?). | \n| 20c | Over every standing water he spreadeth a crust, | | and a pond putteth on as it were a breastplate. | \n| 21 | It burneth up the produce like drought, | | and the stateliness of growing things as a flame. | \n| 22 | The dropping of a cloud healeth all things, | | (even) dew releasing (?) the parched young grass. | \n| 23 | His counsel burneth up (?) the great (deep), | | and he planteth islands in the ocean. | \n| 24 | They that go down to the sea tell of its bounds, | | when we hear it with our ears, we are astonished. | \n| 25 | Therein are wonders, the marvels of his work, | | variety of all things living, and the mighty things of the great (deep). | \n| 26 | By reason of him [his] messenger prospereth, | | and by his words he performeth (his) pleasure. | \n| 27 | More like this we will not add, | | and the conclusion of the matter is, He is all. | \n| 28 | Let us still be magnifying him, for we shall not search him out, | | and he is great beyond all his works. | \n| 29 | [The Lord is] exceeding [terrible], | | and wonderful are his mighty acts. | \n| 30 | [Ye that magnify the Lord], lift up your voice all that ye can, for there is yet more; | 30c | ye that exalt him, renew your strength, and be not weary, for ye will not [search (him) out]. | \n| 32 | Many [hidden things hath he established (?) more than] these; | | a little only have I seen of his works. | \n| 33 | All things [hath the Lord made], | | and to [the godly hath he given wisdom]. | \n(fol. 4 verso.)\nPRAISE OF THE PATRIARCHS.\n| XLIV. 1 | Let me now praise godly men, | | our fathers in their generations. | \n| 2 | Great glory the Most High allotted (to them), | | and they were great from days of old; | \n| 3 | Rulers of the earth in their royalty, | | and men of renown in their might; | \n| 3c | Who gave counsel by their understanding, | | and saw all things in their prophecy; | \n| 4 | Princes of nations in their prudence, | | and potentates in their care; | \n| 4c | Wise of meditation in their writing, | | and governing in their watchfulness; | \n| 5 | Who sought out music according to rule, | | and took up the proverb in writing; | \n| 6 | Men of worth, and supported with strength, | | and that lived quietly upon their places. | \n| 9 | All these in their generation (were honoured), | | and from their birth was their glory. | \n| 8 | There be of them that have left a name, | | that men might tell of it in their inheritance; | \n| 9 | And there be of them which have no memorial, | | and have ceased as they have ceased; | \n| 9c | They were as though they had not been, | | and their children after them. | \n| 10 | Nevertheless these were godly men, | | and their hope [shall not perish; | \n| 11 | With their seed their goodness remaineth sure, | | and their inheritance unto chil[dren's children]; | \n| 13 | Their memory standeth fast for ever, | | and their righteousness [shall not be forgotten]; | \n| 14 | [Their bodies were buried in p]eac[e, | | but their name liveth] unto all generations a. | \n| 16 | Enoch [was f]ound perfect, and walked with the Lord, and was taken, | | being an example (lit. sign) of knowledge to all generations. | \n(fol. 5 recto.)\n| 17 | Noah the righteous was found perfect, | | in a season of destruction he became the successor; | \n| 17c | For his sake was there a remnant, | | and through the covenant with him, the flood ceased; | \n| 18 | By an everlasting sign was it made with him, | | that he would not destroy all flesh. | \n| 19 | Abraham was the father of a multitude of nations, | | he put no blemish upon his glory; | \n| 20 | Who kept the commandment of the Most High, | | and entered into a covenant with him; | \n| 20c | In his flesh he made him an ordinance, | | and when he was proved he was found faithful. | \n| 21 | Therefore he promised him with an oath, | | that he would bless the nations in his seed, | \n| 21e | To cause them to inherit [from se]a to sea, | | and from the River unto the ends of the earth. | \n| 22 | To Isaac also did he raise up a son, | | for the sake of Abraham his father; | \n| 22c | He gave him (?)the covenant of every ancestor, | 23 | and the blessing rested on the head of Israel; | \n| 23b | And he confirmed him in the blessing, | | and gave him his inheritance; | \n| 23d | And he set him in tribes, | | in twelve parts. | \n| 23f | [And he brought ou]t of him a man, | | who found favour in the sight of all living, | \n| XLV. 1 | [A man beloved of] God and men, | | (even) Moses, whose memory is unto good'. | \n| 2 | [And G]od 9 glorified him | | and strengthened him in the heights (of heaven). | \n| 3 | By [his words] . . . . . . . . . . ., | | and gave him boldness before the king; | \n| 3c | And gave him a charge unto [his people], | | and sh[ewed him of his glory]. | \n| 4 | For his faithfulness and meekness, | | he chose him out of all [flesh]; | \n(fol. 5 verso.)\n| 5 | And made him to hear his voice, | | and caused him to draw near into the thick darkness; | \n| 5c | And set a commandment in his hand, | | even the law of life and understanding; | \n| 5e | To teach in Jacob his statutes, | | and his testimonies and judgements unto Israel. | \n| 6 | And he exalted a holy man, even Aaron of the tribe of Levi, | 7 | and set him for an everlasting ordinance; | \n| 7b | And put majesty upon him, | | and he ministered unto him in his glory. | \n| 7d | And he girded him about (as) with the towering horns of a wild-ox, | | and clothed him with bells. | \n| 8 | And he clothed him with the perfection of adornment, | | and adorned him with glory and strength; | \n| 8c | The breeches, the coats, and the robe, | 9 | and [compassed him] with bells, | \n| 9b | And pomegranates, a multitude round about, | | to make music with his steps; | \n| 9d | To make the sound of him to be heard in the inmost temple, | | for a memorial to the children of his people. | \n| 10 | Holy garments, of gold, blue, and purple, | | the work of the designer: | \n| 10c | The breastplate of judgement, the ephod, and the waist-cloth, | 11 | and scarlet, the work of the weaver; | \n| 11b | Pleasant stones upon the breast-plate, | | the engravings of a signet with settings; | \n| 11d | Every precious stone for a memorial with graven writing, | | according to the number of [the tribes of Israel; | \n| 12 | The crown of pure gold, the robe, and the mitre, | | and the plate, [having engraven on it, as on a signet,] Holiness; | \n| 12c | Majesty, glory, and the praise of strength, | | the desire [of the eyes, and the perfection of b]eauty. | \n| 13 | Be[fore them were no]t [any such, | | and no] stranger [should put them on for ever]. | \n| 33c | He [trusted him and] his sons after this manner, | | and thus (should) his sons (do) throughout their generations; | \n(fol. 6 recto.)\n| 14 | His meal-offering should be wholly burnt, | | and every day twice continually. | \n| 15 | And Moses filled his hand, | | and anointed him with the holy oil. | \n| 15c | And it was unto him an everlasting covenant, | | and to his seed as the days of heaven, | \n| 15e | To minister and to execute the priest's office unto him, | | and to bless his people in his name. | \n| 16 | And he chose him out of all living, | | to bring near the burnt-offering and the fat pieces; | \n| 16c | And to burn a sweet savour and a memorial, | | and to make atonement for the children of Israel. | \n| 17 | And he gave him his commandments, | | and made him to have authority over statute and judgement. | \n| 17c | So he taught his people statutes, | | and judgements unto the children of Israel. | \n| 18 | But strangers were incensed against him, | | and were jealous of him in the wilderness; | \n| 18e | The men of Dathan and Abiram, | | and the congregation of Korah in the violence of their anger. | \n| 19 | And the Lord saw it and was angered, | | and consumed them in the heat of his anger; | \n| 19c | And he brought upon them a sign, | | and devoured them with his flaming fire. | \n| 20 | And [he increased] to Aaron his glory, | | and gave him his inheritance; | \n| 20e | The holy f[irst-fruits] he gave to him for bread, | 21a | that they should eat the fire-offerings of the Lord; | \n| 20d | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they should divide, | 21b | and (they should be) a gift to him and to his seed; | \n| 22 | Only [in the land of his people] he should not inherit, | | and amongst them he should not divide an inheritance; | \n| 22e | The fire-offerings of the Lord [should be their portion and their inheritance] | | . . . . . . . . Israel. | \n| 23 | Moreover Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, | | in might . . . . . | \n(fol. 6 verso.)\n| 23c | In his jealousy for the God of all, | | and stood in the breach of his people. | \n| 23e | Whose heart made him willing, | | and he made atonement for the children of Israel. | \n| 24 | Therefore for him also did he establish an ordinance, | | a covenant of peace to maintain the sanctuary; | \n| 24c | Which should be to him and to his seed, | | an high priesthood for ever. | \n| 25 | Also his covenant (was) with David | | the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. | \n| 25a | An inheritance of fire in presence of his glory | | was the inheritance of Aaron unto all his seed. | \n| 25e | And now bless ye the Lord, the good, | | who hath crowned you with glory; | \n| 26 | And given you wisdom of heart, | 26c | that your goodness [and] your [mig]ht be not forgotten through perpetual generations. | \n| XLVI. 1 | A mighty man of valour was Joshua the son of Nun, | | the minister of Moses in prophecy, | \n| 1c | Who was formed that there might be in his days | | a great salvation to his chosen ones; | \n| le | To execute vengeance upon the enemy, | | and to give Israel his inheritance. | \n| 2 | How glorious was he when he stretched out his hand, | | when he swung the javelin against the city! | \n| 3 | Who was he that could stand before him? | | for he fought] the battles of the Lord. | \n| 4 | Did not the sun stand still by his hand, | | so that one day [became two]? | \n| 5 | For he called unto God Most High, | | when he was pressed upon [round about]. | \n| 5c | And God Most High answered him with stones | | of [hail and coa]ls [of fir]e; | \n| 6 | . . . . . . . . . . . . . | | and in [the descent] | \n| 6c | That every banned nation [might kn]ow | | that the Lord watched their battles. | \n(fol. 7 recto.)\n| 6e | [Yea], because he followed fully after God, | 7 | and in the days of Moses wrought godliness, | \n| 7b | [H]e, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, | | in standing fast when the assembly cast off restraint, | \n| 7d | To turn away wrath from the congregation, | | and to still the evil report; | \n| 8 | Therefore they also, two alone, were reserved, | | out of six hundred thousand men on foot, | \n| 8e | To bring them into their inheritance, | | a land flowing with milk and honey. | \n| 9 | And he gave strength unto Caleb, | | and even unto old age it remained with him; | \n| 9c | To make him to tread upon the high places of the land, | | and that his seed also should possess an inheritance; | \n| 10 | That all the seed of Jacob might know | | that it was good to follow fully after the Lord. | \n| 11 | Also the judges every one by his name, | | every one whose heart had not turned aside, | \n| 11c | And who drew not back from (following) after God-- | | may their memory be blessed, 12b and their name succeed to their sons. | \n| 13 | The lover of his people, & acceptable to his Maker, | | (was) he who was lent from his mother's womb, | \n| 13c | A nazirite of the Lord in prophecy, | | Samuel, who was judge and priest. | \n| 13e | [The pro]phet of God established a kingdom, | | and anointed leaders' over the people. | \n| 14 | By [his law he commanded the congregation, | | and the God of Jacob visited (them). | \n| 13 | By . . . . he was [san]ctified a gazer (prophet), | | and by his word also he was confirmed as a shepherd. | \n| 16 | He also [called] unto God, | | [when] his [ene]mies [pressed hi]m round about, | \n| 16c | When he offered up [a sucking lamb, | 17 | and [the Lord] thun[dered out of heaven]; | \n| 17b | With a mighty crash his voice was heard, | 18 | and he subdued the garrisons of the foe, and des[troy]ed all the lords of the Philistines. | \n(fol. 7 verso.)\n| 19 | And at the time of his resting upon his (last) bed, he called the Lord and his anointed to witness, (saying,) | 19c | From [whom] have I [taken] a ransom or a secret gift? and no man answered against him. | \n| 19e | Also till the time of his end he was found prudent in the sight of the Lord and in the sight of all living. | | | \n| 20 | And even after his death he was sought, and declared to the king his ways, 20c and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy. | | | \n| XLVII. 1 | Moreover after him rose up Nathan, | | to stand before David. | \n| 2 | For like fat separated from the holy (offering), | | so was David (separated) from Israel. | \n| 3 | He mocked at lions as at a kid, | | and at bears as at the herds of Bastian. | \n| 4 | In his youth he smote a mighty man, | | and took away an everlasting [reproach], | \n| 4c | When he swung his hand upon the sling, | | and brake the pr[id]e of Goliath. | \n| 5 | For he called unto God Most High, | | and he put strength in his right hand, | \n| 5c | To thrust away the man skilled in battles, | | and to exalt the horn of his people. | \n| 6 | Therefore the daughters sang of him, | | and titled him with ten thousand. | \n| 6c | When he had put on the diadem he fought, | 7 | and subdued the adversary round about; | \n| 7b | And set nakedness among the Philistines, | | and brake [their h]orn in pieces unto this day. | \n| 8 | In all his works he gave thanks to God | | Most High [with words of glory, | \n| 8c | With his whole heart loving him that made him, | | and every [day] . . . . . . . | \n| 9 | Stringed instruments of song (he sets) be[fore the altar], | | and the sound of [. . . . and of harps he set in order. | \n| 10 | . . . . . . . | | . . . . [year by y]ear. | \n| 10c | While [they praised his holy name, | | the sanctuary resounded before the morning. | \n(fol. 8 recto.)\n| 11 | . . . . the Lord took away his transgression, | | and exalted his horn for ever, | \n| 11c | [And ga]ve him the ordinance of the kingdom, | | and established his throne over Jerusalem. | \n| 12 | [And] among the people there arose none after him, | | an understanding son, dwelling securely. | \n| 13 | Solomon reigned in days of prosperity, | | and God gave rest to him round about, | \n| 13c | Who established an house for his name, | | and set up a sanctuary for ever. | \n| 14 | How wast thou wise in thy youth! | | and didst make instruction to overflow like the Nile: | \n| 15 | The earth . . . . . . . . . . | | and thou didst celebrate song in the height (?); | \n| 16 | With songs, proverbs, dark sayings, and figures, | | thou didst greatly move the nations: | \n| 17 | Thou wast called by the glorious name, | | which is called over Israel, | \n| 18c | And thou didst heap up gold as iron, | | and didst multiply silver like lead; | \n| 29 | But thou gavest thy loins unto women, | | and lettest them have dominion over thy body; | \n| 20 | So [thou] didst put a blemish upon thy glory, | | and didst profane thy couch, | \n| 20c | [To bring] wrath upon thy issue, | | and sighing upon thy bed; | \n| 21 | That [they should become] two tribes, | | and that out or Ephraim a kingdom of violence (might arise). | \n| 22 | [Nevertheless] God forsaketh not mercy, | | nor letteth any of his words fall to the ground. | \n| 22c | He will not [cut off from his chosen] progeny and offspring, | | nor destroy them that [lo]ve him; | \n| 22e | So he gave unto [Jacob a remnant], | | and to [David] . . . . | \n| 23 | And Solomon slept. . . . . . . . | | and left of his [seed] af[ter him]. | \n(fol. 8 verso.)\n| 23c | Ample in foolishness and lacking understanding, | | Rehoboam by [his counsel let loose [the people; | \n| 23e | Until there arose--let him have no memorial!--Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made [Israel to si]n. | | | \n| 23g | And he gave unto Ephraim a stumbling-block, | 24b | to drive them out [of] their land. | \n| 24a | And his sin was great exceedingly, | 25 | and he sold himself to all evil. | \n| XLVIII. 1 | Till there arose a prophet like fire, | | whose words were like a burning furnace. | \n| 2 | And he brake for them the staff of bread, | | and by his jealousy made them few in number. | \n| 3 | By the word of God he shut up the heavens, | | . . . . . . . . . . fires. | \n| 4 | How terrible wast thou, O Elijah! | | he who is like thee may glory! | \n| 5 | Who didst raise up one that expired from death, | | and from Sheol, according to the will of the Lord; | \n| 6 | Who broughtest down kings to the pit, | | and honourable men [from] their beds; | \n| 8 | Who anointedst one filled with retribution, | | and a prophet to succeed in thy place; | \n| 7 | Who heardest reproofs in Sinai, | | and judgements of vengeance in Horeb; | \n| 9 | Who wast taken up by a whirlwind on high, | | and by troops of fire [into heaven]; | \n| 10 | Who art written down as ready for a season, | | to snake anger to cease before . . . . . . | \n| 10c | To turn the heart of the fathers to the children, | | and to give understanding to the tr[ibes of Isra]el. | \n| 11 | Happy he that saw thee and died (?) . . . . | | . . . . . | \n| 12 | Elijah. . . . . . . . | | and Elisha . . . . . . . . | \n| 12c | With a do[uble] measures he multiplied signs, | | and he was learned in every utterance of his mouth. | \n(fol. 9 recto.)\n| 12e | All his life long he quaked before none, | | and no flesh had dominion over his spirit; | \n| 13 | No matter was too hard for him, | | and from its place his flesh prophesied; | \n| 14 | In his life he did wonders, | | and in his death marvellous works. | \n| 15 | For all this the people turned not, | | and ceased not from their sins, | \n| 15c | Till they were rooted up from their land, | | and were scattered through all the earth. | \n| 15e | But there were left to Judah a few, | | and still a judge to the house of David. | \n| 16 | There were of them that dealt uprightly, | | and there were of them that trespassed wondrously. | \n| 17 | Hezekiah strengthened his city, | | when he turned aside waters into the midst of it, | \n| 17c | And hewed the rocks with brass, | | and stopped up mountains for a pool. | \n| 18 | In his days came up Sennacherib, | | and sent Rabshakeh; | \n| 18c | And he stretched out his hand against Sion, | | and blasphemed God in his pride. | \n| 19 | [Then were] they melted in the pride of their heart, | | and were in anguish as a woman in travail; | \n| 20 | So they called] unto God Most High, | | and spread forth their hands unto him; | \n| 20c | And he [heard] the voice of their prayer, | | and saved them by the hand of Isaiah; | \n| 21 | And [he smote the c]amp of the Assyrian, | | and discomfited them with the plague. | \n| 22 | [For Hezekiah [did] that which was go[od, | | and] was strong in the ways of David. | \n| 22c | . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . | \n| 23 | . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . | \n(fol. 9 verso.)\n| 24 | By a spirit of might he saw the end, | | and comforted the mourners of Sion. | \n| 25 | For ever he declared things that should be, | | and hidden things before they came. | \n| XLIX. 1 | The name of Josiah is like incense of sweet spices, | | salted, the work of the perfumer; | \n| 1c | His memory is sweet as honey on the palate, | | and as music at the banquet of wine. | \n| 2 | For he was grieved for our backslidings, | | and he made the abominations of vanity to cease; | \n| 3 | And he made his heart perfect toward God, | | and in days of violence he wrought godliness. | \n| 4 | Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, | | they all did corruptly; | \n| 4e | And forsook the law of the Most High, | | the kings of Judah, till they were ended. | \n| 5 | So he turned their horn backward, | | and (gave) their glory to a foolish, foreign nation; | \n| 6 | And they set on fire the holy city, | | and made her ways desolate. | \n| 6e | By the hand of Jeremiah, for they afflicted him, | | yet from the womb he was formed (to be) a prophet, | \n| 7c | To pluck up and to break down and to destroy (and) to overthrow, | | and in like manner to build up, to plant, and to make strong. | \n| 8 | Ezekiel saw the vision, | | and declared divers kinds of chariot. | \n| 9 | Also he made mention of Job, | | who maintained all the w[ays of righ]teousness. | \n| 10 | Moreover the twelve prophets, | | may their strength flou[rish out of their pla]ces. | \n| 10c | Who recovered Jacob to health, | | and restored him by . . . . . . . . | \n| 11 | [How shall we magni]fy [Zerubbabel]? | | . . . . . . . . . . | \n| 12 | . . . . . . . . . . | | . . . . . . . . . . |","title":"Original Hebrew of a Portion of Ecclesiasticus: Ecclesias...","type":"page"}