Chapter XIV.—The Tenets of the Esseni.
And they despise wealth, and do not turn away from sharing their goods with those that are destitute. No one amongst them, however, enjoys a greater amount of riches than another. For a regulation with them is, that an individual coming forward to join the sect must sell his possessions, and present the price of them to the community. And on receiving the money, the head of the order distributes it to all according to their necessities. Thus there is no one among them in distress. And they do not use oil, regarding it as a defilement to be anointed. And there are appointed overseers, who take care of all things that belong to them in common, and they all appear always in white clothing.
[19] Καταφρονοῦσι δὲ πλούτου καὶ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς δεομένους κοινωνεῖν οὐκ ἀποστρέφο(ντ)αι, ἀλλ' οὐδέ τις παρ' αὐτοῖς ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕτερον πλουτεῖ. ν(ό)μος γὰρ παρ' αὐτοῖς τὸν προσιόντα τῇ αἱρέσει τὰ ὑπάρχοντα πωλοῦντα [τὰ χρήματα] τῷ κοινῷ προσφέρειν: ἃ ὑποδεχόμενος [ὁ] ἄρχων διανέμει ἅπασι πρὸς τὰ δέοντα: οὕτως οὐδ(εὶ)ς ἐνδεὴς παρ' αὐτοῖς. ἐλαίῳ δὲ οὐ χρῶνται, μολυσμὸν ἡγούμ(ενοι) τὸ ἀλ(εί)φεσθαι. χειροτονοῦνται δὲ οἱ ἐπιμεληταί, οἱ πάντων [τῶν] κοινῶ(ν) (φ)ρο(ντί)ζ(ο)ντ(ες). πάντες δὲ ἀεὶ λευχειμονοῦσι.