IV.—The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money, and Fornication.

1. The copy of the words of Judah, what things he spake to his sons before he died. They gathered themselves together, and came to him, and he said to them: I was the fourth son born to my father, and my mother called me Judah, saying, I give thanks to the Lord, because He hath given to me even a fourth son.  1  Gen. xxix. 35. [The name = "Praise". So Gen. xlix. 3.] I was swift and active in my youth, and obedient to my father in everything. And I honoured my mother and my mother’s sister. And it came to pass, when I became a man, that my father Jacob prayed over me, saying, Thou shalt be a king, and prosperous in all things.

2. And the Lord showed me favour in all my works both in the field and at home. When I saw that I could run with the hind, then I caught it, and prepared meat for my father. I seized upon the roes in the chase, and all that was in the plains I outran. A wild mare I outran, and I caught it and tamed it; and I slew a lion, and plucked a kid out of its mouth. I took a bear by its paw, and rolled it over a cliff; and if any beast turned upon me, I rent it like a dog. I encountered the wild boar, and overtaking it in the chase, I tore it. A leopard in Hebron leaped upon the dog, and I caught it by the tail, and flung it from me, and it was dashed to pieces in the coasts of Gaza. A wild ox feeding in the field I seized by the horns; and whirling it round and stunning it, I cast it from me, and slew it.

3. And when the two kings of the Canaanites came in warlike array against our flocks, and much people with them, I by myself rushed upon King Sur and seized him; and I beat him upon the legs, and dragged him down, and so I slew him. And the other king, Taphue,  2  In c. 5 we find this name, with a slight variety of spelling, as that of a place over which this king may have ruled. It is doubtless equivalent to the Hebrew Tappuah, a name of several cities mentioned in the Old Testament. See Josh. xv. 34; xvi. 8; xvii. 8; 1 Chron. ii. 43. Cf. Thapha, Jubilees, 34. I slew as he sat upon his horse, and so I scattered all the people. Achor the king, a man of giant stature, hurling darts before and behind as he sat on horseback, I slew; for I hurled a stone of sixty pounds weight, and cast it upon his horse, and killed him. And I fought with Achor for two hours, and I killed him; and I clave his shield into two parts, and I chopped off his feet. And as I stripped off his breastplate, behold, eight men his companions began to fight with me. I wound round therefore my garment in my hand; and I slang stones at them, and killed four of them, and the rest fled. And Jacob my father slew Beelisa, king of all the kings, a giant in strength, twelve cubits high; and fear fell upon them, and they ceased from making war with us. Therefore my father had no care in the wars when I was among my brethren. For he saw in a vision concerning me, that an angel of might followed me everywhere, that I should not be overcome.

4. And in the south there befell us a greater war than that in Shechem; and I joined in battle array with my brethren, and pursued a thousand men, and slew of them two hundred men and four kings. And I went up against them upon the wall, and two other kings I slew; and so we freed Hebron, and took all the captives of the kings.

5. On the next day we departed to Areta,  3  Cd. Oxon. reads ἑτέραν; but cf. Aresa, Jubilees, 34. a city strong and walled and inaccessible, threatening us with death. Therefore I and Gad approached on the east side of the city, and Reuben and Levi on the west and south. And they that were upon the wall, thinking that we were alone, charged down upon us; and so our brethren secretly climbed up the wall on both sides by ladders, and entered into the city, while the men knew it not. And we took it with the edge of the sword; and those who had taken refuge in the tower,—we set fire to the tower, and took both it and them. And as we were departing the men of Thaffu set upon our captives, and we took it with our sons, and fought with them even to Thaffu; and we slew them, and burnt their city, and spoiled all the things that were therein.

6. And when I was at the waters of Chuzeba,  4  Cf. c. 12; also Chezib (Gen. xxxviii. 5), Chozeba (1 Chron. iv. 22), and Achzib (Josh. xv. 44; Mic. i. 14), all of which are probably different names for the same place, and all connected with Judah. the men of Jobel came against us to battle, and we fought with them; and their allies from Selom  5  Cf. Selo, Jubilees, l.c. we slew, and we allowed them no means of escaping, and of coming against us. And the men of Machir  6  Cf. 1 Chron. xi. 36. [Here the translator supplies a note of doubt—an interrogation-point.] came upon us on the fifth day, to carry away our captives; and we attacked them, and overcame them in fierce battle: for they were a host and mighty in themselves, and we slew them before they had gone up the ascent of the hill. And when we came to their city, their women rolled upon us stones from the brow of the hill on which the city stood. And I and Simeon hid ourselves behind the town, and seized upon the heights, and utterly destroyed the whole city.

7. And the next day it was told us that the cities  7  Cd. Oxon. reads Γαᾶς πόλις βασιλέων. Cf. Josh. xxiv. 30; Judg. ii. 9; 2 Sam. xxiii. 30. Cf. also “Gaiz,” Jubilees, l.c. of the two kings with a great host were coming against us. I therefore and Dan feigned ourselves to be Amorites, and went as allies into their city. And in the depth of night our brethren came, and we opened to them the gates; and we destroyed all the men and their substance, and we took for a prey all that was theirs, and their three walls we cast down. And we drew near to Thamna,  8  The Timnah of the Old Testament, which name is, however, borne by several places. Most probably it is the Timnah near Bethshemesh, on the north frontier of Judah, in the neighbourhood, that is, of many of the other localities mentioned in the Testaments. This may be the same as the Timnathah on the Danite frontier (Josh. xix. 43), and with the Timnathah where Samson’s wife dwelt (Judg. xiv. 1 sqq ). The geographical position of Timnath-serah is against the allusion being to it here. Cf., however, Jubilees, c. 34, where Thamnathares is one of the hostile towns. where was all the refuge of the hostile kings. Then having received hurt I was wroth, and charged upon them to the brow of the hill; and they slang at me with stones and darts; and had not Dan my brother aided me, they would have been able to slay me. We came upon them therefore with wrath, and they all fled; and passing by another way, they besought my father, and he made peace with them, and we did to them no hurt, but made a truce with them, and restored to them all the captives. And I built Thamna, and my father built Rhambael.  9  Cf. Robel, Jubilees, l.c. I was twenty years old when this war befell, and the Canaanites feared me and my brethren.

8. Moreover, I had much cattle, and I had for the chief of my herdsmen Iran  10  Cf. Gen. xxxviii. 1. the Adullamite. And when I went to him I saw Barsan, king of Adullam, and he made us a feast; and he entreated me, and gave me his daughter Bathshua to wife. She bare me Er, and Onan, and Shelah; and the two of them the Lord smote that they died childless: for Shelah lived, and his children are ye.

9. Eighteen years we abode at peace, our father and we, with his brother Esau, and his sons with us, after that we came from Mesopotamia, from Laban. And when eighteen years were fulfilled, in the fortieth year of my life, Esau, the brother of my father, came upon us with much people and strong; and he fell by the bow of Jacob, and was taken up dead in Mount Seir: even as he went above Iramna  11  Cd. Oxon. ἐν ᾽Ανονιράμ, probably per incuriam scribæ, for ἐπάνω ᾽Ιράμ was he slain. And we pursued after the sons of Esau. Now they had a city with walls of iron and gates of brass; and we could not enter into it, and we encamped around, and besieged them. And when they opened not to us after twenty days, I set up a ladder in the sight of all, and with my shield upon my head I climbed up, assailed with stones of three talents’ weight; and I climbed up, and slew four who were mighty among them. And the next day Reuben and Gad entered in and slew sixty others. Then they asked from us terms of peace; and being aware of our father’s purpose, we received them as tributaries. And they gave us two hundred cors of wheat, five hundred baths of oil, fifteen hundred measures of wine, until we went down into Egypt.

10. After these things, my son Er took to wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia, a daughter of Aram.  12  This seems to arise from the wish to disconnect Israel as far as possible from non-Shemite associations. Cf. the Targum of Onkelos on Gen. xxxviii. 6. “Judah took a wife for Er, his first-born, a daughter of the great Shem, whose name was Tamar.” Now Er was wicked, and he doubted concerning Tamar, because she was not of the land of Canaan. And on the third day an angel of the Lord smote him in the night, and he had not known her, according to the evil craftiness of his mother, for he did not wish to have children from her. In the days of the wedding-feast I espoused Onan to her; and he also in wickedness knew her not, though he lived with her a year. And when I threatened him, he lay with her,  13  διέφθειρε δὲ τὸ σπέρμα ἐπὶ τὴν γὴν …according to the command of his mother, and he also died in his wickedness. And I wished to give Shelah also to her, but my wife Bathshua suffered it not; for she bore a spite against Tamar, because she was not of the daughters of Canaan, as she herself was.

11. And I knew that the race of Canaan was wicked, but the thoughts of youth blinded my heart. And when I saw her pouring out wine, in the drunkenness of wine was I deceived, and I fell before her. And while I was away, she went and took for Shelah a wife from the land of Caanan. And when I knew what she had done, I cursed her in the anguish of my soul, and she also died in the wickedness of her sons.

12. And after these things, while Tamar was a widow, she heard after two years that I was going up to shear my sheep; then she decked herself in bridal array, and sat over against the city by the gate. For it is a law of the Amorites, that she who is about to marry sit in fornication seven days by the gate.  14  [Herod. i., cap. 199; Baruch vi. 43.] I therefore, being drunk at the waters of Chozeb, recognised her not by reason of wine; and her beauty deceived me, through the fashion of her adorning. And I turned aside to her, and said, I would enter in to thee. And she said to me, What wilt thou give me? And I gave her my staff, and my girdle, and my royal crown; and I lay with her, and she conceived. I then, not knowing what she had done, wished to slay her; but she privily sent my pledges, and put me to shame. And when I called her, I heard also the secret words which I spoke when lying with her in my drunkenness; and I could not slay her, because it was from the Lord. For I said, Lest haply she did it in subtlety, and received the pledge from another woman: but I came near her no more till my death, because I had done this abomination in all Israel. Moreover, they who were in the city said that there was no bride in the city, because she came from another place, and sat for awhile in the gate, and she thought that no one knew that I had gone in to her.  15  [To this section Lardner objects. But compare Gen. xxxviii. 12.] And after this we came into Egypt to Joseph, because of the famine. Forty and six years old was I, and seventy and three years lived I there.

13. And now, my children, in what things so ever I command you hearken to your father, and keep all my sayings to perform the ordinances of the Lord, and to obey the command of the Lord God. And walk not after your lusts, nor in the thoughts of your imaginations in the haughtiness of your heart; and glory not in the works of the strength of youth, for this also is evil in the eyes of the Lord. For since I also gloried that in wars the face of no woman of goodly form ever deceived me, and upbraided Reuben my brother concerning Bilhah, the wife of my father, the spirits of jealousy and of fornication arrayed themselves within me, until I fell before Bathshua the Canaanite, and Tamar who was espoused to my sons. And I said to my father-in-law, I will counsel with my father, and so will I take thy daughter. And he showed me a boundless store of gold in his daughter’s behalf, for he was a king. And he decked her with gold and pearls, and caused her to pour out wine for us at the feast in womanly beauty. And the wine led my eyes astray, and pleasure blinded my heart; and I loved her, and I fell, and transgressed the commandment of the Lord and the commandment of my fathers, and I took her to wife. And the Lord rewarded me according to the thought of my heart, insomuch that I had no joy in her children.

14. And now, my children, be not drunk with wine; for wine turneth the mind away from the truth, and kindleth in it the passion of lust, and leadeth the eyes into error. For the spirit of fornication hath wine as a minister to give pleasures to the mind; for these two take away the power from a man. For if a man drink wine to drunkenness, he disturbeth his mind with filthy thoughts to fornication, and exciteth his body to carnal union; and if the cause of the desire be present, he worketh the sin, and is not ashamed. Such is wine, my children; for he who is drunken reverenceth no man. For, lo, it made me also to err, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude in the city, because before the eyes of all I turned aside unto Tamar, and I worked a great sin, and I uncovered the covering of the shame of my sons. After that I drank wine I reverenced not the commandment of God, and I took a woman of Canaan to wife. Wherefore, my children, he who drinketh wine needeth discretion; and herein is discretion in drinking wine, that a man should drink as long as he keepeth decency; but if he go beyond this bound, the spirit of deceit attacketh his mind and worketh his will; and it maketh the drunkard to talk filthily, and to transgress and not to be ashamed, but even to exult in his dishonour, accounting himself to do well.

15. He that committeth fornication, and  16  Cd. Oxon. here reads the additional clause ζημιούμενος οὐκ αἰσθάνεται καὶ ἄδοξον οὐκ αἰσχύνεται. Κἂν γάρ τις βασιλεύσῃ, πορνεύων—perhaps omitted from Cd. Cant. through the homœoteleuton. uncovereth his nakedness, hath become the servant of fornication, and escapeth not  17  Cd. Oxon. omits the negative. The βασίλεια will then be that from which the man falls by his sin. from the power thereof, even as I also was uncovered. For I gave my staff, that is, the stay of my tribe; and my girdle, that is, my power; and my diadem, that is, the glory of my kingdom. Then I repented for these things, and took no wine or flesh until my old age, nor did I behold any joy. And the angel of God showed me that for ever do women bear rule over king and beggar alike; and from the king they take away his glory, and from the valiant man his strength, and from the beggar even that little which is the stay of his poverty.

16. Observe therefore, my children, moderation in wine; for there are in it four evil spirits—of (1) lust, of (2) wrath, of (3) riot, of (4) filthy lucre. If ye drink wine in gladness, with shamefacedness, with the fear of God, ye shall live. For if ye drink not with shamefacedness, and the fear of God departeth from you, then cometh drunkenness, and shamelessness stealeth in. But  18  Cd. Oxon. reads τί δὲ λέγω; μηδ᾽ ὅλως πίνετε, which seems much more suitable to the context.  even if ye drink not at all, take heed lest ye sin in words of outrage, and fighting, and slander, and transgression of the commandments of God; so shall ye perish before your time. Moreover, wine revealeth the mysteries of God and men to aliens, even as I also revealed the commandments of God and the mysteries of Jacob my father to the Canaanitish Bathshua, to whom God forbade to declare them. And wine also is a cause of war and confusion.

17. I charge you, therefore, my children, not to love money, nor to gaze upon the beauty of women; because for the sake of money and beauty I was led astray to Bathshua the Canaanite. For I know that because of these two things shall ye who are my race fall into wickedness; for even wise men among my sons shall they mar, and shall cause the kingdom of Judah to be diminished, which the Lord gave me because of my obedience to my father.  19  [1 Kings xi. 1, and ver. 11.] For I never disobeyed a word of Jacob my father, for all things whatsoever he commanded I did. And Abraham, the father of my father, blessed me that I should be king in Israel, and Isaac further blessed me in like manner. And I know that from me shall the kingdom be established.

18. For I have read also in the books of Enoch the righteous what evils ye shall do in the last days. Take heed, therefore, my children, of fornication and the love of money; hearken to Judah your father, for these things do withdraw you from the law of God, and blind the understanding of the soul, and teach arrogance, and suffer not a man to have compassion upon his neighbour: they rob his soul of all goodness, and bind him in toils and troubles, and take away his sleep and devour his flesh, and hinder the sacrifices of God; and he remembereth not blessing, and he hearkeneth not to a prophet when he speaketh, and is vexed at the word of godliness. For one who serveth two passions contrary to the commandments of God cannot obey God, because they have blinded his soul, and he walketh in the day-time as in the night.

19. My children, the love of money leadeth to idols; because, when led astray through money, men make mention of those who are no gods, and it causeth him who hath it to fall into madness. For the sake of money I lost my children, and but for the repentance of my flesh, and the humbling of my soul, and the prayers of Jacob my father, I should have died childless. But the God of my fathers, who is pitiful and merciful, pardoned me, because I did it in ignorance.  20  [Num. xv. 25 and Acts iii. 17.] For the prince of deceit blinded me, and I was ignorant as a man and as flesh, being corrupted in sins; and I learnt my own weakness while thinking myself unconquerable.  21  [See cap. 13, p. 19, supra.]

20.  22  Cd. Oxon. omits the whole of this chapter. Learn therefore, my children, that two spirits wait upon man—the spirit of truth and the spirit of error; and in the midst is the spirit of the understanding of the mind, to which it belongeth to turn whithersoever it will. And the works of truth and the works of error are written upon the breast of men, and each one of them the Lord knoweth. And there is no time at which the works of men can be hid from Him; for on the bones of his breast hath he been written down before the Lord. And the spirit of truth testifieth all things, and accuseth all; and he who sinneth is burnt up by his own heart, and cannot raise his face unto the Judge.

21. And now, my children, love Levi, that ye may abide, and exalt not yourselves against him, lest ye be utterly destroyed. For to me the Lord gave the kingdom, and to him the priesthood, and He set the kingdom beneath the priesthood. To me He gave the things upon the earth; to him the things in the heavens. As the heaven is higher than the earth, so is the priesthood of God higher than the kingdom upon the earth. For the Lord chose him above thee, to draw near to Him, and to eat of His table and first-fruits, even the choice things of the sons of Israel, and thou shalt be to them as a sea. For as, on the sea, just and unjust are tossed about, some taken into captivity while others are enriched, so also shall every race of men be in thee, some are in jeopardy and taken captive, and others shall grow rich by means of plunder. For they who rule will be as great sea-monsters, swallowing up men like fishes: free sons and daughters do they enslave; houses, lands, flocks, money, will they plunder; and with the flesh of many will they wrongfully feed the ravens and the cranes; and they will go on further in evil, advancing on still in covetousness. And there shall be false prophets like tempests, and they shall persecute all righteous men.

22. And the Lord shall bring upon them divisions one against another, and there shall be continual wars in Israel; and among men of other race shall my kingdom be brought to an end, until the salvation of Israel shall come, until the appearing of the God of righteousness, that Jacob and all the Gentiles may rest in peace.  23  [Rom. xi. 26.] And he shall guard the might of my kingdom for ever: for the Lord sware to me with an oath that the kingdom should never fail from me, and from my seed for all days, even for ever.

23. Now I have much grief, my children, because of your lewdness, and witchcrafts, and idolatries, which ye will work against the kingdom, following them that have familiar spirits; ye  24  The reading of Cd. Oxon. is doubtless to be preferred, which joins κλῄδοσι και δαίμοσι πλάνης to what precedes will make your daughters singing girls  25  [Eccles. ii. 8; Ecclus. ix. 4.] and harlots for divinations and demons of error, and ye will be mingled in the pollutions of the Gentiles: for which things’ sake the Lord shall bring upon you famine and pestilence, death and the sword, avenging siege, and dogs for the rending in pieces of enemies, and revilings of friends, destruction and blighting of eyes, children slaughtered, wives carried off, possessions plundered, temple of God in flames, your land desolated, your own selves enslaved among the Gentiles, and they shall make some of you eunuchs for their wives; and whenever ye will return to the Lord with humility of heart, repenting and walking in all the commandments of God, then will the Lord visit you in mercy and in love, bringing you from out of the bondage of your enemies.

24. And after these things shall a Star arise to you from Jacob in peace, and a Man shall rise from my seed, like the Sun of righteousness, walking with the sons of men  26  [Prov. viii. 31.] in meekness and righteousness, and no sin shall be found in Him. And the heavens shall be opened above Him, to shed forth the blessing of the Spirit from the Holy Father; and He shall shed forth a spirit of grace upon you, and ye shall be unto Him sons in truth, and ye shall walk in His commandments, the first and the last. This is the Branch of God Most High, and this the Well-spring unto life for all flesh.  27  Cd. Oxon. omits from here to end of c. 25. Then shall the sceptre of my kingdom shine forth, and from your root shall arise a stem; and in it shall arise a rod of righteousness to the Gentiles, to judge and to save all that call upon the Lord.

25. And after these things shall Abraham and Isaac and Jacob arise unto life, and I and my brethren will be chiefs, even your sceptre in Israel: Levi first, I the second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, Simeon fifth, Issachar sixth, and so all in order. And the Lord blessed Levi; the Angel of the Presence, me; the powers of glory,  28  [Eph. iii. 10.] Simeon; the heaven, Reuben; the earth, Issachar; the sea, Zebulun; the mountains, Joseph; the tabernacle, Benjamin; the lights of heaven, Dan; the fatness of earth, Naphtali; the sun, Gad; the olive, Asher: and there shall be one people of the Lord, and one tongue; and there shall no more be a spirit of deceit of Beliar, for he shall be cast into the fire for ever. And they who have died in grief shall arise in joy, and they who have lived in poverty for the Lord’s sake shall be made rich, and they who have been in want shall be filled, and they who have been weak shall be made strong, and they who have been put to death for the Lord’s sake shall awake in life.  29  [2 Macc. vii. 9–36 and Heb. xi. 35.] And the harts of Jacob shall run in joyfulness, and the eagles of Israel shall fly in gladness; but the ungodly shall lament, and sinners all weep, and all the people shall glorify the Lord for ever.

26. Observe, therefore, my children, all the law of the Lord, for there is hope for all them who follow His way aright. And he said to them: I die before your eyes this day, a hundred and nineteen years old. Let no one bury me in costly apparel, nor tear open my bowels,  30  i.e., for the purpose of embalmment. for this shall they who are kings do: and carry me up to Hebron with you. And Judah, when he had said these things, fell asleep; and his sons did according to all whatsoever he commanded them, and they buried him in Hebron with his fathers.

 ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ ΙΟΥΔΑ ΠΕΡΙ ΑΝΔΡΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΡΝΕΙΑΣ 

[1] Ἀντίγραφον λόγων Ἰούδα, ὅσα ἐλάλησε τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, πρὸ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτόν. Συναχθέντες ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: Τέταρτος υἱὸς ἐγενόμην τῷ πατρί μου, καὶ ἡ μήτηρ μου ὠνόμασέ με Ἰούδα, λέγουσα: Ἀνθομολογοῦμαι τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἔδωκέ μοι καὶ τέταρτον υἱόν. Ὀξὺς ἤμην καὶ σπουδαῖος ἐν νεότητί μου, καὶ ὑπακούων τῷ πατρί μου κατὰ πάντα λόγον: καὶ εὐλόγουν τὴν μητέρα μου καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν τῆς μητρός μου. Καὶ ἐγένετο, ὡς ἠνδρώθην, καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου Ἰακὼβ ηὔξατό μοι, λέγων: Βασιλεὺς ἔσῃ καὶ εὐοδούμενος ἐν πᾶσι.

[2] Καὶ ἔδωκέ μοι Κύριος χάριν ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις μου, ἔν τε ἀγρῷ καὶ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ. Ὡς εἶδον ὅτι συνέδραμον τῇ ἐλάφῳ, καὶ πιάσας αὐτὴν ἐποίησα βρῶμα τῷ πατρί μου. Τὰς δορκάδας ἐκράτουν διὰ τοῦ δρόμου, καὶ πᾶν ὃ ἦν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις κατελάμβανον. Φοράδα ἀγρίαν κατέλαβον, καὶ πιάσας ἡμέρωσα: καὶ λέοντα ἀπέκτεινα καὶ ἀφελόμην ἔριφον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ. Ἄρκον λαβὼν ἐκ τοῦ ποδός, ἀπεκύλησα εἰς κρημνόν: καὶ πᾶν θηρίον, εἰ ἐπέστρεφε πρός με, διήσπουν αὐτὸ ὡς κύνα. Τῷ χοίρῳ τῷ ἀγρίῳ συνέδραμον, καὶ προλαβὼν ἐν τῷ τρέχειν με, κατεσπάραξα αὐτόν. Πάρδαλις ἐν Χεβρὼν προσεπήδησεν ἐπὶ τὸν κύνα: καὶ πιάσας αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς οὐρᾶς, ἀπεκόντισα αὐτὴν καὶ ἐρράγη ἐν τοῖς ὁρίοις Γάζης. Βοῦν ἄγριον χώρᾳ νεμόμενον ἐκράτησα ἐκ τῶν κεράτων, καὶ ἐν κύκλῳ συσσείσας καὶ σκοτίσας ῥίψας ἀνεῖλον αὐτόν.

[3] Καὶ ὅτε ἦλθον οἱ δύο βασιλεῖς τῶν Χαναναίων τεθωρακισμένοι ἐπὶ τὰ ποίμνια καὶ πολὺς λαὸς μετ' αὐτῶν, κἀγὼ μόνος δραμὼν ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα Σούρ, συνέσχον αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κνιμῖδας κρούσας κατέσπασα, καὶ οὕτως ἀνεῖλον αὐτόν. Καὶ τὸν ἕτερον βασιλέα Ταφουέ, καθήμενον ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου, ἀνεῖλον αὐτὸν καὶ οὕτως πάντα τὸν λαὸν διεσκόρπισα. Τὸν Ἀχὼρ βασιλέα ἄνδρα γιγάντων, βάλλοντα τόξα ἔμπροσθε καὶ ὄπισθεν ἐφ' ἵππου, ἀνελόμενος, λίθον λιτρῶν ξʹ ἀκοντίσας ἔδωκα τῷ ἵππῳ καὶ ἀπέκτεινα αὐτόν. Καὶ πολεμήσας τὸν Ἀχὼρ ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο, ἀπέκτεινα αὐτόν, καὶ εἰς δύο μερίδας ποιήσας τὴν ἀσπίδα αὐτοῦ, συνέκοψα τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ἐκδύειν με αὐτοῦ τὸν θώρακα, ἰδού, ὀκτὼ ἄνδρες ἑταῖροι αὐτοῦ, ἤρξαντο πολεμεῖν πρός με. Ἐνειλίσας οὖν τὴν στολήν μου ἐν τῇ χειρί μου, λίθοις σφενδωνίσας αὐτοὺς τέσσαρας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀνεῖλον: οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι ἔφυγον. Καὶ Ἰακὼβ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἀνεῖλε τὸν Βεελισᾶ, βασιλέα πάντων τῶν βασιλέων, γίγαντα τῇ ἰσχύι πηχῶν ιβʹ. Καὶ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς τρόμος, καὶ ἐπαύσαντο πολεμοῦντες ἀφ' ἡμῶν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἀμέριμνος ἦν ὁ πατήρ μου ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις, ὅτε ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου. Εἶδε γὰρ ἐν ὁράματι περὶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἄγγελος δυνάμεως ἕπεταί μοι ἐν πᾶσι, τοῦ μὴ ἡττᾶσθαι.

[4] Καὶ κατὰ νότον γέγονεν ἡμῖν πόλεμος μείζων τοῦ ἐν Σικίμοις: καὶ παραταξάμενος μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου, ἐδίωξα χιλίους ἄνδρας, καὶ ἀπέκτεινα ἐξ αὐτῶν διακοσίους ἄνδρας καὶ τέσσαρες βασιλεῖς. Καὶ ἀνῆλθον ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους, καὶ ἄλλους δύο βασιλεῖς ἀνεῖλον: καὶ οὕτως ἐλευθερώσαμεν τὴν Χεβρών, καὶ ἐλάβομεν πᾶσαν τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τῶν βασιλέων.

[5] Τῇ ἑξῆς ἀπήλθομεν εἰς Ἀρέταν, πόλιν κραταιὰν καὶ τειχείρη καὶ ἀπροσέγγιστον, ἀπειλοῦσαν ἡμῖν θάνατον. Ἐγὼ οὖν καὶ Γὰδ προσήξαμεν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν τῆς πόλεως: Ῥουβὴμ δὲ καὶ Λευὶ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν καὶ νότου. Καὶ νομίσαντες οἱ ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους ὅτι ἡμεῖς μόνοι ἐσμέν, ἐφελκύσθησαν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς: καὶ οὕτως λαθραῖοι οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἐξ ἑκατέρων πασσάλοις ἐπανέβησαν τῷ τείχει, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἀγνοούντων αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐλάβομεν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας, καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῷ πύργῳ καταφυγόντας, ἐμπρίσαντες τὸν πύργον σὺν αὐτοῖς ἐλάβομεν. Καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀπιέναι ἡμᾶς, ἄνδρες Θαφφοῦ ἐπέβαλον τῇ αἰχμαλωσίᾳ ἡμῶν, καὶ παραλαβόντες αὐτὴν σὺν τοῖς υἱοῖς ἡμῶν, συνήψαμεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἕως Θαφφοῦ: κἀκείνους ἀπεκτείναμεν καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐνεπρίσαμεν, πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ σκυλεύσαντες.

[6] Καὶ ὡς ἤμην ἐν τοῖς ὕδασι Χουζηβᾶ, οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰωβὴλ ἦλθον ἐφ' ἡμᾶς εἰς πόλεμον: καὶ συνήψαμεν αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ Σηλὼμ συμμάχους αὐτῶν ἀπεκτείναμεν: καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκαμεν αὐτοῖς διέξοδον τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς ἡμᾶς. Καὶ ἀπὸ Μαχὶρ ἐπῆλθον ἡμῖν τῇ πέμπτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, λαβεῖν τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν: καὶ προσάξαντες αὐτοῖς ἐν καρτερᾷ μάχῃ περιεγενόμεθα, ὅτι ἦσαν πλῆθος δυνατοὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς: καὶ ἀπεκτείναμεν αὐτοὺς πρὸ τοῦ ἀναβῆναι τὴν ἀνάβασιν. Ὡς δὲ ἤλθομεν τῇ πόλει αὐτῶν, αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν ἐκύλιον ἐφ' ἡμᾶς λίθους ἀπὸ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ ὄρους, ἐν ᾗ ἦν ἡ πόλις. Καὶ ὑποκρυβέντες ἐγὼ καὶ Συμεὼν ἐξόπισθεν, ἐπελαβόμεθα τῶν ὑψηλῶν, καὶ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ὀλοθρεύσαμεν.

[7] Καὶ τῇ ἑξῆς ἐρρέθη πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὅτι αἱ πόλεις τῶν δύο βασιλέων ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ ἔρχονται πρὸς ἡμᾶς. Ἐγὼ οὖν καὶ Δάν, προσποιησάμενοι Ἀμορραίους, ὡς σύμμαχοι ἤλθομεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν. Νυκτὶ δὲ βαθείᾳ ἐλθοῦσι τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἠνοίξαμεν τὰς πύλας, καὶ πάντας αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ αὐτῶν ὀλοθρεύσαμεν, καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτῶν προνομεύσαντες τὰ τρία τείχη αὐτῶν καθείλομεν. Καὶ ἐν τῇ Θάμνᾳ προσηγγίσαμεν, οὗ ἦν πᾶσα ἡ ἀποφυγὴ τῶν πολεμίων βασιλέων. Τότε ὑβριζόμενος ἐθυμώθην, καὶ ὥρμησα ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφήν: κἀκεῖνοι ἐσφενδόνουν ἐπ' ἐμὲ λίθοις καὶ τόξοις: καὶ εἰ μὴ Δὰν ὁ ἀδελφός μου συνεμάχησέ μοι, εἶχόν με ἀνελεῖν. Ἐπήλθομεν οὖν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς μετὰ θυμοῦ καὶ πάντες ἔφυγον: καὶ διελθόντες δι' ἄλλης ὁδοῦ, ἐδεήθησαν τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ ἐποίησεν εἰρήνην μετ' αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐποιήσαμεν αὐτοῖς οὐθὲν κακόν, ἀλλ' ἐποιήσαμεν αὐτοὺς ὑποσπόνδους, καὶ ἀπεδώκαμεν αὐτοῖς πᾶσαν τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν. Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησα ἐγὼ τὴν Θάμνα καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου τὴν Ῥαμβαήλ. Εἴκοσι ἐτῶν ἤμην, ὅτε ἐγένετο ὁ πόλεμος οὗτος: καὶ ἦσαν οἱ Χαναναῖοι φοβούμενοί με, καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου.

[8] Ἦν δέ μοι καὶ κτήνη πολλά, καὶ εἶχον ἀρχιποίμενα Ἰρᾶν τὸν Ὁδολομήτην: πρὸς ὃν ἐλθών, εἶδον Βάρσαν βασιλέα Ὁδολάμ. Καὶ ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν πότον: καὶ παρακαλέσας δίδωσί μοι τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ Βησσοῦς εἰς γυναῖκα. Αὐτὴ ἔτεκέ μοι τὸν Ἦρ καὶ Αὐνᾶν καὶ Σιλώμ: ὧν τοὺς δύο ἀτέκνους ἀνεῖλε Κύριος: ὁ γὰρ Σιλὼμ ἔζησε, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ ὑμεῖς ἐστε.

[9] Δεκαοκτὼ ἔτη ἐποιήσαμεν εἰρήνην, ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ἡμεῖς, μετὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἡσαῦ, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν, μετὰ τὸ ἐλθεῖν ἡμᾶς ἐκ Μεσοποταμίας ἀπὸ Λάβαν. Καὶ πληρωθέντων δεκαοκτὼ ἐτῶν, ἐν τεσσαρακοστῷ ἔτει ζωῆς μου, ἐπῆλθεν ἡμῖν Ἡσαῦ, ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ πατρός μου, ἐν λαῷ βαρεῖ καὶ ἰσχυρῷ: καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐν τόξῳ Ἰακὼβ καὶ ἤρθη νεκρὸς ἐν ὄρει Σιείρ: καὶ πορευόμενος ἐπάνω Εἰρραμνᾶ ἀπέθανεν. Ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐδιώξαμεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἡσαῦ. Ἦν δὲ τούτοις πόλις, καὶ τεῖχος σιδηροῦν καὶ πύλαι χαλκαῖ: καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν εἰσελθεῖν ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ περικαθίσαντες ἐπολιορκοῦμεν αὐτούς. Καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἤνοιγον μετὰ ἡμέρας εἴκοσι, ὁρώντων αὐτῶν, προσάγω κλίμακα, καὶ τὴν ἀσπίδα ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς μου: καὶ ἀνῆλθον ἀποδεχόμενος λίθους ἕως ταλάντων τριῶν: καὶ ἀνελθὼν ἀνεῖλον τέσσαρες τοὺς δυνατοὺς ἐξ αὐτῶν. Καὶ τῇ ἑξῆς ἐμβάντες Ῥουβὴμ καὶ Γὰδ ἀνεῖλον ἑτέρους ἑξήκοντα. Τότε αἰτοῦσιν ἡμᾶς τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην: καὶ γενόμενοι βουλῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν, ἐδεξάμεθα αὐτοὺς ὑποφόρους. Καὶ ἦσαν δίδοντες ἡμῖν πυροῦ κόρους διακοσίους, ἐλαίου βὲθ φʹ, οἴνου μέτρα χίλια πεντακόσια, ἕως ὅτε κατήλθομεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον.

[10] Μετὰ ταῦτα Ἦρ ὁ υἱός μου ἄγεται τὴν Θάμαρ ἐκ Μεσοποταμίας, θυγατέρα Ἀράμ. Ἦν δὲ Ἦρ πονηρός, καὶ ἠπορεῖτο περὶ τῆς Θάμαρ, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν ἐκ γῆς Χαναάν. Καὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἀνεῖλεν αὐτὸν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ νυκτί, καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτήν, κατὰ πανουργίαν τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, οὐ γὰρ ἤθελεν ἔχειν τέκνα ἀπ' αὐτῆς. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τοῦ θαλάμου ἐπεγάμβρευσα αὐτῇ τὸν Αὐνᾶν: καίγε οὗτος ἐν πονηρίᾳ οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτήν, ποιήσας σὺν αὐτῇ ἐνιαυτόν. Καὶ ὅτε ἠπείλησα αὐτῷ, συνῆλθε μὲν αὐτῇ, διέφθειρε δὲ τὸ σπέρμα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, κατὰ τὴν ἐντολὴν τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ: καίγε οὗτος ἐν πονηρίᾳ ἀπέθανεν. Ἤθελον δὲ καὶ τὸν Σιλὼμ δοῦναι αὐτῇ, ἀλλ' ἡ γυνή μου Βησουὲ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν: ἐπονηρεύετο γὰρ πρὸς τὴν Θάμαρ, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν ἐκ θυγατέρων Χαναάν, ὡς αὐτή.

[11] Κἀγὼ ᾔδειν, ὅτι πονηρὸν τὸ γένος Χαναάν, ἀλλὰ τὸ διαβούλιον τῆς νεότητος ἐτύφλωσε τὴν καρδίαν μου. Καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν οἰνοχοοῦσαν, ἐν μέθῃ οἴνου ἠπατήθην, καὶ συνέπεσα πρὸς αὐτήν. Αὐτή, ἀπόντος μου, ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἐλάβετο Σιλὼμ γυναῖκα ἐκ γῆς Χαναάν. Γνοὺς δὲ ὃ ἐποίησε κατηρασάμην αὐτῇ ἐν ὀδύνῃ ψυχῆς μου: καίγε αὕτη ἀπέθανεν ἐν πονηρίᾳ υἱῶν αὐτῆς.

[12] Μετὰ δὲ τοὺς λόγους τούτους, χηρευούσης τῆς Θάμαρ, μετὰ δύο ἔτη ἀκούσασα, ὅτι ἀνέρχομαι κεῖραι τὰ πρόβατα, κοσμηθεῖσα κόσμῳ νυμφικῷ, ἐκάθισεν ἀπέναντι τῇ πόλει πρὸς τὴν πύλην. Νόμος γὰρ Ἀμορραίων, τὴν γαμοῦσαν προκαθίσαι ἐν πορνείᾳ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας παρὰ τὴν πύλην. Μεθυσθεὶς οὖν ἐγὼ ἐν ὕδασι Χωζήβ, οὐκ ἐπέγνων αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴνου: καὶ ἠπάτησέ με τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς διὰ τοῦ σχήματος τῆς κοσμήσεως. Καὶ ἐκκλίνας πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπον: Εἰσέλθω πρός σε. Καὶ εἶπέ μοι: Τί μοι δώσεις; Καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῇ τὴν ῥάβδον μου καὶ τὴν ζώνην καὶ τὸ διάδημα τῆς βασιλείας, καὶ συνελθὼν αὐτῇ συνείληφεν. Ἀγνοῶν δὲ ὃ ἐποίησεν, ἤθελον ἀνελεῖν αὐτήν: πέμψασα δὲ ἐν κρυπτῷ τοὺς ἀρραβῶνας, κατῄσχυνέ με. Καλέσας δὲ αὐτήν, ἤκουσα καὶ τοὺς ἐν μυστηρίῳ λόγους, καθεύδων σὺν αὐτῇ ἐν τῇ μέθῃ μου οὓς ἐλάλησα: καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθην ἀνελεῖν αὐτήν, ὅτι παρὰ Κυρίου ἦν. Ἔλεγον δέ: Μήποτε ἐν δολιότητι ἐποίησε, παρὰ ἄλλης λαβοῦσα τὸν ἀρραβῶνα. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἤγγισα αὐτῇ ἔτι ἕως θανάτου μου, ὅτι βδέλυγμα ἐποίησα τοῦτο ἐν παντὶ Ἰσραήλ. Καίγε οἱ ἐν [τ]ῇ πόλει ἔλεγον, μὴ εἶναι ἐν τῇ πόλει τελισκομένην: ὅτι ἐξ ἄλλου χωρίου ἐλθοῦσα πρὸς βραχὺ ἐκάθισεν ἐν πύλῃ: καὶ ἐνόμιζεν, ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἔγνω ὅτι εἰσῆλθον πρὸς αὐτήν. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἤλθομεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον πρὸς Ἰωσὴφ διὰ τὸν λιμόν. [Τεσ]σαράκοντα ἓξ ἐτῶν ἤμην καὶ ἑβδομήκοντα τρία ἔτη ἔζησα ἐκεῖ.

[13] Καὶ νῦν ὅσα ἐγὼ ὑμῖν ἐντέλλομαι, ἀκούσατε, τέκνα, τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, καὶ φυλάξατε πάντας τοὺς λόγους μου, τοῦ ποιεῖν τὰ δικαιώματα Κυρίου καὶ ὑπακούειν ἐντολῆς Κυρίου Θεοῦ. Καὶ μὴ πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν ὑμῶν, μηδὲ ἐνθυμήσεσι διαβουλίων ὑμῶν, ἐν ὑπερηφανείᾳ καρδίας ὑμῶν, καὶ μὴ καυχᾶσθε ἐν ἔργοις ἰσχύος νεότητος ὑμῶν, ὅτι καίγε τοῦτο πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ κἀγὼ καυχησάμενος, ὅτι ἐν πολέμοις οὐκ ἠπάτησέ με πρόσωπον γυναικὸς εὐμόρφου, ὠνείδιζον Ῥουβὴμ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου περὶ Βάλλας γυναικὸς πατρός μου, τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ ζήλου καὶ τῆς πορνείας παρετάξατο ἐν ἐμοί, ἕως συνέπεσα εἰς Βησουὲ τὴν Χαναναίαν καὶ εἰς Θάμαρ τὴν νυμφευθεῖσαν τοῖς υἱοῖς μου. Καὶ ἔλεγον τῷ πενθερῷ μου: Συμβουλεύσω τῷ πατρί μου καὶ οὕτως λήψομαι τὴν θυγατέρα σου. Καὶ ἔδειξέ μοι ἐπ' ὀνόματι τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτοῦ χρυσοῦ πλῆθος ἄπειρον: ἦν γὰρ βασιλεύς. Καὶ αὐτὴν κοσμήσας ἐν χρυσῷ καὶ μαργαρίταις, ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν οἰνοχοεῖν ἐν τῷ δείπνῳ ἐν κάλλει γυναικῶν. Καὶ ὁ οἶνος διέστρεψέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ ἠμαύρωσέ μου τὴν καρδίαν ἡδονή. Καὶ ἐρασθεὶς αὐτῆς συνέπεσα, καὶ παρέβην ἐντολὴν Κυρίου, καὶ ἐντολὴν πατέρων μου, καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὴν εἰς γυναῖκα. Καὶ ἀνταπέδωκέ μοι Κύριος κατὰ τὸ διαβούλιον τῆς καρδίας μου, ὅτι οὐκ ηὐφράνθην ἐπὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς.

[14] Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα μου, μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ: ὅτι ὁ οἶνος διαστρέφει τὸν νοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ ἐμβάλλει ὀργὴν ἐπιθυμίας, καὶ ὁδηγεῖ εἰς πλάνην τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. Τὸ γὰρ πνεῦμα τῆς πορνείας τὸν οἶνον, ὡς διάκονον, πρὸς τὰς ἡδονὰς ἔχει τοῦ νοός: ὅτι καίγε τὰ δύο ταῦτα ἀφιστῶσι τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ἐὰν γάρ τις πίῃ οἶνον εἰς μέθην, ἐν διαλογισμοῖς ῥυπαροῖς συνταράσσει τὸν νοῦν εἰς πορνείαν καὶ ἐκθερμαίνει τὸ σῶμα πρὸς μίξιν, καὶ εἰ πάρεστι τὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αἴτιον, πράσσει τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ οὐκ αἰσχύνεται. Τοιοῦτός ἐστιν ὁ οἶνος, τέκνα μου, ὅτι ὁ μεθύων οὐδένα αἰδεῖται. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ κἀμὲ ἐπλάνησε, μὴ αἰσχυνθῆναι πλῆθος ἐν τῇ πόλει: ὅτι ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς πάντων ἐξέκλινα πρὸς τὴν Θάμαρ, καὶ ἐποίησα ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην, καὶ ἀνεκάλυψα κάλυμμα ἀκαθαρσίας υἱῶν μου. Πιὼν οἶνον, οὐκ αἰσχύνθην ἐντολὴν Θεοῦ καὶ ἔλαβον γυναῖκα Χαναναίαν. Διὸ συνέσεως χρῄζει ὁ πίνων οἶνον, τέκνα μου: καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ σύνεσις τῆς οἰνοποσίας, ἵνα ἕως ὅτε ἔχει αἰδώ, πίνῃ: ἐὰν δὲ παρέλθῃ τὸν ὅρον τοῦτον, ἐμβάλλει εἰς τὸν νοῦν καὶ ποιεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πλάνης: καὶ ποιεῖ τὸν μέθυσον αἰσχρορημονεῖν, καὶ παρανομεῖν, καὶ μὴ αἰσχύνεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι τῇ ἀτιμίᾳ, νομίζοντα εἶναι καλόν.

[15] Ὁ πορνεύων καὶ γυμνούμενος τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἐξέρχεται, δουλωθεὶς τῇ πορνείᾳ, ὡς κἀγὼ γυμνωθείς. Ἔδωκα γὰρ τὴν ῥάβδον μου, τουτέστι τὸ στήριγμα τῆς ἐμῆς φυλῆς: καὶ τὴν ζώνην μου, τουτέστι τὴν δύναμιν: καὶ τὸ διάδημα, τουτέστι τὴν δόξαν τῆς βασιλείας μου. Καίγε μετανοήσας ἐπὶ τούτοις, οἶνον καὶ κρέας οὐκ ἔλαβον ἕως γήρως, καὶ πᾶσαν εὐφροσύνην οὐκ εἶδον. Καὶ ἔδειξέ μοι ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ὅτι καὶ βασιλεῖ, καὶ πτωχῷ, αἱ γυναῖκες κατακυριεύουσι, καὶ τοῦ μὲν βασιλέως αἴρουσι τὴν δόξαν, τοῦ δὲ ἀνδρείου τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ τοῦ πτωχοῦ τὸ τῆς πτωχείας ἐλάχιστον στήριγμα.

[16] Φυλάσσεσθε οὖν, τέκνα μου, ὅρον οἴνου. Ἔστι γὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ τέσσαρα πνεύματα πονηρά: ἐπιθυμίας, πυρώσεως, ἀσωτίας, αἰσχροκερδίας. Ἐὰν πίνητε οἶνον ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ μετὰ φόβου Θεοῦ αἰδούμενοι, ζήσεσθε. Ἐὰν γὰρ πίνητε μὴ αἰδούμενοι, καὶ ἀποστῇ ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ φόβος, λοιπὸν γίνεται μέθη, καὶ παρεισέρχεται ἡ ἀναισχυντία. Εἰ δὲ μηδὲ ὅλως πίετε, ἵνα μὴ ἁμάρτητε ἐν λόγοις ὕβρεως, καὶ μάχης, καὶ συκοφαντίας, καὶ παραβάσεως ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ, καὶ ἀπολέσθαι οὐκ ἐν καιρῷ ὑμῶν. Καίγε μυστήρια Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἀλλοτρίοις ἀποκαλύπτει ὁ οἶνος, ὡς κἀγὼ ἐντολὰς Θεοῦ καὶ μυστήρια Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός μου ἀπεκάλυψα τῇ Χανανίτιδι Βησουέ, οἷς εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς μὴ ἀποκαλύψαι. Καὶ πολέμου δὲ καὶ ταραχῆς αἴτιος γίνεται ὁ οἶνος.

[17] Ἐντέλλομαι οὖν ὑμῖν, τέκνα μου, μὴ ἀγαπᾶν ἀργύριον, μηδὲ ἐμβλέπειν εἰς κάλλος γυναικῶν: ὅτι καίγε δι' ἀργύριον καὶ εὐμορφίαν ἐπλανήθην εἰς Βησουὲ τὴν Χαναναίαν. Ὅτι οἶδα ἐγώ, ὅτι διὰ τὰ δύο ταῦτα ἔσεσθε τὸ γένος μου ἐν πονηρίᾳ: ὅτι καίγε σοφοὺς ἄνδρας τῶν υἱῶν μου ἀλλοιώσουσι, καὶ βασιλείαν Ἰούδα σμικρυνθῆναι ποιήσουσιν, ἣν ἔδωκέ μοι Κύριος ἐν ὑπακοῇ πατρός. Οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἐλύπησα λόγον Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός μου, ὅτι πάντα, ὅσα εἶπεν, ἐποίουν. Καὶ Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ πατρός μου εὐλόγησέ με, βασιλεύειν ἐν Ἰσραήλ: καὶ Ἰσαὰκ ἐπευλόγησέ με ὁμοίως οὕτως. Καὶ ἐγὼ οἶδα, ὅτι ἐξ ἐμοῦ στήσεται τὸ βασίλειον.

[18] Ὅτι καίγε ἀνέγνων ἐν βίβλοις Ἐνὼχ τοῦ δικαίου, ὅσα κακὰ ποιήσετε ἐπ' ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις. Φυλάξασθε οὖν, τέκνα μου, ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας καὶ τῆς φιλαργυρίας, ἀκούσατε Ἰούδα τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, ὅτι ταῦτα ἀφιστᾷ νόμου Θεοῦ, καὶ τυφλοῖ τὸ διαβούλιον τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ ὑπερηφανίαν ἐκδιδάσκει, καὶ οὐκ ἀφίει ἄνδρα ἐλεῆσαι τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, στερίσκει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάσης ἀγαθοσύνης, καὶ συνέχει αὐτὸν ἐν μόχθοις καὶ πόνοις, καὶ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταδαπανᾷ σάρκας αὐτοῦ, καὶ θυσίας Θεοῦ ἐμποδίζει, καὶ εὐλογίας οὐ μέμνηται, καὶ προφήτῃ λαλοῦντι οὐχ ὑπακούει, καὶ λόγῳ εὐσεβείας προσωχθίζει. Δύο γὰρ πάθη ἐναντία τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ δουλεύων Θεῷ Θεοῦ ὑπακούειν οὐ δύναται, ὅτι ἐτύφλωσαν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὡς ἐν νυκτὶ πορεύεται.

[19] Τέκνα μου, ἡ φιλαργυρία πρὸς εἴδωλα ὁδηγεῖ, ὅτι ἐν πλάνῃ δι' ἀργυρίου, τοὺς μὴ ὄντας θεοὺς ὀνομάζουσι: καὶ ποιεῖ τὸν ἔχοντα αὐτὴν εἰς ἔκστασιν ἐμπεσεῖν. Διὰ ἀργύριον ἐγὼ ἀπώλεσα τὰ τέκνα μου, καὶ εἰ μὴ ἡ μετάνοια σαρκός μου, καὶ ἡ ταπείνωσις ψυχῆς μου, καὶ αἱ εὐχαὶ Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός μου, ἄτεκνος εἶχον ἀποθανεῖν. Ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων μου, ὁ οἰκτίρμων καὶ ἐλεήμων, συνέγνω ὅτι ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ ἐποίησα. Ἐτύφλωσε γάρ με ὁ ἄρχων τῆς πλάνης, καὶ ἠγνόησα, ὡς ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ὡς σάρξ, ἐν ἁμαρτίαις φθαρείς: καὶ ἐπέγνων τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ ἀσθένειαν, νομίζων ἀκαταμάχητος εἶναι.

[20] Ἐπίγνωτε οὖν, τέκνα μου, ὅτι δύο πνεύματα σχολάζουσι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, τὸ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ τὸ τῆς πλάνης: καὶ μέσον ἐστὶ τὸ τῆς συνέσεως τοῦ νοός, οὗ ἐὰν θέλῃ κλῖναι. Καίγε τὰ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ τὰ τῆς πλάνης γέγραπται ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ ἀνθρώπου: καὶ ἓν ἕκαστον αὐτῶν γνωρίζει Κύριος. Καὶ οὐκ ἔστι καιρός, ἐν ὧ δυνήσεται λαθεῖν ἀνθρώπων ἔργα: ὅτι ἐν στήθει ὀστέων αὐτὸς ἐγγέγραπται ἐνώπιον Κυρίου. Καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας μαρτυρεῖ πάντα, καὶ κατηγορεῖ πάντων, καὶ ἐμπεπύρισται ὁ ἁμαρτήσας ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας καρδίας, καὶ ἆραι πρόσωπον οὐ δύναται πρὸς τὸν κριτήν.

[21] Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα, ἀγαπήσατε τὸν Λευί, ἵνα διαμείνητε: καὶ μὴ ἐπαίρεσθε ἐπ' αὐτόν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξολοθρευθῆτε. Ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἔδωκε Κύριος τὴν βασιλείαν, κἀκείνῳ τὴν ἱερατείαν, καὶ ὑπέταξε τὴν βασιλείαν τῇ ἱερωσύνῃ. Ἐμοὶ ἔδωκε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἐκείνῳ τὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. Ὡς ὑπερέχει οὐρανὸς τῆς γῆς, οὕτως ὑπερέχει Θεοῦ ἱερατεία τῆς ἐπὶ γῆς βασιλείας. Καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπέρ σε ἐξελέξατο Κύριος ἐγγίζειν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐσθίειν τράπεζαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπαρχὰς ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ: καὶ ἔσῃ αὐτοῖς ὡς θάλασσα. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ δίκαιοι καὶ ἄδικοι χειμάζονται, οἱ μὲν αἰχμαλωτιζόμενοι, οἱ δὲ πλουτοῦντες: οὕτως καὶ ἐν σοὶ πᾶν γένος ἀνθρώπων, οἱ μὲν κινδυνεύουσιν αἰχμαλωτιζόμενοι, οἱ δὲ πλουτίσουσιν ἁρπάζοντες. Ὅτι οἱ βασιλεύοντες ἔσονται ὡς κήτη, καταπίνοντες ἀνθρώπους ὡς ἰχθύας: θυγατέρας καὶ υἱοὺς ἐλευθέρους καταδουλοῦσιν: οἴκους, ἀγρούς, ποίμνια, χρήματα ἁρπάσουσι: καὶ πολλῶν σάρκας ἀδίκως κόρακας καὶ ἴβεις χορτάσουσι, καὶ προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ κακὸν ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ ὑψούμενοι. Καὶ ἔσονται ὡς καταιγίδες ψευδοπροφῆται, καὶ πάντας δικαίους διώξονται.

[22] Ἐπάξει δὲ αὐτοῖς Κύριος διαιρέσεις κατ' ἀλλήλων, καὶ πόλεμοι συνεχεῖς ἔσονται ἐν Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἐν ἀλλοφύλοις συντελεσθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία μου, ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν τὸ σωτήριον Ἰσραήλ, ἕως παρουσίας τοῦ Θεοῦ τῆς δικαιοσύνης, τοῦ ἡσυχάσαι τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἐν εἰρήνῃ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη. Καὶ αὐτὸς φυλάξει κράτος βασιλείας μου ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ὅρκῳ γὰρ ὤμοσέ μοι Κύριος, μὴ ἐκλείψειν τὸ βασίλειόν μου καὶ τοῦ σπέρματός μου, πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.

[23] Πολλὴ δὲ λύπη μοί ἐστι, τέκνα μου, διὰ τὰς ἀσελγίας καὶ γοητείας καὶ εἰδωλολατρείας, ἃς ποιήσετε εἰς τὸ βασίλειον, ἐγγαστριμύθοις ἀκολουθοῦντες, κλῃδόσι καὶ δαίμοσι πλάνης. Τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν μουσικὰς καὶ δημοσίας ποιήσετε, καὶ ἐπιμιγήσεσθε ἐν βδελύγμασιν ἐθνῶν: ἀνθ' ὧν ἄξει Κύριος ἐφ' ὑμᾶς λιμὸν καὶ λοιμόν, θάνατον καὶ ῥομφαίαν ἐκδικοῦσαν, πολιορκίαν, καὶ κύνας εἰς διασπασμὸν ἐχθρῶν, καὶ φίλων ὀνειδισμούς, ἀπώλειαν καὶ σφακελισμὸν ὀφθαλμῶν, νηπίων ἀναίρεσιν, καὶ συμβίων ἀφαίρεσιν, ὑπαρχόντων ἁρπαγήν, ναοῦ Θεοῦ ἐμπυρισμόν, γῆς ἐρήμωσιν, ὑμῶν αὐτῶν δουλείαν ἐν ἔθνεσι: καὶ ἐκτεμοῦσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν εἰς εὐνούχους ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτῶν: καὶ ὡς ἂν ἐπιστρέψητε πρὸς Κύριον εὐτελείᾳ καρδίας, μεταμελούμενοι, καὶ πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπισκέψηται ὑμᾶς Κύριος ἐν ἐλεεῖ καὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀπὸ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν.

[24] Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀνατελεῖ ὑμῖν ἄστρον ἐξ Ἰακὼβ ἐν εἰρήνῃ, καὶ ἀναστήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματός μου, ὡς ὁ ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσύνης, συμπορευόμενος τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν πρᾳότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ πᾶσα ἁμαρτία οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ. Καὶ ἀνοιγήσονται ἐπ' αὐτὸν οἱ οὐρανοὶ ἐκχέαι πνεύματος εὐλογίαν πατρὸς ἁγίου: καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκχεεῖ πνεῦμα χάριτος ἐφ' ὑμᾶς καὶ ἔσεσθε αὐτῷ εἰς υἱοὺς ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ πορεύσεσθε ἐν προστάγματι αὐτοῦ πρώτοις καὶ ἐσχάτοις. Οὗτος ὁ βλαστὸς Θεοῦ ὑψίστου, καὶ αὕτη ἡ πηγὴ εἰς ζωὴν πάσης σαρκός. Τότε ἀναλάμψει σκῆπτρον βασιλείας μου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ῥίζης ὑμῶν γενήσεται πυθμήν. Καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀναβήσεται ῥάβδος δικαιοσύνης τοῖς ἔθνεσι, κρῖναι καὶ σῶσαι πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους Κύριον.

[25] Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστήσεται Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακὼβ εἰς ζωήν, καὶ ἐγὼ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου ἔξαρχοι σκῆπτρον ἡμῶν ἐν Ἰσραὴλ ἐσόμεθα, Λευὶ πρῶτος, δεύτερος ἐγώ, τρίτος Ἰωσήφ, τέταρτος Βενιαμίν, πέμπτος Συμεών, ἕκτος Ἰσάχαρ, καὶ οὕτως καθεξῆς πάντες. Καὶ Κύριος εὐλόγησε τὸν Λευί: ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ προσώπου ἐμέ: αἱ δυνάμεις τῆς δόξης τὸν Συμεών: ὁ οὐρανὸς τὸν Ῥουβήμ: τὸν Ἰσάχαρ ἡ γῆ: ἡ θάλασσα τὸν Ζαβουλών: τὰ ὄρη τὸν Ἰωσήφ: ἡ σκηνὴ τὸν Βενιαμίν: οἱ φωστῆρες τὸν Δάν: ἡ τρυφὴ τὸν Νεφθαλείμ: ὁ ἥλιος τὸν Γάδ: ἐλαία τὸν Ἀσήρ: καὶ ἔσται εἷς λαὸς Κυρίου, καὶ γλῶσσα μία: καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι πνεῦμα πλάνης τοῦ Βελίαρ, ὅτι ἐμβληθήσεται ἐν τῷ πυρὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Καὶ οἱ ἐν λύπῃ τελευτήσαντες, ἀναστήσονται ἐν χαρᾷ, καὶ οἱ ἐν πτωχείᾳ διὰ Κύριον πλουτισθήσονται, καὶ οἱ ἐν πενίᾳ χορτασθήσονται, καὶ οἱ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ἰσχύσουσι, καὶ οἱ διὰ Κύριον ἀποθανόντες ἐξυπνισθήσονται ἐν ζωῇ. Καὶ οἱ ἔλαφοι Ἰακὼβ δραμοῦνται ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει, καὶ οἱ ἀετοὶ Ἰσραὴλ πετασθήσονται ἐν χαρᾷ: οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς πενθήσουσι, καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ κλαύσονται, καὶ πάντες οἱ λαοὶ δοξάσουσι Κύριον εἰς αἰῶνας.

[26] Φυλάξατε οὖν, τέκνα μου, πάντα νόμον Κυρίου, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἐλπὶς πᾶσι τοῖς κατευθύνουσι τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς: Ἑκατὸν δεκαεννέα ἐτῶν ἐγὼ ἀποθνήσκω σήμερον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν. Μηδείς με ἐνταφιάσῃ πολυτελῇ ἐσθῆτι, ἢ τὴν κοιλίαν μου ἀναρήξει, ὅτι ταῦτα μέλλουσι ποιεῖν οἱ βασιλεύοντες: καὶ ἀναγάγετέ με εἰς Χεβρὼν μεθ' ὑμῶν. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἐκοιμήθη Ἰούδας: καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐν Χεβρὼν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.