XI.—The Testament of Joseph Concerning Sobriety.

1. The record of the testament of Joseph. When he was about to die he called his sons and his brethren together, and said to them: My children and brethren, hearken to Joseph the beloved of Israel; give ear, my sons, unto your father. I have seen in my life envy and death, and I wandered not in the truth of the Lord. These my brethren hated me, and the Lord loved me: they wished to slay me, and the God of my fathers guarded me: they let me down into a pit, and the Most High brought me up again: I was sold for a slave, and the Lord made me free: I was taken into captivity, and His strong hand succoured me: I was kept in hunger, and the Lord Himself nourished me: I was alone, and God comforted me: I was sick, and the Most High visited me: I was in prison, and the Saviour showed favour unto me; in bonds, and He released me; amid slanders, and He pleaded my cause; amid bitter words of the Egyptians, and He rescued me; amid envy and guile, and He exalted me.

2. And thus Potiphar  1  The Greek spelling here is Φωτιμάρ, in the later chapters Πετεφρίς (Πεντεφρῆς, Cd. Oxon.). The former is more like the Hebrew, the latter really the LXX. spelling, Πετεφρῆς. We may perhaps see herein a trace of a double authorship in the Test. Joseph. the chief cook  2  Cf. Gen. xxxix. 1, LXX., and Josephus (Antiq., ii. 4. 1), who calls Potiphar μαγείρων ὁ βασιλεύς. The view of the Eng. ver. is most probably correct, though we find טבָּח used in the sense of cook in 1 Sam. ix. 23. of Pharaoh entrusted to me his house, and I struggled against a shameless woman, urging me to transgress with her; but the God of Israel my father guarded me from the burning flame. I was cast into prison, I was beaten, I was mocked; and the Lord granted me to find pity in the sight of the keeper of the prison. For He will in no wise forsake them that fear Him, neither in darkness, nor in bonds, nor in tribulations, nor in necessities. For not as man is God ashamed, nor as the son of man is He afraid, nor as one that is earth-born is He weak, or can He be thrust aside; but in all places is He at hand, and in divers ways doth He comfort, departing for a little to try the purpose of the soul. In ten temptations He showed me approved, and in all of them I endured; for endurance is a mighty charm, and patience giveth many good things.

3. How often did the Egyptian threaten me with death! How often did she give me over to punishment, and then call me back, and threaten me when I would not company with her! And she said to me, Thou shalt be lord of me, and all that is mine, if thou wilt give thyself unto me, and thou shalt be as our master. Therefore I remembered the words of the fathers of my father Jacob, and I entered into my chamber  3  [Matt. vi. 6. He veils the quotation by a fiction, as to authorship, to support the plan of his work.] and prayed unto the Lord; and I fasted in those seven years, and I appeared to my master as one living delicately, for they that fast for God’s sake receive beauty of face.  4  [Dan. i. 15.] And if one gave me wine, I drank it not; and I fasted for three days, and took my food and gave it to the poor and sick. And I sought the Lord early, and wept for the Egyptian woman of Memphis, for very unceasingly did she trouble me, and at night she came to me under the pretence of visiting me; and at first, because she had no male child, she feigned to count me as a son. And I prayed unto the Lord, and she bare a male child; therefore for a time she embraced me as a son, and I knew it not. Last of all, she sought to draw me into fornication. And when I perceived it, I sorrowed even unto death; and when she had gone out I came to myself, and I lamented for her many days, because I saw her guile and her deceit. And I declared unto her the words of the Most High, if haply she would turn from her evil lust.

4. How often has she fawned upon me with words as a holy man, with guile in her talk, praising my chastity before her husband, while desiring to destroy me when we were alone. She lauded me openly as chaste, and in secret she said unto me, Fear not my husband; for he is persuaded concerning thy chastity, so that even should one tell him concerning us he would in no wise believe. For all these things I lay upon the ground in sackcloth, and I besought God that the Lord would deliver me from the Egyptian. And when she prevailed nothing, she came again to me under the plea of instruction, that she might know the word of the Lord. And she said unto me, If thou willest that I should leave my idols, be persuaded by me, and I will persuade my husband to depart from his idols, and we will walk in the law of thy Lord. And I said unto her, The Lord willeth not that those who reverence Him should be in uncleanness, nor doth He take pleasure in them that commit adultery. And she held her peace, longing to accomplish her evil desire. And I gave myself yet more to fasting and prayer, that the Lord should deliver me from her.

5. And again at another time she said unto me, If thou wilt not commit adultery, I will kill my husband, and so will I lawfully take thee to be my husband. I therefore, when I heard this, rent my garment, and said, Woman, reverence the Lord, and do not this evil deed, lest thou be utterly destroyed; for I will declare thy ungodly thought unto all men. She therefore, being afraid, besought that I would declare to no one her wickedness. And she departed, soothing me with gifts, and sending to me every delight of the sons of men.

6. And she sendeth to me food sprinkled with enchantments. And when the eunuch who brought it came, I looked up and beheld a terrible man giving me with the dish a sword, and I perceived that her scheme was for the deception of my soul. And when he had gone out I wept, nor did I taste that or any other of her food. So then after one day she came to me and observed the food, and said unto me, What is this, that thou hast not eaten of the food? And I said unto her, It is because thou filledst it with death; and how saidst thou, I come not near to idols but to the Lord alone? Now therefore know that the God of my father hath revealed unto me by an angel thy wickedness, and I have kept it to convict thee, if haply thou mayest see it and repent. But that thou mayest learn that the wickedness of the ungodly hath no power over them that reverence God in chastity, I took it and ate it before her, saying, The God of my fathers and the Angel of Abraham shall be with me. And she fell upon her face at my feet, and wept; and I raised her up and admonished her, and she promised to do this iniquity no more.

7. But because her heart was set upon me to commit lewdness, she sighed, and her countenance fell. And when her husband saw her, he said unto her, Why is thy countenance fallen? And she said, I have a pain at my heart, and the groanings of my spirit do oppress me; and so he comforted her who was not sick. Then she rushed in to me while her husband was yet without, and said unto me, I will hang myself, or cast myself into a well or over a cliff, if thou wilt not consent unto me. And when I saw the spirit of Beliar was troubling her, I prayed unto the Lord, and said unto her, Why art thou troubled and disturbed, blinded in sins? Remember that if thou killest thyself, Sethon, the concubine of thy husband, thy rival, will beat thy children, and will destroy thy memorial from off the earth. And she said unto me, Lo then thou lovest me; this alone is sufficient for me, that thou carest for my life and my children: I have expectation that I shall enjoy my desire. And she knew not that because of my God I spake thus, and not because of her. For if a man hath fallen before the passion of a wicked desire, then by that hath he become enslaved, even as also was she. And if he hear any good thing with regard to the passion whereby he is vanquished, he receiveth it unto his wicked desire.

8. I declare unto you, my children, that it was about the sixth hour when she departed from me; and I knelt before the Lord all that day, and continued all the night; and about dawn I rose up weeping, and praying for a release from the Egyptian. At last, then, she laid hold of my garments, forcibly dragging me to have connection with her. When, therefore, I saw that in her madness she was forcibly holding my garments, I fled away naked. And she falsely accused me to her husband, and the Egyptian cast me into the prison in his house; and on the morrow, having scourged me, the Egyptian  5  This repetition of a clause seems like the slip of a copyist. The Ox. ms. reads, εἰς τὴν εἱρκτὴν τοῦ Φαραώ sent me into the prison in his house. When, therefore, I was in fetters, the Egyptian woman fell sick from her vexation, and listened to me how I sang praises unto the Lord while I was in the abode of darkness, and with glad voice rejoiced and glorified my God only because by a pretext I had been rid of the Egyptian woman.

9. How often hath she sent unto me, saying, Consent to fulfil my desire, and I will release thee from thy bonds, and I will free time from the darkness! And not even in thoughts did I incline unto her. For God loveth him who in a den of darkness fasteth with chastity, rather than him who in secret chambers liveth delicately without restraint. And whosoever liveth in chastity, and desireth also glory, and if the Most High knoweth that it is expedient for him, He bestoweth this also upon him, even as upon me. How often, though she were sick, did she come down to me at unlooked-for times, and listened to my voice as I prayed! And when I heard her groanings I held my peace. For when I was in her house she was wont to bare her arms, and breasts, and legs, that I might fall before her; for she was very beautiful, splendidly adorned for my deception. And the Lord guarded me from her devices.  6  [To this section Lardner takes exception, as unbecoming to the gravity of Joseph.]

10. Ye see therefore, my children, how great things patience worketh, and prayer with fasting. And if ye therefore follow after sobriety and purity in patience and humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you, because He loveth sobriety. And wheresoever the Most High dwelleth, even though a man fall into envy, or slavery, or slander, the Lord who dwelleth in him, for his sobriety’s sake not only delivereth him from evil, but also exalteth and glorifieth him, even as me. For in every way the man is guarded, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought. My brethren know how my father loved me, and I was not exalted in my heart; although I was a child, I had the fear of God in my thoughts. For I knew that all things should pass away, and I kept myself within bounds, and I honoured my brethren; and through fear of them I held my peace when I was sold, and revealed not my family to the Ishmaelites, that I was the son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty.

11. Do ye also, therefore, have the fear of God in your works, and honour your brethren. For every one who worketh the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him. And when I came to the Indocolpitæ with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, and I said that I was a slave from their house, that I might not put my brethren to shame. And the eldest of them said unto me, Thou art not a slave, for even thy appearance doth make it manifest concerning thee. And he threatened me even unto death. But I said that I was their slave. Now when we came into Egypt, they strove concerning me, which of them should buy me and take me. Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with a merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise. And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted unto me his house. And the Lord blessed him by my means, and increased him in silver and gold, and I was with him three months and five days.

12. About that time the Memphian wife of Potiphar passed by with great pomp, and cast her eyes upon me, because her eunuchs told her concerning me. And she told her husband concerning the merchant, that he had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, saying, And they say that men have indeed stolen him out of the land of Canaan. Now therefore execute judgment with him, and take away the youth to be thy steward; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless thee, for grace from heaven is upon him.

13. And Potiphar was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said unto him, What is this that I hear, that thou stealest souls out of the land of the Hebrews, and sellest them for slaves? The merchant therefore fell upon his face, and besought him, saying, I beseech thee, my lord, I know not what thou sayest. And he said, Whence then is thy Hebrew servant? And he said, The Ishmaelites entrusted him to me until they should return. And he believed him not, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten. And when he persisted, Potiphar said, Let the youth be brought. And when I was brought in, I did obeisance to the chief of the eunuchs—for he was third in rank with Pharaoh, being chief of all the eunuchs, and having wives and children and concubines. And he took me apart from him, and said unto me, Art thou a slave or free? And I said, A slave. And he said unto me, Whose slave art thou? And I said unto him, The Ishmaelites’. And again he said unto me, How becamest thou their slave? And I said, They bought me out of the land of Canaan. And he believed me not, and said, Thou liest: and he commanded me to be stripped and beaten.

14. Now the Memphian woman was looking through a window while I was being beaten, and she sent unto her husband, saying, Thy judgment is unjust; for thou dost even punish a free man who hath been stolen, as though he were a transgressor. And when I gave no other answer though I was beaten, he commanded that we should be kept in guard, until, said he, the owners of the boy shall come. And his wife said unto him, Wherefore dost thou detain in captivity this noble child, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and wait upon thee? For she wished to see me in desire of sin, and I was ignorant concerning all these things. Then said he to his wife, It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take away that which belongeth to others before proof is given. This he said concerning the merchant, and concerning me, that I must be imprisoned.

15. Now, after four and twenty days came the Ishmaelites; and having heard that Jacob my father was mourning because of me, they said unto me, How is it that thou saidst that thou wert a slave? and lo, we have learnt that thou art the son of a mighty man in the land of Canaan, and thy father grieveth for thee in sackcloth. And again I would have wept, but I restrained myself, that I should not put my brethren to shame. And I said, I know not, I am a slave. Then they take counsel to sell me, that I should not be found in their hands. For they feared Jacob, lest he should work upon them a deadly vengeance. For it had been heard that he was mighty with the Lord and with men. Then said the merchant unto them, Release me from the judgment of Potiphar. They therefore came and asked for me, saying, He was bought by us with money. And he sent us away.

16. Now the Memphian woman pointed me out to her husband, that he should buy me; for I hear, said she, that they are selling him. And she sent a eunuch to the Ishmaelites, and asked them to sell me; and since he was not willing to traffic with them, he returned. So when the eunuch had made trial of them, he made known to his mistress that they asked a large price for their slave. And she sent another eunuch, saying, Even though they demand two minæ of gold, take heed not to spare the gold; only buy the boy, and bring him hither. And he gave them eighty pieces of gold for me, and told his mistress that a hundred had been given for me. And when I saw it I held my peace, that the eunuch should not be punished.

17. Ye see, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put my brethren to shame. Do ye also love one another, and with long-suffering hide ye one another’s faults. For God delighteth in the unity of brethren, and in the purpose of a heart approved unto love. And when my brethren came into Egypt, and learnt that I returned their money unto them, and upbraided them not, yea, that I even comforted them, and after the death of Jacob I loved them more abundantly, and all things whatsoever he commanded I did very abundantly, then they marvelled. For I suffered them not to be afflicted even unto the smallest matter; and all that was in my hand I gave unto them. Their children were my children, and my children were as their servants; their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, and all their sickness was my infirmity. My land was their land, my counsel their counsel, and I exalted not myself among them in arrogance because of my worldly glory, but I was among them as one of the least.

18. If ye also therefore walk in the commandments of the Lord, my children, He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever. And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, do ye by well-doing pray for him, and ye shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil. For, behold, ye see that through long-suffering I took unto wife even the daughter of my  7  Another account is given in the Targ. Ps. Jon. of Gen. xli. 45, “And he gave him to wife Asenath, whom Dinah bare to Shechem: and the wife of Potipherah prince of Tanes brought up.” master. And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her; for the Lord made them to serve me. And He gave me also beauty as a flower above the beautiful ones of Israel; and He preserved me unto old age in strength and in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob.

19. Hear ye also, my children, the visions which I saw. There were twelve deer feeding, and the nine were divided and scattered in the land, likewise also the three. And I saw that from Judah was born a virgin wearing a linen  8  This wearing of a linen garment would seem to imply a connection with the priestly tribe. St. Luke (i. 36) indeed calls the Virgin the kinswoman of Elisabeth. On this tendency to associate the old sacerdotal tribe with the new royalty of Messiah, cf., e.g., Protevangel. Jacobi, cc. 6, 7, 9; Augustine, contra Faustum, xxiii. 4; Epiphanius, Hær., lxxviii. 13. [See Reuben, sec. 6, p. 10, supra.] garment, and from her went forth a Lamb, without spot, and on His left hand there was as it were a lion; and all the beasts rushed against Him, and the lamb overcame them, and destroyed them, and trod them under foot. And because of Him the angels rejoiced, and men, and all the earth. And these things shall take place in their season, in the last days. Do ye therefore, my children, observe the commandments of the Lord, and honour Judah and Levi; for from them shall arise unto you the Lamb of God, by grace saving all the Gentiles and Israel. For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not be shaken; but my kingdom among you shall come to an end as a watcher’s  9  Isa. i. 8; xxiv. 20. hammock, which after the summer will not appear.

20. I know that after my death the Egyptians will afflict you, but God will undertake your cause, and will bring you into that which He promised to your fathers. But carry ye up my bones with you;  10  Cf. Test. Simeon 8, and Jubilees 46. The account of Joseph’s burial in the Targ. Ps. Jon. on Gen. l. 26 is: “And Joseph died, a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and placed him in a coffin, and sank him in the middle of the Nile of Egypt.“ for when my bones are taken up, the Lord will be with you in light, and Beliar shall be in darkness with the Egyptians. And carry ye up Zilpah your mother, and lay her near Bilhah, by the hippodrome, by the side of Rachel.  11  Cf. Gen. xlviii. 7, LXX. And when he had said these things, he stretched out his feet, and slept the long sleep. And all Israel bewailed him, and all Egypt, with a great lamentation. For he felt even for the Egyptians even as his own members, and showed them kindness, aiding them in every work, and counsel, and matter.

 ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ ΙΩΣΗΦ ΙΑ ΠΕΡΙ ΣΩΦΡΟΣΥΝΗΣ 

[1] Ἀντίγραφον διαθήκης Ἰωσήφ. Ἐν τῷ μέλλειν αὐτὸν ἀποθνήσκειν, καλέσας τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: Τέκνα μου καὶ ἀδελφοί, ἀκούσατε Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ ἠγαπημένου ὑπὸ Ἰσραήλ: ἐνωτίσασθε, υἱοί, τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν. Ἐγὼ εἶδον ἐν τῇ ζωῇ μου τὸν φθόνον καὶ τὸν θάνατον, καὶ οὐκ ἐπλανήθην ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ Κυρίου. Οἱ ἀδελφοί μου οὗτοι ἐμίσησάν με, καὶ Κύριος ἠγάπησέ με: αὐτοὶ ἤθελόν με ἀνελεῖν καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων μου ἐφύλαξέ με: εἰς λάκκον με ἐχάλασαν, καὶ ὁ ὕψιστος ἀνήγαγέ με: ἐπράθην εἰς δοῦλον, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐλευθέρωσέ με: εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν ἐλήφθην, καὶ ἡ κραταιὰ αὐτοῦ χεὶρ ἐβοήθησέ μοι: ἐν λιμῷ συνεσχέθην, καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος διέθρεψέ με: μόνος ἤμην, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς παρεκάλεσέ με: ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ἤμην, καὶ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐπεσκέψατό με: ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ ἐχαρίτωσέ με: ἐν δεσμοῖς, καὶ ἔλυσέ με: ἐν διαβολαῖς, καὶ συνηγόρησέ μοι: ἐν λόγοις Αἰγυπτίων πικροῖς, καὶ ἐρρύσατό με: ἐν φθόνοις σὺν δόλοις, καὶ ὕψωσέ με.

[2] Καὶ οὕτως Φωτιμάρ, ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος Φαραώ, ἐπίστευσέ μοι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἠγωνισάμην πρὸς γυναῖκα ἀναιδῆ ἐπειγούσῃ με παρανομεῖν μετ' αὐτῆς: ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφύλαξέ με ἀπὸ φλογὸς καιομένης. Ἐφυλακίσθην, ἐτυπτίθην, ἐμυκτηρίσθην: καὶ ἔδωκέ με Κύριος εἰς οἰκτιρμοὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ δεσμοφύλακος. Οὐ μὴ γὰρ ἐγκαταλίπῃ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν, οὐκ ἐν σκότει, ἢ δεσμοῖς, ἢ θλίψεσιν, ἢ ἀναγκαῖς: Οὐ γὰρ ὡς ἄνθρωπος ἐπαισχύνεται ὁ Θεός, οὐδὲ ὡς υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου δειλιᾷ, οὐδὲ ὡς γηγενὴς ἀσθενεῖ, ἢ ἀποθεῖται: ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τόποις παρίσταται, καὶ ἐν διαφόροις τρόποις παρακαλεῖ, ἐν βραχεῖ ἀφιστάμενος εἰς τὸ δοκιμάσαι τῆς ψυχῆς τὸ διαβούλιον. Ἐν δέκα πειρασμοῖς δόκιμόν με ἀνέδειξε, καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς ἐμακροθύμησα: ὅτι μέγα φάρμακόν ἐστιν ἡ μακροθυμία, καὶ πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ δίδωσιν ἡ ὑπομονή.

[3] Ποσάκις ἡ Αἰγυπτία ἠπείλησέ μοι θάνατον; ποσάκις τιμωρίαις παραδοῦσα ἀνεκαλέσατό με, καὶ ἠπείλησέ μοι μὴ θέλοντι συνελθεῖν αὐτῇ; Ἔλεγε δέ μοι: κυριεύσεις μου καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐμῶν, ἐὰν ἐπιδῷς ἑαυτὸν εἰς ἐμέ, καὶ ἔσῃ ὡς δεσπότης ἡμῶν. Ἐγὼ οὖν ἐμνησκόμην λόγους πατέρων πατρός μου Ἰακώβ, καὶ εἰσερχόμενος εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον, προσηυχόμην Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐνήστευον ἐν τοῖς ἑπτὰ ἔτεσιν ἐκείνοις, καὶ ἐφαινόμην τῷ Αἰγυπτίῳ ὡς ἐν τρυφῇ διάγων: ὅτι οἱ διὰ τὸν Θεὸν νηστεύοντες τοῦ προσώπου τὴν χάριν λαμβάνουσιν. Ἐὰν δὲ ἐπεδίδῃ μοι οἶνον, οὐκ ἔπινον: καὶ τριημερίζων ἐλάμβανόν μου τὴν δίαιταν, καὶ ἐδίδουν αὐτὴν πένησι καὶ ἀσθενοῦσι. Καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἔκλαιον περὶ Μεμφίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας, ὅτι σφόδρα ἀδιαλείπτως ἐνόχλει μοι: καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ εἰσίει λόγῳ ἐπισκέψεως πρός με: καὶ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα, ὅτι τέκνον ἀρρενικὸν οὐκ ἦν αὐτῇ, προσεποίειτο ἔχειν με ὡς υἱόν. Καὶ ηὐξάμην πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἔτεκεν ἄρρεν. Ἕως οὖν χρόνου ὡς υἱόν με περιεπτύσσετο, κἀγὼ ἠγνόουν: ἔσχατον εἰς πορνείαν με ἐφελκύσατο. Καὶ νοήσας ἐλυπήθην ἕως θανάτου: καὶ ἐξελθούσης αὐτῆς, ἦλθον εἰς ἐμαυτόν, καὶ ἐπένθησα περὶ αὐτῆς ἡμέρας πολλάς, ὅτι ἔγνων τὸν δόλον αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν πλάνην. Καὶ ἔλεγον αὐτῇ ῥήματα ὑψίστου, εἰ ἄρα ἀποστρέψει ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῆς τῆς πονηρᾶς.

[4] Ποσάκις ὡς ἁγίῳ ἀνδρὶ ἐν λόγοις ἐκολάκευσέ με, μετὰ δόλου διὰ ῥημάτων ἐπαινοῦσα τὴν σωφροσύνην μου ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, βουλομένη καταμόνας ὑποσκελίσαι με; Ἐδόξαζέ με ὡς σώφρονα φανερῶς, καὶ ἐν κρυφῇ ἔλεγέ μοι: Μὴ φοβηθῇς τὸν ἄνδρα μου: καὶ γὰρ πέπεισται περὶ τῆς σωφροσύνης σου: ὅτι κἂν εἴπῃ τις αὐτῷ περὶ ἡμῶν, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσῃ. Ἐν τούτοις πᾶσιν ἐχαμοκοίτων ἐγὼ ἐν σάκκῳ, καὶ ἐδεόμην τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅπως ῥύσεταί με ὁ Κύριος ἐκ τῆς Αἰγυπτίας. Ὡς δὲ οὐδὲν ἴσχυσε, πάλιν ἐπὶ λόγῳ κατηχήσεως ἤρχετο πρός με, μαθεῖν λόγον Κυρίου. Καὶ ἔλεγέ μοι: Εἰ θέλεις ἵνα καταλίπω τὰ εἴδωλα, συνπείσθητί μοι: καὶ τὸν Αἰγύπτιον πείσω ἀποστῆναι τῶν εἰδώλων, ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου σου πορευόμενοι. Λέγω δὲ πρὸς αὐτήν: Οὐκ ἐν ἀκαθαρσίᾳ λέγει Κύριος τοὺς σεβομένους αὐτόν, οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς μοιχεύουσιν εὐδοκεῖ. Κἀκείνη ἐσιώπησε, ποθοῦσα ἐκτελέσαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῆς. Κἀγὼ προσετίθουν νηστείαν καὶ προσευχήν, ὅπως ῥύσεταί με Κύριος ἀπ' αὐτῆς.

[5] Πάλιν δὲ ἐν ἑτέρῳ χρόνῳ λέγει μοι: Εἰ μοιχεῦσαι οὐ θέλεις, ἐγὼ ἀναιρῶ τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, καὶ οὕτως νόμῳ λήψομαί σε εἰς ἄνδρα. Ἐγὼ οὖν, ὡς ἤκουσα τοῦτο, διέρρηξα τὴν στολήν μου, καὶ εἶπον: Γύναι, αἰδέσθητι τὸν Κύριον, καὶ μὴ ποιήσῃς τὴν πρᾶξιν τὴν πονηρὰν ταύτην, ἵνα μὴ ἐξολοθρεύθῃς: ὅτι καίγε ἐγὼ ἐξαγγελῶ τὴν ἐπίνοιαν τῆς ἀσεβείας σου πᾶσι. Φοβηθεῖσα οὖν ἐκείνη ἠξίου, ἵνα μηδενὶ ἐξαγγείλω τὴν κακίαν αὐτῆς. καὶ ἀνεχώρησε θάλπουσά με δώροις, καὶ πέμπουσα πᾶσιν ἀπόλαυσιν υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων.

[6] Καὶ ἀποστέλλει μοι βρῶμα ἐν γοητείᾳ πεφυραμένον. Καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ὁ εὐνοῦχος ὁ κομίζων αὐτό, ἀνέβλεψα καὶ εἶδον ἄνδρα φοβερόν, ἐπιδιδοῦντά μοι μετὰ τοῦ τρυβλίου μάχαιραν. Καὶ συνῆκα ὅτι ἡ περιεργεία αὐτῆς εἰς ἀποπλάνησιν ψυχῆς ἐστι. Καὶ ἐξελθόντος αὐτῆς ἔκλαιον, μήτε ἐκεῖνο, μήτε ἄλλο τι τῶν αἰδεσμάτων αὐτῆς γευσάμενος. Μετὰ οὖν μίαν ἡμέραν ἐλθοῦσα πρός με, ἐπέγνω τὸ βρῶμα, καὶ λέγει πρός με: Τί τοῦτο, ὅτι οὐκ ἔφαγες ἀπὸ τοῦ βρώματος; Καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτήν: Ὅτι ἐπλήρωσας αὐτὸ θανάτου: καὶ πῶς εἶπας, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγγίζω εἰδώλοις, ἀλλὰ Κυρίῳ μόνῳ; Νῦν οὖν γνῶθι, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου δι' ἀγγέλου ἀπεκάλυψέ μοι τὴν κακίαν σου, καὶ ἐτήρησα αὐτὸ εἰς ἔλεγχόν σου, εἰ ἄρα ἰδοῦσα αὐτὸ μετανοήσεις. Ἵνα δὲ μάθῃς, ὅτι τῶν ἐν σωφροσύνῃ θεοσεβούντων οὐ κατισχύει κακία ἀσεβούντων, λαβὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῆς ἔφαγον, εἰπών: Ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων μου, καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος Ἀβραὰμ ἔσται μετ' ἐμοῦ. Ἡ δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον εἰς τοὺς πόδας μου, καὶ ἔκλαυσε: καὶ ἀναστήσας αὐτὴν ἐνουθέτησα: καὶ συνέθετο τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι ἔτι τὴν ἀσέβειαν ταύτην.

[7] Ὅτι δὲ ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς ἐνέκειτο εἰς ἐμὲ πρὸς ἀκολασίαν, στενάζουσα προσέπιπτεν. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὴν ὁ Αἰγύπτιος, λέγει πρὸς αὐτήν: Τί συνέπεσε τὸ πρόσωπόν σου; Ἡ δὲ εἶπε: Πόνον καρδίας ἐγὼ ἀλγῶ, καὶ οἱ στεναγμοὶ τοῦ πνεύματος μου συνέχουσί με. Καὶ ἐθεράπευεν αὐτὴν μὴ ἀσθενοῦσαν. Τότε εἰσεπήδησε πρός με, ἔτι ὄντος ἔξω τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, καὶ λέγει μοι: Ἄγχομαι, ἢ εἰς φρέαρ ἢ εἰς κρημνὸν ῥίπτω ἐμαυτήν, ἐὰν μή μοι συμπεισθείς. Καὶ νοήσας, ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ Βελίαρ αὐτὴν ἐνοχλεῖ, προσευξάμενος Κυρίῳ, εἶπον αὐτῇ: Ἵνα τί ταράσσῃ καὶ θορυβῇ, ἐν ἁμαρτίαις τυφλώττουσα; Μνήσθητι ὅτι ἐὰν ἀνελῇς σεαυτήν, ἡ Σηθῶν, ἡ παλλακὴ τοῦ ἀνδρός σου, ἡ ἀντίζηλός σου, κολαφίσει τὰ τέκνα σου, καὶ ἀπολέσει τὸ μνημόσυνόν σου ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς. Καὶ λέγει πρός με: Ἴδε οὖν ἀγαπᾷς με: ἀρκεῖ μοι μόνον, ὅτι ἀντιποιῇ τῆς ζωῆς μου, καὶ τῶν τέκνων μου: ἔχω προσδοκίαν ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς ἐπιθυμίας μου. Καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω, ὅτι διὰ τὸν Θεόν μου εἶπον οὕτως, καὶ οὐ δι' αὐτήν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις πάθει ὑποπέσῃ ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς, καὶ τούτῳ δουλωθῇ ὡς κἀκείνη: κἂν ἀγαθόν τι ἀκούσῃ, εἰς τὸ πάθος, ὃ ἡττᾶται, ἐκλαμβάνει αὐτὸ πρὸς ἐπιθυμίαν πονηράν.

[8] Λέγω ὑμῖν, τέκνα, ὅτι ὥρα ἦν ὡσεὶ ἕκτη, ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ' ἐμοῦ: κἀγὼ γόνυ κλίνας πρὸς Κύριον ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα συνάψας, περὶ τὸν ὄρθρον ἀνέστην δακρύων, καὶ αἰτῶν λύτρωσιν ἀπὸ τῆς Αἰγυπτίας. Τέλος οὖν ἐπιλαμβάνεταί μου τῶν ἱματίων, μετὰ βίας ἐφελκομένη με εἰς συνουσίαν. Ὡς οὖν εἶδον ὅτι μαινομένη βίᾳ κρατεῖ τὰ ἱμάτιά μου, γυμνὸς ἔφυγον. Κἀκείνη ἐσυκοφάντισέ με πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς: καὶ ἐνέβαλέ με εἰς φυλακὴν ἐν οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ὁ Αἰγύπτιος: καὶ τῇ ἑξῆς μαστίξας με, ἔπεμψέ με εἰς φυλακὴν ἐν οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ὁ Αἰγύπτιος. Ὡς οὖν ἤμην ἐν πέδαις, ἡ Αἰγυπτία ἠσθένει ἀπὸ τῆς λύπης, καὶ ἐπηκροᾶτό μου, πῶς ὕμνουν Κύριον ὢν ἐν οἴκῳ σκότους, καὶ ἐν ἱλαρᾷ φωνῇ χαίρων ἐδόξαζον τὸν Θεόν μου, μόνον ὅτι διὰ προφάσεως ἀπηλλάγην τῆς Αἰγυπτίας.

[9] Πολλάκις ἔπεμψε πρός με, λέγουσα: Εὐδόκησον πληρῶσαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν μου, καὶ λυτρώσω σε τῶν δεσμῶν, καὶ ἀπαλλάξω σε τοῦ σκότους. Καὶ οὐδὲ ἕως ἐννοιῶν ποτὲ ἔκλινα πρὸς αὐτήν. Ἀγαπᾷ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς μᾶλλον τὸν ἐν λάκκῳ σκότους νηστεύοντα ἐν σωφροσύνῃ, ἢ τὸν ἐν ταμείοις τρυφῶντα μετὰ ἀκολασίας. Ὁ δὲ ἐν σωφροσύνῃ διάγων θέλει καὶ δόξαν, καὶ εἰ οἶδεν ὁ ὕψιστος, ὅτι συμφέρει, παρέχει αὐτῷ καὶ ταῦτα ὡς κἀμοί. Ποσάκις καίπερ ἀσθενοῦσα κατῄει πρός με ἐν ἀωρίᾳ, καὶ ἤκουε τῆς φωνῆς μου προσευχομένου; συνίων δὲ ἐγὼ τοὺς στεναγμοὺς αὐτῆς, ἐσιώπουν. Καὶ γὰρ ὅτε ἤμην ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῆς, ἐγύμνου τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ στέρνα καὶ τὰς κνήμας, ἵνα συμπέσω εἰς αὐτήν: πάνυ γὰρ ἦν ὡραία, μάλιστα κοσμουμένη πρὸς ἀπάτησίν μου. Καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐφύλαξέ με ἀπὸ τῶν ἐγχειρημάτων αὐτῆς.

[10] Ὁρᾶτε οὖν, τέκνα μου, πόσα κατεργάζεται ἡ ὑπομονή, καὶ προσευχὴ μετὰ νηστείας. Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν, ἐὰν τὴν σωφροσύνην καὶ τὴν ἁγνείαν μετέλθητε ἐν ὑπομονῇ καὶ ταπεινώσει καρδίας, Κύριος κατοικήσει ἐν ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἠγάπησε τὴν σωφροσύνην. Ὅπου δὲ κατοικεῖ ὁ ὕψιστος, κἄν τις περιπέσῃ φθόνῳ ἢ δουλείᾳ ἢ συκοφαντίᾳ, Κύριος ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικῶν διὰ τὴν σωφροσύνην οὐ μόνον ἐκ τῶν κακῶν ῥύεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑψοῖ καὶ δοξάζει αὐτὸν ὡς κἀμέ. Πάντως γὰρ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἢ ἐν ἔργῳ, ἢ ἐν λόγῳ, ἢ ἐν διανοίᾳ συνέχεται. Γινώσκουσιν οἱ ἀδελφοί μου, πῶς ἠγάπησέ με ὁ πατήρ μου: καὶ οὐχ ὑψούμην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου: καίπερ νήπιος ὤν, εἶχον τὸν φόβον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ μου. Ἤιδειν γάρ, ὅτι τὰ πάντα παρελεύσεται, καὶ ἐμέτρουν ἐμαυτὸν καὶ ἐτίμουν τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου: καὶ διὰ τὸν φόβον αὐτῶν ἐσιώπουν πιπρασκόμενος, μὴ εἰπεῖν τοῖς Ἰσμαηλίταις τὸ γένος μου, ὅτι υἱός εἰμι Ἰακώβ, ἀνδρὸς μεγάλου καὶ δυνατοῦ.

[11] Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν ἔχετε ἐν πράξει ὑμῶν τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ φόβον, καὶ τιμᾶτε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν. Πᾶς γὰρ ὁ ποιῶν νόμον Κυρίου, ἀγαπηθήσεται ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. Ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς Ἰνδοκολπίτας μετὰ τῶν Ἰσμαηλιτῶν, ἠρώτουν με: κἀγὼ εἶπον ὅτι δοῦλος αὐτῶν εἰμι ἐξ οἴκου, ἵνα μὴ αἰσχύνω τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου. Λέγει δέ μοι ὁ μείζων αὐτῶν: Οὐκ εἶ δοῦλος σύ, ὅτι καὶ ἡ ὄψις σου δηλοῖ περί σου: καὶ ἠπείλει μοι ἕως θανάτου. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἔλεγον ὅτι δοῦλος αὐτῶν εἰμί. Ὡς δὲ ἤλθομεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, περὶ ἐμοῦ ἐμάχοντο, τίς προσδοὺς χρυσίον λάβῃ με. Διὸ πᾶσιν ἔδοξεν εἶναί με εἰς Αἴγυπτον πρὸς μετάβολον ἐμπορίας αὐτῶν, ἕως ἐπιστρέψωσι φέροντες ἐμπορίαν. Καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκέ μοι χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς τοῦ μεταβόλου, καὶ ἐπίστευσέ μοι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸν Κύριος ἐν χειρί μου, καὶ ἐπλήθυνεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἀργυρίῳ καὶ χρυσίῳ: καὶ ἤμην μετ' αὐτοῦ μῆνας τρεῖς καὶ ἡμέρας πέντε.

[12] Κατ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν παρίει ἡ Μεμφία γυνὴ τοῦ Πετεφρὶ μετὰ δόξης πολλῆς, καὶ ἐπέβαλεν ἐπ' ἐμὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῆς: ὅτι εἶπον αὐτῇ οἱ εὐνοῦχοι περὶ ἐμοῦ. Καὶ λέγει τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς περὶ τοῦ μεταβόλου, ὅτι ἐπλούτισεν ἐν χειρὶ νέου τινὸς Ἑβραίου: λέγουσι δὲ ὅτι κλοπῇ ἔκλεψαν αὐτὸν ἐκ γῆς Χαναάν: νῦν οὖν ποίησον μετ' αὐτοῦ κρίσιν, καὶ ἀφελοῦ τὸν νεανίαν εἰς οἰκονόμον σου: καὶ εὐλογήσει σε ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Ἑβραίων, ὅτι χάρις ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐστιν ἐπ' αὐτῷ.

[13] Ὁ δὲ Πετεφρὶς πεισθεὶς τοῖς λόγοις αὐτῆς, ἐκέλευσεν ἀχθῆναι τὸν μετάβολον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ: Τί ταῦτα ἀκούω, ὅτι κλέπτεις τὰς ψυχὰς ἐκ γῆς Ἑβραίων εἰς παῖδας μετεμπωλῶν; Πεσὼν οὖν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὁ μετάβολος, ἐδέετο λέγων: Δέομαί σου, κύριε, οὐκ οἶδα ὃ λέγεις. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη: Πόθεν οὖν σοι ὁ παῖς ὁ Ἑβραῖος; καὶ εἶπεν: Οἱ Ἰσμαηλῖται παρέθεντό μοι αὐτόν, ἕως οὗ ἐπιστρέψωσι. Καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ' ἐκέλευσε γυμνὸν τύπτεσθαι αὐτόν. Ἐπιμένοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ, λέγει ὁ Πετεφρίς: Ἀχθήτω ὁ νεανίσκος. Καὶ εἰσαχθεὶς προσεκύνησα τῷ ἀρχευνούχῳ: τρίτος γὰρ ἦν ἐν ἀξίᾳ παρὰ τῷ Φαραώ, ἄρχων πάντων τῶν εὐνούχων, ἔχων γυναῖκα καὶ τέκνα καὶ παλλακάς. Καὶ διαχωρίσας με ἀπ' αὐτοῦ, εἶπέ μοι: Δοῦλος εἶ, ἢ ἐλεύθερος; καὶ εἶπον: Δοῦλος. Καὶ λέγει πρός με: Τίνος εἶ δοῦλος; καὶ λέγω αὐτῷ: Τῶν Ἰσμαηλιτῶν. Καὶ πάλιν λέγει μοι: Πῶς αὐτῶν ἐγένου δοῦλος; καὶ εἶπον ὅτι ἐκ τῆς Χαναὰν ἐπρίαντό με. Ὁ δὲ ἠπίστησε, λέγων ὅτι ψεύδῃ: καὶ γυμνόν με ἐκέλευσε τύπτεσθαι.

[14] Ἡ δὲ Μεμφὶς ἑώρα διὰ θυρίδος τυπτομένου μου, καὶ ἀποστέλλει πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς, λέγουσα: Ἄδικός ἐστιν ἡ κρίσις σου, ὅτι καὶ τὸν κλαπέντα ἐλεύθερον τιμωρεῖς, ὡς ἀδικήσαντα. Ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἤλλαξα λόγον τυπτόμενος, ἐκέλευσε φυλακισθῆναί με, ἕως οὗ ἔλθωσι, φησίν, οἱ κύριοι τοῦ παιδός. Καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν: Διὰ τί συνέχεις τὸν αἰχμάλωτον καὶ εὐγενῆ παῖδα, ὃν ἔδει εἶναι μᾶλλον ἄνετον, καὶ ὑπηρετεῖν σου; Ἤθελε γάρ με ὁρᾶν ἐν πόθῳ ἁμαρτίας: καὶ ἠγνόουν ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις. Ὁ δὲ εἶπε πρὸς τὴν Μεμφίν: Οὐκ ἔστι παρ' Αἰγυπτίοις πρὸ ἀποδείξεως ἀφαιρεῖσθαι τὰ ἀλλότρια. Ταῦτα εἶπε περὶ τοῦ μεταβόλου, καὶ περὶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ὄφειλα ἐγκατάκλειστος εἶναι.

[15] Μετὰ δὲ εἰκοσιτέσσαρας ἡμέρας ἦλθον οἱ Ἰσμαηλῖται: καὶ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Ἰακὼβ ὁ πατήρ μου πενθεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ, εἶπον πρός με: Τί ὅτι εἶπας ἑαυτὸν δοῦλον εἶναι; καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔγνωμεν, ὅτι υἱὸς εἶ ἀνδρὸς μεγάλου ἐν τῇ Χαναάν: καὶ πενθεῖ ὁ πατήρ σου ἐν λάκκῳ. Καὶ πάλιν ἤθελον δακρῦσαι, καὶ ἐπέσχον ἐμαυτόν, ἵνα μὴ αἰσχύνω τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου. Καὶ εἶπα: Ἐγὼ οὐκ οἶδα: δοῦλός εἰμι. Τότε βουλεύονται πωλῆσαί με, ἵνα μὴ εὑρεθῶ ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν. Ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ τὸν Ἰακώβ, ἵνα μὴ ποιήσῃ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐκδίκησιν κινδύνου. Ἠκούσθη γάρ, ὅτι μέγας ἐστὶ παρὰ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἀνθρώποις. Τότε λέγει ὁ μετάβολος αὐτοῖς: Λύσατέ με ἀπὸ τῆς κρίσεως Πετεφρί. Προσελθόντες οὖν αἰτοῦνταί με, λέγοντες: Ὅτι ἐν ἀργυρίῳ ἠγοράσθη ἡμῖν: κἀκεῖνος ἀπέλυσεν ἡμᾶς.

[16] Ἡ δὲ Μεμφὶς ἐδήλωσε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, πριᾶσθαί με: ἀκούω γάρ, φησίν, ὅτι πωλοῦσιν αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εὐνοῦχον τοῖς Ἰσμαηλίταις, ᾔτειτο εἰς πρᾶσιν: καὶ μὴ θελήσας ποιῆσαι μετ' αὐτῶν, ἀνεχώρησεν. Ὁ δὲ εὐνοῦχος πειραθεὶς αὐτῶν δηλοῖ τῇ δεσποίνῃ, ὅτι πολλὴν αἰτοῦσι τιμὴν τοῦ παιδός. Ἡ δὲ ἀπέστειλεν ἕτερον εὐνοῦχον, λέγουσα: Ἐὰν καὶ δύο μνᾶς χρυσίου ζητοῦσι, πρόσεχε μὴ φείσασθαι χρυσίου, μόνον πριάμενος τὸν παῖδα ἀγάγετε. Καὶ δίδει αὐτοῖς ὀγδοήκοντα χρυσίνους ἀντ' ἐμοῦ, ἑκατὸν εἰπὼν τῇ Αἰγυπτίᾳ δεδῶσθαι ἀντ' ἐμοῦ. Καὶ ἰδὼν ἐγὼ ἐσιώπησα, ἵνα μὴ ἐτασθῇ ὁ εὐνοῦχος.

[17] Ὁρᾶτε, τέκνα, πόσα ὑπέμεινα, ἵνα μὴ καταισχύνω τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου; Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους: καὶ ἐν μακροθυμίαις συγκρύπτετε ἀλλήλων τὰ ἐλαττώματα. Τέρπεται γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ὁμονοίᾳ ἀδελφῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ προαιρέσει καρδίας εὐδοκημούσης εἰς ἀγάπην. Καὶ ὅτε ἦλθον οἱ ἀδελφοί μου εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ὡς ἔγνωσαν ὅτι ἀπέστρεψα τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτοῖς, καὶ οὐκ ὠνείδισα, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρεκάλεσα αὐτούς, καὶ μετὰ θάνατον Ἰακὼβ περισσοτέρως ἠγάπησα αὐτούς, καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἐκέλευσεν ἐκ περισσοῦ ἐποίησα, καὶ ἐθαύμαζον. Οὐκ ἀφῆκα γὰρ αὐτοὺς θλιβῆναι, ἕως μικροῦ πράγματος: καίγε πᾶν, ὃ ἦν ἐν χειρί μου, αὐτοῖς ἔδωκα. Οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, υἱοί μου: καὶ οἱ υἱοί μου, ὡς δοῦλοι αὐτῶν: ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν, ψυχή μου: καὶ πᾶν ἄλγημα αὐτῶν, ἄλγημά μου: καὶ πᾶσα μαλακία αὐτῶν, ἀσθένειά μου: ἡ γῆ μου, γῆ αὐτῶν: ἡ βουλή μου, βουλὴ αὐτῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ὕψωσα ἐμαυτὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐν ἀλαζονήᾳ, διὰ τὴν κοσμικὴν δόξαν μου, ἀλλ' ἤμην ἐν αὐτοῖς ὡς εἷς τῶν ἐλαχίστων.

[18] Ἐὰν οὖν καὶ ὑμεῖς πορευθῆτε ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς Κυρίου, τέκνα μου, ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς ἐνταῦθα, καὶ εὐλογήσει ἐν ἀγαθοῖς εἰς αἰῶνας. Καὶ ἐὰν θέλῃ τις κακοποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς, ὑμεῖς τῇ ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ: καὶ ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ λυτρωθήσεσθε διὰ Κυρίου. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁρᾶτε, ὅτι διὰ τὴν μακροθυμίαν καὶ θυγατέρα κυρίων μου ἔλαβον εἰς γυναῖκα: καὶ ἑκατὸν τάλαντά μοι χρυσίου δέδοται σὺν αὐτῇ: ὅτι Κύριός μοι αὐτοὺς ἐδούλευσε. Καίγε ὡραιότητα ἔδωκέ μοι, ὡς ἄνθος ὑπὲρ ὡραίους Ἰσραήλ: καὶ διεφύλαξέ με ἕως γήρως ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐν κάλλει, ὅτι ἐγὼ ὅμοιος ἐν πᾶσι τῷ Ἰακώβ.

[19] Ἀκούσατε, τέκνα μου, καὶ ὧν εἶδον ἐνυπνίων. Δώδεκα ἔλαφοι ἐνέμοντο, καὶ οἱ ἐννέα διαιρέθησαν καὶ διεσπάρησαν τῇ γῇ: ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ τρεῖς. Καὶ εἶδον, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Ἰούδα ἐγεννήθη παρθένος, ἔχουσα στολὴν βυσσίνην: καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς προῆλθεν ἀμνὸς ἄμωμος, καὶ ἐξ ἀριστερῶν αὐτοῦ, ὡς λέων: καὶ πάντα τὰ θηρία ὥρμουν κατ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνίκησεν αὐτὰ ὁ ἀμνός, καὶ ἀπώλεσεν εἰς καταπάτησιν. Καὶ ἔχαιρον ἐπ' αὐτῷ οἱ ἄγγελοι, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ. Ταῦτα δὲ γενήσεται ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῶν, ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις. Ὑμεῖς οὖν, τέκνα μου, φυλάξατε τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου, καὶ τιμᾶτε τὸν Ἰούδαν καὶ τὸν Λευί: ὅτι ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀνατελεῖ ὑμῖν ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, χάριτι σώζων πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ. Ἡ γὰρ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ βασιλεία αἰῶνος, ἥτις οὐ παρασαλεύσεται. Ἡ δὲ ἐμὴ βασιλεία ἐν ὑμῖν ἐπιτελεῖται, ὡς ὀποροφυλάκιον, ὅτι μετὰ τὸ θέρος οὐ φανήσεται.

[20] Οἶδα ὅτι μετὰ τὴν τελευτήν μου οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι θλίψωσιν ὑμᾶς: ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν ὑμῶν, καὶ εἰσάξει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν. Ἀλλὰ συνανοίσετε τὰ ὀστᾶ μου μεθ' ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἀναγομένων τῶν ὀστέων μου, Κύριος ἐν φωτὶ ἔσται μεθ' ὑμῶν, καὶ Βελίαρ ἐν σκότει ἔσται μετὰ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων. Καὶ Ζελφὰν τὴν μητέρα ὑμῶν ἀναγάγετε, καὶ ἐγγὺς Βάλλας παρὰ τὸν Ἱππόδρομον, πλησίον Ῥαχήλ, θέτε αὐτήν. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπών, ἐκτείνας τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, ἐκοιμήθη ὕπνον αἰώνιον. Καὶ ἐπένθησεν αὐτὸν πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ Αἴγυπτος πένθος μέγα. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις ὡς ἰδίοις μέλεσι συνέπασχε, καὶ εὐεργέτει, παντὶ ἔργῳ καὶ βουλῇ καὶ πράγματι παριστάμενος.