My LORD’s BibleTestament of Asher 1
Pseudonymously presented as Asher's deathbed testament, one of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs; actual author unknown and date debated (proposals span the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD). Structured around a 'two ways' teaching contrasting virtue and vice, good and evil impulses.
3Two ways hath God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes of action, and two issues.
Δύο ὁδοὺς ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ δύο διαβούλια, καὶ δύο πράξεις, καὶ δύο τρόπους, καὶ δύο τέλεα. (11331)
4Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.
Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα δύο δύο εἰσίν, ἐν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός. (4697)
5For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.
Ὁδοὶ γάρ εἰσιν δύο, καλοῦ καὶ κακοῦ· ἐν οἷς εἰσι τὰ δύο διαβούλια ἐν στέρνοις ἡμῶν διακρίνοντα αὐτά. (7139)
See also: Deuteronomy 30:15
6Therefore if the soul take pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if it sin it straightway repenteth.
Ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ψυχὴ θέλει καλῶς πορευθῆναι, πάσας τὰς πράξεις αὐτῆς ποιεῖ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, κἂν ἁμάρτῃ εὐθὺς μετανοεῖ. (9502)
7For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin.
Δικαία γὰρ λογιζομένη καὶ ἀπορρίπτουσα τὴν πονηρίαν ἀνατρέπει εὐθὺς τὸ κακόν, καὶ ἐκριζοῖ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. (5824)
8But if it incline to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it driveth away the good, and cleaveth to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; even though it work what is good, he perverteth it to evil.
Ἐὰν δὲ ἐν πονηρῷ κλίνῃ τὸ διαβούλιον, πᾶσα πρᾶξις αὐτῆς ἐστιν ἐν πονηρίᾳ, καὶ ἀπωθουμένη τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ προσκολλώμενος τὸ κακόν, καὶ κυριευθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Βελίαρ· κἂν ἀγαθὸν πράξει, ἐν πονηρίᾳ αὐτὸ μεταστρέφει. (14999)
9For whenever it beginneth to do good, he forceth the issue of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.
Ὅτε γὰρ ἄρξεται τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖν, τὸ τέλος τῆς πράξεως εἰς πονηρὸν αὐτῷ ἐλαύνει, ἐπειδὴ ὁ θησαυρὸς τοῦ διαβουλίου πονηροῦ πνεύματος πεπλήρωται. (13334)
10A person then may with words help the good for the sake of the evil, yet the issue of the action leadeth to mischief.
Ἔστιν οὖν ἡ ψυχὴ ἐν λόγοις ἀφιστῶσα τὸ καλὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ κακοῦ, καὶ τὸ τέλος τοῦ πράγματος εἰς κακίαν ἄγων. (11400)
11There is a man who showeth no compassion upon him who serveth his turn in evil; and this thing bath two aspects, but the whole is evil.
Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ὃς οὐκ οἰκτείρει λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ· καίγε τοῦτο διπρόσωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ὅλον πονηρόν ἐστιν. (10212)
12And there is a man that loveth him that worketh evil, because he would prefer even to die in evil for his sake; and concerning this it is clear that it bath two aspects, but the whole is an evil work.
Καὶ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ἀγαπῶν τὸν πονηρευόμενον· ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν πονηρίᾳ, ὅτι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν αἱρεῖται ἐν κακῷ δι᾽ αὐτόν· καὶ περὶ τούτου φανερὸν ὅτι διπρόσωπόν ἐστι· τὸ δὲ πᾶν κακὴ πρᾶξις. (15935)
13Though indeed he have love, yet is he wicked who concealeth what is evil for the sake of the good name, but the end of the action tendeth unto evil.
Καίγε ἀγάπη οὖσα, ἐν πονηρίᾳ ἐστὶν ὁ συγκρύπτων τὸ κακὸν ὑπὲρ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ καλόν· τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς πράξεως ἔρχεται εἰς κακόν. (10558)
14Another stealeth, doeth unjustly, plundereth, defraudeth, and withal pitieth the poor: this too bath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
Ἄλλος κλέπτει, ἀδικεῖ, ἁρπάζει, πλεονεκτεῖ, καὶ ἐλεεῖ πτωχούς· διπρόσωπον μὲν καὶ τοῦτο, τὸ δὲ ὅλον πονηρόν ἐστιν. (8468)
15He who defraudeth his neighbour provoketh God, and sweareth falsely against the Most High, and yet pitieth the poor: the Lord who commanded the law he setteth at nought and provoketh, and yet he refresheth the poor.
Ὁ πλεονεκτῶν τὸν πλησίον παροργίζει τὸν Θεόν, καὶ τὸν ὕψιστον ἐπιορκεῖ καὶ τὸν πτωχὸν ἐλεεῖ· τὸν ἐντολέα τοῦ νόμου Κύριον ἀθετεῖ καὶ παροξύνει, καὶ τὸν πένητα ἀναπαύει. (13686)
16He defileth the soul, and maketh gay the body; he killeth many, and pitieth a few: this, too, bath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
Τὴν ψυχὴν σπιλοῖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμα λαμπρύνει, πολλοὺς ἀναιρεῖ καὶ ὀλίγους ἐλεεῖ, καὶ τοῦτο διπρόσωπόν ἐστι, τὸ δὲ ὅλον πονηρόν ἐστιν. (11342)
17Another committeth adultery and fornication, and abstaineth from meats, and when he fasteth he doeth evil, and by the power of his wealth overwhelmeth many; and notwithstanding his excessive wickedness he doeth the commandments: this, too, hath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
Ἄλλος μοιχεύει καὶ πορνεύει καὶ ἀπέχεται ἐδεσμάτων· καὶ νηστεύων κακοποιεῖ, καὶ τῇ δυναστείᾳ τοῦ πλούτου πολλοὺς κατασύρει, καὶ ἐκ τῆς ὑπερόγκου κακίας ποιεῖ τὰς ἐντολάς· καὶ τοῦτο διπρόσωπόν ἐστιν, τὸ δὲ ὅλον κακόν ἐστιν. (19958)
18Such men are hares; clean,--like those that divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.
Οἱ τοιοῦτοί εἰσι δασύποδες, ὅτι ἐξ ἡμισείας εἰσὶ καθαροί, τὸ δ᾽ ἀληθὲς ἀκάθαρτοί εἰσι. (5218)
See also: Leviticus 11:6
19For God in the tables of the commandments hath thus declared.
Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ταῖς πλαξὶ τῶν ἐντολῶν οὕτως εἶπεν. (5611)
20But do not ye, my children, wear two faces like unto them, of goodness and of wickedness; but cleave unto goodness only, for God hath his habitation therein, and men desire it.
Ὑμεῖς δέ, τέκνα μου, μὴ γίνεσθε κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς διπρόσωποι, ἀγαθότητος καὶ κακίας, ἀλλὰ τῇ ἀγαθότητι μόνῃ κολλήθητε, ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἀναπέπαυται ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν, καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι αὐτὴν ποθοῦσιν. (14147)
21But from wickedness flee away, destroying the evil inclination by your good works; for they that are double-faced serve not God, but their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like unto themselves.
Τὴν δὲ κακίαν ἀποδράσατε, ἀναιροῦντες τὸ διαβούλιον ἐν ταῖς ἀγαθαῖς ὑμῶν πράξεσι, ὅτι οἱ διπρόσωποι οὐκ εἰσὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις αὐτῶν δουλεύουσιν, ἵνα τῷ Βελίαρ ἀρέσωσιν, καὶ τοῖς ὁμοίοις αὐτῶν ἀνθρώποις. (20980)
22For good men, even they that are of single face, though they be thought by them that are double-faced to sin, are just before God.
Οἱ γὰρ ἀγαθοὶ ἄνθρωποι καὶ μονοπρόσωποι, κἂν νομισθῶσι παρὰ τῶν διπροσώπων ἁμαρτάνειν, δίκαιοί εἰσι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ. (11059)
23For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; but the whole is good, because he hath uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.
Πολλοὶ δὲ ἀναιροῦντες τοὺς πονηρούς, δύο ποιοῦσιν ἔργα καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ, τὸ δὲ ὅλον καλόν, ὅτι τὸ κακὸν ἐκριζώσας ἀπώλεσεν. (10470)
24One man hateth the merciful and unjust man, and the man who committeth adultery and fasteth: this, too, hath a twofold aspect, but the whole work is good, because he followeth the Lord's example, in that he accepteth not the seeming good as the genuine good.
Ἔστι τις μισῶν τὸν ἐλεήμονα καὶ ἄδικον, καὶ τὸν μοιχὸν καὶ νηστεύοντα, καὶ αὐτό ἐστι διπρόσωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν, ὅτι μιμεῖται Κύριον, μὴ προσδοκώμενος τὸ δοκοῦν καλὸν μετὰ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ καλοῦ. (15925)
25Another desireth not to see good day with them that not, lest be defile his body and pollute his soul; this, too, is double-faced, but the whole is good.
Ἄλλος οὐ θέλει ἰδεῖν ἡμέρας ἀγαθὰς μετὰ ἀσώτων, ἵνα μὴ αἰσχρανεῖ τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν μολυνεῖ· καίγε τοῦτο διπρόσωπον, ὅλον δὲ καλόν ἐστιν. (12862)
26For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean, but they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what God also hateth and forbiddeth by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.
Οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι δορκάσι καὶ ἐλάφοις εἰσιν ὅμοιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἤθει ἀγρίων δοκοῦσιν ἀκάθαρτοι εἶναι, τὸ δὲ πᾶν καθαροί εἰσιν, ὅτι ἐν ζήλῳ Κυρίου πορεύονται, ἀπεχόμενοι ὧν καὶ ὁ Θεὸς διὰ τῶν ἐντολῶν μισῶν ἀπαγορεύει, ἀπείργων τὸ κακὸν τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ. (19661)
27Ye see, my children, how that there are two in all things, one against the other, and the one is hidden by the other: in wealth is hidden covetousness, in conviviality drunkenness, in laughter grief, in wedlock profligacy.
Ὁρᾶτε, τέκνα, πῶς δύο εἰσὶν ἐν πᾶσιν, ἐν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός, καὶ ἐν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἑνὸς κέκρυπται· ἐν τῇ κτήσει ἡ πλεονεξία, ἐν τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ ἡ μέθη, ἐν τῷ γέλωτι τὸ πένθος, ἐν τῷ γάμῳ ἡ ἀσωτία. (17428)
28Death succeedeth to life, dishonour to glory, night to day, and darkness to light; and all things are under the day, just things under life, unjust things under death; wherefore also eternal life awaiteth death.
Τὴν ζωὴν ὁ θάνατος διαδέχεται, τὴν δόξαν ἡ ἀτιμία, τὴν ἡμέραν ἡ νύξ, τὸ φῶς τὸ σκότος· τὰ δὲ πάντα ὑπὸ ἡμέραν εἰσίν, ὑπὸ ζωὴν τὰ δίκαια, ὑπὸ θάνατον τὰ ἄδικα· διὸ καὶ τὸν θάνατον ἡ αἰώνιος ζωὴ ἀναμένει. (16000)
30All these things, therefore, I proved in my life, and I wandered not from the truth of the Lord, and I searched out the commandments of the Most High, walking according to all my strength with singleness of face unto that which is good.
Ταῦτα οὖν πάντα ἐγὼ ἐδοκίμασα ἐν τῇ ζωῇ μου, καὶ οὐκ ἐπλανήθην ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας Κυρίου, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ ὑψίστου ἐξεζήτησα κατὰ πᾶσαν ἰσχύν μου πορευόμενος. (15632)
31Take heed, therefore, ye also, my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.
Προσέχετε οὖν καὶ ὑμεῖς, τέκνα μου, τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου μονοπροσώπως ἀκολουθοῦντες τῇ ἀληθείᾳ. (10171)
32For they that are double-faced are guilty of a twofold sin; for they both do the evil thing and they have pleasure in them that do it, following the example of the spirits of deceit, and striving against mankind.
Ὅτι οἱ διπρόσωποι δισσῶς κολάζονται, ὅτι καὶ πράσσουσι τὸ κακόν, καὶ συνευδοκοῦσι τοῖς πράσσουσιν, μιμούμενοι τὰ πνεύματα τῆς πλάνης καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων συναγωνιζόμενοι. (17760)
33Do ye, therefore, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and give not heed unto evil as unto good; but look unto the thing that is really good, and keep it in all commandments of the Lord, having your conversation therein, and resting therein.
Ὑμεῖς οὖν, τέκνα μου, τὸν νόμον Κυρίου φυλάξατε· καὶ μὴ προσέχετε τῷ κακῷ ὡς καλῷ, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ ὄντως καλὸν ἀποβλέπετε, καὶ διατηρεῖτε αὐτὸ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς Κυρίου, εἰς αὐτὸ ἀναστρεφόμενοι, καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ καταπαύοντες. (22889)
34For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.
Ὅτι τὰ τέλη τῶν ἀνθρώπων δεικνύουσι τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτῶν, καὶ γνωρίζονται τοῖς ἀγγέλοις Κυρίου, καὶ τοῦ Βελίαρ. (12248)
35for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also it served in lusts and evil works.
Ὅτε γὰρ πονηρὰ ἡ ψυχὴ ἀπέρχεται, βασανίζεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ πνεύματος, ὃ καὶ ἐδούλευεν ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις καὶ ἔργοις πονηροῖς. (10334)
See also: Luke 16:22
36But if he is peaceful with joy he meeteth the angel of peace, and he leadeth him into eternal life.
Ἐὰν δὲ ἐστιν ἥσυχος ἐν χαρᾷ γνωρίζει τὸν ἄγγελον τῆς εἰρήνης, καὶ εἰσφέρει αὐτὸν εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. (9079)
37Become not, my children, as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.
Μὴ γίνεσθε ὡς Σόδομα, ἥτις ἠγνόησε τοὺς ἀγγέλους Κυρίου, καὶ ἀπώλετο ἕως αἰῶνος. (8712)
See also: Genesis 19:5
38For I know that ye shall sin, and be delivered into the hands of your enemies; and your land shall be made desolate, and your holy places destroyed, and ye shall be scattered unto the four corners of the earth.
Ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα ὅτι ἁμαρτήσετε καὶ παραδοθήσεσθε εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἡ γῆ ὑμῶν ἐρημωθήσεται, καὶ τὰ ἅγια ὑμῶν καταφθαρήσονται, καὶ ὑμεῖς διασκορπισθήσεσθε εἰς τὰς τέσσαρας γωνίας τῆς γῆς, (18402)
39And ye shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.
καὶ ἔσεσθε εἰς διασπορὰν ἐξουδενωμένοι ὡς ὕδωρ ἄχρηστον. (6388)
40Until the Most High shall visit the earth, coming Himself as man, with men eating and drinking, and breaking the head of the dragon in the water.
Ἕως οὗ ὁ ὕψιστος ἐπισκέψηται τὴν γῆν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐλθὼν ὡς ἄνθρωπος μετὰ ἀνθρώπων ἐσθίων καὶ πίνων, καὶ συντρίβων τὴν κάραν τοῦ δράκοντος ἐπὶ τοῦ ὕδατος, (19618)
See also: Psalms 74:13
41He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the person of man.
οὗτος σώσει τὸν Ἰσραὴλ καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη θεὸς εἰς ἄνδρα ὑποκρινόμενος. (5680)
See also: 1 Timothy 3:16
42Therefore do ye also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they disobey Him not.
Εἴπατε οὖν, τέκνα μου καὶ ὑμεῖς, ταῦτα τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, μὴ ἀπειθήσωσιν αὐτῷ. (8942)
43For I have known that ye shall assuredly be disobedient, and assuredly act ungodly, not giving heed to the law of God, but to the commandments of men, being corrupted through wickedness.
Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων ὅτι ἀπειθοῦντες ἀπειθήσετε, καὶ ἀσεβοῦντες ἀσεβήσετε, μὴ προσέχοντες τῷ νόμῳ θεοῦ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐντολαῖς ἀνθρώπων κακίᾳ διαφθειρόμενοι. (13768)
46And when he had said these things unto them, he commanded them, saying: Bury me in Hebron.
Καὶ εἰπὼν αὐτοῖς ταῦτα ἐνετείλατο λέγων· Θάψατέ με ἐν Χεβρών. (7296)
47And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.
Καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὕπνῳ καλῷ κοιμηθείς. (2785)
48And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.
Καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ὅσα ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν ἐν Χεβρὼν καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ. (12495)