My LORD’s BibleTestament of Asher 1
1THE copy of the Testament To Asher, what things he spake to his sons in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.
Διαθήκη ᾿Ασὴρ τοῦ δεκάτου υἱοῦ ἸΙακὼβ καὶ Ζέλφας.
2For while he was still in health, he said to them: Hearken, ye children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.
᾿Αντίγραφον διαθήκης ᾿Ασήρϑ, ἃ ἐλάλησε τοῖς υἱοῖς διαθήκης Τάδ οὗτος ἦν Ζέλφας πρῶτος ἔζησεν ἔτη δύο προσώπων κακίας καὶ ἀρετῆς ᾿Ασσὴρ ἑρμηνεύεται πλοῦτος ἢ μακάριος ἃ ᾽Α. υἱοῦ ᾿Ιακὼβ υἱοῦ Ζέλφας παιδίσκης Δίας περὶ δύο προσώπων κακίας αὐτοῦ ἑκατοστῷ εἰκοστῷ πέμπτῳ ἔτει τῆς αὐτοῦθὅ.
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.
4Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.
ἘὙγιαίνων Ἐεῖπε πρὸς αὐτούς ᾿Ακούσατε, τέκνα ᾿Ασήρ, τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, καὶ πᾶν τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον Θεοῦ ὑποδείξω ὑμῖν,
5For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.
Δύο ὁδοὺς ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ δύο διαβούλια, δύο πράξεις, καὶ δύο τρόπους καἱ δύο τέλεα
6Therefore if the soul take pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if it sin it straightway repenteth.
7For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin.
Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα δύο εἰσίν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός. ἐν καλῷ, Ὁδοὶ ἘΓγάρ᾽ δύο, καλοῦ καὶ κακοῦ ἐν οἷς εἰσι πᾶσα τὰ διαβούλια ἐν στέρνοις ἡμῶν Ἐδιακρίνοντα αὐτά πρᾶξις Ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ψυχὴ θέλει ἘΤκαλῶς πορευθῆναι ἵ, πάσας ἐστιν, τὰς πράξεις αὐτῆς ποιεῖ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, Ἐκὰν ἁμάρτῃ εὐθὺς μετανοε.
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.
Δίκαια λογιζομένη καὶ ἀπορρίπτουσα τὴν πονηρίαν ἀνατρέπει εὐθὺς τὸ κακόν καὶ ἐκριζοῖ τὴν πρόσλεμ ἁμαρτίαν.
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.
᾿Ἐὰν δὲ Ἐὲν Ἰπονηρῷ κλίνῃ Ἰτὸ διαβούλιον Ἔπᾶσα πρᾶξιε αὐτῆς ἐστιν ἐν πονηρίᾳ, καὶ ὡς ἀπωθουμένη τὸ ἀγαθόν, προσκολλώμενος τὸ κακόν, καὶ κυριευθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Βελίαρ κἂν ἀγαθὸν πράξει Ἱ, αὐτοῦ εἰς πονηρίᾳ αὐτὸ μεταστρέφειδ. ἘΌτε ξιται δὲ Ἐτὸ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖν τὸ τέλος τῆς πράξεως Ἐεὶς πονηρὸν αὐτῷ δλαύνει δέ. ἐπειδὴ θησαυρὸς δ᾽ τοῦ. διαβουλίου δἾ πονηροῦ ἰοῦ πνεύματος πεπλήρωται πονηροῦ. μενος. ἀποθέμενος. ἀπωθούμενος. προσκολλόμενοε. ἃ αὐτοῦ. μεταστραφήσεται. αἱ καταστρέφει. δ᾽ αἱ, γοῖσα καλὸν ὑπὲρ Ἐτοῦ κακοῦ, καὶ Ἐτὸ τέλος πράγματος εἷς φησί. κακίαν
10A person then may with words help the good for the sake of the evil, yet the issue of the action leadeth to mischief.
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 Ἐλειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ. καίγε τοῦτο διπρόσωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ὅλον πονηρόν ἐστιν. λειτουροι
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.
Ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ἀγαπῶν
14Another stealeth, doeth unjustly, plundereth, defraudeth, and withal pitieth the poor: this too bath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
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.
Καί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ἀγακακῷ. ππονηρευόμενον Ἐδ ἔστι πονηπῶν τὸν πονηρευόμενον. ρία ὅτι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν αἱρεῖται ἐν κακῷ καὶ περὶ τούτου φανερόν ἐστιϊτὸδλον Ὁ διπρόσωπόν ἐστι τὸ δὲ πᾶν κακὴ πρᾶξις. αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν πονηρίᾳ ὅτι ἀποθανεῖν αἱρεῖται ἐν κακῷ αὐτόν δ᾽ καὶ περὶ τούτου φανερὸν ὅτι διπρόσωἐστι τὸ δὲ πᾶν κακὴ πρᾶξις. οὖσα, ἐν πονηρίᾳ οὖσα, πονηρίᾳ εἰσίν, ἐν πονηρίᾳ ἐστὶν ὁ συγκρύἐστὶν συγκρύπτουσυγκρύπτοντες πτωνϑ τὸ κακὸν ὑπὲρ κακόν, ὅπερ τὸ κακὸν ὃ ὀνόματι τὸ ὄνομα τὸ καλὸν ἵ τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς πράξεως ἔρχεται εἷς κακόν. ἐστὶν τῷδε ὁὀνόματι ὡς καλόν τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς πράξεως ἔρχεται εἰς κακόν. ὡς καλὸν φαίνεται τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς πράξεως εἰς κακόν. κλέπτει, ἁρπάζει, πλεονεκτεῖ καὶ ἐλεεῖ πτωχούς διπρόσωπον μὲν ἴ καὶ τοῦτο, Ἐτὸ δὲ ὅλον τοὺς πονηρόν ἐστιν.
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.
πλεονεκτῶν ὅ τὸν πλησίον παροργίζει τὸν Θεόν, καὶ τὸν ὕψιστον ἐπιορκεῖ καὶ τὸν πτωχὸν ἐλεεῖδδ. τὸν ἐντολέαϑ Ἐτοῦ νόμου Κύριον καὶ παροξύνει, καὶ τὸν πένητα ἀναπαύει. Τὴν ψυχὴν σπιλοῖ, καὶ τὸ σῶμα λαμπρύνει πολλοὺς ἀναιρεῖ καὶ ὀλίγους ἐλεεῖ, καὶ τοῦτο ὃ διπρόσωπόν ἐστι, δὲ ὅλον πονηρόν ἐστιν Ἶ,
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.
Αλλος μοιχεύει Ἐ καὶ πορνεύει καὶ ἀπέχεται ἐδεσμάτων καὶ δ᾽ νηστεύων κακοποιεῖ, καὶ τῇ δυναστείᾳ Ἐτοῦ πλούτου πολλοὺς κατασύρειδϑ, καὶ ἐκδλ τῆς ὑπερόγκουδδ κακίας ποιεῖδο ἱτὰς ἐντολάς ὅδ καὶ πλοὐ τού. τοδβ ὅλον γϑδὰβ πονηρῶν. β-δά. ὕες εἰσί. οὐρανῶν. ἀναπαύεται εἷς. τὸν διάβολον. οὐ Θεῷ. γάρ. καλὸν διὰ κακοῦ. τοῦτο διπρόσωπόν Ἐτὸ δὲ ὅλον κακόν ἔστιν.
18Such men are hares; clean,--like those that divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.
19For God in the tables of the commandments hath thus declared.
Οἱ τοιοῦτοί εἶσιδ δασύποδες, ὅτι ἐξ ἡμισείας εἰσὶ καθαροί, τὸ δ᾽ ἀληθὲς ἀκάθαρτοί εἶσι.
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.
ἘΚαὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ταῖς πλαξὶ τῶν ἐντολῶν οὕτως εἶπεν.
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.
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.
Ὑμεῖς; δέξ, Ἐτέκνα μου, μὴ γίνεσθε κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς διπρόσωποι, καὶ κακίας, ἀλλὰ τῇ ἀγαθότητι μόνῃ κολλήθητε, ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἀναπέπαυται ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν καὶ ἄνθρωποι Ἐ αὐτὴν ποθοῦσιν. κακίαν ἀποδράσατεϊῦ, ἀναιροῦντες διαβούλιον ἐν ταῖς ἀγαθαῖς ὑμῶν πράξεσι, ὅτι οἱ διπρόσωποι Ῥοῦκ εἰσὶ τοῦ Θεοῦϊ, ἀλλὰ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις αὐτῶν δουλεύουσιν, ἵνα τῷ Βελίαρ ἀρέσωσιν, καὶ τοῖς ὁμοίοις αὐτῶν ἀνθρώποις.
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.
Οἱ γὰρ ἀγαθοὶ ἄνθρωποιϊ μονοπρόσωποι κἂν νομισθῶσι παρὰ τῶν διπροσώπων ἁμαρτάνεινδ, δίκαιοί εἰσι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ.
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.
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.
Πολλοὶ ἀναιροῦντες τοὺς πονηρούς, δύοϑ ποιοῦσιν ἔργα τε καὶ κακοῦϊθ, Ἐτὸ δὲ ὅλον καλόν, ὅτι τὸ κακὸν ἐκριζώσας ἀπώλεσεν.
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.
ἘΞΈστι τις μισῶν. τὸν ἐλεήμονα καὶ καὶ τὸν μοιχὸν δασεῖς. ἃ ἀποδράσατε οὖν διπροσώπων. ἔργον ἀγαθόν ὅτι μιμεῖται Κύριον, μὴ τὸ δοκοῦν καλὸν ὰ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦξἜ καλοῦ τροσ-
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.
ΓΑλλος οὐ θέλει ἡμέρας ἀγαθὰς μετὰ ἀσώτων, τοῦτο διπρόσωπον ὅλον δὲ καλόν ἐστιν. κακοῦ, τοιοῦτοι δορκάσιϑ καὶ ἐλάφοις ὅμοιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἤθει δοκοῦσιν ἀκάθαρτοι. εἶναι, δὲ πᾶν ὅτι ἐν ζήλῳ Γπορεύονται,, ἀπεχόὟ ἀγρίῳ. μενοι Ἐὼν καὶ ὁ Θεὸς διὰ τῶν ἐντολῶν μισῶν ἀπαγορεύει, αδ, ἔχε. ἰδεῖν ἀγαθήν. αἱ ἰδεῖν ἡμέραν κακήν. ἡμέραν
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.
29Nor may it be said that truth is a lie, nor right wrong; for all truth is under the light, even as all things are under God.
Ὁρᾶτεϊ, πῶς δύο εἰσὶν πᾶσιν, ἐν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός, ὑπὸ τοῦ ἑνὸς κέκρυπται τῇ κτήσει ἡ πλεονεξία, ἐν τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ ἣ μέθη, ἐν τῷ γέλωτι τὸ πένθος, ἂν τῷ γάμῳ ἡ ἀσωτίᾳ
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.
Τὴν ζωὴν θάνατος διαδέχεται, τὴν δόξαν ἣ ἀτιμία, τὴν ἡμέραν ἡ νύξδ, τὸ φῶς τὸ σκότος τὰ δὲ πάντα ὑπὸ ἡμέραν εἰσίν ὑπὸ ζωὴν τὰ ὑπὸ ζωὴν δίκαια, Γύπὸ θάνατον τὰ ἄδικα διὸ καὶ τὸν θάνατον ἧ ᾿ αἰώνιος ζωὴ ἀναμένει.
31Take heed, therefore, ye also, my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.
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.
Καὶ οὐκ᾽ ὃ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν τὴν β,Α, ἀλήθειαν ψεῦδος, οὐδὲ Ἐτὸ δίκαιον ἄδικον,, ὅτι πᾶσα ἀλήθεια μενος ὑπὸ Ἐποῦ φωτός ἐστιν, καθὼς τὰ πάντα᾽ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ Ταῦτα οὖν᾽ πάντα ᾿ἐγὼ ἐδοκίμασα ἐν τῇ ωῇ μου, καὶ προσ οὐκ ἐπλανήθην ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας Κυρίου, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς εἰς τὸ τοῦ ὑψίστου ἐξεζήτησα κατὰ πᾶσαν ἰσχύν μου πορευόμενος
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.
Προσέχετε οὖν καὶ ὑμεῖς, τέκνα μουΐ, Ἐτὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίουδ μονοπσροσώπως ἀκολουθοῦντες τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.
34For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.
Ὅτι διπρόσωποι δισσῶς ἴκολάῶνται, καὶ πράσσουσι τὸ κακόν, καὶ συνευδοκοῦσι τοῖς πράσσουσιν Ἐμιμούμενοι τὰ τὰ πνεύματα τῆς πλάνης κει τῶν ἀνθρώπων εἰ δεν Ὑμές οὖν, τέκνα τὸν νόμον Κυρίου φυλάξατε πλάνης καὶ μὴ προσέχετε τῷ κακῷ ὡς καλῷ ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ μισησοτε ὄντως καλὸν ἀποβλέπετε, καὶ διατηρεῖτε αὐτὸ ἐν πάσαις τῶν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτὸ ἀναστρεφόμενοι, καὶ ἐν ἀνθρώαὐτῷ λὐτακαύατεϊ.
35for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also it served in lusts and evil works. 36 But if he is peaceful with joy he meeteth the angel of peace, and he leadeth him into eternal life.
37Become not, my children, as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.
Ὅτι τὰ τέλη τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀγωδεικνύουσι Ἷ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτῶν.δ, Ἐκαὶ Ῥγνωρίζονται Ἐτοῖς ἀγγέλοις Κυρίου, καὶ
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.
Ὅτε γὰρ ἡ ψυχὴ ἀπέρχεται, βασανίζεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ἐδούλευεν ὁ ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις Ἰ καὶ ἔργοις γνωρίπονηροῖς. ζουσι. τοὺς ἀγγέλου. τεταραγμένη. ἀνθρώπων ὃ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀγωνιζόμενα ἀγωνίζονται.
39And ye shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.
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.
Ἐὰν. δέ ἥσυχος δὲ ἡσύχως χαρᾷ χαρᾷ Τγνωρίζειδϑ Τέγνώρισε τὸν ἄγγελον τῆς ἄγγελον τῆς εἰρήνης, Ἐ καὶ εἰσεἰρήνης, παραμυθεῖται αὐτὸν ἐν φέρει αὐτὸν ζωὴν αἰώνιον ωῇ.
41He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the person of man.
Μὴ γώεσθεϊ ὡς Σόδομα, ἥτις ἠγνόησε ἀγγέλους Κυρίου, καὶ ἀπώλετο αἰῶνος.
42Therefore do ye also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they disobey Him not.
γὼ γὰρ οἷδα ὅτι ἁμαρτήσετεϊἴ καὶ παραδοθήσεσθε χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν, ἴκαὶϊδ ἡ γῇ ὑμῶν ἐρημωθήσεται., καὶ τὰ ἅγια ὕμῶν καγαφθυρηδοπαι ὑμεῖς ᾿διασευῤεισθησέστε, εἶδ, γὰς τέσσαρας γωνίας γῆς καὶ ἔσεσθε ὃ εἰς διασπορὰν ἐξουδενωμένοι ὕδωρ ὃ
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.
44And therefore shall ye be scattered as Gad and Dan my brethren, and ye shall know not your lands, tribe, and tongue.
Ἕως οὗδθ ὁ ὕψιστος γυιέ φητα τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἐλθὼν ὡς ἄνθρωπος μετὰ ἀνθρώπων καὶ πίνων καὶ τὴν τοῦ δράκοντος Ἔ ἐπὶ τοῦδ ὕδατος, σώσει τὸν Ἰσραὴλ καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη θεὸς ἀπειθεῖν. ἄνδρα ὑποκρινόμενος
45But the Lord will gather you together in faith through His tender mercy, and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Εἴπατε οὖν, ἱτέκνα μου καὶ ᾿ ὑμεῖς ταῦτα τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν μὴ ἀπειθήσωσινδ αὐτῷ. γὰρ ὅτι Γἀπειθοῦντες Ἐἀπειθήσετε, καὶ ἀσεβοῦντες ἀσεβήσετε μὴ προσέχοντες Ἐτῷ νόμῳ θεοῦ, γρ μὰ ἀλλ᾽ ἐντολαῖς ἀνθρώπων διαφθειρόμενοιδδ.
46And when he had said these things unto them, he commanded them, saying: Bury me in Hebron.
47And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.
ἘἙΚαὶ πλαξὶ ᾿ διὰ τοῦτο διασκορπισθήσεσθε ὡς καὶ Δάν, οἱ ἀδελφοί μου ἀγνοήσετε χώρας αὐτῶν καὶ φυλὴν καὶ οἱ γλῶσσαν
48And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.
᾿Αλλ’ ἐπισυνάξει ὑμᾶς ἂν πίστει διὰ Χώρας τῆς εὐσπλαγχνίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ἶ δι’ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβ. σουσιν ἠγνόησαν. ὑμᾶς Κύριο. βὨ, ἐλπίδα, αὐτῷ καὶ ἀσεβοῦντες ἀσεβήσετε ἀσεβήσητε, ἀσεβήσουσι αὐτόν αὑτῷ. φερόμενοι διαφερόμενοι. κακίᾳ εἰς κακίαν πίπτοντές ἐστε. εἰπὼν αὐτοῖς ταῦτα ἐνετείλατο λέγων Θάψατέ ἐν Χεβρών. ἀπέθανεν Τῦπνῳφ καλῷ ἃ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ὅσα ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς, καὶ Καὶ μετὰ ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν ἐν Χεβρὼν καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ταῦτα. ὐτοῦ