Chapter 4

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And concerning every man that is admitted into the covenant for all Israel — even an everlasting precept — he shall lay upon his sons, that they enter the covenant, the oath of binding which Moses made with Israel. The covenant which He made there is to return unto the law of Moses with the whole heart and the whole soul; for what hath been found to be done is in the book of every age.

And on the day on which the man taketh upon himself, by the oath of binding, to return unto the law of Moses, the angel of hostility shall depart from him, if he doeth all his words. Therefore did Abraham circumcise himself on the day of his knowledge.

And concerning that which He said: Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people. As for every man that joineth himself unto the covenant — if he do not bring an action against his neighbour upon a matter, but afterward bringeth it before the Many in his anger — he is the avenger and the bearer of a grudge. And it is written: He is the avenger of His enemies; and He keepeth wrath against His foes.

If he have held his peace from one day to the other, and afterward, when his anger be hot, hath spoken against him concerning a matter punishable by death — he hath testified against him because he hath not fulfilled the commandment of God which said unto him: Thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him.

Concerning the oath, even concerning that which He said: Let not thy hand make decision for thee — every man that maketh another swear out of doors and not before the judges and at their command, hath made decision for himself with his hand. Concerning him that is lost — every loss whereof it is not known who hath stolen it from the goods of the camp wherein it hath been stolen — let its owners utter a curse with an oath of binding. He that heareth, if he know but tell not, shall be guilty.

And to all that walk in these things, in perfection of holiness, according to all the precepts — the covenant of God shall stand fast for them, that they may live a thousand generations. As it is written: Who keepeth the covenant and the loyalty unto them which love Him, and unto them which keep His commandments, even to a thousand generations.

And if they dwell in camps according to the rule of the land, and take wives and beget children — they shall walk according to the law, and according to the precepts of the discipline. And they shall hearken unto the voice of the Teacher, and shall confess before God: We have sinned; we have done wickedly — both we and our fathers — by walking contrary unto the precepts of the covenant; just and true are Thy judgments against us.

And they shall not raise their hand against His holy precepts and against His righteous judgments and against His true testimonies. They shall be instructed in the former judgments by which the men of the Community were judged. And they shall give ear unto the voice of the Teacher of Righteousness; and they shall not turn aside from the precepts of righteousness, when they hear them.

They shall rejoice and be glad; and their heart shall be strong, and they shall prevail over all the children of the world. And God shall make atonement for them; and they shall behold His salvation, for they have taken refuge in His holy name.

Glory be unto the God of the everlasting covenant. Glory be unto the Teacher of Righteousness. Glory be unto the men of the new covenant in the land of Damascus, even unto the latter generation. Forever and ever. Amen.