A — The Rules

Part 35

.. securely in a dwelling in sil]ence and quietness in the tents of security and salvation.

I will praise Thy Name among them that fear Thee. Bowing down in prayer I will beg Thy favours from season to season always:

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when light emerges from its dwelling-place, and when the day reaches its appointed end in accordance with the laws of the Great Light of heaven; when evening falls and light departs at the beginning of the dominion of darkness, at the hour appointed for night, and at its end when morning returns and retire to their dwelling-place before the approach of light; always; at the genesis of every period and at the beginning of every age and at the end of every season, according to the statute and signs appointed to every dominion by the certain law from the mouth of God, by the precept which is and shall be for ever and ever without end. Without it nothing is nor shall be, for the God of knowledge established it

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and there is no other beside Him.

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I, the Master, know Thee O my God, by the spirit which Thou hast given to me, and by Thy Holy Spirit I have faithfully hearkened to Thy marvellous counsel. In the mystery of Thy wisdom Thou hast opened knowledge to me, and in Thy mercies Thou hast unlocked for me the fountain of Thy might. Before Thee no man is just.. that he may understand all Thy mysteries or give answer to Thy rebuke. But the children of Thy grace shall delight in Thy correction and watch for Thy goodness, for in Thy mercies Thou wilt show Thyself to them and they shall know Thee; at the time of Thy glory they shall rejoice. Thou hast caused them to draw near in accordance with their knowledge, and hast admitted them in accordance with their understanding, and in their divisions they shall serve Thee throughout their dominion without ever turning aside from Thee or transgressing Thy word.

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Behold, I was taken from dust and fashioned out of clay as a source of uncleanness, and a shameful nakedness, a heap of dust, and a kneading with water, and a house of darkness,

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a creature of clay returning to dust, returning at the appointed time to dwell in the dust whence it was taken.

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How then shall dust reply to its Maker, and how understand His works? How shall it stand before Him who reproves it? and the Spring of Eternity, the Well of Glory and the Fountain of Knowledge. Not even the wonderful Heroes can declare all Thy glory or stand in face of Thy wrath, and there is none among them that can answer Thy rebuke; for Thou art just and none can oppose Thee. How then can who returns to his dust?

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I hold my peace; what more shall I say than this? I have spoken in accordance with my knowledge, out of the righteousness given to a creature of clay. And how shall I speak unless Thou open my mouth; how understand unless Thou teach me? How shall I seek Thee unless Thou uncover my heart, and how follow the way that is straight unless Thou guide me? How shall my foot stay on the path unless Thou give it strength; and how shall I rise..

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XXI Hymn How shall I look, unless Thou open my eyes?

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Or hear, unless Thou unstop my ears?

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My heart is astounded, for to the uncircumcised ear a word has been disclosed, and a heart of stone has understood the right precepts.

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I know it is for Thyself that Thou hast done these things, O God; for what is flesh that Thou shouldst act marvellously towards it? It is Thy purpose to do mightily and to establish all things for Thy glory. Thou hast created the host of knowledge to declare mighty deeds to flesh, and the right precepts to him that is born of woman. Thou hast caused the perverse heart to enter into a Covenant with Thee, and hast uncovered the heart of dust that it may be preserved from evil and saved from the snares of Judgement in accordance with Thy mercies.

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And I, a creature of clay kneaded with water, a heap of dust and a heart of stone, for what am I reckoned to be worthy of this? For into an ear of dust Thou hast put a new word and hast engraved on a heart of stone things everlasting. Thou hast caused the straying spirit to return that it may enter into a Covenant with Thee, and stand before Thee for ever

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in the everlasting abode, illumined with perfect Light for ever, with no more darkness, for unending seasons of joy and unnumbered ages of peace. And as for me, a creature of dust,. Fr. Pile of dust, how shall I stand in front of the tempest?.. and He will guard me according to the mysteries of His good pleasure. For He knows.. And they will hide snares of wickedness, net after net.. every creature of deceit will come to an end.. wickedness will turn to nothing and the inclination towards iniquity will vanish and deeds of deceit will perish. As for me, creature of clay... how will it gain strength for Thee? Thou art the God of knowledge Thou hast made them according to Thy design and without Thee nothing exists. As for me, creature of dust, I know through the spirit which Thou hast put into me that.. injustice and deceit will be awe-struck and insolence will cease. works of uncleanness will sickness and judgements plague and destruction... holiness that are in heaven.. and He is wonder. But they cannot understand Thy marvels and they will not be able to know all Thy mysteries.

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How then can he who returns to his dust? As for me, I am a man of sin who has wallowed in the ways of uncleanness and been defiled by the guilt of wickedness. As for me, in the times of wrath I have fallen. How can I rise in view of my wound and keep myself.. For there is hope for man.. As for me, creature of clay, I have leaned on Thy loving-kindness and on the multitude of Thy mysteries, O my God. And I know that truthful is Thy mouth, and that Thy words are not revoked. As for me, I will rely in my time on Thy Covenant and will raise myself to the post which Thou hast established for me.. Fr.. As for me, I was frightened by Thy judgements Who is found clean in Thy judgement? And what is man before Thee? Thou bringest him to judgement and he returns to his dust.. my God. Thou hast opened my heart for Thy understanding and hast unstopped my ears.. to lean on Thy goodness. My heart murmurs.. and my heart melts like wax because of iniquity and sin.. Blessed art Thou, God of knowledge, who hast established.. And Thou hast met Thy servant with this for Thy sake. For I know Thy loving-kindness and in Thy mercies I hope in all my existence,

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and I bless Thy name always. Do not forsake me in the times of distress they are confirmed in the ears of Thy servant for ever.. to announce Thy marvellous tidings Withdraw not Thy hand.. that he may be confirmed in Thy Covenant and stand before Thee for ever.

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For Thou, O my God, didst open a fountain in the mouth of Thy Servant. Thou didst engrave by the measuring-cord Thy mysteries upon his tongue, that out of his understanding he might preach to a creature, and interpret these things to dust like myself.

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Thou didst open his fountain that he might rebuke the creature of clay for his way, and him who is born of woman for the guilt of his deeds; that he might open the fount of Thy truth to a creature whom Thou upholdest by Thy might; that he might be, according to Thy truth, a messenger in the season of Thy goodness; that to the humble he might bring glad tidings of Thy great mercy, proclaiming salvation from out of the fountain of holiness to the contrite of spirit, and everlasting joy to those who mourn. Fr.. to praise Thee

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and to recount all Thy glory. As for me, what am I? For I was taken from dust. But Thou, O my God, Thou hast done all these for Thy glory. According to the greatness of Thy loving-kindness put the guard of Thy righteousness in the hand of Thy servant for ever until deliverance. May the interpreters of knowledge be with all my steps and those who decide truth in all my ways. For what is dust among al1.. Ashes are in their hand: nothing at all. and Thou hast shed Thy Holy Spirit over dust to bring him into the company of the 'gods' and unite them with the Sons of Heaven. Thou hast shed Thy Holy Spirit to atone for guilt for they are established in Thy truth. And Thou, my God, Thou hast acted wondrously for Thy glory 4Q427 i-ii I.. For I am made to stand with the 'gods', and I will not.. glory or majesty for me with fine gold; gold and purified gold, I will not.. in me;. will not be reckoned for me. Chant, O beloved, sing to the King of glory. Rejoice, in the congregation of God. Exult in the tents of salvation. Give thanks in the dwelling of holiness, extol together with the eternal host. Magnify our God and glorify our King.

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Sanctify His name with powerful lips and a victorious tongue. Lift up alone your voice in all ages, Let a joyous meditation be heard. Burst out in eternal rejoicings and prostrate incessantly in the common assembly. Bless the wonderful Maker of exalted things, Him who proclaims the power of His hand, sealing mysteries and revealing secrets, lifting up those who stumble and fall, restoring the progress of those who hope for knowledge and humbling the meetings of the everlastingly haughty; sealing the mysteries of splendour and establishing the wonlders of glory. O Judge, whose anger is destructive,. in righteous loving-kindness and great mercy, be gracious to... mercy to those who bear fruits of His great goodness, and the source of... wickedness ends.. [oppression ceases, the tyrant ceases.. treachery stops and there are no senseless perversities. Light shines and joy bursts forth; mourning vanishes and sorrow flees. Peace is revealed, dread ceases. A spring has opened up for an eternal blessing and for healing in all the everlasting ages. Iniquity has stopped, plague has ceased with no more illness.. has been gathered in and.. will be no more. Announce and say: Great is God, Maker of marvels. For He humbles the proud spirit with no remnant and from the dust He lifts up the poor to eternal heights. And He lifts him up to the clouds to share a common assembly with the 'gods'. And.. anger for everlasting destruction.

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He raises freely the totterers on earth, and His might is with their steps, and everlasting joy is in their dwellings, eternal glory without end for ever.

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Let them say: Blessed be God, Author of majestic wonders, who reveals might splendidly, and justifies with knowledge all His creatures, so that goodness is on their faces. They know the multitude of His loving kindness and the abundance of His mercies to all the children of His truth. We know Thee, O God of righteousness, and we comprehend Thy.. O King of glory. For we have seen Thy zeal through Thy mighty power and have observed Thy deeds in the abundance of Thy mercies and wondrous forgiveness.

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What is flesh compared to these? What do dust and ashes amount to that they recite these things from age to age, and hold themselves upright before Thee and enter into communion with the Sons of Heaven. No interpreter can answer according to Thy mouth and.. to Thee. For Thou hast established us according to Thy pleasure in the territory of iniquity... we have spoken to Thee and not to a mediator.. And Thou hast lent an ear to the issue of our lips.

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Announce and say: Blessed be God, Creator of the heavens by His power, Designer of all their devices by His strength, of the earth by His might..