E — Wisdom Literature

A Sapiential Work (ii) (4Q415-18, 423, 1Q26)

1A substantial Wisdom composition, probably dating to the second century BCE, has survived in six fragmentary manuscripts, one from Cave 1 (1Q26) and five partly overlapping scrolls from Cave 4 (4Q415, 416, 417, 418a and b and 423). Apart from the last-mentioned manuscript, dated to the first half of the first century CE, all are said to be early Herodian (30—1 BCE). The work is unquestionably sectarian and displays a terminology akin to the Community Rule, the Damascus Document and the Thanksgiving Hymns. T. Elgvin has attempted to reconstruct the original work and he sums up its contents as follows: argument with a neighbour; relationship of the elect to God and man; God as provider for all his creatures; business ethics; a modest life; deposit to be returned in full; the hope of the just man; divine mysteries to be studied and the praise of God's name; attitude to parents, wife, children; the elect and the sage's escape from God's anger; God as permanent judge of wickedness; God as creator of the heavenly beings and luminaries; God as future judge; mankind's submission to God; the fate of the just and the wicked; religious life; first-born sons of God in praise of him; the use of insight; God's eternal plant: the saints; God's providence; the distribution of the portions of the elect; the farmer and the garden of Eden; Warning: God is to try man. Cf. T. Elgvin, 'The Reconstruction of Sapiential Work A', RQ16 (1995), 559- 80. For the editio princeps, see J. Strugnell and D. J. Harrington, DJD, XXXIV, 1-503 (4Q415-418c and 1Q26), and T. Elgvin, ibid., 505-33 (4Q423).

24Q416, fr. 1 (=4Q418, fr. 2) From heaven He judges the work of wickedness and all the sons of truth will be accepted ... ... [until] his end and all those who have wallowed in it shall be frightened and scream. For heaven ... The waters and abysses shall be frightened, and all the spirits of flesh shall be laid bare. And the sons of heaven ... its [jud]gement. And all injustice will yet come to an end and the age of trut[h] will be completed ... ... in all the everlasting ages. For He is the God of truth, and from the beginning of years ... to establish righteousness between good and ev[il]. ... [For] his is a fleshly [in]clination and his foundation ... 4Q416, fr. 2 ii (4Q417 2 ii, 4Q418 8, 21, 22, 4Q418a [for] He opens His mercies ... ... and to give nourishment to all the living. If he keeps his hand tight, the spirit of all flesh is gathered in. Do not take ... ... and the debtor ... let him quickly repay (his debt). As for you, settle with him, for you must keep an eye on your money purse.

3At[tend] your creditor on behalf of your friend and you have gi[ven] all your life for (?) him. Give quickly what is his and take [your] purse. Let your spirit not diminish because of your words; do not exchange your holy spirit for any wealth, for no price equals it ... For no man thrusts you away. With favour seek His face and speak according to His tongue and you will then find your pleasure ... do not ... Do not abandon your precepts and take care of yourself with your mysteries. If he assigns you some work to do, do not rest or give sleep to your eyes until you have done [his] command[ments] ... [and] do not add ... And if it is to be humbled, do not ... Lift up your eyes and see that man's zeal is great for deceitful is the heart more than every ... And also by His gentle wisdom you will hold fast to His service ... you will consult with him. And you will be his first-born son and (he will) have compassion on you like a man on his only son; ... for you are his servant and his chosen one Do not trust ... and do not keep awake because of ... and become for him like a slave ... Do not strike him who is without your strength lest you stumble and your shame increase greatly. [Do not s]ell yourself for wealth it is better for you to be a slave in spirit. And serve your master freely

4And do not sell your glory for a price. Do not give money in pledge for your inheritance lest it impoverish your body. Do not satiate yourself with bread while there is no clothing. Do not drink wine while there is no food. Do not seek luxury when you lack bread. Do not glorify yourself in your need if you are poor lest you degrade your life. Also do not treat with contempt the vessel of your bosom (wife) 4Q417, fr. 2 i (=4Q416 fr. 2 i) ... each time so that he shall not fill you and according to his spirit speak against him ... without rebuke. Forgive the worthy and ... And you shall not swallow up his spirit, for you have spoken in whisper ... And he has recited quickly his rebuke ... Do not overlook your sin ... for he is as righteous as you are. For he is a prince among pr[inces] ... he will do. For how unique is he in all activity with[out] ... Do not reckon an unjust man as a help, nor one filled with hatred ... [apart from] the wickedness of his deeds at his visitation. Know how to walk with him ... Let [instr]uction not depart from your heart and God will be for you, yourself. Widen ... in your poverty, for who is more insignificant than a poor man. Do not be jolly while in mourning

5lest you labour all your life. Look at the approaching mystery and grasp the sources (or: begetters) of salvation, and know who is to inherit glory or injustice. Will they not ... and for their mourning everlasting joy. ... Be an advocate for your business ... all your sins. Pronounce your judgement like a righteous ruler. Do not ta[ke] ... and do not overlook your sin. Be like a poor man in your dispute; His judgement ... take. Then God will see and His anger will cease, and He will forgive your sins ... [Fo]r before His anger no one can stand, And who is righteous in His judgement? And without pardon, how can the poor [stand firm before Him]? And as for you, if you are in need of food, your need and your plenty ... you will make abundant. Be led to the sustenance of His delight, and take from Him your inheritance and do not add agai[n] ... [By the word] of his mouth everything is and whatever He feeds you with, eat it. ... of your life. vacat If in your need you borrow money from people do not ... day and night and there shall be no rest for your soul [until] you have repaid [your] creditor [his money]. Do not lie to him so that you will not bear guilt for it. Furthermore, because of the reproach ... You will not trust his neighbour. In your need he will close his hand.

6Your strength ... If you receive a stroke ... Do not hide from him who strikes you So that he will not reveal your shame ... 4Q416 2 iii (4Q417 2 ii 26, 4Q418 9-10) ... and remember that you are poor ... What you lack, you will not find ... [If someone has left] a deposit with you, do not put your hand on it lest it be burnt and your body be devoured by its flame. A[s you have received] it, so return it and you will rejoice if you have no responsibility for it. Accept no goods from someone whom you do not know lest he increase your poverty. But if he has thrust it on you, let it be a deposit until death, but do not let your spirit be destroyed by it. Then you will lie with the truth and your memory will flowe[r for ev]er when you die, and your posterity will inherit joy. You are poor, do not desire anything save your inheritance, and do not be devoured by it lest you change your boundary. But if He brings you back to glory, walk in it, and in the approaching mystery search its beginnings. Then you will know His inheritance and you will walk in righteousness For God will shine His face on all your ways. Honour Him who glorifies you and praise His name always. For your head is above the summit of the mountains and He has given you a seat among the nobles

7and has made you to rule over an inheritance of glory. Seek always His pleasure.

8You are a poor man. Do not say: Since I am poor, I will not seek knowledge. Shoulder every discipline and with every ... refine your heart, and your thoughts with a multitude of understanding. Search the approaching mystery and consider all the ways of truth, and behold all the roots of injustice. Then you will know what is bitter for a man and what is sweet for a human being. Honour your father in your poverty and your mother in your steps. For his father is like God to a man and his mother like a ruler to a human being. For they are the crucible from which you were born and as He placed them over you as rulers and a frame for the spirit (?), so serve them, and as He has revealed to you the approaching mystery, honour them for your honour's sake and in ... the splendour of their face for your life's sake and for the length of your days. And if you are as poor as ... without precept. You have taken a wife in your poverty, take the offspring ... from the approaching mystery when you are joined together. Walk with the helpmate of your flesh ... 4Q416 iv (4Q418 10 5-10)

9... his father and his mother and he will cling [to his wife and they will become one flesh] He made him rule over her and she ... He did not make her father rule over her and He separated her from her mother . and towards you [will be her longing and she will be] one flesh for you. He will separate your daughter for another and your sons ... And you will become one with the wife of your bosom, for she is the flesh of your na[kedness] and whoever rules over her apart from you has changed the boundary of his life. He has made you to rule over her spirit so that she may walk according to your pleasure. Let her not increase vows and free-will offerings ... Bring back (her?) spirit to your good pleasure, and annul by the utterance of your mouth every binding oath of hers by which to vow a vow. And by your will, stop her ... of your lips ... forgive her for your sake. Let her not multiply ... 4Q417 1 i (4Q418, fr. 43-45 i) ... [And] you, O man of understanding, ... Look on ... and grasp the wonderful mysteries of the God of awe. ... Look at the approaching mysteries And the ancient deeds ... ... what was and what will be ... ... in each deed and de[ed] ...

10[day and] night he meditates on the approaching mystery and studies (it) always. Then you will know truth and injustice, wisdom [and folly ... ] ... in all their ways together with their visitation for all the eternal ages and everlasting visitation. Then you will know the difference between [go]od and evil relating to their deeds. For the God of knowledge is the foundation of truth, and through the approaching mystery He set apart its foundation, the work of [His hands] ... ... and in pure understanding were revealed ... the secrets of his thought with his perfect conduct in all his deeds. Always seek these eagerly, and understand all their results. And then you will know everlasting glory and His marvellous mysteries, and the might of His deeds. And you will understand the beginning of your reward at the memorial of the time that has come. Engraved is the decree and all the visitation is determined. For God's ordinance is engraved over all the in[iquities] of the sons of Seth. And a book of memorial is written before Him for those who keep His word. And this is the vision issuing from the meditation on the book of memorial. And He gave it as a heritage to mankind and to the people of the spirit. For his (man's) shape is modelled on the holy ones, but meditation belongs no more to the fleshly spirit, for it cannot distinguish between g[ood] and evil according to the judgement of its spirit. And you, son of understanding, look ... at the approaching mystery and know the heritage of all the living.

11And his conduct and his visitation ... ... whether large or small ... do not be touched by wickedness ... [For whoever is touched] by it will not be innocent. According to his inheritance in it He will be wick[ed] ... Son of the intelligent, Consider your mysteries And the foundation of ... 4Q418, fr. 55 ... watchfulness will be in our heart ... and confidence in all our ways. vacat ... knowledge, and they have not searched for understandi[ng, and] ... have not chosen. vacat Is [he] not the God of knowledge, ... on the truth, establishing all [their ways of un]derstanding? He has assigned to all those who inherit truth ... watchfulness ... Have not peace and quiet... ? [Have] you not known ... ? For the holy angels ... in heaven [and] ... truth. And they will pursue all the roots of understanding, And watch over ... [And ac]cording to their knowledge they will be honoured, one more than another, and in conformity with his intelligence will his honour increase. ... Are they (the angels?) inert like man?

12Are they quiet like a son of man? Are they not... eternity, Inheriting an everlasting possession? Have you not seen ... ? 4Q418, fr. 69 (4Q417 5 1-5) II... And now, O you foolish hearts, What good is to (someone) who is not... [What] is silence for someone who does not exist, and what is judgement if it has no foundation? Why do the dead groan over their ... ... you have been shaped and your return is to eternal destruction. For it shall wake up... your sin Darkness will roar against your dispute. And all those who will exist for ever, those who search truth will be aroused for your judgement [and then] all the foolish hearts will be destroyed, and the sons of injustice will be found no more, [and a]ll the supporters of wickedness will be put to shame. The foundations of the firmament scream at your judgement and all the ... will thunder. And you, elect of truth and pursuers of [righteousness and] jud[gement] ... guardians of all knowledge, how will you say: We labour for understanding and keep awake to pursue knowledge ... and be not weary in all the years of eternity. Will he not delight in truth for ever and knowledge... The s[ons of] heaven whose inheritance is eternal life,

13Will they indeed say: We have laboured in the works of truth and we exhausted ourselves in all the ages. Will they not walk in eternal light [and inherit g]lory and great splendour. And you, O son of [understanding] ... 4Q418, fr. 81 (4Q423 8 1) Your lips are the opening of a spring to bless the holy, and in the eternal spring you have praised... The [Hol]y... has separated you from every spirit (bound to) flesh. As for you, separate from all that He hates, and keep away from all the abomination of the soul. For He has made all, and caused them to inherit each his heritage. He is your portion and your heritage among the sons of man, [and] He has made you ruler [in] his [her]itage. And in this you glorify Him, in consecrating yourself to Him. When He made of you the holy of holies for the whole world And in all these He cast your lot. And He has much increased your glory and has made you the first-born for Himself among... ... and I give you My goodness. As for you, is not My goodness for you? In His faithfulness He has walked always. ... your deeds. And as for you, search His judgements from all your accusers with all ... love Him, and with eternal loving-kindness, and with mercy towards all who keep His word. And his zeal...

14And as for you, He has opened understanding to you and has made you the ruler over His treasury and appointed [you] a receptacle of truth ... ... them with you, and to revoke anger from the men of goodwill by your hand. And to visit... with you, and before you take your heritage from His hand, glorify(?) His holy ones; and bef[ore] ... ... He has opened the [spr]ing of all the holy ones, and everyone called holy by His name ... ... with all the ages, his beauty and splendour to become an ever[lasting] plant. ... will walk all those who inherit the earth. For in heav[en] ... And you, O man of understanding, if He has made you rule over handcraft and know[ledge] ... secret (?) to all mortal men. And from there you will seek your prey and ... understand much. And by all your instructors increase in learning. ... bring from your poverty to all those who seek pleasure. Then you will establish... ... you will be filled and you will be satisfied with plenty of good. By the skill of your hands... For God has assigned a heritage to all the [living] and all those wise in heart have become intelligent... Fr. 103 ii ... For all of them will seek their times and each man according to [his] pleasure...

15like a spring of living water which contains a secret. ... Do not mix with your merchandise that which... Why should it be a mixture like a mule, and you should be like one dres[sed in mixed materials], in wool and in linen, and you should labour with an ox and an ass (yoked) together. Your produce also would be like that of one who sows mixed seeds. Let the seed and the crop and the produce of the [vineyard] be holy ... 4Q423,frs. 1, 2 ... and every fruit that is grown and every tree that is pleasant and desirable providing understanding. Is this not a pl[easant and desirable] garden providing much understanding? He made you (Adam) rule over it to cultivate and guard it. vacat ... [the soil] will sprout for you thorn and thistle and it will not give you its strength ... because of your unfaithfulness. vacat ... she (Eve) gave birth and all the sentiments of her who has concei[ved] ... ... all your secrets... and all your affairs. For it will sprout [for you] everything... ... [knowing] evil, knowing good ... 4Q423 fr.5 5

16... and beware lest you... the judgement of Korah. And as He has unstopped your ear... ... and the prince of your people... He has divided the inheritance of all the rulers and the formation of every [dee]d is in His hand. He [knows] the reward of [their works and] j[udges] them all in truth. He visits the sons and the fathers, [the sojourners] (proselytes) with all the natives. He will speak... [If you are a f]armer, pay attention to the seasons of the summer and gather in your produce in its time, and the period of... ... the good with the evil Observe your produce and your work, In your labour consider... the good with the bad, the intelligent man with the fool