E — Wisdom Literature

A Sapiential Work (iii): Ways of Righteousness (4Q420-21)

1Two badly fragmented copies of a Wisdom composition portray the behaviour of the righteous man in universal terms. However, since the vocabulary of 4Q421 1 i echoes the terminology of the Community Rule, the whole work may be classified as sectarian. For the editio princeps, see T. Elgvin, DJD, XX, 173-202. 4Q420, fr. 1 (4Q421, fr. 1 ii) II to practise righteousness in the ways of God (4Q421 ii). ... he shall not reply before he has heard, nor shall he speak before he has gained understanding. He shall patiently respond and... shall issue a word. He shall seek truth (and) judgement and by searching righteousness he shall find its outcome. A humble and modest man shall not turn back until... A faithful man shall not depart from the ways of righteousness and he shall set his heart on ... and the bones (of) his hands on ... He shall be redeemed through righteousness; through understanding... his fields. His territory... to [practise ri]ghteousness ...

24Q421, fr. 1a i ... [He shall bring all] his wisdom, knowledge, understanding and good things [into the Community of God] ... (cf. 1QS 1, 11-12) to regulate all (placement of) one before another... the first lot will fall. And thus they shall set out... (cf. 1QS 11, 21-23).