dssdead-sea-scrolls
E — Wisdom Literature
Chapter 9
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Cave has yielded five manuscripts of a poetic composition designated by the opening words of the first section as Barki nafshi or 'Bless, my soul'. A sixth manuscript is said to be akin to it. The pieces translated are not unlike some of the Thanksgiving Hymns, but include no sectarian features. For the editio princeps, see M. Weinfeld and D. Seely, DID, XXIX, 255-334. 4Q434, fr. I Bless, my soul, the Lord for all His marvels for ever, and may His name be blessed. For He has delivered the soul of the poor, and has not despised the humble, and has not forgotten the misery of the deprived. He has opened His eyes towards the distressed, and has heard the cry of the fatherless, and has turned His ears towards their crying. He has been gracious to the humble by His great kindness, and has opened their eyes to see His ways, and their ears to hear His teaching. He has circumcised the foreskin of their heart, and has delivered them because of His kindness, and has directed their feet towards the way. He has not forsaken them amid the multitude of their
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misery, neither has He handed them over to the violent, nor has He judged them together with the wicked. He has not directed His anger against them, neither did he annihilate them in His wrath. While all His furious wrath was not growing weary, He has not judged them in the fire of His ardour, but He has judged them in the greatness of His mercy. The judgements of His eyes were to try them, and He has brought His many mercies among the nations, and from the hand of men He has delivered them. He has not judged them the mass of nations, and in the midst of peoples He has not judged them. But He hid them in His.. He has turned darkness into light before them, and crooked places into level ground, He has revealed to them abundance of peace and truth. He has made their spirit by measure, and has established their words by weight, and has caused them to sing like flutes. He has given them a perfect heart, and they have walked in the way of His heart, He has also caused them to draw near to the way of his heart. For they have pledged their spirit. He sent and covered them and commanded that no plague should affect them. His angel fixed his camp around them; He guarded them lest the enemy? destroy them. Fr. ii II.. in their misery and afflictions and He delivered them from all affliction.. and Thou hast done for them against the sons of man and Thou hast
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delivered them for Thy sake.. and they expiated for their iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers, and they atoned in water... by Thy judgements and to the way which Thou didst teach again.. Fr.. to comfort the poor woman for her mourning... the nations to destruction and He will raze the peoples. And the wicked.. Renew the works of the heaven and of the earth, And they will exult and the whole earth will be filled with His glory He will atone for their guilt and great goodness will comfort them.. eating its fruit and goodness. Like a man comforted by his mother, so will He comfort them in Jerusalem. Like a bridegroom with the bride, so will He dwell with her for ever. For His throne is for ever and ever and His glory.. and all the nations.. the army of heaven will be in it and their delightful land.. I will bless the... Blessed be the name of the Most High.. Fr. 7b.. their portions from there from the desert to the gate of hope. And He made a covenant with them for peace with the birds of heaven and the beasts of the field. He made manure of their enemies, He ground Edom and Moab into dust.. 4Q436 I understanding to strengthen the contrite heart and the spirit in it for ever; to comfort the weak in the time of their distress and the
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hands of the fallen so that they may rise; to make instruments of knowledge; to give knowledge to the wise and the upright to increase understanding; so that they may understand Thy deeds which Thou hast done in the years of old, in the years of all generations. Eternal understanding which.. before me, and Thou keepest Thy law before me and Thou hast entrusted Thy covenant to me. And Thou dost strengthen the heart.. to walk in Thy ways. Thou hast visited my heart and Thou hast sharpened my kidneys that they may not forget Thy precepts.. Thou hast.. Thy law. Thou hast opened my kidneys and hast strengthened me to pursue Thy ways.. Thou hast made my mouth into a sharp sword and opened my tongue for words of holiness. And Thou hast set discipline on them that they may not meditate on man's actions, on the whisper of his lips. Thou hast strengthened my feet.. and with Thy hand Thou hast strengthened my right hand. And Thou hast sent me on the straight path.. Thou hast chased away from me. And Thou hast placed a pure heart in its stead; Thou hast chased away the evil inclination from my.. And Thou hast placed the spirit of holiness into my heart and hast taken away from me the eyes of fornication. And Thou hast looked.. Thy ways; Thou hast removed from me the stiff neck and replaced it with humility. Thou hast taken away from me the rage of anger and hast placed in me the spirit of patience 4Q435, fr. 1. A haughty heart and lofty eyes Thou hast.. from me.. to me. Thou hast blotted out the spirit of lies 4Q435 i.. hast given me.. 4Q437 Fr. i I.. from the congregation of the seekers after.. They have concealed a net to catch me and they pursued my soul.. their sword penetrated their heart and their bows were broken.
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For all this I will bless Thy name during my life, for Thou hast delivered me from the trap of the nations.. peoples. Thy mercies are a shield around me and Thou hast guarded my soul among the nations.. Thou hast not made my friends ashamed of me. I have not forgotten Thy precepts. In the affliction of my soul Thou hast not forsaken me, and Thou hast not hidden Thy face from my supplications. Thou hast seen all my moanings and my iniquities.. When my spirit was fainting, Thou hast listened to my voice. Thou hast hildden [me in Thy quiver and.. me. Thou hast made of me a pointed arrow; Thou hast concealed me in the hiding place of Thy palm.. and from the mud Thou hast delivered me lest I sink in it, and from the stream of the gentiles lest it sweep me away and from.. and I sank in its depth. And from hell Thou hast brought up my soul. Thou hast placed life before me and Thou hast seated the congregation of the men of marvels before me. And among the children of righteousness Thou hast comforted me. And according to the line of judgement Thou hast cheered up my soul, And according to the weight of justice Thou hast vivified my spirit. I bless the Lord with all my power and I praise His goodness with the joy of my heart. I have remembered Thee, O Lord, and my heart is firm before Thee. I have hoped in Thy salvation, O Lord.. I have remembered. And my heart has rejoiced and my horn will rise towards Thee. My soul thirsts. My soul cleaves to Thee. On thy deeds will I meditate. I have remembered Thee on my couch during the watches of the night.
