F — Bible Interpretation

Part 8

opponents, and in particular the struggle between the Teacher of Righteousness and the Wicked Priest. Recognizable remains of Psalms xlv and cxxvii also survive. For the editio princeps, see J. T. Milik, DJD, I, 81—2; J. M. Allegro and A. A. Anderson, DJD, V, 42—53. 4Q171 I.. Be silent before the Lord and long for him, and be not heated against the successful, the man who achieves his plans. Its interpretation concerns the Liar who has led astray many by his lying words so that they chose frivolous things and heeded not the interpreter of knowledge in order to.. they shall perish by the sword and famine and plague.

106

Relent from anger and abandon wrath. Do not be angry; it tends only to evil, for the wicked shall be cut off. Interpreted, this concerns all those who return to the Law, to those who do not refuse to turn away from their evil. For all those who are stubborn in turning away from their iniquity shall be cut off. But those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land. Interpreted, this is the congregation of His elect who do His will.

107

A little while and the wicked shall be no more; I will look towards his place but he shall not be there. Interpreted, this concerns all the wicked. At the end of the forty years they shall be blotted out and no evil man shall be found on the earth.

108

But the humble shall possess the land and delight in abundant peace. Interpreted, this concerns the congregation of the Poor who shall accept the season of penance and shall be delivered from all the snares of Belial. Afterwards, all who possess the earth shall delight and prosper on exquisite food.

109

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. Interpreted, this concerns the violent of the Covenant who are in the House of Judah, who have plotted to destroy those who practise the law, who are in the Council of the Community. And God will not forsake them to their hands.

110

The wicked draw the sword and bend their bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slay the upright of way. Their sword shall enter their own heart and their bows shall be broken. Interpreted, this concerns the wicked of Ephraim and Manasseh, who shall seek to lay hands on the Priest and the men of his Council at the time of trial which shall come upon them. But God will redeem them from out of their hand. And afterwards, they shall be delivered into the hand of the violent among the nations for judgement.

111

vacat Better is the little which the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked people. Interpreted, this concerns.. those who practise the law.. For the ar[ms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

112

The Lord knows the days of the perfect and their portion shall be for ever. In evil times they shall not be shamed.. to the penitents of the desert who, saved, shall live for a thousand generations and to whom all the glory of Adam shall belong, as also to their seed for ever.

113

And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied, but the wicked shall perish. Interpreted, this means that He will keep them alive during the famine and the time of humiliation, whereas many shall perish from

114

famine and plague, all those who have not departed from there to be with the Congregation of His elect.

115

And those who love the Lord shall be like the pride of pastures. Interpreted, this concerns the congregation of His elect, who shall be leaders and princes.. of the flock among their herds.

116

Like smoke they shall all of them vanish away. Interpreted, this concerns the princes of wickedness who have oppressed His holy people, and who shall perish like smoke blown away by the wind.

117

The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is generous and gives. Truly, those whom He blesses shall possess the land, but those whom He curses shall be cut off. Interpreted, this concerns the congregation of the Poor, who shall possess the whole world as an inheritance. They shall possess the High Mountain of Israel for ever, and shall enjoy everlasting delights in His Sanctuary. But those who shall be cut off, they are the violent of the nations and the wicked of Israel; they shall be cut off and blotted out for ever.

118

The steps of the man are confirmed by the Lord and He delights in all his ways; though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the Lord shall support his hand. Interpreted, this concerns the Priest, the Teacher of Righteousness whom God chose to stand before Him, for He established him to build for Himself the congregation of..

119

I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his children begging bread. He is ever giving liberally and lending and his children become a blessing. Interpreted, this concerns..

120

IV The unjust shall be destroyed for ever and the children of the wicked shall be cut off. These are the violent..

121

The righteous shall possess the land and dwell upon it for ever. Interpreted, this concerns..

122

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom and his tongue speaks justice. The law of God is in his heart, his steps will not slip. Interpreted, it concerns...

123

The wicked watches out for the righteous and seeks to slay him. The Lord will not abandon him into his hand or let him be condemned when he is tried. Interpreted, this concerns the Wicked Priest who watched the Teacher of Righteousness that he might put him to death because of the ordinance and the law which he sent to him. But God will not abandon him and will not let him be condemned when he is tried. And God will pay him his reward by delivering him into the hand of the violent of the nations, that they may execute upon him judgement.

124

Wait for the Lord and keep to His way, and He will exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked. Interpreted, it concerns.. who will see the judgement of wickedness and with his elect will rejoice in the heritage of truth.

125

I have seen a wicked man overbearing.. like a cedar of Lebanon. I passed before him, and, lo, he was no more, though I sought him, he could not be found. Interpreted, it concerns the Liar who.. against the elect of God, and sought to bring to an end..

126

Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, [for there is

127

posterity for the ma]n of peace. Its interpretation concerns.. peace.

128

But the transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the post erity of the wicked shall be cut off. Interpreted, it concerns.. will perish and be cut off from the midst of the congregation of the Community... he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Interpreted, it concerns.. God will save them and deliver them from the wicked..

129

For the choirmaster: according to the lil¡es. For the sons of Korah. Maskil. A song oflove. Its interpretation is that they are the seven divisions of the penitents of Israel..

130

My heart is astir with a good word. I speak of my work to the King. Its interpretation.. spirit of holiness for.. books of..

131

And my tongue is the pen of a speedy scribe. Its interpretation concerns the Teacher of Righteousness.. God with an answering tongue.. 4Q173.. Vainis it for you to rise early and lie down late. You shall eat the bread of toil; he shall feed those who love him in their sleep. Its interpretation is that they shall seek.. Teacher of Righteousness.. priest at the end of the age..