Some Works of the Torah

The opening calendar — the order of the year by the solar reckoning of three hundred sixty and four days; the precepts of separation and the rulings of the priesthood.

1These are some of the works of the law which we have determined; even all of them are concerning purity, and concerning the gifts which thou shalt offer unto the Most High, and concerning the affairs of Jerusalem the holy city — that thou mayest understand them, and walk in them.

2We have separated ourselves from the multitude of the people, and from all their uncleanness, and from being involved in these matters, and from sharing in any of these things.

3Concerning the calendar: the year hath three hundred and sixty and four days; that the festivals may not be displaced from their appointed time. The new moon falleth upon the day appointed; and from the day of the wave offering of the omer, ye shall count seven complete weeks. Then on the morrow of the seventh sabbath, even the fiftieth day, ye shall offer the new meal offering of the firstfruits of wheat unto the Lord.

4Concerning the offering of the gentile grain: it is not seemly that gentile grain be offered upon the altar; for it is not consecrated. Their wave offerings shall not be received.

5Concerning the sin offering of the priests: the priests shall be careful not to bring any offering that is unclean. They shall not eat of any sacrifice while in a state of uncleanness; nor shall they enter the holy precinct in a state of uncleanness. The fat of the offering shall be wholly burnt unto the Lord; and that which is set apart for the priest shall be eaten in cleanness, by the priest's house alone.

6Concerning streams of liquid: when one poureth from a clean vessel into an unclean one, the upper vessel becometh as the lower; for the stream conneeteth them. Therefore the people of the land are not careful enough; they pour from clean unto unclean and back again; and they defile that which had been clean.

7Concerning the unclean person and the holy thing: he shall not be allowed to come nigh unto the holy gifts until the sun hath gone down. The wicked have made the sanctuary unclean by their negligence.

8Concerning the lepers and them that have a flowing issue: they are to be set without the camp; they shall not enter the sanctuary until they be made clean by the priest, and have offered the offering of cleansing, and have waited the seven days of waiting.

9Concerning intermarriage with the peoples: it is not seemly. The holy seed shall not mingle with the seed of strangers. The priest shall not marry one of foreign descent, lest the holy seed be defiled.

10Concerning the blind and the deaf: they cannot keep the law as is fitting. Therefore they should not eat of the holy gifts; for they cannot determine purity from impurity, neither do they know the precepts of the festivals.

The exhortation — that the addressee may consider the works which we have written, and may turn unto the truth, that he and his people may be reckoned among the righteous.

1And concerning the practices which we have spoken of unto thee — that they are good for thee and for thy people. We have seen that wisdom and knowledge of the law are with thee. Consider all these things; and seek before Him, that He may strengthen thy counsel; that He may put far from thee the schemings of evil and the counsel of Belial.

2Then thou shalt rejoice at the end of time, when thou findest some of our words to be true. And it shall be reckoned unto thee for righteousness, when thou hast done what is upright and what is good before Him — for thy good and for the good of Israel.

3Remember David — that he was a man of pious deeds; and he was likewise delivered from many tribulations, and was forgiven. We also have written unto thee some of the works of the law which we deemed good for thee and for thy people; for we have seen with thee insight and knowledge of the law.

4Consider all these things, and seek from Him that He may strengthen thy counsel, and put far from thee the wicked schemings and the counsel of Belial. Then thou shalt rejoice at the end of time, when thou findest some of our words true. It shall be reckoned unto thee for righteousness, in thy doing what is upright and good before Him — for thy good and for the good of Israel.

5Glory be unto the God of Israel, the giver of the law. Glory be unto the priests that walk according to the precepts. Glory be unto the people that hold fast unto the way. Forever and ever. Amen.