These are fragments of manuscript from the
Dead Sea Scrolls, and part of a collection of fragments referred to as both '
The Secret of the Way Things Are' and 'A Sapiental Work.' These are instructional texts; the reader is
told things on how to go about living an
enlightened life, but the overall message seems (seems to me anyway) to be to
Think for yourself, and find
truth and
wisdom through your own meditative and
intellectual means.
According to the translator of these, the "
Visions of Insight" in Fragment 2 is in reference to
tablets on which
Adam's son,
Seth, inscribed
revelations which only the righteous could read.
Fragment 1
Column 1
Speak gently to a ruler
1at all times, lest he adjure you; and speak to him in accordance with his mood, lest he …
2without reproach. When propitious, go to him; but when it is forbidden stay away …
3do not trouble his spirit, because you speak gently, …
4quickly recount his rebuke, but do not pass over your sins …
5and he is righteous as you are, for he is a prince … what he wants,
6he will do, for he is incomparable in every deed, without …
7Do not consider an evil man a helper, nor any enemy …
8the wickedness of his deeds. At the time of his punishment he will know how he should conduct himself. With him … His commandment
9must not depart from your heart, God will resolve that you, you alone, will increase … by your poverty … Do not say,
10"For what is more lowly than a poor man?" So do not rejoice when you should mourn, lest you toil pointlessly in your life. Consider the secret of
11the way things are, and learn about the causes of well-being, and know who will acquire glory or shame. For indeed …
12instead of mourning, eternal joy. Be an advocate for your affairs, without ignoring
13all your offenses. Argue your case like a righteous governor; do not …
14and do not pass over your sins. Be glorified in your poverty; consider his judgement …
151earn of it. And then God will see it and his anger will cease and he will pass over your sins, for before …
16none will last; and who will be acquitted in his judgement? And without forgiveness …
17needy. Now if you have need, the food you desire and more besides He wil1 supply … And if you have something
18left over, bring it to the city He delights in. Accept your legacy from Him, but do not
continue to
19but if you have need, do not … that you need, for His storehouse lacks
nothing. …
20from His mouth all things shall come to pass; so whatever He feeds you, eat,
and do not continue in …
21… If you borrow the wealth of men in your time of need, do not … you will be anxious 22day and night; but God is your true comforter … He will restore your soul … do not deceive …
23to Him; why will you forget such guilt and not remember an insult …do not entrust yourself anymore … to the power of your fellow
24who, in your time of need will close up His hand, like a hook …
25and if he strikes you with a blow, then
26behold, it will be revealed and then …
27he will not strike him with a rod …
28anymore. And you …
Fragment 2
Column 1
1<.sup>… you are one who understands …
2… the wonderful secrets … fearful things you will master …
3… why things are and how they are …
4… why
5things are and why they continue to be
6… at night meditate on the secret of why things are and investigate it at all times, and then you will know truth and evil, wisdom
7and falsehood … Consider the wicked in al1 their ways, with all their punishments throughout the world eras and the eternal punishment
8and then you will know the difference between good and evil deeds, for the God of knowledge is the confidant of Truth, and in the secret of the way things are
9He has made plain its basis … what is its nature and the governing principle of its deeds
10for every … He has made plain to the mind of every man how to live by
11the nature of His understanding; and He has made plain … and by the faculty of understanding He revealed the enigmas
12of His purpose with blameless conduct in all His deeds. Inquire into these things at all times, give careful thought to al1
13their effects, and then you will know eternal glory with His wonderful secrets and His mighty deeds. You are
14one who understands. Your poverty is your reward in the remembrance of time, for the decree is engraved, and inscribed is every time of punishment
15for that which is decreed is engraved in stone before God, over all … the children of Seth. A book of remembrance stands written before Him
16or those who keep His words; and that is the "Vision of Insight" the book of remembrance, and He bequeathed it to Enosh with a spiritual people, because
17his nature was patterned after the holy angels. But "Insight" he did not again give to carnal souls, for they did not know the difference between
18good and evil according to the judgement of His spirit. And you, O son, are one who understands; observe the secret of the way things are and know
19[he inheritance of all that is living and walk in it and attend to it …
20… between much and little and in your intimacy with
21… by the secret of the way things are
22all the vision of knowledge and in all …
23So always be strong, do not become weary doing evil
24he will not cleanse his hands by it, his inheritance in …
25for the man of insight has carefully considered your secrets and in the man of
26his foundations in you … with act of …
27Do not let yourself blindly follow your heart or your eyes …
Column 21…
2…
3by the secret of the way things are …
4comforted …
5walk blamelessly …
6bless His name …
7by their joy …
8great are the mercies of God …
9praise God, and for every plague bless …
10be in His will, and He understands …
11He will guard all your ways …
12Do not let a thought from the evil impulse deceive you …
13seek the truth, do not let … deceive you …
14without a command from God; do not let carnal understanding make you err …
Translation by Edward Cook