The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (44 page)

Hymn 22
(formerly
18
)

I thank Thee, my God!
I praise Thee, my Rock!
For Thou hast made known to me the counsel of Thy truth
[and hast taught me Thy marvellous mysteries;]
and hast revealed Thy [wonders] to me.
I have beheld {Thy marvels} (4Q427 fr. 1, i) [towards the children]
of grace,
and I know [that] righteousness is Thine,
that in Thy mercies there is [hope for me],
but without Thy grace [destruction] without end.
But a fountain of bitter mourning opens for me,
[and my tears fall down].
Distress is not hidden from my eyes
when I think of the (evil) inclinations of man,
of his return [to dust],
{I understand and observe} (4Q427 fr. 1, iii) sin and the sorrow
of guilt.
They enter my heart and reach into my bones
to...
and to meditate in sorrowful meditation.
I will groan with the zither of lamentation
in all grief-stricken mourning and bitter complaint
until iniquity and [wickedness] are consumed
and the disease-bringing scourge is no more.
Then will I play on the zither of deliverance
and the harp of joy,
[on the tabors of prayer] and the pipe of praise
without end.

 

Who among all Thy creatures
is able to recount [Thy wonders]?
May Thy Name be praised
by the mouth of all men!
May they bless Thee for ever
in accordance with [their understanding],
and proclaim Thee with the voice of praise
in the company of [the Sons of Heaven]!
There shall be neither groaning nor complaint
and wickedness [shall be destroyed for ever];
Thy truth shall be revealed in eternal glory
and everlasting peace.

 

Blessed art [Thou, O my Lord],
who hast given to [Thy servant]
the knowledge of wisdom
that he may comprehend Thy wonders,
and recount Thy ...
in Thy abundant grace!
Blessed art Thou,
O God of mercy and compassion,
for the might of Thy [power]
and the greatness of Thy truth,
and for the multitude of Thy favours
in all Thy works!
Rejoice the soul of Thy servant with Thy truth
and cleanse me by Thy righteousness.
Even as I have hoped in Thy goodness,
and waited for Thy grace,
so hast Thou freed me from my calamities
in accordance with Thy forgiveness;
and in my distress Thou hast comforted me
for I have leaned on Thy mercy.

 

Blessed art Thou, O Lord,
for it is Thou who hast done these things!
Thou hast set [hymns of praise]
within the mouth of Thy servant,
and hast established for me a response of the tongue.

Hymn 23
(formerly 19)

XX
(formerly
XII)

 

... {with the ever[lasting] spirits} (4Q
427
, fr. 3 ii, 1. 4)
securely in a dwelling {of peac[e,} (4Q
427
, fr. 2, 11. 1-2)
in sil]ence and quietness in the tents of security and salvation.

 

I will praise Thy Name among them that fear Thee.
Bowing down in prayer I will beg Thy favours
from season to season always:

 

when light emerges from [its dwelling-place],
and when the day reaches its appointed end
in accordance with the laws
of the Great Light of heaven;
when evening falls and light departs
at the beginning of the dominion of darkness,
at the hour appointed for night,
and at its end when morning returns
and (the shadows) retire to their dwelling-place
before the approach of light;
always;
at the genesis of every period
and at the beginning of every age
and at the end of every season,
according to the statute and signs
appointed to every dominion
by the certain law from the mouth of God,
by the precept which is and shall be
for ever and ever without end.
Without it nothing is nor shall be,
for the God of knowledge established it
and there is no other beside Him.

 

I, the Master, know Thee O my God,
by the spirit which Thou hast given to me,
and by Thy Holy Spirit I have faithfully hearkened
to Thy marvellous counsel.
In the mystery of Thy wisdom
Thou hast opened knowledge to me,
and in Thy mercies
[Thou hast unlocked for me] the fountain of Thy might.
Before Thee no man is just ...
[that he may] understand all Thy mysteries
or give answer [to Thy rebuke.
But the children of Thy grace
shall delight in] Thy correction
and watch for Thy goodness,
for in Thy mercies [Thou wilt show Thyself to them]
and they shall know Thee;
at the time of Thy glory
they shall rejoice.
[Thou hast caused them to draw near]
in accordance [with their knowledge],
and hast admitted them
in accordance with their understanding,
and in their divisions they shall serve Thee
throughout their dominion
[without ever turning aside] from Thee
or transgressing Thy word.

 

Behold, [I was taken] from dust
[and] fashioned [out of clay]
as a source of uncleanness,
and a shameful nakedness,
a heap of dust,
and a kneading [with water,]
and a house of darkness,
a creature of clay returning to dust,
returning [at the appointed time
to dwell] in the dust whence it was taken.

 

How then shall dust reply to its Maker,
[and how] understand His [works]?
How shall it stand before Him who reproves it?
[and the Spring of] Eternity,
the Well of Glory
and the Fountain of Knowledge.
Not even [the wonderful] Heroes [can] declare all Thy glory
or stand in face of Thy wrath,
and there is none among them
that can answer Thy rebuke;
for Thou art just and none can oppose Thee.
How then can (man) who returns to his dust?

 

I hold my peace;
what more shall I say than this?
I have spoken in accordance with my knowledge,
out of the righteousness given to a creature of clay.
And how shall I speak unless Thou open my mouth;
how understand unless Thou teach me?
How shall I seek Thee unless Thou uncover my heart,
and how follow the way that is straight
unless [Thou guide me?
How shall my foot] stay on [the path
unless Thou] give it strength;
and how shall I rise...

 

XXI
(formerly
XVIII,
16-33+fr- 3)

Hymn 24
(formerly
25
)

[How] shall I look,
unless Thou open my eyes?

 

Or hear,
[unless Thou unstop my ears]?

 

My heart is astounded,
for to the uncircumcised ear
a word has been disclosed,
and a heart [of stone
has understood the right precepts].

 

I know it is for Thyself
that Thou hast done these things, O God;
for what is flesh
[that Thou shouldst act] marvellously [towards it]?
It is Thy purpose to do mightily
and to establish all things for Thy glory.
[Thou hast created] the host of knowledge
to declare (Thy) mighty deeds to flesh,
and the right precepts to him that is born [of woman].
Thou hast [caused the perverse heart to enter]
into a Covenant with Thee,
and hast uncovered the heart of dust
that it may be preserved from evil
and saved from the snares of Judgement
in accordance with Thy mercies.

 

And I, a creature [of clay
kneaded with water,
a heap of dust]
and a heart of stone,
for what am I reckoned to be worthy of this?
For into an ear of dust [Thou hast put a new word]
and hast engraved on a heart of [stone] things everlasting.
Thou hast caused [the straying spirit] to return
that it may enter into a Covenant with Thee,
and stand [before Thee for ever]
in the everlasting abode,
illumined with perfect Light for ever,
with [no more] darkness,
[for un]ending [seasons of joy]
and un[numbered] ages of peace.
And as for me, a creature of dust, ...

Fr. 3

Pile of dust, how shall I stand in front of the tempest?
... and He will guard me
according to the mysteries of His good pleasure. For He
knows...
And they will hide snares of wickedness, net after net.
... every creature of deceit will come to an end ...
[wickedness will] turn to nothing
and the inclination towards iniquity will vanish
and deeds of deceit [will perish].
As for me, creature of [clay] ...
... how will it gain strength for Thee?
Thou art the God of [knowledge]
Thou hast made them [according to Thy design]
and without Thee [nothing exists].
[As for me, creature] of dust, I know
through the spirit which Thou hast put into me
that ...
injustice and deceit will be awe-struck
and insolence will cease.
[wo]rks of uncleanness will (turn into) sickness
and judgements (leading to) plague and destruction ...
XXII
(formerly
XVIII
ii, 27-29+fr. I i+fr. 52
bottom+fr. 4+fr. 47)
... [hol]iness that are in heaven
... and He is wonder.
But they cannot [understand] Thy [marvel]s
and they will not be able to know all [Thy mysteries].
[How then can he who retur]ns to his dust?
As for me, I am a man of sin
who has wallowed [in the ways of uncleanness]
[and been defiled] by the guilt of wickedness.
As for me, in the times of wrath [I have fallen(?)].
How can I rise in view of my wound
and keep myself...
For there is hope for man...
As for me, creature of clay,
I have leaned [on Thy loving-kindness
and on the multitude of Thy mysteries,] O my God.
And I know that truthful is [Thy mouth,
and that Thy words are not] revoked.
As for me, I will rely in my time [on Thy Covenant
and will rai]se myself to the post
which Thou hast established for me ...

Fr. 4

... As for me, I was frightened by Thy judgements
Who is found clean in Thy judgement?
And what is [man before Thee?
Thou bringest] him to judgement
and he returns to his dust.
... [my G]o[d].
Thou hast opened my heart for Thy understanding
and hast unstopped [my] ear[s] ...
to lean on Thy goodness.
My heart murmurs ...
and my heart melts like wax
because of iniquity and sin....
Blessed art Thou, God of knowledge,
who hast established...
And Thou hast met Thy servant with this for Thy sake.
For I know Thy [loving-kindness
and in] Thy [mercies] I hope in all my existence,
and I bless Thy name always.
Do not forsake me in the times [of distress (?)]

XXIII
(formerly
XVIII,
1-16+fr. 57 i+fr. 2 i)
they are confirmed in [the ears] of Thy servant for ever
... [to announce] Thy marvellous tidings
Withdraw not Thy hand ...
that he may be confirmed in Thy Covenant
and stand before Thee [for ever].

 

[For Thou, O my God,] didst open a [fountain]
in the mouth of Thy Servant.
Thou didst engrave by the measuring-cord
[Thy mysteries] upon his tongue,
[that] out of his understanding
[he might] preach to a creature,
and interpret these things
to dust like myself.

 

Thou didst open [his fountain]
that he might rebuke the creature of clay for his way,
and him who is born of woman
for the guilt of his deeds;
that he might open [the fount of] Thy truth
to a creature whom Thou upholdest by Thy might;
[that he might be], according to Thy truth,
a messenger [in the season] of Thy goodness;
that to the humble he might bring
glad tidings of Thy great mercy,
[proclaiming salvation]
from out of the fountain [of holiness
to the contrite] of spirit,
and everlasting joy to those who mourn.

Fr.
2

... [to prai]se Thee
and to recount all Thy glory.
As for me, what am I?
For I was taken from dust.
But Th[ou, O my God],
Thou hast done all these [for] Thy [g]lory.
According to the greatness of Thy loving-kindness
put the guard of Thy righteousness
[in the hand of Th]y [servant] for ever
until deliverance.
May the interpreters of knowledge be with all my steps
and those who decide truth [in all my ways].
For what is dust among al[1] ...
Ashes are in their hand: nothing at all.
and Thou hast shed [Thy Holy] Spirit over dust
[to bring him into the company] of the ‘gods'
and unite them with the Sons of Heaven.
Thou hast shed Thy [Ho]ly [Spirit] to atone for guilt
for they are established in Thy truth.
[And Thou, my God],
Thou hast acted wondrously for Thy glory

4Q427
7 i-ii (1QH, frs. 7, 46, 55, 56, 4Q
428
15,40
431
1)

I
...
For I am made to stand with the ‘gods',
and I will not... [glory or majes]ty for me with fine gold;
gold and purified gold, [I will] not... in me;
... will not be reckoned for me.
Chant, O beloved, sing to the King [of glory.
Rejoice, in the cong]regation of God.
Exult in the tents of salvation.
Give thanks in the dwelling
[of holiness],
extol together with the eternal host.
Magnify our God and glorify our King.
Sanctify His name with powerful lips
and a victorious tongue.
Lift up alone your voice in all ages,
Let a joyous meditation be heard.
Burst out in eternal rejoicings
and prostrate incessantly in the common assembly.
Bless the wonderful Maker of exalted things,
Him who proclaims the power of His hand,
sealing mysteries and revealing secrets,
lifting up those who stumble and fall,
[rest]oring the progress of those who hope for knowledge
and humbling the meetings of the everlastingly haughty;
[seal]ing the mysteries of sp[lendour]
and establi[shing the wonlders of glory.
O Judge, whose anger is destructive,
... in righteous loving-kindness and great mercy,
be gracious to ...
... mercy to those who bear fruits of His great goodness,
and the source of...
II
... wickedness ends...
[op]pression [ceases], the tyrant ceases...
treachery [sto]ps and there are no senseless perversities.
Light shines and joy bursts forth;
mourning [vanishes] and sorrow flees.
Peace is revealed, dread ceases.
A spring has opened up for an [eternal] bles[sing]
and for healing in all the everlasting ages.
Iniquity has stopped, plague has ceased with no more illn[ess].
... has been gathered in and... will be no more.
Announce and say: Great is God, Ma[ker of marvels].
For He humbles the proud spirit with no remnant
and from the dust He lifts up the poor to [eternal heights].
And He lifts him up to the clouds
to share a common assembly with the ‘gods'.
And...
anger for everlasting destruction.
He raises freely the totterers on earth,
and [His] mi[ght is with] their steps,
and everlasting joy is in their dwellings,
eternal glory without end [for ever].

 

Let them say: Blessed be God, Author of majestic [w]onders,
who reveals might splendidly,
and justifies with knowledge all His creatures,
so that goodness is on their faces.
They know the multitude of [His] loving [kindness]
and the abundance of His mercies
to all the children of His truth.
We know Thee, O God of righteousness,
and we comprehend [Thy ... , O King]
of glory.
For we have seen Thy zeal through Thy mighty power
and have observed [Thy] d[eeds
in the abundance] of Thy mercies and wondrous forgiveness.

 

What is flesh compared to these?
What do [dust and ashes] amoun[t to]
that they recite these things from age to age,
and hold themselves upright [before Thee
and enter into communion with] the Sons of Heaven.
No interpreter can answer according to Thy mouth
and... to Thee.
For Thou hast established us according to [Thy] ple[asure]
in the territory [of iniquity] ...
... we have spoken to Thee and not to a medi[ator] ...
[And Thou hast lent] an ea[r] to the issue of our lips.

 

Annou[nce and say: Blessed be God,
Creator] of the heavens by His power,
Desig[ner] of all their devices [by] His strength,
of the earth by [His] migh[t] ...