Read The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English Online
Authors: Geza Vermes
The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (46 page)
BOOK: The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English
13.43Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
Apocryphal Psalms (II)
(4Q88)
Â
Â
The last four columns (VII- x) of a fragmentary Psalms manuscript from Cave 4 have preserved three apocryphal poems. The first of these (cols. vii-viii) is identical with 11Q5 XXII already presented (pp. 311-12). Of the other two, the first (col. ix) focuses on the final judgement and the second (col. x) is a hymn to Judah.
For the
editio princeps,
see P. W. Skehan
et al., DJD,
XVI, 102-6.
editio princeps,
see P. W. Skehan
et al., DJD,
XVI, 102-6.
IX
... Congregation
and they shall praise
the name of the Lord,
for He has come to judge every action,
to remove the wicked from the earth
[so that the sons] of iniquity shall not be found.
The heavens [shall give] their dew
and there shall be no... [within] their [boundarie]s.
And the earth
shall [give] its fruit in its time
and its [prod]uct shall not fail.
The fruit trees [shall] ... of its vineyards
and its ... shall not lie.
The poor shall eat
and the God-fearers shall be sated.
X ...
Then heaven and earth shall exult together.
Let all the stars of the evening twilight exult.
Rejoice, Judah, rejoice!
Rejoice, rejoice and be glad with gladness!
Celebrate your feasts and pay your vows
for there is no Belial in your midst.
Raise your hand and fortify your right hand!
Behold the enemy shall perish
and all the workers of iniquity shall be dispersed.
But Thou, O Lord, art for eve[r].
Thy glory shall be for eve[r and eve]r.
[Ha]ll[eluiah].
... Congregation
and they shall praise
the name of the Lord,
for He has come to judge every action,
to remove the wicked from the earth
[so that the sons] of iniquity shall not be found.
The heavens [shall give] their dew
and there shall be no... [within] their [boundarie]s.
And the earth
shall [give] its fruit in its time
and its [prod]uct shall not fail.
The fruit trees [shall] ... of its vineyards
and its ... shall not lie.
The poor shall eat
and the God-fearers shall be sated.
X ...
Then heaven and earth shall exult together.
Let all the stars of the evening twilight exult.
Rejoice, Judah, rejoice!
Rejoice, rejoice and be glad with gladness!
Celebrate your feasts and pay your vows
for there is no Belial in your midst.
Raise your hand and fortify your right hand!
Behold the enemy shall perish
and all the workers of iniquity shall be dispersed.
But Thou, O Lord, art for eve[r].
Thy glory shall be for eve[r and eve]r.
[Ha]ll[eluiah].
Apocryphal Psalms (III)
(11QapPs
a
=11Q11)
a
=11Q11)
Badly worn remains of five columns of a Scroll with apocryphal psalms, at least partly devoted to exorcism, have survived in Cave 11. Most of the columns are so poorly preserved that no continuous reading is possible. In col. I, where the name of Solomon implies that this was one of the poems attributed to him, the repeated use of the term âdemons' and mention of âhealing' suggest the genre of the composition. In col. III a âpowerful angel' is mentioned who seems to be charged with defeating the demon and casting it to the âgreat abyss' and the ânethermost [hell]'. Col. v, 3â13 has been recognized as the canonical Psalm xci, preceded by small remains of the exorcistic poem of col. IV and followed by a liturgical formula, âAnd they shall an[swer, Amen, amen.] Selah.' All the lacunae of col. IV have been conjecturally filled by E. Puech in a French rendering. His presentation will be reproduced here in English; it provides a possible general understanding of the text, but with no guarantee that any of the restored details is correct.
For preliminary editions, see J. P. M. van der Ploeg, âUn petit rouleau de psaumes apocryphes (IIQPsAp
a
)', in G. Jeremias et
al.,
eds.,
Tradition und Glaube
(K. G. Kuhn Festschrift) (Göttingen, 1971), 128-39; E. Puech, âLes deux derniers psaumes davidiques du rituel d'exorcisme, IIQPsAp
a
IV 4-v 14', in D. Dimant and U. Rappaport, eds.,
The Dead Sea Scrolls: Forty Years of Research
(Leiden, 1992), 64-89; cf. esp. pp. 68-9. For the
editio princeps,
see F. GarcÃa Martinez
et al., DJD
, XXIII, 181-205.
a
)', in G. Jeremias et
al.,
eds.,
Tradition und Glaube
(K. G. Kuhn Festschrift) (Göttingen, 1971), 128-39; E. Puech, âLes deux derniers psaumes davidiques du rituel d'exorcisme, IIQPsAp
a
IV 4-v 14', in D. Dimant and U. Rappaport, eds.,
The Dead Sea Scrolls: Forty Years of Research
(Leiden, 1992), 64-89; cf. esp. pp. 68-9. For the
editio princeps,
see F. GarcÃa Martinez
et al., DJD
, XXIII, 181-205.
Â
III ...
Who [has] pe[rformed these signs] and marv[els on] the earth?
The Lord is the one [who] performed th[ese through] His [might].
He adjures all [His] a[ngels] and all the see[d of holiness] who stand
before [Him,
and makes all the hea]vens testify and the whole earth
[against those] who sinned against [all men],
and acted [wickedly] against every hu[man.
And] they know [the mysteries of] His m[arvels] which they do not...
[and they fear] the Lord... to kill...
... the Lord... the Lord...
and they will fear that great blow.
Who [has] pe[rformed these signs] and marv[els on] the earth?
The Lord is the one [who] performed th[ese through] His [might].
He adjures all [His] a[ngels] and all the see[d of holiness] who stand
before [Him,
and makes all the hea]vens testify and the whole earth
[against those] who sinned against [all men],
and acted [wickedly] against every hu[man.
And] they know [the mysteries of] His m[arvels] which they do not...
[and they fear] the Lord... to kill...
... the Lord... the Lord...
and they will fear that great blow.
Â
IV
...
The Lord will strike you with a [grea]t b[low] for your destruction...
and in His anger He will send against you
a mighty angel [to execute] all His decisions,
who will be [without] mercy on you... against all these,
who [will take] you [down] to the great abyss,
[and to] the nethermost [hell.]
... dark [in the gr]eat abyss... no more on the earth.
... for ever, and... by the curse of Abaddon (the bottom of hell)
...the furious anger of the L[ord]....
...
The Lord will strike you with a [grea]t b[low] for your destruction...
and in His anger He will send against you
a mighty angel [to execute] all His decisions,
who will be [without] mercy on you... against all these,
who [will take] you [down] to the great abyss,
[and to] the nethermost [hell.]
... dark [in the gr]eat abyss... no more on the earth.
... for ever, and... by the curse of Abaddon (the bottom of hell)
...the furious anger of the L[ord]....
Â
V
...
[Ra]phael healed them. Amen, amen. Selah.
Of David ... [an incan]tation in the name of the Lor[d.
Call an]y time on heav[en],
for He will come to you in the ni[ght,
and] you will say to Him:
Who are you, [one born of] man
And of the seed of the ho[ly on]es?
Your face is a face of in[anity]
And your horns are horns of dream.
You are darkness and not light,
Injustice and not righteousness.
The Prince of the host, the Lord,
[will send] you [down to the lowest he]ll,
[and will close the ga]tes of bronze
through [which n]o light [passes]
and [the] sun wh[ich rises on the] righteous
[will] not [enlighten you] ...
And you will say...
...
[Ra]phael healed them. Amen, amen. Selah.
Of David ... [an incan]tation in the name of the Lor[d.
Call an]y time on heav[en],
for He will come to you in the ni[ght,
and] you will say to Him:
Who are you, [one born of] man
And of the seed of the ho[ly on]es?
Your face is a face of in[anity]
And your horns are horns of dream.
You are darkness and not light,
Injustice and not righteousness.
The Prince of the host, the Lord,
[will send] you [down to the lowest he]ll,
[and will close the ga]tes of bronze
through [which n]o light [passes]
and [the] sun wh[ich rises on the] righteous
[will] not [enlighten you] ...
And you will say...
Â
VI ...
To David. O[n words of incanta]tion. [Cry out al]l the time in the name
of the Lor[d]
towards heave[n when] Beli[al] comes to you.
[And sa]y to him:
Who are you? [Be afraid of] man and of the seed of the ho[ly ones].
Your face is a face of [nothin]g and your horns are horns of dr[eam].
[You ar]e [d]arkness and not light; [injustic]e and not righteousness.
[The prin]ce of the h[os]t [is against you]; the Lord [will cast] you [to]
the nethermost [hell],
[closed by] bronze ga[tes] through [which n]o light [shall pass];
nor [shall shine there the light of the] sun which [will rise] over the
righteous to il[lumine his face.
And] you will say:
Is [there not an angel with the ri]ghteous when [judgement] comes [for]
S[atan for] he caused him evil?
[And the spirit of t]ruth [will save him] from dar[kness because
right]eousness is for him.
... for ever [all the] son of Bel[ial. Amen, amen.] Selah.
To David. O[n words of incanta]tion. [Cry out al]l the time in the name
of the Lor[d]
towards heave[n when] Beli[al] comes to you.
[And sa]y to him:
Who are you? [Be afraid of] man and of the seed of the ho[ly ones].
Your face is a face of [nothin]g and your horns are horns of dr[eam].
[You ar]e [d]arkness and not light; [injustic]e and not righteousness.
[The prin]ce of the h[os]t [is against you]; the Lord [will cast] you [to]
the nethermost [hell],
[closed by] bronze ga[tes] through [which n]o light [shall pass];
nor [shall shine there the light of the] sun which [will rise] over the
righteous to il[lumine his face.
And] you will say:
Is [there not an angel with the ri]ghteous when [judgement] comes [for]
S[atan for] he caused him evil?
[And the spirit of t]ruth [will save him] from dar[kness because
right]eousness is for him.
... for ever [all the] son of Bel[ial. Amen, amen.] Selah.
Non-canonical Psalms
(4Q380-81)
Two poorly preserved manuscripts, the first consisting of seven and the second of 110 fragments, contain apocryphal Hebrew religious poetry resembling biblical Psalms more than the Hodayot (1QH) from Qumran. Some of them reuse and combine canonical Psalms (e.g. fr. 15 re-employing Pss. lxxxvi and lxxxix, and fr. 24, Ps. xviii). Not one single line has survived intact and only a few of these largely mediocre poems can be translated. Their editor, Eileen Schuller, assigns the collection to the Persian-Hellenistic era and considers it to be a pre-sectarian composition. Palaeographically the manuscript is dated to the first half of the first century BCE. No historical allusions are included. Like many of the biblical Psalms, these poems bore titles, three of which have been preserved: âPsalm of Obadiah' (4Q
380
1 11, 8); âHymn of the Man of God' (4Q
381
24, 4) and âPrayer of Manasseh, King of Judah when the King of Assyria imprisoned him' (4Q
381
33, 8). The attributions are no doubt pseudepigraphic. Whether Obadiah is the minor prophet or the court official mentioned in 1 Kings xviii, 3 cannot be decided.
380
1 11, 8); âHymn of the Man of God' (4Q
381
24, 4) and âPrayer of Manasseh, King of Judah when the King of Assyria imprisoned him' (4Q
381
33, 8). The attributions are no doubt pseudepigraphic. Whether Obadiah is the minor prophet or the court official mentioned in 1 Kings xviii, 3 cannot be decided.
For the
editio princeps,
see Eileen Schuller,
DJD,
XI, 75-172.
editio princeps,
see Eileen Schuller,
DJD,
XI, 75-172.
4Q
380
, fr. 1
380
, fr. 1
I ... [Jeru]salem, that is [the city
chosen by the L]ord from everlasting to [everlasting.]
... the holy ones
[for the na]me of the Lord is called on her,
[and his glory] is seen on Jerusalem and Zion.
Who will utter the name of the Lord,
and who makes all his praises heard?
The Lord [remem]bered him in his favour
and visited him
that he might show him the prosperity [of] his [cho]sen ones,
making him re[joice in the gladness of his nation]
(cf. Ps. cvi, 2,4-5).
chosen by the L]ord from everlasting to [everlasting.]
... the holy ones
[for the na]me of the Lord is called on her,
[and his glory] is seen on Jerusalem and Zion.
Who will utter the name of the Lord,
and who makes all his praises heard?
The Lord [remem]bered him in his favour
and visited him
that he might show him the prosperity [of] his [cho]sen ones,
making him re[joice in the gladness of his nation]
(cf. Ps. cvi, 2,4-5).
Â
II [And] he made for you a man w[ho ... ]
for he is the one [whose] words they kept
which are for all the sons of Israel...
... your hand will [not] save you,
for the strength of [your] God does good.
And those (filled with) wicked hatred,
how long will you delight to do evil? ...
vacat
Psalm of Obadiah.
God... truth is in it, and his loving kindness ...
for he is the one [whose] words they kept
which are for all the sons of Israel...
... your hand will [not] save you,
for the strength of [your] God does good.
And those (filled with) wicked hatred,
how long will you delight to do evil? ...
vacat
Psalm of Obadiah.
God... truth is in it, and his loving kindness ...
Fr.
2
2
... mountains and hills...
All who are founded on it will shake...
[and they will cry to] the Lord in their distress.
From their oppression
He will deliver them,
For the Lord is gracious to the pious...
To the man...
All who are founded on it will shake...
[and they will cry to] the Lord in their distress.
From their oppression
He will deliver them,
For the Lord is gracious to the pious...
To the man...
4Q
381,
fr. I
381,
fr. I
... [his wisdom] I have declared,
and I will meditate on his marvel,
and it will become my teacher.
Judgement... of my mouth,
and to the simple and they will understand,
and to the senseless and they will know.
O Lord, how mi[ghty] ... marvels
He made heaven and earth in his days (?),
and by his word ... the riverbeds
He...
night and st[a]rs and constellations...
and He caused them to shine ...
[every] tree and every fru[it of the vineyar]d
and every produce of the field.
And according to his words... all...
m[ankind] and by his spirit he established them
to have dominion over all this,
over the ground and all [its produce(?)]
from new moon to new moon, from festival to festival,
from day to day to eat its fruit, fruit of ...
... and birds and all that belongs to them
to eat the best of everything and also...
... in them and all his hosts and His ange[ls] ...
to serve man and to minister to him...
and I will meditate on his marvel,
and it will become my teacher.
Judgement... of my mouth,
and to the simple and they will understand,
and to the senseless and they will know.
O Lord, how mi[ghty] ... marvels
He made heaven and earth in his days (?),
and by his word ... the riverbeds
He...
night and st[a]rs and constellations...
and He caused them to shine ...
[every] tree and every fru[it of the vineyar]d
and every produce of the field.
And according to his words... all...
m[ankind] and by his spirit he established them
to have dominion over all this,
over the ground and all [its produce(?)]
from new moon to new moon, from festival to festival,
from day to day to eat its fruit, fruit of ...
... and birds and all that belongs to them
to eat the best of everything and also...
... in them and all his hosts and His ange[ls] ...
to serve man and to minister to him...
Fr. 15
... Thou wilt turn my heart ...
[Turn to me and take pity on me;
give thy strength to Thy servant]
and save the son of Thy handmaid.
Show me [a sign of Thy favour,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because Thou,] my [G]od, hast helped me (Ps. lxxxvi, 16-17)
and I will prepare (a sacrifice) for Thee, my God.
... [Thou dost rule the rag]ing of the sea;
Thou stillest its waves.
[Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass,
Thou didst scatter Thine enemies with Thy mighty arm]
(Ps. lxxxix, 10-11).
[The world and] all that is in it, Thou hast founded them
(ibid. 12).
Thou hast a [mighty] arm; strong is Thy hand,
high Thy right hand (ibid. 14)
[For who in the skies can be compared to thee,] my God?
And who among the sons of âgods'
and in all [the council of the holy ones? ...
... For Thou] art the glory of its majesty.
As for me, Thine anointed one, I have understood...
[I will make] thee [know]n, for Thou hast made me know;
I will have insight, for Thou hast given me insight...
For on Thy name, my God, we shall call,
and [we shall wait] for Thy salvation.
And they will put it on like a garment
and like a dress...
[Turn to me and take pity on me;
give thy strength to Thy servant]
and save the son of Thy handmaid.
Show me [a sign of Thy favour,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because Thou,] my [G]od, hast helped me (Ps. lxxxvi, 16-17)
and I will prepare (a sacrifice) for Thee, my God.
... [Thou dost rule the rag]ing of the sea;
Thou stillest its waves.
[Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass,
Thou didst scatter Thine enemies with Thy mighty arm]
(Ps. lxxxix, 10-11).
[The world and] all that is in it, Thou hast founded them
(ibid. 12).
Thou hast a [mighty] arm; strong is Thy hand,
high Thy right hand (ibid. 14)
[For who in the skies can be compared to thee,] my God?
And who among the sons of âgods'
and in all [the council of the holy ones? ...
... For Thou] art the glory of its majesty.
As for me, Thine anointed one, I have understood...
[I will make] thee [know]n, for Thou hast made me know;
I will have insight, for Thou hast given me insight...
For on Thy name, my God, we shall call,
and [we shall wait] for Thy salvation.
And they will put it on like a garment
and like a dress...
Fr. 17
...In splendour Thou wilt look on Judah and...
My God, Thou wilt swallow them up
And [fire] will de[vour them] ...
My God, Thou wilt swallow them up
And [fire] will de[vour them] ...
Fr. 24
... Psalm of the Man of God.
Lord, God ...
He has redeemed Judah from all distress
and from Ephraim...
... generation.
Those who have passed his test will praise him
and say, âArise [O God'] ...
Thy name is my salvation,
my rock, my fortress and [my] refuge [is my God] (Ps. xviii, 3).
On the day of... I will call on the Lord and he will answer me,
my help... those who hate me.
And he will say,...
[My c]ry be[fore him] comes to his ears (Ps. xviii, 7)
[From his temple he will hear my] voi[ce].
[And] the earth will [re]el [and rock,
and the foundations of the mountains tremble... for he is
angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils (Ps. xviii, 7-9) ...
Lord, God ...
He has redeemed Judah from all distress
and from Ephraim...
... generation.
Those who have passed his test will praise him
and say, âArise [O God'] ...
Thy name is my salvation,
my rock, my fortress and [my] refuge [is my God] (Ps. xviii, 3).
On the day of... I will call on the Lord and he will answer me,
my help... those who hate me.
And he will say,...
[My c]ry be[fore him] comes to his ears (Ps. xviii, 7)
[From his temple he will hear my] voi[ce].
[And] the earth will [re]el [and rock,
and the foundations of the mountains tremble... for he is
angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils (Ps. xviii, 7-9) ...
Fr. 31
... in the net which they have concealed ...
I will sing to ...
I will meditate over Thy wonders
for to ... before Thee...
Thou dost save me and lift me up from the tents of death
... before all ...
All its ways come to ...
In a holy place ... [Selah.]
vacat
... [Prayer of... k]ing of Judah.
Hear o [my] Go[d] ...
I will recount before those who fear Thee...
Who can understand Thy [th]oughts?
For my oppressors have increased before Thee.
Thou hast known them
and Thou hast subdued the enemies of my soul before
Thine e[yes].
For I will live ...
[and] Thou shalt [not] conceal my iniquity to those with
understanding.
Thou shalt slay them (the enemies) O God of my salvation.
The days of my existence are treasured up.
What can a man say (but) âHere I am' ?
And how [dost Thou deliver] to the sword
those who wait for me,
those who say... on the day of wrath?
They have woven a crown for my head.
For their glory is a splendid pillar...
... from the Book of li[fe].
Those who frighten me will be cut off
And my enemies will finish ...
... a song and thanksgiving ...
I will sing to ...
I will meditate over Thy wonders
for to ... before Thee...
Thou dost save me and lift me up from the tents of death
... before all ...
All its ways come to ...
In a holy place ... [Selah.]
vacat
... [Prayer of... k]ing of Judah.
Hear o [my] Go[d] ...
I will recount before those who fear Thee...
Who can understand Thy [th]oughts?
For my oppressors have increased before Thee.
Thou hast known them
and Thou hast subdued the enemies of my soul before
Thine e[yes].
For I will live ...
[and] Thou shalt [not] conceal my iniquity to those with
understanding.
Thou shalt slay them (the enemies) O God of my salvation.
The days of my existence are treasured up.
What can a man say (but) âHere I am' ?
And how [dost Thou deliver] to the sword
those who wait for me,
those who say... on the day of wrath?
They have woven a crown for my head.
For their glory is a splendid pillar...
... from the Book of li[fe].
Those who frighten me will be cut off
And my enemies will finish ...
... a song and thanksgiving ...
Fr. 33
... Rise [above the heaven]s, O Lord,
and [my] God ...
And let us glory in Thy might
for [Thy wonders] are inscrutable
... Thou shalt place me
and Thy chastisement will be my [joy].
... everlasting and to extol. Thee.
For my sins have become too many for me...
But Thou, my God, shalt send Thy spi[rit]
[and Thy mercy]
to the son of Thy handmaid
and Thy loving-kindness to the servant who is near Thee ...
I will exult and rejoice in Thee before those who fear [Thee],
for [Thou shalt judge] Thy servants in Thy righteousness,
and according to Thy loving-kindness
... to save ... to thee. Selah.
vacat
Prayer of Manasseh, King of Judah when the King of Assyria
gaoled him.
... [my G]od ... my salvation is near in Thine eyes ...
I wait for Thy delivering presence,
and I feel faint before Thee because of my s[in].
For [Thou hast] enlarged [Thy mercies(?)],
and I have multiplied guilt.
And thus ...
from eternal joy
and my soul shall not see goodness ...
He has lifted me up on high
above a nation ...
And I did not remember thee [in Thy plac]e of h[oliness];
I did not serve [Thee] ...
and [my] God ...
And let us glory in Thy might
for [Thy wonders] are inscrutable
... Thou shalt place me
and Thy chastisement will be my [joy].
... everlasting and to extol. Thee.
For my sins have become too many for me...
But Thou, my God, shalt send Thy spi[rit]
[and Thy mercy]
to the son of Thy handmaid
and Thy loving-kindness to the servant who is near Thee ...
I will exult and rejoice in Thee before those who fear [Thee],
for [Thou shalt judge] Thy servants in Thy righteousness,
and according to Thy loving-kindness
... to save ... to thee. Selah.
vacat
Prayer of Manasseh, King of Judah when the King of Assyria
gaoled him.
... [my G]od ... my salvation is near in Thine eyes ...
I wait for Thy delivering presence,
and I feel faint before Thee because of my s[in].
For [Thou hast] enlarged [Thy mercies(?)],
and I have multiplied guilt.
And thus ...
from eternal joy
and my soul shall not see goodness ...
He has lifted me up on high
above a nation ...
And I did not remember thee [in Thy plac]e of h[oliness];
I did not serve [Thee] ...
Fr. 45
... I will make understand .... - - . :
I fear Thee and will cleanse myself
Of abominations known to me.
I give my soul to be humbled before Thee.
They have multiplied sin
And they plot against me to imprison me.
But I have trusted Thee ...
And do not judge me, my God, ...
Those who conspire against me
Let loose their lying tongue ...
I fear Thee and will cleanse myself
Of abominations known to me.
I give my soul to be humbled before Thee.
They have multiplied sin
And they plot against me to imprison me.
But I have trusted Thee ...
And do not judge me, my God, ...
Those who conspire against me
Let loose their lying tongue ...
BOOK: The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English
13.43Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
Other books
Shadow Of The Mountain by D.A. Stone
Ragnarok: The Fate of Gods by Jake La Jeunesse
Manolito tiene un secreto by Elvira Lindo
Fallout (Joshua Stokes Mysteries Book 2) by Lila Beckham
Pathspace: The Space of Paths by Matthew Kennedy
Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String by Bob Boyle
The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry
Ten by Lauren Myracle
The Time Regulation Institute by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
Un verano en Sicilia by Marlena de Blasi