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The Testament of Issachar |
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Chapter 2
1KNOW ye therefore, my children, that in the last times your sons will forsake singleness, and will cleave unto insatiable desire.
2And leaving guilelessness, will draw near to malice; and forsaking the commandments of the Lord, they will cleave unto Beliar.
3And leaving husbandry, they will follow after their own wicked devices, and they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles, and shall serve their enemies.
4And do you therefore give these commands to your children, that, if they sin, they may the more quickly return to the Lord; For He is merciful, and will deliver them, even to bring them back into their land.
5Behold, therefore, as ye see, I am a hundred and twenty-six years old and am not conscious of committing any sin.
6Except my wife I have not known any woman. I never committed fornication by the uplifting of my eyes.
7I drank not wine, to be led astray thereby;
8I coveted not any desirable thing that was my neighbour's.
9Guile arose not in my heart;
10A lie passed not through my lips.
11If any man were in distress I joined my sighs with his,
12And I shared my bread with the poor.
13I wrought godliness, all my days I kept truth.
14I loved the Lord; likewise also every man with all my heart.
15So do you also these things, my children, and every spirit of Beliar shall flee from you, and no deed of wicked men shall rule over you;
16And every wild beast shall ye subdue, since you have with you the God of heaven and earth and walk with men in singleness of heart.
17And having said these things, he commanded his sons that they should carry him up to Hebron, and bury him there in the cave with his fathers.
18And he stretched out his feet and died, at a good old age; with every limb sound, and with strength unabated, he slept the eternal sleep.