The
Book of Secrets
1Q,4Q299-301
4Q301 F.1
(...)
I shall speak out freely, and I shall express my various sayings
among you (...) (.. those who would understand parables and riddles,
and those who would penetrate the origins of knowledge, along with
those who hold fast to the wonderful mysteries ...) (...) those who walk
in simplicity as well as those who are devious in every activity of the deeds
of humanity ...) those with a stiff neck, a hard pate, and all the mass of the
Gentiles, with (...)
4Q301
F.2
the customs of the fool and the inheritance of the wise (...)
Now what good is the riddle to you, you who search for the origins
of knowledge? Why is the heart honored, for it is the dominion (...)
a parable? Why is it splendid to you, for it is (...)
Why is a prince (...) ruler? (...) without strenght, and he dominates
him with a whip that cost nothing. Who could say (...) who among you
seeks the prescense of Light and Illumination (...) the plan of memory
without (...) (...) by the angels of (...) (...) those who praise (...)
4Q300
F.3
so that they would know the difference between good and evil .....)
1Q27 col.1 secrets of sin (...) but they did not know the secret
of the way things are nor did they understand the things of old
and they did not know what would come upon them, so they did not
rescue themselves without the secret of the way things are.
This shall be the sign that this shall come to pass : when the sources
of evil are shut up and wickedness is banished in the prescense of
righteousness, as darkness in the prescense of light, or as smoke
vanishes and is no more, in the same way wickedness will vanish
forever and righteousness will be manifest like the sun.
The world will be made firm and all the adherents of the secrets
of sin shall be no more. True knowledge shall fill the world and
there will never be any more folly. This is all ready to happen, it is a
true oracle, and by this it shall be known to you that it cannot be averted.
It is true that all the peoples reject evil, yet it advances in all of them.
It is true that truth is esteemed in the utterances of all the nations -
yet is there any tongue or language that grasp it?
What nation wants to be oppressed by another that is stronger?
Or who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man?
Yet what nation is there that has not oppressed its neighbour?
Where is the people that has not robbed the wealth of another ...
4q299 F.2 (+4Q300 F.5) Col.2
what should we call a man who ... his) deeds (...) but every deed of
the righteous has been judged impure. And what shall we call man who
(... call no one on earth) wise or righteous, for it is not a human possession
(...) and not (...) (...wisdom is hidden) except for the wisdom of cunning
evil, and the schemes of Belial ...) a thing that ought never to be done again,
except (...) the command of his Maker ; and what shall a man do and live?
... he who) has violated the command of his Maker shall have his name
erased from the mouth of all (...) (...)
So listen, you who hold fast to the wonderful secrets ...) of eternity
, and the plots behind every did, and the purpouse of .... He knows)
every secret and stands behind very thought. He does every (... the Lord of
all)
is He, from long ago He established it, and forever (...) (...) the purpouse
of the origins he opened up to (...) (...) for he tests His son, and gives
as an inheritance (...) (...) every secret, and he limits of every deed;
and what (...) (...) the Gentiles, for He created them and their deeds (...)
4Q300 F.1 Col.2
Consider the soothsayers, those teachers of sin. Say the parable,
declare the riddle before we speak ; then you will know if you
have understood. (...) your foolishness, for the vision is sealed up
from you, and you have not properly understood the eternal mysteries
and you have not become wise in understanding (...) (...) for you
have not properly understood the origin of Wisdom; but if you
should unseal the vision (...) (...) all your wisdom, for to you
(...) Hear now what wisdom is.
4Q299 F.5
(...light)s of the stars for a memorial of His name ...)(...hidden)
things of the mysteries of Light and the ways of Darkness
(...) (...) the times of heat with the periods (of cold....)
(... the breaking of day) and the coming of night (...) (...)
the origins of things (...).
4Q299 F.8
(...) How can a man understand without knowledge or hearing?
(...) (...) He created insight for His children, by much wisdom He
uncovered our ears tat we may h(ear...) (...) He created insight
for all those who pursue true knowledge and (...) (...) all wisdom
is from eternity; it may not be changed (...) (...)
He locked up behind the waters , so that not (...) (...)
the heaven above heaven (...)
4Q301 F.3
(...) and He is welll known for His patience, and might in His great anger,
and splendid (...) He in His numerous acts of mercy, and terrible in
His wrathful purpouses, and honoured (...) (...) and over the land
He made him a ruler, and God is honoured among His Holy people,
and splendid among His chosen, yes , splendid (...)
holy, great in the blessing of (...) (...) their splendour and (...)
when the Era of Wickedness is at an end , and evil doing (...)
Dead
Sea Scrolls Section <scroll.htm>