1 Lord, Father and Ruler of my life: may you not abandon me to their counsel, nor permit me to fall by them.
2 They would impose scourges over my thoughts and over the discipline of wisdom in my heart. And they would not spare me from their ignorances, nor would they allow their own offenses to become apparent.
3 And they intend that my ignorances would increase, and my offenses be multiplied, and my sins abound. And so I would fall in the sight of my adversaries, and be rejoiced over by my enemy.
4 Lord, Father and God of my life: may you not abandon me to their plans.
5 Do not leave me with the haughtiness of my eyes. And avert all desire from me.
6 Take the desire of the body from me, and do not allow sexual desire to take hold of me, and do not permit an irreverent and senseless mind within me.
7 O sons: listen to the doctrine of my mouth. For those who observe it will not perish by the lips, nor be scandalized into wicked works.
8 A sinner is held by his own emptiness. And the arrogant and those who speak evil will be scandalized by these things.
9 Do not allow your mouth to become accustomed to swearing oaths. For in this, there are many pitfalls.
10 Truly, do not allow the naming of God to be continually in your mouth, and do not treat as if common the names of the holy ones. For you will not escape punishment by them.
11 Just as a servant, continually interrogated, will not be without a bruise, so everyone who swears oaths and takes God’s name will not be entirely free from sin.
12 A man who swears many oaths will be filled with iniquity, and scourges will not depart from his house.
13 And if he fails to fulfill it, his offense will be over him, and if he pretends he fulfilled it, he offends doubly.
14 And if he swears an oath insincerely, he will not be justified. For his house will be filled with retribution for him.
15 There is yet another kind of talk which faces death; let it not be found in the inheritance of Jacob.
16 For all these things will be taken away from the merciful, and they shall not wallow in offenses.
17 Do not allow your mouth to become accustomed to undisciplined speech. For in this, there is the sin of words.
18 When you sit in the midst of great men, remember your father and mother.
19 Otherwise, God may forget you, when you are in their sight, and then you would be repeatedly ridiculed and would suffer disgrace, and you might wish that you had never been born, and you might curse the day of your nativity.
20 The man who is accustomed to disgraceful words will not accept instruction, all the days of his life.
21 Two kinds of persons abound in sins, and a third adds wrath and perdition.
22 A desirous soul is like a burning fire, it will not be quenched, until it devours something.
23 And a man who is wicked in the desires of his flesh will not desist until he has kindled a fire.
24 To a man of fornication, all bread is sweet; he will not tire of transgression, to the very end.
25 Every man who transgresses his own bed has contempt for his own soul. And so he says: “Who can see me?
26 Darkness surrounds me, and the walls enclose me, and no one catches sight of me. Whom should I fear? The Most High will not remember my offenses.”
27 And he does not understand that God’s eye sees all things. For fear within a man such as this drives away from him both the fear of God and the eyes of those men who fear God.
28 And he does not acknowledge that the eyes of the Lord are much brighter than the sun, keeping watch over all the ways of men, even to the depths of the abyss, and gazing into the hearts of men, even to the most hidden parts.
29 For all things, before they were created, were known to the Lord God. And even after their completion, he beholds all things.
30 This man will be punished in the streets of the city, and he will be chased like a young horse. And in a place that he does not suspect, he will be captured.
31 And because he did not understand the fear of the Lord, he will be in disgrace before all men,
32 as will be every woman, too, who abandons her husband and establishes an inheritance by marriage to another man.
33 For first, she was unbelieving of the law of the Most High. Second, she offended against her husband. Third, she fornicated by adultery, and so established her children by another man.
34 This woman will be led into the assembly, and she will be stared at by her children.
35 Her children will not take root, and her branches will not produce fruit.
36 She will leave behind her memory as a curse, and her infamy will not be wiped away.
37 And those who are left behind will acknowledge that there is nothing better than the fear of God, and that there is nothing sweeter than to have respect for the commandments of the Lord.
38 It is a great glory to follow the Lord. For length of days will be received from him.
1 Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her people.
2 And she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtue.
3 And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.
4 And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:
5 I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.
6 I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.
7 I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.
8 I alone have encompassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated to the depths of the abyss, and have walked upon the waves of the sea,
9 and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,
10 and in every nation, I have held primacy.
11 And by virtue, I have tread upon the hearts of all, the great and the lowly. And I have sought my rest in all of them. And I will continue, as the inheritance of the Lord.
12 Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.
13 And he said to me: ‘Let your dwelling place be with Jacob, and let your inheritance be in Israel, for you shall take root among my elect.’
14 From the beginning, and before the world, I was created. And even unto the future world, I will not cease to exist. For I have ministered before him in the holy habitation.
15 And in this way, I was established in Zion. And likewise, in the holy city, I found rest. And my authority was in Jerusalem.
16 And I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.
17 I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.
18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.
19 I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.
20 I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
21 And I perfumed my dwelling place with sweet gum, and aromatic resin, and flower petals, and aloe, as well as the finest cedar from Lebanon. And my fragrance is like undiluted balsam.
22 I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.
23 Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.
24 I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
25 All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.
26 Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.
27 For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.
28 My memory is for the generations of all ages.
29 Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.
30 Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.
31 Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life.”
32 All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.
33 Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.
34 God appointed David as his servant, in order to raise up from him a most mighty King, who would sit upon the throne of honor forever.
35 It is he who fulfills wisdom, like the Phison river and the Tigris river in the first days.
36 It is he who fulfills understanding, like the river Euphrates. It is he who multiplies understanding, like the river Jordan in the time of the harvest.
37 He sends forth discipline like the light, and he stands forth like the river Gehon in the time of the vintage.
38 He first had perfect knowledge of her, for a weaker one would not search for her.
39 For her thoughts abound like the sea, and her counsels abound like the great abyss.
40 I, wisdom, have poured forth rivers.
41 I am like a brook leading to a river of immense waters. I am like a channel flowing from a river. And I went forth from Paradise like an aqueduct.
42 I said: I will irrigate my garden of plantings, and I will thoroughly water the fruits of my field.
43 And behold, my brook became overflowing, and my river drew near to the sea.
44 For I illuminate doctrine to all, like the first light. And I will announce doctrine, even to those who are far away.
45 I will reach to all the lower parts of the earth, and I will gaze upon all who sleep, and I will illuminate all who hope in the Lord.
46 Even now, I pour forth doctrine like prophecy. And even now, I bequeath doctrine to those who seek wisdom. And I will not cease from their progeny, even unto the holy time.
47 See how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking truth!”
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18 After this one, they brought the sixth, and he, being about to die, spoke in this way: “Do not go astray in vain. For we suffer because of ourselves, having sinned against our God, yet things worthy of admiration have been accomplished in us.
19 But do not consider that you will be without punishment, for you have attempted to fight against God.”
20 Now the mother was wonderful beyond measure, and a worthy memorial of the good, for she watched her seven sons perish within the time of one day, and she bore it with a good soul, because of the hope that she had in God.
21 And, with fortitude, she exhorted every one of them, in the language of the fathers, being filled with wisdom. And, joining masculine courage with feminine thinking,
22 she said to them: “I do not know how you were formed in my womb. For I did not give you spirit, nor soul, nor life; neither did I construct each of your limbs.
23 Nevertheless, the Creator of the world, who formed the nativity of man, and who founded the origins of all, will restore both spirit and life to you again, with his mercy, just as you now despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.”
24 But Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and at the same time also despising the voice of the reproacher, when only the youngest was still left, not only exhorted him with words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him wealthy and happy, and, if he would convert from the laws of his fathers, he would have him as a friend, and he would provide him with necessary things.
25 But, when the youth was not swayed by these things, the king called the mother and persuaded her to act toward the youth to save him.
26 And so, when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son.
27 Then, leaning towards him and mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in the language of the fathers: “My son, take pity on me, for I carried you for nine months in my womb, and I gave you milk for three years, and I nourished you and led you through to this stage of life.
28 I ask you, child, gaze upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and understand that God made them, and the family of man, out of nothing.
29 So shall it be that you will not fear this executioner, but, participating worthily with your brothers, you shall accept death, so that, by this mercy, I shall receive you again with your brothers.”
30 While she was still saying these things, the youth said: “What are you waiting for? I will not obey the precepts of the king, but the precepts of the law, which was given to us through Moses.
31 In truth, you, who have been the inventor of all malice against the Hebrews, will not escape the hand of God.
32 For we suffer these things because of our sins.
33 And if, for the sake of our chastisement and correction, the Lord our God is angry with us for a little while, yet still he will be reconciled again to his servants.
34 But as for you, O wicked and most disgraceful of all men, do be not be extolled over nothing, with vain hopes, while you are inflamed against his servants.
35 For you have not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who examines all things.
36 Therefore, my brothers, having now sustained brief sorrow, have been brought under the covenant of eternal life. But, in truth, you, by the judgment of God, will be released into just punishment for your arrogance.
37 But I, like my brothers, deliver up my soul and my body for the sake of the laws of the fathers, calling upon God so as to bring forgiveness upon our nation sooner, and so that you, with torments and lashings, may confess that he alone is God.
38 Truly, in me and in my brothers, the wrath of the Almighty, which has been led over all our people justly, shall cease.”
39 Then the king, burning with anger, raged against this one with cruelty beyond all the rest, bearing it indignantly that he himself was derided.
40 And so this one also died in purity, trusting in the Lord through all things.
41 Then, last of all, after the sons, the mother also was consumed.
42 Therefore, about the sacrifices and about the exceedingly great cruelties, enough has been said.
1 Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old:
1 And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name which is alive, but you are dead.
2 Be vigilant, and confirm the things that remain, lest they soon die out. For I do not find your works to be full in the sight of my God.
3 Therefore, keep in mind the way that you have received and heard, and then observe it and repent. But if you will not be vigilant, I will come to you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
4 But you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And these shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
5 Whoever prevails, so shall he be clothed in white vestments. And I will not delete his name from the Book of Life. And I will confess his name in the presence of my Father and in the presence of his Angels.
6 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
7 And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia write: Thus says the Holy One, the True One, he who holds the key of David. He opens and no one closes. He closes and no one opens.
8 I know your works. Behold, I have set an open door before you, which no one is able to close. For you have little power, and you have observed my word, and you have not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will take from the synagogue of Satan those who declare themselves to be Jews and are not, for they are lying. Behold, I will cause them to approach and to reverence before your feet. And they shall know that I have loved you.
10 Since you have kept the word of my patient endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall overcome the whole world in order to test those living upon the earth.
11 Behold, I am approaching quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.
12 Whoever prevails, I will set him as a column in the temple of my God, and he shall not depart from it anymore. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that descends out of heaven from my God, and my new name.
13 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
14 And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, who is the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 I know your works: that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot.
16 But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth.
17 For you declare, ‘I am wealthy, and I have been enriched further, and I have need of nothing.’ And you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
18 I urge you to buy from me gold, tested by fire, so that you may be enriched and may be clothed in white vestments, and so that the shame of your nakedness may disappear. And anoint your eyes with an eye salve, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and chastise. Therefore, be zealous and do penance.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door to me, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with me.
21 Whoever prevails, I will grant to him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also have overcome and have sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.”
1 After these things, I saw, and behold, a door was opened in heaven, and the voice that I heard speaking with me first was like a trumpet, saying: “Ascend to here, and I will reveal to you what must occur after these things.”
2 And immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne had been placed in heaven, and there was One sitting upon the throne.
3 And the One who was sitting there was similar in appearance to a stone of jasper and sardius. And there was an iridescence surrounding the throne, in aspect similar to an emerald.
4 And surrounding the throne were twenty-four smaller thrones. And upon the thrones, twenty-four elders were sitting, clothed entirely in white vestments, and on their heads were gold crowns.
5 And from the throne, lightnings and voices and thunders went forth. And there were seven burning lamps before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 And in view of the throne, there was something that seemed like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. And in the middle of the throne, and all around the throne, there were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and in back.
7 And the first living creature resembled a lion, and the second living creature resembled a calf, and the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature resembled a flying eagle.
8 And each of the four living creatures had upon them six wings, and all around and within they are full of eyes. And they took no rest, day or night, from saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
9 And while those living creatures were giving glory and honor and blessings to the One sitting upon the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fell prostrate before the One sitting upon the throne, and they adored him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you have created all things, and they became and were created because of your will.
