Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
"And now hearken unto me, my children, and walk in singleness of heart,
for upon it resteth the favor of the Lord at all times. The simple man
longeth not for gold, he doth not defraud his neighbor, he hath no
desire for meats and dainties of many kinds, he careth not for
sumptuous dress, he hopeth not for long life, he waiteth only upon the
will of God. The spirits of deception have no power over him, for he
looketh not upon the beauty of woman, lest he defile his understanding
with corruption. Jealousy cometh not into his thoughts, envy doth not
sear his soul, and insatiable greed doth not make him look abroad for
rich gain. Now, then, my children, observe the law of the Lord, attain
to simplicity, and walk in singleness of heart, without meddling with
the affairs of others. Love the Lord and love your neighbors, have pity
upon the poor and the feeble, bow your backs to till the ground, occupy
yourselves with work upon the land, and bring gifts unto the Lord in
gratitude. For the Lord hath blessed you with the best of the fruits of
the field, as he hath blessed all the saints from Abel down to our day.
"Know, my children, that in the latter time your sons will abandon the
paths of probity, and will be ruled by greed. They will forsake
rectitude and practice craft, they will depart from the commands of the
Lord and follow after Beliar, they will give up husbandry and pursue
their evil plans, they will be scattered among the heathen and serve
their enemies. Tell this unto your children, so that, if they sin, they
may repent speedily, and return to the Lord, for He is merciful, and He
will take them out to bring them back unto their land.
"I am one hundred and twenty-two years old, and I can discern no sin in
myself. Save my wife, I have known no woman. I was guilty of no
unchastity through the lifting up of eyes. I drank no wine, that I
might not be led astray, I did not covet what belonged to my neighbor,
guile had no place in my heart, lies did not pass my lips. I sighed
along with all that were heavy-laden, and to the poor I gave my bread.
I loved the Lord with all my might, and mankind I also loved. Do ye
likewise, my children, and all the spirits of Beliar will flee from
you, no deed done by the wicked will have power over you, and ye will
vanquish all the wild beasts, for ye have with you the Lord of heaven."
And Issachar bade his children carry him up to Hebron, and bury him
there by his fathers in the Cave, and he stretched out his feet, and
fell into the sleep of eternity, full of years, healthy of limb, and in
the possession of all his faculties.[11]
ZEBULON EXHORTS UNTO COMPASSION
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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