Column 12

1 [… the rewards of their might. And they fall from their might …] 2 [… the wise in] their [cunning.] But I, when I hold fast [to your covenant …] 3 […] … […] 4 [… and] you set my foot on a rock and turn my steps from the way of […] 5 […] on the eternal way and in the paths that you have chosen, my steps … […] 6 […] I thank you, O Lord, for you have made my face shine for your covenant and … […] 7 […] … I seek you, and as sure as the dawn you have appeared to me as perfect light. But they, your people, 8 in [their] error; [and] with words they flattered them, and interpreters of deceit led them astray, and they come to ruin without understanding, for […] 9 their works are in folly, for I am rejected by them, and they do not regard me when you show yourself mighty through me. For they drive me from my land 10 like a bird from its nest, and all my friends and my acquaintances are driven away from me, and they regard me as a broken vessel. And they are interpreters of 11 lies and prophets of deceit. They plotted against me a thing of Belial, to exchange your Torah, which you engraved on my heart, for smooth things 12 for your people. And they hold back the drink of knowledge from the thirsty, and for their thirst they give them vinegar to drink, so as to gaze on 13 their error, acting like madmen at their festivals and being caught in their nets. But you, O God, spurn every plan of 14 Belial, and your counsel is what will stand, and the plan of your heart is established for all time. But they are hypocrites; plots of Belial 15 they plan, and they seek you with a double heart, and they are not established in your truth. A root bearing poison and wormwood is in their plans, 16 and in the stubbornness of their heart they wander about and seek you among idols. And the stumbling block of their iniquity they have set before their faces, and they come 17 to seek you from the mouth of prophets of lies, seduced by error. And they speak to your people with mocking lips and another tongue, 18 to make all their works folly by deceit. For they did not choose the [way of] your [heart], and they did not listen to your word, for they said 19 of the vision of knowledge, “It is not sure,” and of the way of your heart, “It is not that.” But you, O God, will answer them, judging them 20 in your might according to their idols and according to the multitude of their transgressions, so that they are caught in their plans, by which they are estranged from your covenant. 21 And you will cut off in judgment all the men of deceit, and prophets of error will be found no more. For there is no folly in all your works, 22 and no deceit in the design of your heart. And those who are according to your soul will stand before you forever, and those who walk in the way of your heart 23 will be established for all time. And I, when I hold fast to you, I stand upright and rise against those who spurn me, and my hand is against all who despise me, for 24 they do not regard me until you show yourself mighty through me. And you have appeared to me in your strength as perfect light, and you have not covered with shame the faces of 25 all who are sought out by me, who are gathered together for your covenant. And those who walk in the way of your heart listen to me, and they draw themselves up for you 26 in the council of the holy ones. And you bring their judgment out to victory, and truth to uprightness. And you do not let them be led astray by the hand of the wretched, 27 as they plotted against them. And you put the fear of them on your people, and they are a hammer to all the peoples of the lands, to cut off in judgment all 28 who transgress your word. And through me you have made the face of many shine, and you have shown yourself mighty beyond counting, for you have made known to me⁠a 29 your wonderful mysteries, and in your wonderful council you have shown yourself mighty with me, doing wonders before many for the sake of your glory, and to make known 30 to all the living your mighty deeds. What is flesh compared with this? And what is a thing shaped of clay, to do such great wonders? It is in iniquity 31 from the womb, and until old age in guilty unfaithfulness. And I know that righteousness does not belong to a man, nor perfection of 32 way to a son of Adam. To God Most High belong all the works of righteousness, and the way of a man is not established except by the spirit that God formed for him,⁠b 33 to make perfect a way for the sons of Adam, so that all his works may know the strength of his might and the abundance of his mercies upon all the sons of 34 his good will. And as for me, trembling and shaking have seized me, and all my bones are broken. My heart melts like wax before fire, and my knees go 35 like water poured down a slope. For I remember my guilty acts, with the unfaithfulness of my fathers, when the wicked rose against your covenant 36 and the wretched against your word. And I said, “Because of my transgression I am forsaken by your covenant.” But when I remembered the strength of your hand, with 37 the abundance of your mercies, I stood upright and rose, and my spirit held fast in position in the face of affliction. For I leaned 38 on your kindnesses and the abundance of your mercies. For you atone for iniquity, and to purify a man from guilt by your righteousness is yours, [my God,] 39 and not a human’s, all that you have done. For you created the righteous and the wicked … […] 40 […] … I will hold fast to your covenant until […] 41 […] … For you are truth, and all your [works] are righteousness […]