The Qumran Community · a new plain-English translation from the original language
[...] [the recompenses of] [their might] [...] [and] [they will fall] [from] [their might] [...]
[...] [the wise] in [their] [cunning] and I, in my supporting myself, [in] [your covenant] [...]
[...] [...]
[...] [and] you have set my foot firm upon a rock, and you removed my steps from [the way] [...]
[...] in the everlasting way, and in the paths which you have chosen my steps [...]
[...] I will praise you, O Lord, for you have shone your face upon me for your covenant, and from [...]
[...] I will seek you [...] and like a steadfast dawn to [the perfectly illumined] you have shone upon me [...] and they, your people
in [their straying] [and] with smooth words they have flattered them [...] and interpreters of deceit have led them astray, and they stumble without understanding, for [...]
in the folly of their deeds, for they were despised by them [...] and they do not esteem me, when you show your power through me, for it drove me out from my land
like a bird from its nest [...] and all my companions and my acquaintances have been driven away from me, and they esteem me as a lost vessel [...] and they are interpreters of
deceit and seers of falsehood [...] they have plotted against me a devilish plot of Belial, to exchange your law which you engraved in my heart, for flattering words
to your people [...] and they hold back the drink of knowledge from the thirsty, and for their thirst they give them vinegar to drink, so that they gaze at
their straying, to act mad at their appointed times, to be caught in their snares [...] for you, O God, spurn every scheme of
Belial, and your counsel, it shall stand, and the plan of your heart, it shall be established forever [...] and they think hidden thoughts of Belial
they devise, and they seek you with a divided heart, and they are not established in your truth [...] a root bearing poison and wormwood is in their thoughts [...]
and with the stubbornness of their heart they go about and seek you among idols [...] and the stumbling-block of their iniquity they have set before their faces, and they come
to seek you from the mouth of prophets of falsehood, seduced by error [...] and they, [in] [mockery] of lip and another tongue, speak to your people
to make mad with deceit all their deeds [...] for they have not chosen the [way] [of your heart], and they have not listened to your word, for they have said
concerning the vision of knowledge, it is not established, and concerning the way of your heart, it is not so [...] for you, O God, will answer them, judging them
in your might, [according to] their idols and according to the multitude of their transgressions, so that they are caught in their thoughts which have turned aside from your covenant [...]
and you will cut off in [judgment] all men of deceit, and seers of error shall be found no more [...] for there is no folly in all your deeds
and no deceit in the purpose of your heart [...] and those who are according to your soul shall stand before you forever, and those who walk in the way of your heart
shall be established forever [...] [and] I, in my supporting myself in you, take courage, and I rise up against those who spurn me [...] and my hand is against all who despise me, for
they do not [esteem me] until you show your power through me, and you shine upon me by your strength for the perfectly illumined [...] and you have not covered with shame the face of
all who [are sought] by me, who are gathered together for your covenant [...] and they who walk in the way of your heart shall listen to me, and they shall arrange themselves for you
in the council of the holy ones [...] and you will bring forth judgment for them forever, and truth for the upright [...] and you will not lead them astray by the hand of the wretched ones
as they have devised against them [...] and you will put the fear of them upon your people, and a shattering upon all the peoples of the lands, to cut off in judgment all
who transgress your mouth [...] and through me you have illumined the face of many, and you have shown your strength without number, for you have made known to me the mysteries of
your wonder [...] and in the council of your wonder you have shown strength beside me, and worked wonders before many, for the sake of your glory, and to make known
to all the living your mighty deeds [...] what is flesh, like this [...] and what is a creature of clay, to do great wonders [...] and he is in iniquity
from the womb, and until old age, in guilt of unfaithfulness [...] and I, I know that righteousness does not belong to man, nor perfection to a son of man
of way [...] to God Most High belong all deeds of righteousness [...] and the way of man is not established except by the spirit which God formed for him,
to make perfect the way for the sons of man, so that all may know his deeds by the strength of his might and the abundance of his mercies upon all the sons of
his favor [...] and I, trembling and shuddering have seized me, and all my bones shake [...] and my heart melts like wax before fire, and my knees go
like waters poured down a slope [...] for I remembered my guilty deeds together with the unfaithfulness of my fathers, when the wicked rose up against your covenant
and the wretched against your word [...] and I said, in my transgression I am abandoned from your covenant [...] and when I remember the strength of your hand, together with
the abundance of your mercies, I took courage and rose up, and my spirit held firm in its stand before affliction [...] for I leaned
on your acts of kindness, and by the abundance of your mercies iniquity is atoned for in me [...] and to [cleanse] man from guilt through your righteousness, for your sake, [my God] [...]
and not for man's sake, all that you have done, for you have created the righteous and the wicked [...]
[...] I will strengthen myself by your covenant until [...]
[...] for truth are you, and righteous are all [your deeds] [...]