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The Thanksgiving Hymns — Column 20

The Qumran Community · a new plain-English translation from the original language

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[...] my soul widens [...] [r] [l] [...]

[...] [...] in joy and [gladness] [...] and [I will dwell] securely in a [holy] [peaceful] habitation, [in] quiet and tranquility

[in] [peace] and blessing, in tents of glory and salvation [...] and I will praise your name in the midst of those who fear you [...]

[For] [the Instructor]. [Thanksgivings] and prayer, to fall prostrate and supplicate continually from period to period [...] with the coming of light

for [its dominion] in the circuits of the day, according to its arrangement, according to the statutes of the great light, at the turning of evening, and the going forth of

light at the beginning of the dominion of darkness, for the appointed time of night [...] in its circuit, at the turning of morning, and at the end

of its gathering to its dwelling place, from the turning of light to the going forth of night, and before the coming of day [...] continually, in all

the births of time, the foundations of the period [...] and the circuit of the appointed times, in their arrangement, in their signs, for all

their dominion, in a faithful order from the mouth of God [...] and the testimony of what exists, and it shall be

and there is no end [...] and besides it there was not, and there will not be again [...] for God of knowledge

established it, and there is none other with him [...] and I, the Instructor, have known you, my God, by a spirit

which you have put in me [...] and faithfully I have listened to the secret of your wonder [...] by your holy spirit

[You have opened] within me knowledge in the mystery of your insight, and the spring of [your might] [...] [...] in the midst of

[those who fear you], for the abundance of mercy and zeal of destruction, and turning back [...]

[...] [in] the splendor of your glory, for [eternal] light [...]

[...] [from] the dread of wickedness, and there is no deceit, and [...] [...] [...]

[...] appointed times of desolation [...] for there is [no] [more] [...]

[...] [and] there is no more terror [...] for before [your anger] [...]

[...] they are terrified [...] and there is no righteous one with you [...] [...]

and [to] have insight into all your mysteries, and to answer a word [concerning] [your judgments] [...]

in your reproof, and for your goodness they watch [...] for by [your mercy] [...] [all]

those who know you [...] and at the time of your glory they will rejoice, and according to [...] [for] according to their insight

their drawing near, and according to their dominion they will serve you, according to [their divisions], [not] [to] turn back from you

and not to transgress your word [...] and I, from dust, [you have taken me], [and] [from] [clay] [I was formed]

to a source of impurity and nakedness of shame, from a heap of dust and kneaded [in] [water], [a] [foundation] [of] [worms], and a dwelling of

darkness [...] and the return of dust to the creature of clay, at the time of [your anger] [...] [dust] will return

to the place from which it was taken [...] and what can dust and ashes answer [concerning] [your judgment], [and] [what] can it understand

[in] [his deeds] [...] and how can it stand before the one who reproves it [...] and [...] holiness

[...] eternity, and a hope of glory, and a spring of knowledge, and the might of [wonder] [...] and they not

[are able] to recount all your glory, and to stand before your anger [...] and there is none to answer a word

concerning your reproof [...] for you are righteous, and there is none against you [...] and how much more one who returns to his dust [...]

and I am struck dumb [...] and what shall I say concerning this [...] according to my knowledge I have spoken, from the frame of a creature of clay [...] and what

shall I say, unless you have opened my mouth [...] and how shall I understand, unless you have given me insight [...] and what [shall I say]

when you have not uncovered my heart [...] and how shall I make my way straight, unless [you have established] [my steps] [...] [and] [what]

shall [my steps] stand? [None] [is strengthened] by strength [...] and how shall I rise up, [unless] [...]

and all [...] my steps in [nothing] [...]

the [...]

as [...]

and [...]

An original translation made in 2026 by Scriptorium Press, working directly from the original language text (never from another English translation), in one consistent modern voice. Free to read, download, and listen — no accounts, no ads, nothing for sale.

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