The Qumran Community · a new plain-English translation from the original language
with His holy anointed ones, and they prophesied falsely to turn Israel away from following
God [...] And God remembered the covenant of the forefathers, and He raised, out of Aaron, discerning men, and out of Israel
wise men [...] and He made them hear, and they dug the well: 'A well the princes dug, the nobles of the people delved it
with the staff.' [...] The well is the Law, and those who dig it are
the returnees of Israel who departed Judah's territory and dwelt as sojourners in the region of Damascus
whom God called all of them princes, for they sought Him, and their glory was not
disputed by anyone's mouth. [...] And the Staff is the one who expounds the Law, of whom
Isaiah said: 'who brings forth a tool for His work.' [...] And the nobles of the people are
those who came to dig the well with the statutes that the Staff decreed
to walk in them throughout the whole age of wickedness, and apart from them they shall not attain it, until there arises
one who teaches righteousness at the end of days. [...] And all who were brought into the covenant
not to enter the sanctuary to kindle His altar in vain [...] and they shall be those who shut
the door, as God said: 'Who among you will shut My door, and you shall not kindle My altar
in vain.' [...] unless they take care to act according to the interpretation of the Law for the age of wickedness, and to separate
from the sons of the pit, and to abstain from the wicked wealth that defiles, by vow and by dedication
and by the wealth of the sanctuary. [...] and to keep away from robbing the needy among His people, making [widows] their spoil
and from murdering orphans; and to separate between the unclean and the clean, and to make known between
the holy and the profane, and to keep the Sabbath day according to its interpretation, and the festivals
and the day of fasting, according to what those who entered the new covenant within the region of Damascus found
to set aside the holy things according to their interpretations. [...] to love each man his brother
as himself, and to strengthen the hand of the poor and needy and the stranger, and for each man to seek the welfare of