Testament of Reuben 1:1–41

¹ THE Copy of the Testament of Reuben, even the commands which he gave his sons before he died in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. (T12) ² Two years after the death of Joseph his brother, when Reuben fell ill, his sons and his sons' sons were gathered together to visit him. (T12) ³ And he said to them: My children, behold I am dying, and go the way of my fathers. (T12) ⁴ And seeing there Judah, and Gad, and Asher, his brethren, he said to them: Raise me up that I may tell to my brethren and to my children what things I have hidden in my heart, for behold now at length I am passing away. (T12) ⁵ And he arose and kissed them, and said unto them: Hear, my brethren, and do ye my children, give ear to Reuben your father, in the commands which I give unto you. (T12) ⁶ And behold I call to witness against you this day the God of heaven, that ye walk not in the sins of youth and fornication, wherein I was poured out, and defiled the bed of my father Jacob. (T12) ⁷ And I tell you that he smote me with a sore plague in my loins for seven months; and had not my father Jamb prayed for me to the Lord, the Lord would have destroyed me. (T12) ⁸ For I was thirty years old when I wrought the evil thing before the Lord, and for seven months I was sick unto death. (T12) ⁹ And after this I repented with set purpose of my soul for seven years before the Lord. (T12) ¹⁰ And wine and strong drink I drank not, and flesh entered not into my mouth, and I ate no pleasant food; but I mourned over my sin, for it was great, such as had not been in Israel. (T12) ¹¹ And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of deceit, when I repented. (T12) ¹² Seven spirits therefore are appointed against man, and they are the leaders in the works of youth. (T12) ¹³ And seven other spirits are given to him at his creation, that through them should be done every work of man. (T12) ¹⁴ The first is the spirit of life, with which the constitution of man is created. (T12) ¹⁵ The second is the sense of sight, with which ariseth desire. (T12) ¹⁶ The third is the sense of hearing, with which cometh teaching. (T12) ¹⁷ The fourth is the sense of smell, with which tastes are given to draw air and breath. (T12) ¹⁸ The fifth is the power of speech, with which cometh knowledge. (T12) ¹⁹ The sixth is the sense of taste, with which cometh the eating of meats and drinks; and by it strength is produced, for in food is the foundation. of strength. (T12) ²⁰ The seventh is the power of procreation and sexual intercourse, with which through love of pleasure sins enter in. (T12) ²¹ Wherefore it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leadeth the youth as a blind man to a pit, and as a beast to a preci… (T12)