1 THE copy of the words of Simeon, the things which he spake to his sons before he died, in the hundred and twentieth year of his life, at which time Joseph, his brother, died. (T12) 2 For when Simeon was sick, his sons came to visit him. and he strengthened himself and sat up and kissed them, and said:-- (T12) 3 Hearken, my children, to Simeon your father and I will declare unto you what things I have in my heart. (T12) 4 I was born of Jacob as my father's second son; and my mother Leah called me Simeon, because the Lord had heard her prayer. (T12) 5 Moreover, I became strong exceedingly; I shrank from no achievement nor was I afraid of ought. For my heart was hard, and my liver was immovable, and my bowels without compassion. (T12) 6 Because valour also has been given from the Most High to men in soul and body. (T12) 7 For in the time of my youth I was jealous in many things of Joseph, because my father loved him beyond all. (T12) 8 And I set my mind against him to destroy him because the prince of deceit sent forth the spirit of jealousy and blinded my mind, so that I regarded him not as a brother, nor did I spare even Jacob my father. (T12) 9 But his God and the God of his fathers sent forth His angel, and delivered him out of my hands. (T12) 10 For when I went to Shechem to bring ointment for the flocks, and Reuben to Dothan, where were our necessaries and all our stores, Judah my brother sold him to the Ishmaelites. (T12) 11 And when Reuben heard these things he was grieved, for he wished to restore him to his father. (T12) 12 But on hearing this I was exceedingly wroth against Judah in that he let him go away alive, and for five months I continued wrathful against him. (T12) 13 But the Lord restrained me, and withheld from me the power of my hands; for my right hand was half withered for seven days. (T12) 14 And I knew, my children, that because of Joseph this had befallen me, and I repented and wept; and I besought the Lord God that my hand might be restored and that I might hold aloof from all pollution and envy and from all folly. (T12) 15 For I knew that I had devised an evil thing before the Lord and Jacob my father, on account of Joseph my brother, in that I envied him. (T12) 16 And now, my children, hearken unto me and beware of the spirit of deceit and envy. (T12) 17 For envy ruleth over the whole mind of a man, and suffereth him neither to eat nor to drink, nor to do any good thing. But it ever suggesteth to him to destroy him that he envieth; and so long as he that is envied flourisheth, he that envieth fadeth away. (T12) 18 Two years therefore I afflicted my soul with fasting in the fear of the Lord, and I learnt that deliverance from envy cometh by the fear of God. (T12) 19 For if a man flee to the Lord,… (T12) 20 … (T12)
Testament of Simeon 1:1–20
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Testament of Gad 2:1–3
1 AND now, my children, I exhort you, love ye each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, love one another in deed, and in word, and in the inclination of the soul. (T12) 2 For in the presence of my father I spake peaceably to Joseph; and when I had gone… (T12)
Testament of Zebulun 1:9–11
9 For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said unto them with tears: Pity me, my brethren, have mercy upon the bowels of Jacob our father: lay not upon me your hands to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you. (T12) 10 And if indeed I ha… (T12)
Testament of Judah 3:32–34
32 For even wise men among my sons shall they mar, and shall cause the kingdom of Judah to be diminished, which the Lord gave me because of my obedience to my father. (T12) 33 For I never caused grief to Jacob, my father; for all things whatsoever he commanded I did. (T12) 34 And I… (T12)
Testament of Gad 1:8–10
8 And regarding this matter I was wroth with Joseph until the day that he was sold. (T12) 9 And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him with the eyes, because he rebuked us to our faces saying that we were eati… (T12)
Testament of Naphtali 2:21–23
21 And he said, weeping: Ah me, my son Joseph, thou livest, though I behold thee not, and thou seest not Jacob that begat thee. (T12) 22 He caused me also, therefore, to weep by these words, and I burned in my heart to declare that Joseph had been sold, but I feared my br… (T12)
Testament of Reuben 2:3–5
3 Even until now my conscience causeth me anguish on account of my impiety. (T12) 4 And yet my father comforted me much, and prayed for me unto the Lord, that the anger of the Lord might pass from me, even as the Lord showed. (T12) 5 And thenceforth until now I have been on my g… (T12)
Testament of Dan 1:3–5
3 I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with just dealing is good and well pleasing to God, and that lying and anger are evil, because they teach man all wickedness. (T12) 4 I confess, therefore, this day to you, my children, that in my heart I res… (T12)
Testament of Joseph 1:53–55
53 And I said unto her: It is because thou hast filled it with deadly enchantments; and how saidst thou: I come not near to idols but to the Lord alone. (T12) 54 Now therefore know that the God of my father hath revealed unto me by His angel thy wickedness, and I have kep… (T12)
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