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The Community Rule — Column 7

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

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And if he cursed, whether out of dismay from tribulation or over any matter that is his [...] while he is reading in the book or blessing, he shall be separated

and he shall not return again to the council of the Community [...] And if he spoke in anger against one of the priests enrolled in the book, he shall be punished one year,

and separated, at the peril of his life, from the purity of the Many [...] And if he spoke inadvertently, he shall be punished six months. And whoever deceives with his knowledge

shall be punished six months. And the man who cries out against his fellow without justification, knowingly, shall be punished one year

and separated. And whoever speaks to his fellow with bitterness, or deals deceitfully with his knowledge, shall be punished six months [...] And if

he deals deceitfully against his fellow, he shall be punished three months [...] And if he deals deceitfully with the property of the Community, causing its loss, he shall repay it in

full [...]

And if his hand cannot reach far enough to repay it, he shall be punished sixty days [...] And whoever bears a grudge against his fellow, when it is not by judgment, shall be punished six months, one year [...]

and likewise for one who avenges himself in any matter. And whoever speaks with his mouth a foolish word, three months [...] and for speaking in the midst of his fellow's words,

ten days. And whoever lies down and sleeps in the session of the Many, thirty days [...] and likewise for the man who leaves the session of the Many

without counsel, and needlessly, up to three times in one session, he shall be punished ten days [...] And if they stand up

and he leaves, he shall be punished thirty days [...] And whoever walks before his fellow naked, when it was not necessary, shall be punished six months [...]

And the man who spits into the midst of the session of the Many shall be punished thirty days [...] And whoever brings his hand out from under his garment, while it

is bare and his nakedness is seen, shall be punished thirty days [...] And whoever laughs foolishly, making his voice heard, shall be punished thirty

days [...] And whoever brings out his left hand to gesture with it shall be punished ten days [...] And the man who goes about slandering his fellow

shall be separated one year from the purity of the Many, and shall be punished [...] And a man who goes about slandering among the Many shall be sent away, he, from among them,

and he shall not return again [...] And the man who murmurs against the foundation of the Community shall be sent away, and he shall not return [...] And if he murmurs against his fellow

when it is not by judgment, he shall be punished six months [...] And the man whose spirit turns away from the foundation of the Community, so as to betray the truth

and to walk in the stubbornness of his heart — if he returns, he shall be punished two years [...] in the first [...] he shall not touch the purity of the Many,

the Many, and in the second he shall not touch the drink of the Many, and afterward he shall sit below all the men of the Community [...] And when

two full years are completed for him, the Many shall inquire concerning his affairs [...] And if they admit him, he shall be written in his rank, and afterward he shall be asked concerning the law [...]

[...] And every man who has been in the council of the Community [...] upon the completion of ten years

[...] and his spirit turns back to betray the Community, and he goes out from before

the Many, to walk in the stubbornness of his heart, he shall not return to the council of the Community again [...] And a man from among the men of the [Community who] mixes

with him in his purity or in his property, [who] [mixed] [with] [the property of] the Many, his judgment shall be like his — to [send] [him] [away] [...]

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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