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The Community Rule — Column 10

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

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With the appointed times which God engraved at the beginning of the dominion of light, with its circuit, and when it is gathered into its appointed dwelling [...] at the beginning of

the watches of darkness, when he opens its storehouse and sets it up... in its circuit, when it is gathered from before the light, [...] when there appears

the lights from the holy dwelling, when they are gathered to the dwelling of glory [...] at the entrance of the appointed times, for the days of the month together, their circuit with

their bonds, one to another [...] when they are renewed, a great day for the holy of holies, and a sign for the opening of his eternal mercies [...] for the chiefs of

the appointed times, in every era that comes to be, at the beginning of the months for their appointed times, and holy days in their order, for remembrance in their appointed times

[...] the offering of lips I will bless him according to the statute engraved forever [...] at the heads of [...] years, and at the circuit of their appointed times, when the statute is fulfilled

of their order, day by its ordinance, one to another [...] the season of harvest for summer, and the season of sowing for the season of grass, the appointed times of years for their weeks

and at the head of their weeks for the appointed time of release [...] and in all my being, a statute engraved on my tongue, for the fruit of praise and the portion of my lips [...] I will lift up

[...] I will sing with knowledge, and all my music for the glory of God, and the harp and lyre for the order of his holiness, and the flute of my lips I will lift up by the measure of his judgment [...]

With the coming of day and night I will enter into the covenant of God, and with the going out of evening and morning I will recite his statutes [...] and while they exist I will set

my boundary, so as not to turn back [...] and his judgment I will accept for my perversity, and my transgressions are before my eyes like an engraved statute [...] and to God I will say, my righteousness

and to the Most High, who establishes my good, the source of knowledge and the spring of holiness, the height of glory and the might of all, for eternal splendor [...] the choosing of that which

he teaches me, and I will delight in whatever he judges for me [...] at the beginning of the sending forth of my hands and my feet, I will bless his name; at the beginning of going out and coming in

of sitting and rising, and with the lying down of my bed I will sing joyfully to him [...] and I will bless him with the offering that goes out of my lips, in the ranks of men

and before I lift up my hand to be refreshed with the delights of the produce of the world [...] at the beginning of fear and dread, and in the place of distress with desolation

I will bless him, with wondrous thanksgiving, and on his might I will meditate, and on his mercies I will lean all the day [...] and I know that in his hand is the judgment of

all that lives, and all his deeds are truth [...] and when distress opens I will praise him, and in his salvation I will rejoice together [...] I will not repay a man with recompense

of evil; with good I will pursue a man [...] for with God is the judgment of all that lives, and he will repay a man his recompense [...] I will not be jealous with a spirit

of wickedness, and for wealth of violence my soul will not desire [...] and the dispute of the men of the pit I will not take hold of until the day of vengeance [...] and my anger I will not

turn back from the men of injustice, and I will not be reconciled until judgment is established [...] I will not bear a grudge in anger against those who turn from transgression, and I will not have compassion

on all who turn aside from the way; I will not console the stricken until their way is complete [...] and Belial I will not keep in my heart [...] and there will not be heard from my mouth

folly, and deceit of iniquity, and treacheries and lies shall not be found on my lips [...] and the fruit of holiness on my tongue, and abominations

shall not be found in it [...] with thanksgiving I will open my mouth, and the righteous acts of God my tongue shall recount always, and the treachery of men until the completion of

their transgression [...] empty words I will banish from my lips, impurities and perversities from the knowledge of my heart [...] with the counsel of wisdom I will conceal knowledge

and with the prudence of knowledge I will fence [about it] a firm boundary, to keep faith and mighty judgment for the righteousness of God [...] I will apportion

the statute according to the measure of the times, and [...] righteousness, love of mercy for the humble, and strengthening of hands for [the hasty] [of heart] [and] [for] [teaching]

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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