The Qumran Community · a new plain-English translation from the original language
to those who err in spirit, understanding, and to instruct those bowed down in learning, and to answer with humility those with a haughty spirit, and with a broken spirit to the men
of the rod, those who point the finger and speak iniquity and acquire wealth [...] For to God belongs my judgment, and in His hand is the perfection of my way, with the uprightness of my heart
and by His righteousness my transgression is blotted out [...] For from the source of His knowledge He has opened His light, and my eye has gazed on His wonders, and the light of my heart on the mystery
of that which is to be and that which has always been [...] the support of my right hand is on a rock of strength; the way of my steps shall not be shaken before anyone [...] for the truth of God, it is
the rock of my steps, and His might is the support of my right hand [...] and from the source of His righteousness is my judgment, a light in my heart from His wondrous mysteries [...] in that which has always been
my eye has gazed on wisdom that has been hidden from man—knowledge and prudent purpose hidden from the sons of man—a fountain of righteousness and a well of
might, together with a dwelling of glory, hidden from the assembly of flesh [...] To those whom God has chosen He has given them as an everlasting possession, and He will cause them to inherit the lot of
the holy ones, and with the sons of heaven He has joined their assembly to the council of the Community, and their assembly to a holy structure to be an everlasting planting, throughout all
the ages to come [...] But I belong to wicked mankind, to the assembly of unrighteous flesh [...] my iniquities, my transgressions, my sins [...] together with the perversity of my heart
belong to the company of maggots and those who walk in darkness [...] For man's way is not his own, nor can a man direct his own step [...] For judgment belongs to God, and from His hand
comes the perfection of the way, and by His knowledge all things come into being [...] and all that exists, He establishes by His design, and without Him nothing is done [...] And as for me, if
I stumble, the mercies of God shall be my salvation forever [...] and if I stagger because of the sin of flesh, my judgment shall stand in the righteousness of God forever [...]
And if He opens my distress and delivers my soul from the pit, and directs my steps in the way [...] In His mercies He has drawn me near, and by His kindnesses shall come
my judgment [...] In the righteousness of His truth He has judged me, and in the abundance of His goodness He shall atone for all my iniquities, and in His righteousness He shall cleanse me from the impurity of
man and from the sin of the sons of man, so that I may praise God for His righteousness, and the Most High for His majesty [...] Blessed are You, my God, who opens to knowledge
the heart of Your servant [...] Establish in righteousness all his deeds, and set up the son of Your handmaid, just as You have favored the chosen of mankind, to stand
before You forever [...] For without You no way is perfect, and without Your will nothing is done [...] You have taught
all knowledge, and all that has come to be was by Your will [...] And there is no other besides You to answer against Your counsel, or to understand
any of Your holy thought, or to gaze into the depth of Your mysteries, or to comprehend any of Your wonders, together with the power of
Your might [...] And who can contain Your glory? [...] And what indeed is the son of man among Your wondrous works? [...]
And one born of woman, how shall he sit before You? [...] He is kneaded from dust, and his dwelling is food for maggots [...] and he is a thing shaped
a nipped-off clay, and to dust is his desire [...] What can clay reply, and the thing formed by hand—what can it understand of counsel? [...]