{
"books": [
{
"name": "Testament of Benjamin",
"chapters": [
{
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1",
"verses": [
{
"verse": 1,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:1",
"text": "THE copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years."
},
{
"verse": 2,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:2",
"text": "And he kissed them, and said: As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob."
},
{
"verse": 3,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:3",
"text": "And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid."
},
{
"verse": 4,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:4",
"text": "For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bare Me."
},
{
"verse": 5,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:5",
"text": "For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her."
},
{
"verse": 6,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:6",
"text": "Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, a son of days."
},
{
"verse": 7,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:7",
"text": "And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized me, he said unto me: What did they tell my father when they sold me?"
},
{
"verse": 8,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:8",
"text": "And I said unto him, They dabbled thy coat with blood and sent it, and said: Know whether this be thy son's coat."
},
{
"verse": 9,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:9",
"text": "And he said unto me: Even so, brother, when they had stripped me of my coat they gave me to the Ishmaelites, and they gave me a loin cloth, and scourged me, and bade me run."
},
{
"verse": 10,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:10",
"text": "And as for one of them that had beaten me with a rod, a lion met him and slew him."
},
{
"verse": 11,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:11",
"text": "And so his associates were affrighted."
},
{
"verse": 12,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:12",
"text": "Do ye also, therefore, my children, love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph."
},
{
"verse": 13,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:13",
"text": "And let your mind be unto good, even as ye know me; for he that bath his mind right seeth all things rightly."
},
{
"verse": 14,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:14",
"text": "Fear ye the Lord, and love your neighbour; and even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph my brother.,"
},
{
"verse": 15,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:15",
"text": "How many men wished to slay him, and God shielded him!"
},
{
"verse": 16,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:16",
"text": "For he that feareth God and loveth his neighbour cannot be smitten by the spirit of Beliar, being shielded by the fear of God."
},
{
"verse": 17,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:17",
"text": "Nor can he be ruled over by the device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he hath towards his neighbour."
},
{
"verse": 18,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:18",
"text": "For Joseph also besought our father that he would pray for his brethren, that the Lord would not impute to them as sin whatever evil they had done unto him."
},
{
"verse": 19,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:19",
"text": "And thus Jacob cried out: My good child, thou hast prevailed over the bowels of thy father Jacob."
},
{
"verse": 20,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:20",
"text": "And he embraced him, and kissed him for two hours, saying:"
},
{
"verse": 21,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:21",
"text": "In thee shall be fulfilled the prophecy of heaven concerning the Lamb of God, and Saviour of the world, and that a blameless one shall be delivered up for lawless men, and a sinless one shall die for ungodly men in the blood of the covenant, for the salvation of the Gentiles and of Israel, and shall destroy Beliar and his servants."
},
{
"verse": 22,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:22",
"text": "See ye, therefore, my children, the end of the good man?"
},
{
"verse": 23,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:23",
"text": "Be followers of his compassion, therefore, with a good mind, that ye also may wear crowns of glory."
},
{
"verse": 24,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:24",
"text": "For the good man hath not a dark eye; for he showeth mercy to all men, even though they be sinners."
},
{
"verse": 25,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:25",
"text": "And though they devise with evil intent. concerning him, by doing good he overcometh evil, being shielded by God; and he loveth the righteous as his own soul."
},
{
"verse": 26,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:26",
"text": "If any one is glorified, he envieth him not; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is valiant, he praiseth him; the virtuous man he laudeth; on the poor man he hath mercy; on the weak he hath compassion; unto God he singeth praises."
},
{
"verse": 27,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:27",
"text": "And him that hath the grace of a good spirit he loveth as his own soul."
},
{
"verse": 28,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:28",
"text": "If therefore, ye also have a good mind, then will both wicked men be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn unto good; and the covetous will not only cease from their inordinate desire, but even give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted."
},
{
"verse": 29,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:29",
"text": "If ye do well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you; and the beasts will dread you."
},
{
"verse": 30,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:30",
"text": "For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness fleeth away from him."
},
{
"verse": 31,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:31",
"text": "For if any one does violence to a holy man, he repenteth; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holdeth his peace."
},
{
"verse": 32,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:32",
"text": "And if any one betrayeth a righteous man, the righteous man prayeth: though for a little he be humbled, yet not long after he appeareth far more glorious, as was Joseph my brother."
},
{
"verse": 33,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:33",
"text": "The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of the spirit of Beliar, for the angel of peace guideth his soul."
},
{
"verse": 34,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:34",
"text": "And he gazeth not passionately upon corruptible things, nor gathereth together riches through a desire of pleasure."
},
{
"verse": 35,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:35",
"text": "He delighteth not in pleasure, he grieveth not his neighbour, he sateth not himself with luxuries, he erreth not in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion."
},
{
"verse": 36,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:36",
"text": "The good inclination receiveth not glory nor dishonour from men, and it knoweth not any guile, or lie, or fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwelleth in him and lighteth up his soul, and he rejoiceth towards all men always."
},
{
"verse": 37,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:37",
"text": "The good mind hath not two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honour, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, of poverty and of wealth; but it hath one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men."
},
{
"verse": 38,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:38",
"text": "It hath no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he doeth, or speaketh, or seeth, he knoweth that the Lord looketh on his soul."
},
{
"verse": 39,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:39",
"text": "And he cleanseth his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by God."
},
{
"verse": 40,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:40",
"text": "And in like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them."
},
{
"verse": 41,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:41",
"text": "Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for he giveth a sword to them that obey him."
},
{
"verse": 42,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:42",
"text": "And the sword is the mother of seven evils. First the mind conceiveth through Beliar, and first there is bloodshed; secondly ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly, panic; seventhly, destruction."
},
{
"verse": 43,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:43",
"text": "'Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague upon him."
},
{
"verse": 44,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:44",
"text": "And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the nine-hundredth year he was destroyed."
},
{
"verse": 45,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:45",
"text": "For on account of Abel, his brother, with -all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven."
},
{
"verse": 46,
"chapter": 1,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 1:46",
"text": "Because for ever those, who are like Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished with the same judgement.\n\n\n\n---"
}
]
},
{
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2",
"verses": [
{
"verse": 1,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:1",
"text": "AND do ye, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love."
},
{
"verse": 2,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:2",
"text": "He that hath a pure mind in love, looketh not after a woman with a view to fornication; for he hath no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God resteth upon him."
},
{
"verse": 3,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:3",
"text": "For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather drieth up both and driveth away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though encompassed by the defilements of earth, rather cleanseth them and is not itself defiled."
},
{
"verse": 4,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:4",
"text": "And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from the words of Enoch the righteous: that ye shall commit fornication with the fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all save a few, and shall renew wanton deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among you, for straightway He shall take it away."
},
{
"verse": 5,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:5",
"text": "Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in your portion, and the last temple shall be more glorious than the first."
},
{
"verse": 6,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:6",
"text": "And the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until the Most High shall send forth His salvation in the visitation of an only-begotten prophet."
},
{
"verse": 7,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:7",
"text": "And He shall enter into the first temple, and there shall the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up upon a tree."
},
{
"verse": 8,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:8",
"text": "And the veil of the temple shall be rent, and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the Gentiles as fire poured forth."
},
{
"verse": 9,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:9",
"text": "And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass from earth into heaven."
},
{
"verse": 10,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:10",
"text": "And I know how lowly He shall be upon earth, and how glorious in heaven."
},
{
"verse": 11,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:11",
"text": "Now when Joseph was in Egypt, I longed to see his figure and the form of his countenance; and through the prayers of Jacob my father I saw him, while awake in the daytime, even his entire figure exactly as he was."
},
{
"verse": 12,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:12",
"text": "And when he had said these things, he said unto them: Know ye, therefore, my children, that I am dying."
},
{
"verse": 13,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:13",
"text": "Do ye, therefore, truth each one to his neighbour, and keep the law of the Lord and His commandments."
},
{
"verse": 14,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:14",
"text": "For these things do I leave you instead of inheritance."
},
{
"verse": 15,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:15",
"text": "Do ye also, therefore, give them to your children for an everlasting possession; for so did both Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob."
},
{
"verse": 16,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:16",
"text": "For all these things they gave us for an inheritance, saying: Keep the commandments of God, until the Lord shall reveal His salvation to all Gentiles."
},
{
"verse": 17,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:17",
"text": "And then shall ye see Enoch, Noah, and Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, rising on the right hand in gladness,"
},
{
"verse": 18,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:18",
"text": "Then shall we also rise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of heaven, who appeared upon earth in the form of a man in humility."
},
{
"verse": 19,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:19",
"text": "And as many as believe on Him on the earth shall rejoice with Him."
},
{
"verse": 20,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:20",
"text": "Then also all men shall rise, some unto glory and some unto shame."
},
{
"verse": 21,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:21",
"text": "And the Lord shall judge Israel first, for their unrighteousness; for when He appeared as God in the flesh to deliver them they believed Him not."
},
{
"verse": 22,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:22",
"text": "And then shall He judge all the Gentiles, as many as believed Him not when He appeared upon earth."
},
{
"verse": 23,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:23",
"text": "And He shall convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren, so that they fell into fornication, and idolatry; and they were alienated from God, becoming therefore children in the portion of them that fear the Lord."
},
{
"verse": 24,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:24",
"text": "If ye therefore, my children, walk in holiness according to the commandments of the Lord, ye shall again dwell securely with me, and all Israel shall be gathered unto the Lord."
},
{
"verse": 25,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:25",
"text": "And I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord distributing food to them that work what is good."
},
{
"verse": 26,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:26",
"text": "And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in his mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles."
},
{
"verse": 27,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:27",
"text": "Until the consummation of the age shall he be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all."
},
{
"verse": 28,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:28",
"text": "And he shall be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, and he shall be a chosen one of God for ever."
},
{
"verse": 29,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:29",
"text": "And through them he shall go to and fro as Jacob my father, saying: He shall fill up that which lacketh of thy tribe."
},
{
"verse": 30,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:30",
"text": "And when he had said these things he stretched out his feet."
},
{
"verse": 31,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:31",
"text": "And died in a beautiful and good sleep."
},
{
"verse": 32,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:32",
"text": "And his sons did as he had enjoined them, and they took up his body and buried it in Hebron with his fathers."
},
{
"verse": 33,
"chapter": 2,
"name": "Testament of Benjamin 2:33",
"text": "And the number of the days of his life was a hundred and twenty-five years."
}
]
}
]
}
]
}