The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 4

P¹🔗ay no heed, therefore, to the beauty of women, and muse not upon their doings; but walk in singleness of heart in the fear of the Lord, and be labouring in works, and roaming in study and among your flocks, until the Lord give to you a wife whom He will, that ye suffer not as I did.

²🔗 Until my father’s death I had not boldness to look stedfastly into the face of Jacob, or to speak to any of my brethren, because of my reproach; and even until now my conscience afflicteth me by reason of my sin.

³🔗 And my father comforted me; for he prayed for me unto the Lord, that the anger of the Lord might pass away from me, even as the Lord showed me.

⁴🔗 From henceforth, then, I was protected, and I sinned not.

⁵🔗 Therefore, my children, observe all things whatsoever I command you, and ye shall not sin.

⁶🔗 For fornication is the destruction of the soul, separating it from God, and bringing it near to idols, because it deceiveth the mind and understanding, and bringeth down young men into hell before their time.

⁷🔗 For many hath fornication destroyed; because, though a man be old or noble, it maketh him a reproach and a laughing-stock with Beliar and the sons of men.

⁸🔗 For in that Joseph kept himself from every woman, and purged his thoughts from all fornication, he found favour before the Lord and men.

⁹🔗 For the Egyptian woman did many things unto him, and called for magicians, and offered him love potions, and the purpose of his soul admitted no evil desire.

¹⁰🔗 Therefore the God of my fathers delivered him from every visible and hidden death.

¹¹🔗 For if fornication overcome not the mind, neither shall Beliar overcome you.