# The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, chapter 49: Judah 14

Source: https://enocharchive.com/books/the-testaments-of-the-twelve-patriarchs/49 (Enoch Archive, public-domain translation).

**49:1** And now, my children, be not drunk with wine; for wine turneth the mind away from the truth, and kindleth in it the passion of lust, and leadeth the eyes into error.

**49:2** For the spirit of fornication hath wine as a minister to give pleasures to the mind; for these two take away the power from a man.

**49:3** For if a man drink wine to drunkenness, he disturbeth his mind with filthy thoughts to fornication, and exciteth his body to carnal union; and if the cause of the desire be present, he worketh the sin, and is not ashamed.

**49:4** Such is wine, my children; for he who is drunken reverenceth no man.

**49:5** For, lo, it made me also to err, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude in the city, because before the eyes of all I turned aside unto Tamar, and I worked a great sin, and I uncovered the covering of the shame of my sons.

**49:6** After that I drank wine I reverenced not the commandment of God, and I took a woman of Canaan to wife.

**49:7** Wherefore, my children, he who drinketh wine needeth discretion; and herein is discretion in drinking wine, that a man should drink as long as he keepeth decency; but if he go beyond this bound, the spirit of deceit attacketh his mind and worketh his will; and it maketh the drunkard to talk filthily, and to transgress and not to be ashamed, but even to exult in his dishonour, accounting himself to do well.

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