|
2.
1
YE see, therefore, my children, how great things patience worketh, and prayer with fasting.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
2
So ye too, if ye follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer, with fasting in humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you because He loveth chastity.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
3
And wheresoever the Most High dwelleth, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalleth a man, the Lord who dwelleth in him, for the sake of his chastity not only delivereth him from evil, but also exalteth him even as me.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
4
For in every way the man is lifted up, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
5
My brethren knew how my father loved me, and yet I did not exalt myself in my mind: although I was a child, I had the fear of God in my heart; for I knew that all things would pass away.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
6
And I did not raise myself against them with evil intent, but I honoured my brethren; and out of respect for them, even when I was being sold, I refrained from telling the Ishmaelites that I was a son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
7
Do ye also, my children, have the fear of God in all your works before your eyes, and honour your brethren.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
8
For every one who doeth the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
9
And when I came to the Indocolpitae with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying:
|
|
|
|
|
2.
10
Art thou a slave? And I said that I was a home-born slave, that I might not put my brethren to shame.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
11
And the eldest of them said unto me: Thou art not a slave, for even thy appearance doth make it manifest.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
12
But I said that I was their slave.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
13
Now when we came into Egypt they strove concerning me, which of them should buy me and take me.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
14
Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
15
And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted unto me his house.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
16
And God blessed him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver and in household servants.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
17
And I was with him three months and five days.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
18
And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephris came down in a chariot, with great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs concerning me.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
19
And she told her husband that the merchant had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, and they say that he had assuredly been stolen out of the land of Canaan.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
20
Now, therefore, render justice unto him, and take away the youth to thy house; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless thee, for grace from heaven is upon him.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
21
And Pentephris was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said unto him:
|
|
|
|
|
2.
22
What is this that I hear concerning thee, that thou stealest persons out of the land of Canaan, and sellest them for slaves?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
23
But the merchant fell at his feet, and besought him, saying: I beseech thee, my lord, I know not what thou sayest.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
24
And Pentephris said unto him: Whence, then, is the Hebrew slave?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
25
And he said: The Ishmaelites entrusted him unto me until they should return.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
26
But he believed him not, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
27
And when he persisted in this statement, Pentephris said: Let the youth be brought.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
28
And when I was brought in, I did obeisance to Pentephris for he was third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
29
And he took me apart from him, and said unto me: Art thou a slave or free?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
30
And I said: A slave.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
31
And he said: Whose?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
32
And I said: The Ishmaelites'.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
33
And he said: How didst thou become their slave?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
34
And I said: They bought me out of the land of Canaan.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
35
And he said unto me: Truly thou liest; and straightway he commanded me to be stripped and beaten.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
36
Now, the Memphian woman was looking through a window at me while I was being beaten, for her house was near, and she sent unto him saying:
|
|
|
|
|
2.
37
Thy judgement is unjust; for thou dost punish a free man who hath been stolen, as though he were a transgressor.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
38
And when I made no change in my statement, though I was beaten, he ordered me to be imprisoned, until, he said, the owners of the boy should come.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
39
And the woman said unto her husband: Wherefore dost thou detain the captive and wellborn lad in bonds, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and be waited upon?
|
|
|
|
|
2.
40
For she wished to see me out of a desire of sin, but I was ignorant concerning all these things.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
41
And he said to her: It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take that which belongeth to others before proof is given.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
42
This, therefore, he said concerning the merchant; but as for the lad, he must be imprisoned.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
43
Now after four and twenty days came the Ishmaelites; for they had heard that Jacob my father was mourning much concerning me.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
44
And they came and said unto me: How is it that thou saidst that thou wast a slave? and lo, we have learnt that thou art the son of a mighty man in the land of Canaan, and thy father still mourneth for thee in sackcloth and ashes.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
45
When I heard this my bowels were dissolved and my heart melted, and I desired greatly to weep, but I restrained myself that I should not put my brethren to shame.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
46
And I said unto them, I know not, I am a slave.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
47
Then, therefore, they took counsel to sell me, that I should not be found in their hands.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
48
For they feared my father, lest he should come and execute upon them a grievous vengeance.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
49
For they had heard that he was mighty with God and with men.
|
|
|
|
|
2.
50
Then said the merchant unto them: Release me from the judgement of Pentiphri.
|
|
|
|
