1 The copy of the words of Yissasḵar.
2 For he called his sons and said to them: Hearken, my children, to Yissasḵar your father; give ear to the words of him who is beloved of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.
3 I was born the fifth son to Ya’aqoḇ, by way of hire for the mandrakes.
4 For Re’uḇĕn my brother brought in mandrakes from the field, and Raḥĕl met him and took them.
5 And Re’uḇĕn wept, and at his voice Lĕ’ah my mother came forth.
6 Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which were produced in the land of Ḥaran below a ravine of water.
7 And Raḥĕl said: I will not give them to thee, but they shall be to me instead of children.
8 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath despised me, and I have not borne children to Ya’aqoḇ.
9 Now there were two apples; and Lĕ’ah said to Raḥĕl: Let it suffice thee that thou hast taken my husband: wilt thou take these also?
10 And Raḥĕl said to her: Thou shalt have Ya’aqoḇ this night for the mandrakes of thy son,
11 and Lĕ’ah said to her: Ya’aqoḇ is mine, for I am the wife of his youth.
12 But Raḥĕl said: Boast not, and vaunt not thyself; for he espoused me before thee, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.
13 And had not craft increased on the earth and the wickedness of men prospered, thou wouldst not now see the face of Ya’aqoḇ.
14 For thou art not his wife, but in craft wert taken to him in my stead.
15 And my father deceived me, and removed me on that night, and did not suffer Ya’aqoḇ to see me; for had I been there, this had not happened to him.
16 Nevertheless, for the mandrakes I am hiring Ya’aqoḇ to thee for one night.
17 And Ya’aqoḇ knew Lĕ’ah, and she conceived and bare me, and on account of the hire I was called Yissasḵar.
18 Then appeared to Ya’aqoḇ a messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, saying: Two children shall Raḥĕl bear, inasmuch as she hath refused company with her husband, and hath chosen continency.
19 And had not Lĕ’ah my mother paid the two apples for the sake of his company, she would have borne eight sons; for this reason she bare six, and Raḥĕl bare the two: for on account of the mandrakes 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 visited her.
20 For He knew that for the sake of children she wished to company with Ya’aqoḇ, and not for lust of pleasure.
21 For on the morrow also she again gave up Ya’aqoḇ.
22 Because of the mandrakes, therefore, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hearkened to Raḥĕl.
23 For though she desired them, she ate them not, but offered them in the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, presenting them to the kohĕn of the Most High who was at that time.
24 When, therefore, I grew up, my children, I walked in uprightness of heart, and I became a husbandman for my father and my brethren, and I brought in fruits from the field according to their season.
25 And my father baraḵ me, for he saw that I walked in rectitude before him.
26 And I was not a busybody in my doings, nor envious and malicious against my neighbour.
27 I never slandered any one, nor did I censure the life of any man, walking as I did in singleness of eye.
28 Therefore, when I was thirty-five years old, I took to myself a wife, for my labour wore away my strength, and I never thought upon pleasure with women; but owing to my toil, sleep overcame me.
29 And my father always rejoiced in my rectitude, because I offered through the kohĕn to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 all first-fruits; then to my father also.
30 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 increased ten thousand-fold His benefits in my hands; and also Ya’aqoḇ, my father, knew that Elohim aided my singleness.
31 For on all the poor and oppressed I bestowed the good things of the earth in the singleness of my heart.
32 And now, hearken to me, my children, and walk in singleness of your heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.
33 The single-minded man coveteth not gold, he overreacheth not his neighbour, he longeth not after manifold dainties, he delighteth not in varied apparel.
34 He doth not desire to live a long life, but only waiteth for the will of Elohim.
35 And the spirits of deceit have no power against him, for he looketh not on the beauty of women, lest he should pollute his mind with corruption.
36 There is no envy in his thoughts, no malicious person maketh his soul to pine away, nor worry with insatiable desire in his mind.
37 For he walketh in singleness of soul, and beholdeth all things in uprightness of heart, shunning eyes made evil through the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the Commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.
38 Keep, therefore, my children, the Torah of Elohim, and get singleness, and walk in guilelessness, not playing the busybody with the business of your neighbour, but love 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 and your neighbour, have compassion on the poor and weak.
39 Bow down your back unto husbandry, and toil in labours in all manner of husbandry, offering gifts to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 with thanksgiving.
40 For with the first-fruits of the earth will 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 baraḵ you, even as He baraḵ all the saints from Heḇel even until now.
41 For no other portion is given to you than of the fatness of the earth, whose fruits are raised by toil.
42 For our father Ya’aqoḇ baraḵ me with beraḵah of the earth and of first-fruits.
43 And Lĕwi and Yahuḏah were glorified by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 even among the sons of Ya’aqoḇ; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 gave them an inheritance, and to Lĕwi He gave the kehunnah, and to Yahuḏah the sovereignty.
44 And do ye therefore obey them, and walk in the singleness of your father; for unto Gaḏ hath it been given to destroy the troops that are coming upon Yisra’ĕl.