Testament of Issachar

Chapter 3

  1. 1 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
  2. 2 their season. And my father blessed me, for he saw that I walked in rectitude before him. And
  3. 4 I was not a busybody in my doings, nor envious and malicious against my neighbour. I never slandered any one, nor did I censure the life of any man, walking as I did in singleness of eye.
  4. 5 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.
  5. 6 And my father always rejoiced in my rectitude, because I offered through the priest to the Lord
  6. 7 all first-fruits; then to my father also. And the Lord increased ten thousandfold His benefits in my
  7. 8 hands; and also Jacob, my father, knew that God aided my singleness. For on all the poor and oppressed I bestowed the good things of the earth in the singleness of my heart.