Testament of Levi

Chapter 17

  1. 1 And whereas ye have heard concerning the seventy weeks, hear also concerning the priesthood.
  2. 2 For in each jubilee there shall be a priesthood. And in the first jubilee, the first who is anointed to the priesthood shall be great, and shall speak to God as to a father. And his priesthood shall be perfect with the Lord, [and in the day of his gladness shall he arise for the salvation of the world].
  3. 3 In the second jubilee, he that is anointed shall be conceived in the sorrow of beloved ones; and his
  4. 4 priesthood shall be honoured and shall be glorified by all. And the third priest shall be taken hold
  5. 5 of by sorrow. And the fourth shall be in pain, because unrighteousness shall gather itself against
  6. 6 him exceedingly, and all Israel shall hate each one his neighbour. The fifth shall be taken hold of
  7. 7 by darkness Likewise also the sixth and the seventh. And in the seventh shall be such pollution
  8. 8 as I cannot express before men, for they shall know it who do these things. Therefore shall they
  9. 9 be taken captive and become a prey, and their land and their substance shall be destroyed.
  10. 10 And in the fifth week they shall return to their desolate country, and shall renew the house of the
  11. 11 Lord. And in the seventh week shall become priests, (who are) idolaters, adulterers, lovers of money, proud, lawless, lascivious, abusers of children and beasts.