Testament of Job

Kohler1897 English translation, printed page 318

318 K. Kohler. 6. For the four doors of my house were opened, each, being in charge of a watchman who had to see whether there were any people coming asking alms, and whether they would see me sitting at one of the doors so that they could leave through the other and take whatever they needed. 1) 7. I also had thirty immovable tables set at all hours for the strangers alone, and I also had twelve tables spread for the widows. 8. And if any one came asking for alms, he found food on my table to take all he needed, and I turned nobody away to leave my door with an empty stomach. ?) 9. I also had three thousand five hundred yokes of oxen, and I selected of these five hundred and had them tend to the ploughing. 10. And with these I had done all the work in each field by those who would take it in charge) and the income of their crops I laid aside for the poor on their table. 11. I also had fifty bakeries from which I sent [the bread| to the table for the poor. 12 And I had slaves selected for their service. 13. There were also some strangers who saw my good will; they wished to serve as_ waiters themselves.4+) 14. Others, being in distress and unable to obtain a living, came with the request saying: 15. “We pray thee, since we also can fill this office of waiters (deacons) and have no possession, have pity upon us and advance money to us in order that we may go into the great cities and sell merchandise. 16. And the surplus of our profit we may give as help to the poor, and then shall we return to thee thine own (money). 17. And when 1 heard this, I was glad that they shouid take this altogether from me for the husbandry of charity for the poor. 18. And with a willing heart I gave them what they wanted, and 1 accepted their written bond, but would not take any other security from them except the written document. 19. And they went abroad and gave to the poor as far as they were successful. 1) Cf. weanw νὸν ‘spn pox onan; cf Bereshith Rabba 48, 69; Aboth de R. Nathan, ed. Schechter, I ch. 7, II ch. 14. 2) κόλπῳ χένῳ; cf. yaw xabo Aboth de R. Nathan, ch. 6. %) The sense of the sentence in the Greek text is not clear. *) Here must be compared the work of the diacones in the New Testament. The Rabbis, too, speak often of the great privilege of onnK winy.