I. 1-6. Introduction. Benjamin's Birth

I. 1. The copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years. 2. And he kissed them, and said: As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob. 3. And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid. 4. For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bare me. 5. For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her. 6. Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, a son of days.

II. 1-5. Benjamin and Joseph in Egypt

II. 1. And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognised me, he said unto me: What did they tell my father when they sold me? 2. And I said unto him, They dabbled thy coat with blood and sent it, and said: Know whether this be thy son's coat? 3. And he said unto me: Even so, brother, when they had stripped me of my coat they gave me to the Ishmaelites, and they gave me a loin cloth, and scourged me, and bade me run. 4. And as for one of them that had beaten me with a rod, a lion met him and slew him. 5. And so his associates were affrighted.

III. 1 - V. 5. Benjamin exhorts his Sons to Goodness after the Example of Joseph

III. 1. Do you also, therefore, my children, love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph. 2. And let your mind be unto good, even as you know me; for he that hath his mind right, seeth all things rightly. 3. Fear you the Lord, and love your neighbour; and even though the whisperings of Satan claim you to afflict you with every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph my brother. 4. How many men wished to slay him, and God shielded him! For he that feareth God and loveth his neighbour cannot be smitten by the whisperings of Satan, being shielded by the fear of God. 5. Nor can he be ruled over by the device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he hath towards his neighbour. 6. For Joseph also besought our father that he would pray for his brethren, that the Lord would not impute to them as sin whatever evil they had done unto him. 7. And thus Jacob cried out: My good child, thou hast prevailed over the bowels of thy father Jacob. And he embraced him, and kissed him for two hours, saying:

IV. 1. See you, therefore, my children, the end of the good man? Be followers of his compassion, therefore, with a good mind, that you also may wear crowns of glory. 2. For the good man hath not a dark eye; for he showeth mercy to all men, even though they be sinners. 3. And though they devise with evil intent concerning him, by doing good he overcometh evil, being shielded by God; and he loveth the righteous as his own soul. 4. If any one is glorified, he envieth him not; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is valiant, he praiseth him; the virtuous man he laudeth; on the poor man he hath mercy; on the weak he hath compassion; unto God he singeth praises. 5. And him that hath the grace of a good spirit he loveth as his own soul.

V. 1. If, therefore, you also have a good mind, then will both wicked men be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn unto good; and the covetous will not only cease from their inordinate desire, but even give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted. 2. If you do well, even the unclean whisperings will flee from you; and the beasts will dread you. 3. For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness fleeth away from him. 4. For if any one doeth violence to a holy man, he repenteth; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holdeth his peace. 5. And if any one betrayeth a righteous man, the righteous man prayeth: though for a little he be humbled, yet not long after he appeareth far more glorious, as was Joseph my brother.

VI. 1-7. The Good Inclination

VI. 1. The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of Satan, for the angel of peace guideth his soul. 2. And he gazeth not passionately upon corruptible things, nor gathereth together riches through a desire of pleasure. 3. He delighteth not in pleasure, he grieveth not his neighbour, he sateth not himself with luxuries, he erreth not in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion. 4. The good inclination receiveth not glory nor dishonour from men, and it knoweth not any guile, or lie, or fighting, or reviling; for the Lord is near him and lighteth up his soul, and he rejoiceth towards all men alway. 5. The good mind hath not two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honour, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, of poverty and of wealth; but it hath one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men. 6. It hath no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he doeth, or speaketh, or seeth, he knoweth that the Lord looketh on his soul. 7. And he cleanseth his mind that he be not condemned by men as well as by God. And in like manner the works of Satan are twofold, and there is no singleness in them.

VII. 1-5. The Sword of Satan; the Warning of Gain

VII. 1. Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Satan; for he giveth a sword to them that obey him. 2. And the sword is the mother of seven evils. First the mind conceiveth through Satan, and first there is bloodshed; secondly, ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly, panic; seventhly, destruction. 3. Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague upon him. 4. And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the nine-hundredth year he was destroyed. For on account of Abel, his brother, with all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven. 5. Because for ever those who are like unto Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished with the same judgement.

VIII. 1-3. Benjamin exhorteth his Sons to flee from Evil

VIII. 1. And do you, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love. 2. He that hath a pure mind in love, looketh not after a woman with a view to fornication; for he hath no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God resteth upon him. 3. For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather drieth up both and driveth away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though encompassed by the defilements of earth, rather cleanseth them, and is not itself defiled.

IX. 1-5. Benjamin's Prophecy concerning his Posterity

IX. 1. And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from the words of Enoch the righteous: that you shall commit fornication with the fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all save a few, and shall renew wanton deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among you, for straightway He shall take it away. 2. Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in your portion, and the last temple shall be more glorious than the first. And the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until the Most High shall send forth His salvation in the visitation of a prophet.