The Prologue

¹ Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets ² and the others^[a] that followed them, ³ and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. ⁴ Now those who read them must not only themselves understand them ⁵ but must also as lovers of learning be able through ⁶ both speaking and writing to help the outsiders. ⁷ So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially ⁸ to the reading of the Law ⁹ and the Prophets ¹⁰ and the other books of our ancestors ¹¹ and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, ¹² was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, ¹³ so that by becoming familiar also with his book^[b] those who love learning ¹⁴ might make even greater progress in living according to the law.

¹⁵ You are invited, therefore, ¹⁷ to read it ¹⁶ with goodwill and attention ¹⁸ and to be indulgent ¹⁹ in cases where we may seem ²⁰ to have rendered some phrases imperfectly, despite our diligent labor in translating. ^21–22 For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same effect when translated into another language. ²³ Not only this book, ²⁴ but even the Law itself, the Prophets,^{[c] 25} and the rest of the books ²⁶ differ not a little when read in the original.

²⁷ In the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes, ²⁸ when I came to Egypt and stayed for some time, ²⁹ I found a copy affording^[d] no little instruction. ³⁰ It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. ^31–32 During that time I have applied my skill day and night ³³ to complete and publish the book ³⁴ for those living abroad who wish to gain learning and are ³⁵ preparing ³⁶ to live according to the law.^(A)

In Praise of Wisdom

The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, ¹⁸ and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid, and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” ¹⁹ He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ And they brought the boy^[a] to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy,^[b] and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus^[c] asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²² It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” ²³ Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out,^[d] “I believe; help my unbelief!” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” ²⁶ After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. ²⁸ When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”^{(A) 29} He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”^[e]