The Berakhot ("Blessings") is a Qumran covenant renewal liturgy preserved in five overlapping Cave 4 manuscripts (4Q286–290). The community gathers to bless the congregation of God and to pronounce solemn curses upon Belial, the Prince of Darkness, and all spirits of his lot. After each declaration, the congregation responds: "Amen, amen." The ceremony is the living liturgy that the Community Rule describes in the abstract — the Levites' curses, the priests' blessings, the communal response. This translation works directly from the Hebrew transcription of García Martínez and Tigchelaar.
4Q286 — Fragment 5: Blessings of the Congregation
[...] all who hold fast to his covenant, who walk in the way of his truth [...]
[...] blessed be their standing among the holy ones [...]
[...] in the council of eternal light [...]
[...] in the assembly of the gods [...]
[...] and their name shall not be blotted out [...]
4Q286 — Fragment 7, Column i: The Great Curse
Cursed be Belial in the design of his wicked scheme.
Cursed be he in the dominion of his guilt.
Cursed be all spirits of his lot in the design of their wickedness.
May they be condemned in all their works of unclean purpose.
For they are the lot of darkness,
and their destiny is in the shadow of eternal ruin.
And may all who serve him and walk in his ways be cursed.
And all the congregation shall answer and say: Amen, amen.
4Q286 — Fragment 7, Column ii: The Angels of Destruction
[...] all the angels of destruction [...]
[...] and all the spirits of his lot [...] condemned together [...]
[...] in fire and sulphur [...]
[...] and all the baseness of their deeds [...] condemned forever [...]
[...] their dominion shall come to nothing [...]
And all the congregation shall answer and say: Amen, amen.
4Q287 — Fragment 2: Blessings of the Elect
Blessed are you among all flesh.
For God chose you from all the peoples of the earth
to be a holy people to himself — a treasured possession above all nations.
He has loved you and set his blessing upon you
[...] his covenant of mercy [...] in the knowledge of his glory [...]
[...] may your peace be great [...]
[...] may your standing be secure among those who fear him [...]
And all the congregation shall answer and say: Amen, amen.
Colophon
Text: Berakhot (Blessings, 4Q286–290)
Source: Qumran Cave 4
Translation Method: Translated directly from Hebrew (García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997–1998). No published English translations were consulted before drafting. Highly lacunose passages are marked with [...].
Translator: NTAC + Claude (Good Works Translation)
Scribe: DSS Tulku (scheduled), New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026
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Source Text (4Q286–290)
Hebrew transcription from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Transcription follows García Martínez & Tigchelaar (Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill 1997–1998). Scholarly apparatus: [...] marks lacunae; vacat marks intentional blank spaces in the manuscript.
4Q286 — Fragment 5
]1 [... כול המחזיקים ב]בריתו ה[הולכים בדרך א]מתו ...[ 2
]... ב[רוך מעמדם בין קדושים ... 3
]... בסוד א[ור עולם ... 4
]... ב[עדת א]לים[ ... 5
]... ולא יכחד שמם[ ...]
4Q286 — Fragment 7, Column i
]1 ארור [ב]ליעל בעצת מחשבת רשעו
2 ארור הוא בממשלת אשמ[תו]
3 [ארור כו]ל רוחות גורלו [בעצת מחשבות רשעתם]
4 [ארורים ב]כול מלאכות] טמאת[ תועבתם
5 [כי המה] גורל ח[ושך ומגרלם] בצל כלה נצחי[ת]
6 [ואר]ו[רים כ]ול [הע]ובדים לו [וההולכים בדרכיו]
7 ועינו כולם ויאמרו אמן אמן
4Q286 — Fragment 7, Column ii
]1 [... כ]ול מלאכי חב]ל[ ...
2 [... ו]כול רוחות גו]רלו[ ... נ]דונים[ יחד ...
3 [... ב]אש וג[פרית ...] 4
]... וכ[ול תועבות] מעש[יהם ... נדון]ים לעו[לם ...
5 [... ממשלתם] ת]אבד[ לנ[צח ...] 6
ועינו כולם ויאמרו אמן אמן
4Q287 — Fragment 2
]1 ברוך אתה בכ]ול ב[שר
2 כ]י ב[חר בך אל מכ]ול ע[מי הארץ
3 להיות לו לעם קדוש [אוצר מכל הגוים]
4 [ואהב]ך ]ו[ישם ברכתו עליך
5 [... ברית] חסדו [... ב]דעת כבודו [...]
6 [... שלומ]ך ר]ב[ [...] 7
]... מ[עמד]ך[ נ]כ[ון ב]ין י[ראיו [...]
8 ועינו כולם ויאמרו אמן אמן
Source Colophon
Text: Berakhot (4Q286–290)
Source: Qumran Cave 4
Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997–1998
Scribe: DSS Tulku (scheduled), New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026
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