1Q27 · 4Q299–301

They did not know the mystery of existence, and the former things they did not consider.

1Q27 — The Mystery of Existence

Fragment 1, Column i

[...]

They did not know the mystery of existence,
and the former things they did not consider.
They did not know what was coming upon them,
and their lives they did not rescue from the mystery of existence.

These are the signs for you —
[...]
For iniquity is at an end
and wickedness is sealed away.
[...]

Until the earth is filled with knowledge
and ignorance is there no more.

The word is true.
And by this you will know
that it cannot be reversed.

[...]

Fragment 1, Column ii

[...] and then they will know [...]
[...] mystery [...]
[...] truth [...]

Fragment 8

[...] all the ages of [...]
[...] mystery of existence [...]

4Q299 — Mysteries^a

Fragment 1

[...] the mystery of [...]
[...] they did not understand [...]

Fragment 5

[...] and all the springs of [...]
[...] light and darkness [...]

Fragment 35

[...] the mystery of existence [...]
[...] the righteous ones [...]

4Q300 — The Riddle

Fragment 1

Tell the seers of visions —
speak a parable and set your riddle,
and then we shall know.

[...] And in wisdom they walked [...]
yet they did not know the mystery of existence.

Fragment 3

[...] light and darkness [...]
[...] the mystery of [...]

4Q301 — The Challenge

Fragment 1

Who among you seeks?
Who among you investigates?
Who among you looks for [...]?

Fragment 2

[...] the springs of light and the pit of darkness [...]
[...] all the ages [...]

Fragment 3

[...] mystery of existence [...]
[...] those who truly understand [...]

Colophon

Mysteries (Hebrew: רָזִים, Razim) survives in four manuscripts from Qumran: 1Q27 (published by Milik in DJD I, 1955) and 4Q299–301 (published by Chazon et al. in DJD XX, 2000). Its central concept, רַז נִהְיֶה (raz nihyeh, "the mystery of existence" — literally, "the mystery of that-which-is-coming-to-be"), places it at the heart of Qumran sapiential thought. The same phrase drives the longer wisdom composition 4QInstruction (Musar le-Mevin), to which Mysteries is closely related.

The text contrasts two communities: those who walk in the mystery of existence — who perceive the hidden structure of creation, history, and judgment — and the wicked, who cannot see it. The climax of 1Q27 Frag 1 Col. i announces the eschatological reversal: iniquity will be sealed, truth revealed, the earth filled with knowledge (an echo of Isaiah 11:9). The riddle section (4Q300) confronts teachers who claim wisdom but do not possess it. The challenge to seekers (4Q301) opens the teaching to those who genuinely inquire.

The manuscripts are fragmentary throughout. Lacunae are marked [...]. No conjectural restorations have been inserted into the body of the text; the gaps remain gaps.

Good Works Translation — New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026.
Translated from Hebrew by the New Tianmu Anglican Church tulku lineage.
Reference: García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997–98); Chazon et al., DJD XX (Clarendon, 2000).

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Source Text

Hebrew transcription — 1Q27 and 4Q299–301

1Q27 — Fragment 1, Column i

[...]
לא ידעו רז נהיה ואת קדמוניות לא התבוננו ולא ידעו
מה יבוא עליהם ונפשם לא מלטו מרז נהיה
[...]
[כי כלת]ה עולה [...]
[...]ומלאה הארץ דעת[...]
[...]אמת הדבר[...]

1Q27 — Fragment 1, Column ii

[...] ואז ידעו [...]
[...] רז [...]
[...] אמת [...]

1Q27 — Fragment 8

[...] כול קצי [...]
[...] רז נהיה [...]

4Q299 — Fragment 1

[...] רז [...]
[...] לא בינו [...]

4Q299 — Fragment 5

[...] ומקורי [...]
[...] אור וחושך [...]

4Q299 — Fragment 35

[...] רז נהיה [...]
[...] הצדיקים [...]

4Q300 — Fragment 1

[...] אמרו לחוזי ה[...]
[...] שאו משל וחידו חידה [...]
[...] ואז ידענו [...]
[...] ובחכמה הלכו [...]
[...] ורז נהיה לא ידעו [...]

4Q300 — Fragment 3

[...] אור וחושך [...]
[...] רז [...]

4Q301 — Fragment 1

[...] מי בכם ידרוש [...]
[...] מי בכם יבין [...]
[...] מי בכם יבקש [...]

4Q301 — Fragment 2

[...] מוצאי אור ובאר חושך [...]
[...] כול הקצים [...]

4Q301 — Fragment 3

[...] רז נהיה [...]
[...] מביני אמת [...]

Source Colophon

Hebrew transcription based on Milik, DJD I (Clarendon, 1955) for 1Q27; Chazon, Pfann, and Bernstein, DJD XX (Clarendon, 2000) for 4Q299–301; and García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition (Brill, 1997–98). Text is unvocalized. Lacunae and damaged sections preserved as in the manuscripts. Square brackets indicate lacunae; parenthetical restorations have been omitted.

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