1When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobi'as were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. 2Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, “Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you.” 3But he came back and said, “Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place.” 4So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body2.4 Gk him to a place of shelter until sunset. 5And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. 6Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,

“Your feasts shall be turned into mourning,

and all your festivities into lamentation.”

And I wept.

7When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body.2.7 Gk him 8And my neighbours laughed at me and said, “He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!” 9On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered. 10I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahikar, however, took care of me until he2.10 Other authorities read I went to Elyma'is.

11Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work. 12She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid; 13and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, “Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen.” 14And she said, “It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages.” But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, “Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!”