1The copy of the Testament of Asher, what things he spake to his sons in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.
2For while he was still in health, he said to them: Hearken, ye children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.
3Two ways hath God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes (of action), and two issues.
4Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.
5For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.
6Therefore if the soul take pleasure in the good (inclination), all its actions are in righteousness; and if it sin it straightway repenteth.
7For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin.
8But if it incline to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it driveth away the good, and cleaveth to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; even though it work what is good, he perverteth it to evil.
9For whenever it beginneth to do good, he forceth the issue of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.