In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen. We begin with God's help and with His good blessings, to write the story of Haqar the knowledgeable, insightful, sharp and understanding, whose like in insight was not found, and how things unfolded for him with King Sennacherib and his nephew Nadan during that time period, Amen.

It was said that in the days of Sennacherib son of Sarhadum, king of Assyriaand Nineveh, Haqar said: "I was Haqar, vizier and secretary to the aforementioned King Sennacherib." When I was a young man, sorcerers, soothsayers and astrologers informed me that I would not be blessed with a child. And I possessed great wealth, as God had blessed me with an abundant provision. I married many women and built for them beautiful palaces and grand mansions.

When I reached sixty years of age, still I was not blessed with a child. Then I offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to false gods, and burned incense for the false gods. I said, "O gods, bless me with a child so that I may rejoice in him, and even if I die may he inherit me, close my eyes and bury me. And from the day of my death until the day of his death, even if he and his sons and his livestock ate gold, my wealth would not diminish." The idols gave him no reply, so he left them and grew sorrowful once more. Then he turned back and sought help from the Lord, saying, "O God of heaven and earth, O Creator of all creation, I ask of You to grant me a son that in my old age he may comfort me."

A voice came to him from the highest heavens, saying, "Because you relied upon false gods and placed your hope in them, for this deed God has prevented children from you." He thought within himself, "I will take my nephew Nadan, son of my sister, and raise him, caring for him and teaching him manners." So he took Nadan and gave him to wet nurses to breastfeed him, and fed him rich butter and honey. He clothed him in silk and purple. And when Na'dan grew, he laid him to rest on soft mattresses and taught him knowledge, writing, wisdom and philosophy. On one of the days, King Sennacherib sat upon his throne. He immediately summoned me, Haqar, his scribe and minister. He said, "Oh beloved, honored, wise and skilled companion with whom all secrets are shared and who knows my innermost thoughts - behold, you have grown old in years, aged, and your death approaches. Tell me, who is the one who will serve me after your death?"

I said to him, "O my lord the king, may you live forever and eternally. I have (raised) my nephew, the son of my sister, and he is like a son to me. I have taught him all of my knowledge and he is wise and knowledgeable." My lord the king said to me, "Go, bring him to me so I may see if he is suitable to serve me, and he may stand before me as well. I will release you and relieve you of your exhaustion, so you may spend your old age in dignity." Then, I Haqar took Nadan, the son of my sister, and brought him before King Sennacherib and presented him standing between his hands. When the king looked at him, he was pleased with him and said, "May God protect him. This is your son. Just as you served me and served my father before me and took care of our affairs, so too shall Nadan your nephew remain after you, serving me and taking care of my affairs. I shall honor him and cherish him for your sake, and I shall bestow favors upon him." Haqar prostrated to the king and said, "May my lord the king live forever and eternally."

Haqar also said, "I ask of you, my lord, to lengthen your favor upon him, and to pardon his mistakes, so that he may serve you as I have served you and as I served your parents before you." Then, Sennacherib gave him his oath and swore to him that he would be treated with the utmost honor and dignity, and that he would do all good with him. Then I, Haqar, kissed the hands of the king and took Nadan with me. And I taught him day and night until I saturated him with knowledge of wisdom and understanding more than eating bread and drinking water. Thus I taught him, saying to him the proverbs, saying the wise Haqar and his proverbs:

O my son Nadan, listen to my words and follow my advice and remember what I say, like the words of the close friends of God.

O my son, if you hear a word, let it die in your heart and do not utter it or manifest it to others, lest it become a fire that burns your tongue, and causes pain in your body, and covers you in disgrace and makes you ashamed before God and people.

O my son, if you hear something, do not reveal it, and if you see something, do not speak of it.

O my son, a sealed knot must not be untied and a loose knot must not be tied.

O my son, make your speech gentle and hasten to listen, and do not hastily respond or hurry to answer.

O my son, do not covet external beauty, for beauty fades and passes away, but good character and a virtuous name last forever.

O my son, do not let a foolish woman deceive you with her words, for bitterness and deadly poison flow from her speech, and in her trap one becomes ensnared, and in her snare one is trapped.

O my son, if you see a woman who adorns herself with fine clothing and adorns herself with perfumes and fragrances, but within herself she is brazen and foolish, do not desire her in your heart. And if you give her all your wealth, you will find no benefit in her, only sin will you attain, and you will anger God.

O my son, do not be hasty like the almond tree, which blossoms before all other trees, yet is the last of all to bear its fruits. Rather, be moderate and flavorful like the mulberry tree, which after all others turns green with leaves and fruits, yet before all others bears fruits to eat.

O my son, bow your head and look down below, soften your voice and be well-mannered, stay still and composed, and do not be foolish. And do not raise your voice, for even if with a raised voice one could build a house, then with his loud voice the donkey would build two houses every day. And even if with great force one could drive the plow, still the camel would not stray from the plow.

O my son, it is better to carry stones with a wise man than to drink wine with a vile man.

O my son, pour out your wine on the graves of the righteous and the good, and do not drink it with foolish, ignorant and sinful people.

O my son, do not share your secrets with ignorant people, because they are not able to keep them hidden.

O my son, keep company with wise people who fear God so that you may become like them, and do not keep company with ignorant people lest you become like them and learn their ways.

O my son, if you wish to acquire a loving companion, first test him, and after that acquire him, and do not praise or glorify him until after you have tested him.

O my son, with one who is not wise, do not spoil your words, and with the ignorant and corrupt, do not waste anything good.

O my son, befriend a wise man who fears God so that you may become like him.

O my son, do not associate with an ignorant, foolish and evil man, lest you learn his ways and be hated by God and people.

O my son, as long as you have slippers on your feet, step over and tread on thorns, and pave a way for yourself and your children.

O my son, when the wind blows gently and the sea is calm from its waves, hurry and bring your ship to port before the sea stirs and its waves increase and the ship sinks. As for you, think about how you conduct yourself on the path.

O my son, the rich man eats snake and people say he eats it for gain, but if the poor man eats it, they say he ate it out of hunger. For a good man comes through great effort.

O my son, be content with your share and do not covet what belongs to your companion.

O my son, do not live next to a fool, and do not eat bread or share secrets with one who has no shame.

O my son, do not rejoice in the misfortunes of your neighbors.

O my son, if your brother or neighbor or enemy does something bad to you, respond to them with goodness.

O my son, the wise man falls and rises again, but the righteous man is not shaken from his place.

O my son, if a wise man falls ill, the doctor is able to treat him and cure him. But for a fool, there is no remedy for what ails him.

O my son, if one poorer than you comes to you, receive him while standing, and if he does not repay you, God will repay and fulfill for you.

O my son, do not neglect disciplining your son, for disciplining a son is like the manure for the garden, tightening the bag, tethering livestock, and closing the door.

O my son, restrain your child from evil and he will relieve you. Strike and discipline him while he is still young, for after a little while he will grow up and rebel against you, and humiliate you among your companions, and bow your head in the streets, and you will feel ashamed of his bad behaviors.

O my son, do not acquire a runaway slave or a thieving maidservant, because everything you entrust to them, they will squander.

O my son, do not leave your parents in need or they will curse you, for God will respond to their curse. It is written: 'Whoever curses his parents will die,' and 'whoever honors his parents will have a long life on earth and all goodwill find him'.

O my son, do not walk on your way without a weapon, I mean let the remembrance of God be with you, because you do not know where the enemy may meet you. And the enemies are the devils or the evil human beings. So you should be cautious in all your ways.

O my son, a man if he does not have a wife, children or brothers, he will be in this world an object of pity for his enemies and hated by them. He will be like a tree if it stands alone by the roadside, everyone who passes by will take from it, and also the wild animals will scatter its leaves.

O my son, do not say that my master is a fool and I am wise, but that he should be respected by you, so that you may be counted among the wise, and be beloved by the people.

O my son, do not speak words of ignorance and foolishness in front of your master, lest you remain humiliated and despised in his sight.

O my son, do not be one of those whom their master says to them, 'Stay away from me,' but rather be among those to whom he says, 'Come closer and come to me.'

O my son, when difficulties and sorrows befall you, do not slander or curse your God, lest He hear and be angry with you.

O my son, do not love your servant in front of his companion more than him, because you do not know which of them you will choose in the end.

O my son, a goat whose steps increase becomes food for the wolf.

O my son, refine your speech and control your tongue, and do not let your companion step on your foot lest he step on your chest.

O my son, strike the wise man with the words of wisdom so that they take root deeply in his heart, and if you strike the ignorant man with many sticks, he will not understand or comprehend.

O my son, if you send a wise person on an errand, do not overburden them with instructions, for they will accomplish it in a way that satisfies your heart's desire. If you have an errand, carry it out yourself and do not send a fool to handle your affairs, for in the end you will regret it.

O my son, if they send you to a place, do not let them send anyone else.

Do not antagonize an important man, for he might retaliate with evil from where you do not expect it.

O my son, test your son and slave with bread and water, and then you may entrust your wealth and provision to them.

O my son, if you are invited to feasts and gatherings, do not tarry to be adorned with perfumes, but rather go out first so that no cracks or wounds may occur in your head.

O my son, one with full hands is called wise, while one with empty hands is called poor and needy.

O my son, if you eat bitter and swallow thorns, you will find nothing more bitter than poverty and want.

O my son, teach your son hunger and thirst so that he will appreciate it and be able to manage his household properly.

O my son, if you are in need, do not reveal your situation to your companions, lest you regret (it).

O my son, do not teach words of wisdom and knowledge to an ignorant person, lest you regret (doing so).

O my son, blindness of the heart is worse than blindness of the eye. Because the blind [person] finds guidance little by little, while the blindness of the heart abandons the straight path and goes towards crookedness.

O my son, a man's stumbling by his feet is better than his stumbling by his tongue, because a youth may die from stumbling by his tongue, while a wicked man may die from stumbling by his feet.

O my son, a companion near is better than a brother far.

A good name is better than good oil, for oil is spent and perished, but the good name lasts and remains forever. And beauty fades and ends, and knowledge passes away and disappears, and this world passes and ends, but the good name does not pass away nor disappear.

O my son, a man with no rest, his death is better than his life.

O my son, the voice of weeping is better than the voice of song and joy, because in the voice of weeping and sorrow there is fear of God.

A poor person is better off than one who gathers abundant provisions but they quickly disappear.

[O my son], a living fox is better than a dead lion.

And a lowly man who does good is better than a man of noble lineage and ancestry but devoid of good, who will perish in his sins.

And a pound of wool is better than a pound of gold and silver, because money is buried in the ground, while wool remains in the markets and becomes an adornment for whoever wears it.

O my son, bury words in your heart and you will be good and virtuous in the eyes of people, and do not expose the secret of your companion, for if you expose it you will regret (it).

O my son, do not utter a word from your lips until you have consulted your heart. And if you hear a word from anyone, bury it in your heart, and as something buried in the earth, so leave the word until it perishes.

O my son, between those who quarrel, do not intervene or stand, and from laughter comes evil, and from evil comes disputes, and from disputes comes war, and from war comes killing. And if you remain, you will be killed or be called to testify. Rather, flee from there and you will find rest.

O my son, do not stand up to quarrel with one stronger than you, but bypass with a word, end the evil, and overcome evil with wisdom.

O my son, acquire for yourself a spirit of patience and righteous conduct, for there is nothing better in this world than them, and you will live a good life.

O my son, do not distance from your first love, for your next love will not endure with you.

O my son, visit the poor in times of their hardship, and speak on his behalf in front of the Sultan, and make an effort so that you can save him from the mouth of the lion.

O my son, do not rejoice in the death of your enemy, for after a little you will be his neighbor.

O my son, greet everyone who is older than you first with peace, and honor the righteous man, show him respect and speak to him so he invokes blessings on you.

O my son, if water stands in its course, and sparrows fly to the sky, and if the black crow becomes white, and if bitterness becomes sweet like honey, then it is possible for the ignorant and foolish to become wise.

O my son, if you want to be wise, control your tongue from lying, your hand from stealing, and your eyes from shameless gazes, so you will be called wise.

O my son, in your youth be humble, so that in your old age you will be honored and respected by all those around you.

O my son, do not stand up against a man in his leadership, nor against a river in its overflowing.

O my son, do not get involved into the matter of marriage, for if it turns out well people will praise you, and if it is bad they will curse you.

O my son, if you stole something and the Sultan found out about you, give him his share so you can be released. And if you do not give, you will endure all bitterness and stubbornness.

O my son, befriend one whose hands were full and satisfied, not hands that were empty and become filled.

O my son, whoever is sincere in love gains the honor of this world and the blessings of the hereafter.

O my son, four things do not allow a kingdom to stabilize: a minister's army, bad management, corrupt intentions, and oppression of the subjects.

O my son, there are four people who are not hidden: the wise, the foolish, the rich and the poor.

These proverbs and sayings are completed.

I, Haqar, thought that everything I taught Nadan, my sister's son, he had memorized, and held it in his heart, and had much use for it, and that he would be my substitute before Sennacherib the king, and I did not know that everything I taught him he had not memorized, nor heard my words, nor kept my commands, but began to mock me, saying that Haqar was old and aged and senile and knew nothing anymore. And Nadan began to squander wealth and beat the servants and maidservants, and sell the horses and donkeys, and dispose of everything that I possessed. So when I, Haqar, saw that he (Nadan) had no compassion for my livelihood or for the people of my household while I was still alive, I informed the king of everything that Nadan had done. So the king said to him, "As long as Haqar is still alive and well, no one should assume authority over his property or livelihood." Upon that, I, Haqar, took Nadan's brother whose name was Nabuzeradan to my house so that I may teach him and he would take the place of his brother.

And when Nadan saw that Nabuzeradan was in my house, he became envious, jealous and incensed. He began saying that Haqar had lost his senses and his wisdom had ceased and his knowledge had disappeared, so much so that he handed over his wealth and household to my brother Nabuzeradan, for he was but a young boy with no mind, and expelled me from his house. And when I, Haqar, heard this from him, I said "Alas for my wisdom! How Nadan has degraded and despised it." And Nadan went, angry, to the king's gate, and sat down to write and complaint against me for falsehood and injustice. And he wrote two letters, one to Akhish son of Samhalim, king of Persians and the non-Arabs.

And in it he wrote thus: 'From Sennacherib the king, and from Haqar his scribe and vizier, full greetings and honor, kissing of hands and feet. Peace be between me and you, O mighty king. Upon the arrival of this letter to you, arise and come hastily without delay. Come to Assyriaand Nineveh, and I will hand over the kingdom to you without struggle or hardship.' And he wrote another letter in the name of Haqar to the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, saying: 'Peace be between me and you, O king. Upon this letter reaching you, come graciously and come to the location of Nissrinon the twenty-fifth of the month of Av, and I will introduce you into Assyriaand Ninevehand hand over the kingdom to you without struggle or hardship.' And he imitated my handwriting in the letters, and sealed them with his seal and threw them into the king's palace, so that the king's servants would find them and report them to the king. And he wrote another letter in the name of Sennacherib the king, my master, and sent it to Haqar, to me, Haqar.

And he wrote thus in it, saying: 'From Sennacherib the king to Haqar my vizier, scribe and keeper of my secret. Upon the arrival of this letter to you, gather the troops under you and go out to meet me at Mount Sahwa, and precede me to the location of Nissrinon the twenty-fifth of the month of Av. And when you see that I have drawn near you, position your troops opposite me as though one intends to fight me, for I have messengers from the Pharaoh king of Egyptand want them to see, witness and know the strength of your troops, and fear you, for they are our enemies and haters.' And he dispatched the letter with some of the king's servants, and Nadan took one of the letters and threw it into my master the king's house as though he had just found it at that moment, and Nadan read it out loud to King Sennacherib.

And when the king heard the contents of the letter, he was greatly perplexed and distressed. He said, 'Oh God, what wrong have I done to Haqar that he would write thus to the Pharaoh, king of Egypt- my enemy who detests me - and reward me in this way?' Nadan said to King Sennacherib, 'Do not grieve or distress yourself, but arise with us and let us go to the location of Nissrinthat was mentioned in the letter, so we may ascertain the veracity of this news - whether it is true or not.' So they arose and departed, and the king and Nadan came to the location of Nissrin. There they found me, Haqar, and the troops gathered around me. As for me, Haqar, when I saw that they had drawn near and come close to us, I acted as was written in the letter. From this situation, he was alarmed by me and thought to himself that I had changed (my allegiance), though I was not aware of and did not know about the deception of Nadan and what he had done. Nadan said to the king, 'Now you have ascertained the veracity of the news. Do not grieve or distress yourself, but return to your home and kingdom without fear for it. As for me, I will bring Haqar to you bound and fettered in chains for having turned against you.'

As for King Sennacherib, he returned to his house sad and distressed. And Nadan came to me and said, 'The king is very pleased with you and honors you, extolling how you acted upon his instructions in his letter. Now he has sent me after you so that you and I may come alone to see him, and for you to dismiss each soldier to his home.' So I dismissed the troops, and I came with Nadan to see the king. I greeted him, and when he saw me he said, 'You have come, Haqar, my trusted scribe and administrator of my kingdom, who is beloved to me. I had released you to rest, but now your love has turned to hate and you remain among my enemies.' Then he brought out and showed me the letter that Nadan had written in my name, imitating my handwriting as though it were written by my own hand, and had sealed it with my seal.

When I read them, my bones shook and loosened. I stood trembling in fear, my tongue tied unable to speak even a word of wisdom. I tried but was unable. Then Nadan shouted at me and said, 'Turn away from before the king, you old fool, you wicked old man. Give me your hands for binding and your legs for shackling.' And he bound me with shackles. The king turned his face from me in anger and said to the executioner whose name was Yebusmiskenkenti, 'Take Haqar and go kill him at the door of his house, and separate his head from his body by one hundred cubits.' Then I, Haqar, prostrated before the king and said to him, 'May you live forever, O king. You have chosen for me to be killed, as is your decision, for truly I am not guilty of any fault. But I plead with my master the king to command that I be executed at the door of my house and give my body to my servants so they may bury me as your sacrifice.'

The king said to the executioner, 'Go, kill Haqar at the door of his house, and give his body so that he may be buried.' After I came out from before the king, I sent for my wife and told her to come meet me, bringing with her virgin girls dressed in silk and purple garments so that they may weep and wail over me before my killing and death. And you, O my wife, return to our house and place a table before the executioner and his attendants so that they may eat and drink. And mix for them good wine at once and honor them graciously. My wise wife Ashfaghni, who possessed great understanding, did as I instructed her. She prepared a table before them, mixed wine for them, and they ate and drank. And she served them until they became drunk and fell asleep.

I, Haqar, said to the executioner, 'Lift your head to the heavens and look to God, and remember the bread and water we have all partaken of. Know that I am not guilty of any fault or error. Nadan deceived and betrayed me. Do not enter into sin by killing me, an innocent man. And remember also the day when the former king became angry with you and ordered for your execution. I knew you were not at fault, so I hid you and did not kill you until the king's wrath subsided and he accepted you. He then ordered you brought before him and favored you, granting you many gifts. Now you can repay me just as I repaid you - hide me in a place. I have an imprisoned, guilty slave named Madyfir who deserves death for his many sins. Release him, dress him in my clothes, and command these drunken men with you to take him out and kill him so that no one will know who was truly killed. Separate his head from his body by one hundred cubits and give his body to be buried. Let the news spread in Assyriaand Ninevehthat Haqar has been killed.'

The executioner and my wife made me a hidden place underground. They dug a cellar beneath the doorstep and put me in it, providing me with bread and water before burying me inside the excavated cellar. Then they left to inform the king that Haqar had been killed according to his decree. When the news spread throughout Assyriaand Nineveh, they wailed and scratched their faces in mourning. They said, 'Alas for you, Haqar the skillful scribe who knew how to solve difficult problems. Woe to us - where shall we find one like you? Who is left that can become as understanding, knowledgeable and wise as another you, until someone can rise to fill your position?'

And King Sennacherib called for Nadan and said to him, 'Go and perform mourning rites and console Haqar, your father, and weep over him.' But when the fool Nadan, hard of heart, arrived, he did not weep or grieve, nor did he remember me in his heart. Instead, he gathered for himself some corrupt and wicked men, and they began to eat and drink, dance and sing and get drunk. And Nadan began seizing my slaves and maidservants, stripping them naked and flogging them, beating them, and committing every evil. He had no shame before my wife who had raised him like her own son. Rather, the depraved one intended to engage in sinful acts with her and violate her modesty. And I, the innocent one, lying buried, could hear the beating of my slaves and their crying over what they were suffering from him. I endured great distress, weeping and grieving.

After that, I called out to the merciful God in prayer, and after a few days, Yebusmiskenkenti came and comforted me. He consoled my heart and brought me bread and water. When he rose to leave, I said to him, 'Pray to God to save me from this place.' So when he prayed, he said, 'O God of mercy and compassion, remember Haqar who calls upon You for help, and hear his prayer and accept his supplication.' And furthermore, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when he heard that the skillful Haqar, solver of difficult problems, had been killed, he rejoiced with extreme joy.

And he wrote a letter and sent it, saying: 'From Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to Sennacherib, king of Assyriaand Nineveh- greetings, honor and respect. Let it be known, O king, that I have desired to build for myself a palace between heaven and earth. And I want you to send me from among your men one who can build for me whatever I describe as I want it, and can answer me regarding any question I ask him. And if you send someone to build this palace for me and do what I tell him, we will send you the tribute of Egyptand all its lands and territory for three years.' When this letter arrived and was read before Sennacherib, the king then summoned his nobles and gathered the freemen, all the wise men, philosophers, sorcerers, soothsayers and astrologers within his kingdom. He read that letter before them and said to them, 'Who among you is able to go to Egyptand answer Pharaoh, the king?'

They replied to him, 'O our master, these difficult problems and questions, none understood or knew how to solve them except Haqar alone. He would unravel and explain them, but we do not comprehend his knowledge nor know his understanding. Now you have Nadan, the son of his sister - he taught him his knowledge and wisdom. Ask him, for he can solve this question, as we do not know how to explain it.' So the king summoned Nadan and read that letter to him. Nadan replied, 'O my master the king, do you see these people talking nonsense? Who is able to build a structure between heaven and earth? Not even the gods are able to solve this question.' When the king heard Nadan's words, he grieved with extreme sadness and wept. He descended from his throne and sat in ashes, weeping.

He said: 'What a loss for you, O wise and skillful Haqar, knower of secrets and mysteries. Woe is me for you, O my kingdom's teacher and manager, where will I find your equal? Where will I search for your like? Woe is me for how I destroyed and removed you with the words of an ignorant boy, without knowledge or religion or manners. O Haqar, whoever had informed me that you were alive, I would have given him half my kingdom!' And my brothers, I, Yebusmiskenkenti, the executioner, when I learned and heard this from the king and saw his grief and weeping, I stepped forward, prostrated before him and said: 'O my master the king, I disobeyed your command, and every servant who disobeys his master's command deserves crucifixion. And if you wish, O my master, crucify me for disobeying the command. I knew that his remorse was to find you after killing Haqar, and I knew that he was innocent. Here is Haqar alive, though hidden in a burial place.'

And when the king heard my words, he rejoiced with extreme joy, and said: 'O righteous servant, if what you say is true, I wish to enrich you for telling me that Haqar is alive. I will greatly honor you.' The executioner said to the king, 'Excuse my sin and do not remind me of my errors.' So the king swore to him that he would not harm him. In secret, Yebusmiskenkenti came to me and opened the burial place, pulling me out from within it. And I, Haqar, by the One in whom I trusted, was not ashamed. Then he took me and brought me before the king. When I stood before the king, I fell to the ground prostrating, for my hair had grown long and fallen over my shoulders, my beard had descended to my chest, and my nails had become like eagle talons. My body had become emaciated and thin, and my face remained like ashes. When the king saw my pale complexion, he grieved for me and was unable to speak, weeping.

And he said, 'O Haqar, I have not wronged you, rather it is Nadan your nephew who wronged you.' And I said to the king, 'May you live forever, O my master the king. Now that God has allowed me to see your face again, nothing troubles me.' The king replied, "Blessed be God who looked upon you and knew you were wronged. Go now Haqar, to the bathhouse, shave your head and trim your nails. Eat and drink for forty days to regain your strength, and then return to me." Then I went home, did as the king commanded and only stayed twenty days, for the king had urgent business to attend to. When I stood before him again, he took out the document that the Egyptians had sent him. He said, ‘Look, Haqar, and see what the Egyptians have sent us; this is what they have done since you were killed to subjugate us. And all the people of our land, when they heard the news, fled to Egyptout of fear of having to pay the tribute money the Egyptians were now demanding from us.'

When Haqar read the letter and understood its contents, he replied to the king, 'Do not grieve or be angry, my lord. I will go to Egyptand give Pharaoh a response, I will explain this matter to him and collect for you the tribute money from Egypt. I will also return all those who fled from our land. With God's help and your support, I will humiliate all your enemies.' When the king heard his words, he was overjoyed with great joy, and he bestowed gifts upon Haqar and the princes. And he raised the executioner to a high position.

The next day, I, Haqar, wrote a letter to my wife and said to her: 'Upon receiving this, order the hunters to catch us two eagles. And tell the rope-makers to weave us two cotton ropes that are two thousand cubits long. And tell the carpenters to make us large boxes. Give Nabuhal and Tabshilim to nursing women to breastfeed them. And slaughter a lamb daily to feed the eaglets until they grow up.' Every day, mount the boys upon the backs of the eagles while they are still small and light. Fly the eagles in the air with the boys upon their backs, having them ascend little by little to get used to carrying them. And when the eagles fly, teach the boys to cry out and say as they fly upon the backs of the eaglets: "Bring us gypsum, milk, stones, lime and clay so we may build a palace for King Pharaoh in the sky, for architects and craftsmen are standing idle." Send the birds, their ascent and descent back to you until I return.

Ashfaghni, my wise and understanding wife executed all my instructions dutifully. After a few days, I said to the king, 'Give me leave, my lord, so that I may set out for Egypt, for the time has come for me to depart.' When the king commanded me to depart, I took an army and traveled for a day's journey. We stopped in a wide-open area, and I took out the two eaglets from their boxes. I tied the ropes to their legs, mounted the boys on their backs, and they flew up into the air out of people's sight. As they ascended, the boys cried out saying, 'Bring us gypsum, milk, stones, lime and clay, for the architects, craftsmen and builders are standing idle. They want to build a palace for King Pharaoh in the sky.' At that, the eaglets flew back to me as my wife had instructed.

When the Assyrians who had fled to Egyptheard all that I had done, they returned to their homeland and lands. When I, Haqar, arrived in Egyptalong with those I had brought, I first went to the door of King Pharaoh and they informed him of me. They said to him, 'King Sennacherib has sent you the man you requested, what is your decree now?' The king commanded that they should give us a place to stay, and they brought me and those with me into a place. The king also commanded that they bring me before him. So they brought me before him. When I stood before him, I prostrated to him and greeted him. He returned the greeting and said to me, 'What is your name, O man?' I said to him, 'I am your servant Abiqam, an ant of Sennacherib's ants.'

When I said this, Pharaoh said to me, 'Was there no stronger man with your master that he would also send an ant to converse and speak with me?' Haqar replied, 'I hope by God's grace to accomplish my master's wishes, for God strengthens the weak to astonish the strong.' Upon this, Pharaoh commanded that they prepare a dwelling place for Abiqam and his troops, and that they provide them with provisions, answering all their needs for food, drink and everything else they required. After three days had passed, Pharaoh dressed in red purple and sat on his throne, with all his nobles and ministers standing with their hands folded. He sent word and had Abiqam brought before him. Abiqam prostrated to the ground and stood up. Pharaoh said to him, 'O Abiqam, to whom do I and my nobles and ministers resemble?' Haqar replied, 'My lord, you resemble Bel the idol, and your nobles resemble his servants.' Pharaoh said to him, 'Return to your dwelling and come back here tomorrow.'

Haqar departed as commanded. The next day he came before Pharaoh. He prostrated before him and stood up. Pharaoh had dressed in colorful red clothing and his servants wore white. Pharaoh said to Abiqam, 'To whom do I and my nobles resemble?' He said, 'My lord, you resemble the sun and your nobles resemble its rays.' He said to him, 'Go away and be here tomorrow.' Then Pharaoh instructed his nobles that they should wear pure white clothing, and he dressed in the same manner. The next day he sat on his throne and commanded that Abiqam be brought to him. He entered and prostrated before Pharaoh and stood up. Pharaoh said to him, 'To whom do I and my troops resemble?' He said to him, 'My lord, you resemble the moon, and your troops resemble the stars and planets.' He said to him, 'Go, and come back tomorrow.'

Pharaoh commanded his nobles to wear clothes of various colors and patterns. He himself wore a red velvet robe. He sat on his throne and commanded that Abiqam be brought. Abiqam entered, prostrated before him and stood up. Pharaoh said to him, 'To whom do I and my nobles resemble?' He said, 'My lord, you resemble the month of April, and your nobles resemble its flowers and blossoms.' When the king heard this, he rejoiced with extreme joy. He said to Abiqam, 'The first time you likened me to Bel the idol and my nobles to his servants. The second time you likened me to the sun and my troops to its rays. The third time you likened me to the moon and my nobles to the stars and planets. The fourth time you likened me to the month of April and my nobles to its flowers and blossoms. Now tell me, to whom does your master Sennacherib resemble, and to whom do his nobles resemble?'

Haqar cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Far be it from me to mention my master while you sit upon your throne. Rather, stand upon your feet so I may say to whom he resembles and his nobles resemble.' Pharaoh was astonished by his ready tongue, courage and strength in speech. Then he stood up from his throne and stood before Haqar. He said to him, 'Speak to me so I may see to whom your master resembles.' He said to him, 'My master resembles the god of the sky and his nobles resemble thunder and lightning. If he wills, the winds blow and rain descends, and if he commands thunder, it thunders and flashes lightning. He commands the sun and it does not give its light, and the moon and planets do not move in the sky. And if he commands storms, they blow, and rains and cold descend, and he scatters April, dispersing its flowers and blossoms.'

When Pharaoh heard these words, he was greatly perplexed and enraged. He said to him, 'O man, what is your name? Tell me truthfully - who are you really?' He said to him, 'My name is Haqar the scribe, the chief servant of my master King Sennacherib and his vizier. I manage his affairs and am the seal of his secret matters.' And he said to him, 'You speak truly, my brother, but wise one, we have heard that Haqar was killed by his master. Yet here you are alive and well.' He said to him, 'Yes, that is true. However, praise be to God, Knower of hidden things. My master had indeed commanded my killing, and he believed the words of the corrupt ones. But God saved me. Blessed is he who relies upon Him.' Pharaoh commanded him to depart and to return on the morrow. He said to him, 'Think of a word that I have never heard before from my nobles, nor from the people of my kingdom and land.'

Haqar went to his home. And he wrote a letter saying in it as such: "From Sennacherib the king to Pharaoh king of Egypt, greetings and salutation and honor be upon you, my brother. And that which you know, a brother is in need of his brother, and kings are in need of each other. And my hope from you is that you lend me nine hundred talents of gold, for I have needed provisions for some of my troops until I can spend on them. And after a little I will send it back to you." Then he folded the parchment and brought the letter in the morning before Pharaoh. When Pharaoh read it, he was amazed and said: 'Indeed, I have never heard words like these.' Haqar said to him: 'Then I will have a debt and right with my master.' Pharaoh accepted that and said: 'O Haqar, blessed be God who has blessed you with wisdom and adorned you with knowledge and understanding, for kings to have a servant like you.' And now I want you to build for me a high palace between the heaven and the earth.

Haqar said, 'I listen and obey. I will build for you a high palace between the heaven and the earth as you wish. But provide me with lime, stone, brick and laborers. I have with me skilled builders who will build for you whatever you desire.' The king provided all of that. They proceeded to a wide open place. Haqar and his servants went, and he took the eagles and the boys with him. The king and his servants and all his nobles went. The entire city gathered to see what Haqar would make. Then Haqar took out boxes and took eagles from them. He tied boys onto their backs, and tied ropes around their legs and released them into the sky. They ascended until they remained between the heaven and the earth, and began calling out saying 'Bring us brick, stone and lime so that we may build a palace for King Pharaoh, for we are idle ones just standing.'

So everyone was astonished. The king and nobles were amazed. And Haqar and his servants began striking the laborers and calling to the king's troops, saying to them 'Bring the masons what they need and do not hinder them from their work'. The king said to him, 'You are crazy, Haqar! Who could possibly deliver to such a height, or even half of it?' Haqar said to him, 'O my master, it is your people who are mad. If my master was here, he would build two palaces in one day.' Pharaoh said to him, 'Go, Haqar, and rest today in your home. We have dropped the matter of the palace. Come to me tomorrow.' So he left as the king had ordered him and presented himself before him in the morning.

Pharaoh said to him, 'Oh Haqar, how is the status of your master's horse? For if he neighs in Ashur and Nineveh, our horses will hear his voice here and cast their children.' Haqar left him and went, taking a cat. He tied it up and began to beat it severely with lashes until it screamed for help. The Egyptians heard it and came informing King Pharaoh. He summoned me and said 'Why are you lashing this cat?' I said to him 'O my master, this evil thing has committed a grave wrong against me and brought me great harm, because it killed the rooster that my master the king had given me, for he used to wake me up at night.' Pharaoh answered and said to me, 'Oh Haqar, I see that whenever you grow older your wisdom and knowledge decrease. For between Egyptand Assyriais more than three hundred and sixty parasangs. How could this cat be able to traverse all this distance in a single night and take the head of the rooster and come here?

I said to him, 'If the distance between Egyptand Assyriais all this far, then how could my master the king's horse neigh there and cause your horses here to cast their young?' When he heard this, he was astounded and embarrassed, and realized that I had answered his question. Pharaoh said to me, 'Oh Haqar, what is hotter than fire?' Haqar said, 'That which covers the house of the sultans is hotter than fire.' Then Pharaoh said to Haqar, 'A builder constructs a cylinder. And he built it from eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-three bricks. And he structured it with three hundred and sixty-five stones. And he planted atop it twelve trees. And he made in the tree thirty branches. And on the branch, two clusters of fruit, one black and one white.'

I said to the king, 'The herdsmen of Assyriaand Nineveh'scattle know this parable. The builder is God the Almighty who created the world. And the cylinder is the year. And the hours of the year are eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-three hours. And the days of the year are three hundred and sixty-five days. And the twelve trees are the months of the year. And the tree which has thirty branches - their number is the thirty days of the month. And each branch has two clusters, one black and one white - they are the night and the day.' Then Pharaoh said to me, 'Oh Haqar, twist two ropes, one from the sea sand and one from the earth dust.' I said to him, 'Order for them to bring me a rope from the storage so I can twist like it.' And also he said to me, 'If you do not twist these ropes for me, I will not give you the tribute.' So I went to the back of the house and made two holes in the wall. I let the sunlight enter through the holes. I remained throwing handfuls of sand into the holes. It started twisting like a rope. I said to the king 'Order your slaves to take the ropes, and if you want, I can twist many more ropes for you.' So the king and his nobles were amazed.

He said, 'Oh Haqar, we have a millstone that broke - it is a strange thing, and we want you to stitch it for us.' I said, 'Place it in front of me.' I looked at the broken millstone. I picked up another stone like it and placed it in front of Pharaoh, saying to him, 'Know, O my master the king, that I am a foreign man here and I did not bring the tools of the cobbler. If you order the cobbler in your city to bring me pieces of this stone, I will be able to stitch it for you.' The king and all his nobles laughed and said 'Blessed is God who has given you, Oh Haqar, this knowledge and wisdom.' They also said to him, 'A bird came out of its nest and flew without wings, and circled distant lands without eating or drinking.' He said to them, 'It is the human mind that circles near and far places and returns to its place.'

It was said: 'Who carried the heaviest load, even heavier than a camel?' The answer: 'The wise man, because the weight of wise words is [even] heavier [than anything else] because of his wisdom.' When Pharaoh and his nobles saw that they had been defeated, and Haqar explained their parables to them and solved their problems and they had no argument left, Pharaoh then gave Haqar a great amount of gold and silver and clothing and other things. They bestowed great honors upon me and those who were with me. King Pharaoh gave me permission and a decree to return to my lands of Assyriaand Nineveh. I kissed his hand and returned on my way. When I arrived to Sennacherib the king, and he came out to meet me and was overjoyed with great joy. And he seated me at his right hand and said to me, 'Ask of me whatever you want and desire, Oh Haqar.'

I said to him, 'O my lord, may you live forever. And whatever you give me, give it to Yebusmiskenkenti, because after God, he is the one who has granted me this life.' And the king began asking me about everything that I had done before Pharaoh the king, one by one. And he kept listening and expressing astonishment. Then I took out the money, gold, and honors that I had brought with me. I presented them before him, and he rejoiced with extreme joy. Then he said to me: 'Say whatever you want and I will give it to you.' I said to him: 'I only want your well-being, I do not need anything else. Rather, summon my nephew Nadan to judge him by your word, and do not seek his blood from me.' So he ordered and they brought me my nephew Nadan, son of my sister, so that I may judge him according to the king's command. I took him and walked with him to my house. I chained him with an iron chain and bound him in shackles. Then I began beating him with a harsh, difficult, extremely bitter beating.

And I beat him with countless beatings, beating his legs and back and shoulders and heart. And I fed him bread and water in small measly amounts, and threw him in the stinking bathroom to inhale its foul odors. And I handed him over to Nabuhal and Tabshalim to keep him with them in my house. And I said to them: 'Write down everything I say to this foolish, ignorant Nadan whom I honored and favored, but he did not understand and rather betrayed me and intended to kill me and destroy my life.' So every time I entered and exited, I would rebuke him. And those whom I had ordered, I said to them: 'Write down the conversation that I say.' Then I began saying to him:

O my son, it is said in proverbs, 'He who does not listen with his ear, from the nape of his neck they will make him listen.'

Nadan said to me, 'O my uncle, for what reason are you angry?' I said to him, 'Because I honored you and favored you and elevated your status and raised you with the best upbringing and taught you knowledge so that you may become my heir in wisdom and morality.

And I wished to seat you upon the throne of the kingdom. But you betrayed me, and instead of good, you did me evil. And you intended to kill me. But Allah saved me and delivered me and taught that I am wronged. And He compels the intentions of the deceitful and humiliates the arrogant enviers.'

O my son, you have become like a scorpion for me. When it strikes its stinger against hard rock, it pierces it without feeling anything itself. And it said to the scorpion: 'Behold, my stinger has become harder than your stinger.'

O my son, you have become like the goat that ate the madder root. The madder said, 'Today, eat and enjoy yourself, but tomorrow they will dye and tan your skin with me.'

O my son, you have become like a man who took a stone and threw it at the sky to stone his Lord with it. But the stone did not reach anything, rather he only acquired sin and wrongdoing.

O my son, you have become like a man who sees his companion naked, trembling from the cold, during the winter season, yet he takes a cold bucket of water and pours it over him.

O my son, if only you had honored me and listened to my words, you would have been able to stand in my place and inherit from me.

O my son, know and understand that even if the pig's tail was seven cubits long or more, it would not match up to the horse. And even if its hair was softer than silk and finer than linen.

O my son, I said that you would inherit from me upon my death, take my place, and possess my rank and knowledge. But you neither accepted my knowledge, nor listened to my words, nor lived righteously for God.

O my son, you have become like a lion with a donkey companion. The donkey served the lion for some time until it became fat. Then the lion pounced on it and ate it.

O my son, you have become like a trap placed in a garbage heap. A sparrow came to it and said to the trap: 'What are you doing here?' The trap said: 'I am praying to God.' The sparrow said to the trap: 'What are you leaning on?' The trap replied: 'This is my staff that I lean on during prayer.' The sparrow said: 'And what is in your mouth?' The trap said: 'This is food for those who come to me.' The sparrow said: 'May I come eat?' The trap said: 'Come eat.' As the sparrow came close to eat, the trap snatched it by the neck. The sparrow responded and said to the trap: 'If this is your bread for the hungry, God will not accept your charities, kind deeds, fasting or prayers, nor will He complete good with you.'

O my son, you have become like a wheat weevil to me, good for nothing but spoiling the wheat.

O my son, you have become to me like a pig that went with the nobles to the bathhouse to swim. And when it swam and came out of the bathhouse, it found mud and rolled around in it.

O my son, you have become to me like a dog that was cold so it entered the potter's house to warm itself. But when it warmed up, it started barking at them, so they beat it and drove it away lest it bite them.

O my son, a dog that does not eat from its catch will become food for wolves.

O my son, a hand that does not work hard and smartly and carefully will be cut off from the shoulder.

O my son, you have become like a tree they intended to cut down. It said to them: 'Ah, if it weren't for what is in your hands, you would not be able to cut me down.'

O my son, you have become like a thieving feline they told: 'Quit thieving, and the king will make you golden bracelets and collars.' It replied: 'I follow the trade of my mother and father, I will not abandon it.'

O my son, you have become like a snake on a thorn bush in the middle of the river. The wolf looked and said, "Evil upon evil, and one who is worse than the other manages them both."

O my son, I fed you every delicious food, yet you gave me only meager bread and never satisfied me, and I was buried and hidden away. Instead, you resolved to kill me.

O my son, I raised you tall like a beautiful cedar, but you bent me and broke me during my lifetime, and degraded me from my dignity with much evil.

O my son, I thought I had built myself a sturdy fortress to take refuge in from my enemies, but God delivered me.

Considering the good I have done you, and the evil you have repaid me with, I wish to gouge out your eyes, cut out your tongue, and sever your head with a sword - true evil I will repay you with. Nadan replied and said to him, "God forbid you do what you say. I only hope from you to treat me with the same goodness as before. Forgive what I have sinned before you, for God is Forgiving and accepts the repentant. Now accept me to tend your horses, graze your pigs, and sweep garbage, and I will be called an evil man while you are called a righteous man."

O my son, the old age of an eagle is better than the youth of a foul-smelling crow.

O my son, they told the wolf to stay away from the sheep so that their dust would not reach him. He replied: 'The sheep's dust is medicine for my eyes.'

O my son, they took the wolf to school to learn reading. The teacher said, 'Say A, B,' but the wolf replied 'Sheep, goat, kid!'.

O my son, from the time I taught you, you should have said that God is a just, truthful judge who rewards good with good and recompenses evil with evil, and that the end of those who do evil is punishment in Hellfire. As for you, my son, may God recompense you according to your deeds.

O my son, they put a donkey's head on a table, so it rolled on the ground, so they said it rebelled against its soul, while it does not accept honor and dignity.

O my son, as the saying goes: call the one born of you your son, and call the one you raised your servant.

O my son, it is true that your nephew should be slammed against the wall and knocked to the ground.

And now God knows all secrets. He will recompense a person according to their deeds - whether good or evil. He is the God who will judge between me and you, and recompense you as you deserve. When he heard these words at that time, he swelled up and remained like blown bottle, and perished and died, and his end was punishment. Whoever digs a pit for their friend, falls into it themselves. And whoever sets a trap gets caught in it.

The story of the wise and skilled Persian sage Haqar is complete.