The Testament of Abraham

And Abraham said, "I beg you, is there also an unexpected death? Announce it to me."

Death says, "Amen, amen, I say to you in God's truth, that there are seventy-two deaths. And one death is the righteous one, which has a limit. And many people come to death in one hour, being delivered to the grave.

For behold, I have announced to you everything you asked for. Now I tell you, most righteous Abraham, abandon all deliberation and cease asking anything further once and for all. And come, follow me, as God and the Judge of all things has commanded me."

And Abraham said to Death, "Depart from me for a little while longer, so that I may rest on my bed, for great despondency is upon me.

For since I beheld you with my eyes, my strength has failed, and all the members of my body feel to me like the weight of lead, and my spirit is greatly troubled. Withdraw for a short while; for I said, 'I cannot bear to look upon your form.'"

Then Isaac, his son, came and fell upon his chest, weeping. And Sarah, his wife, also came and clung to his feet, lamenting bitterly.

And all his servants and handmaids came and encircled his bed, weeping exceedingly. But Abraham came to a disregard for death.

And Death said to Abraham, "Come, kiss my right hand; and cheerfulness and life and strength will come to you."

For Death deceived Abraham; and he kissed his hand, and immediately his soul clung to the hand of Death.

And immediately Michael the Archangel appeared with a multitude of angels, and they took his precious soul in their hands in a linen cloth woven by God.

And with divinely-inspired ointments and perfumes they embalmed the body of the righteous Abraham until the third day of his completion, and they buried him in the land of promise, in the Oak of Mamre.

And the angels ministered to his precious soul and ascended to heaven, singing the Trisagion hymn to the Lord, the God of all, and they presented it for the worship of God and Father.

And indeed, after much praise and doxology had been offered to the Lord, and Abraham had worshipped, the immaculate voice of God and Father came, saying thus:

"Therefore, take my friend Abraham into Paradise, where are the tabernacles of my righteous ones and the abodes of my holy ones Isaac and Jacob in his bosom, where there is no toil, no sorrow, no groaning, but peace and exultation and unending life."

[With whom may we also, my beloved brothers, imitate the hospitality of the patriarch Abraham and acquire his virtuous way of life, so that we may be deemed worthy of eternal life, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to Him be glory and dominion forever. Amen.]