Chapter 7: Zacchaeus’ Lament

1When the teacher heard such sound knowledge (and) such an account of the lines of the first letter from Jesus, he was baffled by such teaching and by his defense. The teacher said, “Woe is me! Woe is me! I have been baffled and am miserable. I have brought shame on myself by taking on this child.

2“Take (him) away from me, brother, because I cannot bear his gaze or the clarity of his word. This child is simply not of this earth. He can even tame fire! Perhaps this child existed before the creation of the world. What kind of womb bore him? What kind of mother raised him? I do not know. Woe is me, brother! He stupefies me. My mind cannot follow him. I have deceived myself, thrice-unhappy as I am. I thought I would gain a disciple, but I have found that I have a teacher.

3“Friends, I ponder my shame. Old man that I am, I have been defeated by a child. I should be cast out and die, or flee this village because of this child. I can no longer be seen among everyone, especially those who saw that I was defeated by a very small child. But what can I say or tell anyone about the lines of the first element? The truth is that I do not know, friends, because I understand neither the beginning nor the end!

4“Therefore, brother Joseph, lead him away with salvation into your house, because this child is a great thing—whether a god, an angel, or whatever else I might call him, I do not know.”