The Testament of Solomon

And behold, one of the old craftsmen threw himself down before me, saying, “King Solomon, son of David, have mercy on me in my old age.” And I said to him, “Speak, old man, what you wish.”

And he said, “I beg you, King. I have an only son, and he continually brings harsh insults upon me; for he strikes my face and my head, because he threatens to bring about my bitter death. For this reason, I have come so that you may avenge me.”

When I heard these things, I commanded his son to be brought to me. And when he had come, I said to him, “Is this how you are?”

And he said, “I am filled with despair, King, so as to strike my father with my hand. Be merciful to me, O King; for it is unlawful to hear such a parable and distress.”

Therefore, I, Solomon, having heard the young man, urged the elder to come to his senses. But he refused and said, “Let him be put to death.”

And seeing the demon Ornias laughing, I became very angry when he laughed before me. So I removed this one and ordered Ornias to come, and I said to him, “Accursed one, did you laugh at me?”

But he said, “I beg you, O king, I did not laugh because of you, but because of the wretched old man and the miserable young man, his son, because in three days he will die, and behold, the old man wishes to kill him wickedly.”

And I said, “Is it truly so?” The demon said, “Yes, O king.”

And I commanded the demon to withdraw and the old man and his son to come, and I commanded them to become friends.

And I said to the elder, “In three days bring your son here to me.” And they bowed down and departed.

And I commanded again that Ornias be brought to me, and I said to him, “Tell me how you know this, that the young man will die in three days.”

And he said, “We demons ascend to the firmament of heaven and fly among the stars, and we hear the decrees that come forth from God concerning the souls of men.”

“And then we come, and whether by power, or by fire, or by sword, or by accident, transforming ourselves, we destroy.”

And I questioned him, “Tell me then, how can you ascend into heaven, being demons?”

And he said to me, “Whatever is accomplished in heaven, so also on earth. For the principalities and authorities and powers fly above and are deemed worthy of entrance into heaven.”

“But we demons are weak, having no basis for ascent or rest, and we fall like leaves from trees, and those men who observe us think that the falling ones from heaven are stars.”

“It is not so, O king, but we fall because of our weakness, and having no assistance from anywhere, we fall like lightning to the earth, and we burn down cities and set fields ablaze. But the stars of heaven are established in the firmament.”

And having heard these things, I, Solomon, commanded the demon to be kept until five days.

But after five days, when I called the old man, he refused to come. Then, when he came, I saw him distressed and mourning.

And I said to him, “Where is your son, old man?” And he said, “I have become childless, O king, and without hope I watch over the tomb of my son.”

And I, Solomon, having heard these things and knowing that what had been spoken to me by the demon was true, I glorified the God of heaven and earth.