The Testament of Solomon

And I again glorified God who had given me this authority, and I commanded another demon to appear before me. And seven spirits came, bound together and intertwined, beautiful in appearance and graceful.

And I, Solomon, seeing them, wondered and asked them, “Who are you?” And they said, “We are the elemental rulers of the darkness of the world.”

And the first one said, “I am Deception.” The second: “I am Strife.” The third: “I am Clotho.” The fourth: “I am Confusion.” The fifth: “I am Error.” The sixth: “I am Power.” The seventh: “I am Malice.”

And our stars appear small in heaven, and we are called gods. We change together and we dwell together, sometimes in Lydia, sometimes on Olympus, sometimes on the great mountain.

And I, Solomon, questioned them, beginning from the first, “Tell me, what is your work?” And it said, “I am Deception. I weave deception and bring to mind most evil heresies. But I have an angel who renders me inactive, Lamachiel.”

The second said, “I am Strife. I contend, bringing wood, stones, swords, my weapons of the place. But I have an angel who renders me inactive, Barouchiel.”

Likewise, the third said, “I am Clotho. I revolve, and I make everything fight and not live peaceably. And why say much? I have an angel who renders me inactive, Marmarōth.”

And the fourth said, “I make people not to be prudent. I divide. I separate. With Strife also accompanying me, I separate brothers and do many other similar things. And why say much? But I have an angel who renders me inactive, the great Balthioul.”

The fifth said, “I am Error, King Solomon, and I lead you astray and have led you astray and caused you to kill brothers. I lead you astray to search tombs and I teach grave-robbers, and I lead souls astray from all piety, and I do many other evil things. But I have an angel who renders me inactive, Ouriel.”

Likewise, the sixth said, “I am Power. I raise up tyrants, I depose kings, and I give power to all adversaries. I have an angel who renders me inactive, Asterarōth.”

Likewise, the seventh said, “I am Malice, and I will corrupt you, O King, when I am commanded by the bonds of Artemis. For it is for these things that you are to fulfill your desire as one most beloved, but for myself, a desire for wisdom. For if anyone is wise, he will not turn a step towards me.”

And I, Solomon, having heard these things, sealed them with the ring of God and commanded them to dig the foundations of the Temple. And its length was fixed at two hundred and fifty cubits. And they performed all that was commanded to them.