Treatise of Shem

The Treatise of Shem

The treatise which Shem composed concerning the years and their signs; for as the year begins under one of the twelve signs, so shall be the character of that year, its harvests and its troubles.

If the year begins in the Ram: it will be poor in some things; the locust will come, and there will be conflict, yet the latter rain will be given, and grain will rise in price and then fall.

If the year begins in the Bull: there will be hardship, and some will suffer want; yet the harvest of wheat will be good, and the rivers will run full.

If the year begins in the Twins: it will be hard; sickness will spread among men, and kings will rise against kings; but oil and dates will be abundant.

If the year begins in the Crab: there will be rains in season, and the earth will yield; yet robbers will trouble the roads, and there will be fear in the cities.

If the year begins in the Lion: there will be drought in places, and the rivers will be low; the strong will prosper and the weak will mourn; afterward rain will come.

If the year begins in the Ear of Grain: the harvest will be plentiful, and peace will be among many peoples; yet a sickness of the eyes will pass through the land.

If the year begins in the Balance: the year will be even, neither very rich nor very poor; trade will flourish, and there will be quarrels that are settled.

If the year begins in the Scorpion: there will be much rain and some flooding; war will be spoken of, and a great man will fall.

If the year begins in the Archer: there will be wind and cold; flocks will increase, and there will be safety on the roads, and gladness at the harvest.

If the year begins in the Goat: there will be scarcity at first and plenty at the last; the sea will be rough for those who sail.

If the year begins in the Water-Pourer: the rivers will overflow, and there will be abundance of water and of fish; yet fevers will come where the waters stand.

If the year begins in the Fishes: there will be heavy rains and good crops, peace among kings, and joy among the people; this is a favorable year.

[The wording of the signs differs among the witnesses; the order of the twelve is constant.]