Book V - Snyder Bible

70
Book II
Chapter I: Power of Habit
When the day dawned which had been fixed for the discussion
with Simon, Kefa, rising at the first cock-crowing, aroused
us also: for we were sleeping in the same apartment, thirteen
of us in all; of whom, next to Kefa, Zacchai was first, then Tzephanyah,
Yoseph and Micha-El, Eli-Esdrus, Pinchas, El-Azar,
and El-Isha: after these I (Clement) and Nakdimon; then Niceta
and Aquila, who had formerly been talmidim of Simon, and
were converted to the faith of Moshiach under the teaching of
Zacchai. Of the women there was no one present. As the evening
light was still lasting, we all sat down; and Kefa, seeing that
we were awake, and that we were giving attention to him,
having saluted us, immediately began to speak, as follows:
nature, which I see to be fit and suited to every call upon it.
This, however, it occurs to me to say of what I have found by
experience, that when the middle of the night is passed, I
awake of my own accord, and sleep does not come to me
again. I have done this for this reason, that I have formed the
habit of recalling to memory the words of my Master, which I
heard from Himself; and for the longing I have towards them, I
constrain my mind and my thoughts to be roused, that, awaking
to them, and recalling and arranging them one by one, I
may retain them in my memory. From this, therefore, while I
desire to cherish the sayings of Yahweh with all delight in my
heart, the habit of waking has come upon me, even if there be
nothing that I wish to think of. Thus, in some unaccountable
way, when any custom is established, the old custom is
changed, provided indeed you do not force it above measure,
but as far as the measure of nature admits. For it is not possible
to be altogether without sleep; otherwise night would not