Parables 113 (Χ.3)
PARABLES
113 (Χ.3)
these things to others, that those who have repented or who are about to repent may think as you do, that he may give a good report about them to me, and I to the Lord."
3. "I do indeed proclaim the Lord's mighty works to every one, Lord," I said. "For I hope that everyone who has sinned before now will gladly repent when they hear these things, and regain their life." 4. "Remain then in this minis try," he said, "and complete it. For whoever does his com mandments will have life and great honor before the Lord.
For everyone who does not keep his commandments flees from life and opposes him; but this one has his honor with the Lord. And so, all those who oppose him and do not fol low his commandments bring death on themselves, each of them bearing the guilt for his own blood. And so I say to you, keep these commandments and you will have a cure for your sins.
113 (X.3)
"I sent these virgins to live with you because I saw they were friendly with you. You have them as helpers that you may be able to keep these commandments all the more.
For these commandments cannot be kept without these virgins. I also see that they enjoy being with you; I will order them never to leave your house. 2. But you must clean your house. For they will gladly live in a clean house, because they are themselves clean, unsullied, and diligent,
2 6 2 tibi has virgines S A: turhas virginum Ζ
S H E P H E R D OF HERMAS
mundae enim sunt atque castae et industriae et omnes habentes gratiam apud dominum.
2 6 3 igitur si habuerint domum tuam puram, tecum permanebunt; sin autem pusillum aliquid inquinationis accident, protinus a domo tua recedunt. hae enim virgines nullam omnino diligunt inquinationem. 3. dico ei: spero me, domine, placiturum eis, ita ut in domo mea libenter habitent semper.
4. ώσπβρ δβ οντος ω παρεδωκάς ρβ ον ρερφεταί ρβ ούδε αύται ρερφονταί ρβ. λβγβι τώ ποιρενν οΐδα οτι δ δούλος τον θβον θβλβι ζήν και τηρήσει τάς εντολάς ταύτας και τάς παρθενονς εν καθαρότητι καταστήσει.
5. ταύτα ειπών τω ποιρενι πάλιν παρεδωκεν ρε, και τάς παρθενονς καλεσας . . . [nine letters?] . . . λέγει αύταΐς-
quoniam video vos libenter in domo eius habitare, conmendo eum vobis et domum eius, ut a domo eius non recedatis omnino. illae vero haec verba libenter audierunt.
114 (X.4)
Ait deinde mihi: viriliter in ministerio hoc conversare, omni homini indica magnalia domini, et habebis gratiam in hoc ministerio. quicumque ergo in his mandatis ambu2 6 3 dominum S A: deum Ζ 264 ώσπερ . . . αύταΐς P° x: et sicut hie, cut me tradidisti, nihil de me queritur, ita neque illae querentur. 4. ait ad pastorem ilium: video, inquit, servum dei velle vivere, et custoditurum haec mandata, et virgines has habitatione munda conlocaturum. 5. haec cum dixisset, iterum pastori illi me tradidit, et vocavit eas virgines et dixit ad eas: L
PARABLES
114 (Χ.4)
and they all enjoy favor from the Lord. If therefore they find your house pure, they will remain with you. But if it should become at all contaminated, they will leave your house immediately. For these virgins never love any con tamination." 3.1 said to him, "I hope, Lord, that I will be pleasing to them, that they may always live in my house cheerfully, and that just as this one to whom you have handed me over has no complaint against me, these may not either." 4. He said to the shepherd, "I know that the slave of God wants to live, and that he will guard these commandments and provide a clean place for these virgins to live." 5. When he said these things, he handed me over again to the care of that shepherd, and he called the virgins
.. .
5 and he said to them, "Since I see that you enjoy living in his house, I commend him and his house to you, that you may never leave it." And they heard these words cheerfully.
114 (X.4)
Then he said to me, "Carry out this ministry in a manly way; proclaim to everyone the Lord s mighty works and you will be favored in this ministry. For whoever proceeds in these commandments will live and lead a happy life. But 5 There is a small gap of about nine letters in the manuscript.
S H E P H E R D OF HERMAS
laverit, vivet, et felix erit in vita sua; quicumque vero neglexerit, non vivet, et erit infelix in vita sua. 2. die omnibus ut non cessent, quicumque recte facere possunt, bona opera exercere; utile est illis. dico autem omnem hominem de incommodis eripi oportere. et is enim qui eget et in cotidiana vita patitur incommoda, in magno tormento est ac necessitate. 3. qui igitur huiusmodi animam eripit de necessitate, magnum gladium sibi adquirit. is enim, qui huiusmodi vexatur incommodo, pari tormento cruciatur atque torquet se qui in vincula est. multi enim propter huiusmodi calamitates, cum eas sufferre non possunt, mortem sibi adducunt. qui novit igitur calamitatem huius modi hominis et non eripit eum, magnum peccatum admittit, et reus fit sanguinis eius. 4. facite igitur opera bona, quicumque accepistis a domino, ne dum tardatis facere, consummetur structura turris. propter vos enim intermissum est opus aedificationis eius. nisi festinetis igitur facere recte, consummabitur turris, et excludimini. 5. postquam vero locutus est mecum, surrexit de lecto, et adprehenso pastore et virginibus abut, dicens autem mihi remissurum se 2 6 5 pastorem ilium et virgines in domum meam.
2 6 5 se A O: esse S: om. Ζ
PARABLES
114 (Χ.4)
whoever neglects them will not live and will be unhappy in his life. 2. Tell everyone who is able to do what is right not to stop practicing good works; for doing them is useful. But I say that everyone should be helped out of his misfor tunes. For the one who is destitute and suffers misfortunes in his daily life is in great torment and misery. 3. And so, whoever helps such a person out of his misery obtains great joy for himself. For the one who is vexed with this kind of misfortune suffers the same kind of torment as one who is in prison. For many who experience this kind of calamity, when they can no longer bear it, take their own lives. And so, whoever knows that someone like this is suffering calamity and does not help him out of it has committed a great sin and bears the guilt for his blood.
4. Therefore, you who have received something from the Lord should do good works; otherwise the building of the tower may be completed while you delay. The work of its construction has been suspended on your behalf; if you do not hasten to do what is right, the tower will be completed and you will be shut out." 5. After he spoke with me, he got up from the couch and went out, taking the shepherd and virgins with him, telling me that he would send the shep herd and virgins back to my house.