Hermas Bk. 3 - Parables

1_Parable
FIRST PARABLE	ΠΑΡΑΒΟΛΑΙ ΑΣ

as in this world we have no abiding city, we ought to seek one to come.
HE says to me, “You know that you who are the servants of God dwell in a strange land; for your city is far away from this one. If, then,” he continues, “you know your city in which you are to dwell, why do ye here provide lands, and make expensive preparations, and accumulate dwellings and useless buildings? He who makes such preparations for this city cannot return again to his own. Oh foolish, and unstable, and miserable man! Dost thou not understand that all these things belong to another, and are under the power of another? for the lord of this city will say, ‘I do not wish thee to dwell in my city; but depart from this city, because thou obeyest not my laws.’ Thou, therefore, although having fields and houses, and many other things, when cast out by him, what wilt thou do with thy land, and house, and other possessions which thou hast gathered to thyself? For the lord of this country justly says to thee, ‘Either obey my laws or depart from my dominion.’ What, then, dost thou intend to do, having a law in thine own city, on account of thy lands, and the rest of thy possessions? Thou shalt altogether deny thy law, and walk according to the law of this city. See lest it be to thy hurt to deny thy law; for if thou shalt desire to return to thy city, thou wilt not be received, because thou hast denied the law of thy city, but wilt be excluded from it. Have a care, therefore: as one living in a foreign land, make no further preparations for thyself than such merely as may be sufficient; and be ready, when the master of this city shall come to cast thee out for disobeying his law, to leave his city, and to depart to thine own, and to obey thine own law without being exposed to annoyance, but in great joy. Have a care, then, ye who serve the Lord, and have Him in your heart, that ye work the works of God, remembering His commandments and promises which He promised, and believe that He will bring them to pass if His commandments be observed. Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each one is able, and visit s widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your preparations, which ye received from the Lord, upon such lands and houses. For to this end did the Master make you rich, that you might perform these services unto Him; and it is much better to purchase such lands, and possessions, and houses, as you will find in your own city, when you come to reside in it. This is a noble and sacred expenditure, attended neither with sorrow nor fear, but with joy. Do not practise the expenditure of the heathen, for it is injurious to you who are the servants of God; but practise an expenditure of your own, in which ye can rejoice; and do not corrupt nor touch what is another’s nor covet it, for it is an evil thing to covet the goods of other men; but work thine own work, and thou wilt be saved.”	ΕΛΑΛΗΣΕ ΜΕΤ΄ ΕΜΟΥ¹ Λέγει μοι· Οἴδατε͵ φησίν͵ ὅτι ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικεῖτε ὑμεῖς οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ θεοῦ· ἡ γὰρ πόλις ὑμῶν μακράν ἐστιν ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης· εἰ οὖν οἴδατε͵ φησί͵ τὴν πόλιν ὑμῶν͵ ἐν ᾗ μέλλετε κατοικεῖν͵ τί ὧδε ὑμεῖς ἑτοιμάζετε ἀγροὺς ^50.2 καὶ παρατάξεις πολυτελεῖς καὶ οἰκοδομὰς καὶ οἰκήματα μάταια; ταῦτα οὖν ὁ ἑτοιμάζων εἰς ταύτην τὴν πόλιν οὐ δύναται ἐπανακάμψαι εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν ^50.3 πόλιν. ἄφρον καὶ δίψυχε καὶ ταλαίπωρε ἄνθρωπε͵ οὐ νοεῖς͵ ὅτι ταῦτα πάντα ἀλλότριά εἰσι καὶ ὑπ΄ ἐξουσίαν ἑτέρου εἰσίν; ἐρεῖ γὰρ ὁ κύριος τῆς πό λεως ταύτης· Οὐ θέλω σε κατοικεῖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν μου͵ ἀλλ΄ ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς ^50.4 πόλεως ταύτης͵ ὅτι τοῖς νόμοις μου οὐ χρᾶσαι. σὺ οὖν ἔχων ἀγροὺς καὶ οἰκήσεις καὶ ἑτέρας ὑπάρξεις πολλάς͵ ἐκβαλλόμενος ὑπ΄ αὐτοῦ τί ποιήσεις σου τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ τὰ λοιπά͵ ὅσα ἡτοίμασας σεαυτῷ; λέγει γάρ σοι δικαίως ὁ κύριος τῆς χώρας ταύτης· ῍Η τοῖς νόμοις μου χρῶ ἢ ^50.5 ἐκχώρει ἐκ τῆς χώρας μου. σὺ οὖν τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν͵ ἔχων νόμον ἐν τῇ σῇ πόλει; ἕνεκεν τῶν ἀγρῶν σου καὶ τῆς λοιπῆς ὑπάρξεως τὸν νόμον σου πάντως ἀπαρνήσῃ καὶ πορεύσῃ τῷ νόμῳ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης; βλέπε μὴ ἀσύμφορόν ἐστιν ἀπαρνῆσαι τὸν νόμον σου· ἐὰν γὰρ ἐπανακάμψαι θελήσῃς εἰς τὴν πόλιν σου͵ οὐ μὴ παραδεχθήσῃ͵ ὅτι ἀπηρνήσω τὸν νόμον τῆς πόλεως σου͵ καὶ ἐκκλεισ ^50.6 θήσῃ ἀπ΄ αὐτῆς. βλέπε οὖν σύ· ὡς ἐπὶ ξένης κατοικῶν μηδὲν πλέον ἑτοί μαζε σεαυτῷ εἰ μὴ τὴν αὐτάρκειαν τὴν ἀρκετήν σοι͵ καὶ ἕτοιμος γίνου͵ ἵνα͵ ὅταν θέλῃ ὁ δεσπότης τῆς πόλεως ταύτης ἐκβαλεῖν σε ἀντιταξάμενον τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ͵ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέλθῃς ἐν τῇ πόλει σου ^50.7 καὶ τῷ σῷ νόμῳ χρήσῃ ἀνυβρίστως ἀγαλλιώμενος. βλέπετε οὖν ὑμεῖς οἱ δουλεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἔχοντες αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν· ἐργάζεσθε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ μνημονεύοντες τῶν ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν ὧν ἐπηγγείλατο͵ καὶ πιστεύσατε αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι ποιήσει αὐτάς͵ ἐὰν αἱ ἐντολαὶ ^50.8 αὐτοῦ φυλαχθῶσιν. ἀντὶ ἀγρῶν οὖν ἀγοράζετε ψυχὰς θλιβομένας͵ καθά τις δυνατός ἐστι͵ καὶ χήρας καὶ ὀρφανοὺς ἐπισκέπτεσθε καὶ μὴ παραβλέ πετε αὐτούς͵ καὶ τὸν πλοῦτον ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς παρατάξεις πάσας εἰς τοιού ^50.9 τους ἀγροὺς καὶ οἰκίας δαπανᾶτε͵ ἃς ἐλάβετε παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ. εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐπλούτισεν ὑμᾶς ὁ δεσπότης͵ ἵνα ταύτας τὰς διακονίας τελέσητε αὐτῷ· πολὺ βέλτιόν ἐστι τοιούτους ἀγροὺς ἀγοράζειν καὶ κτήματα καὶ οἴκους͵ ^50.10 οὓς εὑρήσεις ἐν τῇ πόλει σου͵ ὅταν ἐπιδημήσῃς εἰς αὐτήν. αὕτη ἡ πολυ τέλεια καλὴ καὶ ἱλαρά͵ λύπην μὴ ἔχουσα μηδὲ φόβον͵ ἔχουσα δὲ χαράν. τὴν οὖν πολυτέλειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν μὴ πράσσετε· ἀσύμφορον γάρ ἐστιν ὑμῖν τοῖς ^50.11 δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ· τὴν δὲ ἰδίαν πολυτέλειαν πράσσετε͵ ἐν ᾗ δύνασθε χαρῆ ναι· καὶ μὴ παραχαράσσετε μηδὲ τοῦ ἀλλοτρίου ἅψησθε μηδὲ ἐπιθυμεῖτε αὐτοῦ· πονηρὸν γάρ ἐστιν ἀλλοτρίων ἐπιθυμεῖν. τὸ δὲ σὸν ἔργον ἐργάζου͵ καὶ σωθήσῃ.
2_Parable
SECOND PARABLE	⁵¹t.¹ ¹Ἄλλη παραβολή¹

as the vine is supported by the elm, so is the rich man helper by the prayer of the poor.
AS I was walking in the field, and observing an elm and vine, and determining in my own, mind respecting them and their fruits, the Shepherd appears to me, and says, “What is it that you are thinking about the elm and vine?” “I am considering,” I reply, “that they become each other exceedingly well.” “These two trees,” he continues, “are intended as an example for the servants of God.” “I would like to know,” said I, “the example which these trees you say, are intended to teach.” “Do you see,” he says, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them sir,” I replied. “This vine,” he continued, “produces fruit, and the elm is an unfruitful tree; but unless the vine be trained upon the elm, it cannot bear much fruit when extended at length upon the ground; and the fruit which it does bear is rotten, because the plant is not suspended upon the elm. When, therefore, the vine is cast upon the elm, it yields fruit both, from itself and from the elm. You see, moreover, that the elm also produces much fruit, not less than the vine, but even more; because,” he continued, “the vine, when suspended upon the elm, yields much fruit, and good; but when thrown upon the ground, what it produces is small and rotten. This Parable, therefore, is for the servants of God--for the poor man and for the rich.” “How so, sir?” said I; “explain the matter to me.” “Listen,” he said: “The rich man has much wealth, but is poor in matters relating to the Lord, because he is distracted about his riches; and he offers very few confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those which he does offer are small and weak, and have no power above. But when the rich man refreshes the poor, and assists him in his necessities, believing that what he does to the poor man will be able to find its reward with God--because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with God--then the rich man helps the poor in all things without hesitation; and the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God for him who bestows gifts upon him. And he still continues to interest himself zealously for the poor man, that his wants may be constantly supplied. For he knows that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable and influential with God. Both, accordingly, accomplish their work. The poor man makes intercession; a work in which he is rich, which he received from the Lord, and with which he recompenses the master who helps him. And the rich man, in like manner, unhesitatingly bestows upon the poor man the riches which he received from the Lord. And this is a great work, and acceptable before God, because he understands the object of his wealth, and has given to the poor of the gifts of the Lord, and rightly discharged his service to Him. Among men, however, the elm appears not to produce fruit, and they do not know nor understand that if a drought come, the elm, which contains water, nourishes the vine l and the vine, having an unfailing supply of water, yields double fruit both for itself and for the elm. So also poor men interceding with the Lord on behalf of the rich, increase their riches; and the rich, again, aiding the poor in their necessities, satisfy their souls. Both, therefore, are partners in the righteous work. He who does these things shall not be deserted by God, but shall be enrolled in the books of the living. Blessed are they who have riches, and who understand that they are from the Lord. [For they who are of that mind will be able to do some good.]”	Περιπατοῦντός μου εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ κατανοοῦντος πτελέαν καὶ ἄμπε λον͵ καὶ διακρίνοντος περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν͵ φανεροῦταί μοι ὁ ποιμὴν καὶ λέγει· Τί σὺ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ζητεῖς περὶ τῆς πτελέας καὶ τῆς ἀμπέ ^51.2 λου; Συζητῶ͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ὅτι εὐπρεπέσταταί εἰσιν ἀλλήλαις. Ταῦτα τὰ δύο δένδρα͵ φησίν͵ εἰς τύπον κεῖνται τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ. ῎Ηθελον͵ φημί͵ γνῶναι τὸν τύπον τῶν δένδρων τούτων ὧν λέγεις. Βλέπεις͵ φησί͵ τὴν ^51.3 πτελέαν καὶ τὴν ἄμπελον; Βλέπω͵ φημί͵ κύριε. Ἡ ἄμπελος͵ φησίν͵ αὕτη καρπὸν φέρει͵ ἡ δὲ πτελέα ξύλον ἄκαρπόν ἐστιν· ἀλλ΄ ἡ ἄμπελος αὕτη ἐὰν μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ τὴν πτελέαν͵ οὐ δύναται καρποφορῆσαι πολὺ ἐρριμμένη χαμαί͵ καὶ ὃν φέρει καρπόν͵ σεσηπότα φέρει μὴ κρεμαμένη ἐπὶ τῆς πτελέας. ὅταν οὖν ἐπιρριφῇ ἡ ἄμπελος ἐπὶ τὴν πτελέαν͵ καὶ παρ΄ ἑαυτῆς φέρει καρπὸν καὶ ^51.4 παρὰ τῆς πτελέας. βλέπεις οὖν͵ ὅτι καὶ ἡ πτελέα πολὺν καρπὸν δίδωσιν͵ οὐκ ἐλάσσονα τῆς ἀμπέλου͵ μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πλείονα. Πῶς͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ πλείο να; Ὅτι͵ φησίν͵ ἡ ἄμπελος κρεμαμένη ἐπὶ τὴν πτελέαν τὸν καρπὸν πολὺν καὶ καλὸν δίδωσιν͵ ἐρριμμένη δὲ χαμαὶ ὀλίγον καὶ σαπρὸν φέρει. αὕτη οὖν ἡ παραβολὴ εἰς τοὺς δούλους τοῦ θεοῦ κεῖται͵ εἰς πτωχὸν καὶ πλούσιον. ^51.5 Πῶς͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ γνώρισόν μοι. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· ὁ μὲν πλούσιος ἔχει χρή ματα͵ τὰ δὲ πρὸς τὸν κύριον πτωχεύει͵ περισπώμενος περὶ τὸν πλοῦτον ἑαυτοῦ͵ καὶ λίαν μικρὰν ἔχει τὴν ἔντευξιν καὶ τὴν ἐξομολόγησιν πρὸς τὸν κύριον͵ καὶ ἣν ἔχει͵ βληχρὰν καὶ μικρὰν καὶ ἄλλην μὴ ἔχουσαν δύναμιν. ὅταν οὖν ἐπαναπαῇ ἐπὶ τὸν πένητα ὁ πλούσιος καὶ χορηγῇ αὐτῷ τὰ δέοντα͵ πι στεύει ὅτι ἐὰν ἐργάσηται εἰς τὸν πένητα δυνήσεται τὸν μισθὸν εὑρεῖν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ· ὅτι ὁ πένης πλούσιός ἐστιν ἐν τῇ ἐντεύξει αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐξο μολογήσει͵ καὶ δύναμιν μεγάλην ἔχει παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἡ ἔντευξις αὐτοῦ. ἐπι ^51.6 χορηγεῖ οὖν ὁ πλούσιος τῷ πένητι πάντα ἀδιστάκτως· ὁ πένης οὖν ἐπιχορη γούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ πλουσίου ἐντυγχάνει τῷ θεῷ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ͵ ὑπὲρ τοῦ διδόντος αὐτῷ· κἀκεῖνος ἔτι καὶ ἔτι σπουδάζει περὶ τοῦ πένητος͵ ἵνα ἀδιά λειπτος γένηται ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ· οἶδε γάρ͵ ὅτι ἡ τοῦ πένητος ἔντευξις προσ ^51.7 δεκτή ἐστιν καὶ πλουσία πρὸς κύριον. ἀμφότεροι οὖν τὸ ἔργον τελοῦσιν· ὁ μὲν πένης ἐργάζεται τῇ ἐντεύξει͵ ἐν ᾗ πλουτεῖ͵ ἣν ἔλαβεν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου· ταύτην ἀποδίδωσι τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ ἐπιχορηγοῦντι αὐτῷ. καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ὡσαύτως τὸ πλοῦτος͵ ὃ ἔλαβεν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου͵ ἀδιστάκτως παρέχεται τῷ πένητι. καὶ τοῦτο ἔργον μέγα ἐστὶν καὶ δεκτὸν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ͵ ὅτι συνῆ κεν ἐπὶ τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἠργάσατο εἰς τὸν πένητα ἐκ τῶν δωρημάτων ^51.8 τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἐτέλεσεν τὴν διακονίαν ὀρθῶς. παρὰ τοῖς οὖν ἀνθρώποις ἡ πτελέα δοκεῖ καρπὸν μὴ φέρειν͵ καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν οὐδὲ νοοῦσιν ὅτι͵ ὅταν ἀβροχία γένηται͵ ἡ πτελέα ἔχουσα ὕδωρ τρέφει τὴν ἄμπελον͵ καὶ ἡ ἄμπε λος ἀδιάλειπτον ἔχουσα τὸ ὕδωρ διπλοῦν τὸν καρπὸν ἀποδίδωσιν͵ καὶ ὑπὲρ ἑαυτῆς καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πτελέας. οὕτως καὶ οἱ πένητες ὑπὲρ τῶν πλου σίων ἐντυγχάνοντες πρὸς τὸν κύριον πληροφοροῦσι τὸ πλοῦτος αὐτῶν͵ καὶ πάλιν οἱ πλούσιοι χορηγοῦντες τοῖς πένησι τὰ δέοντα πληροφοροῦσι τὰς ψυχὰς ^51.9 αὐτῶν. γίνονται οὖν ἀμφότεροι κοινωνοὶ τοῦ ἔργου τοῦ δικαίου. ταῦτα οὖν ὁ ποιῶν οὐκ ἐνκαταλειφθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ͵ ἀλλὰ ἔσται γεγραμμένος ^51.10 εἰς τὰς βίβλους τῶν ζώντων. μακάριοι οἱ ἔχοντες καὶ συνιέντες͵ ὅτι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου πλουτίζονται· ὁ γὰρ συνίων τοῦτο δυνήσεται καὶ διακονῆσαί τι ἀγαθόν.
3_Parable
THIRD PARABLE	⁵²t.¹ ¹Παραβολὴ γ¹

as in winter green trees cannot be distinguished from withered, so in this world neither can the just from the unjust.
He showed me many trees having no leaves, but withered, as it seemed to me; for all were alike. And he said to me, “Do you see those trees?” “I see, sir,” I replied, “that all are alike, and withered.” He answered me, and said, “These trees which you see are those who dwell in this world.” “Why, then, sir,” I said, “are they withered, as it were, and alike?” “Because,” he said, “neither are the righteous manifest in this life, nor sinners, but they are alike; for this life is a winter to the righteous, and they do not manifest themselves, because they dwell with sinners: for as in winter trees that have cast their leaves are alike, and it is not seen which are dead and which are living, so in this world neither do the righteous show themselves, nor sinners, but all are alike one to another.”	Ἔδειξέ μοι δένδρα πολλὰ μὴ ἔχοντα φύλλα͵ ἀλλὰ ὡσεὶ ξηρὰ ἐδόκει μοι εἶναι· ὅμοια γὰρ ἦν πάντα. λέγει μοι· Βλέπεις͵ φησί͵ τὰ δένδρα ταῦτα; Βλέ πω͵ φημι͵ κύριε͵ ὅμοια ὄντα καὶ ξηρά. ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Ταῦτα τὰ δέν ^52.2 δρα͵ ἃ βλέπεις͵ οἱ κατοικοῦντές εἰσιν ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ. Διατί͵ φημί͵ οὖν͵ κύριε͵ ὡσεὶ ξηρὰ καὶ ὅμοιά ἐστιν; Ὅτι͵ φησίν͵ οὔτε οἱ δίκαιοι φαίνον ται οὔτε οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ͵ ἀλλὰ ὅμοιοί εἰσιν· ὁ γὰρ αἰὼν οὗ τος δικαίοις χειμών ἐστιν͵ καὶ οὐ φαίνονται μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν κατοι ^52.3 κοῦντες. ὥσπερ γὰρ τῷ χειμῶνι τὰ δένδρα ἀποβεβληκότα τὰ φύλλα ὅμοιά ἐστιν καὶ οὐ φαίνεται τὰ ξηρὰ ποῖά ἐστιν ἢ τὰ ζῶντα͵ οὕτως ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ οὐ φαίνονται οὔτε οἱ δίκαιοι οὔτε οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί͵ ἀλλὰ πάντες ὅμοιοί εἰσιν.
4_Parable
FOURTH PARABLE	⁵³t.¹ ¹Ἄλλη παραβολὴ δ¹

as in summer living trees are distinguished from withered by fruit and living leaves, so in the world to come the just differ from the unjust in happiness.
He showed me again many trees, some budding, and others withered. And he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see, sir,” I replied, “some putting forth buds, and others withered.” “Those,” he said, “which are budding are the righteous who are to live in the world to come; for the coming world is the summer of the righteous, but the winter of sinners. When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then shall they be made manifest who are the servants of God, and all men shall be made manifest. For as in summer the fruits of each individual tree appear, and it is ascertained of what sort they are, so also the fruits of the righteous shall be manifest, and all who have been fruitful in that world shall be made known. But the heathen and sinners, like the withered trees which you saw, will be found to be those who have been withered and unfruitful in that world, and shall be burnt as wood, and made manifest, because their actions were evil during their lives. For the sinners shall be consumed because they sinned and did not repent, and the heathen shall be burned because they knew not Him who created them. Do you therefore bear fruit, that in that summer your fruit may be known. And refrain from much business, and you will never sin: for they who are occupied with much business commit also many sins, being distracted about their affairs, and not at all serving their Lord. How, then,” he continued, “can such a one ask and obtain anything from the Lord, if he serve Him not? They who serve Him shall obtain their requests, but they who serve Him not shall receive nothing. And in the performance even of a single action a man can serve the Lord; for his mind will not be perverted from the Lord, but he will serve Him, having a pure mind. If, therefore, you do these things, you shall be able to bear fruit for the life to come. And every one who will do these things shall bear fruit.”	Ἔδειξέ μοι πάλιν δένδρα πολλά͵ ἃ μὲν βλαστῶντα͵ ἃ δὲ ξηρά͵ καὶ λέγει μοι· Βλέπεις͵ φησί͵ τὰ δένδρα ταῦτα; Βλέπω͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ἃ μὲν βλα ^53.2 στῶντα͵ ἃ δὲ ξηρά. Ταῦτα͵ φησί͵ τὰ δένδρα τὰ βλαστῶντα οἱ δίκαιοί εἰσιν οἱ μέλλοντες κατοικεῖν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸν ἐρχόμενον· ὁ γὰρ αἰὼν ὁ ἐρχόμενος θερεία ἐστὶν τοῖς δικαίοις͵ τοῖς δὲ ἁμαρτωλοῖς χειμών. ὅταν οὖν ἐπιλάμψῃ τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ κυρίου͵ τότε φανεροὶ ἔσονται οἱ δουλεύοντες ^53.3 τῷ θεῷ͵ καὶ πᾶσι φανεροποιηθήσονται. ὥσπερ γὰρ τῇ θερείᾳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου δένδρου οἱ καρποὶ φανεροῦνται καὶ ἐπιγινώσκονται ποῖοί τινές εἰσιν͵ οὕτω καὶ τῶν δικαίων οἱ καρποὶ φανεροὶ ἔσονται καὶ γνωσθήσονται πάντες εὐθα ^53.4 λεῖς ὄντες ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι ἐκείνῳ. τὰ δὲ ἔθνη καὶ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί͵ ἃ εἶδες τὰ δένδρα τὰ ξηρά͵ τοιοῦτοι εὑρεθήσονται ξηροὶ καὶ ἄκαρποι ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ αἰῶνι καὶ ὡς ξηρὰ ξύλα κατακαυθήσονται καὶ φανεροὶ ἔσονται͵ ὅτι ἡ πρᾶξις αὐτῶν πονηρὰ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν. οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἁμαρτωλοὶ καήσονται ὅτι ἥμαρτον καὶ οὐ μετενόησαν· τὰ δὲ ἔθνη καήσονται ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὸν ^53.5 κτίσαντα αὐτούς. σὺ οὖν ἐν σεαυτῷ καρποφόρει͵ ἵνα ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ θερείᾳ γνωσθῇ σου ὁ καρπός· ἀπέχου δὲ ἀπὸ πολλῶν πράξεων καὶ οὐδὲν διαμάρτῃς. οἱ γὰρ τὰ πολλὰ πράσσοντες πολλὰ καὶ ἁμαρτάνουσιν͵ περισπώμενοι περὶ ^53.6 τὰς πραγματείας αὐτῶν μηδὲ δουλεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτῶν. Πῶς οὖν͵ φησίν͵ δύναται ὁ τοιοῦτος αἰτήσασθαί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ λαβεῖν͵ μὴ δουλεύων τῷ κυρίῳ; οἱ δουλεύοντες αὐτῷ͵ ἐκεῖνοι λήμψονται τὰ αἰτήματα ^53.7 αὐτῶν͵ οἱ δὲ μὴ δουλεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ οὐδὲν λήμψονται. ἐὰν δὲ μίαν τις πρᾶξιν ἐργάσηται͵ δύναται καὶ τῷ κυρίῳ δουλεῦσαι· οὐ γὰρ μὴ δια φθαρήσεται ἡ διάνοια αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου͵ ἀλλὰ δουλεύσει αὐτῷ ἔχων κα ^53.8 θαρὰν τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτοῦ. ταῦτα οὖν ἐὰν ποιήσῃς͵ δυνήσῃ καρποφορῆ σαι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸν ἐρχόμενον· καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ταῦτα ποιήσῃ͵ καρποφορήσει.
5_Parable
FIFTH PARABLE	⁵⁴t.¹ ¹Ἄλλη παραβολὴ ε¹

of true fasting and its reward: also of purity of body.
CHAPTER I.
While fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, and giving thanks to the Lord for all His dealings with me, I see the Shepherd sitting down beside me, and saying, “Why have you come hither early in the morning?” “Because, sir,” I answered, “I have a station.” “What is a station?” he asked. “I am fasting, sir,” I replied. “What is this fasting,” he continued, “which you are observing?” “As I have been accustomed, sir,” I reply, “so I fast.” “You do not know,” he says, “how to fast unto the Lord: this useless fasting which you observe to HIm is of no value.” “Why, sir,” I answered, “do you say this?” “I say to you,” he continued, “that the fasting which you think you observe is not a fasting. But I will teach you what is a full and acceptable fasting to the Lord. Listen,” he continued: “God does not desire such an empty fasting? For fasting to God in this way you will do nothing for a righteous life; but offer to God a fasting of the following kind: Do no evil in your life, and serve the Lord with a pure heart: keep His commandments, walking in His precepts, and let no evil desire arise in your heart; and believe in God. If you do these things, and fear Him, and abstain from every evil thing, you will live unto God; and if you do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable before God.	Νηστεύοντός μου καὶ καθημένου εἰς ὄρος τι εὐχαριστῶν τῷ κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν μετ΄ ἐμοῦ͵ βλέπω τὸν ποιμένα παρακαθήμενόν μοι καὶ λέγοντά [μοι τοι]αῦτα· Τί ὀρθρινὸς ὧδε ἐλήλυθας; Ὅτι͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ στα ^54.2 τίωνα ἔχω. Τί͵ φησίν͵ ἐστὶν στατίων; Νηστεύω͵ φημί͵ κύριε. Νηστεία δέ͵ φησίν͵ τί ἐστιν αὕτη͵ ἣν νηστεύετε; Ὡς εἰώθειν͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ οὕτω νη ^54.3 στεύω. Οὐκ οἴδατε͵ φησίν͵ νηστεύειν τῷ θεῷ͵ οὐδέ ἐστιν νηστεία αὕτη ἡ ἀνωφελής͵ ἣν νηστεύετε αὐτῷ. Διατί͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ τοῦτο λέγεις; Λέγω͵ φησίν͵ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη νηστεία ἣν δοκεῖτε νηστεύειν· ἀλλ΄ ἐγώ σε διδάξω τί ἐστιν νηστεία δεκτὴ καὶ πλήρης τῷ κυρίῳ. Ναί͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ μακάριόν ^54.4 με ποιήσεις ἐὰν γνῶ τὴν νηστείαν τὴν δεκτὴν τῷ θεῷ. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν. ὁ θεὸς οὐ βούλεται τοιαύτην νηστείαν ματαίαν· οὕτω γὰρ νηστεύων τῷ θεῷ ^54.5 οὐδὲν ἐργάζῃ τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. νήστευσον δὲ τῷ θεῷ νηστείαν τοιαύτην· μηδὲν πονηρεύσῃ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου͵ ἀλλὰ δούλευσον τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ͵ τηρῶν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ πορευόμενος ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασιν αὐτοῦ καὶ μηδεμία ἐπιθυμία πονηρὰ ἀναβήτω ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· πίστευσον δὲ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι͵ ἐὰν ταῦτα ἐργάσῃ καὶ φοβηθῇς αὐτὸν καὶ ἐγκρατεύσῃ ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος͵ ζήσῃ τῷ θεῷ· ταῦτα δὲ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ͵ μεγάλην νηστείαν τελεῖς καὶ δεκτὴν τῷ κυρίῳ.
CHAPTER II.
“Hear the Parable which I am about to narrate to you relative to fasting. A certain man had a field and many slaves, and he planted a certain part of the field with a vineyard, and selecting a faithful and beloved and much valued slave, he called him to him, and said, ‘Take this vineyard which I have planted, and stake it until I come, and do nothing else to the vineyard; and attend to this order of mine, and you shall receive your freedom from me.’ And the master of the slave departed to a foreign country. And when he was gone, the slave took and staked the vineyard; and when he had finished the staking of the vines, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. He then reflected, saying, ‘I have kept this order of my master: I will dig up the rest of this vineyard, and it will be more beautiful when dug up; and being free of weeds, it will yield more fruit, not being choked by them.’ He took, therefore, and dug up the vineyard, and rooted out all the weeds that were in it. And that vineyard became very beautiful and fruitful, Having no weeds to choke it. And after a certain time the master of the slave and of the field returned, and entered into the vineyard. And seeing that the vines were suitably supported on stakes, and the ground, moreover, dug up, and all the weeds rooted out, and the vines fruitful, he was greatly pleased with the work of his slave. And calling his beloved son who was his heir, and his friends who were his councillors, he told them what orders he had given his slave, and what he had found performed. And they rejoiced along with the slave at the testimony which his master bore to him. And he said to them, ‘I promised this slave freedom if he obeyed the command which I gave him; and he has kept my command, and done besides a good work to the vineyard, and has pleased me exceedingly. In return, therefore, for the work which he has done, I wish to make him co-heir with my son, because, having good thoughts, he did not neglect them, but carried them out.’ With this resolution of the master his son and friends were well pleased, viz., that the slave should be co-heir with the son. After a few days the master made a feast, and sent to his slave many dishes from his table. And the slave receiving the dishes that were sent him from his master, took of them what was sufficient for himself, and distributed the rest among his fellow-slaves. And his fellow-slaves rejoiced to receive the dishes, and began to pray for him, that he might find still greater favour with his master for having so treated them. His master heard all these things that were done, and was again greatly pleased with his conduct. And the master again calling; together his friends and his son, reported to them the slave’s proceeding with regard to the dishes which he had sent him. And they were still more satisfied that the slave should become co-heir with his son.”	^55.1,² Ἄκουε τὴν παραβολήν͵ ἣν μέλλω σοι λέγειν͵ ἀνήκουσαν τῇ νηστείᾳ. εἶχέν τις ἀγρὸν καὶ δούλους πολλούς͵ καὶ εἰς μέρος τι τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπε λῶνα· ἐκλεξάμενος οὖν δοῦλόν τινα πιστότατον καὶ εὐάρεστον αὐτῷ͵ ἀπο δημῶν προσεκαλέσατο αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Λάβε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα τοῦτον͵ ὃν ἐφύτευσα͵ καὶ χαράκωσον αὐτὸν ἕως ἔρχομαι͵ καὶ ἕτερον δὲ μὴ ποιήσῃς τῷ ἀμπελῶνι· καὶ ταύτην μου τὴν ἐντολὴν φύλαξον͵ καὶ ἐλεύθερος ἔσῃ παρ΄ ^55.3 ἐμοί. ἐξῆλθε δὲ ὁ δεσπότης τοῦ δούλου εἰς τὴν ἀποδημίαν. ἐξελθόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἔλαβεν ὁ δοῦλος καὶ ἐχαράκωσε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα. καὶ τελέσας τὴν χαρά ^55.4 κωσιν τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος εἶδε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα βοτανῶν πλήρη ὄντα. ἐν ἑαυτῷ οὖν ἐλογίσατο λέγων· Ταύτην τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ κυρίου τετέλεκα· σκάψω λοιπὸν τὸν ἀμπελῶνα τοῦτον͵ καὶ ἔσται εὐπρεπέστερος ἐσκαμμένος͵ καὶ βοτάνας μὴ ἔχων δώσει καρπὸν πλείονα͵ μὴ πνιγόμενος ὑπὸ τῶν βοτανῶν. λαβὼν ἔσκαψε τὸν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ πάσας τὰς βοτάνας τὰς οὔσας ἐν τῷ ἀμπε λῶνι ἐξέτιλλε. καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἀμπελὼν ἐκεῖνος εὐπρεπέστατος καὶ εὐθαλής͵ ^55.5 μὴ ἔχων βοτάνας τὰς πνιγούσας αὐτόν. μετὰ χρόνον τινὰ ἦλθεν ὁ δεσπότης τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ τοῦ δούλου καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα. καὶ ἰδὼν τὸν ἀμπελῶνα κεχαρακωμένον εὐπρεπῶς͵ ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἐσκαμμένον καὶ πάσας τὰς βοτάνας ἐκτετιλμένας καὶ εὐθαλεῖς οὔσας τὰς ἀμπέλους͵ ἐχάρη λίαν ἐπὶ ^55.6 τοῖς ἔργοις τοῦ δούλου. προσκαλεσάμενος οὖν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀγαπητόν͵ ὃν εἶχε κληρονόμον͵ καὶ τοὺς φίλους͵ οὓς εἶχε συμβούλους͵ λέγει αὐτοῖς͵ ὅσα ἐνετείλατο τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ͵ καὶ ὅσα εὗρε γεγονότα. κἀκεῖνοι συνεχάρησαν ^55.7 τῷ δούλῳ ἐπὶ τῇ μαρτυρίᾳ ᾗ ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτῷ ὁ δεσπότης. καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐγὼ τῷ δούλῳ τούτῳ ἐλευθερίαν ἐπηγγειλάμην͵ ἐάν μου τὴν ἐντολὴν φυλάξῃ͵ ἣν ἐνετειλάμην αὐτῷ· ἐφύλαξε δέ μου τὴν ἐντολὴν καὶ προσέθηκε τῷ ἀμπελῶνι ἔργον καλόν͵ καὶ ἐμοὶ λίαν ἤρεσεν. ἀντὶ τούτου οὖν τοῦ ἔργου οὗ εἰργάσατο θέλω αὐτὸν συγκληρονόμον τῷ υἱῷ μου ποιῆσαι͵ ^55.8 ὅτι τὸ καλὸν φρονήσας οὐ παρενεθυμήθη͵ ἀλλ΄ ἐτέλεσεν αὐτό. ταύτῃ τῇ γνώμῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ δεσπότου συνηυδόκησεν αὐτῷ͵ ἵνα συγκληρονόμος γένηται ^55.9 ὁ δοῦλος τῷ υἱῷ. μετὰ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας δεῖπνον ἐποίησεν ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ ἐδέσματα ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου πολλά. λαβὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος τὰ ἐδέσματα τὰ πεμφθέντα αὐτῷ ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσπότου αὐτοῦ τὰ ἀρκοῦντα αὐτῷ ^55.10 ἦρε͵ τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ τοῖς συνδούλοις αὐτοῦ διέδωκεν. οἱ δὲ σύνδουλοι αὐτοῦ λαβόντες τὰ ἐδέσματα ἐχάρησαν καὶ ἤρξαντο καὶ εὔχεσθαι ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ͵ ἵνα ^55.11 μείζονα χάριν εὕρῃ παρὰ τῷ δεσπότῃ͵ ὅτι οὕτως ἐχρήσατο αὐτοῖς. ταῦτα πάντα τὰ γεγονότα ὁ δεσπότης αὐτοῦ ἤκουσεν καὶ πάλιν λίαν ἐχάρη ἐπὶ τῇ πράξει αὐτοῦ. συνκαλέσας πάλιν πάντας τοὺς φίλους ὁ δεσπότης καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς τὴν πρᾶξιν τοῦ δούλου͵ ἣν ἔπραξεν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐδέσμασιν οἷς ἔλαβεν· οἱ δὲ ἔτι μᾶλλον συνευδόκησαν γενέσθαι τὸν δοῦλον συνκληρονόμον τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.
CHAPTER III.
I said to him, “Sir, I do not see the meaning of these Parables, nor am I able to comprehend them, unless you explain them to me.” “I will explain them all to you,” he said, “and whatever I shall mention in the course of our conversations I will show you. [Keep the commandments of the Lord, and you will be approved, and inscribed amongst the number of those who observe His commands.] And if you do any good beyond what is commanded by God, you will gain for yourself more abundant glory, and will be more honoured by God than you would otherwise be. If, therefore, in keeping the commandments of God, you do, in addition, these services, you will have joy if you observe them according to my command.” I said to him, “Sir, whatsoever you enjoin upon me I will observe, for I know that you are with me.” “I will be with you,” he replied, “because you have such a desire for doing good; and I will be with all those,” he added, “who have such a desire. This fasting,” he continued, “is very good, provided the commandments of the Lord be observed. Thus, then, shall you observe the fasting which you intend to keep. First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be perfect. And you will do also as follows. Having fulfilled what is written, in the day on which you fast you will taste nothing but bread and water; and having reckoned up the price of the dishes of that day which you intended to have eaten, you will give it to a widow, or an orphan, or to some person in want, and thus you will exhibit humility of mind, so that he who has received benefit from your humility may fill his own soul, and pray for you to the Lord. If you observe fasting, as I have commanded you, your sacrifice will be acceptable to God, and this fasting will be written down; and the service thus performed is noble, and sacred, and acceptable to the Lord. These things, therefore, shall you thus observe with your children, and all your house, and in observing them you will be blessed; and as many as hear these words and observe them shall be blessed; and whatsoever they ask of the Lord they shall receive.”	^56.1 Λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ἐγὼ ταύτας τὰς παραβολὰς οὐ γινώσκω οὐδὲ δύναμαι ^56.2 νοῆσαι αὐτάς͵ ἐὰν μή μοι ἐπιλύσῃς αὐτάς. Πάντα σοι ἐπιλύσω͵ φησίν͵ καὶ ὅσα ἂν λαλήσω μετὰ σοῦ͵ δείξω σοι. τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ κυρίου φύλασσε καὶ ἔσῃ εὐάρεστος αὐτῷ καὶ ἐνγραφήσῃ εἰς ἀριθμὸν τῶν τηρούντων τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ. ^56.3 ἐὰν δέ τι ἀγαθοῦ ποιήσῃς ἐκτὸς τῆς ἐντολῆς τοῦ θεοῦ͵ σεαυτῷ περιποιήσῃ δόξαν περισσοτέραν καὶ ἔσῃ ἐνδοξότερος παρὰ τῷ θεῷ οὗ ἔμελλες εἶναι. ἐὰν οὖν φυλάσσων τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ θεοῦ προσθῇς καὶ τὰς λειτουργίας ταύτας͵ ^56.4 χαρήσῃ͵ ἐὰν τηρήσῃς αὐτὰς κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ἐντολήν. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ὃ ἐάν μοι ἐντείλῃ͵ φυλάξω αὐτό· οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι σὺ μετ΄ ἐμοῦ εἶ. Ἔσομαι͵ φησί͵ μετὰ σοῦ͵ ὅτι τοιαύτην προθυμίαν ἔχεις τῆς ἀγαθοποιήσεως καὶ μετὰ ^56.5 πάντων δὲ ἔσομαι ὅσοι ἐάν͵ φησί͵ τὴν αὐτὴν προθυμίαν ἔχωσιν. ἡ νηστεία͵ φησίν͵ αὕτη͵ τηρουμένων τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ κυρίου͵ λίαν καλή ἐστιν. οὕτως ^56.6 οὖν φυλάξεις τὴν νηστείαν· πρῶτον πάντων φύλαξαι ἀπὸ παντὸς ῥήματος πονηροῦ καὶ πάσης ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς καὶ καθάρισόν σου τὴν καρδίαν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ματαιωμάτων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου. ἐὰν ταῦτα φυλάξῃς͵ ἔσται ^56.7 αὕτη ἡ νηστεία τελεία. οὕτω δὲ ποιήσεις· συντελέσας τὰ προγεγραμμένα͵ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ νηστεύεις μηδὲν γεύσῃ εἰ μὴ ἄρτον καὶ ὕδωρ͵ καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐδεσμάτων σου ὧν ἔμελλες τρώγειν συνοψίσας τὴν ποσότητα τῆς δαπάνης ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας ἧς ἔμελλες ποιεῖν͵ ἀποθέμενος δώσεις αὐτὸ χήρᾳ ἢ ὀρφανῷ ἢ ὑστερουμένῳ͵ καὶ οὕτω ταπεινοφρονήσεις͵ ἵνα ἐκ τῆς ταπεινοφρο σύνης σου ὁ εἰληφὼς ἐμπλήσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν καὶ εὔξηται περὶ σοῦ πρὸς ^56.8 τὸν κύριον. ἐὰν οὖν οὕτω τελέσῃς τὴν νηστείαν͵ ὥς σοι ἐντέλλομαι͵ ἔσται ἡ θυσία σου δεκτὴ παρὰ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἔνγραφος ἔσται ἡ νηστεία αὕτη͵ καὶ ἡ λειτουργία οὕτως ἐργαζομένη καλὴ καὶ ἱλαρά ἐστι καὶ εὐπρόσδεκτος τῷ ^56.9 κυρίῳ. ταῦτα οὕτως τηρήσεις σὺ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων σου καὶ ὅλου τοῦ οἴκου σου· τηρήσας δὲ αὐτὰ μακάριος ἔσῃ· καὶ ὅσοι ἐὰν ἀκούσαντες αὐτὰ τηρήσωσι͵ μακάριοι ἔσονται͵ καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου λήμψονται.
CHAPTER IV.
I prayed him much that he would explain to me the Parable of the field, and of the master of the vineyard, and of the slave who staked the vineyard, and of the sakes, and of the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard, and of the son, and of the friends who were fellow-councillors, for I knew that all these things were a kind of parable. And he answered me, and said, “You are exceedingly persistent with your questions. You ought not,” he continued, “to ask any questions at all; for if it is needful to explain anything, it will be made known to you.” I said to him “Sir whatsoever you show me, and do not explain, I shall have seen to no purpose, not understanding its meaning. In like manner, also, if you speak parables to me, and do not unfold them, I shall have heard your words in vain.” And he answered me again, saying, “Every one who is the servant of God, and has his Lord in his heart, asks of Him understanding, and receives it, and opens up every parable; and the words of the Lord become known to him which are spoken in parables? But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask Him. But you, having been strengthened by the holy Angel, and having obtained from Him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from Him?” I said to him, “Sir, having you with me, I am necessitated to ask questions of you, for you show me all things, and converse with me; but if I were to see or hear these things without you, I would then ask the Lord to explain them.”	^57.1 Ἐδεήθην αὐτοῦ πολλά͵ ἵνα μοι δηλώσῃ τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ τοῦ δεσπότου καὶ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος καὶ τοῦ δούλου τοῦ χαρακώσαντος τὸν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ τῶν χαράκων καὶ τῶν βοτανῶν τῶν ἐκτετιλμένων ἐκ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τῶν φίλων τῶν συμβούλων· συνῆκα γὰρ ὅτι παραβολή ^57.2 ἐστιν ταῦτα πάντα. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Αὐθάδης εἶ λίαν εἰς τὸ ἐπερωτᾶν. οὐκ ὀφείλεις͵ φησίν͵ ἐπερωτᾶν οὐδὲν ὅλως· ἐὰν γάρ σοι δέῃ δηλωθῆναι͵ δηλωθήσεται. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ὅσα ἐάν μοι δείξῃς καὶ μὴ δηλώσῃς͵ μάτην ἔσομαι ἑωρακὼς αὐτὰ καὶ μὴ νοῶν ὅτι ἐστίν· ὡσαύτως καὶ ἐάν μοι παραβολὰς λαλήσῃς καὶ μὴ ἐπιλύσῃς μοι͵ εἰς μάτην ἔσομαι ^57.3 ἠκουκὼς παρὰ σοῦ. ὁ δὲ πάλιν λέγει μοι· Ὃς ἂν δοῦλος ἦν͵ φησίν͵ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἔχῃ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ͵ αἰτεῖται παρ΄ αὐτοῦ σύνεσιν καὶ λαμβάνει καὶ πᾶσαν παραβολὴν ἐπιλύει͵ καὶ γνωστὰ αὐτῷ γίνονται τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ κυρίου τὰ λεγόμενα διὰ παραβολῶν· ὅσοι δὲ βληχροί εἰσιν καὶ ἀργοὶ πρὸς τὴν ἔντευξιν͵ ἐκεῖνοι διστάζουσιν αἰτεῖσθαι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου· ^57.4 ὁ δὲ κύριος πολύσπλαγχνός ἐστιν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς αἰτουμένοις παρ΄ αὐτοῦ ἀδιστάκτως δίδωσι. σὺ δὲ ἐνδεδυναμωμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐνδόξου ἀγγέλου καὶ εἰληφὼς παρ΄ αὐτοῦ τοιαύτην ἔντευξιν καὶ μὴ ὢν ἀργός͵ διατί οὐκ αἰτῇ ^57.5 παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου σύνεσιν καὶ λαμβάνεις παρ΄ αὐτοῦ; λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ἐγὼ ἔχων σὲ μετ΄ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀνάγκην ἔχω παρὰ σοῦ αἰτεῖσθαι καὶ σὲ ἐπερωτᾶν· σὺ γάρ μοι δεικνύεις πάντα καὶ λαλεῖς μετ΄ ἐμοῦ· εἰ δὲ ἄτερ σοῦ ἔβλεπον ταῦτα ἢ ἤκουον͵ ἠρώτων ἂν τὸν κύριον͵ ἵνα μοι δηλωθῇ.
CHAPTER V.
“I said to you a little ago,” he answered, “that you were cunning and obstinate in asking explanations of the parables; but since you are so persistent, I shall unfold to you the meaning of the Parables of the field, and of all the others that follow, that you may make them known to every one. Hear now,” he said, “and understand them. The field is this world; and the Lord of the field is He who created, and perfected, and strengthened all things; [and the son is the Holy Spirit; ] and the slave is the Son of God; and the vines are this people, whom He Himself planted; and the stakes are the holy angels of the Lord, who keep His people together; and the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard are the iniquities of God’s servants; and the dishes which He sent Him from His able are the commandments which He gave His people through His Son; and the friends and fellow-councillors are the holy angels who were first created; and the Master’s absence from home is the time that remains until His appearing.” I said to him, “Sir, all these are great, and marvellous, and glorious things. Could I, therefore,” I continued, “understand them? No, nor could any other man, even if exceedingly wise. Moreover,” I added, “explain to me what I am about to ask you.” “Say what you wish,” he replied. “Why, sir,” I asked, “is the Son of God in the parable in the form of a slave?”	^58.1 Εἶπόν σοι͵ φησί͵ καὶ ἄρτι͵ ὅτι πανοῦργος εἶ καὶ αὐθάδης͵ ἐπερωτῶν τὰς ἐπιλύσεις τῶν παραβολῶν. ἐπεὶ δὲ οὕτως παράμονος εἶ σύ͵ ἐπιλύσω σοι τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν τῶν ἀκολουθούντων πάντων͵ ἵνα ^58.2 γνωστὰ πᾶσι ποιήσῃς αὐτά. ἄκουε νῦν͵ φησί͵ καὶ σύνιε αὐτά. ὁ ἀγρὸς ὁ κόσμος οὗτός ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ κύριος τοῦ ἀγροῦ ὁ κτίσας τὰ πάντα καὶ ἀπαρτίσας αὐτὰ καὶ δυναμώσας. ὁ δὲ υἱὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιόν ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ δοῦλος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν· αἱ δὲ ἄμπελοι ὁ λαὸς οὗτός ἐστιν͵ ὃν αὐτὸς ἐφύτευσεν· ^58.3 οἱ δὲ χάρακες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοί εἰσι τοῦ κυρίου οἱ συγκρατοῦντες τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ· αἱ δὲ βοτάναι αἱ ἐκτετιλμέναι ἐκ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος ἀνομίαι εἰσὶ τῶν δούλων τοῦ θεοῦ· τὰ δὲ ἐδέσματα͵ ἃ ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου͵ αἱ ἐντολαί εἰσιν͵ ἃς ἔδωκε τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ· οἱ δὲ φίλοι καὶ σύμβουλοι οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι οἱ πρῶτοι κτισθέντες· ἡ δὲ ἀποδημία τοῦ δεσπότου ὁ ^58.4 χρόνος ὁ περισσεύων εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ με γάλως καὶ θαυμαστῶς πάντα ἐστὶν καὶ ἐνδόξως ἔχει. μὴ οὖν͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ἐγὼ ταῦτα ἠδυνάμην νοῆσαι; οὐδὲ ἕτερος ἄνθρωπος κἂν λίαν συνετὸς ἦν τις͵ οὐ δύναται νοῆσαι αὐτά. ἔτι͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ δήλωσόν μοι͵ ὃ μέλλω σε ^58.5 ἐπερωτᾶν. Λέγε͵ φησίν͵ εἴ τι βούλει. Διατί͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς δούλου τρόπον κεῖται ἐν τῇ παραβολῇ;
CHAPTER VI.
“Hear,” he answered: “the Son of God is not in the form of a slave, but in great power and might.” “How so, sir?” I said; “I do not understand.” “Because,” he answered, “God planted the vineyard, that is to say, He created the people, and gave them to His Son; and the Son appointed His angels over them to keep them; and He Himself purged away their sins, having suffered many trials and undergone many labours, for no one is able to dig without labour and toil. He Himself, then, having purged away the sins of the people, showed them the paths of life by giving them the law which He received from His Father. [You see,” he said, “that He is the Lord of the people, having received all authority from His Father. ] And why the Lord took His Son as councillor, and the glorious angels, regarding the heirship of the slave, listen. The holy, pre-existent Spirit, that created every creature, God made to dwell in flesh, which He chose. This flesh, accordingly, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was nobly subject to that Spirit, walking ₃₆ reli giously and chastely, in no respect defiling the Spirit; and accordingly, after living excellently and purely, and after labouring and co-operating with the Spirit, and having in everything acted vigorously and courageously along with the Holy Spirit, He assumed it as a partner with it. For this conduct of the flesh pleased Him, because it was not defiled on the earth while having the Holy Spirit. He took, therefore, as fellow-councillors His Son and the glorious angels, in order that this flesh, which had been subject to the body without a fault, might have some place of tabernacle, and that it might not appear that the reward [of its servitude had been lost ], for the flesh that has been found without spot or defilement, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, [will receive a reward ]. You have now the explanation of this parable also.”	^59.1 Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· εἰς δούλου τρόπον οὐ κεῖται ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ͵ ἀλλ΄ εἰς ^59.2 ἐξουσίαν μεγάλην κεῖται καὶ κυριότητα. Πῶς͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ οὐ νοῶ. Ὅτι͵ φησίν͵ ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐφύτευσε͵ τοῦτ΄ ἔστι τὸν λαὸν ἔκτισε καὶ παρέ δωκε τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὁ υἱὸς κατέστησε τοὺς ἀγγέλους ἐπ΄ αὐτοὺς τοῦ συντηρεῖν ἑκάστους· καὶ αὐτὸς τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν ἐκαθάρισε πολλὰ κοπιάσας καὶ πολλοὺς κόπους ἀνηντληκώς· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀμπελὼν δύναται ^59.3 σκαφῆναι ἄτερ κόπου ἢ μόχθου. αὐτὸς οὖν καθαρίσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας τοῦ λαοῦ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς τρίβους τῆς ζωῆς͵ δοὺς αὐτοῖς τὸν νόμον͵ ὃν ἔλαβεν ^59.4 παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. βλέπεις οὖν͵ φησίν͵ ὅτι αὐτὸς κύριός ἐστι τοῦ λαοῦ͵ ἐξουσίαν πᾶσαν λαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. ὅτι δὲ ὁ κύριος σύμ βουλον ἔλαβε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἐνδόξους ἀγγέλους περὶ τῆς κληρονομίας ^59.5 τοῦ δούλου͵ ἄκουε· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον τὸ προόν͵ τὸ κτίσαν πᾶσαν τὴν κτίσιν͵ κατῴκισεν ὁ θεὸς εἰς σάρκα ἣν ἠβούλετο. αὕτη οὖν ἡ σάρξ͵ ἐν ᾗ κατῴκησε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον͵ ἐδούλευσε τῷ πνεύματι καλῶς ἐν σεμνότητι ^59.6 καὶ ἁγνείᾳ πορευθεῖσα͵ μηδὲν ὅλως μιάνασα τὸ πνεῦμα. πολιτευσαμένην οὖν αὐτὴν καλῶς καὶ ἁγνῶς καὶ συνκοπιάσασαν τῷ πνεύματι καὶ συνεργήσασαν ἐν παντὶ πράγματι͵ ἰσχυρῶς καὶ ἀνδρείως ἀναστραφεῖσαν͵ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου εἵλατο κοινωνόν· ἤρεσε γὰρ ἡ πορεία τῆς σαρκὸς ταύτης͵ ὅτι οὐκ ^59.7 ἐμιάνθη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔχουσα τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. σύμβουλον οὖν ἔλαβε τὸν υἱὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοὺς ἐνδόξους͵ ἵνα καὶ ἡ σὰρξ αὕτη͵ δουλεύσασα τῷ [πνεύμα]τι ἀμέμπτως͵ σχῇ τόπον τινὰ κατασκηνώσεως͵ καὶ μὴ δόξῃ τὸν μισθὸν τῆς δουλείας αὐτῆς ἀπολωλεκέναι· πᾶσα γὰρ σὰρξ ἀπολήμψεται μισθὸν ἡ εὑρεθεῖσα ἀμίαντος καὶ ἄσπιλος͵ ἐν ᾗ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον κατῴ ^59.8 κησεν. ἔχεις καὶ ταύτης τῆς παραβολῆς τὴν ἐπίλυσιν.
CHAPTER VII.
“I rejoice, sir,” I said, “to hear this explanation.” “Hear,” again he replied: “Keep this flesh pure and stainless, that the Spirit which inhabits it may bear witness to it, and your flesh may be justified. See that the thought never arise in your mind that this flesh of yours is corruptible, and you misuse it by any act of defilement. If you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile your flesh [and spirit], you will not live.” “And if any one, sir,” I said, “has been hitherto ignorant, before he heard these words, how can such man be saved who has defiled his flesh?” “Respecting former sins of ignorance,” he said, “God alone is able to heal them, for to Him belongs all power. [But be On your guard now, and the all-powerful and compassionate God will heal former transgressions ], if for the time to come you defile not your body nor your spirit; for both are common, and cannot be defiled, the one without the other: keep both therefore pure, and you will live unto God.”	^60.1 Ηὐφράνθην͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ταύτην τὴν ἐπίλυσιν ἀκούσας. Ἄκουε νῦν͵ φησί· τὴν σάρκα σου ταύτην φύλασσε καθαρὰν καὶ ἀμίαντον͵ ἵνα τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ^60.2 κατοικῆσαν ἐν αὐτῇ μαρτυρήσῃ αὐτῇ καὶ δικαιωθῇ σου ἡ σάρξ. βλέπε͵ μήποτέ σου ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν ἀναβῇ τὴν σάρκα σου ταύτην φθαρτὴν εἶναι καὶ παρα χρήσῃ αὐτῇ ἐν μιασμῷ τινι. ἐὰν μιάνῃς τὴν σάρκα σου͵ μιανεῖς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ^60.3 ἅγιον· κἂν μιάνῃς τὴν σάρκα σου͵ οὐ ζήσῃ. Εἰ δέ τις͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ γέγονεν ἄγνοια προτέρα͵ πρὶν ἀκουσθῆναι τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα͵ πῶς σωθήσεται ὁ ἄνθρω πος ὁ μιάνας τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ; Περὶ τῶν προτέρων͵ φησίν͵ ἀγνοημάτων ^60.4 τῷ θεῷ μόνῳ δυνατὸν ἴασιν δοῦναι· αὐτοῦ γὰρ πᾶσά ἐστιν ἡ ἐξουσία. ἀλλὰ τὰ νῦν φύλασσε͵ καὶ ὁ κύριος πάντως πολύσπλαγχνος ὢν αὐτὰ ἰάσεται ἐάν σου τὴν σάρκα λοιπὸν μὴ μιάνῃς μηδὲ τὸ πνεῦμα· ἀμφότερα γὰρ κοινά ἐστιν καὶ ἄτερ ἀλλήλων μιανθῆναι οὐ δύναται. ἀμφότερα οὖν καθαρὰ φύ λασσε͵ καὶ ζήσῃ τῷ θεῷ.
6_Parable
SIXTH PARABLE	⁶¹t.¹ ¹Παραβολὴ 1

of the two classes of voluptuous men, and of their death, falling away, and the duration of their punishment.
CHAPTER I.
Sitting in my house, and glorifying the Lord for all that I had seen, and reflecting on the commandments, that they are excellent, and powerful, and glorious, and able to save a man’s soul, I said within myself, “I shall be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and every one who walks in them will be blessed.” While I was saying these words to myself, I suddenly see him sitting beside me, and hear him thus speak: “Why are you in doubt about the commandments which I gave you? They are excellent: have no doubt about them at all, but put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them. These commandments are beneficial to those who intend to repent: for if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain You, therefore, who repent cast away the wickedness of this world which wears you out; and by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep these commandments, and will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk, therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live unto God. All these things have been spoken to you by me.” And after he had uttered these words, he said to me, “Let us go into the fields, and I will show you the shepherds of the flocks.” “Let us go, sir,” I replied. And we came to a certain plain, and he showed me a young man, a shepherd, clothed in a suit of garments of a yellow colour: and he was herding very many sheep, and these sheep were feeding luxuriously, as it were, and riotously, and merrily skipping hither and thither. The shepherd himself was merry, because of his flock; and the appearance of the shepherd was joyous, and he was running about amongst his flock. [And other sheep I saw rioting and luxuriating in one place, but not, however, leaping about. ]	Καθήμενος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου καὶ δοξάζων τὸν κύριον περὶ πάντων ὧν ἑωράκειν καὶ συνζητῶν περὶ τῶν ἐντολῶν͵ ὅτι καλαὶ καὶ δυναταὶ καὶ ἱλαραὶ καὶ ἔνδοξοι καὶ δυνάμεναι σῶσαι ψυχὴν ἀνθρώπου͵ ἔλεγον ἐν ἐμαυτῷ ταῦτα· Μακάριος ἔσομαι͵ ἐὰν ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς ταύταις πορευθῶ͵ καὶ ὃς ἐὰν πορεύ ^61.2 σηται ἐν αὐταῖς μακάριος ἔσται. ἕως ταῦτα ἐν ἐμαυτῷ λαλῶ͵ βλέπω αὐτὸν ἐξαίφνης παρακαθήμενόν μοι καὶ λέγοντα ταῦτα· Τί διψυχεῖς περὶ τῶν ἐντολῶν ὧν σοι ἐντέταλμαι; καλαί εἰσιν· ὅλως μηδὲν διψυχήσῃς͵ ἀλλ΄ ἔνδυσαι τὴν πίστιν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς πορεύσῃ· ἐγὼ γάρ σε δυναμώσω ἐν αὐταῖς. ^61.3 αὗται αἱ ἐντολαὶ σύμφοροί εἰσιν τοῖς μέλλουσι μετανοεῖν· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ πορευ ^61.4 θῶσιν ἐν αὐταῖς͵ εἰς μάτην ἐστὶν ἡ μετάνοια αὐτῶν. οἱ οὖν μετανοοῦντες ἀποβάλετε τὰς πονηρίας τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τὰς ἐκτριβούσας ὑμᾶς· ἐνδυσά μενοι δὲ πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν δικαιοσύνης δυνήσεσθε τηρῆσαι τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας καὶ μηκέτι προστίθετε ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν. μηδὲν οὖν προστιθέντες πολὺ κόψετε τῶν προτέρων ὑμῶν ἁμαρτιῶν. πορεύεσθε οὖν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς μου͵ καὶ ^61.5 ζήσεσθε τῷ θεῷ. ταῦτα παρ΄ ἐμοῦ λελάληται ὑμῖν. μετὰ τὸ ταῦτα λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν μετ΄ ἐμοῦ͵ λέγει μοι· Ἄγωμεν εἰς ἀγρόν͵ καὶ δείξω σοι τοὺς ποιμένας τῶν προβάτων. Ἄγωμεν͵ φημί͵ κύριε. ἤλθομεν εἴς τι πεδίον͵ καὶ δεικνύει μοι ποιμένα νεανίσκον ἐνδεδυμένον σύνθεσιν ἱματίων τῷ χρώματι κροκώδη. ^61.6 ἔβοσκε δὲ πρόβατα πολλὰ λίαν͵ καὶ τὰ πρόβατα ταῦτα ὡσεὶ τρυφῶντα ἦν καὶ λίαν σπαταλῶντα καὶ ἱλαρὰ ἦν σκιρτῶντα ὧδε καὶ ἐκεῖ͵ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ ποιμὴν ἱλαρὸς ἦν ἐπὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ ἰδέα τοῦ ποιμένος λίαν ἱλαρὰ ἦν καὶ ἐν τοῖς πρόβασι περιέτρεχεν.
CHAPTER II
And he said to me, “Do you see this shepherd?” “I see him, sir,” I said. “This,” he answered, “is the angel of luxury and deceit: he wears out the souls of the servants of God, and perverts them from the truth, deceiving them with wicked desires, through which they will perish; for they forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in deceits and empty luxuries; and they are ruined by the angel, some being brought to death, others to corruption:” I said to him, “Sir, I do not know the meaning of these words, ‘to death, and to corruption.’“ “Listen,” he said. “The sheep which you saw merry and leaping about, are those which have tom themselves away from God for ever, and have delivered themselves over to luxuries and deceits [of this world. Among them there is no return to life through repentance, because they have added to their other sins, and blasphemed the name of the Lord. Such men therefore, are appointed unto death. And the sheep which you saw not leaping, but feeding in one place, are they who have delivered themselves over to luxury and deceit], but have committed no blasphemy against the Lord. These have been perverted from the truth: among them there is the hope of repentance, by which it is possible to live. Corruption, then, has a hope of a kind of renewal, but death has everlasting ruin.” Again I went forward a little way, and he showed me a tall shepherd, somewhat savage in his appearance, clothed in a white goatskin, and having a wallet on his shoulders, and a very hard staff with branches, and a large whip. And he had a very sour look, so that I was afraid of him, so forbidding was his aspect. This shepherd, accordingly, was receiving the sheep from the young shepherd, those, viz., that were rioting and luxuriating, but not leaping; and he cast them into a precipitous place, full of this ties and thorns, so that it was impossible to extricate the sheep from the thorns and thistles; but they were completely entangled amongst them. These, accordingly, thus entangled, pastured amongst the thorns and thistles, and were exceedingly miserable, being beaten by him; and he drove them hither and thither, and gave them no rest; and, altogether, these sheep were in a wretched plight.	^62.1 Λέγει μοι· Βλέπεις͵ φησίν͵ τὸν ποιμένα τοῦτον; Βλέπω͵ φημί͵ κύριε. Οὗτος͵ φησίν͵ ἐστὶν ἄγγελος τρυφῆς καὶ ἀπάτης. οὗτος οὖν ἐκτρίβει τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν δούλων τοῦ θεοῦ τῶν κενῶν καὶ καταστρέφει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας͵ ^62.2 ἀπατῶν αὐτοὺς ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις ταῖς πονηραῖς͵ ἐν αἷς ἀπόλλυνται. ἐπι λανθάνονται γὰρ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος καὶ πορεύονται ταῖς ἀπάταις καὶ τρυφαῖς ταῖς ματαίαις καὶ ἀπόλλυνται ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου τούτου͵ ^62.3 τινὰ μὲν εἰς θάνατον͵ τινὰ δὲ εἰς καταφθοράν. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ οὐ γινώσκω ἐγώ͵ τί εἰς θάνατον καὶ τί εἰς καταφθοράν ἐστιν. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· ὅσα εἶδες πρόβατα λίαν ἱλαρὰ καὶ σκιρτῶντα͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀφεσταμένοι ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τέλος καὶ παραδεδωκότες ἑαυτοὺς ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου· ἐν τούτοις οὖν μετάνοια ζωῆς οὐκ ἔστιν͵ ὅτι προσέθηκαν κατὰ ὄνομα ^62.4 τοῦ κυρίου βλασφημίαν· τῶν τοιούτων οὖν ὁ θάνατος. ἃ δὲ εἶδες μὴ σκιρ τῶντα ἀλλὰ ἐν ἑνὶ τόπῳ βοσκόμενα͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ παραδεδωκότες μὲν ἑαυτοὺς ταῖς τρυφαῖς καὶ ἀπάταις͵ εἰς δὲ τὸν κύριον οὐκ ἐβλασφήμησαν. οὗτοι οὖν κατεφθαρμένοι εἰσὶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας· ἐν τούτοις οὖν ἐλπίς ἐστιν μετανοίας͵ ἐν ᾗ δύνανται ζῆσαι. ἡ καταφθορὰ οὖν ἐλπίδα ἔχει ἀνα ^62.5 νεώσεώς τινα͵ ὁ δὲ θάνατος ἀπώλειαν ἔχει αἰώνιον. πάλιν προέβημεν μι κρόν͵ καὶ δεικνύει μοι ποιμένα μέγαν ὡσεὶ ἄγριον τῇ ἰδέᾳ͵ περικείμενον δέρμα αἴγειον λευκόν͵ καὶ πήραν τινὰ εἶχεν ἐπὶ τὸν ὦμον καὶ ῥάβδον σκληρὰν λίαν καὶ ὄζους ἔχουσαν καὶ μάστιγα μεγάλην· καὶ τὸ βλέμμα εἶχεν περίπικρον͵ ^62.6 ὥστε φοβηθῆναι αὐτόν· τοιοῦτον εἶχε τὸ βλέμμα. οὗτος ὁ ποιμὴν παρε λάμβανε τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τοῦ ποιμένος τοῦ νεανίσκου͵ ἐκεῖνα τὰ σπαταλῶντα καὶ τρυφῶντα͵ μὴ σκιρτῶντα δέ͵ καὶ ἐνέβαλλεν αὐτὰ εἴς τινα τόπον κρημνώδη καὶ ἀκανθώδη καὶ τριβολώδη͵ ὥστε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀκανθῶν καὶ τριβόλων μὴ δύνασθαι ἐκπλέξαι τὰ πρόβατα͵ ἀλλὰ ἐμπλέκεσθαι αὐτὰ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας ^62.7 καὶ τριβόλους. αὐτοῦ οὖν ἐμπεπλεγμένα ἐβόσκοντο τὰς ἀκάνθας καὶ τρι βόλους καὶ λίαν ἐταλαιπώρουν δερόμενα ὑπ΄ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὧδε καὶ ἐκεῖ περιήλαυνεν αὐτὰ καὶ ὅλως ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἐδίδει͵ καὶ ὅλως οὐκ εὐσταθοῦσαν τὰ πρόβατα ἐκεῖνα.
CHAPTER III.
Seeing them, therefore, so beaten and so badly used, I was grieved for them, because they were so tormented, and had no rest at all. And I said to the Shepherd who talked with me, “Sir, who is this shepherd, who is so pitiless and severe, and so completely devoid of compassion for these sheep?”	^63.1 Βλέπων οὖν αὐτὰ οὕτω μαστιγούμενα καὶ ταλαιπωροῦντα ἐλυπούμην ἐπ΄ ^63.2 αὐτοῖς͵ ὅτι οὕτως ἐβασανίζοντο καὶ ἀνοχὴν ὅλως οὐκ εἶχον. λέγω τῷ ποι μένι τῷ μετ΄ ἐμοῦ λαλοῦντι· Κύριε͵ φημί͵ τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ οὕτως ἄσπλαγχνος καὶ πικρὸς καὶ ὅλως μηδὲν σπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐπὶ τὰ πρόβατα ταῦτα;
“This,” he replied, “is the angel of punishment; and he belongs to the just angels, and is appointed to punish. He accordingly takes those who wander away from God, and who have walked in the desires and deceits of this world, and chastises them as they deserve with terrible and diverse punishments.” “I would know, sir,” I said, “Of what nature are these diverse tortures and punishments?” “Hear,” he said, “the various tortures and punishments. The tortures are such as occur during life. For some are punished with losses, others with want, others with sicknesses of various kinds, and others with all kinds of disOrder and confusion; others are insulted by unworthy persons, and exposed to suffering in many other ways: for many, becoming unstable in their plans, try many things, and none of them at all succeed, and they say they are not prosperous in their undertakings; and it does not occur to their minds that they have done evil deeds, but they blame the Lord. When, therefore, they have been afflicted with all kinds of affliction, then are they delivered unto me for good training, and they are made strong in the faith of the Lord; and for the rest of the days of their life they are subject to the Lord with pure hearts, and are successful in all their undertakings, obtaining from the Lord everything they ask; and then they glorify the Lord, that they were delivered to me, and no longer suffer any evil.”	Οὗτος͵ φησίν͵ ἐστὶν ὁ ἄγγελος τῆς τιμωρίας· ἐκ δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων ^63.3 τῶν δικαίων ἐστίν͵ κείμενος δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς τιμωρίας. παραλαμβάνει οὖν τοὺς ἀποπλανωμένους ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πορευθέντας ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τοῦ αἰῶ νος τούτου καὶ τιμωρεῖ αὐτούς͵ καθώς τις ἄξιός ἐστιν͵ δειναῖς τιμωρίαις ^63.4 καὶ ποικίλαις. ῎Ηθελον͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ γνῶναι τὰς ποικίλας τιμωρίας ταύτας͵ ποταπαί εἰσιν. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν͵ τὰς ποικίλας βασάνους καὶ τιμωρίας. βιωτικαί εἰσι βάσανοι· τιμωροῦνται γὰρ οἱ μὲν ζημίαις͵ οἱ δὲ ὑστερήσεσιν͵ οἱ δὲ ἀσθενείαις ποικίλαις͵ οἱ δὲ πάσῃ ἀκαταστασίᾳ͵ οἱ δὲ ^63.5 ὑβριζόμενοι ὑπὸ ἀναξίων καὶ ἑτέραις πολλαῖς πράξεσιν πάσχοντες. πολλοὶ γὰρ ἀκαταστατοῦντες ταῖς βουλαῖς αὐτῶν ἐπιβάλλονται πολλά͵ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς ὅλως προχωρεῖ. καὶ λέγουσιν ἑαυτοὺς μὴ εὐοδοῦσθαι ἐν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτῶν͵ καὶ οὐκ ἀναβαίνει ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἔπραξαν πονηρὰ ἔργα͵ ^63.6 ἀλλὰ αἰτιῶνται τὸν κύριον. ὅταν οὖν θλιβῶσι πάσῃ θλίψει͵ τότε ἐμοὶ παρα δίδονται εἰς ἀγαθὴν παιδείαν καὶ ἰσχυροποιοῦνται ἐν τῇ πίστει τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτῶν δουλεύουσιν τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ· ὅταν οὖν μετανοήσωσιν͵ τότε ἀναβαίνει ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα τὰ πονηρὰ ἃ ἔπραξαν͵ καὶ τότε δοξάζουσι τὸν θεόν͵ ὅτι δίκαιος κρι τής ἐστι καὶ δικαίως ἔπαθεν πάντα ἕκαστος κατὰ τὰς πράξεις αὐτοῦ· τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ δουλεύσουσιν τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ εὐοδοῦνται ἐν πάσῃ πράξει αὐτῶν͵ λαμβάνοντες πάντα παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου ὅσα αἰτοῦνται· καὶ τότε δοξάζουσιν τὸν κύριον͵ ὅτι ἐμοὶ παρεδόθησαν͵ καὶ οὐκέτι οὐδὲν πάσχουσι τῶν πονηρῶν.
CHAPTER IV.
I said to him, “Sir, explain this also to me.” “What is it you ask?” he said. “Whether, sir,” I continued, “they who indulge in luxury, and who are deceived, are tortured for the same period of time that they have indulged in luxury and deceit?” He said to me, “They are tortured in the same manner.” [“They are tormented much less, sir,” I replied;] “for those who are so luxurious and who forget God ought to be tortured seven-fold.” He said to me “You are foolish, and do not understand the power of torment.” “Why, sir,” I said, “if I had understood it, I would not have asked you to show me.” “Hear,” he said, “the power of both. The time of luxury and deceit is one hour; but the hour of torment is equivalent to thirty days. If, accordingly, a man indulge in luxury for one day, and be deceived and be tortured for one day, the day of his torture is equivalent to a whole year. For all the days of luxury, therefore, there are as many years of torture to be undergone. You see, then,” he continued, “that the time of luxury and deceit is very short, but that of punishment and torture long.”	^64.1 Λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ἔτι μοι τοῦτο δήλωσον. Τί͵ φησίν͵ ἐπιζητεῖς; Εἰ ἄρα͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον βασανίζονται οἱ τρυφῶντες καὶ ἀπατώμενοι ὅσον τρυφῶσι καὶ ἀπατῶνται; λέγει μοι· Τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον βασανίζονται. ^64.2 Ἐλάχιστον͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ βασανίζονται· ἔδει γὰρ τοὺς οὕτως τρυφῶντας ^64.3 καὶ ἐπιλανθανομένους τοῦ θεοῦ ἑπταπλασίως βασανίζεσθαι. λέγει μοι· Ἄφρων εἶ καὶ οὐ νοεῖς τῆς βασάνου τὴν δύναμιν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐνόουν͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ οὐκ ἄν σε ἐπηρώτων ἵνα μοι δηλώσῃς. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν͵ ἀμφοτέρων τὴν δύνα ^64.4 μιν. τῆς τρυφῆς καὶ ἀπάτης ὁ χρόνος ὥρα ἐστὶν μία· τῆς δὲ βασάνου ἡ ὥρα τριάκοντα ἡμερῶν δύναμιν ἔχει. ἐὰν οὖν μίαν ἡμέραν τις τρυφήσῃ καὶ ἀπατηθῇ͵ μίαν δὲ ἡμέραν βασανισθῇ͵ ὅλον ἐνιαυτὸν ἰσχύει ἡ ἡμέρα τῆς βασά νου. ὅσας οὖν ἡμέρας τρυφήσῃ τις͵ τοσούτους ἐνιαυτοὺς βασανίζεται. βλέ πεις οὖν͵ φησίν͵ ὅτι τῆς τρυφῆς καὶ ἀπάτης ὁ χρόνος ἐλάχιστός ἐστιν͵ τῆς δὲ τιμωρίας καὶ βασάνου πολύς.
CHAPTER V.
“Still,” I said, “I do not quite understand about the time of deceit, and luxury, and torture; explain it to me more clearly.” He answered, and said to me, “Your folly is persistent; and you do not wish to purify your heart, and serve God. Have a care,” he added, “lest the time be fulfilled, and you be found foolish. Hear now,” he added, “as you desire, that you may understand these things. He who indulges in luxury, and is deceived for one day, and who does what he wishes, is clothed with much foolishness, and does not understand the act which he does until the morrow; for he forgets what he did the day before. For luxury and deceit have no memories, on account of the folly with which they are clothed; but when punishment and torture cleave to a man for one day, he is punished and tortured for a year; for punishment and torture have powerful memories. While tortured and punished, therefore, for a whole year, he remembers at last a his luxury and deceit, and knows that an their account he suffers evil. Every man, therefore, who is luxurious and deceived is thus tormented, because, although having life, they have given themselves over to death.” “What kinds of luxury, sir,” I asked, “are hurtful?” “Every act of a man which he performs with pleasure,” he replied, “is an act of luxury; for the sharp-tempered man, when gratifying his tendency, indulges in luxury; and the adulterer, and the drunkard, and the back-biter, and the liar, and the covetous man, and the thief, and he who does things like these, gratifies his peculiar propensity, and in so doing indulges in luxury. All these acts of luxury are hurtful to the servants of God. On account of these deceits, therefore, do they suffer, who are punished and tortured. And there are also acts of luxury which save men; for many who do good indulge in luxury, being carried away by their own pleasure: this luxury, however, is beneficial to the servants of God, and gains life for such a man; but the injurious acts of luxury before enumerated bring tortures and punishment upon them; and if they continue in them and do not repent, they bring death upon themselves.”	^65.1 Ἐπεί͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ οὐ νενόηκα ὅλως τοὺς χρόνους τῆς ἀπάτης καὶ τρυφῆς ^65.2 καὶ βασάνου͵ τηλαυγέστερόν μοι δήλωσον. ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Ἡ ἀφρο σύνη σου παράμονός ἐστιν͵ καὶ οὐ θέλεις σου τὴν καρδίαν καθαρίσαι καὶ δουλεύειν τῷ θεῷ. βλέπε͵ φησίν͵ μήποτε ὁ χρόνος πληρωθῇ καὶ σὺ ἄφρων ^65.3 εὑρεθῇς· ἄκουε οὖν͵ φησίν͵ καθὼς βούλει͵ ἵνα νοήσῃς αὐτά. ὁ τρυφῶν καὶ ἀπατώμενος μίαν ἡμέραν καὶ πράσσων ἃ βούλεται πολλὴν ἀφροσύνην ἐνδέδυται καὶ οὐ νοεῖ τὴν πρᾶξιν ἣν ποιεῖ. εἰς τὴν αὔριον ἐπιλανθάνεται τί πρὸ μιᾶς ἔπραξεν· ἡ γὰρ τρυφὴ καὶ ἀπάτη μνήμας οὐκ ἔχει διὰ τὴν ἀφρο σύνην͵ ἣν ἐνδέδυται͵ ἡ δὲ τιμωρία καὶ βάσανος ὅταν κολληθῇ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ μίαν ἡμέραν͵ μέχρι ἐνιαυτοῦ τιμωρεῖται καὶ βασανίζεται· μνήμας γὰρ μεγάλας ^65.4 ἔχει ἡ τιμωρία καὶ βάσανος. βασανιζόμενος οὖν καὶ τιμωρούμενος ὅλον τὸν ἐνιαυτόν͵ μνημονεύει τότε τῆς τρυφῆς καὶ ἀπάτης καὶ γινώσκει ὅτι διὰ ταῦτα πάσχει τὰ πονηρά. πᾶς οὖν ἄνθρωπος ὁ τρυφῶν καὶ ἀπατώ μενος οὕτως βασανίζεται͵ ὅτι ἔχοντες ζωὴν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς θάνατον παραδεδώ ^65.5 κασι. Ποῖαι͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ τρυφαί εἰσι βλαβεραί; Πᾶσα͵ φησί͵ πρᾶξις τρυφή ἐστι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὃ ἐὰν ἡδέως ποιῇ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ ὀξύχολος τῇ ἑαυτοῦ πράξει τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῶν τρυφᾷ· καὶ ὁ μοιχὸς καὶ ὁ μέθυσος καὶ ὁ κατά λαλος καὶ ὁ ψεύστης καὶ ὁ πλεονέκτης καὶ ὁ ἀποστερητὴς καὶ ὁ τούτοις τὰ ὅμοια πάντα ποιῶν τῇ ἰδίᾳ νόσῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιεῖ· τρυφᾷ οὖν ἐν τῇ πράξει ^65.6 αὐτοῦ. αὗται πᾶσαι τρυφαὶ βλαβεραί εἰσιν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ· διὰ ταύτας οὖν τὰς ἀπάτας πάσχουσιν οἱ τιμωρούμενοι καὶ βασανιζόμενοι. ^65.7 εἰσὶν δὲ καὶ τρυφαὶ σώζουσαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἀγαθὸν ἐργαζό μενοι τρυφῶσιν͵ τῇ ἑαυτῶν ἡδονῇ φερόμενοι. αὕτη οὖν ἡ τρυφὴ σύμφορός ἐστιν τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ζωὴν περιποιεῖται τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ τοιού τῳ· αἱ δὲ βλαβεραὶ τρυφαὶ αἱ προειρημέναι βασάνους καὶ τιμωρίας περι ποιοῦνται· ἐὰν δὲ ἐπιμείνωσι καὶ μὴ μετανοήσωσιν͵ θάνατον ἑαυτοῖς περι ποιοῦνται.
7_Parable
SEVENTH PARABLE	⁶⁶t.¹ ¹Παραβολὴ ζ¹

they who repent must bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
After a few days I saw him in the same plain where I had also. seen the shepherds; and he said to me, “What do you wish with me?” I said to him, “Sir, that you would order the shepherd who punishes to depart out of my house, because he afflicts me exceedingly.” “It is necessary,” he replied, “that you be afflicted; for thus,” he continued, “did the glorious angel command concerning you, as he wishes you to be tried.” “What have I done which is so bad, sir,” I replied, “that I should be delivered over to this angel?”	Μετὰ ἡμέρας ὀλίγας εἶδον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πεδίον τὸ αὐτό͵ ὅπου καὶ τοὺς ποι μένας ἑωράκειν͵ καὶ λέγει μοι· Τί ἐπιζητεῖς; Πάρειμι͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ ἐρω τῆσαί σε ἵνα τὸν ἄγγελον τὸν τιμωρητὴν κελεύσῃς ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου μου ἐξελθεῖν͵ ὅτι λίαν με θλίβει. Δεῖ σε͵ φησίν͵ θλιβῆναι· οὕτω γὰρ προσέταξεν ὁ ἔν δοξος ἄγγελος τὰ περὶ σοῦ· θέλει γάρ σε καὶ πειρασθῆναι. Τί γάρ͵ φημί͵ ^66.2 κύριε͵ ἐποίησα οὕτω πονηρόν͵ ἵνα τούτῳ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ παραδοθῶ;
“Listen,” he said: “Your sins are many, but not so great as to require that you be delivered over to this angel; but your household has committed great iniquities and sins, and the glorious angel has been incensed at them on account of their deeds; and for this reason he commanded you to be afflicted for a certain time, that they also might repent, and purify themselves from every desire of this world. When, therefore, they repent and are purified, then the angel of punishment will depart.” I said to him, “Sir, if they have done such things as to incense the glorious angel against them, yet what have I done?” He replied, “They cannot be afflicted at all, unless you, the head of the house, be afflicted: for when you are afflicted, of necessity they also suffer affliction; but if you are in comfort, they can feel no affliction.”	Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· αἱ μὲν ἁμαρτίαι σου πολλαί͵ ἀλλ΄ οὐ τοσαῦται ὥστε σε τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τούτῳ παραδοθῆναι· ἀλλ΄ ὁ οἶκός σου μεγάλας ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἀνομίας ἠργά σατο͵ καὶ παρεπικράνθη ὁ ἔνδοξος ἄγγελος ἐπὶ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῶν καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐκέλευσέ σε χρόνον τινὰ θλιβῆναι͵ ἵνα κἀκεῖνοι μετανοήσωσι καὶ καθαρίσωσι ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ πάσης ἐπιθυμίας τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου. ὅταν οὖν μετανοήσωσιν καὶ ^66.3 καθαρισθῶσιν͵ τότε ἀποστήσεται ὁ ἄγγελος τῆς τιμωρίας. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ εἰ ἐκεῖνοι τοιαῦτα ἠργάσαντο͵ ἵνα παραπικρανθῇ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ ἔνδοξος͵ τί ἐγὼ ἐποίησα; Ἄλλως͵ φησίν͵ ἐκεῖνοι οὐ δύνανται θλιβῆναι͵ ἐὰν μὴ σὺ ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ οἴκου θλιβῇς· σοῦ γὰρ θλιβομένου ἐξ ἀνάγκης κἀκεῖνοι θλιβή ^66.4 σονται͵ εὐσταθοῦντος δὲ σοῦ οὐδεμίαν θλῖψιν δύνανται ἔχειν.
“Well, sir,” I said, “they have repented with their whole heart.” “I know, too,” he answered, “that they have repented with their whole heart: do you think, however, that the sins of those who repent are remitted? Not altogether, but he who repents must torture his own soul, and be exceedingly humble in all his conduct, and be afflicted with many kinds of affliction; and if he endure the afflictions that come upon him, He who created all things, and endued them with power, will assuredly have compassion, and will heal him; and this will He do when He sees the heart of every penitent pure from every evil thing: and it is profitable for you and for your house to suffer affliction now.	Ἀλλ΄ ἰδού͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ μετανενοήκασιν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας αὐτῶν. Οἶδα͵ φησί͵ κἀγὼ ὅτι μετανενοήκασιν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας αὐτῶν. τῶν οὖν μετανοούντων͵ φησίν͵ δοκεῖς τὰς ἁμαρτίας εὐθὺς ἀφίεσθαι; οὐ πάντως· ἀλλὰ δεῖ τὸν μετανοοῦντα βα σανίσαι τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν καὶ ταπεινοφρονῆσαι ἐν ἁπάσῃ τῇ πράξει αὐτοῦ ἰσχυρῶς καὶ θλιβῆναι ἐν πολλαῖς θλίψεσι καὶ ποικίλαις· καὶ ἐὰν ὑπενέγκῃ τὰς θλίψεις τὰς ἐπερχομένας αὐτῷ͵ πάντως σπλαγχνισθήσεται ὁ τὰ πάντα κτίσας ^66.5 καὶ δυναμώσας καὶ ἴασίν τινα δώσει αὐτῷ· καὶ τοῦτο πάντως ἐὰν ἴδῃ τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ μετανοοῦντος καθαρὰν ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος. σοὶ δὲ σύμφορόν ἐστιν καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ σου νῦν θλιβῆναι. τί δὲ πολλὰ λέγω;
But why should I say much to you? You must be afflicted, as that angel of the Lord commanded who delivered you to me. And for this give thanks to the Lord, because He has deemed you worthy of showing you beforehand this affliction, that, knowing it before it comes, you may be able to bear it with courage.” I said to him, “Sir, be thou with me, and I will be able to bear all affliction.” “I will be with you,” he said, “and I will ask the angel of punishment to afflict you more lightly; nevertheless, you will be afflicted for a little time, and again you will be re-established in your house. Only continue humble, and serve the Lord in all purity of heart, you and your children, and your house, and walk in my commands which I enjoin upon you, and your repentance will be deep and pure; and if you observe these things with your household, every affliction will depart from you. And affliction,” he added, “will depart from all who walk in these my commandments.”	θλιβῆναί σε δεῖ͵ καθὼς προσέταξεν ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ κυρίου ἐκεῖνος͵ ὁ παραδούς σε ἐμοί· καὶ τοῦτο εὐχαρίστει τῷ κυρίῳ͵ ὅτι ἄξιόν σε ἡγήσατο τοῦ προδηλῶσαί ^66.6 σοι τὴν θλῖψιν͵ ἵνα προγνοὺς αὐτὴν ὑπενέγκῃς ἰσχυρῶς. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ σὺ μετ΄ ἐμοῦ γίνου͵ καὶ πᾶσαν θλῖψιν δυνήσομαι ὑπενέγκαι. Ἐγώ͵ φησίν͵ ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ· ἐρωτήσω δὲ καὶ τὸν ἄγγελον τὸν τιμωρητὴν ἵνα σε ἐλα φροτέρως θλίψῃ· ἀλλὰ ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ θλιβήσῃ͵ καὶ πάλιν ἀποκατασταθήσῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον σου· μόνον παράμεινον ταπεινοφρονῶν καὶ λειτουργῶν τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ͵ σὺ καὶ τὰ τέκνα σου καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου͵ καὶ πορεύου ταῖς ἐντολαῖς μου ἅς σοι ἐντέταλμαι καὶ δυνήσεταί σου ἡ μετάνοια εἶναι ἰσχυρὰ ^66.7 καὶ καθαρά· καὶ ἐὰν ταῦτα φυλάξῃς μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου σου͵ ἀποστήσεται πᾶσα θλῖψις ἀπὸ σοῦ· καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων δὲ ἀποστήσεται ἡ θλῖψις͵ ὃς ἂν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς μου πορεύσεται ταύταις.
8_Parable
EIGHTH PARABLE	⁶⁷t.¹ ¹Παραβολὴ η¹

the sins of the elect and of the penitent are of many kinds, but all will be rewarded according to the measure of their repentance and good works.
CHAPTER I.
He showed me a large willow tree overshadowing plains and mountains, and under the shade of this willow had assembled all those who were called by the name of the Lord. And a glorious angel of the Lord, who was very tall, was standing beside the willow, having a large, pruning-knife, and he was cutting little twigs from the willow and distributing them among the people that were overshadowed by the willow; and the twigs which he gave them were small, about a cubit, as it were, in length. And after they had all received the twigs, the angel laid down the pruning-knife, and that tree was sound, as I had seen it at first. And I marvelled within myself, saying, “How is the tree sound, after so many branches have been cut off?” And the Shepherd said to me, “Do not be surprised if the tree remains sound after so many branches were lopped off; [but wait, ] and when you shall have seen everything, then it will be explained to you what it means.” The angel who had distributed the branches among the people again asked them from them, and in the order in which they had received them were they summoned to him, and each one of them returned his branch. And the angel of the Lord took and looked at them. From some he received the branches withered and moth-eaten; those who returned branches in that state the angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart. Others, again, returned them withered, but not moth-eaten; and these he ordered to stand apart. And others returned them half-withered, and these stood apart; and others returned their branches half-withered and having cracks in them, and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having cracks in them; and these stood apart. ] And others returned their branches, one-half withered and the other green; and these stood apart. And others brought their branches two-thirds green and the remaining third withered; and these stood apart. And others returned them two-thirds withered and one-third green; and these stood apart. And others returned their branches nearly all green, the smallest part only, the top, being withered, but they had cracks in them; and these stood apart. And of others very little was green, but the remaining parts withered; and these stood apart. And others came bringing their branches green, as they had received them from the angel. And the majority of the crowd returned branches of that kind, and with these the angel was exceedingly pleased; and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having offshoots; and these stood apart, and with these the angel was exceedingly delighted. ] And others returned their branches green and with offshoots, and the offshoots had some fruit, as it were; and those men whose branches were found to be of that kind were exceedingly joyful. And the angel was exultant because of them; and the Shepherd also rejoiced greatly because of them.	Ἔδειξέ μοι ἰτέαν σκεπάζουσαν πεδία καὶ ὄρη͵ καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην τῆς ^67.2 ἰτέας πάντες ἐληλύθασιν οἱ κεκλημένοι ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου. εἱστήκει δὲ ἄγγελος τοῦ κυρίου ἔνδοξος λίαν ὑψηλὸς παρὰ τὴν ἰτέαν͵ δρέπανον ἔχων μέγα͵ καὶ ἔκοπτε κλάδους ἀπὸ τῆς ἰτέας͵ καὶ ἐπεδίδου τῷ λαῷ τῷ σκεπαζομένῳ ^67.3 ὑπὸ τῆς ἰτέας· μικρὰ δὲ ῥαβδία ἐπεδίδου αὐτοῖς͵ ὡσεὶ πηχυαῖα. μετὰ τὸ πάντας λαβεῖν τὰ ῥαβδία ἔθηκε τὸ δρέπανον ὁ ἄγγελος͵ καὶ τὸ δένδρον ἐκεῖνο ^67.4 ὑγιὲς ἦν͵ οἷον καὶ ἑωράκειν αὐτό. ἐθαύμαζον δὲ ἐγὼ ἐν ἐμαυτῷ λέγων· Πῶς τοσούτων κλάδων κεκομμένων τὸ δένδρον ὑγιές ἐστιν; λέγει μοι ὁ ποι μήν· Μὴ θαύμαζε͵ εἰ τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο ὑγιὲς διέμεινεν τοσούτων κλάδων κοπέντων. ἄφες δέ͵ φησί͵ πάντα ἴδῃς͵ καὶ δηλωθήσεταί σοι τὸ τί ἐστιν. ^67.5 ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ ἐπιδεδωκὼς τῷ λαῷ τὰς ῥάβδους πάλιν ἀπῄτει ἀπ΄ αὐτῶν· καὶ καθὼς ἔλαβον͵ οὕτως καὶ ἐκαλοῦντο πρὸς αὐτόν͵ καὶ εἷς ἕκαστος αὐτῶν ἀπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους. ἐλάμβανεν δὲ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ κυρίου καὶ κατενόει ^67.6 αὐτάς. παρά τινων ἐλάμβανε τὰς ῥάβδους ξηρὰς καὶ βεβρωμένας ὡς ὑπὸ σητός· ἐκέλευσεν ὁ ἄγγελος τοὺς τὰς τοιαύτας ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότας χωρὶς ^67.7 ἱστάνεσθαι. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν ξηράς͵ ἀλλ΄ οὐκ ἦσαν βεβρωμέναι ὑπὸ ^67.8 σητός· καὶ τούτους ἐκέλευσεν χωρὶς ἱστάνεσθαι. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν ^67.9 ἡμιξήρους· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους ^67.10 αὐτῶν ἡμιξήρους καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς μὲν σχισμὰς δὲ ἐχούσας· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ^67.11 ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους τὸ ἥμισυ ξηρὸν καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ ^67.12 χλωρόν· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ προσέφερον τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν τὰ δύο μέρη τῆς ῥάβδου χλωρά͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον ξηρόν· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ^67.13 ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰ δύο μέρη ξηρά͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον χλωρόν· ^67.14 καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν παρὰ μικρὸν ὅλας χλωράς͵ ἐλάχιστον δὲ τῶν ῥάβδων αὐτῶν ξηρὸν ἦν͵ αὐτὸ τὸ ^67.15 ἄκρον· σχισμὰς δὲ εἶχον ἐν αὐταῖς· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἑτέρων δὲ ἦν ἐλάχιστον χλωρόν͵ τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ μέρη τῶν ῥάβδων ξηρά· καὶ οὗτοι ^67.16 χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἤρχοντο τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς φέροντες ὡς ἔλαβον παρὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου· τὸ δὲ πλεῖον μέρος τοῦ ὄχλου τοιαύτας ῥάβδους ἐπεδίδουν. ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐχάρη λίαν· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἱστάνοντο. ^67.17 ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν χλωρὰς καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας· καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ^67.18 ἱστάνοντο· καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ὁ ἄγγελος λίαν ἱλαρὸς ἐγένετο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπε δίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν χλωρὰς καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας· αἱ δὲ παρα φυάδες αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ καρπόν τινα εἶχον· καὶ λίαν ἱλαροὶ ἦσαν οἱ ἄνδρες ἐκεῖνοι ὧν αἱ ῥάβδοι τοιαῦται εὑρέθησαν. καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος ἐπὶ τούτοις ἠγαλλιᾶτο͵ καὶ ὁ ποιμὴν σὺν αὐτῷ λίαν ἱλαρὸς ἦν ἐπὶ τούτοις.
CHAPTER II.
And the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought; and there were brought crowns, formed, as it were, of palms; and he crowned the men who had returned the branches Which had offshoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower. And the others also he sent into the tower, those, namely, who had returned branches that were green and had offshoots but no fruit, having given them seals. And all who went into the tower had the same clothing--white as snow. And those who returned their branches green, as they had received them, he set free, giving them clothing and seals. Now after the angel had finished these things, he said to the Shepherd, “I am going away, and you will send these away within the walls, according as each one is worthy to have his dwelling. And examine their branches carefully, and so dismiss them; but examine them with care. See that no one escape you,”. he added; “and if any escape you, I will try them at the altar.” Having said these words to the Shepherd, he departed. And after the angel had departed, the Shepherd said to me, “Let us take the branches of all these and plant them, and see if any of them will live.” I said to him, “Sir, how can these withered branches live?” He answered, and said, “This tree is a willow, and of a kind that is very tenacious of life. If, therefore, the branches be planted, and receive a little moisture, many of them will live. And now let us try, and pour waters upon them; and if any of them live I shall rejoice with them, and if they do not I at least will not be found neglectful.” And the Shepherd bade me call them as each one was placed. And they came, rank by rank, and gave their branches to the Shepherd. And the Shepherd received the branches, and planted them in rows; and after he had planted them he poured much water upon them, so that the branches could not be seen for the water; and after the branches had drunk it in, he said to me, “Let us go, and return after a few days, and inspect all the branches; for He who created this tree wishes all those to live who received branches from it. And I also hope that the greater part of these branches which received moisture and drank of the water will live.”	^68.1 Ἐκέλευσε δὲ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ κυρίου στεφάνους ἐνεχθῆναι. καὶ ἐνέχθησαν στέφανοι ὡσεὶ ἐκ φοινίκων γεγονότες͵ καὶ ἐστεφάνωσε τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς ἐπιδεδωκότας τὰς ῥάβδους τὰς παραφυάδας ἐχούσας καὶ καρπόν τινα καὶ ^68.2 ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν πύργον. καὶ ἄλλους δὲ ἀπέλυσεν εἰς τὸν πύργον͵ τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότας τὰς παραφυάδας ἐχούσας͵ καρπὸν δὲ μὴ ^68.3 ἐχούσας͵ δοὺς αὐτοῖς σφραγῖδα. ἱματισμὸν δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν εἶχον πάντες ^68.4 λευκὸν ὡσεὶ χιόνα͵ οἱ πορευόμενοι εἰς τὸν πύργον. καὶ τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότας χλωρὰς ὡς ἔλαβον ἀπέλυσεν͵ δοὺς αὐτοῖς ἱματισμὸν λευκὸν ^68.5 καὶ σφραγῖδα. μετὰ τὸ ταῦτα τελέσαι τὸν ἄγγελον λέγει τῷ ποιμένι· Ἐγὼ ὑπάγω· σὺ δὲ τούτους ἀπόλυσον εἰς τὰ τείχη͵ καθώς τις ἄξιός ἐστιν κατοικεῖν. κατανόησον δὲ τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν ἐπιμελῶς καὶ οὕτως ἀπόλυσον. βλέπε͵ μή τίς σε παρέλθῃ· ἐὰν δέ τίς σε παρέλθῃ͵ φησίν͵ ἐγὼ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον δοκιμάσω. ταῦτα εἰπὼν τῷ ποιμένι ἀπῆλθεν. ^68.6 μετὰ τὸ ἀπελθεῖν τὸν ἄγγελον λέγει μοι ὁ ποιμήν· Λάβωμεν παρὰ πάντων τὰς ῥάβδους καὶ φυτεύσωμεν αὐτάς͵ εἴ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν δυνήσονται ζῆσαι. ^68.7 λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ τὰ ξηρὰ ταῦτα πῶς δύναται ζῆσαι; ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο ἰτέα ἐστὶν καὶ φιλόζωον τὸ γένος· ἐὰν φυτευθῶσι καὶ μικρὰν ἰκμάδα λάβωσι αἱ ῥάβδοι αὗται͵ ζήσονται πολλαὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν· εἶτα δὲ πειράσω καὶ ὕδωρ αὐταῖς παραχέω. ἐάν τις αὐτῶν δυνηθῇ ζῆσαι͵ συνχαρή ^68.8 σομαι αὐταῖς· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ζήσεται͵ οὐχ εὑρεθήσομαι ἐγὼ ἀμελής. ἐκέλευσέν με ὁ ποιμὴν καλέσαι͵ καθώς τις αὐτῶν ἐστάθη. ἦλθον τάγματα τάγματα καὶ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους τῷ ποιμένι· ἐλάμβανεν δὲ ὁ ποιμὴν τὰς ῥάβδους καὶ κατὰ τάγματα ἐφύτευεν αὐτάς· μετὰ τὸ φυτεῦσαι αὐτὰς ὕδωρ αὐταῖς ^68.9 πολὺ παρέχεεν͵ ὥστε ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος μὴ φαίνεσθαι τὰς ῥάβδους. μετὰ τὸ ποτίσαι αὐτὸν τὰς ῥάβδους λέγει μοι· Ἄγωμεν καὶ μετὰ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας ἐπανέλθωμεν καὶ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τὰς ῥάβδους ταύτας πάσας· ὁ γὰρ κτίσας τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο θέλει πάντας ζῆν τοὺς λαβόντας ἀπ΄ αὐτοῦ κλάδους. ἐλπίζω δὲ κἀγὼ ὅτι λαβόντα τὰ ῥαβδία ταῦτα ἰκμάδα καὶ ποτισθέντα ὕδατι ζήσεται τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος.
CHAPTER III.
I said to him, “Sir, explain to me what this tree means, for I am perplexed about it, because, after so many branches have been cut off, it continues sound, and nothing appears to have been cut away from it. By this, now, I am perplexed.” “Listen,” he said: “This great tree that casts its shadow over plains, and mountains, and all the earth, is the law of God that was given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God, proclaimed to the ends of the earth; and the people who are under its shadow are they who have heard the proclamation, and have believed upon Him. And the great and glorious angel Michael is he who has authority over this people, and governs them; for this is he who gave them the law into the hearts of believers: he accordingly superintends them to whom he gave it, to see if they have kept the same. And you see the branches of each one, for the branches are the law You see, accordingly, many branches that have been rendered useless, and you will know them all--those who have not kept the law; and you will see the dwelling of each one.” I said to him, “Sir, why did he dismiss some into the tower, and leave others to you?” “All,” he answered, “who transgressed the law which they received from him, he left under my power for repentance; but all who have satisfied the law, and kept it, he retains under his own authority.” “Who, then,” I continued, “are they who were crowned, and who go to the tower?” “These are they who have suffered on account of the law; but the others, and they who returned their branches green, and with offshoots, but without fruit, are they who have been afflicted on account of the law, but who have not suffered nor denied their law; and they who returned their branches green as they had received them, are the venerable, and the just, and they who have walked carefully in a pure heart, and have kept the commandments of the Lord. And the rest you will know when I have examined those branches which have been planted and watered.”	^69.1 Λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο τί ἐστιν γνώρισόν μοι· ἀποροῦμαι γὰρ περὶ αὐτοῦ͵ ὅτι τοσούτων κλάδων κοπέντων ὑγιές ἐστιν τὸ δένδρον καὶ ὅλως οὐδὲν φαίνεται κεκομμένον ἀπ΄ αὐτοῦ· ἐν τούτῳ οὖν ἀποροῦμαι. ^69.2 Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο τὸ μέγα τὸ σκεπάζον πεδία καὶ ὄρη καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν νόμος θεοῦ ἐστιν δοθεὶς εἰς ὅλον τὸν κόσμον· ὁ δὲ νόμος οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν ὁ κηρυχθεὶς εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς· οἱ δὲ ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην λαοὶ ὄντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ κηρύγματος καὶ πι ^69.3 στεύσαντες αὐτῷ· ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος ὁ μέγας καὶ ἔνδοξος Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἔχων τὴν ἐξουσίαν τούτου τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ διακυβερνῶν αὐτούς· αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ διδῶν αὐτοῖς τὸν νόμον εἰς τὰς καρδίας τῶν πιστευόντων. ἐπισκέπτεται ^69.4 οὖν αὐτούς͵ οἷς ἔδωκε τὸν νόμον͵ εἰ ἄρα τετηρήκασιν αὐτόν. βλέπεις δὲ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου τὰς ῥάβδους· αἱ γὰρ ῥάβδοι ὁ νόμος ἐστίν. βλέπεις οὖν πολλὰς ἐκ τῶν ῥάβδων ἠχρειωμένας͵ γνώσῃ δὲ αὐτοὺς πάντας τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας ^69.5 τὸν νόμον͵ καὶ ὄψῃ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου τὴν κατοικίαν. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ διατί οὓς μὲν ἀπέλυσεν εἰς τὸν πύργον͵ οὓς δὲ σοὶ κατέλιπεν; Ὅσοι͵ φησί͵ παρέ βησαν τὸν νόμον ὃν ἔλαβον παρ΄ αὐτοῦ͵ εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἐξουσίαν αὐτοὺς κατέ λιπεν εἰς μετάνοιαν· ὅσοι δὲ ἤδη εὐηρέστηκαν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ τετήρηκαν αὐ ^69.6 τόν͵ ὑπὸ τὴν ἰδίαν ἐξουσίαν αὐτοὺς ἔχει. Τίνες οὖν͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ εἰσὶν οἱ ἐστεφανωμένοι καὶ εἰς τὸν πύργον ὑπάγοντες; ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Οἱ ἐστεφανωμένοι οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ μετὰ τοῦ διαβόλου παλαίσαντες καὶ νικήσαν ^69.7 τες αὐτόν· οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ὑπὲρ τοῦ νόμου παθόντες· οἱ δὲ ἕτεροι καὶ αὐτοὶ τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας͵ καρπὸν δὲ μὴ ἐχούσας͵ ὑπὲρ τοῦ νόμου θλιβέντες͵ μὴ παθόντες δὲ μηδὲ ἀρνησάμενοι ^69.8 τὸν νόμον αὐτῶν. οἱ δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες͵ οἵας ἔλαβον͵ σεμνοὶ καὶ δίκαιοι καὶ λίαν πορευθέντες ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ κυρίου πεφυλακότες. τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ γνώσῃ͵ ὅταν κατανοήσω τὰς ῥάβδους ταύ τας τὰς πεφυτευμένας καὶ πεποτισμένας.
CHAPTER IV.
And after a few days we came to the place, and the Shepherd sat down in the angel’s place, and I stood beside him. And he said to me, “Gird yourself with pure, undressed linen made of sackcloth;” and seeing me girded, and ready to minister to him, “Summon,” he said, “the men to whom belong the branches that were planted, according to the order in which each one gave them in.” So I went away to the plain, and summoned them all, and they all stood in their ranks. He said to them, “Let each one pull out his own branch, and bring it to me.” The first to give in were those who had them withered and cut; and because they were found to be thus withered and cut, he commanded them to stand apart. And next they gave them in who had them withered, but not cut. And some of them gave in their branches green, and some withered and eaten as by a moth. Those that gave them in green, accordingly, he ordered to stand apart; and those who gave them in dry and cut, he ordered to stand along with the first. Next they gave them in who had them half-withered and cracked; and many of them gave them in green and without crocks; and some green and with offshoots and fruits upon the offshoots, such as they had who went, after being crowned, into the tower. And some handed them in withered and eaten, and some withered and uneaten; and some as they were, half-withered and cracked. And he commanded them each one to stand apart, some towards their own rows, and others apart from them.	^70.1 Μετὰ ἡμέρας ὀλίγας ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸν τόπον͵ καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὁ ποιμὴν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἀγγέλου τοῦ μεγάλου͵ κἀγὼ παρεστάθην αὐτῷ. λέγει μοι· Περίζωσαι ὠμόλινον καὶ διακόνει μοι. περιεζωσάμην ἐγὼ ὠμόλινον ἐκ σάκ ^70.2 κου γεγονὸς καθαρόν. ἰδών με περιεζωσμένον καὶ ἕτοιμον ὄντα τοῦ δια κονεῖν αὐτῷ͵ Κάλει͵ φησίν͵ τοὺς ἄνδρας͵ ὧν εἰσιν αἱ ῥάβδοι πεφυτευμέναι͵ κατὰ τὰ τάγματα͵ ὥς τις ἐπέδωκεν τὰς ῥάβδους. ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὸ πεδίον καὶ ^70.3 ἐκάλεσα πάντας· καὶ ἔστησαν πάντες τάγματα τάγματα. λέγει δὲ αὐτοῖς· Ἕκαστος ἐκτιλάτω τὰς ῥάβδους τὰς ἰδίας καὶ φερέτω πρός με. ^70.4 πρῶτοι ἐπέδωκαν οἱ τὰς ξηρὰς καὶ κεκομμένας ἐσχηκότες· ὡσαύτως εὑρέ ^70.5 θησαν ξηραὶ καὶ κεκομμέναι· ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς χωρὶς στῆναι. εἶτα ἐπέδωκαν τὰς ῥάβδους οἱ τὰς ξηρὰς καὶ μὴ κεκομμένας ἔχοντες· τινὲς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπέδωκαν τὰς ῥάβδους χλωράς͵ τινὲς δὲ ξηρὰς καὶ κεκομμένας ὡς ὑπὸ σητός. τοὺς ἐπιδεδωκότας χλωρὰς ἐκέλευσεν χωρὶς στῆναι͵ τοὺς δὲ ^70.6 ξηρὰς καὶ κεκομμένας μετὰ τῶν πρώτων ἐκέλευσεν στῆναι. εἶτα ἐπέ δωκαν οἱ τὰς ἡμίσους ξηροὺς καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας· πολλοὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν καὶ μὴ ἐχούσας σχισμάς· τινὲς δὲ χλωρὰς καὶ παρα φυάδας ἐχούσας καὶ εἰς τὰς παραφυάδας καρπούς͵ οἵας ἔσχον οἱ εἰς τὸν πύργον πορευθέντες ἐστεφανωμένοι· τινὲς δὲ ἐπέδωκαν ξηρὰς καὶ βεβρωμέ νας͵ τινὲς δὲ ξηρὰς καὶ ἀβρώτους͵ τινὲς δὲ οἷαι ἦσαν ἡμίξηροι καὶ σχισμὰς ἔχουσαι. ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἕκαστον αὐτῶν χωρὶς στῆναι͵ τοὺς μὲν πρὸς τὰ ἴδια τάγματα͵ τοὺς δὲ χωρίς.
CHAPTER V.
Then they gave in their branches who had them green, but cracked: all these gave them in green, and stood in their own row. And the Shepherd was pleased with these, because they were all changed, and had lost their cracks. And they also gave them in who had them half-green and half-withered: of some, accordingly, the branches were found completely green; of others, half-withered; of others, withered and eaten; of others, green, and having offshoots. All these were sent away, each to his own row. [Next they gave in who had them two parts green and one-third withered. Many of them gave them half-withered; and others withered and rotten; and others half-withered and cracked, and a few green. These all stood in their own row. ] And they gave them in who had them green, but to a very slight extent withered and cracked. Of these, some gave them in green, and others green and with offshoots. And these also went away to their own row. Next they gave them who had a very small part green and the other parts withered. Of these the branches were found for the most part green and having offshoots, and fruit upon the offshoots, and others altogether green. With these branches the Shepherd was exceedingly pleased, because they were found in this state. And these went away, each to his own row.	^71.1 Εἶτα ἐπεδίδουν οἱ τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς μὲν ἔχοντες͵ σχισμὰς δὲ ἐχούσας· οὗτοι πάντες χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν καὶ ἔστησαν εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα. ἐχάρη ὁ ποιμὴν ἐπὶ τούτοις͵ ὅτι πάντες ἠλλοιώθησαν καὶ ἀπέθοντο τὰ σχίσματα ^71.2 αὐτῶν. ἐπέδωκαν δὲ καὶ οἱ τὸ ἥμισυ χλωρόν͵ τὸ δὲ ἥμισυ ξηρόν· τινῶν εὑρέθησαν αἱ ῥάβδοι ὁλοτελεῖς χλωραί͵ τινῶν ἡμίξηροι͵ τινῶν ξηραὶ καὶ βεβρωμέναι͵ τινῶν δὲ χλωραὶ καὶ παραφυάδας ἔχουσαι. οὗτοι πάντες ἀπελύ ^71.3 θησαν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸ τάγμα αὐτοῦ. εἶτα ἐπέδωκαν οἱ τὰ δύο μέρη χλωρὰ ἐσχηκότες͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον ξηρόν· πολλοὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν͵ πολλοὶ δὲ ἡμιξήρους͵ ἕτεροι δὲ ξηρὰς καὶ βεβρωμένας· οὗτοι πάντες ἀπε ^71.4 στάλησαν ἕκαστος εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδοσαν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν͵ τὰ δύο μέρη ξηρά͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον χλωρόν· πολλοὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπέδωκαν ἡμιξήρους͵ τινὲς δὲ ξηρὰς καὶ βεβρωμένας͵ τινὲς δὲ ἡμιξήρους καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας· ἐλάχιστοι δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν· οὗτοι πάντες ἔστησαν ^71.5 εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα. ἐπέδωκαν δὲ οἱ τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς ἐσχηκότες͵ ἐλά χιστον δὲ ξηρὸν καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας. ἐκ τούτων τινὲς χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν͵ τινὲς δὲ χλωρὰς καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας. ἀπῆλθον καὶ οὗτοι εἰς τὸ τάγμα ^71.6 αὐτῶν. εἶτα ἐπέδωκαν οἱ ἐλάχιστον ἔχοντες χλωρόν͵ τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ μέρη ξηρά· τούτων αἱ ῥάβδοι εὑρέθησαν τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος χλωραὶ καὶ παρα φυάδας ἔχουσαι καὶ καρπὸν ἐν ταῖς παραφυάσιν͵ καὶ ἕτεραι χλωραὶ ὅλαι. ἐπὶ ταύταις ταῖς ῥάβδοις ἐχάρη ὁ ποιμὴν μεγάλως͵ ὅτι οὕτως εὑρέθησαν. ἀπῆλθον καὶ οὗτοι ἕκαστος εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα.
CHAPTER VI.
After the Shepherd had examined the branches of them all, he said to me, “I told you that this tree was tenacious of life. You see,” he continued, “how many repented and were saved.” “I see, sir,” I replied. “That you may behold,” he added, “the great mercy of the Lord, that it is great and glorious, and that He has given His Spirit to those who are worthy of repentance.” “Why then, sir,” I said, “did not all these repent?” He answered, “To them whose heart He saw would become pure, and obedient to Him, He gave power to repent with the whole heart. But to them whose deceit and wickedness He perceived, and saw that they intended to repent hypocritically, He did not grant repentance, lest they should again profane His name.” I said to him, “Sir, show me now, with respect to those who gave in the branches, of what sort they are, and their abode, in order that they hearing it who believed, and received the seal, and broke it, and did not keep it whole, may, on coming to a knowledge of their deeds, repent, and receive from you. a seal, and may glorify the Lord because He had compassion upon them, and sent you to renew their spirits.” “Listen,” he said: “they whose branches were found withered and moth-eaten are the apostates and traitors of the Church, who have blasphemed the Lord in their sins, and have, moreover, been ashamed of the name of the Lord by which they were called. These, therefore, at the end were lost unto God. And you see that not a single one of them repented, although they heard the words which I spake to them, which I enjoined upon you. From such life departed? And they who gave them in withered and undecayed, these also were near to them; for they were hypocrites, and introducers of strange doctrines, and subverters of the servants Of God, especially of those who had sinned, not allowing them to repent, but persuading them by foolish doctrines. These, accordingly, have a hope of repentance. And you see that many of them also have repented since I spake to them, and they will still repent. But all who will not repent have lost their lives; and as many of them as repented became good, and their dwelling was appointed within the first walls; and some of them ascended even into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance involves life to sinners, but non-repentance death.	^72.1 Μετὰ τὸ πάντων κατανοῆσαι τὰς ῥάβδους τὸν ποιμένα λέγει μοι· Εἶπόν σοι͵ ὅτι τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο φιλόζωόν ἐστιν. βλέπεις͵ φησί͵ πόσοι μετενόησαν καὶ ἐσώθησαν; Βλέπω͵ φημί͵ κύριε. Ἵνα εἰδῇς͵ φησίν͵ τὴν πολυσπλαγχνίαν τοῦ κυρίου͵ ὅτι μεγάλη καὶ ἔνδοξός ἐστιν καὶ ἔδωκεν πνεῦμα τοῖς ἀξίοις ^72.2 οὖσι μετανοίας. Ὅτι οὖν͵ φημί͵ κύριε͵ πάντες οὐ μετενόησαν; Ὧν εἶδεν͵ φησίν͵ ὁ κύριος τὴν καρδίαν μέλλουσαν καθαρὰν γενέσθαι καὶ δουλεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας͵ τούτοις δέδωκε τὴν μετάνοιαν· ὧν δὲ εἶδε τὴν δολιότητα καὶ πονηρίαν͵ καὶ μέλλοντας ἐν ὑποκρίσει μετανοεῖν͵ ἐκείνοις οὐκ ἔδωκεν͵ ^72.3 μήποτε πάλιν βλασφημήσωσιν τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ νῦν μοι ἐπίλυσον τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους ἀποδεδωκότας͵ ποταπός τις αὐτῶν ἐστι͵ καὶ τὴν τούτων κατοικίαν͵ ἵνα ἀκούσαντες οἱ πιστεύσαντες καὶ εἰληφότες τὴν σφραγῖδα καὶ τεθλακότες αὐτὴν καὶ μὴ τηρήσαντες ὑγιῆ͵ ἐπιγνόντες τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἔργα μετανοήσωσιν͵ λαβόντες ὑπὸ σοῦ σφραγῖδα͵ καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν κύριον͵ ὅτι ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ΄ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξαπέστειλέν σε τοῦ ἀνακαινί ^72.4 σαι τὰ πνεύματα αὐτῶν. Ἄκουε͵ φησίν· ὧν αἱ ῥάβδοι ξηραὶ καὶ βεβρω μέναι ὑπὸ σητὸς εὑρέθησαν͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν ἀποστάται καὶ προδόται τῆς ἐκκλη σίας καὶ βλασφημήσαντες ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν τὸν κύριον͵ ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἐπαισχυνθέντες τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐπ΄ αὐτούς. οὗτοι οὖν εἰς τέλος ἀπέθανον τῷ θεῷ. βλέπεις ὅτι οὐδὲ εἷς αὐτῶν μετενόησε͵ καίπερ ἀκούσαντες τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς͵ ἅ σοι ἐνετειλάμην· ἀπὸ τῶν ^72.5 τοιούτων ἡ ζωὴ ἀπέστη. οἱ δὲ τὰς ξηρὰς καὶ ἀσήπτους ἐπιδεδωκότες͵ καὶ οὗτοι ἐγγὺς αὐτῶν· ἦσαν γὰρ ὑποκριταὶ καὶ διδαχὰς ἑτέρας εἰσφέροντες καὶ ἐκστρέφοντες τοὺς δούλους τοῦ θεοῦ͵ μάλιστα δὲ τοὺς ἡμαρτηκότας͵ μὴ ἀφίον τες αὐτοὺς μετανοεῖν͵ ἀλλὰ ταῖς διδαχαῖς ταῖς μωραῖς πείθοντες αὐτούς. οὗ ^72.6 τοι οὖν ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα τοῦ μετανοῆσαι. βλέπεις δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν πολλοὺς μετανενοηκότας ἀφότε ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐντολάς μου· καὶ ἔτι μετανοή σωσιν. ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοήσουσιν͵ ἀπώλεσαν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν· ὅσοι δὲ μετε νόησαν ἐξ αὐτῶν͵ ἀγαθοὶ ἐγένοντο͵ καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὰ τείχη τὰ πρῶτα· τινὲς δὲ καὶ εἰς τὸν πύργον ἀνέβησαν. βλέπεις οὖν͵ φησίν͵ ὅτι ἡ μετάνοια τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν ζωὴν ἔχει͵ τὸ δὲ μὴ μετανοῆσαι θάνατον.
CHAPTER VII.
“And as many as gave in the branches half-withered and cracked, hear also about them. They whose branches were half-withered to the same extent are the wavering; for they neither live, nor are they dead. And they who have them half-withered and cracked are both waverers and slanderers, [railing against the absent,] and never at peace with one another, but always at variance. And yet to these also,” he continued, “repentance is possible. You see,” he said, “that some of them have repented, and there is still remaining in them,” he continued, “a hope of repentance. And as many of them,” he added, “as have repented, shall have their ₄₂ dwelling in the tower.	^73.1 Ὅσοι δὲ ἡμιξήρους ἐπέδωκαν καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμὰς εἶχον͵ ἄκουε περὶ αὐτῶν. ὅσων ἦσαν αἱ ῥάβδοι ἡμίξηροι͵ δίψυχοί εἰσιν· οὔτε γὰρ ζῶσιν οὔτε ^73.2 τεθνήκασιν. οἱ δὲ ἡμιξήρους ἔχοντες καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμάς͵ οὗτοι καὶ δίψυχοί εἰσιν καὶ κατάλαλοι͵ μηδέποτε εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς͵ ἀλλὰ δι χοστατοῦντες πάντοτε. καὶ τούτοις͵ φησίν͵ ἔτι κεῖται μετάνοια. βλέπεις͵ φησίν͵ ἤδη τινὰς ἐξ αὐτῶν μετανενοηκότας. καὶ ἔτι ἐλπίς ἐστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ^73.3 μετανοίας. ὅσοι οὖν͵ φησίν͵ ἐξ αὐτῶν μετανενοήκασιν͵ τὴν κατοικίαν εἰς τὸν πύργον ἔχουσιν·
And those of them who have been slower in repenting shall dwell within the walls. And as many as do not repent at all, but abide in their deeds, shall utterly perish. And they who gave in their branches green and cracked were always faithful and good, though emulous of each other about the foremost places, and about fame: now all these are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. Yet they also, being naturally good, on hearing my commandments, purified themselves, and soon repented. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But if any one relapse into strife, he will be east out of the tower, and will lose his life. Life is the possession of all who keep the commandments of the Lord; but in the commandments there is no rivalry in regard to the first places, or glory of any kind, but in regard to patience and personal humility. Among such persons, then, is the life of the Lord, but amongst the quarrelsome and transgressors, death.	ὅσοι δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν βραδύτερον μετανοήσουσιν͵ εἰς τὰ τείχη κατοικήσουσιν· ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοήσουσιν͵ ἀλλ΄ ἐμμενοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς ^73.4 πράξεσιν αὐτῶν͵ θανάτῳ ἀποθανοῦνται. οἱ δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας͵ οὗτοι πάντοτε πιστοὶ καὶ ἀγαθοὶ ἐγένοντο͵ ἔχοντες δὲ ζῆλόν τινα ἐν ἀλλήλοις περὶ πρωτείων καὶ περὶ δόξης τινός· ἀλλὰ πάντες οὗτοι μωροί εἰσιν͵ ἐν ἀλλήλοις ἔχοντες ζῆλον περὶ ^73.5 πρωτείων. ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτοι ἀκούσαντες τῶν ἐντολῶν μου͵ ἀγαθοὶ ὄντες͵ ἐκαθάρισαν ἑαυτοὺς καὶ μετενόησαν ταχύ. ἐγένετο οὖν ἡ κατοίκησις αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον· ἐὰν δέ τις αὐτῶν πάλιν ἐπιστραφῇ εἰς τὴν διχοστασίαν͵ ^73.6 ἐκβληθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ πύργου καὶ ἀπολέσει τὴν ζωὴν αὐτοῦ. ἡ ζωὴ πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ κυρίου τηρούντων· ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς δὲ περὶ πρωτείων ἢ περὶ δόξης οὐκ ἔστιν͵ ἀλλὰ περὶ μακροθυμίας καὶ περὶ ταπεινοφροσύνης ἀνδρός. ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις οὖν ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ κυρίου͵ ἐν δὲ τοῖς διχοστάταις καὶ παρανόμοις θάνατος.
CHAPTER VIII.
“And they who gave in their branches half-green and half-withered, are those who are immersed in business, and do not cleave to the saints. For this reason, the one half of them is living, and the other half dead. Many, accordingly, who heard my commands repented, and those at least who repented had their dwelling in the tower. But some of them at last fell away: these, accordingly, have not repentance, for on account of their business they blasphemed the Lord, and denied Him. They therefore lost their lives through the wickedness which they committed. And many of them doubted. These still have repentance in their power, if they repent speedily; and their abode will be in the tower. But if they are slower in repenting, they will dwell within the walls; and if they do not repent, they too have lost their lives. And they who gave in their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those who have denied [the Lord] in various ways. Many, however, repented, but some of them hesitated and were in doubt. These, then, have repentance within their reach, if they repent quickly, and do not remain in their pleasures; but if they abide in their deeds, these, too, work to themselves death.	^74.1 Οἱ δὲ ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους ἥμισυ χλωράς͵ ἥμισυ ξηράς͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ταῖς πραγματείαις αὐτῶν ἐμπεφυρμένοι καὶ τοῖς ἁγίοις μὴ κολλώμενοι. ^74.2 διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ἥμισυ αὐτῶν ζῇ καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ ἀπέθανεν. πολλοὶ οὖν ἀκού σαντες τῶν ἐντολῶν μου μετενόησαν. ὅσοι οὖν μετενόησαν͵ ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. τινὲς δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς τέλος ἀπέστησαν. οὗτοι οὖν μετάνοιαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν· διὰ τὰς πραγματείας γὰρ αὐτῶν ἐβλασφήμησαν τὸν κύριον καὶ ἀπηρ νήσαντο αὐτόν. ἀπώλεσαν οὖν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν διὰ τὴν πονηρίαν ἣν ἔπραξαν. ^74.3 πολλοὶ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν. οὗτοι ἔτι ἔχουσι μετάνοιαν͵ ἐὰν ταχὺ με τανοήσωσιν͵ καὶ ἔσται ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον· ἐὰν δὲ βραδύτερον μετανοήσωσιν͵ κατοικήσουσιν εἰς τὰ τείχη· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ μετανοήσωσι͵ καὶ ^74.4 αὐτοὶ ἀπώλεσαν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν. οἱ δὲ τὰ δύο μέρη χλωρά͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον ^74.5 ξηρὸν ἐπιδεδωκότες͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀρνησάμενοι ποικίλαις ἀρνήσεσι. πολλοὶ οὖν μετενόησαν ἐξ αὐτῶν͵ καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὸν πύργον κατοικεῖν· πολλοὶ δὲ ἀπέστησαν εἰς τέλος τοῦ θεοῦ· οὗτοι τὴν ζωὴν εἰς τέλος ἀπώλεσαν. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν καὶ ἐδιχοστάτησαν· τούτοις οὖν ἔτι ἐστὶν μετάνοια͵ ἐὰν ταχὺ μετανοήσωσιν καὶ μὴ ἐπιμείνωσιν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς αὐτῶν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐπι μείνωσιν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτῶν͵ καὶ αὐτοὶ θάνατον ἑαυτοῖς ἐργάζονται.
CHAPTER IX.
“And they who returned their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those that were faithful indeed; but after acquiring wealth, and becoming distinguished amongst the heathen, they clothed themselves with great pride, and became lofty-minded, and deserted the truth, and did not cleave to the righteous, but lived with the heathen, and this way of life became more agreeable to them. They did not, however, depart from God, but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith. Many of them accordingly repented, and their dwelling was in the tower. And others continuing to live until the end with the heathen, and being corrupted by their vain glories, [departed from God, serving the works and deeds of the heathen. ] These were reckoned with the heathen. But others of them hesitated, not hoping to be saved on account of the deeds which they had done; while others were in doubt, and caused divisions among themselves. To those, therefore, who were in doubt on account of their deeds, repentance is still open; but their repentance ought to be speedy, that their dwelling may be in the tower. And to those who do not repent, but abide in their pleasures, death is near.	^75.1 Οἱ δὲ ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους τὰ μὲν δύο μέρη ξηρά͵ τὸ δὲ τρίτον χλωρόν͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν πιστοὶ μὲν γεγονότες͵ πλουτήσαντες δὲ καὶ γενόμενοι ἐνδοξότεροι παρὰ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν· ὑπερηφανίαν μεγάλην ἐνεδύσαντο καὶ ὑψηλόφρονες ἐγέ νοντο καὶ κατέλιπον τὴν ἀλήθειαν͵ καὶ οὐκ ἐκολλήθησαν τοῖς δικαίοις͵ ἀλλὰ μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν συνέζησαν͵ καὶ αὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῖς ἡδυτέρα ἐγένετο· ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἀπέστησαν͵ ἀλλ΄ ἐνέμειναν τῇ πίστει͵ μὴ ἐργαζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ^75.2 ἔργα τῆς πίστεως. πολλοὶ οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν μετενόησαν͵ καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ κατοί ^75.3 κησις αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. ἕτεροι δὲ εἰς τέλος μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν συν ζῶντες καὶ φερόμενοι ταῖς κενοδοξίαις τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ͵ καὶ ἔπραξαν τὰς πράξεις τῶν ἐθνῶν. οὗτοι οὖν μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐλογίσθησαν. ^75.4 ἕτεροι δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν μὴ ἐλπίζοντες σωθῆναι διὰ τὰς πράξεις ἃς ἔπραξαν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐδιψύχησαν καὶ σχίσματα ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἐποιήσαντο. τούτοις οὖν τοῖς διψυχήσασιν διὰ τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν μετάνοια ἔτι ἐστίν· ἀλλ΄ ἡ μετά νοια αὐτῶν ταχινὴ χρῄζει εἶναι͵ ἵνα ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν γένηται εἰς τὸν πύργον· τῶν δὲ μὴ μετανοούντων ἀλλὰ ἐπιμενόντων ταῖς ἡδοναῖς͵ ὁ θάνατος ἐγγύς.
CHAPTER X.
“And they who give in their branches green, but having the tips withered and cracked, these were always good, and faithful, and distinguished before God; but they sinned a very little through indulging small desires, and finding little faults with one another. But on hearing my words the greater part of them quickly repented, and their dwelling was upon the tower. Yet some of them were in doubt; and certain of them who were in doubt wrought greater dissension. Among these, therefore, is hope of repentance, because they were always good; and with difficulty will any one of them perish. And they who gave up their branches withered, but having a very small part green, are those who believed only, yet continue working the works of iniquity. They never, however, departed from God, but gladly bore His name, and joyfully received His servants into their houses. Having accordingly heard of this repentance, they unhesitatingly repented, and practise all virtue and righteousness; and some of them even [suffered, being willingly put to death ]. knowing their deeds which they had done. Of all these, therefore, the dwelling shall be in the tower.”	^76.1 Οἱ δὲ τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότες χλωράς͵ αὐτὰ δὲ τὰ ἄκρα ξηρὰ καὶ σχισμὰς ἔχοντα͵ οὗτοι πάντοτε ἀγαθοὶ καὶ πιστοὶ καὶ ἔνδοξοι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἐγένοντο͵ ἐλάχιστον δὲ ἥμαρτον διὰ μικρὰς ἐπιθυμίας καὶ μικρὰ κατ΄ ἀλλήλων ἔχοντες· ἀλλὰ ἀκούσαντές μου τῶν ῥημάτων τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος ταχὺ μετενόησαν͵ καὶ ^76.2 ἐγένετο ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν͵ τινὲς δὲ διψυχήσαντες διχοστασίας μείζονας ἐποίησαν. ἐν τούτοις οὖν ἔτι ἐστὶν ἐλπὶς μετανοίας͵ ὅτι ἀγαθοὶ πάντοτε ἐγένοντο· δυσκόλως δέ τις αὐτῶν ^76.3 ἀποθανεῖται. οἱ δὲ τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν ἐπιδεδωκότες ξηράς͵ ἐλάχιστον δὲ χλωρόν͵ οὗτοί εἰσιν πιστεύσαντες μόνον͵ τὰ δὲ ἔργα τῆς ἀνομίας ἐργασάμενοι· οὐδέποτε δὲ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ͵ καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἡδέως ἐβάστασαν καὶ ἡδέως εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ὑπεδέξαντο τοὺς δούλους τοῦ θεοῦ. ἀκούσαντες οὖν ταύτην τὴν μετάνοιαν ἀδιστάκτως μετενόησαν καὶ ἐργάζονται πᾶσαν ^76.4 ἀρετὴν δικαιοσύνης. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ παθοῦνται κ[αὶ ἡδέως θλί βον]ται γινώσκοντες τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν ἃς ἔπραξαν. τούτων οὖν πάντων ἡ κατοικία εἰς τὸν πύργον ἔσται.
CHAPTER XI.
And after he had finished the explanations of all the branches, he said to me, “Go and tell them to every one, that they may repent, and they shall live unto God. Because the Lord, having had compassion on all men, has sent me to give repentance, although some are not worthy of it on account of their works; but the Lord, being long-suffering, desires those who were called by His Son to be saved.” I said to him, “Sir, I hope that all who have heard them will repent; for I am persuaded that each one, on coming to a knowledge of his own works, and fearing the Lord, will repent.” He answered me, and said, “All who with their whole heart shall purify themselves from their wickedness before enumerated, and shah add no more to their sins, will receive healing from the Lord for their former transgressions, if they do not hesitate at these commandments; and they will live unto God. But do you walk in my commandments, and live.” Having shown me these things, and spoken all these words, he said to me, “And the rest I will show you after a few days.”	^77.1 Καὶ μετὰ τὸ συντελέσαι αὐτὸν τὰς ἐπιλύσεις πασῶν τῶν ῥάβδων λέγει μοι· Ὕπαγε καὶ πᾶσι λέγε ἵνα μετανοήσωσι καὶ ζήσωσι τῷ θεῷ· ὅτι ὁ κύριος ἐσπλαγχνίσθη καὶ ἔπεμψέ με δοῦναι πᾶσι τὴν μετάνοιαν͵ καίπερ τινῶν μὴ ὄντων ἀξίων σωθῆναι διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν· ἀλλὰ μακρόθυμος ὢν ὁ κύριος ^77.2 θέλει τὴν κλῆσιν τὴν γενομένην διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ σωθῆναι. λέγω αὐτῷ· Κύριε͵ ἐλπίζω ὅτι πάντες ἀκούσαντες αὐτὰ μετανοήσουσιν. πείθομαι γὰρ ὅτι ^77.3 εἷς ἕκαστος τὰ ἴδια ἔργα ἐπιγνοὺς καὶ φοβηθεὶς τὸν θεὸν μετανοήσει. ἀπο κριθείς μοι λέγει· Ὅσοι͵ φησίν͵ μετανοήσωσιν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας αὐτῶν καὶ καθαρίσωσιν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν αὐτῶν τῶν προειρημένων καὶ μηκέτι προσθῶσι μηδὲν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν͵ λήμψονται ἴασιν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου τῶν προτέρων ἁμαρτιῶν͵ ἐὰν μὴ διψυχήσωσιν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐντολαῖς ταύταις͵ καὶ ζήσονται τῷ θεῷ. ὅσοι δὲ προσθῶσι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν καὶ πορεύσονται ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου κατακρινοῦσιν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς θάνατον. ^77.4 σὺ δὲ πορεύου ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς μου͵ καὶ ζήσῃ τῷ θεῷ· καὶ ὃς ἂν πορεύσεται ^77.5 ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ ἐργάσεται ὀρθῶς͵ ζήσεται τῷ θεῷ. ταῦτά μοι δείξας καὶ λαλήσας πάντα λέγει μοι· Τὰ δὲ λοιπά σοι δείξω μετ΄ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας.

xcxxcxxc F ” “ This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 1990....x.... ’ “”.

English: Roberts-Donaldson translation. Greek: “Pastor” ser. Die apostolischen Väter I. Der Hirt des Hermas Akademie-Verlag (Berlin, 1967) pp. 1-98