Commandments: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12
Similitudes: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10
This work, composed as early as the late 1st century AD, but more likely in the mid 2nd century, was highly regarded and even considered canonical by some sources such as Irenaeus. It is found in the Codex Sinaiticus and takes its name from a messenger appearing as a shepherd in order to deliver twelve commands to Hermas. It is thought the shepherd may represent Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Those who believe The Shepherd of Hermas was written in the 1st century associate it with the Hermas mentioned in Romans 16:14, while the majority believe the “Hermas” in question is none other than the brother of Pius I, who would have thus written in the mid 2nd century. Besides the possibly late date of composition, also weighing heavily against its canonicity is the message of impossible moral perfectionism outside the mainstream of Christian thought, and the fact it lacks the essential message of Christ’s atoning sacrifice besides a passing mention in Similitude 5. It also, while not Gnostic, arguably presents a Christology that differs from that found in the Bible—although this is not entirely clear given the work is largely an allegory. It consists of five visions, twelve commands, and ten similitudes.
1 He who had brought me up, sold me to one Rhode in Rome. Many years after this I recognized her, and I began to love her as a sister. Sometime after, I saw her bathe in the river Tiber; and I gave her my hand and drew her out of the river. 2 The sight of her beauty made me think with myself, “I would be a happy man if I could only get a wife as attractive and good as she is.” This was the only thought that passed through me: this and nothing more. 3 A short time after this, as I was walking on my road to the villages, and magnifying the creatures of God, and thinking how magnificent, and beautiful, and powerful they are, I fell asleep. 4 And the Spirit carried me away, and took me through a pathless place, through which a man could not travel, for it was situated in the midst of rocks; it was rugged and impassible on account of water. 5 Having passed over this river, I came to a plain. I then bent down on my knees and began to pray to the Lord and to confess my sins. And as I prayed, the heavens were opened, and I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from the sky, and saying, “Greetings, Hermas!” 6 And looking up to her, I said, “Lady, what are you doing here?” And she answered me, “I have been taken up here to accuse you of your sins before the Lord.” “Lady,” I said, “are you to be the subject of my accusation?” 7 “No,” she said; “but hear the words which I am going to speak to you. God, who dwells in the heavens, and made out of nothing the things that exist, and multiplied and increased them on account of His holy Assembly, is angry with you for having sinned against me.” 8 I answered her, “Lady, have I sinned against you? How? or when did I speak an unseemly word to you? Did I not always think of you as a lady? Did I not always respect you as a sister? Why do you falsely accuse me of this wickedness and impurity?” 9 With a smile she replied to me, “The desire of wickedness arose within your heart. Is it not your opinion that a righteous man commits sin when an evil desire arises in his heart? There is sin in such a case, and the sin is great,” she said; 10 “for the thoughts of a righteous man should be righteous. For by thinking righteously his character is established in the heavens, and he has the Lord merciful to him in every business. But those who entertain wicked thoughts in their minds are bringing on themselves death and captivity; and especially is this the case with those who set their affections on this world, and glory in their riches, and do not look forward to the blessings of the life to come. 11 For their regrets will be many; for they have no hope, but have despaired of themselves and their life. But pray to God, and He will heal your sins, and the sins of your whole house, and of all the holy ones.” 12 After she had spoken these words, the heavens were shut. I was overwhelmed with sorrow and fear, and said to myself, “If this sin is assigned to me, how can I be saved, or how will I propitiate God in regard to my sins, which are of the grossest character? With what words will I ask the Lord to be merciful to me? 13 While I was thinking over these things, and discussing them in my mind, I saw opposite to me a chair, white, made of white wool, of great size. And there came up an old woman, arrayed in a splendid robe, and with a scroll in her hand; 14 and she sat down alone, and saluted me, “Greetings, Hermas!” And in sadness and tears I said to her, “Lady, greetings!” 15 And she said to me, “Why are you downcast, Hermas? for you were accustomed to be patient and temperate, and always smiling. Why are you so gloomy, and not cheerful?” 16 I answered her and said, “O Lady, I have been reproached by a very good woman, who says that I sinned against her.” 17 And she said, “Far be such a deed from a servant of God. But perhaps a desire after her has arisen within your heart. Such a wish, in the case of the servants of God, produces sin. For it is a wicked and horrible wish in an all-chaste and already well-tried spirit to desire an evil deed; 18 and especially for Hermas to do so, who keeps himself from all wicked desire, and is full of all simplicity, and of great guilelessness. 19 “But God is not angry with you on account of this, but that you may convert [those of] your house, which have committed iniquity against the Lord, and against you, their parents. And although you love your sons, yet you did not warn your house, but permitted them to be terribly corrupted. 20 On this account the Lord is angry with you, but He will heal all the evils which have been done in your house. For, on account of their sins and iniquities, you have been destroyed by the affairs of this world. 21 But now the mercy of the Lord has taken pity on you and your house, and will strengthen you, and establish you in His glory. Only, do not be easy-minded, but be of good courage and comfort your house. For as a smith hammers out his work, and accomplishes whatever he wishes, so will righteous daily speech overcome all iniquity. 22 Therefore, do not cease to admonish your sons; for I know that, if they will convert with all their heart, they will be enrolled in the scrolls of [the] living with the holy ones.” 23 Having ended these words, she said to me, “Do you wish to hear me read?” I say to her, “Lady, I do.” “Listen then and give ear to the glories of God.” 24 And then I heard from her, magnificently and admirably, things which my memory could not retain. For all the words were terrible, such as man could not endure. 25 The last words, however, I did remember; for they were useful to us, and gentle. 26 “Behold, the God of powers, who by His invisible strong power and great wisdom has created the world, and by His glorious counsel has surrounded His creation with beauty, and by His strong word has fixed the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth on the waters, and by His own wisdom and providence has created His holy Assembly, which He has blessed, 27 behold, He removes the heavens and the mountains, the hills and the seas, and all things become plain to His chosen ones, that He may bestow on them the blessing which He has promised them, with much glory and joy, if only they will keep the commandments of God which they have received in great faith.” 28 When she had ended her reading, she rose from the chair, and four young men came and carried off the chair and went away to the east. 29 And she called me to herself and touched my breast, and said to me, “Have you been pleased with my reading?” And I say to her, “Lady, the last words please me, but the first are cruel and harsh.” 30 Then she said to me, “The last are for the righteous; the first are for heathens and apostates.” 31 And while she spoke to me, two men appeared and raised her on their shoulders, and they went to where the chair was in the east. 32 She departed with joyful countenance; and as she went, she said to me, “Behave like a man, Hermas.”
1 As I was going to the country about the same time as on the previous year, in my walk I recalled to memory the vision of that year. And again, the Spirit carried me away, and took me to the same place where I had been the year before. 2 On coming to that place, I bowed my knees and began to pray to the Lord, and to glorify His Name, because He had deemed me worthy, and had made known to me my former sins. 3 On rising from prayer, I see opposite me that old woman, whom I had seen the year before, walking and reading some scroll. And she says to me, “Can you carry a report of these things to the chosen ones of God?” 4 I say to her, “Lady, so much I cannot retain in my memory, but give me the scroll and I will transcribe it.” “Take it,” she says, “and you will give it back to me.” 5 Thereupon I took it, and going away into a certain part of the country, I transcribed the whole of it letter by letter; but the syllables of it I did not catch. 6 No sooner, however, had I finished the writing of the scroll, than all of a sudden it was snatched from my hands; but who the person was that snatched it, I did not see. Fifteen days after, when I had fasted and prayed much to the Lord, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. 7 Now the writing was to this effect: “Your seed, O Hermas, has sinned against God, and they have blasphemed against the Lord, and in their great wickedness they have betrayed their parents. And they passed as traitors of their parents, and by their treachery they did not reap profit. 8 And even now they have added to their sins lusts and iniquitous pollutions, and thus their iniquities have been filled up. 9 But make known these words to all your children, and to your wife, who is to be your sister. For she does not restrain her tongue, with which she commits iniquity; but, on hearing these words, she will control herself, and will obtain mercy. 10 For after you have made known to them these words which my Lord has commanded me to reveal to you, then they will be forgiven all the sins which in former times they committed, and forgiveness will be granted to all the holy ones who have sinned even to the present day, if they convert with all their heart, and drive all doubts from their minds. 11 For the Lord has sworn by His glory, in regard to His chosen ones, that if any one of them sin after a certain day which has been fixed, he will not be saved. For the conversion of the righteous has limits. Filled up are the days of conversion to all the holy ones; but to the heathen, conversion will be possible even to the last day. 12 You will tell, therefore, those who preside over the Assembly, to direct their ways in righteousness, that they may receive in full the promises with great glory. 13 Stand steadfast, therefore, you who work righteousness, and do not doubt, that your passage may be with the holy messengers. 14 Happy are you who endure the great tribulation that is coming on, and happy are they who will not deny their own life. For the Lord has sworn by His Son, that those who denied their Lord have abandoned their life in despair, for even now these are to deny Him in the days that are coming. To those who denied in earlier times, God became gracious, on account of His exceedingly tender mercy. 15 But as for you, Hermas, do not remember the wrongs done to you by your children, nor neglect your sister, that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be instructed with righteous instruction, if you do not remember the wrongs they have done to you. For the remembrance of wrongs works death. 16 And you, Henna, have endured great personal tribulations on account of the transgressions of your house, because you did not attend to them, but were careless and engaged in your wicked transactions. 17 But you are saved, because you did not depart from the living God, and on account of your simplicity and great self-control. These have saved you, if you remain steadfast. And they will save all who act in the same manner, and walk in guilelessness and simplicity. 18 Those who possess such virtues will wax strong against every form of wickedness, and will abide to continuous life. Blessed are all they who practice righteousness, for they will never be destroyed. 19 Now you will tell Maximus: Behold, tribulation is coming. If it seems good to you, deny again. The Lord is near to them who return to Him, as it is written in Eldad and Medad, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.” 20 Now a revelation was given to me, my brothers, while I slept, by a young man of handsome appearance, who said to me, “Who do you think that old woman is from whom you received the scroll?” 21 And I said, “The Sibyl.” “You are mistaken,” he says; “it is not the Sibyl.” “Who is it then?” I say. And he said, “It is the Assembly.” And I said to him, “Why then is she an old woman? 22 “Because,” he said, “she was created first of all. On this account is she old. And for her sake was the world made.” 23 After that I saw a vision in my house, and that old woman came and asked me if I had yet given the scroll to the elders. And I said that I had not. 24 And then she said, “You have done well for I have some words to add. But when I finish all the words, all the chosen ones will then become acquainted with them through you. 25 You will therefore write two scrolls, and you will send the one to Clemens and the other to Grapte. And Clemens will send his to foreign countries, for permission has been granted to him to do so. And Grapte will admonish the widows and the orphans. 26 But you will read the words in this city, along with the elders who preside over the Assembly.
1 The vision which I saw, my brothers, was of the following nature. 2 Having fasted frequently, and having prayed to the Lord that He would show me the revelation which He promised to show me through that old woman, the same night that old woman appeared to me, and said to me, “Since you are so anxious and eager to know all things, go into the part of the country where you tarry; and about the fifth hour I will appear to you, and show you all that you ought to see.” 3 I asked her, saying “Lady, into what part of the country am I to go?” And she said, “Into any part you wish.” Then I chose a spot which was suitable, and retired. 4 Before, however, I began to speak and to mention the place, she said to me, “I will come where you wish.” Accordingly, I went to the country, and counted the hours, and reached the place where I had promised to meet her. 5 And I see an ivory seat already placed, and on it a linen cushion, and above the linen cushion was spread a covering of fine linen. Seeing these laid out, and yet no one in the place, I began to feel awe, and as it were a trembling seized hold of me, and my hair stood on end, and as it were a horror came on me when I saw that I was all alone. 6 But on coming back to myself and calling to mind the glory of God, I took courage, bent my knees, and again confessed my sins to God as I had done before. 7 Immediately the old woman approached, accompanied by six young men whom I had also seen before; and she stood behind me, and listened to me, as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. 8 And touching me she said, “Hermas, cease praying continually for your sins; pray for righteousness, that you may have a portion of it immediately in your house.” 9 On this, she took me up by the hand, and brought me to the seat, and said to the young men, “Go and build.” 10 When the young men had gone and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit here.” I say to her, “Lady, permit my elders to be seated first.” “Do what I bid you,” she said; “sit down.” 11 When I would have sat down on her right, she did not permit me, but with her hand beckoned to me to sit down on the left. 12 While I was thinking about this, and feeling vexed that she did not let me sit on the right, she said, “Are you vexed, Hermas? The place to the right is for others who have already pleased God and have suffered for His Name’s sake; and you have yet much to accomplish before you can sit with them. But abide as you now do in your simplicity, and you will sit with them, and with all who do their deeds and bear what they have borne.” 13 “What have they borne?” I said. “Listen,” she said: “scourges, prisons, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for God’s Name’s sake. On this account is assigned to them the division of sanctification on the right hand, and to everyone who will suffer for God’s Name: to the rest is assigned the division on the left. 14 But both for those who sit on the right, and those who sit on the left, there are the same gifts and promises; only those sit on the right, and have some glory. 15 You then are eager to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. But you will be cleansed from your shortcomings; and all who are not given to doubts will be cleansed from all their iniquities up until this day.” 16 Saying this, she wished to go away. But falling down at her feet, I begged her by the Lord that she would show me the vision which she had promised to show me. And then she again took hold of me by the hand, and raised me, and made me sit on the seat to the left; 17 and lifting up a splendid rod, she said to me, “Do you see something great?” And I say, “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to me, “Behold, do you not see opposite to you a great tower, built on the waters, of splendid square stones?” 18 For the tower was built square by those six young men who had come with her. But myriads of men were carrying stones to it, some dragging them from the depths, others removing them from the land, and they handed them to these six young men. 19 They were taking them and building; and those of the stones that were dragged out of the depths, they placed in the building just as they were: for they were polished and fitted exactly into the other stones and became so united one with another that the lines of juncture could not be perceived. And in this way the building of the tower looked as if it were made out of one stone. 20 Those stones, however, which were taken from the earth suffered a different fate; for the young men rejected some of them, some they fitted into the building, and some they cut down, and cast far away from the tower. 21 Many other stones, however, lay around the tower, and the young men did not use them in building; for some of them were rough, others had cracks in them, others had been made too short, and others were white and round, but did not fit into the building of the tower. 22 Moreover, I saw other stones thrown far away from the tower, and falling into the public road; yet they did not remain on the road, but were rolled into a pathless place. And I saw others falling into the fire and burning, others falling close to the water, and yet not capable of being rolled into the water, though they wished to be rolled down, and to enter the water. 23 On showing me these visions, she wished to retire. I said to her, “What is the use of my having seen all this, while I do not know what it means?” She said to me, “You are a cunning fellow, wishing to know everything that relates to the tower.” “Even so, O Lady,” I said, “that I may tell it to my brothers, that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in much glory.” 24 And she said, “Many will indeed hear, and hearing, some will be glad, and some will weep. But even these, if they hear and convert, will also rejoice. 25 Hear, then, the allegories of the tower; for I will reveal all to you, and give me no more trouble in regard to revelation: for these revelations have an end, for they have been completed. But you will not cease praying for revelations, for you are shameless. 26 The tower which you see building is myself, the Assembly, who has appeared to you now and on the former occasion. Ask, then, whatever you like in regard to the tower, and I will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the holy ones.” 27 I said to her, “Lady, since you have granted to reveal all to me this once, reveal it.” She said to me, “Whatever ought to be revealed, will be revealed; only let your heart be with God, and do not doubt whatever you will see.” 28 I asked her, “Why was the tower built on the waters, O Lady?” She answered, “I told you before, and you still inquire carefully: therefore, inquiring, you will find the truth. 29 Hear then why the tower is built on the waters. It is because your life has been, and will be, saved through water. For the tower was founder on the word of the almighty and glorious Name and it is kept together by the invisible power of the Lord.” 30 In reply I said to her, “This is magnificent and marvelous. But who are the six young men who are engaged in building?” And she said, “These are the holy messengers of God, who were first created, and to whom the Lord handed over His whole creation, that they might increase, and build up, and rule over the whole creation. By these the building of the tower will be finished.” 31 “But who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the stones?” “These are also holy messengers of the Lord, but the former six are more excellent than these. The building of the tower will be finished, and all will rejoice together around the tower, and they will glorify God, because the tower is finished.” 32 I asked her, saying, “Lady, I should like to know what became of the stones, and what was meant by the various kinds of stones?” 33 In reply she said to me, “Not because you are more deserving than all others that this revelation should be made to you—for there are others before you, and better than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed—but that the Name of God may be glorified, has the revelation been made to you, and it will be made on account of the doubtful who ponder in their hearts whether these things will be or not. 34 Tell them that all these things are true, and that none of them is beyond the truth. All of them are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation. 35 Hear now with regard to the stones which are in the building. Those square white stones, which fitted exactly into each other, are apostles, overseers, teachers, and servants, who have lived in godly purity, and have acted as overseers, and teachers, and servants chastely and reverently to the chosen ones of God. 36 Some of them have fallen asleep, and some still remain alive. And they have always agreed with each other, and been at peace among themselves, and listened to each other. On account of this, they join exactly into the building of the tower.” 37 “But who are the stones that were dragged from the depths, and which were laid into the building and fitted in with the rest of the stones previously placed in the tower?” “They are those who suffered for the Lord’s sake.” 38 “But I wish to know, O Lady, who are the other stones which were carried from the land.” “Those,” she said, “which go into the building without being polished, are those whom God has approved of, for they walked in the straight ways of the Lord and practiced His commandments.” 39 “But who are those who are in the act of being brought and placed in the building?” “They are those who are young in faith and are faithful. But they are admonished by the messengers to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them.” 40 “Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away?” “These are they who have sinned and wish to convert. On this account they have not been thrown far from the tower, because they will yet be useful in the building, if they convert. 41 Those then who are to convert, if they do convert, will be strong in faith, if they now convert while the tower is building. For if the building is finished, there will not be more room for anyone, but he will be rejected. This privilege, however, will belong only to him who has now been placed near the tower. 42 As to those who were cut down and thrown far away from the tower, do you wish to know who they are? They are the sons of iniquity, and they believed in hypocrisy, and wickedness did not depart from them. For this reason, they are not saved, since they cannot be used in the building on account of their iniquities. 43 Therefore, they have been cut off and cast far away on account of the anger of the Lord, for they have roused Him to anger. 44 But I will explain to you the other stones which you saw lying in great numbers, and not going into the building. Those which are rough are those who have known the truth and not remained in it, nor have they been joined to the holy ones. On this account they are unfit for use.” 45 “Who are those that have rents?” “These are they who are at discord in their hearts with one another, and are not at peace among themselves: they indeed keep peace before each other, but when they separate from one another, their wicked thoughts remain in their hearts. These, then, are the rents which are in the stones. 46 But those which are shortened are those who have indeed believed, and have the larger share of righteousness; yet they have also a considerable share of iniquity, and therefore they are shortened and not whole.” 47 “But who are these, Lady, that are white and round, and yet do not fit into the building of the tower?” She answered and said, “How long will you be foolish and stupid, and continue to put every kind of question and understand nothing? These are those who indeed have faith, but they also have the riches of this world. 48 Therefore, when tribulation comes, on account of their riches and business they deny the Lord.” I answered and said to her, “When, then, will they be useful for the building, Lady?” 49 “When the riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed, then they will be of use to God. For as a round stone cannot become square unless portions are cut off and cast away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches are cut down. 50 Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful and fit for life. Be useful to God; for you also will be used as one of these stones. 51 Now the other stones which you saw cast far away from the tower, and falling on the public road and rolling from it into pathless places, are those who have indeed believed, but through doubt have abandoned the true road. Thinking, then, that they could find a better [way], they wander and become wretched, and enter on pathless places. 52 But those which fell into the fire and were burned are those who have departed forever from the living God; nor does the thought of conversion ever come into their hearts, on account of their devotion to their lusts and to the crimes which they committed. 53 Do you wish to know who are the others which fell near the waters, but could not be rolled into them? These are they who have heard the word and wish to be immersed in the Name of the Lord, but when the chastity demanded by the truth comes into their recollection, they draw back, and again walk after their own wicked desires.” 54 She finished her exposition of the tower. But I, shameless as I yet was, asked her, “Is conversion possible for all those stones which have been cast away and did not fit into the building of the tower, and will they yet have a place in this tower?” 55 “Conversion,” she said, “is yet possible, but in this tower they cannot find a suitable place. But in another and much inferior place they will be laid, and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed the days of their sins. 56 And on this account, they will be transferred, because they have partaken of the righteous Word. And only then will they be removed from their punishments when the thought of converting of the evil deeds which they have done has come into their hearts. But if it does not come into their hearts, they will not be saved, on account of the hardness of their heart.” 57 When then I ceased asking in regard to all these matters, she said to me, “Do you wish to see anything else?” And as I was extremely eager to see something more, my countenance beamed with joy. 58 She looked toward me with a smile, and said, “Do you see seven women around the tower?” “I do, Lady,” I said. 59 “This tower,” she said, “is supported by them according to the precept of the Lord. Now listen to their functions. The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her the chosen ones of God are saved. 60 Another, who has her garments tucked up and acts with vigor, is called Self-restraint. She is the daughter of Faith. Whoever then follows her will become happy in his life, because he will restrain himself from all evil works, believing that, if he restrains himself from all evil desire, he will inherit continuous life.” 61 “But the others,” I said, “O Lady, who are they?” And she said to me, “They are daughters of each other. One of them is called Simplicity, another Guilelessness, another Chastity, another Intelligence, another Love. 62 When then you do all the works of their mother, you will be able to live.” 63 “I should like to know,” I said, “O Lady, what power each one of them possesses.” 64 “Hear,” she said, “what power they have. Their powers are regulated by each other, and follow each other in the order of their birth. For from Faith arises Self-restraint; from Self-restraint, Simplicity; from Simplicity, Guilelessness; from Guilelessness, Chastity; from Chastity, Intelligence; and from Intelligence, Love. 65 The deeds, then, of these are pure, and chaste, and divine. Whoever devotes himself to these, and is able to hold fast by their works, will have his dwelling in the tower with the holy ones of God.” 66 Then I asked her in regard to the ages, if now there is the conclusion. She cried out with a loud voice, “Foolish man! do you not see the tower yet building? When the tower is finished and built, then comes the end; and I assure you it will soon be finished. 67 Ask me no more questions. Let you and all the holy ones be content with what I have called to your remembrance, and with my renewal of your spirits. But observe that it is not for your own sake only that these revelations have been made to you, but they have been given you that you may show them to all. 68 For after three days—this you will take care to remember—I command you to speak all the words which I am to say to you into the ears of the holy ones, that hearing them and doing them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and you along with them. 69 Give ear to me, O sons: I have brought you up in much simplicity, and guilelessness, and chastity, on account of the mercy of the Lord, who has dropped His righteousness down on you, that you may be made righteous and holy from all your iniquity and depravity; but you do not wish to rest from your iniquity. 70 Now, therefore, listen to me, and be at peace one with another, and visit each other, and bear each other’s burdens, and do not partake of God’s creatures alone, but give abundantly of them to the needy. 71 For some through the abundance of their food produce weakness in their flesh, and thus corrupt their flesh; while the flesh of others who have no food is corrupted, because they have not sufficient nourishment. And on this account their bodies waste away. 72 This intemperance in eating is thus injurious to you who have abundance and do not distribute among those who are needy. Give heed to the judgment that is to come. 73 You, therefore, who are high in position, seek out the hungry as long as the tower is not yet finished; for after the tower is finished, you will wish to do good, but will find no opportunity. 74 Give heed, therefore, you who glory in your wealth, lest those who are needy should groan, and their groans should ascend to the Lord, and you are shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of the tower. 75 Therefore, I now say to you who preside over the Assembly and love the first seats: do not be like to drug-mixers. For the drug-mixers carry their drugs in boxes, but you carry your drug and poison in your heart. 76 You are hardened, and do not wish to cleanse your hearts, and to add unity of aim to purity of heart, that you may have mercy from the great King. Take heed, therefore, children, that these dissensions of yours do not deprive you of your life. 77 How will you instruct the chosen ones of the Lord if you yourselves have no instruction? Instruct each other therefore, and be at peace among yourselves, that I also, standing joyful before your Father, may give an account of you all to your Lord.” 78 On her ceasing to speak to me, those six young men who were engaged in building came and conveyed her to the tower, and another four lifted up the seat and carried it also to the tower. The faces of these last I did not see, for they were turned away from me. 79 And as she was going, I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of the three forms in which she appeared to me. 80 In reply she said to me: “With regard to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to you.” 81 For she had appeared to me, brothers, in the first vision the previous year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair. 82 In the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair indicated age, and she stood while she spoke to me. She was also more joyful than on the first occasion. 83 But in the third vision she was entirely youthful and exquisitely beautiful, except only that she had the hair of an old woman; but her face beamed with joy, and she sat on a seat. 84 Now I was exceedingly sad in regard to these appearances, for I longed much to know what the visions meant. Then I see the old woman in a vision of the night saying to me: “Every prayer should be accompanied with humility: fast, therefore, and you will obtain from the Lord what you beg.” I therefore fasted for one day. 85 That very night there appeared to me a young man, who said, “Why do you frequently ask revelations in prayer? Take heed lest by asking many things you injure your flesh; be content with these revelations. Will you be able to see greater revelations than those which you have seen?” 86 I answered and said to him, “Lord, one thing only I ask, that in regard to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete.” 87 He answered me, “How long are you senseless? But your doubts make you senseless, because you do not have your hearts turned toward the Lord.” 88 But I answered and said to him, “From you, lord, we will learn these things more accurately.” 89 “Hear then,” he said, “with regard to the three forms, concerning which you are inquiring. Why in the first vision did she appear to you as an old woman seated on a chair? 90 Because your spirit is now old and withered up, and has lost its power in consequence of your infirmities and doubts. For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing their strength, and expect nothing but their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares on the Lord. Your spirit is therefore broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows.” 91 “I should like then to know, lord, why she sat on a chair?” He answered, “Because every weak person sits on a chair on account of his weakness, that his weakness may be sustained. Behold, you have the form of the first vision. 92 Now in the second vision you saw her standing with a youthful countenance, and more joyful than before; still she had the skin and hair of an aged woman. Hear,” he said, “this allegory also. 93 When one becomes somewhat old, he despairs of himself on account of his weakness and poverty, and looks forward to nothing but the last day of his life. 94 Then suddenly an inheritance is left him: and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceedingly joyful, he puts on strength. And now he no longer reclines, but stands up; and his spirit, already destroyed by his previous actions, is renewed, and he no longer sits, but acts with vigor. 95 So it happened with you on hearing the revelation which God gave you. For the Lord had compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and you laid aside your infirmities. 96 Vigor arose within you, and you grew strong in faith; and the Lord, seeing your strength, rejoiced. On this account He showed you the building of the tower; and He will show you other things, if you continue at peace with each other with all your heart. 97 Now, in the third vision, you saw her still younger, and she was noble and joyful, and her shape was beautiful. 98 For, just as when some good news comes suddenly to one who is sad, immediately he forgets his former sorrows, and looks for nothing else than the good news which he has heard, and for the future is made strong for good, and his spirit is renewed on account of the joy which he has received; so you also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things. 99 As to your seeing her sitting on a seat, that means that her position is one of strength, for a seat has four feet and stands firmly. For the world is also kept together by means of four elements. Therefore, those who convert completely and with the whole heart, will become young and firmly established. 100 You now have the revelation completely given to you. Make no further demands for revelations. If anything ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to you.”
1 Twenty days after the former vision I saw another vision, brothers—a representation of the tribulation that is to come. 2 I was going to a country house along the Campanian road. Now the house lay about ten furlongs from the public road. The district is one rarely traversed. 3 And as I walked alone, I prayed [for] the Lord to complete the revelations which He had made to me through His holy Assembly, that He might strengthen me, and give conversion to all His servants who were going astray, that His great and glorious Name might be glorified because He granted to show me His marvels. 4 And while I was glorifying Him and giving Him thanks, a voice, as it were, answered me, “Do not doubt, Hermas;” 5 and I began to think within myself, and to say, “What reason have I to doubt—I who have been established by the Lord, and who have seen such glorious sights?” 6 I advanced a little, brothers, and behold, I see dust rising even to the heavens. I began to say to myself, “Are cattle approaching and raising the dust?” 7 It was about a furlong’s distance from me. And behold, I see the dust rising more and more, so that I imagined that it was something sent from God. But the sun now shone out a little, and behold, I see a mighty beast like a whale, and out of its mouth fiery locusts proceeded. 8 But the size of that beast was about a hundred feet, and it had a head like an urn. I began to weep, and to call on the Lord to rescue me from it. Then I remembered the word which I had heard, “Do not doubt, O Hermas.” 9 Clothed, therefore, my brothers, with faith in the Lord, and remembering the great things which He had taught me, I boldly faced the beast. Now that beast came on with such noise and force, that it could itself have destroyed a city. 10 I came near it, and the monstrous beast stretched itself out on the ground, and showed nothing but its tongue, and did not stir at all until I had passed by it. Now the beast had four colors on its head: black, then fiery and bloody, then golden, and lastly white. 11 Now after I had passed by the wild beast, and had moved forward about thirty feet, behold, a virgin meets me, adorned as if she were proceeding from the bridal chamber, clothed entirely in white, and with white sandals, and veiled up to her forehead, and her head was covered by a hood. And she had white hair. 12 I knew from my former visions that this was the Assembly, and I became more joyful. 13 She saluted me, and said, “Greetings, O man!” And I returned her salutation, and said, “Lady, greetings!” 14 And she answered, and said to me, “Has nothing crossed your path?” I say, “I was met by a beast of such size that it could destroy peoples, but through the power of the Lord and His great mercy I escaped from it.” 15 “Well did you escape from it,” she says, “because you cast your care on God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved by no other than by His great and glorious Name. 16 On this account the Lord has sent His messenger, who has rule over the beasts, and whose name is Thegri, and has shut up its mouth, so that it cannot tear you. 17 You have escaped from great tribulation on account of your faith, and because you did not doubt in the presence of such a beast. 18 Therefore, go and tell the chosen ones of the Lord His mighty deeds, and say to them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. If then you prepare yourselves, and convert with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible for you to escape it, if your heart is pure and spotless, and you spend the rest of the days of your life in serving the Lord blamelessly. 19 Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will direct them. Trust the Lord, you who doubt, for He is all-powerful, and can turn His anger away from you, and send scourges on the doubters. 20 Woe to those who hear these words and despise them: it would be better for them not to have been born.” 21 I asked her about the four colors which the beast had on his head. And she answered, and said to me, “Again you are inquisitive in regard to such matters.” “Yea, Lady,” I said, “make known to me what they are.” 22 “Listen,” she said: “the black is the world in which we dwell, and the fiery and bloody points out that the world must perish through blood and fire, and the golden part are you who have escaped from this world. 23 For as gold is tested by fire, and thus becomes useful, so are you tested who dwell in it. Those, therefore, who continue steadfast, and are put through the fire, will be purified by means of it. For as gold casts away its dross, so also will you cast away all sadness and trouble, and will be made pure so as to fit into the building of the tower. 24 But the white part is the age that is to come, in which the chosen ones of God will dwell, since those selected by God to continuous life will be spotless and pure. 25 Therefore, do not cease speaking these things into the ears of the holy ones. This then is the type of the great tribulation that is to come. If you wish it, it will be nothing. Remember those things which were written down before.” 26 And saying this, she departed. But I did not see into what place she retired. There was a noise, however, and I turned around in alarm, thinking that that beast was coming.
1 After I had been praying at home, and had sat down on my couch, there entered a Man of glorious aspect, dressed like a shepherd, with a white goat’s skin, a wallet on his shoulders, and a rod in His hand, and He saluted me. I returned His salutation. 2 And immediately He sat down beside me, and said to me, “I have been sent by a most venerable messenger to dwell with you the remaining days of your life.” 3 And I thought that He had come to tempt me, and I said to Him, “Who are You? For I know Him to whom I have been entrusted.” He said to me, “Do you not know Me?” “No,” I said. “I,” he said, “am that Shepherd to whom you have been entrusted.” 4 And as He was speaking, His figure was changed; and then I knew that it was He to whom I had been entrusted. And immediately I became confused, and fear took hold of me, and I was overpowered with deep sorrow that I had answered Him so wickedly and foolishly. 5 But He answered, and said to me, “Do not be confounded, but receive strength from the commandments which I am going to give you. For I have been sent,” He said, “to show you again all the things which you saw before, especially those of them which are useful to you. 6 First of all, then, write down My commandments and similitudes, and you will write the other things as I will show you. 7 For this purpose,” He said, “I command you to write down the commandments and similitudes first, that you may read them easily, and be able to keep them.” 8 Accordingly, I wrote down the commandments and similitudes, exactly as He had ordered me. If then, when you have heard these, you keep them and walk in them, and practice them with pure minds, you will receive from the Lord all that He has promised to you. 9 But if, after you have heard them, you do not convert, but continue to add to your sins, then you will receive from the Lord the opposite things. 10 All these words did the Shepherd, even the Messenger of conversion, command me to write.
1 First of all, believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but Himself cannot be contained. 2 Therefore, have faith in Him, and fear Him; and fearing Him, exercise self-control. 3 Keep these commands, and you will cast away all wickedness from yourself, and put on the strength of righteousness, and live to God, if you keep this commandment.
1 He said to me, “Be simple and guileless, and you will be as the children who do not know the wickedness that ruins the life of men. 2 First, then, speak evil of no one, nor listen with pleasure to anyone who speaks evil of another. But if you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe the slander which you hear; for believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother. 3 Thus, then, will you be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. For slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace, but always remains in discord. Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at peace with all. 4 Put on a holiness in which there is no wicked cause of offense, but all deeds that are composed and joyful. 5 Practice goodness; and from the rewards of your labors, which God gives you, give to all the needy in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom you are to give or not to give. Give to all, for God wishes His gifts to be shared among all. 6 They who receive, will render an account to God why and for what they have received. For the afflicted who receive will not be condemned, but they who receive on false pretenses will suffer punishment. He, then, who gives is guiltless. 7 For as he received from the Lord, so has he accomplished his service in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom he should give and to whom he should not give. This service, then, if accomplished in simplicity, is glorious with God. He, therefore, who thus ministers in simplicity, will live to God. 8 Therefore, keep these commandments, as I have given them to you, that your conversion and the conversion of your house may be found in simplicity, and your heart may be pure and stainless.”
1 Again, He said to me, “Love the truth, and let nothing but truth proceed from your mouth, that the spirit which God has placed in your flesh may be found truthful before all men; and the Lord, who dwells in you, will be glorified, because the Lord is truthful in every word, and in Him is no falsehood. 2 Therefore, they who lie deny the Lord, and rob Him, not giving back to Him the deposit which they have received. For they received from Him a spirit free from falsehood. If they give Him back this spirit untruthful, they pollute the commandment of the Lord, and become robbers.” 3 On hearing these words, I wept most violently. When He saw me weeping, He said to me, “Why do you weep?” And I said, “Because, Lord, I do not know if I can be saved.” 4 “Why?” He said. And I said, “Because, Lord, I never spoke a true word in my life, but have ever spoken cunningly to all, and have affirmed a lie for the truth to all; and no one ever contradicted me, but credit was given to my word. How then can I live, since I have acted thus?” 5 And He said to me, “Your feelings are indeed right and sound, for you ought as a servant of God to have walked in truth, and not to have joined an evil conscience with the spirit of truth, nor to have caused sadness to the holy and true Spirit.” 6 And I said to Him, “Never, Lord, did I listen to these words with so much attention.” 7 And He said to me, “Now you hear them, and keep them, that even the falsehoods which you formerly told in your transactions may come to be believed through the truthfulness of your present statements. For even they can become worthy of credit. 8 If you keep these precepts, and from this time forward you speak nothing but the truth, it will be possible for you to obtain life. 9 And whosoever will hear this commandment, and depart from that great wickedness—falsehood, will live to God.”
1 “I charge you,” He said, “to guard your chastity, and let no thought enter your heart of another man’s wife, or of fornication, or of similar iniquities; for by doing this you commit a great sin. 2 But if you always remember your own wife, you will never sin. For if this thought enters your heart, then you will sin; and if, in like manner, you think other wicked thoughts, you commit sin. 3 For this thought is a great sin in a servant of God. But if anyone commits this wicked deed, he works death for himself. 4 Attend, therefore, and refrain from this thought; for where purity dwells, there iniquity ought not to enter the heart of a righteous man.” 5 I said to Him, “Lord, permit me to ask you a few questions.” “Ask on,” He said. 6 And I said to Him, “Lord, if anyone has a wife who trusts in the Lord, and if he detects her in adultery, does the man sin if he continues to live with her?” 7 And He said to me, “As long as he remains ignorant of her sin, the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But if the husband knows that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman does not convert, but persists in her fornication, and yet the husband continues to live with her, he is also guilty of her crime, and a sharer in her adultery.” 8 And I said to Him, “What then, Lord, is the husband to do, if his wife continues in her vicious practices?” 9 And He said, “The husband should put her away, and remain by himself. But if he puts his wife away and marries another, he also commits adultery.” 10 And I said to Him, “What if the woman put away should convert, and wish to return to her husband: will she not be taken back by her husband?” 11 And He said to me, “Assuredly. If the husband does not take her back, he sins, and brings a great sin on himself; for he ought to take back the sinner who has converted. But not frequently. For there is but one conversion to the servants of God. 12 In case, therefore, that the divorced wife may convert, the husband ought to not marry another when his wife has been put away. In this matter man and woman are to be treated exactly in the same way. 13 Moreover, adultery is committed not only by those who pollute their flesh, but by those who imitate the heathen in their actions. Therefore, if anyone persists in such deeds, and does not convert, withdraw from him, and cease to live with him. Otherwise you are a sharer in his sin. 14 Therefore the injunction has been laid on you, that you should remain by yourselves, both man and woman, for in such persons conversion can take place. 15 But I do not,” He said, “give opportunity for the doing of these deeds, but that he who has sinned may sin no more. But with regard to his previous transgressions, there is One who is able to provide a cure; for it is He, indeed, who has power over all.” 16 I asked Him again, and said, “Since the Lord has granted to always dwell with me, hear me while I utter a few words; for I understand nothing, and my heart has been hardened by my previous mode of life. 17 Give me understanding, for I am exceedingly dull, and I understand absolutely nothing.” And He answered and said to me, “I am set over conversion, and I give understanding to all who convert. 18 Do you not think,” he said, “that it is great wisdom to convert? for conversion is great wisdom. For he who has sinned understands that he acted wickedly in the sight of the Lord, and remembers the actions he has done, and he converts, and no longer acts wickedly, but does good liberally, and humbles and torments his soul because he has sinned. You see, therefore, that conversion is great wisdom.” 19 And I said to Him, “It is for this reason, Lord, that I inquire carefully into all things, especially because I am a sinner; that I may know what works I should do, that I may live: for my sins are many and various.” 20 And He said to me, “You will live if you keep My commandments, and walk in them; and whosoever will hear and keep these commandments, will live to God.” 21 And I said to Him, “I should like to continue my questions.” “Speak on,” He said. And I said, “I heard, Lord, some teachers maintain that there is no other conversion than that which takes place, when we descended into the water and received remission of our former sins.” 22 He said to me, “That was sound doctrine which you heard; for that is really the case. For he who has received remission of his sins ought not to sin anymore, but to live in purity. 23 Since, however, you inquire diligently into all things, I will also point this out to you, not as giving occasion for error to those who are to believe, or have lately believed, in the Lord. 24 For those who have now believed, and those who are to believe, have no conversion for their sins; but they have remission of their previous sins. For to those who have been called before these days, the Lord has set conversion. 25 For the Lord, knowing the heart, and foreknowing all things, knew the weakness of men and the manifold wiles of the Devil, that he would inflict some evil on the servants of God, and would act wickedly toward them. 26 The Lord, therefore, being merciful, has had mercy on the work of His hand, and has set conversion for them; and He has entrusted to me power over this conversion. 27 And therefore, I say to you, that if anyone is tempted by the Devil, and sins after that great and holy calling, in which the Lord has called His people to continuous life, he has opportunity to convert but once. 28 But if he should sin frequently after this, and then convert, to such a man his conversion will be of no avail; for he will live with difficulty.” 29 And I said, “Lord, I feel that life has come back to me in listening attentively to these commandments; for I know that I will be saved, if in [the] future I sin no more.” And He said, “You will be saved, you and all who keep these commandments.” 30 And again I asked Him, saying, “Lord, since you have been so patient in listening to me, will you show me this also?” “Speak,” He said. And I said, “If a wife or husband dies, and the widower or widow marries, does he or she commit sin?” 31 “There is no sin in marrying again,” He said; “but if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honor and glory with the Lord; but if they marry, they do not sin. Therefore, guard your chastity and purity, and you will live to God. 32 What commandments I now give you, and what I am to give, keep from henceforth, yea, from the very day when you were entrusted to Me, and I will dwell in your house. And your former sins will be forgiven, if you keep My commandments. 33 And all will be forgiven who keep these commandments of Mine and walk in this chastity.”
1 “Be patient,” He said, “and of good understanding, and you will rule over every wicked work, and you will work all righteousness. For if you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. 2 He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, He will rejoice and be glad; and with the vessel in which He dwells He will serve God in gladness, having great peace within Himself. 3 But if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is tender, is troubled, not having a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For He is choked by the vile spirit, and cannot attend on the Lord as He wishes, for anger pollutes Him. 4 For the Lord dwells in long-suffering, but the Devil in anger. 5 The two spirits, then, when dwelling in the same habitation, are at discord with each other, and are troublesome to that man in whom they dwell. 6 For if an exceedingly small piece of wormwood is taken and put into a jar of honey, is the honey not entirely destroyed, and does the exceedingly small piece of wormwood not entirely take away the sweetness of the honey, so that it no longer affords any gratification to its owner, but has become bitter, and lost its use? 7 But if the wormwood is not put into the honey, then the honey remains sweet, and is of use to its owner. 8 You see, then, that patience is sweeter than honey, and useful to God, and the Lord dwells in it. But anger is bitter and useless. 9 Now, if anger is mingled with patience, the patience is polluted, and its prayer is not then useful to God.” 10 “I should like, Lord,” I said, “to know the power of anger, that I may guard myself against it.” 11 And He said, “If you do not guard yourself against it, you and your house lose all hope of salvation. Guard yourself, therefore, against it. For I am with you, and all will depart from it who convert with their whole heart. 12 For I will be with them, and I will save them all. For all are justified by the most holy Messenger. 13 “Hear now,” He said, “how wicked is the action of anger, and in what way it overthrows the servants of God by its action, and turns them from righteousness. But it does not turn away those who are full of faith, nor does it act on them, for the power of the Lord is with them. 14 It is the thoughtless and doubting that it turns away. For as soon as it sees such men standing steadfast, it throws itself into their hearts, and for nothing at all the man or woman becomes embittered on account of occurrences in their daily life, as for instance on account of their food, or some superfluous word that has been uttered, or on account of some friend, or some gift or debt, or some such senseless affair. 15 For all these things are foolish and empty and unprofitable to the servants of God. 16 But patience is great, and mighty, and strong, and calm in the midst of great enlargement, joyful, rejoicing, free from care, glorifying God at all times, having no bitterness in her, and abiding continually meek and quiet. 17 Now this patience dwells with those who have complete faith. But anger is foolish, and fickle, and senseless. 18 Now, of folly is begotten bitterness, and of bitterness anger, and of anger frenzy. This frenzy, the product of so many evils, ends in great and incurable sin. 19 For when all these spirits dwell in one vessel in which the Holy Spirit also dwells, the vessel cannot contain them, but overflows. The tender Spirit, then, not being accustomed to dwell with the wicked spirit, nor with hardness, withdraws from such a man, and seeks to dwell with meekness and peacefulness. 20 Then, when He withdraws from the man in whom He dwelt, the man is emptied of the righteous Spirit; and being henceforward filled with evil spirits, He is in a state of anarchy in every action, being dragged here and there by the evil spirits, and there is a complete darkness in his mind as to everything good. 21 This, then, is what happens to all the angry. Therefore, depart from that most wicked spirit—anger, and put on patience, and resist anger and bitterness, and you will be found in company with the purity which is loved by the Lord. 22 Take care, then, that you do not neglect by any chance this commandment: for if you obey this commandment, you will be able to keep all the other commandments which I am to give you. 23 Be strong, then, in these commandments, and put on power, and let all put on power, as many as wish to walk in them.”
1 “I gave you,” He said, “directions in the first commandment to attend to faith, and fear, and self-restraint.” “Even so, Lord,” I said. 2 And He said, “Now I wish to show you the powers of these, that you may know what power each possesses. For their powers are double, and have relation alike to the righteous and the unrighteous. 3 Therefore, trust the righteous, but put no trust in the unrighteous. For the path of righteousness is straight, but that of unrighteousness is crooked. 4 But walk in the straight and even way, and do not mind the crooked. For the crooked path has no roads, but has many pathless places and stumbling-blocks in it, and it is rough and thorny. It is injurious to those who walk therein. 5 But they who walk in the straight road walk evenly without stumbling, because it is neither rough nor thorny. You see, then, that it is better to walk in this road.” 6 “I wish to go by this road,” I said. “You will go by it,” He said; “and whoever turns to the Lord with all his heart will walk in it.” 7 “Hear now,” He said, “in regard to faith. There are two messengers with a man—one of righteousness, and the other of iniquity.” And I said to Him, “How, Lord, am I to know the powers of these, for both messengers dwell with me?” 8 “Hear,” He said, “and understand them. The messenger of righteousness is gentle and modest, meek and peaceful. Therefore, when he ascends into your heart, immediately he talks to you of righteousness, purity, chastity, contentment, and of every righteous deed and glorious virtue. 9 When all these ascend into your heart, know that the messenger of righteousness is with you. These are the deeds of the messenger of righteousness. Trust him, then, and his works. 10 Look now at the works of the messenger of iniquity. First, he is wrathful, and bitter, and foolish, and his works are evil, and ruin the servants of God. When, then, he ascends into your heart, know him by his works.” 11 And I said to Him, “How, Lord, I will perceive him—I do not know.” “Hear and understand” He said. 12 “When anger comes on you, or harshness, know that he is in you; and you will know this to be the case also, when you are attacked by a longing after many transactions, and the richest delicacies, and drunken revels, and various luxuries, and things improper, and by a hankering after women, and by overreaching, and pride, and blustering, and by whatever is like to these. 13 When these ascend into your heart, know that the messenger of iniquity is in you. Now that you know his works, depart from him, and in no respect trust him, because his deeds are evil, and unprofitable to the servants of God. 14 These, then, are the actions of both messengers. Understand them and trust the messenger of righteousness; but depart from the messenger of iniquity, because his instruction is bad in every deed. 15 For though a man be most faithful, and the thought of this messenger ascend into his heart, that man or woman must sin. 16 On the other hand, be a man or woman ever so bad, yet, if the works of the messenger of righteousness ascend into his or her heart, he or she must do something good. 17 You see, therefore, that it is good to follow the messenger of righteousness, but to bid farewell to the messenger of iniquity. 18 This commandment exhibits the deeds of faith, that you may trust the works of the messenger of righteousness, and doing them you may live to God. But believe the works of the messenger of iniquity are hard. If you refuse to do them, you will live to God.”
1 “Fear,” He said, “the Lord, and keep His commandments. For if you keep the commandments of God, you will be powerful in every action, and every one of your actions will be incomparable. 2 For, fearing the Lord, you will do all things well. This is the fear which you ought to have, that you may be saved. 3 But do not fear the Devil; for, fearing the Lord, you will have dominion over the Devil, for there is no power in him. 4 But he in whom there is no power ought on no account to be an object of fear; but He in whom there is glorious power is truly to be feared. For every one that has power ought to be feared; but he who has no power is despised by all. 5 Therefore, fear the deeds of the Devil, since they are wicked. For, fearing the Lord, you will not do these deeds, but will refrain from them. 6 For fears are of two kinds: for if you do not wish to do that which is evil, fear the Lord, and you will not do it; but, again, if you wish to do that which is good, fear the Lord, and you will do it. Therefore, the fear of the Lord is strong, and great, and glorious. 7 Fear, then, the Lord, and you will live to Him, and as many as fear Him and keep His commandments will live to God.” 8 “Why,” I said, “Lord, did You say in regard to those that keep His commandments, that they will live to God?” “Because,” He says, “all creation fears the Lord, but all creation does not keep His commandments. 9 They only who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God; but as to those who do not keep His commandments, there is no life in them.”
1 “I told you,” He said, “that the creatures of God are double, for restraint is also double; for in some cases restraint has to be exercised in others [where] there is no need of restraint.” 2 “Make known to me, Lord,” I say, “in what cases restraint has to be exercised, and in what cases it does not.” 3 “Restrain yourself in regard to evil, and do not do it; but exercise no restraint in regard to good, but do it. For if you exercise restraint in the doing of good, you will commit a great sin; but if you exercise restraint, so as not to do that which is evil, you are practicing great righteousness. 4 Restrain yourself, therefore, from all iniquity, and do that which is good.” 5 “What, Lord,” I say, “are the evil deeds from which we must restrain ourselves?” 6 “Hear,” He says: “from adultery and fornication, from unlawful reveling, from wicked luxury, from indulgence in many kinds of food and the extravagance of riches, and from boastfulness, and haughtiness, and insolence, and lies, and backbiting, and hypocrisy, from the remembrance of wrong, and from all slander. 7 These are the deeds that are most wicked in the life of men. From all these deeds, therefore, the servant of God must restrain himself. 8 For he who does not restrain himself from these, cannot live to God. Listen, then, to the deeds that accompany these.” 9 “Are there, Lord,” I said, “any other evil deeds?” “There are,” He says; “and many of them, too, from which the servant of God must restrain himself—theft, lying, robbery, false witness, overreaching, wicked lust, deceit, vainglory, boastfulness, and all other vices like to these.” 10 “Do you not think that these are really wicked?” “Exceedingly wicked in the servants of God. From all of these the servant of God must restrain himself. 11 Restrain yourself, then, from all these, that you may live to God, and you will be enrolled among those who restrain themselves in regard to these matters. These, then, are the things from which you must restrain yourself. 12 But listen,” He says, “to the things in regard to which you do not have to exercise self-restraint, but which you ought to do. 13 Do not restrain yourself in regard to that which is good, but do it.” “And tell me, Lord,” I say, “the nature of the good deeds, that I may walk in them and wait on them, so that doing them I can be saved.” 14 “Listen,” He says, “to the good deeds which you ought to do, and in regard to which there is no self-restraint requisite. First of all there is faith, then fear of the Lord, love, concord, words of righteousness, truth, patience. 15 Than these, nothing is better in the life of men. If anyone attends to these, and does not restrain himself from them, he is blessed in his life. 16 Then there are the following attendant on these: helping widows, looking after orphans and the needy, rescuing the servants of God from necessities, the being hospitable—for in hospitality doing good finds a field—never opposing anyone, the being quiet, having fewer needs than all men, reverencing the aged, practicing righteousness, watching the brotherhood, bearing insolence, being long-suffering, encouraging those who are sick in soul, not casting those who have fallen into sin from the faith, but turning them back and restoring them to peace of mind, admonishing sinners, not oppressing debtors and the needy, and if there are any other actions like these. 17 Do these seem to you good?” He says. “For what, Lord,” I say, “is better than these?” “Walk then in them,” He says, “and do not restrain yourself from them, and you will live to God. 18 Therefore, keep this commandment. If you do good, and do not restrain yourself from it, you will live to God. All who act thus will live to God. 19 And, again, if you refuse to do evil, and restrain yourself from it, you will live to God. And all will live to God who keep these commandments and walk in them.”
1 He says to me, “Put away doubting from you and do not hesitate to ask of the Lord, saying to yourself, How can I ask of the Lord and receive from Him, seeing I have sinned so much against Him? 2 Do not thus reason with yourself, but with all your heart turn to the Lord and ask of Him without doubting, and you will know the multitude of His tender mercies; that He will never leave you, but fulfill the request of your soul. 3 For He is not like men, who remember evils done against them; but He Himself does not remember evils and has compassion on His own creature. 4 Therefore, cleanse your heart from all the vanities of this world, and from the words already mentioned, and ask of the Lord and you will receive all, and in none of your requests will you be denied which you make to the Lord without doubting. But if you doubt in your heart, you will receive none of your requests. 5 For those who doubt regarding God are double-souled, and do not obtain one of their requests. But those who are perfect in faith ask everything, trusting in the Lord; and they obtain, because they ask nothing doubting, and not being double-souled. 6 For every double-souled man, even if he converts, will be saved with difficulty. Cleanse your heart, therefore, from all doubt, and put on faith, because it is strong, and trust God that you will obtain from Him all that you ask. 7 And if at any time, after you have asked of the Lord, you are slower in obtaining your request [than you expected], do not doubt because you have not soon obtained the request of your soul; for invariably it is on account of some temptation or some sin of which you are ignorant that you are slower in obtaining your request. 8 Therefore, do not cease to make the request of your soul, and you will obtain it. But if you grow weary and waver in your request, blame yourself, and not Him who does not give to you. 9 Consider this doubting state of mind, for it is wicked and senseless, and turns many away entirely from the faith, even though they might be very strong. 10 For this doubting is the daughter of the Devil, and acts exceedingly wickedly to the servants of God. 11 Despise, then, doubting, and gain the mastery over it in everything; clothing yourself with faith, which is strong and powerful. For faith promises all things, perfects all things; but doubt having no thorough faith in itself, fails in every work which it undertakes. 12 You see, then,” He says, “that faith is from above—from the Lord—and has great power; but doubt is an earthly spirit, coming from the Devil, and has no power. 13 Serve, then, that which has power, namely faith, and keep away from doubt, which has no power, and you will live to God. And all will live to God whose minds have been set on these things.”
1 “Remove from yourself,” He says, “grief; for she is the sister of doubt and anger.” “How, Lord,” I say, “is she the sister of these? for anger, doubt, and grief seem to be quite different from each other.” 2 “You are senseless, O man. Do you not perceive that grief is more wicked than all the spirits, and most terrible to the servants of God, and more than all other spirits destroys man and crushes out the Holy Spirit, and yet, on the other hand, she saves him?” 3 “I am senseless, Lord,” I say, “and do not understand these allegories. For how she can crush out, and on the other hand save, I do not perceive.” 4 “Listen,” He says. “Those who have never searched for the truth, nor investigated the nature of the Divinity, but have simply believed, when they devote themselves to and become mixed up with business, and wealth, and heathen friendships, and many other actions of this world, do not perceive the allegories of Divinity; 5 for their minds are darkened by these actions, and they are corrupted and become dried up. Even as beautiful vines, when they are neglected, are withered up by thorns and various plants, so men who have believed, and have afterward fallen away into many of those actions above mentioned, go astray in their minds, and lose all understanding in regard to righteousness; 6 for if they hear of righteousness, their minds are occupied with their business, and they give no heed at all. 7 Those, on the other hand, who have the fear of God, and search after [the] Godhead and truth, and have their hearts turned to the Lord, quickly perceive and understand what is said to them, because they have the fear of the Lord in them. 8 For where the Lord dwells, there is much understanding. Cleave, then, to the Lord, and you will understand and perceive all things. 9 “Hear, then,” He says, “foolish man, how grief crushes out the Holy Spirit, and on the other hand saves. When the doubting man attempts any deed, and fails in it on account of his doubt, this grief enters into the man, and grieves the Holy Spirit, and crushes Him out. 10 Then, on the other hand, when anger attaches itself to a man in regard to any matter, and he is embittered, then grief enters into the heart of the man who was irritated, and he is grieved at the deed which he did, and converts that he has wrought a wicked deed. 11 This grief, then, appears to be accompanied by salvation, because the man, after having done a wicked deed, converted. Both actions grieve the Spirit: doubt, because it did not accomplish its object; and anger grieves the Spirit, because it did what was wicked. 12 Both these are grievous to the Holy Spirit—doubt and anger. Therefore, remove grief from yourself, and do not crush the Holy Spirit which dwells in you, lest He entreat God against you, and He withdraw from you. 13 For the Spirit of God which has been granted to us to dwell in this body does not endure grief nor trouble. 14 Therefore, put on cheerfulness, which is always agreeable and acceptable to God, and rejoice in it. For every cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises grief; but the sorrowful man always acts wickedly. 15 First, he acts wickedly because he grieves the Holy Spirit, which was given to man—a cheerful Spirit. 16 Secondly, grieving the Holy Spirit, he works iniquity, neither entreating the Lord nor confessing to Him. For the entreaty of the sorrowful man has no power to ascend to the altar of God.” 17 “Why,” I say, “does the entreaty of the grieved man not ascend to the altar?” “Because,” He says, “grief sits in his heart. Grief, then, mingled with his entreaty, does not permit the entreaty to ascend pure to the altar of God. 18 For as vinegar and wine, when mixed in the same vessel, do not give the same pleasure [as wine alone gives], so grief mixed with the Holy Spirit does not produce the same entreaty [as would be produced by the Holy Spirit alone]. 19 Cleanse yourself from this wicked grief, and you will live to God; and all will live to God who drive away grief from themselves, and put on all cheerfulness.”
1 He pointed out to me some men sitting on a seat, and one man sitting on a chair. And He says to me, “Do you see the persons sitting on the seat?” “I do, Lord,” I said. “These,” He says, “are the faithful, and he who sits on the chair is a false prophet, ruining the minds of the servants of God. It is the doubters, not the faithful, that he ruins. 2 These doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and inquire of him what will happen to them; and he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine Spirit in him, answers them according to their inquiries, and according to their wicked desires, and fills their souls with expectations, according to their own wishes. 3 For being himself empty, he gives empty answers to empty inquirers; for every answer is made to the emptiness of man. Some true words he does occasionally utter; for the Devil fills him with his own spirit, in the hope that he may be able to overcome some of the righteous. 4 As many, then, as are strong in the faith of the Lord, and are clothed with truth, have no connection with such spirits, but keep away from them; but as many as are of doubtful minds and frequently convert, take themselves to soothsaying, even as the heathen, and bring greater sin on themselves by their idolatry. 5 For he who inquires of a false prophet in regard to any action is an idolater, and devoid of the truth, and foolish. For no spirit given by God requires to be asked; but such a spirit having the power of Divinity speaks all things of itself, for it proceeds from above from the power of the Divine Spirit. 6 But the spirit which is asked and speaks according to the desires of men is earthly, light, and powerless, and it is altogether silent if it is not questioned.” 7 “How then, Lord,” I say, “will a man know which of them is the prophet, and which the false prophet?” 8 “I will tell you,” He says, “about both the prophets, and then you can try the true and the false prophet according to My directions. 9 Try the man who has the Divine Spirit by his life. First, he who has the Divine Spirit proceeding from above is meek, and peaceable, and humble, and refrains from all iniquity and the vain desire of this world, and contents himself with fewer wants than those of other men, and when asked he makes no reply; 10 nor does he speak privately, nor when man wishes the spirit to speak does the Holy Spirit speak, but it speaks only when God wishes it to speak. 11 When, then, a man having the Divine Spirit comes into an assembly of righteous men who have faith in the Divine Spirit, and this assembly of men offers up prayer to God, then the messenger of the prophetic Spirit, who is destined for him, fills the man; and the man being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks to the multitude as the Lord wishes. 12 Thus, then, will the Spirit of Divinity become manifest. Whatever power therefore comes from the Spirit of Divinity belongs to the Lord. 13 Hear, then,” He says, “in regard to the spirit which is earthly, and empty, and powerless, and foolish. First, the man who seems to have the Spirit, [but does not,] exalts himself, and wishes to have the first seat, and is bold, and impudent, and talkative, and lives in the midst of many luxuries and many other delusions, and takes rewards for his prophecy; and if he does not receive rewards, he does not prophesy. 14 Can, then, the Divine Spirit take rewards and prophesy? It is not possible that the prophet of God should do this, but prophets of this character are possessed by an earthly spirit. 15 Then it never approaches an assembly of righteous men, but shuns them. And it associates with doubters and the vain, and prophesies to them in a corner, and deceives them, speaking to them, according to their desires, mere empty words: for they are empty to whom it gives its answers. 16 For the empty vessel, when placed along with the empty, is not crashed, but they correspond to each other. 17 When, therefore, it comes into an assembly of righteous men who have a Spirit of Divinity, and they offer up prayer, that man is made empty, and the earthly spirit flees from him through fear, and that man is made dumb, and is entirely crashed, being unable to speak. 18 For if you closely pack a storehouse with wine or oil, and put an empty jar in the midst of the vessels of wine or oil, you will find that jar empty as when you placed it, if you should wish to clear the storehouse. 19 So also the empty prophets, when they come to the spirits of the righteous, are found [on leaving] to be such as they were when they came. 20 This, then, is the mode of life of both prophets. Try by his deeds and his life the man who says that he is inspired. 21 But as for you, trust the Spirit which comes from God, and has power; but the spirit which is earthly and empty do not trust at all, for there is no power in it: it comes from the Devil. 22 Hear, then, the allegory which I am to tell you. Take a stone, and throw it to the sky, and see if you can touch it. Or again, take a squirt of water and squirt into the sky, and see if you can penetrate the sky.” 23 “How, Lord,” I say, “can these things take place? for both of them are impossible.” “As these things,” He says, “are impossible, so also are the earthly spirits powerless and weak. 24 But look, on the other hand, at the power which comes from above. Hail is of the size of a very small grain, yet when it falls on a man’s head how much annoyance it gives him! 25 Or again, take the drop which falls from a pitcher to the ground, and yet it hollows a stone. You see, then, that the smallest things coming from above have great power when they fall on the earth. 26 Thus is the Divine Spirit, which comes from above, also powerful. Trust, then, that Spirit, but have nothing to do with the other.”
1 He says to me, “Put away from yourself all wicked desire, and clothe yourself with good and chaste desire; for clothed with this desire you will hate wicked desire, and will rein yourself in even as you wish. 2 For wicked desire is wild and is tamed with difficulty. For it is terrible and consumes men exceedingly by its wildness. Especially is the servant of God terribly consumed by it, if he falls into it and is devoid of understanding. 3 Moreover, it consumes all such as do not have on them the garment of good desire, but are entangled and mixed up with this world. These it delivers up to death.” 4 “What then, Lord,” I say, “are the deeds of wicked desire which deliver men over to death? Make them known to me, and I will refrain from them.” 5 “Listen, then, to the works in which evil desire slays the servants of God.” “Foremost of all is the desire after another’s wife or husband, and after extravagance, and many useless delicacies and drinks, and many other foolish luxuries; for all luxury is foolish and empty in the servants of God. 6 These, then, are the evil desires which slay the servants of God. For this evil desire is the daughter of the Devil. You must refrain from evil desires, that by refraining you may live to God. 7 But as many as are mastered by them, and do not resist them, will perish at last, for these desires are fatal. 8 Put on, then, the desire of righteousness; and arming yourself with the fear of the Lord, resist them. For the fear of the Lord dwells in good desire. 9 But if evil desire sees you armed with the fear of God, and resisting it, it will flee far from you, and it will no longer appear to you, for it fears your armor. 10 Go, then, adorned with the crown which you have gained for victory over it, to the desire of righteousness, and, delivering up to it the prize which you have received, serve it even as it wishes. 11 If you serve good desire, and be subject to it, you will gain the mastery over evil desire, and make it subject to you even as you wish.” 12 “I should like to [know] how,” I say, “in what way I ought to serve good desire.” 13 “Hear,” He says: “You will practice righteousness and virtue, truth and the fear of the Lord, faith and meekness, and whatever excellencies are like to these. Practicing these, you will be a well-pleasing servant of God, and you will live to Him; and everyone who will serve good desire, will live to God.” 14 He concluded the twelve commandments, and said to me, “You now have these commandments. Walk in them and exhort your hearers that their conversion may be pure during the remainder of their life. 15 Carefully fulfill this ministry which I now entrust to you, and you will accomplish much. For you will find favor among those who are to convert, and they will give heed to your words; for I will be with you, and will compel them to obey you.” 16 I say to Him, “Lord, these commandments are great, and good, and glorious, and fitted to gladden the heart of the man who can perform them. 17 But I do not know if these commandments can be kept by man, because they are exceedingly hard.” 18 He answered and said to me, “If you lay it down as certain that they can be kept, then you will easily keep them, and they will not be hard. But if you come to imagine that they cannot be kept by man, then you will not keep them. 19 Now I say to you, if you do not keep them, but neglect them, you will not be saved, nor your children, nor your house, since you have already determined for yourself that these commandments cannot be kept by man.” 20 He said these things to me in tones of the deepest anger, so that I was confounded and exceedingly afraid of Him, for His figure was altered so that a man could not endure His anger. 21 But seeing me altogether agitated and confused, He began to speak to me in more gentle tones; and He said: “O feel, senseless and doubting, do you not perceive how great is the glory of God, and how strong and marvelous, in that He created the world for the sake of man, and subjected all creation to him, and gave him power to rule over everything under heaven? 22 If, then, man is lord of the creatures of God, and rules over all, is he not able to be lord also of these commandments? For,” He says, “the man who has the Lord in his heart can also be lord of all, and of every one of these commandments. 23 But to those who have the Lord only on their lips, but their hearts hardened, and who are far from the Lord, the commandments are hard and difficult. 24 Put, therefore—you who are empty and fickle in your faith—the Lord in your heart, and you will know that there is nothing easier or sweeter, or more manageable, than these commandments. 25 Return, you who walk in the commandments of the Devil, in hard, and bitter, and wild licentiousness, and do not fear the Devil; 26 for there is no power in him against you, for I will be with you, the Messenger of conversion, who am Lord over him. The Devil has fear only, but his fear has no strength. Do not fear him, then, and he will flee from you.” 27 I say to Him, “Lord, listen to me for a moment.” “Say what you wish,” He says. “Man, Lord,” I say, “is eager to keep the commandments of God, and there is no one who does not ask of the Lord that strength may be given him for these commandments, and that he may be subject to them; but the Devil is hard, and holds sway over them.” 28 “He cannot,” He says, “hold sway over the servants of God, who with all their heart place their hopes in Him. The Devil can wrestle against these, [but] he cannot overthrow them. 29 If, then, you resist him, he will be conquered, and flee in disgrace from you. As many, therefore,” He says, “as are empty, fear the Devil, as possessing power. 30 When a man has filled very suitable jars with good wine, and a few among those jars are left empty, then he comes to the jars, and does not look at the full jars, for he knows that they are full; but he looks at the empty, being afraid lest they have become sour. For empty jars quickly become sour, and the goodness of the wine is gone. 31 So also, the Devil goes to all the servants of God to try them. As many, then, as are full in the faith, resist him strongly, and he withdraws from them, having no way by which he might enter them. He goes, then, to the empty, and finding a way of entrance into them, he produces in them whatever he wishes, and they become his servants. 32 But I, the Messenger of conversion, say to you: do not fear the Devil; for I was sent,” He says, “to be with you who convert with all your heart, and to make you strong in faith. 33 Trust God, then, you who on account of your sins have despaired of life, and who add to your sins and weigh down your life; for if you return to the Lord with all your heart, and practice righteousness the rest of your days, and serve Him according to His will, He will heal your former sins, and you will have power to hold sway over the works of the Devil. 34 But as to the threats of the Devil, do not fear them at all, for he is powerless as the sinews of a dead man. 35 Give ear to Me, then, and fear Him who has all power, both to save and destroy, and keep His commandments, and you will live to God.” 36 I say to Him, “Lord, I am now made strong in all the ordinances of the Lord, because You are with me; and I know that You will crush all the power of the Devil, and we will have rule over him, and will prevail against all his works. 37 And I hope, Lord, to be able to keep all these commandments which You have enjoined on me, the Lord strengthening me.” 38 “You will keep them,” He says, “if your heart is pure toward the Lord; and all will keep them who cleanse their hearts from the vain desires of this world, and they will live to God.”
1 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. 2 If then,” He continues, “you know your city in which you are to dwell, why do you 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. 3 Oh foolish, and unstable, and miserable man! Do you not understand that all these things belong to another, and are under the power of another? 4 for the lord of this city will say, I do not wish you to dwell in my city; but depart from this city, because you do not obey my laws. 5 You, therefore, although having fields and houses, and many other things, when cast out by him, what will you do with your land, and house, and other possessions which you have gathered to yourself? 6 For the lord of this country justly says to you, Either obey my laws or depart from my dominion. What, then, do you intend to do, having a law in your own city, on account of your lands, and the rest of your possessions? 7 You will altogether deny your law, and walk according to the law of this city. See lest it be to your hurt to deny your law; for if you will desire to return to your city, you will not be received, because you have denied the law of your city, but will be excluded from it. 8 Have a care, therefore, as one living in a foreign land: make no further preparations for yourself than such merely as may be sufficient; and be ready, when the master of this city will come to cast you out for disobeying his law, to leave his city, and to depart to your own, and to obey your own law without being exposed to annoyance, but in great joy. 9 Have a care, then, you who serve the Lord, and have Him in your heart, that you 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 are observed. 10 Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each one is able, and visit widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your preparations, which you received from the Lord, on such lands and houses. 11 For to this end the Master made you rich, that you might perform these services to 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. 12 This is a noble and sacred expenditure, attended neither with sorrow nor fear, but with joy. 13 Do not practice the expenditure of the heathen, for it is injurious to you who are the servants of God; but practice an expenditure of your own, in which you can rejoice; 14 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 your own work, and you will be saved.”
1 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?” 2 “I am considering,” I reply, “that they suit each other exceedingly well.” 3 “These two trees,” he continues, “are intended as an example for the servants of God.” 4 “I would like to know,” I said, “the example which these trees You say, are intended to teach.” 5 “Do you see,” He says, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them Lord,” I replied. “This vine,” He continued, “produces fruit, and the elm is an unfruitful tree; but unless the vine be trained on the elm, it cannot bear much fruit when extended at length on the ground; and the fruit which it bears is rotten, because the plant is not suspended on the elm. 6 Therefore, when the vine is cast on 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 on the elm, yields much fruit, and good; but when thrown on the ground, what it produces is small and rotten. 7 This similitude, therefore, is for the servants of God—for the poor man and for the rich.” “How so, Lord?” I said; “explain the matter to me.” 8 “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 offers are small and weak, and have no power above. 9 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; 10 and the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God for him who bestows gifts on him. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And the rich man, in like manner, unhesitatingly bestows on 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. 14 Among men, however, the elm does not appear to produce fruit, and they do not know nor understand that if a drought comes, the elm, which contains water, nourishes the vine; and the vine, having an unfailing supply of water, yields double fruit both for itself and for the elm. 15 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. 16 He who does these things will not be deserted by God, but will be enrolled in the scrolls of the living. 17 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.]]”
1 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, Lord,” I replied, “that all are alike, and withered.” 2 He answered me, and said, “These trees which you see are those who dwell in this world.” 3 “Why, then, Lord,” 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: 4 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.”
1 He showed me again many trees, some budding, and others withered. And He said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see, Lord,” I replied, “some putting forth buds, and others withered.” 2 “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. 3 When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then they will be made manifest who are the servants of God, and all men will be made manifest. 4 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 will be manifest, and all who have been fruitful in that world will be made known. 5 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 will be burnt as wood, and made manifest, because their actions were evil during their lives. 6 For the sinners will be consumed because they sinned and did not convert, and the heathen will be burned because they did not know Him who created them. 7 Therefore, bear fruit, that in that summer your fruit may be known. 8 And refrain from much business, and you will never sin: for they who are occupied with much business also commit many sins, being distracted with their affairs, and not at all serving their Lord. 9 How, then,” He continued, “can such a one ask and obtain anything from the Lord, if he does not serve Him? 10 They who serve Him will obtain their requests, but they who do not serve Him will receive nothing. 11 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. 12 If, therefore, you do these things, you will be able to bear fruit for the life to come. And everyone who will do these things will bear fruit.”
1 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 here early in the morning?” 2 “Because, Lord,” I answered, “I have a station.” “What is a station?” He asked. “I am fasting, Lord,” I replied. “What is this fasting,” He continued, “which you are observing?” “As I have been accustomed, Lord,” I reply, “so I fast.” 3 “You do not know,” He says, “how to fast to the Lord: this useless fasting which you observe to Him is of no value.” “Why, Lord,” I answered, “do you say this?” 4 “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. 5 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; 6 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. 7 If you do these things, and fear Him, and abstain from every evil thing, you will live to God; and if you do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable before God. 8 Hear the similitude which I am about to narrate to you relative to fasting. 9 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 himself, 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 will receive your freedom from me. 10 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. 11 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. 12 Therefore, he took 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. 13 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. 14 And calling his beloved son who was his heir, and his friends who were his counselors, 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. 15 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 has also done a good work to the vineyard, and has pleased me exceedingly. 16 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. 17 With this resolution of the master, his son and friends were well pleased. 18 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. 19 And his fellow-slaves rejoiced to receive the dishes, and began to pray for him, that he might find still greater favor 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. 20 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. 21 And they were still more satisfied that the slave should become co-heir with his son.” 22 I said to Him, “Lord, I do not see the meaning of these similitudes, nor am I able to comprehend them, unless You explain them to me.” 23 “I will explain them all to you,” He said, “and whatever I will mention in the course of our conversations I will show you. 24 [[Keep the commandments of the Lord, and you will be approved, and inscribed among the number of those who observe His commands.]] 25 And if you do any good beyond what is commanded by God, you will gain for yourself more abundant glory, and will be more honored by God than you would otherwise be. 26 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.” 27 I said to Him, “Lord, whatever You enjoin on me I will observe, for I know that You are with me.” 28 “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. 29 This fasting,” He continued, “is very good, provided the commandments of the Lord are observed. Thus, then, will you observe the fasting which you intend to keep. 30 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. 31 And you will also do 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. 32 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. 33 These things, therefore, you will 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 will be blessed; and whatever they ask of the Lord they will receive.” 34 I pleaded with Him much that he would explain to me the similitude 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-counselors, for I knew that all these things were a kind of allegory. 35 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.” 36 I said to Him “Lord, whatever You show me, and do not explain, I will have seen to no purpose, not understanding its meaning. In like manner also, if You speak allegories to me, and do not unfold them, I will have heard Your words in vain.” 37 And He answered me again, saying, “Everyone who is the servant of God, and has his Lord in his heart, asks of Him understanding, and receives it, and opens up every allegory; and the words of the Lord become known to him which are spoken in allegories; 38 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. 39 But you, having been strengthened by the holy Messenger, and having obtained from Him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do you not ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from Him?” 40 I said to Him, “Lord, 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.” 41 “I said to you a little while ago,” He answered, “that you were cunning and obstinate in asking explanations of the allegories; but since you are so persistent, I will unfold to you the meaning of the similitudes of the field, and of all the others that follow, that you may make them known to everyone. 42 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; 43 and the vines are this people, whom He Himself planted; and the stakes are the holy messengers 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; 44 and the dishes which He sent Him from His table are the commandments which He gave His people through His Son; and the friends and fellow-counselors are the holy messengers who were first created; and the Master’s absence from home is the time that remains until His appearing.” 45 I said to Him, “Lord, all these are great, and marvelous, and glorious things. Could I, therefore,” I continued, “understand them? No, nor could any other man, even if exceedingly wise. 46 Moreover,” I added, “explain to me what I am about to ask you.” “Say what you wish,” He replied. “Why, Lord,” I asked, “is the Son of God in the allegory in the form of a slave?” 47 “Hear,” He answered: “the Son of God is not in the form of a slave, but in great power and might.” “How so, Lord?” I said; “I do not understand.” 48 “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 messengers over them to keep them; 49 and He Himself purged away their sins, having suffered many trials and undergone many labors, for no one is able to dig without labor and toil. 50 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. 51 [[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 counselor, and the glorious messengers, regarding the heirship of the slave, listen. 52 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 religiously and chastely, in no respect defiling the Spirit; 53 and accordingly, after living excellently and purely, and after laboring and cooperating with the Spirit, and having in everything acted vigorously and courageously along with the Holy Spirit, He assumed it as a partner with it. 54 For this conduct of the flesh pleased Him, because it was not defiled on the earth while having the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He took as fellow-counselors His Son and the glorious messengers, 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]], 55 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 allegory also.” 56 “I rejoice, Lord,” 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. 57 See that the thought never arises in your mind that this flesh of yours is corruptible, and you misuse it by any act of defilement. 58 If you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile your flesh [and spirit], you will not live.” 59 “And if anyone, Lord,” I said, “has been ignorant until now, before he heard these words, how can such a man be saved who has defiled his flesh?” 60 “Respecting former sins of ignorance,” He said, “God alone is able to heal them, for to Him belongs all power. 61 [[But be on your guard now, and the all-powerful and compassionate God will heal former transgressions]], if for the time to come you do not defile your body nor your spirit; for both are common, and cannot be defiled, the one without the other: therefore, keep both pure, and you will live to God.”
1 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 will be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and everyone who walks in them will be blessed.” 2 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. 3 These commandments are beneficial to those who intend to convert: for if they do not walk in them, their conversion is in vain. You, therefore, who convert, 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. 4 Therefore, walk in these commandments of Mine, and you will live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by Me.” 5 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, Lord,” I replied. 6 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 color: and he was herding very many sheep, and these sheep were feeding luxuriously, as it were, and riotously, and merrily skipping here and there. 7 The shepherd himself was merry, because of his flock; and the appearance of the shepherd was joyous, and he was running about among his flock. [[And other sheep I saw rioting and luxuriating in one place, but not, however, leaping about.]] 8 And He said to me, “Do you see this shepherd?” “I see him, Lord,” I said. “This,” He answered, “is the messenger 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; 9 for they forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in deceits and empty luxuries; and they are ruined by the messenger, some being brought to death, others to corruption.” 10 I said to Him, “Lord, I do not know the meaning of these words: To death, and to corruption.” 11 “Listen,” He said. “The sheep which you saw merry and leaping about, are those which have tom themselves away from God forever, and have delivered themselves over to luxuries and deceits [[of this world. Among them there is no return to life through conversion, because they have added to their other sins, and blasphemed the Name of the Lord. Such men, therefore, are appointed to death. 12 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. 13 These have been perverted from the truth: among them there is the hope of conversion, by which it is possible to live. Corruption, then, has a hope of a kind of renewal, but death has continuous ruin.” 14 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. 15 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 [that were rioting and luxuriating, but not leaping]; 16 and he cast them into a precipitous place, full of thistles and thorns, so that it was impossible to extricate the sheep from the thorns and thistles; but they were completely entangled among them. 17 These, accordingly, thus entangled, pastured among the thorns and thistles, and were exceedingly miserable, being beaten by him; and he drove them here and there, and gave them no rest; and, altogether, these sheep were in a wretched plight. 18 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, “Lord, who is this shepherd, who is so pitiless and severe, and so completely devoid of compassion for these sheep?” 19 “This,” He replied, “is the messenger of punishment; and he belongs to the just messengers, 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 disciplines them as they deserve with terrible and diverse punishments.” 20 “I would know, Lord,” I said, “Of what nature are these diverse tortures and punishments?” “Hear,” He said, “the various tortures and punishments. 21 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: 22 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. 23 Therefore, when they have been afflicted with all kinds of affliction, then they are delivered to Me for good training, and they are made strong in the faith of the Lord; 24 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.” 25 I said to Him, “Lord, explain this to me also.” “What is it you ask?” He said. “Whether, Lord,” 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?” 26 He said to me, “They are tortured in the same manner.” [[“They are tormented much less, Lord,” I replied;]] “for those who are so luxurious and who forget God ought to be tortured sevenfold.” 27 He said to me, “You are foolish, and do not understand the power of torment.” “Why, Lord,” I said, “if I had understood it, I would not have asked You to show me.” 28 “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. 29 If, accordingly, a man indulges in luxury for one day, and is deceived and is 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. 30 You see, then,” He continued, “that the time of luxury and deceit is very short, but that of punishment and torture long.” 31 “Still,” I said, “I do not quite understand about the time of deceit, and luxury, and torture; explain it to me more clearly.” 32 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 are found foolish. 33 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 next day; for he forgets what he did the day before. 34 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. 35 While tortured and punished, therefore, for a whole year, he remembers at last his luxury and deceit, and knows that on their account he suffers evil. 36 Every man, therefore, who is luxurious and deceived is thus tormented, because, although having life, they have given themselves over to death.” 37 “What kinds of luxury, Lord,” 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; 38 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. 39 On account of these deceits, therefore, do they suffer, who are punished and tortured. And there are also acts of luxury which save men; 40 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; 41 but the injurious acts of luxury before enumerated bring tortures and punishment on them; and if they continue in them and do not convert, they bring death on themselves.”
1 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, “Lord, that you would order the shepherd who punishes to depart out of my house, because he afflicts me exceedingly.” 2 “It is necessary,” He replied, “that you are afflicted; for thus,” He continued, “did the glorious messenger command concerning you, as he wishes you to be tried.” “What have I done which is so bad, Lord,” I replied, “that I should be delivered over to this messenger?” 3 “Listen,” he said: “Your sins are many, but not so great as to require that you are delivered over to this messenger; but your household has committed great iniquities and sins, and the glorious messenger has been incensed at them on account of their deeds; 4 and for this reason, he commanded you to be afflicted for a certain time, that they also might convert, and purify themselves from every desire of this world. Therefore, when they convert and are purified, then the messenger of punishment will depart.” 5 I said to Him, “Lord, if they have done such things as to incense the glorious messenger against them, yet what have I done?” 6 He replied, “They cannot be afflicted at all, unless you, the head of the house, are afflicted: for when you are afflicted, of necessity they also suffer affliction; but if you are in comfort, they can feel no affliction.” 7 “Well, Lord,” I said, “they have converted with their whole heart.” “I know, too,” He answered, “that they have converted with their whole heart: do you think, however, that the sins of those who convert are remitted? 8 Not altogether, but he who converts must torture his own soul, and be exceedingly humble in all his conduct, and be afflicted with many kinds of affliction; 9 and if he endures the afflictions that come on him, He who created all things, and endued them with power, will assuredly have compassion, and will heal him; 10 and He will do this 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. 11 But why should I say much to you? You must be afflicted, as that messenger of the Lord commanded who delivered you to Me. 12 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.” 13 I said to Him, “Lord, be with me, and I will be able to bear all affliction.” “I will be with you,” He said, “and I will ask the messenger of punishment to afflict you more lightly; 14 nevertheless, you will be afflicted for a short time, and again you will be re-established in your house. 15 Only, remain 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 on you, and your conversion will be deep and pure; 16 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 commandments of Mine.”
1 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. 2 And a glorious messenger 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. 3 And after they had all received the twigs, the messenger laid down the pruning-knife, and that tree was sound, as I had seen it at first. 4 And I marveled 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 will have seen everything, then it will be explained to you what it means.” 5 The messenger 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. 6 And the messenger 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 messenger of the Lord ordered to stand apart. 7 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. 8 [[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. 9 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. 10 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 messenger. 11 And the majority of the crowd returned branches of that kind, and with these the messenger was exceedingly pleased; and these stood apart. [[And others returned their branches green and having offshoots; and these stood apart, and with these the messenger was exceedingly delighted.]] 12 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. 13 And the messenger was exultant because of them; and the Shepherd also rejoiced greatly because of them. 14 And the messenger 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. 15 And he also sent the others 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. 16 And those who returned their branches green, as they had received them, he set free, giving them clothing and seals. 17 Now after the messenger 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. 18 And examine their branches carefully, and so dismiss them; but examine them with care. See that no one escapes [from] you,” he added; “and if any escapes [from] you, I will try them at the altar.” 19 Having said these words to the Shepherd, he departed. And after the messenger 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.” 20 I said to Him, “Lord, 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 are planted, and receive a little moisture, many of them will live. 21 And now let us try and pour waters on them; and if any of them live I will rejoice with them, and if they do not, I at least will not be found neglectful.” 22 And the Shepherd ordered 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 on them, so that the branches could not be seen for the water; 23 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. 24 And I also hope that the greater part of these branches which received moisture and drank of the water will live.” 25 I said to Him, “Lord, 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.” 26 “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 on Him. 27 And the great and glorious messenger 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. 28 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.” 29 I said to Him, “Lord, 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 conversion; but all who have satisfied the law, and kept it, he retains under his own authority.” 30 “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. 31 And the rest you will know when I have examined those branches which have been planted and watered.” 32 And after a few days we came to the place, and the Shepherd sat down in the messenger’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.” 33 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.” 34 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. 35 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. 36 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 on the offshoots, such as they had who went, after being crowned, into the tower. 37 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 toward their own rows, and others apart from them. 38 Then they gave in their branches who had them green, but cracked: all these gave them in green, and stood in their own row. 39 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. 40 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.]] 41 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. 42 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 on the offshoots, and others altogether green. 43 With these branches the Shepherd was exceedingly pleased, because they were found in this state. And these went away, each to his own row. 44 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 converted and were saved.” 45 “I see, Lord,” 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 conversion.” 46 “Why then, Lord,” I said, “did these not all convert?” He answered, “To them whose heart He saw would become pure, and obedient to Him, He gave power to convert with the whole heart. 47 But to them whose deceit and wickedness He perceived, and saw that they intended to convert hypocritically, He did not grant conversion, lest they should again profane His Name.” 48 I said to Him, “Lord, 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, convert, and receive from You a seal, and may glorify the Lord because He had compassion on them, and sent You to renew their spirits.” 49 “Listen,” He said: “they whose branches were found withered and moth-eaten are the apostates and traitors of the Assembly, 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 to God. 50 And you see that not a single one of them converted, although they heard the words which I spoke to them, which I enjoined on you. 51 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 convert, but persuading them by foolish doctrines. 52 These, accordingly, have a hope of conversion. And you see that many of them have also converted since I spoke to them, and they will still convert. 53 But all who will not convert have lost their lives; and as many of them as converted became good, and their dwelling was appointed within the first walls; and some of them even ascended into the tower. 54 You see, then,” He said, “that conversion involves life to sinners, but non-conversion death. 55 And as many as gave in the branches half-withered and cracked, hear about them also. 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. 56 And yet to these also,” he continued, “conversion is possible. You see,” He said, “that some of them have converted, and there is still remaining in them,” he continued, “a hope of conversion. 57 And as many of them,” He added, “as have converted, will have their dwelling in the tower. And those of them who have been slower in converting will dwell within the walls. 58 And as many as do not convert at all, but abide in their deeds, will utterly perish. 59 And they who gave in their branches green and cracked were always faithful and good, though emulating each other about the foremost places, and about fame: now all these are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. 60 Yet they also, being naturally good, on hearing My commandments, purified themselves, and soon converted. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But if anyone relapses into strife, he will be cast out of the tower, and will lose his life. 61 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. 62 Among such persons, then, is the life of the Lord, but among the quarrelsome and transgressors—death. 63 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 holy ones. For this reason, the one half of them is living, and the other half dead. 64 Many, accordingly, who heard My commands converted, and those at least who converted had their dwelling in the tower. But some of them at last fell away: these, accordingly, do not have conversion, for on account of their business they blasphemed the Lord, and denied Him. 65 They therefore lost their lives through the wickedness which they committed. And many of them doubted. These still have conversion in their power, if they convert speedily; and their abode will be in the tower. 66 But if they are slower in converting, they will dwell within the walls; and if they do not convert, they too have lost their lives. 67 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, converted, but some of them hesitated and were in doubt. These, then, have conversion within their reach, if they convert quickly, and do not remain in their pleasures; but if they abide in their deeds, these, too, work to themselves death. 68 And they who returned their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those that were indeed faithful; but after acquiring wealth, and becoming distinguished among 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. 69 They did not, however, depart from God, but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith. Many of them accordingly converted, and their dwelling was in the tower. 70 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. 71 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. 72 To those, therefore, who were in doubt on account of their deeds, conversion is still open; but their conversion ought to be speedy, that their dwelling may be in the tower. 73 And to those who do not convert, but abide in their pleasures, death is near. 74 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. 75 But on hearing my words the greater part of them quickly converted, and their dwelling was on the tower. Yet some of them were in doubt; and certain of them who were in doubt wrought greater dissension. 76 Among these, therefore, is hope of conversion, because they were always good; and with difficulty will any one of them perish. 77 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. 78 They never, however, departed from God, but gladly bore His Name, and joyfully received His servants into their houses. Having accordingly heard of this conversion, they unhesitatingly converted, and practice 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 will be in the tower.” 79 And after He had finished the explanations of all the branches, He said to me, “Go and tell them to everyone, that they may convert, and they will live to God. 80 Because the Lord, having had compassion on all men, has sent Me to give conversion, 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.” 81 I said to Him, “Lord, I hope that all who have heard them will convert; for I am persuaded that each one, on coming to a knowledge of his own works, and fearing the Lord, will convert.” 82 He answered me, and said, “All who with their whole heart will purify themselves from their wickedness before enumerated, and will 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 to God. 83 But 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.”
1 After I had written down the commandments and similitudes of the Shepherd, the Messenger of conversion, He came to me and said, “I wish to explain to you what the Holy Spirit that spoke with you in the form of the Assembly showed you, for that Spirit is the Son of God. 2 For, as you were somewhat weak in the flesh, it was not explained to you by the messenger. 3 When, however, you were strengthened by the Spirit, and your strength was increased, so that you were able to see the messenger also, then accordingly was the building of the tower shown you by the Assembly. 4 In a noble and solemn manner you saw everything as if shown you by a virgin; but now you see [them] through the same Spirit as if shown by a messenger. 5 You must, however, learn everything from Me with greater accuracy. For I was sent for this purpose by the glorious messenger to dwell in your house, that you might see all things with power, entertaining no fear, even as it was before.” 6 And He led me away into Arcadia, to a round hill; and He placed me on the top of the hill, and showed me a large plain, and around the plain—twelve mountains, all having different forms. 7 The first was black as soot; and the second bare, without grass; and the third full of thorns and thistles; and the fourth with grass half-withered, the upper parts of the plants green, and the parts about the roots withered; and some of the grasses, when the sun scorched them, became withered. 8 And the fifth mountain had green grass, and was ragged. And the sixth mountain was quite full of clefts, some small and others large; and the clefts were grassy, but the plants were not very vigorous, but rather, as it were, decayed. 9 The seventh mountain, again, had cheerful pastures, and the whole mountain was blooming, and every kind of cattle and birds were feeding on that mountain; and the more the cattle and the birds ate, the more the grass of that mountain flourished. 10 And the eighth mountain was full of fountains, and every kind of the Lord’s creatures drank of the fountains of that mountain. 11 But the ninth mountain [[had no water at all, and was wholly a desert, and had within it deadly serpents, which destroy men. And the tenth mountain]] had very large trees, and was completely shaded, and under the shadow of the trees sheep lay resting and ruminating. 12 And the eleventh mountain was very thickly wooded, and those trees were productive, being adorned with various sons of fruits, so that anyone seeing them would desire to eat of their fruits. 13 The twelfth mountain, again, was wholly white, and its aspect was cheerful, and the mountain in itself was very beautiful. 14 And in the middle of the plain He showed me a large white rock that had arisen out of the plain. And the rock was more lofty than the mountains, rectangular in shape, so as to be capable of containing the whole world: 15 and that rock was old, having a gate cut out of it; and the cutting out of the gate seemed to me as if recently done. And the gate glittered to such a degree under the sunbeams, that I marveled at the splendor of the gate; 16 and around the gate were standing twelve virgins. The four who stood at the corners seemed to me more distinguished than the others—they were all, however, distinguished—and they were standing at the four parts of the gate; two virgins between each part. 17 And they were clothed with linen tunics, and gracefully girded, having their right shoulders exposed, as if about to bear some burden. Thus they stood ready; for they were exceedingly cheerful and eager. 18 After I had seen these things, I marveled in myself, because I was beholding great and glorious sights. And again, I was perplexed about the virgins, because, although so delicate, they were standing courageously, as if about to carry the whole heavens. 19 And the Shepherd said to me, “Why are you reasoning in yourself, and perplexing your mind, and distressing yourself? for the things which you cannot understand, do not attempt to comprehend, as if you were wise; but ask the Lord, that you may receive understanding and know them. 20 You cannot see what is behind you, but you see what is before. Whatever, then, you cannot see, leave alone, and do not torment yourself about it: but what you see, make yourself master of it, and do not waste your labor about other things; and I will explain to you everything that I show you. Therefore, look on the things that remain.” 21 I saw six men come, tall, and distinguished, and similar in appearance, and they summoned a multitude of men. 22 And they who came were also tall men, and handsome, and powerful; and the six men commanded them to build a tower above the rock. 23 And the noise of those men who came to build the tower was great, as they ran here and there around the gate. 24 And the virgins who stood around the gate told the men to hasten to build the tower. Now the virgins had spread out their hands, as if about to receive something from the men. 25 And the six men commanded stones to ascend out of a certain pit, and to go to the building of the tower. And there went up ten shining rectangular stones, not hewn in a quarry. 26 And the six men called the virgins, and ordered them to carry all the stones that were intended for the building, and to pass through the gate, and give them to the men who were about to build the tower. 27 And the virgins put on each other the ten first stones which had ascended from the pit, and carried them together, each stone by itself. And as they stood together around the gate, those who seemed to be strong carried them, and they stooped down under the corners of the stone; and the others stooped down under the sides of the stones. 28 And in this way they carried all the stones. And they carried them through the gate as they were commanded, and gave them to the men for the tower; and they took the stones and proceeded with the building. 29 Now the tower was built on the great rock, and above the gate. Those ten stones were prepared as the foundation for the building of the tower. And the rock and gate were the support of the whole of the tower. 30 And after the ten stones, twenty[-five] other [stones] came up out of the pit, and these were fired into the building of the tower, being carried by the virgins as before. 31 And after these ascended thirty-five. And these in like manner were fitted into the tower. And after these, forty other stones came up; and all these were cast into the building of the tower, [[and there were four rows in the foundation of the tower,]] and they ceased ascending from the pit. And the builders also ceased for a little while. 32 And again, the six men commanded the multitude of the crowd to bear stones from the mountains for the building of the tower. They were accordingly brought from all the mountains of various colors, and being hewn by the men, were given to the virgins; 33 and the virgins carried them through the gate and gave them for the building of the tower. And when the stones of various colors were placed in the building, they all became white alike, and lost their different colors. 34 And certain stones were given by the men for the building, and these did not become shining; but as they were placed, such also were they found to remain: for they were not given by the virgins, nor carried through the gate. 35 These stones, therefore, were not in keeping with the others in the building of the tower. And the six men, seeing these unsuitable stones in the building, commanded them to be taken away, and to be carried away down to their own place from where they had been taken; 36 [[and being removed one by one, they were laid aside; and]] they say to the men who brought the stones, “Do not bring any stones at all for the building, but lay them down beside the tower, that the virgins may carry them through the gate, and may give them for the building. 37 For unless,” they said, “they are carried through the gate by the hands of the virgins, they cannot change their colors: do not toil, therefore,” they said, “for no purpose.” 38 And on that day the building was finished, but the tower was not completed; for additional building was again about to be added, and there was a cessation in the building. 39 And the six men commanded all the builders to withdraw a little distance, and to rest, but enjoined the virgins not to withdraw from the tower; and it seemed to me that the virgins had been left to guard the tower. 40 Now after all had withdrawn, and were resting themselves, I said to the Shepherd, “What is the reason that the building of the tower was not finished?” 41 “The tower,” He answered, “cannot be finished just yet, until the Lord of it comes and examines the building, in order that, if any of the stones are found to be decayed, He may change them: for the tower is built according to His pleasure.” 42 “I would like to know, Lord,” I said, “what is the meaning of the building of this tower, and what [of] the rock and gate, and the mountains, and [the] meaning of the virgins, and the stones that ascended from the pit, and were not hewn, but came as they were to the building. 43 Why, in the first place, were ten stones placed in the foundation, then twenty-five, then thirty-five, then forty? 44 and I also wish to know about the stones that went to the building, and were again taken out and returned to their own place? On all these points put my mind at rest, Lord, and explain them to me.” 45 “If you are not found to be curious about trifles,” He replied, “you will know everything. For after a few days [[we will come here, and you will see the other things that happen to this tower, and will know accurately all the similitudes.” 46 After a few days]] we came to the place where we sat down. And He said to me, “Let us go to the tower; for the Master of the tower is coming to examine it.” 47 And we came to the tower, and there was no one at all near it, save the virgins only. And the Shepherd asked the virgins if perhaps the Master of the tower had come; and they replied that He was about to come to examine the building. 48 And behold, after a little while I see an array of many men coming, and in the midst of them one Man of so remarkable a size as to overtop the tower. 49 And the six men who had worked on the building were with Him, and many other honorable men were around Him. And the virgins who kept the tower ran forward and kissed Him, and began to walk near Him around the tower. 50 And that Man examined the building carefully, feeling every stone separately; and holding a rod in His hand, He struck every stone in the building three times. 51 And when He struck them, some of them became black as soot, and some appeared as if covered with scabs, and some cracked, and some mutilated, and some neither white nor black, and some rough and not in keeping with the other stones, and some having very many stains: such were the varieties of decayed stones that were found in the building. 52 He ordered all these to be taken out of the tower, and to be laid down beside it, and other stones to be brought and put in their stead. [[And the builders asked Him from what mountain He wished them to be brought and put in their place.]] 53 And He did not command them to be brought from the mountains, [[but He ordered them be brought from a certain plain which was near at hand.]] 54 And the plain was dug up, and shining rectangular stones were found, and some also of a round shape; and all the stones which were in that plain were brought, and carried through the gate by the virgins. 55 And the rectangular stones were hewn and put in place of those that were taken away; but the rounded stones were not put into the building, because they were hard to hew, and appeared to field slowly to the chisel; they were deposited, however, beside the tower, as if intended to be hewn and used in the building, for they were exceedingly brilliant. 56 The glorious Man, the Lord of the whole tower, having accordingly finished these alterations, called the Shepherd to Himself, and delivered to Him all the stones that were lying beside the tower, that had been rejected from the building, and said to Him, “Carefully clean all these stones, and put aside such for the building of the tower as may harmonize with the others; and those that do not, throw [them] far away from the tower.” 57 [[Having given these orders to the Shepherd, He departed from the tower]] with all those with whom He had come. 58 Now the virgins were standing around the tower, keeping it. 59 I said again to the Shepherd, “Can these stones return to the building of the tower, after being rejected?” He answered me, and said, “Do you see these stones?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied. “The greater part of these stones,” He said, “I will hew, and put into the building, and they will harmonize with the others.” 60 “How, Lord,” I said, “can they, after being cut all over, fill up the same space?” He answered, “Those that will be found small will be thrown into the middle of the building, and those that are larger will be placed on the outside, and they will hold them together.” 61 Having spoken these words, He said to me, “Let us go, and after two days let us come and clean these stones, and cast them into the building; for all things around the tower must be cleaned, lest the Master comes suddenly and finds the places around the tower dirty, and is displeased, and these stones are not returned for the building of the tower, and I also will seem to be neglectful toward the Master.” 62 And after two days we came to the tower, and He said to me, “Let us examine all the stones, and ascertain those which may return to the building.” I said to Him, “Lord, let us examine them!” 63 And beginning, we first examined the black stones: and such as they had been taken out of the building, were they found to remain; and the Shepherd ordered them to be removed out of the tower, and to be placed apart. 64 Next, He examined those that had scabs; and He took and hewed many of these and commanded the virgins to take them up and cast them into the building. And the virgins lifted them up and put them in the middle of the building of the tower. 65 And the rest He ordered to be laid down beside the black ones; for these, too, were found to be black. 66 He next examined those that had cracks; and He hewed many of these, and commanded them to be carried by the virgins to the building: and they were placed on the outside, because they were found to be sounder than the others; but the rest, on account of the multitude of the cracks, could not be hewn, and for this reason, therefore, they were rejected from the building of the tower. 67 He next examined the chipped stones, and many among these were found to be black, and some to have great crocks. And these He also commanded to be laid down along with those which had been rejected. 68 But the remainder, after being cleaned and hewn, He commanded to be placed in the building. And the virgins took them up and fitted them into the middle of the building of the tower, for they were somewhat weak. 69 He next examined those that were half white and half black, and many of them were found to be black. And He commanded these also to be taken away along with those which had been rejected. 70 And the rest were all taken away by the virgins; for, being white, they were fitted by the virgins themselves into the building. 71 And they were placed on the outside, because they were found to be sound, so as to be able to support those which were placed in the middle, for no part of them was chipped at all. 72 He next examined those that were rough and hard; and a few of them were rejected because they could not be hewn, as they were found exceedingly hard. 73 But the rest of them were hewn, and carried by the virgins, and fitted into the middle of the building of the tower; for they were somewhat weak. 74 He next examined those that had stains; and of these a very few were black, and were thrown aside with the others; but the greater part were found to be bright, and these were fitted by the virgins into the building, but on account of their strength were placed on the outside. 75 He next came to examine the white and rounded stones, and said to me, “What are we to do with these stones?” “How do I know, Lord?” I replied. 76 “Have you no intentions regarding them?” “Lord,” I answered, “I am not acquainted with this art, neither am I a stone-cutter, nor can I tell.” “Do you not see,” He said, “that they are exceedingly round? and if I wish to make them rectangular, a large portion of them must be cut away; for some of them must of necessity be put into the building.” 77 “If therefore,” I said, “they must, why do You torment Yourself, and not at once choose for the building those which you prefer, and fit them into it?” 78 He selected the larger ones among them, and the shining ones, and hewed them; and the virgins carried and fitted them into the outside parts of the building. And the rest which remained over were hauled away, and laid down on the plain from which they were brought. 79 They were not, however, rejected, “because,” He said, “there remains yet a little addition to be built to the tower. 80 And the Lord of this tower wishes all the stones to be fitted into the building, because they are exceedingly bright.” 81 And twelve women were called, very beautiful in form, clothed in black, and with disheveled hair. And these women seemed to me to be fierce. But the Shepherd commanded them to lift the stones that were rejected from the building, and to carry them away to the mountains from which they had been brought. 82 And they were merry, and hauled away all the stones, and put them in the place from where they had been taken. 83 Now after all the stones were removed, and there was no longer a single one lying around the tower, He said, “Let us go around the tower and see, lest there be any defect in it.” 84 So I went around the tower along with Him. And the Shepherd, seeing that the tower was beautifully built, rejoiced exceedingly; for the tower was built in such a way, that, on seeing it, I coveted the building of it, for it was constructed as if built of one stone, without a single joining. 85 And the stone seemed as if hewn out of the rock; having to me the appearance of a monolith. 86 And as I walked along with Him, I was full of joy, beholding so many excellent things. 87 And the Shepherd said to me, “Go and bring unslaked lime and fine-baked clay, that I may fill up the forms of the stones that were taken and thrown into the building; for everything about the tower must be smooth.” 88 And I did as He commanded me and brought it to Him. “Assist Me,” He said, “and the work will soon be finished.” 89 He accordingly filled up the forms of the stones that were returned to the building, and commanded the places around the tower to be swept and to be cleaned; 90 and the virgins took brooms and swept the place, and carried all the dirt out of the tower, and brought water, and the ground around the tower became cheerful and very beautiful. 91 The Shepherd says to me, “Everything has been cleared away; if the Lord of the tower comes to inspect it, He can have no fault to find with us.” Having spoken these words, He wished to depart; but I laid hold of Him by the wallet, and began to adjure Him by the Lord that He would explain what He had showed me. 92 He said to me, “I must rest a little, and then I will explain to you everything; wait for Me here until I return.” I said to Him, “Lord, what can I do here alone?” “You are not alone,” He said, “for these virgins are with you.” “Give me in charge to them, then,” I replied. 93 The Shepherd called them to him, and said to them, “I entrust him to you until I come,” and went away. 94 And I was alone with the virgins; and they were rather merry, but were friendly to me, especially the four more distinguished of them. 95 The virgins said to me, “The Shepherd does not come here today.” “What, then,” I said, “am I to do?” They replied, “Wait for Him until He comes; and if He comes, He will converse with you, and if He does not come, you will remain here with us until He does come.” 96 I said to them, “I will wait for Him until it is late; and if He does not arrive, I will go away into the house, and come back early in the morning.” 97 And they answered and said to me, “You were entrusted to us; you cannot go away from us.” “Where, then,” I said, “am I to remain?” “You will sleep with us,” they replied, “as a brother, and not as a husband: for you are our brother, and for the time to come we intend to abide with you, for we love you exceedingly!” 98 But I was ashamed to remain with them. And she who seemed to be the first among them began to kiss me. [And the others seeing her kissing me, began to kiss me also], and to lead me round the tower, and to play with me. 99 And I, too, became like a young man, and began to play with them: for some of them formed a chorus, and others danced, and others sang; and I, keeping silence, walked with them around the tower, and was merry with them. 100 And when it grew late I wished to go into the house; and they would not let me, but detained me. So I remained with them during the night, and slept beside the tower. 101 Now the virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground and made me lie down in the midst of them; and they did nothing at all but pray; and I without ceasing prayed with them, and not less than they. 102 And the virgins rejoiced because I thus prayed. And I remained there with the virgins until the next day at the second hour. 103 Then the Shepherd returned, and said to the virgins, “Did you offer him any insult?” “Ask him,” they said. 104 I said to Him, “Lord, I was delighted that I remained with them.” “On what,” He asked, “did you dine?” “I dined, Lord,” I replied, “on the words of the Lord the whole night.” “Did they receive you well?” He inquired. “Yes, Lord,” I answered. 105 “Now,” He said, “what do you wish to hear first?” “I wish to hear in the order,” I said, “in which You showed me from the beginning. I beg of You, Lord, that as I will ask You, so also You will give me the explanation.” 106 “As you wish,” He replied, “so also will I explain to you, and will conceal nothing at all from you.” 107 “First of all, Lord,” I said, “explain this to me: what is the meaning of the rock and the gate?” “This rock,” He answered, “and this gate are the Son of God.” 108 “How, Lord?” I said; “the rock is old, and the gate is new.” “Listen,” He said, “and understand, O ignorant man. The Son of God is older than all His creatures, so that He was a fellow-counselor with the Father in His work of creation: for this reason He is old.” 109 “And why is the gate new, Lord?” I said. “Because,” He answered, “He became manifest in the last days of the dispensation: for this reason the gate was made new, that they who are to be saved by it might enter into the Kingdom of God. 110 Did you see,” He said, “that those stones which came in through the gate were used for the building of the tower, and that those which did not come, were again thrown back to their own place?” “I saw, Lord,” I replied. 111 “In like manner,” He continued, “no one will enter into the Kingdom of God unless he receives His holy Name. For if you desire to enter into a city, and that city is surrounded by a wall, and has but one gate, can you enter into that city save through the gate which it has?” 112 “Why, how can it be otherwise, Lord?” I said. “If, then, you cannot enter into the city except through its gate, so, in like manner, a man cannot otherwise enter into the Kingdom of God than by the Name of His beloved Son. 113 You saw,” He added, “the multitude who were building the tower?” “I saw them, Lord,” I said. “Those,” He said, “are all glorious messengers, and by them accordingly is the Lord surrounded. And the gate is the Son of God. This is the one entrance to the Lord. In no other way, then, will anyone enter in to Him except through His Son. 114 Did you see,” He continued, “the six men, and the tall and glorious Man in the midst of them, who walked around the tower, and rejected the stones from the building?” “I saw Him, Lord,” I answered. 115 “The glorious Man,” He said, “is the Son of God, and those six glorious messengers are those who support Him on the right hand and on the left. None of these glorious messengers,” He continued, “will enter in to God apart from Him. Whosoever does not receive His Name, will not enter into the Kingdom of God.” 116 “And the tower,” I asked, “what does it mean?” “This tower,” He replied, “is the Assembly.” 117 “And these virgins, who are they?” “They are holy spirits, and men cannot otherwise be found in the Kingdom of God unless these have put their clothing on them: for if you receive the Name only, and do not receive from them the clothing, they are of no advantage to you. 118 For these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. If you bear His Name but do not possess His power, it will be in vain that you bear His Name. 119 Those stones,” He continued, “which you saw rejected, bore His Name, but did not put on the clothing of the virgins.” 120 “Of what nature is their clothing, Lord?” I asked. “Their very names,” He said, “are their clothing. Everyone who bears the Name of the Son of God, ought to bear the names of these also; for the Son Himself bears the names of these virgins. 121 As many stones,” He continued, “as you saw [come into the building of the tower through the hands] of these virgins, and remaining, have been clothed with their strength. 122 For this reason, you see that the tower became of one stone with the rock. So also, they who have believed on the Lord through His Son, and are clothed with these spirits, will become one spirit, one body, and the color of their garments will be one. And the dwelling of such as bear the names of the virgins is in the tower.” 123 “Those stones, Lord, that were rejected,” I inquired, “on what account were they rejected? for they passed through the gate, and were placed by the hands of the virgins in the building of the tower.” 124 “Since you take an interest in everything,” He replied, “and examine minutely, hear about the stones that were rejected. 125 These all,” He said, “received the Name of God, and they also received the strength of these virgins. Having received, then, these spirits, they were made strong, and were with the servants of God; and theirs was one spirit, and one body, and one clothing. For they were of the same mind, and wrought righteousness. 126 After a certain time, however, they were persuaded by the women whom you saw clothed in black, and having their shoulders exposed and their hair disheveled, and beautiful in appearance. 127 Having seen these women, they desired to have them, and clothed themselves with their strength, and put off the strength of the virgins. These, accordingly, were rejected from the house of God, and were given over to these women. 128 But they who were not deceived by the beauty of these women remained in the house of God. You have,” He said, “the explanation of those who were rejected.” 129 “What, then, Lord,” I said, “if these men, being such as they are, convert and put away their desires after these women, and again return to the virgins, and walk in their strength and in their works, will they not enter into the house of God?” 130 “They will enter in,” He said, “if they put away the works of these women, and put on again the strength of the virgins, and walk in their works. For on this account there was a cessation in the building, in order that, if these convert, they may depart into the building of the tower. 131 But if they do not convert, then others will come in their place, and these at the end will be cast out.” For all these things I gave thanks to the Lord, because He had pity on all that call on His Name; and sent the Messenger of conversion to us who sinned against Him and renewed our spirit; and when we were already destroyed, and had no hope of life, He restored us to newness of life. 132 “Now, Lord,” I continued, “show me why the tower was not built on the ground, but on the rock and on the gate.” 133 “Are you still,” He said, “without sense and understanding?” “I must, Lord,” I said, “ask you of all things, because I am wholly unable to understand them; for all these things are great and glorious, and difficult for man to understand.” 134 “Listen,” He said: “the Name of the Son of God is great, and cannot be contained, and supports the whole world. If, then, the whole creation is supported by the Son of God, what do you think of those who are called by Him, and bear the Name of the Son of God, and walk in His commandments? 135 do you see what kind of persons He supports? Those who bear His Name with their whole heart. He Himself, accordingly, became a foundation to them, and supports them with joy, because they are not ashamed to bear His Name.” 136 “Explain to me, Lord,” I said, “the names of these virgins, and of those women who were clothed in black raiment.” 137 “Hear,” He said, “the names of the stronger virgins who stood at the comers. The first is Faith, the second Continence, the third Power, the fourth Patience. 138 And the others standing in the midst of these have the following names: Simplicity, Innocence, Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Harmony, Love. 138 He who bears these names and that of the Son of God will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. 139 Hear, also,” He continued, “the names of the women who had the black garments; and of these, four are stronger than the rest. The first is Unbelief; the second, Incontinence; the third, Disobedience; the fourth, Deceit. 140 And their followers are called Sorrow, Wickedness, Wantonness, Anger, Falsehood, Folly, Backbiting, Hatred. The servant of God who bears these names will see, indeed, the Kingdom of God, but will not enter into it.” 141 “And the stones, Lord,” I said, “which were taken out of the pit and fitted into the building: what are they?” 142 “The first—” He said, “the ten, [namely, that were placed as a foundation,] are the first generation, and the twenty-five the second generation, of righteous men; and the thirty-five are the prophets of God and His ministers; and the forty are the apostles and teachers of the preaching of the Son of God.” 143 “Why, then, Lord,” I asked, “did the virgins also carry these stones through the gate, and give them for the building of the tower?” 144 “Because,” He answered, “these were the first who bore these spirits, and they never departed from each other, neither the spirits from the men nor the men from the spirits, but the spirits remained with them until their falling asleep. And unless they had had these spirits with them, they would not have been of use for the building of this tower.” 145 “Explain to me a little further, Lord,” I said. “What is it that you desire?” He asked. “Why, Lord,” I said, “did these stones ascend out of the pit, and be applied to the building of the tower, after having borne these spirits?” 146 “They were obliged,” He answered, “to ascend through water in order that they might be made alive; for, unless they laid aside the deadness of their life, they could not in any other way enter into the Kingdom of God. Accordingly, those also who fell asleep received the seal of the Son of God. 147 For,” he continued, “before a man bears the Name of the Son of God, he is dead; but when he receives the seal he lays aside his deadness, and obtains life. 148 The seal, then, is the water: they descend into the water dead, and they arise alive. And to them, accordingly, was this seal preached, and they made use of it that they might enter into the Kingdom of God.” 149 “Why, Lord,” I asked, “did the forty stones also ascend with them out of the pit, having already received the seal?” 150 “Because,” He said, “these apostles and teachers who preached the Name of the Son of God, after falling asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached it not only to those who were asleep, but themselves also gave them the seal of the preaching. 151 Accordingly, they descended with them into the water, and again ascended. [[But these descended alive and rose up again alive; whereas they who had previously fallen asleep descended dead, but rose up again alive.]] 152 By these, then, were they quickened and made to know the Name of the Son of God. For this reason, they also ascended with them, and were fitted along with them into the building of the tower, and, untouched by the chisel, were built in along with them. 153 For they slept in righteousness and in great purity, but only—they did not have this seal. Accordingly, you have the explanation of these also.” 154 “I understand, Lord,” I replied. “Now, Lord,” I continued, “explain to me, with respect to the mountains, why their forms are various and diverse.” 155 “Listen,” He said: “these mountains are the twelve tribes, which inhabit the whole world. The Son of God, accordingly, was preached to them by the apostles.” 156 “But why are the mountains of various kinds, some having one form, and others another? Explain that to me, Lord.” 157 “Listen,” He answered: “these twelve tribes that inhabit the whole world are twelve nations. And they vary in prudence and understanding. 158 As numerous, then, as are the varieties of the mountains which you saw, are also the diversities of mind and understanding among these nations. And I will explain to you the actions of each one.” 159 “First, Lord,” I said, “explain this: why, when the mountains are so diverse, their stones, when placed in the building, became one color, also shining like those that had ascended out of the pit.” 160 “Because,” He said, “all the nations that dwell under Heaven were called by hearing and believing on the Name of the Son of God. 161 Having, therefore, received the seal, they had one understanding and one mind; and their faith became one, and their love one, and with the Name they also bore the spirits of the virgins. 162 On this account the building of the tower became of one color, bright as the sun. But after they had entered into the same place, and became one body, certain of these defiled themselves, and were expelled from the race of the righteous, and again became what they were before, or rather worse.” 163 “How, Lord,” I said, “did they become worse, after having known God?” “He that does not know God,” He answered, “and practices evil, receives a certain discipline for his wickedness; but he that has known God ought to not do evil any longer, but to do good. 164 If, accordingly, when he ought to do good, he does evil, does he not appear to do greater evil than he who does not know God? 165 For this reason, they who have not known God and do evil are condemned to death; but they who have known God, and have seen His mighty works, and still continue in evil, will be punished doubly, and will die forever. 166 In this way, then, the Assembly of God will be purified. For as you saw the stones rejected from the tower, and delivered to the evil spirits, and cast out from there, so [[they will also be cast out, and]] there will be one body of the purified; as the tower also became, as it were, of one stone after its purification. 167 In like manner also, it will be with the Assembly of God, after it has been purified, and has rejected the wicked, and the hypocrites, and the blasphemers, and the waverers, and those who commit wickedness of different kinds. 168 After these have been cast away, the Assembly of God will be one body, of one mind, of one understanding, of one faith, of one love. And then the Son of God will be exceedingly glad, and will rejoice over them, because He has received His people pure.” 169 “All these things, Lord,” I said, “are great and glorious. “Moreover, Lord,” I said, “explain to me the power and the actions of each one of the mountains, that every soul, trusting in the Lord, and hearing it, may glorify His great, and marvelous, and glorious Name.” 170 “Hear,” He said, “the diversity of the mountains and of the twelve nations. 171 From the first mountain, which was black, they that believed are the following: apostates and blasphemers against the Lord, and betrayers of the servants of God. 172 To these conversion is not open; but death lies before them, and on this account they are also black, for their race is a lawless one. 173 And from the second mountain, which was bare, they who believed are the following: hypocrites and teachers of wickedness. And these, accordingly, are like the former, not having any fruits of righteousness; for as their mountain was destitute of fruit, so also such men indeed have a name, but are empty of faith, and there is no fruit of truth in them. 174 They indeed have conversion in their power, if they convert quickly; but if they are slow in so doing, they will die along with the former.” 175 “Why, Lord,” I said, “do these have conversion, but the former do not? for their actions are nearly the same.” 176 “On this account,” He said, “these have conversion, because they did not blaspheme their Lord, nor become betrayers of the servants of God; but on account of their desire of possessions they became hypocritical, and each one taught according to the desires of men that were sinners. 177 But they will suffer a certain punishment; and conversion is before them, because they were not blasphemers or traitors. 178 And from the third mountain, which had thorns and thistles, they who believed are the following: some of them are rich, and others immersed in much business. The thistles are the rich, and the thorns are they who are immersed in much business. 179 Those cleave to the servants of God, but wander away, being choked by their business transactions; and the rich cleave with difficulty to the servants of God, fearing lest these should ask something of them. 180 Such persons, accordingly, will have difficulty in entering the Kingdom of God. For as it is disagreeable to walk among thistles with naked feet, so also it is hard for such to enter the Kingdom of God. 181 But to all these conversion—and that speedily—is open, in order that what they did not do in former times they may make up for in these days, and do some good, and they will live to God. But if they abide in their deeds, they will be delivered to those women who will put them to death. 182 And from the fourth mountain, which had much grass—the upper parts of the plants green, and the parts about the roots withered, and some also scorched by the sun—they who believed are the following: 183 the doubtful, and they who have the Lord on their lips, but do not have Him in their heart. On this account their foundations are withered and have no strength; and their words alone live, while their works are dead. Such persons are [neither alive nor] dead. 184 They resemble, therefore, the waverers: for the wavering are neither withered nor green, being neither living nor dead. For as their blades, on seeing the sun, were withered, so also the wavering, when they hear of affliction, on account of their fear, worship idols, and are ashamed of the Name of their Lord. 185 Such, then, are neither alive nor dead. But these also may yet live, if they convert quickly; and if they do not convert, they are already delivered to the women, who take away their life. 186 And from the fifth mountain, which had green grass, and was rugged, they who believed are the following: believers, indeed, but slow to learn, and obstinate, and pleasing themselves, wishing to know everything, and knowing nothing at all. 187 On account of this obstinacy of theirs, understanding departed from them, and foolish senselessness entered into them. And they praise themselves as having wisdom, and desire to become teachers, although destitute of sense. 188 On account, therefore, of this loftiness of mind, many became vain, exalting themselves: for self-will and empty confidence is a great demon. Of these, accordingly, many were rejected, but some converted and believed, and subjected themselves to those that had understanding, knowing their own foolishness. 189 And to the rest of this class conversion is open; for they were not wicked, but rather foolish, and without understanding. Therefore, if these convert, they will live to God; but if they do not convert, they will have their dwelling with the women who wrought wickedness among them. 190 And those from the sixth mountain, which had clefts large and small, and decayed grass in the clefts, who believed, were the following: they who occupy the small clefts are those who bring charges against one another, and by reason of their slanders have decayed in the faith. 191 Many of them, however, converted; and the rest will also convert when they hear My commandments, for their slanders are small, and they will quickly convert. 192 But they who occupy the large clefts are persistent in their slanders, and vindictive in their anger against each other. 193 These, therefore, were thrown away from the tower, and rejected from having a part in its building. Such persons, accordingly, will have difficulty in living. 194 If our God and Lord, who rules over all things, and has power over all His creation, does not remember evil against those who confess their sins, but is merciful, [how] does man, who is corruptible and full of sins, remember evil against a fellow-man, as if he were able to destroy or to save him? 195 I, the Messenger of conversion, say to you: as many of you as are of this way of thinking, lay it aside, and convert, and the Lord will heal your former sins if you purify yourselves from this demon; but if not, you will be delivered over to him for death. 196 And those who believed from the seventh mountain, on which the grass was green and flourishing, and the whole of the mountain fertile, and every kind of cattle and the birds of [the] sky were feeding on the grass on this mountain, and the grass on which they pastured became more abundant, were the following: 197 they were always simple, and harmless, and blessed, bringing no charges against one another, but always rejoicing greatly because of the servants of God, and being clothed with the Holy Spirit of these virgins, and always having pity on every man, and giving aid from their own labor to every man, without reproach and without hesitation. 198 The Lord, therefore, seeing their simplicity and all their meekness, multiplied them amid the labors of their hands, and gave them grace in all their doings. 199 And I, the Messenger of conversion, say to you who are such: continue to be such as these, and your seed will never be blotted out; for the Lord has made trial of you, and inscribed you in the number of us, and the whole of your seed will dwell with the Son of God; for you have received of His Spirit. 200 And they who believed from the eighth mountain, where the many fountains were, and where all the creatures of God drank of the fountains, were the following: 201 apostles and teachers who preached to the whole world, and who taught solemnly and purely the word of the Lord, and did not fall into evil desires at all, but always walked in righteousness and truth, according as they had received the Holy Spirit. Therefore, such persons will enter in with the messengers. 202 And they who believed from the ninth mountain, which was deserted, and had in it creeping things and wild beasts which destroy men, were the following: 203 they who had the stains as servants, who discharged their duty ill, and who plundered widows and orphans of their livelihood, and gained possessions for themselves from the ministry, which they had received. 204 Therefore, if they remain under the dominion of the same desire, they are dead, and there is no hope of life for them; but if they convert, and finish their ministry in a holy manner, they will be able to live. 205 And they who were covered with scabs are those who have denied their Lord, and have not returned to Him again; but becoming withered and desert-like, and not cleaving to the servants of God, but living in solitude, they destroy their own souls. 206 For as a vine, when left within an enclosure, and meeting with neglect, is destroyed, and is made desolate by the weeds, and in time grows wild, and is no longer of any use to its master, so also are such men—as have given themselves up and become useless to their Lord—from having contracted savage habits. 207 Therefore, these men have conversion in their power, unless they are found to have denied from the heart; but if anyone is found to have denied from the heart, I do not know if he may live. 208 And I say this not for these present days, in order that anyone who has denied may obtain conversion, for It is impossible for him to be saved who now intends to deny his Lord; but to those who denied Him long ago, conversion seems to be possible. 209 Therefore, if anyone intends to convert, let him do so quickly, before the tower is completed; for if not, he will be utterly destroyed by the women. 210 And the chipped stones are the deceitful and the slanderers; and the wild beasts, which you saw on the ninth mountain, are the same. 210 For as wild beasts destroy and kill a man by their poison, so also do the words of such men destroy and ruin a man. These, accordingly, are mutilated in their faith, on account of the deeds which they have done in themselves; yet some converted, and were saved. 211 And the rest, who are of such a character, can be saved if they convert; but if they do not convert, they will perish with those women, whose strength they have assumed. 212 And from the tenth mountain, where trees were which overshadowed certain sheep, they who believed were the following: overseers given to hospitality, who always gladly received into their houses the servants of God, without dissimulation. 213 And the overseers never failed to protect, by their service, the widows, and those who were in want, and always maintained a holy conversation. 214 All these, accordingly, will be protected by the Lord forever. They who do these things are honorable before God, and their place is already with the messengers, if they remain serving God to the end. 215 And from the eleventh mountain, where trees were full of fruits, adorned with fruits of various kinds, they who believed were the following: they who suffered for the Name of the Son of God, and who also suffered cheerfully with their whole heart, and laid down their lives.” 216 “Why, then, Lord,” I said, “do all these trees bear fruit, and some of them—fairer than the rest?” 217 “Listen,” He said: “all who once suffered for the Name of the Lord are honorable before God; and of all these the sins were remitted, because they suffered for the Name of the Son of God. And why their fruits are of various kinds, and some of them superior, listen. 218 All,” He continued, “who were brought before the authorities and were examined, and did not deny, but suffered cheerfully—these are held in greater honor with God, and of these the fruit is superior; 219 but all who were cowards, and in doubt, and who reasoned in their hearts whether they would deny or confess, and yet suffered, of these the fruit is less, because that suggestion came into their hearts; for that suggestion—that a servant should deny his Lord—is evil. 220 Have a care, therefore, you who are planning such things, lest that suggestion remain in your hearts, and you perish to God. 221 And you who suffer for His Name ought to glorify God, because He deemed you worthy to bear His Name, that all your sins might be healed. [[Therefore, rather deem yourselves happy]], and think that you have done a great thing, if any of you suffer on account of God. 222 The Lord bestows life on you, and you do not understand, for your sins were heavy; but if you had not suffered for the Name of the Lord, you would have died to God on account of your sins. 223 These things I say to you who are hesitating about denying or confessing: acknowledge that you have the Lord, lest, denying Him, you are delivered up to prison. 224 If the heathen punishes their slaves when one of them denies his master, what do you think your Lord will do, who has authority over all men? Put away these counsels out of your hearts, that you may continually live to God. 225 And they who believed from the twelfth mountain, which was white, are the following: they are as infant children, in whose hearts no evil originates; nor did they know what wickedness is, but always remained as children. 226 Such accordingly, without doubt, dwell in the Kingdom of God, because they defiled the commandments of God in nothing; but they remained like children all the days of their life in the same mind. 227 All of you, then, who will remain steadfast, and be as children, without doing evil, will be more honored than all who have been previously mentioned; for all infants are honorable before God, and are the first persons with Him. 228 Blessed, then, are you who put away wickedness from yourselves, and put on innocence. You will live to God as the first of all.” 229 After He had finished the similitudes of the mountains, I said to Him, “Lord, now explain to me about the stones that were taken out of the plain, and put into the building instead of the stones that were taken out of the tower; and about the round stones that were put into the building; and those that still remain round.” 230 “Hear,” He answered, “about all these also. The stones taken out of the plain and put into the building of the tower instead of those that were rejected, are the roots of this white mountain. 231 Therefore, when they who believed from the white mountain were all found guileless, the Lord of the tower commanded those from the roots of this mountain to be cast into the building of the tower; 232 for He knew that if these stones were to go to the building of the tower, they would remain bright, and not one of them would become black. 233 But if He had so resolved with respect to the other mountains, it would have been necessary for Him to visit that tower again, and to cleanse it. 234 Now all these persons were found white who believed, and who will yet believe, for they are of the same race. This is a happy race, because it is innocent. Hear now, further, about these round and shining stones. 235 All these are also from the white mountain. Hear, moreover, why they were found round: because their riches had obscured and darkened them a little from the truth, although they never departed from God; nor did any evil word proceed out of their mouth, but all justice, virtue, and truth. 236 When the Lord, therefore, saw the mind of these persons, that they were born good, and could be good, He ordered their riches to be cut down, not to be taken away forever, that they might be able to do some good with what was left them; and they will live to God, because they are of a good race. 237 Therefore, they were rounded a little by the chisel, and put in the building of the tower. 238 But the other round stones, which had not yet been adapted to the building of the tower, and had not yet received the seal, were for this reason put back into their place, because they are exceedingly round. 239 Now this age must be cut down in these things, and in the vanities of their riches, and then they will meet in the Kingdom of God; for they must of necessity enter into the Kingdom of God, because the Lord has blessed this innocent race. 240 Of this race, therefore, no one will perish; for although any of them might be tempted by the most wicked devil, and commit sin, he will quickly return to his Lord. 241 I deem you happy, I, who am the Messenger of conversion, whoever of you are innocent as children, because your part is good, and honorable before God. 242 Moreover, I say to you all, who have received the seal of the Son of God, be clothed with simplicity, and do not be mindful of offenses, nor remain in wickedness. 243 Therefore, lay aside the recollection of your offenses and bitternesses, and you will be formed in one spirit. 244 And heal and take away from you those wicked schisms, that if the Lord of the flocks comes, He may rejoice concerning you. And He will rejoice if He finds all things sound, and none of you will perish. 245 But if He finds any one of these sheep strayed, woe to the shepherds! And if the shepherds themselves have strayed, what answer will they give Him for their flocks? 246 Will they perhaps say that they were harassed by their flocks? They will not be believed, for the thing is incredible that a shepherd could suffer from his flock; rather, he will be punished on account of his falsehood. 247 And I myself am a shepherd, and I am under a most stringent necessity of rendering an account of you. 248 Therefore heal yourselves while the tower is still building. The Lord dwells in men that love peace, because He loved peace; but from the contentious and the utterly wicked He is far distant. 249 Restore to Him, therefore, a spirit as sound as you received it. 250 For when you have given a new garment to a fuller, and desire to receive it back whole at the end, if, then, the fuller returns a torn garment to you, will you take it from him, and not rather be angry, and abuse him, saying, I gave you a garment that was whole: why have you rent it, and made it useless, so that it can be of no use on account of the rent which you have made in it? 251 Would you not say all this to the fuller about the rent which you found in your garment? Therefore, if you grieve about your garment, and complain because you have not received it whole, what do you think the Lord will do to you, who gave you a sound spirit, which you have rendered altogether useless, so that it can be of no service to its possessor? 252 for its use began to be unprofitable, seeing it was corrupted by you. Therefore, will the Lord, because of this conduct of yours regarding His Spirit, not act in the same way, and deliver you over to death? 253 Assuredly, I say, He will do the same to all those whom He will find retaining a recollection of offenses. 254 Do not trample His mercy under foot, He says, but rather honor Him, because He is so patient with your sins, and is not as you are. Convert, for it is useful to you. 255 All these things which are written above, I, the Shepherd, the Messenger of conversion, have showed and spoken to the servants of God. 256 Therefore, if you believe, and listen to My words, and walk in them, and amend your ways, you will have it in your power to live: but if you remain in wickedness, and in the recollection of offenses, no sinner of that class will live to God. 257 All these words which I had to say have been spoken to you.” The Shepherd said to me, “Have you asked Me everything?” And I replied, “Yes, Lord.” 258 “Why did you not ask Me about the shape of the stones that were put into the building, that I might explain to you why we filled up the shapes?” And I said, “I forgot, Lord.” 259 “Hear now, then,” He said, “about this also. These are they who have now heard My commandments and converted with their whole hearts. 260 And when the Lord saw that their conversion was good and pure, and that they were able to remain in it, He ordered their former sins to be blotted out. For these shapes were their sins, and they were leveled down, that they might not appear.”
1 After I had fully written down this scroll, that messenger who had delivered me to the Shepherd came into the house in which I was, and sat down on a couch, and the Shepherd stood on his right hand. 2 He then called me, and spoke to me as follows: “I have delivered you and your house to the Shepherd, that you may be protected by Him.” “Yes, Lord,” I said. 3 “If you wish, therefore, to be protected,” he said, “from all annoyance, and from all harsh treatment, and to have success in every good work and word, and to possess all the virtues of righteousness, walk in these commandments which He has given you, and you will be able to subdue all wickedness. 4 For if you keep those commandments, every desire and pleasure of the world will be subject to you, and success will attend to you in every good work. 5 Take to yourself His experience and moderation, and say to all that He is in great honor and dignity with God, and that He is a president with great power, and mighty in His office. 6 To Him alone throughout the whole world is the power of conversion assigned. Does He seem to you to be powerful? 7 But you despise His experience, and the moderation which He exercises toward you.” 8 I said to him, “Ask Him, lord, whether from the time that He has entered my house I have done anything improper, or have offended Him in any respect.” 9 He answered, “I also know that you neither have done nor will do anything improper, and therefore I speak these words to you, that you may persevere. For He had a good report of you to me, and you will say these words to others, that they also who have either converted or will still convert may entertain the same feelings with you, and He may report well of these to me, and I to the Lord.” 10 And I said, “Lord, I make known to every man the great works of God: and I hope that all those who love them, and have sinned before, on hearing these words, may convert, and receive life again.” 11 “Therefore, continue in this ministry, and finish it. And all who follow out His commands will have life, and great honor with the Lord. 12 But those who do not keep His commandments, flee from His life, and despise Him. But He has His own honor with the Lord. 13 All, therefore, who will despise Him, and not follow His commands, deliver themselves to death, and every one of them will be guilty of his own blood. 14 But I enjoin you, that you obey His commands, and you will have a cure for your former sins. 15 Moreover, I sent you these virgins, that they may dwell with you. For I saw that they were courteous to you. You will therefore have them as assistants, that you may be the better able to keep His commands: for it is impossible that these commandments can be observed without these virgins. 16 I see, moreover, that they abide with you willingly; but I will also instruct them not to depart at all from your house: only, keep your house pure, as they will delight to dwell in a pure abode. 17 For they are pure, and chaste, and industrious, and have all influence with the Lord. Therefore, if they find your house to be pure, they will remain with you; but if any defilement, even a little, befalls it, they will immediately withdraw from your house. For these virgins do not like any defilement at all.” 18 I said to him, “I hope, lord, that I will please them, so that they may always be willing to inhabit my house. And as He to whom you entrusted me has no complaint against me, so neither will they have.” 19 He said to the Shepherd, “I see that the servant of God wishes to live, and to keep these commandments, and will place these virgins in a pure habitation.” 20 When he had spoken these words, he again delivered me to the Shepherd, and called those virgins, and said to them, “Since I see that you are willing to dwell in his house, I commend him and his house to You, asking that You do not withdraw from it at all.” And the virgins heard these words with pleasure. 21 The messenger then said to me, “Conduct yourself courageously in this service, and make known to everyone the great things of God, and you will have favor in this ministry. 22 Whoever, therefore, will walk in these commandments, will have life, and will be happy in his life; but whosoever will neglect them will not have life, and will be unhappy in this life. Enjoin all, who are able to act rightly, not to cease well-doing; for, to practice good works is useful to them. 23 And I say that every man ought to be saved from inconveniences. For both he who is in want, and he who suffers inconveniences in his daily life, is in great torture and necessity. Whoever, therefore, rescues a soul of this kind from necessity, will gain for himself great joy. 24 For he who is harassed by inconveniences of this kind, suffers equal torture with him who is in chains. 25 Moreover many, on account of calamities of this sort, when they could not endure them, hasten their own deaths. Whoever, then, knows a calamity of this kind afflicting a man, and does not save him, commits a great sin, and becomes guilty of his blood. 26 Therefore, do good works, you who have received good from the Lord, lest, while you delay to do them, the building of the tower is finished, and you are rejected from the edifice: there is now no other tower being built. 27 For on your account the work of building was suspended. Unless, then, you make haste to do rightly, the tower will be completed, and you will be excluded.” 28 After he had spoken with me, he rose up from the couch, and taking the Shepherd and the virgins, he departed. But he said to me that he would send the Shepherd and the virgins back to my dwelling. Amen.