My LORD’s BibleShepherd of Hermas: Similitudes 8
1He showed me a large willow tree overshadowing plains and mountains, and under the shade of this willow had assembled all those who were called by the name of the Lord. And a glorious angel of the Lord, who was very tall, was standing beside the willow, having a large pruning-knife, and he was cutting little twigs from the willow and distributing them among the people that were overshadowed by the willow; and the twigs which he gave them were small, about a cubit, as it were, in length. And after they had all received the twigs, the angel laid down the pruning-knife, and that tree was sound, as I had seen it at first. And I marvelled within myself, saying, “How is the tree sound, after so many branches have been cut off?” And the Shepherd said to me, “Do not be surprised if the tree remains sound after so many branches were lopped off; [but wait,] and when you shall have seen everything, then it will be explained to you what it means.” The angel who had distributed the branches among the people again asked them from them, and in the order in which they had received them were they summoned to him, and each one of them returned his branch. And the angel of the Lord took and looked at them. From some he received the branches withered and moth-eaten; those who returned branches in that state the angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart. Others, again, returned them withered, but not moth-eaten; and these he ordered to stand apart. And others returned them half-withered, and these stood apart; and others returned their branches half-withered and having cracks in them, and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having cracks in them; and these stood apart.] And others returned their branches, one-half withered and the other green; and these stood apart. And others brought their branches two-thirds green and the remaining third withered; and these stood apart. And others returned them two-thirds withered and one-third green; and these stood apart. And others returned their branches nearly all green, the smallest part only, the top, being withered, but they had cracks in them; and these stood apart. And of others very little was green, but the remaining parts withered; and these stood apart. And others came bringing their branches green, as they had received them from the angel. And the majority of the crowd returned branches of that kind, and with these the angel was exceedingly pleased; and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having offshoots; and these stood apart, and with these the angel was exceedingly delighted.] And others returned their branches green and with offshoots, and the offshoots had some fruit, as it were; and those men whose branches were found to be of that kind were exceedingly joyful. And the angel was exultant because of them; and the Shepherd also rejoiced greatly because of them.
ΠΠαραβοχὴ 1 “Edeéé μοι ἐτέαν [μεγάλην] σκεπάξζουσαν πεδία καὶ Ψ Q « 8 Q ’ a 3 Ul ἢ φ ὄρη, καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην τῆς ἱτέας πάντες ἐληλύθασιν οἱ κεκλημένοι τῷ ὀνόματι Kupiov. εἱστήκει δὲ ἄγγελος τοῦ 460 THE SHEPHERD OF ἨΕΕΜΑΘ. [5.8] Κυρίου ἔνδοξος λίαν ὑψηλὸς παρὰ τὴν ἱτέαν, δρέτανον ἔχων μέγα, καὶ ἔκοπτε κλάδους ἀπὸ τῆς ἐτέας, καὶ ἐπεδίδου τῷ λαῷ τῷ σκεπαζομένῳ ὑπὸ τῆς ἐτέας" μικρὰ δὲ ῥαβδία ἐπε- δίδου αὐτοῖς, ὡσεὶ πηχυαῖα. μετὰ δὲ τὸ πάντας λαβεῖν τὰ ῥαβδία ἔθηκε τὸ δρέπανον ὃ ἄγγελος, καὶ τὸ δένδρον ἐκεῖνο ὑγιὰς ἣν οἷον καὶ ἑωράκειν αὐτός 4, ἐθαύμαζον δὲ ἐγὼ ἐν ἐμαυτῷ λέγων" Ids τοσούτων κλάδων κεκομμένων τὸ δένδρον ὑγιές ἐστε; λέγει μοε ὃ ποιμήν" Μὴ θαύμαζε εἰ τὸ δένδρον ὑγιὲς ἔμεινε τοσούτων κλάδων κοπέντων. ἄφες δὲ Svs πάντα ἴδης, καὶ δηλωθήσεταί σοι τὸ τί ἐστιν. ς. ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ ἐπι- δεδωκὼς τῷ λαῷ τὰς ῥάβδους πάλιν ἀπήτει aw’ αὐτῶν" καὶ καθὼς ἔλαβον, οὕτω καὶ ἐκαλοῦντο πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ εἷς Exac- τος αὐτῶν ἀπεδίδου τὰς ῥάβδους. ἐλάμβανε δὲ ὃ ἄγγελος τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ κατενόει αὐτάς. παρά τινων ἐλάμβανε τὰς ῥάβδους ξηρὰς καὶ βεβρωμένας ὡς ὑπὸ σητός" ἐκέλευσεν ὁ ἄγγελος τοὺς τὰς τοιαύτας ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότας χωρὶς ἴστασθαι. ὅτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδοσαν ξηράς, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἦσαν βεβρωμέναι ὑπὸ σητός" καὶ τούτους ἐκέλευσε χωρὶς ἵστασθαι. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν ἡμιξήρους" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. ὅτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν ἡμιξήρους καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. | ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν χλωρὰς καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. | ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους τὸ ἥμισυ ξηρὸν καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ χλωρόν" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. ἕτεροι δὲ προσέφερον τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν τὰ δύο μέρη τῆς ῥάβδου χλωρά, τὸ δὲ τρίτον ξηρόν" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰ δύο μέρη ξηρά, τὸ δὲ τρίτον χλωρόν᾽ καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπε- δίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν παρὰ μικρὸν ὅλας χλωράς, ἐλά- χίστον δὲ τῶν ῥάβδων αὐτῶν ξηρὸν ἦν, αὐτὸ τὸ ἄκρον" σχισμὰς δὲ εἶχον ἐν αὐταῖς" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. S.8 ii) | THE SHEPHERD ΟΕ HERMAS. 46: ἑτέρων δὲ ἣν ἐλάχιστον χλωρόν, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ τῶν ῥάβδων ξηρά" καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο. ὅτεροι δὲ ἤρχοντο τὰς ῥάβδους χλωρὰς φέροντες ὡς ἔλαβον παρὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλον᾽" τὸ δὲ πλεῖον μέρος τοῦ ὄχλου τοιαύτας ῥάβδους ἐπεδίδουν. ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐχάρη Alay’ καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἴσ- ταντο. ὅτεροι δὲ ἀπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν χλωρὰς καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας" | καὶ οὗτοι χωρὶς ἵσταντο" καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις δὲ ὁ ἄγγελος λίαν ἐχάρη. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν χλωρὰς καὶ παραφνάδας ἐχούσας" | αἱ δὲ παραφυάδες αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ καρπόν τινα εἶχον. καὶ λίαν ἱλαροὶ ἦσαν of ἄνθρωποι ἐκεῖνοι, ὧν αἱ ῥάβδοι τοιαῦταες εὑρέθησαν. ᾿ καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος ἐπὶ τούτοις ἠγαλλιᾶτο, καὶ ὁ ποιμὴν λίαν ἱλαρὸς ἦν ἐπὶ τούτοις.
2And the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought; and there were brought crowns, formed, as it were, of palms; and he crowned the men who had returned the branches which had offshoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower. And the others also he sent into the tower, those, namely, who had returned branches that were green and had offshoots but no fruit, having given them seals. And all who went into the tower had the same clothing—white as snow. And those who returned their branches green, as they had received them, he set free, giving them clothing and seals. Now after the angel had finished these things, he said to the Shepherd, “I am going away, and you will send these away within the walls, according as each one is worthy to have his dwelling. And examine their branches carefully, and so dismiss them; but examine them with _care_. See that no one escape you,” he added; “and if any escape you, I will try them at the altar.” Having said these words to the Shepherd, he departed. And after the angel had departed, the Shepherd said to me, “Let us take the branches of all these and plant them, and see if any of them will live.” I said to him, “Sir, how can these withered branches live?” He answered, and said, “This tree is a willow, and of a kind that is very tenacious of life. If, therefore, the branches be planted, and receive a little moisture, many of them will live. And now let us try, and pour water upon them; and if any of them live I shall rejoice with them, and if they do not I at least will not be found neglectful.” And the Shepherd bade me call them as each one was placed. And they came, rank by rank, and gave their branches to the Shepherd. And the Shepherd received the branches, and planted them in rows; and after he had planted them he poured much water upon them, so that the branches could not be seen for the water; and after the branches had drunk it in, he said to me, “Let us go, and return after a few days, and inspect all the branches; for He who created this tree wishes all those to live who received branches from it. And I also hope that the greater part of these branches which received moisture and drank of the water will live.”
᾿Εκέλευσε δὲ ὁ ἄγγελος Kupiou στεφάνους ἐνεχθῆναι. καὶ ἠνέχθησαν στέφανοι ὡσεὶ ἐκ φοινίκων γεγονότες, καὶ ἐστε- φάνωσε τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς ἐπιδεδωκότας τὰς ῥάβδους τὰς ἐχούσας τὰς παραφυάδας καὶ καρπόν τινα, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν πύργον. καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους δὲ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς τὸν πύργον, τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους τὰς χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότας καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας, καρπὸν δὲ μὴ ἐχούσας τὰς παρα- φυάδας, δοὺς αὐτοῖς σφραγῖδα. ἱματισμὸν δὰ τὸν αὐτὸν πάντες εἶχον λευκὸν ὡσεὶ χιόνα οἱ πορευόμενοι εἰς τὸν πύργον. καὶ τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότας χλωρὰς ὡς ἔλαβον ἀπέλυσε, δοὺς αὐτοῖς ἱματισμὸν [λευκὸν] καὶ σφρα- yidas. μετὰ τὸ ταῦτα τελέσαι τὸν ἄγγελον λέγει τῷ ποιμένι" Ἔ,γὼ ὑπάγω᾽ σὺ δὲ τούτους ἀπολύσεις εἰς τὰ τείχη καθὼς ἄξιός ἐστί τις κατοικεῖν. κατανόησον δὲ τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν ἐπιμελῶς, καὶ οὕτως ἀπόλυσον" ἐπιμελῶς δὲ κατα- νόησον. βλέπε μή τίς σε παρέλθῃ, φησίν. ἐὰν δέ τίς σε παρέλθῃ, ἐγὼ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον δοκιμάσω. ταῦτα εἰπὼν τῷ ποιμένε ἀπῆλθε. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀπελθεῖν τὸν ἄγγελον λέγει μοε ὁ ποιμήν" Λάβωμεν πάντων τὰς ῥάβδους καὶ φυτεύσωμεν αὐτάς, εἴ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν δυνήσονται ζῆσαι. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, τὰ ξηρὰ ταῦτα πῶς δύνανται ζῆσαε; ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει. Τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο ἱτέα ἐστὶ καὶ φιλόζωον τὸ γένος" ἐὰν οὖν φυτευθῶσι καὶ μικρὰν ἱκμάδα λαμβάνωσιν αἱ ῥάβδοι, ζήσοντας πολλαὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν" εἶτα δὲ πειράσωμεν καὶ ὕδωρ αὐταῖς παραχέειν. ἐάν τις αὐτῶν δυνηθῇ ζῆσαι, συγχαρήσομαι αὐτῇ ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ζήσῃ, οὐχ εὑρεθήσομαι ἐγὼ ἀμελής. ἐκέλευσε δέ μοι 6 ποιμὴν καλέσαε καθώς τις αὐτῶν ἐστάθη. ἦλθον τάγματα τάγματα, καὶ ἐπεδίδουν τὰς ῥάβδους τῷ ποιμένι. ἐλάμβανε δὲ ὃ ποιμὴν τὰς ῥάβδους, καὶ κατὰ τάγματα ἐφύτευσεν αὐτάς, καὶ μετὰ τὸ φυτεῦσαι ὕδωρ αὐταῖς πολὺ παρέχεεν, ὥστε ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος μὴ φαίνεσθαι τὰς ῥάβδους. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ποτίσαι αὐτὸν τὰς ῥάβδους λέγει pot’ “Aywpev, καὶ μετ᾽ ὀλέγας ἡμέρας ἐπανέλθωμεν καὶ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τὰς ῥάβδους πάσας" 6 γὰρ κτίσας τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο θέλει πάντας ζῆν τοὺς λα- βόντας ἐκ τοῦ δένδρου τούτου κλάδους. ἐλπίζω δὲ κἀγὼ ὅτε λαβόντα τὰ ῥαβδία ταῦτα ἰκμάδα καὶ ποτισθέντα ὕδατι ζήσονται τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος αὐτῶν.
3I said to him, “Sir, explain to me what this tree means, for I am perplexed about it, because, after so many branches have been cut off, it continues sound, and nothing appears to have been cut away from it. By this, now, I am perplexed.” “Listen,” he said: “This great tree that casts its shadow over plains, and mountains, and all the earth, is the law of God that was given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God, proclaimed to the ends of the earth; and the people who are under its shadow are they who have heard the proclamation, and have believed upon Him. And the great and glorious angel Michael is he who has authority over this people, and governs them; for this is he who gave them the law into the hearts of believers: he accordingly superintends them to whom he gave it, to see if they have kept the same. And you see the branches of each one, for the branches are the law. You see, accordingly, many branches that have been rendered useless, and you will know them all—those who have not kept the law; and you will see the dwelling of each one.” I said to him, “Sir, why did he dismiss some into the tower, and leave others to you?” “All,” he answered, “who transgressed the law which they received from him, he left under my power for repentance; but all who have satisfied the law, and kept it, he retains under his own authority.” “Who, then,” I continued, “are they who were crowned, and who go to the tower?” “These are they who have suffered on account of the law; but the others, and they who returned their branches green, and with offshoots, but without fruit, are they who have been afflicted on account of the law, but who have not suffered nor denied their law; and they who returned their branches green as they had received them, are the venerable, and the just, and they who have walked carefully in a pure heart, and have kept the commandments of the Lord. And the rest you will know when I have examined those branches which have been planted and watered.”
Λέγω αὐτῷ" Κύριε, τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο γνώρισόν μοι τί ἐστιν᾽ ἀποροῦμαι γὰρ περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτε τοσούτων κλάδων κοπέντων ὑγιές ἐστι τὸ δένδρον καὶ οὐδὲν φαίνεται κεκομ- μένον ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ" ἐν τούτῳ οὖν ἀποροῦμαι. ἤΑΛκουε, φησί" τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο τὸ μέγα τὸ σκεπάζξον πεδία καὶ ὄρη καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, νόμος Θεοῦ ἐστὶν ὁ δοθεὶς εἰς ὅλον τὸν κόσμον᾽ ὁ δὲ νόμος οὗτος υἱὸς Θεοῦ ἐστὶ κηρυχθεὶς εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς οἱ δὲ ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην λαοὶ ὄντες, οἱ ἀκού- σαντες τοῦ κηρύγματος καὶ πιστεύσαντες εἰς αὐτόν" ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος ὃ μέγας καὶ ἔνδοξος, Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἔχων τὴν ἐξουσίαν τούτου τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ διακυβερνῶών. οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ διδοὺς αὐτοῖς τὸν νόμον εἰς τὰς καρδίας τῶν πιστευόντων" ἐπι- cuxerreras οὖν αὐτὸς ols ἔδωκεν, εἰ dpa τετηρήκασιν αὐτόν. βλέπεις δὲ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου τὰς ῥάβδους αἱ γὰρ ῥάβδοι ὁ νόμος ἐστίί βλέπεις οὖν πολλὰς ῥάβδους ἠχρειωμένας, γνώσῃ δὲ αὐτοὺς πάντας τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὸν νόμον, καὶ ὄψει ἑνὸς ἑκάστου τὴν κατοικίαν. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, διατί obs μὲν ἀπέλυσεν εἰς τὸν πύργον, ods δὲ σοὶ κατέλειψεν; Ὅσοι, φησί, παρέβησαν τὸν νόμον ὃν ἔλαβον παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἐξουσίαν κατέλιπεν αὐτοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν" ὅσοι δὲ ἤδη εὐηρέστησαν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ τετηρήκασιν αὐτόν, ὑπὸ τὴν ἐδίαν ἐξουσίαν ἔχει αὐτούς. Τίνες οὖν, φημί, κύριε, εἰσὶν οἱ ἐστεφανωμένοι καὶ εἰς τὸν πύργον ὑπάγοντες; [Ὅσοι, φησί, συμπαλαίσαντες τῷ διαβόλῳ ἐνίκησαν αὐτόν, ἐστε- φανωμένοι εἰσίν] οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ὑπὲρ τοῦ νόμου παθόντες" οἱ δὲ ὅτεροι καὶ αὐτοὶ χλωρὰς τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπιδεδωκότες καὶ παραφυάδας ἐχούσας, καρπὸν δὲ μὴ ἐχούσας, οἱ ὑπὲρ τοῦ νόμου θλιβέντες, μὴ παθόντες δὲ μηδὲ ἀρνησάμενοι τὸν νόμον αὐτῶν. οἱ δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες οἵας ἔλαβον, σεμνοὶ καὶ δίκαιοι καὶ λίαν πορευθέντες ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου πεφυλακότες. τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ γνώσῃ, ὅταν κατα- νοήσω τὰς ῥάβδους ταύτας τὰς πεφυτευμένας καὶ πεποτισ- μένας. ΙΝ. Καὶ μετὰ ἡμέρας ὀλύγας ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸν τόπον, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὁ ποιμὴν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἀγγέλου, κὠγὼ παρεστάθην αὐτῷ. καὶ λέγει μοι' Περίξωσαι ὠμόλινον, | καὶ Staxoves μοι. καὶ περιεζωσάμην ὠμόλινον ἐκ σάκκου γε- γονὸς καθαρόν. ἰδὼν δέ με περιεξωσμένον καὶ ἕτοιμον ὄντα τοῦ διακονεῖν αὐτῷ, Κάλει, φησί, τοὺς ἄνδρας ὧν εἰσὶν αἱ ῥάβδοι πεφυτευμέναι, κατὰ τὸ τάγμα ὡς ἕκαστος ἔδωκε τὰς ῥάβδους. καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὸ πεδίον, καὶ ἐκάλεσα πάντας" καὶ ἔστησαν πάντες κατὰ τὰ τάγματα. λέγει αὐτοῖς" καὶ βλασφημήσαντες ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν τὸν Κύριον, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἐπαισχυνθέντες τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς. οὗτοι οὖν εἰς τέλος ἀπώλοντο τῷ Θεῷ. βλέπεις δὲ ὅτι οὐδὲ εἷς αὐτῶν μετενόησε, καίπερ ἀκούσαντες τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς, & σοι ἐνετειλάμην ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων ἡ fan ἀπέστη. ς. οἱ δὲ τὰς ξηρὰς καὶ ἀσήπτους ἐπιδεδωκότες, ξένας εἰσφέροντες καὶ ἐκστρέφοντες τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ, μάλιστα δὲ τοὺς ἡμαρτηκότας, μὴ ἀφιέντες μετανοεῖν αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ ταῖς διδαχαῖς ταῖς μωραΐῖς πείθοντες αὐτούς. οὗτοι οὖν ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα τοῦ μετανοῆσαι. βλέπεις δὲ πολλοὺς ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ μετανενοηκότας ἀφ᾽ ἧς ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ ἔτι μετανοήσουσιν. ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοή- σουσιν, ἀπώλεσαν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν" ὅσοι δὲ μετενόησαν ἐξ αὐτῶν, ὠγαθοὶ ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὰ τείχη τὰ πρῶτα᾽ τινὲς δὲ καὶ εἰς τὸν πύργον ἀνέβησαν. βλέπεις οὖν, [φησίν,) ὅτι ἡ μετάνοια τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ξωὴν ἔχει, τὸ δὲ μὴ μετανοῆσαι θάνατον.
4And after a few days we came to the place, and the Shepherd sat down in the angel’s place, and I stood beside him. And he said to me, “Gird yourself with pure, undressed linen made of sackcloth;” and seeing me girded, and ready to minister to him, “Summon,” he said, “the men to whom belong the branches that were planted, according to the order in which each one gave them in.” So I went away to the plain, and summoned them all, and they all stood in their ranks. He said to them, “Let each one pull out his own branch, and bring it to me.” The first to give in were those who had them withered and cut; and because they were found to be thus withered and cut, he commanded them to stand apart. And next they gave them in who had them withered, but not cut. And some of them gave in their branches green, and some withered and eaten as by a moth. Those that gave them in green, accordingly, he ordered to stand apart; and those who gave them in dry and cut, he ordered to stand along with the first. Next they gave them in who had them half-withered and cracked; and many of them gave them in green and without cracks; and some green and with offshoots, and fruits upon the offshoots, such as they had who went, after being crowned, into the tower. And some handed them in withered and eaten, and some withered and uneaten; and some as they were, half-withered and cracked. And he commanded them each one to stand apart, some towards their own rows, and others apart from them.
“Ὅσοι δὲ ἡμιξήρους ἐπέδωκαν καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμὰς εἶχον, ἄκουε καὶ περὶ αὐτῶν. ὅσων ἦσαν αἱ ῥάβδοι κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ ἡμίξηροι, δίψυχοί εἰσιν οὔτε γὰρ ζῶσιν οὔτε τεθνή- κασιν. οἱ δὲ ἡμιξήρους ἔχοντες καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμάς, οὗτοι καὶ δίψυχοι καὶ κατάλαλοί εἶσι, καὶ μηδέποτε εἰρη- νεύοντες εἰς ἑαυτούς, ἀλλὰ διχοστατοῦντες πάντοτε. ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτοις, [φησίν, ἐπίκειταε μετάνοια. βλέπεις, [φησί τινὰς ἐξ αὐτών μετανενοηκότας. καὶ ἔτι, φησίν, ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλπὶς μετανοίας. καὶ ὅσοι, φησίν, ἐξ αὐτῶν μετα- νενοήκασι, τὴν κατοικίαν εἰς τὸν πύργον ἔχουσιν᾽ ὅσοι δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν βραδύτερον μετανενοήκασιν, εἰς τὰ τείχη κατοική- σουσιν᾽ ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοοῦσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐμμένουσι ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτῶν, θανάτῳ ἀποθανοῦνται. οἱ δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες ΞΡ βεβρωμένας, τινὲς δὲ ἡμειξήρους καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας, ὀλίγοι δὲ χλωράς. οὗτοι πάντες ὄστησαν εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα.] ἐπέδωκαν δὲ οἱ τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν χλωρὰς ἐσχηκότες, ἐλάχιστον δὲ [ξηρὸν] καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας. ἐκ τούτων τινὲς χλωρὰς ἐπέδωκαν, τινὲς δὲ χλωρὰς καὶ παραφνάδας ἐχούσας. ἀπῆλθον καὶ οὗτοι εἷς τὸ τάγμα αὐτῶν. εἶτα ἐπέδωκαν οἱ ἐλάγιστον ἔχοντες χλωρόν, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ μέρη ξηρά τούτων αἱ ῥάβδοι εὑρέθησαν τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος χλωραὶ καὶ παρα- φνάδας ἔχουσαι καὶ καρπὸν ἐν ταῖς παραφυάσι, καὶ Erepas χλωραὶ ὅλαι. ἐπὶ ταύταις ταῖς ῥάβδοις ἐχάρη ὁ ποιμὴν λίαν [μεγάλως], ὅτι οὕτως εὐρέθησαν. ἀπῆλθον δὲ οὗτοι ἕκαστος εἰς τὸ ἴδιον τάγμα.
5Then they gave in their branches who had them green, but cracked: all these gave them in green, and stood in their own row. And the Shepherd was pleased with these, because they were all changed, and had lost their cracks. And they also gave them in who had them half-green and half-withered: of some, accordingly, the branches were found completely green; of others, half-withered; of others, withered and eaten; of others, green, and having offshoots. All these were sent away, each to his own row. [Next they gave in who had them two parts green and one-third withered. Many of them gave them half-withered; and others withered and rotten; and others half-withered and cracked, and a few green. These all stood in their own row.] And they gave them in who had them green, but to a very slight extent withered and cracked. Of these, some gave them in green, and others green and with offshoots. And these also went away to their own row. Next they gave them who had a very small part green and the other parts withered. Of these the branches were found for the most part green and having offshoots, and fruit upon the offshoots, and others altogether green. With these branches the Shepherd was exceedingly pleased, because they were found in this state. And these went away, each to his own row.
Μετὰ τὸ πάντων κατανοῆσαι τὰς ῥάβδους [τὸν ποιμένα] λέγει μοι’ Εἶπόν σοι ὅτι τὸ δένδρον τοῦτο φιλό- ζωόν ἐστι. βλέπεις, φησί, πόσοι μετενόησαν καὶ ἐσώθησαν ; Βλέπω, φημί, κύριε. “ἵνα ἴδῃς, φησί, τὴν πολυευσπλαγχνίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, ὅτι μεγάλη καὶ ὄνδοξός ἐστι, καὶ ἔδωκε πνεῦμα τοῖς ἀξίοις ovat μετανοίας. Διατί οὖν, φημί, κύριε, πάντες οὐ av; Ὧν εἶδε, φησί, τὴν καρδίαν μέλλουσαν κα- θαρὰν γενέσθαι καὶ δουλεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας, τούτοις ἔδωκα τὴν μετάνοιαν' ὧν δὲ εἶδε τὴν δολιότητα καὶ πονηρίαν, μελλόντων ἐν ὑποκρίσει μετανοεῖν, ἐκείνοις οὐκ ἔδωκε μετά- νοίαν, μήποτε πάλιν βεβηλώσωσι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, νῦν οὖν μοι δήλωσον τοὺς τὰς ῥάβδους ἐπι- δεδωκότας, ποταπός τις αὐτῶν ἐστί, καὶ τὴν τούτων κατοικίαν, ἵνα ἀκούσαντες οἱ πιστεύσαντες καὶ εἰληφότες τὴν σφραγῖδα καὶ τεθλακότες αὐτὴν καὶ μὴ τηρήσαντες ὑγιῆ, ἐπυγνόντες τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἔργα μετανοήσωσι, λαβόντες ὑπὸ σοῦ σφραγῖδα, καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν Κύριον, ὅτε ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπέστειλέ σε τοῦ ἀνακαινίσαι τὰ πνεύματα αὐτών. ἴΑκονε, φησίν ὧν αἱ ῥάβδοι ξηραὶ καὶ βεβρωμέναι ὑπὸ σητὸς εὑρέ- θησαν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀποστάται καὶ προδόται τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ βλασφημήσαντες ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν τὸν Κύριον, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἐπαισχυνθέντες τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς. οὗτοι οὖν εἰς τέλος ἀπώλοντο τῷ Θεῷ. βλέπεις δὲ ὅτι οὐδὲ εἷς αὐτῶν μετενόησε, καίπερ ἀκούσαντες τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς, ἃ σοι ἐνετειλάμην ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων ἡ fen ἀπέστη. οἱ δὲ τὰς ξηρὰς καὶ ἀσήπτους ἐπιδεδωκότες, καὶ οὗτοι ἐγγὺς αὐτῶν ἦσαν γὰρ ὑποκριταὶ καὶ διδαχὰς ξένας εἰσφέροντες καὶ ἐκστρέφοντες τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ, μάλιστα δὲ τοὺς ἡμαρτηκότας, μὴ ἀφιέντες μετανοεῖν αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ ταῖς διδαχαῖς ταῖς μωραῖς πείθοντες αὐτούς. οὗτοι οὖν ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα τοῦ μετανοῆσαι. βλέπεις δὲ πολλοὺς ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ μετανενοηκότας ἀφ᾽ ἧς ἐλάλησας αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ ἔτι μετανοήσουσιν. ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοή- σουσιν, ἀπώλεσαν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν ὅσοι δὲ μετενόησαν ἐξ αὐτών, ἀγαθοὶ ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὰ τείχη τὰ πρῶτα; τινὲς δὲ καὶ εἰς τὸν πύργον ἀνέβησαν». βλέπεις οὖν, [φησίν,) ὅτε ἡ μετάνοια τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν Cony ἔχει, τὸ δὲ μὴ μετανοῆσαι θάνατον.
6After the Shepherd had examined the branches of them all, he said to me, “I told you that this tree was tenacious of life. You see,” he continued, “how many repented and were saved.” “I see, sir,” I replied. “That you may behold,” he added, “the great mercy of the Lord, that it is great and glorious, and that He has given His Spirit to those who are worthy of repentance.” “Why, then, sir,” I said, “did not all these repent?” He answered, “To them whose heart He saw would become pure, and obedient to Him, He gave power to repent with the whole heart. But to them whose deceit and wickedness He perceived, and saw that they intended to repent hypocritically, He did not grant repentance, lest they should again profane His name.” I said to him, “Sir, show me now, with respect to those who gave in the branches, of what sort they are, and their abode, in order that they hearing it who believed, and received the seal, and broke it, and did not keep it whole, may, on coming to a knowledge of their deeds, repent, and receive from you a seal, and may glorify the Lord because He had compassion upon them, and sent you to renew their spirits.” “Listen,” he said: “they whose branches were found withered and moth-eaten are the apostates and traitors of the church, who have blasphemed the Lord in their sins, and have, moreover, been ashamed of the name of the Lord by which they were called. These, therefore, at the end were lost unto God. And you see that not a single one of them repented, although they heard the words which I spake to them, which I enjoined upon you. From such life departed. And they who gave them in withered and undecayed, these also were near to them; for they were hypocrites, and introducers of strange doctrines, and subverters of the servants of God, especially of those who had sinned, not allowing them to repent, but persuading them by foolish doctrines. These, accordingly, have a hope of repentance. And you see that many of them also have repented since I spake to them, and they will still repent. But all who will not repent have lost their lives; and as many of them as repented became good, and their dwelling was appointed within the first walls; and some of them ascended even into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance involves life to sinners, but non-repentance death.”
Ὅσοε δὲ ἡμεξήρους ἐπέδωκαν καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμὰς εἶχον, ἄκονε καὶ περὶ αὐτῶν. ὅσων ἦσαν αἱ ῥάβδοι κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ ἡμίξηροι, δίψυχοί εἰσιν οὔτε γὰρ ζῶσιν οὔτε τεθνή- κασιν. οἱ δὲ ἡμιξήρους ἔχοντες καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς σχισμάς, οὗτοι καὶ δίψυχοι καὶ κατάλαλοί εἰσι, καὶ μηδέποτε εἰρη- νεύοντες εἰς ἑαυτούς, ἀλλὰ διχοστατοῦντες πάντοτε. ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτοις, [φησίν, ἐπίκειται μετάνοια. βλέπεις, [φησί τινὰς ἐξ αὐτῶν μετανενοηκότας. καὶ ἔτι, φησίν, ἐστὲν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλπὶς μετανοίας. καὶ ὅσοι, φησίν, ἐξ αὐτῶν μετα- νενοήκασι, τὴν κατοικίαν εἰς τὸν πύργον ἔχουσιν" ὅσοι δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν βραδύτερον μετανενοήκασιν, εἰς τὰ τείχη κατοική- σουσιν᾽ ὅσοι δὲ οὐ μετανοοῦσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐμμένουσι ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτῶν, θανάτῳ ἀποθανοῦνται. οἱ δὲ χλωρὰς ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν καὶ σχισμὰς ἐχούσας, πάντοτε οὗτοι πιστοὶ καὶ ἀγαθοὶ ἐγένοντο, ἔχοντες [δὲ] ζῆλόν τινα ἐν ἀλλή- λοις περὶ πρωτείων καὶ περὶ δόξης τινός ἀλλὰ πάντες οὗτοι μωροί εἰσιν, ἐν ἀλλήλοις ἔχοντες περὶ πρωτείων. ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτοι ἀκούσαντες τῶν ἐντολῶν μου, ἀγαθοὶ ὄντες, ἐκα- θάρισαν ἑαυτοὺς καὶ μετενόησαν ταχύ. ἐγένετο οὖν ἡ κατοί- κησις αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. ἐὰν δέ τις πάλιν ἐπιστρέψῃ εἷς τὴν διχοστασίαν, ἐκβληθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ἀπολέσει τὴν ζωὴν αὐτοῦ. ἡ ζωὴ πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Κυρίου φυλασσόντων᾽ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς δὲ περὶ πρωτείων ἣ περὶ δόξης τινὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ἀλλὰ περὶ μακρο- θυμίας καὶ περὶ ταπεινοφρονήσεως ἀνδρός. ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις οὖν ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἐν τοῖς διχοστάταις δὲ καὶ rrapavopos θάνατος.
7“And as many as gave in the branches half-withered and cracked, hear also about them. They whose branches were half-withered to the same extent are the wavering; for they neither live, nor are they dead. And they who have them half-withered and cracked are both waverers and slanderers, [railing against the absent,] and never at peace with one another, but always at variance. And yet to these also,” he continued, “repentance is possible. You see,” he said, “that some of them have repented, and there is still remaining in them,” he continued, “a hope of repentance. And as many of them,” he added, “as have repented, shall have their dwelling in the tower. And those of them who have been slower in repenting shall dwell within the walls. And as many as do not repent at all, but abide in their deeds, shall utterly perish. And they who gave in their branches green and cracked were always faithful and good, though emulous of each other about the foremost places, and about fame: now all these are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. Yet they also, being naturally good, on hearing my commandments, purified themselves, and soon repented. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But if any one relapse into strife, he will be cast out of the tower, and will lose his life. Life is the possession of all who keep the commandments of the Lord; but in the commandments there is no rivalry in regard to the first places, or glory of any kind, but in regard to patience and personal humility. Among such persons, then, is the life of the Lord, but amongst the quarrelsome and transgressors, death.”
Οὐ ξδὲ ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους ἥμισν μὲν χλω- ράς, ἥμισυ δὲ ξηράς, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐν ταῖς πραγματείαις ἐμπεφυρμένοε καὶ μὴ κολλώμενοι τοῖς ἁγίοις. διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ἥμισυ αὐτῶν ζῇ, τὸ δὲ ἥμισυ νεκρόν ἐστι, πολλοὶ οὖν ἀκούσαντές μου τῶν ἐντολῶν μετενόησαν. ὅσοι γοῦν μετε- γόησαν, ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. τινὲς δὲ αὐτῶν εἷς τέλος ἀπέστησαν. οὗτοι οὖν μετάνοιαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν" διὰ γὰρ τὰς πραγματείας αὐτῶν ἐβλασφήμησαν τὸν Κύριον καὶ ἀπηρνήσαντο. ἀπώλεσαν οὖν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν διὰ τὴν πονηρίαν ἣν ἔπραξαν. πολλοὶ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν. οὗτοι ἔτι ἔχουσι μετάνοιαν, ἐὰν ταχὺ μετανοήσωσι, καὶ ἔσται αὐτῶν ἡ κατοικία εἰς τὸν πύργον" ἐὰν δὲ βραδύτερον μετα- γοήσωσι, κατοικήσουσιν εἰς τὰ τείχη" ἐὰν δὲ μὴ μετανοήσωσι, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀπώλεσαν τὴν ζωὴν αὐτῶν. οἱ δὲ τὰ δύο μέρη χλωρά, τὸ δὲ τρίτον ξηρὸν ἐπιδεδωκότες, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀρνη- σάμενοι ποικίλαις ἀρνήσεσι. πολλοὶ οὖν μετενόησαν ἐξ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὸν πύργον κατοικεῖν" πολλοὶ δὲ ἀπέστησαν εἰς τέλος τοῦ Θεοῦ" οὗτοι τὸ ζῆν εἰς τέλος ἀπώ- λεσαν. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδεψύχησαν καὶ ἐδιχοστάτησαν. τούτοις οὖν ἐστὶ μετάνοια, ἐὰν ταχὺ μετανοήσωσι καὶ μὴ ἐπιμείνωσι ταῖς ἡδοναῖς αὐτῶν" ἐὰν δὲ ἐπιμείνωσε ταῖς πρά- ξεσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ οὗτοι θάνατον ἑαυτοῖς κατεργάζονται. ΙΧ. Οἱ δὲ ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους τὰ μὲν δύο μέρη ξηρά, τὸ δὲ τρέτον χλωρόν, οὗτοί εἰσι πιστοὶ μὲν γεγονότες, ἐκοψῥάνίον, japon tells ind ella leone καὶ κατέλιπον τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ οὐκ ἐκολλήθησαν τοῖς δι- καίοις, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὰ ἔθνη συνέζησαν, καὶ αὕτη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡδυτέρα αὐτοῖς ἐγένετο" ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἀπέστησαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνέμειναν τῇ πίστει, μὴ ἐργαζόμενοι τὰ ἔργα τῆς πίστεως. πολλοὶ οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν μετενόησαν, καὶ ο ἡ κατοίκησις αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ πύργῳ. ἕτεροι δὲ εἰς τέλος μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν συζῶντες καὶ φθειρόμενοι ταῖς κενοδοξίαις τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπέ- στησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἔπραξαν τὰς πράξεις τῶν ἐθνῶν. οὗτοι μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐλογίσθησαν. ἕτεροι δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐδιψύχησαν μὴ ἐλπίζοντες σωθῆναι διὰ τὰς πράξεις ἃς ἔ- mpatay ἕτεροι δὲ ἐδειψύχησαν καὶ σχίσματα ἐν δαυτοῖς ἐποίησαν. τούτοις οὖν τοῖς διψυχήσασι διὰ τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν μετάνοια ἔτι ἐστίν: ἀλλ᾽ ἡ μετάνοια αὐτῶν ταχινὴ ὀφείλει εἶναι, ἵνα ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν γένηται ἐντὸς τοῦ πύργου" τῶν δὲ μὴ μετανοούντων, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιμενόντων ταῖς ἡδοναῖς, ὁ θάνατος ἐγγύς.
8“And they who gave in their branches half green and half withered, are those who are immersed in business, and do not cleave to the saints. For this reason, the one half of them is living, and the other half dead. Many, accordingly, who heard my commands repented, and those at least who repented had their dwelling in the tower. But some of them at last fell away: these, accordingly, have not repentance, for on account of their business they blasphemed the Lord, and denied Him. They therefore lost their lives through the wickedness which they committed. And many of them doubted. These still have repentance in their power, if they repent speedily; and their abode will be in the tower. But if they are slower in repenting, they will dwell within the walls; and if they do not repent, they too have lost their lives. And they who gave in their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those who have denied [the Lord] in various ways. Many, however, repented, but some of them hesitated and were in doubt. These, then, have repentance within their reach, if they repent quickly, and do not remain in their pleasures; but if they abide in their deeds, these, too, work to themselves death.”
Οἱ δὲ ἐπιδεδωκότες τὰς ῥάβδους χλωράς, αὐτὰ δὲ τὰ ἄκρα ξηρὰ καὶ σχισμὰς ἔχοντα, οὗτοι πάντοτε ἀγαθοὶ καὶ πιστοὶ καὶ ἔνδοξοι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ ἐγένοντο, ἐλάχιστον δὲ ἐξή- μαρτον διὰ μικρὰς ἐπιθυμίας καὶ μικρὰ κατ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἔχοντες" ἀλλ᾽ ἀκούσαντές μου τῶν ῥημάτων τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος ταχὺ μετενόησαν, καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ κατοικία αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν πύργον. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτών ἐδιψύχησαν, τινὲς δὲ διψυχήσαντες διχοστασίαν μείζονα ἐποίησαν. ἐν τούτοις οὖν ἔτι ἐστὶ μετα- νοίας ἐλπίς, ὅτι ἀγαθοὶ πάντοτε ἐγένοντο" δυσκόλως δέ τις αὐτῶν ἀποθανεῖται. οἱ δὲ τὰς ῥάβδους αὐτῶν ξηρὰς ἐπι- δεδωκότες, ἐλάχιστον δὲ χλωρὸν ἐχούσας, οὗτοί εἰσιν oi πιστεύσαντες μέν, τὰ δὲ ἔργα τῆς ἀνομίας ἐργασάμενοι" οὐδέ- ποτε δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπέστησαν, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἡδέως ἐβά- otacay, καὶ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ἡδέως ὑπεδέξαντο τοὺς δούλους τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἀκούσαντες οὖν ταύτην τὴν μετάνοιαν ἀδιστάκτως μετενόησαν, καὶ ἐργάζονται πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν καὶ δικαιοσύνην. τινὸς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ ἑκόντες θλίβονται, γινώσκοντες τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν ἃς ἔπραξαν. τούτων οὖν πάν- τῶν ἡ κατοικία εἰς τὸν πύργον ἔσται. ΧΙ. Καὶ μετὰ τὸ συντελέσαι αὐτὸν τὰς ἐπιλύσεις πασῶν τῶν ῥάβδων λέγει μοι' Ὕπαγε, καὶ πᾶσι λέγε ἵνα μετανοή- σωσι, καὶ ζήσονται τῷ Θεῷ' ὅτε ὁ Κύριος ἔπεμψέ με σπλαγχνισθεὶς πᾶσι δοῦναι τὴν μετάνοιαν, καίπερ τινῶν μὴ ὄντων ἀξίων διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν: ἀλλὰ μακρόθυμος ὧν ὁ Κύριος θέλει τὴν κλῆσιν τὴν γενομένην διὰ τοῦ νίοῦ αὐτοῦ σώζεσθαι. λέγω αὐτῷ Κύριε, ἐλπίζω ὅτι πάντες ἀκού- σαντες αὐτὰ μετανοήσουσι. πείθομαι γὰρ ὅτι εἷς ἕκαστος τὰ ἴδια ἔργα ἐπυγνοὺς καὶ φοβηθεὶς τὸν Θεὸν μετανοήσει. ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει" “Οσοι, [φησίν,)] ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας αὐτῶν [μετανοήσωσι καὶ] καθαρίσωσιν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν πασῶν τῶν προειρημένων καὶ μηκέτι μηδὲν προσ- θῶσι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν, λήψονται ἴασιν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίον τῶν προτέρων ἁμαρτιῶν, ἐὰν μὴ διψυχήσωσιν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐντολαῖς ταύταις, καὶ ζήσονται τῷ Θεῷ. [ὅσοι δέ, φησί, προσθῶσι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτῶν καὶ ἀναστραφώσιν ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τοῦ atwvos τούτου, κατακρινοῦσιν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς θάνατον σὺ δὲ πορεύου ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς μου, καὶ ζῆθι [τῷ Gem καὶ ὅσοι ἄν πορευθῶσιν ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ κατορθώ- σωνται, ζήσονται τῷ Θεῷ.) ταῦτά μοι δείξας [καὶ λαλή- cas] πάντα λέγει por’ Ta δὲ λοιπὰ ἐπιδείξω μετ᾽ odiyas ἡμέρας.
9“And they who returned their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those that were faithful indeed; but after acquiring wealth, and becoming distinguished amongst the heathen, they clothed themselves with great pride, and became lofty-minded, and deserted the truth, and did not cleave to the righteous, but lived with the heathen, and this way of life became more agreeable to them. They did not, however, depart from God, but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith. Many of them accordingly repented, and their dwelling was in the tower. And others continuing to live until the end with the heathen, and being corrupted by their vain glories, [departed from God, serving the works and deeds of the heathen.] These were reckoned with the heathen. But others of them hesitated, not hoping to be saved on account of the deeds which they had done; while others were in doubt, and caused divisions among themselves. To those, therefore, who were in doubt on account of their deeds, repentance is still open; but their repentance ought to be speedy, that their dwelling may be in the tower. And to those who do not repent, but abide in their pleasures, death is near.”
10“And they who gave in their branches green, but having the tips withered and cracked, these were always good, and faithful, and distinguished before God; but they sinned a very little through indulging small desires, and finding little faults with one another. But on hearing my words the greater part of them quickly repented, and their dwelling was upon the tower. Yet some of them were in doubt; and certain of them who were in doubt wrought greater dissension. Among these, therefore, is hope of repentance, because they were always good; and with difficulty will any one of them perish. And they who gave up their branches withered, but having a very small part green, are those who believed only, yet continue working the works of iniquity. They never, however, departed from God, but gladly bore His name, and joyfully received His servants into their houses. Having accordingly heard of this repentance, they unhesitatingly repented, and practise all virtue and righteousness; and some of them even [suffered, being willingly put to death], knowing their deeds which they had done. Of all these, therefore, the dwelling shall be in the tower.”
11And after he had finished the explanations of all the branches, he said to me, “Go and tell them to every one, that they may repent, and they shall live unto God. Because the Lord, having had compassion on all men, has sent me to give repentance, although some are not worthy of it on account of their works; but the Lord, being long-suffering, desires those who were called by His Son to be saved.” I said to him, “Sir, I hope that all who have heard them will repent; for I am persuaded that each one, on coming to a knowledge of his own works, and fearing the Lord, will repent.” He answered me, and said, “All who with their whole heart shall purify themselves from their wickedness before enumerated, and shall add no more to their sins, will receive healing from the Lord for their former transgressions, if they do not hesitate at these commandments; and they will live unto God. But do you walk in my commandments, and live.” Having shown me these things, and spoken all these words, he said to me, “And the rest I will show you after a few days.”