My LORD’s BibleShepherd of Hermas: Visions 3
1The vision which I saw, my brethren, was of the following nature. 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 shall appear unto you, and show you all that you ought to see.” 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. 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. And I see an ivory seat ready 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 upon me when I saw that I was all alone. 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. Whereupon 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. 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.” On this, she took me up by the hand, and brought me to the seat, and said to the young men, “Go and build.” 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,” said she; “sit down.” 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. 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.”
“Ὅρασις y ἣν εἶδον, ἀδελφοί, τοιαύτη. νηστεύσας πολλάκις καὶ δεηθεὶς τοῦ Kuplov ἵνα μοι φανερώσῃ τὴν ἀποκάλυψεν ἣν pos ἐπηγγείλατο δεῖξαὶ διὰ τῆς πρεσβυτέρας ἐκείνης, αὐτῇ τῇ νυκτὶ ὥφθη μοι ἡ πρεσβυτέρα καὶ εἶπέν pos’ πε οὕτως ἐνδεὴς εἶ καὶ σπουδαῖος εἰς τὸ γνῶναι πάντα, ἐλθὲ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν ὅπου χρονίζεις, καὶ περὶ ὥραν πέμπτην ἐμφανισθήσο- peal σοι καὶ δείξω σοι ἃ δεῖ σε ἰδεῖν. ἠρώτησα αὐτὴν λόγων Kupla, εἰς ποῖον τόπον τοῦ ὠγροῦ; “Ὅπου, φησίν, θέλεις. ἐξελεξάμην τόπον καλὸν ἀνακεχωρηκότα. πρὶν δὰ λαλῆσαι αὐτῇ καὶ εἰπεῖν τὸν τόπον, λόγει μοι “Ἤξω ἐκεῖ ὅπου θέλεις. ἐγενόμην οὖν, ἀδελφοί, εἰς τὸν ὠγρόν, καὶ συνεψήφισα τὰς ὥρας, καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸν τόπον ὅπου διεταξά- μὴν αὐτῇ ἐλθεῖν, καὶ βλέπω συμψέλιον κείμενον ἐλεφάντινον, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ συμψελίου ἔκειτο κερβικάριον λινοῦν, καὶ πτάνω - λέντιον ἐξηπλωμένον λινοῦν καρπάσιον. ἰδὼν ταῦτα κεί- μενα καὶ μηδένα ὄντα ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἔὄκθαμβος ἐγενόμην, καὶ ὡσεὶ τρόμος με ὄλαβεν, καὶ αἱ τρίχες μου ὀρθαί: καὶ ὡσεὶ φρίκη μοι προσῆλθεν, μόνου μου ὄντος. ἐν ἐμαυτῷ οὖν you- μενος καὶ μνησθεὶς τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ λαβὼν θάρσος, θεὶς τὰ γόνατα ἐξωμολογούμην τῷ Κυρίῳ πάλιν τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου ὡς καὶ πρότερον. ἡ δὲ ἦλθεν μετὰ νεανίσκων EE, obs καὶ πρότερον éwpaxey, καὶ ἐπεστάθη μοι καὶ κατηκροᾶτο προσευχομένου μου καὶ ἐξομολογουμένου τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰς ἁμαρ- τίας pov. καὶ ἁψαμένη μον λέγει" Ἑρμᾶ, παῦσαι περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου πάντα ἐρωτῶν᾽ ἐρώτα καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης, ἵνα λάβῃς μέρος τι ἐξξιυτῆς εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἐξε- γείρει με τῆς χειρὸς καὶ ἄγει με πρὸς τὸ συμψέλεον, καὶ λέγει τοῖς νεανίσκοις Ὕπάγετε καὶ οἰκοδομεῖτε. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀναχωρῆσαε τοὺς νεανίσκους καὶ μόνων ἡμῶν γεγονότων λέγει por’ Κάθισον ὧδε. λέγω αὐτῇ" Kupia, ἄφες τοὺς πρεσβυτέ- pous πρῶτον καθίσαι. Ὅ σοι λέγω, φησίν, κάθισον. θέ- λοντος οὖν μου καθίσαι εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη οὐκ εἴασέν με, ἀλλ᾽ ἐννεύει μοι τῇ χειρὶ ἵνα εἰς τὰ ἀριστερὰ μέρη καθίσω. διαλο- γιζομένου μου οὖν καὶ λνυπουμένου ὅτι οὐκ εἴασέν με εἷς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη καθίσαι, λέγει pos’ Λυπῇ, ‘Eppa; ὁ εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τόπος ἄλλων ἐστίν, τῶν ἤδη εὐαρεστηκότων τῷ Θεῷ καὶ παθόντων εἵνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματος" σοὶ δὲ πολλὰ λείπει ἵνα μετ᾽ αὐτῶν καθίσῃς" ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐμμένεις τῇ ἁπλότητί σου, μεῖνον, καὶ καθιῇ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν, καὶ ὅσοι ἐὰν ἐργάσωνται τὰ ἐκείνων ἔργα καὶ ὑπενέγκωσιν ἃ καὶ ἐκεῖνοι ὑπήνογκαν. IL Τί, φημί, ὑπήνεγκαν; “Axove, φησίν μάστυγας, φυλακάς, θλέψεις μεγάλας, σταυρούς, θηρία εἵνεκεν τοῦ ὁνό- patos’ διὰ τοῦτο ἐκείνων ἐστὶν τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ ἁγιάσματος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν πάθῃ διὰ τὸ ὄνομα τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν τὰ ἀριστερὰ μέρη ἐστίν. ἀλλὰ ἀμφοτέρων, καὶ τῶν ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ τῶν ἐξ ἀριστερῶν καθημένων, τὰ αὐτὰ δῶρα καὶ αἱ αὐταὶ ἐπαγγελία: μόνον ἐκεῖνοι ἐκ δεξιῶν κάθηνται καὶ ἔχουσιν δόξαν τινά. σὺ δὲ κατεπίθυμος εἶ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν per αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ὑστερήματά gov πολλά" καθαρισθήσῃ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑστερη- μάτων cov’ καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ μὴ διψυχοῦντες καθαρισθήσονται ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων εἰς ταύτην τὴν ἡμέραν. Ἁ. ταῦτα εἴπασα ἤθελεν ἀπελθεῖν πεσὼν δὲ αὐτῆς πρὸς τοὺς πόδας ἡρώτησα αὐτὴν κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἵνα μοι ἐπιδείξῃ ὃ ἐπηγγείλατο ὅραμα. ἡ δὲ πάλιν ἐπελάβετό μου τῆς χειρὸς καὶ ἐγείρεε με καὶ καθίζει ἐπὶ τὸ συμψέλιον ἐξ εὐω- νύμων" ἐκαθέζετο δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ ἐκ δεξιῶν. καὶ ἐπάρασα ῥάβδον τινὰ λαμπρὰν λέγει por’ Βλέπεις μέγα πρᾶγμα; λέγω αὐτῇ" Κυρία, οὐδὲν βλέπω. λέγει μοι" [Σύ,] ἰδοὺ οὐχ ὁρᾷς κατέναντί σον πύργον μέγαν οἰκοδομούμενον ἐπὶ ὑδάτων λίθοις τετραγώνοις λαμπροῖς; ἐν τετρωγώνῳ δὲ ὠκοδο- μεῖτο ὁ πύργος ὑπὸ τών ἕξ νεανίσκων τῶν ἐληλυθότων μετ᾽ αὐτῆς" ἄλλαι δὲ μυριάδες ἀνδρῶν παρέφερον λίθους, οἱ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ, οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐπεδίδουν τοῖς δξ νεανίσκοις. ὀκεῖνοι δὲ ἐλάμβανον καὶ ῳκοδόμουν τοὺς μὲν ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ λίθους Axopdvous πάντας οὕτως ἐτίθεσαν εἰς τὴν οἱκοδομήν᾽ ἡρμοσμένοι γὰρ ἦσαν καὶ συνεφώνουν τῇ ἁρμογῇ μετὰ τῶν ἑτέρων Gav καὶ οὕτως ἐκολλῶντο ἀλλήλοις, ὥστε Tip ἁρμογὴν αὐτῶν μὴ φαίνεσθαι. ἐφαίνετο δὲ ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργον ὡς ἐξ δνὸς λίθον ᾳφικοδομημένη. τοὺς δὲ érépous λίθους τοὺς φερομένους ἀπὸ τῆς ξηρᾶς τοὺς μὲν ὀπέβαλλον, τοὺς δὲ ἐτίθουν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν᾽ ἄλλους δὲ κατέκοπτον καὶ Eppurroy μακρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου. ἄλλοι δὲ λίθοι πολλοὶ κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου ἔκειντο, καὶ οὐκ ἐχρῶντο αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομήν᾽ ἦσαν γάρ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ‘a- κότες, Erepos δὲ σχισμὰς ἔχοντες, ἄλλοι δὲ κεκολοβωμένοι, ἄλλοι δὲ λευκοὶ καὶ στρογγύλοι, μὴ ἁρμόζοντες εἰς τὴν οἶκο- δομήν. ἔβλεπον δὲ érépous λίθους ῥιπτομένους μακρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου καὶ ἐρχομένους εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ μὴ μένοντας ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ἀλλὰ κυλμομένους eis τὴν ἀνοδίαν ἑτέρους δὲ ἐπὶ πῦρ ἐμπίπτοντας καὶ καιομένουτ' ἑτέρους δὲ πίπτοντας ἀγγὺς ὑδάτων καὶ μὴ δυναμένους κυλισθῆναι εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, καίπερ θελόντων κυλισθῆναι καὶ ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ.
2“What have they borne?” said I. “Listen,” said she: “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 every one who shall suffer for God’s name: to the rest is assigned the division on the left. 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. 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 shall be cleansed from all their iniquities up till this day.” 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; 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, “Lo! do you not see opposite to you a great tower, built upon the waters, of splendid square stones?” 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Δείξασά μοι ταῦτα ἤθελεν ἀποτρέχειν. λέγω ari’ Κυρία, τί pos ὄφελος ταῦτα ἑωρακότι καὶ μὴ γινώσκοντι τί ἐστιν τὰ πράγματα; ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει" ἸΠανοῦργος εἶ ἄνθρωπος, θέλων γινώσκειν τὰ περὶ τὸν πύργον. Ναί, dnd, κυρία, iva τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἀναγγείλω, καὶ [λαρώτεροι γένωνται, καὶ ταῦτα] ἀκούσαντες γενώσκωσιν τὸν Κύριον ἐν πολλῇ δόξῃ. ἡ δὲ ἔφη ᾿Ακούσονται μὲν πολλοί, ἀκούσαντες δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν χαρήσονται, τινὲς δὲ κλαύσονται" ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτοι, ἐὰν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ μετανοήσωσιν, καὶ αὐτοὶ χαρήσονται. ἄκονε οὖν τὰς παραβολὰς τοῦ πύργον" ἀποκαλύψω yap σοι πάντα. καὶ μηκέτι pot κόπους πάρεχε περὶ ἀποκαλύψεως" αἱ yap ὁποκαλύψεις αὗται τέλος ἔχουσιν᾽ πεπληρωμέναι γάρ eiccy. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ παύσῃ αἰτούμενος ἀποκαλύψεις" ἀναιδὴς γὰρ -el. ὁ μὲν πύργος ὃν βλέπεις οἰκοδομούμενον, ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ Ἐκκλησία, ἡ ὀφθεῖσά σοι καὶ νῦν καὶ τὸ πρότερον" ὃ ἂν οὖν 306 THE SHEPHERD OF HERMAS. ΓΝ. iit θελήσῃς ἐπερώτα περὶ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ἀποκαλύψω σοι, ἵνα χαρῇς μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων. λέγω αὐτῇ Κυρία, ἐπεὶ ἅπαξ ἄξιόν με ἡγήσω τοῦ πάντα μοι ἀποκαλύψαι, ἀποκάλυψον. ἡ δὲ λέγει pos Ὃ ἐὰν ἐνδέχηταί σοι ἀποκαλυφθῆναι, ἀποκαλυ- φθήσεται. μόνον ἡ καρδία σου πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἤτω καὶ μὴ δειψυχήσεις ὃ dy ἴδης. ς. ἐπηρώτησα αὐτήν᾽ Διατί ὁ πύργος ἐπὶ ὑδάτων φκοδόμηται, κυρία; Εἶπά aos, φησίν, καὶ τὸ πρότερον, καὶ ἐκζητεῖς ἐπιμελῶς" ἐκζητῶν οὖν εὑρίσκεις τὴν ἀλήθειαν. διατί οὖν ἐπὶ ὑδάτων φκοδόμηται ὁ πύργος, ἄκονε᾽ ὅτι ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν διὰ ὕδατος ἐσώθη καὶ σωθήσεται. τεθεμελίωται δὲ ὁ πύίργος τῷ ῥήματι τοῦ παντοκράτορος καὶ ἐνδόξου ὀνό- ματος, κρατεῖται δὲ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀοράτου δυνάμεως τοῦ δεσπότου.
3On 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,” said I, “that I may tell it to my brethren, that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in much glory.” And she said, “Many indeed shall hear, and hearing, some shall be glad, and some shall weep. But even these, if they hear and repent, shall also rejoice. Hear, then, the parables 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. The tower which you see building is myself, the Church, who have 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 saints.” I said unto her, “Lady, since you have vouchsafed to reveal all to me this once, reveal it.” She said to me, “Whatsoever ought to be revealed, will be revealed; only let your heart be with God, and doubt not whatsoever you shall see.” I asked her, “Why was the tower built upon the waters, O Lady?” She answered, “I told you before, and you still inquire carefully: therefore inquiring you shall find the truth. Hear then why the tower is built upon the waters. It is because your life has been, and will be, saved through water. For the tower was founded on the word of the almighty and glorious Name, and it is kept together by the invisible power of the Lord.”
᾿Αποκριθεὶς λέγω αὐτῇ" Κυρία, μεγάλως καὶ θαυ- μαστῶς ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο. οἱ δὲ νεανίσκοι οἱ δξ οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες τίνες εἰσίν, xupia; Οὗτοί εἶσιν οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ οἱ πρῶτοι κτισθέντες, οἷς παρέδωκεν 6 Εύριος πᾶσαν τὴν κτίσιν αὐτοῦ, αὔξειν καὶ οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ δεσπόζειν τῆς κτίσεως πάσης. διὰ τούτων οὖν τελεσθήσεται ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου. Οἱ δὲ ὅτεροι οἱ π' ντες τοὺς λίθους τίνες εἰσίν; Καὶ αὐτοὶ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ" οὗτοι δὲ οἱ ἐξ ὑπερέχοντες αὐτούς εἰσιν. συντελεσθήσεται οὖν ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου, καὶ πάντες ὁμοῦ εὐφρανθήσονται κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου καὶ δοξάσουσιν τὸν Θεόν, ὅτι ἐτελέσθη ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ πύργου. ἐπηρώτησα αὐτὴν λέγων᾽ Kupia, ἤθελον γνῶναι τῶν λίθων τὴν ἔξοδον καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτῶν, ποταπή ἐστιν. ἀποκριθεῖσα μοι λέγει Οὐχ ὅτι σὺ ἐκ ππάν- των ἀξιώτερος εἶ ἵνα σοι ἀποκαλυφθῇ" ἄλλοι γάρ σου πρότεροί εἰσιν καὶ βελτίονές σου, οἷς ἔδει ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰ ὁράματα ταῦτα᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα δοξασθῇ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, σοὶ ἀπεκαλύφθη καὶ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται διὰ τοὺς διψύχους, τοὺς διαλογιζο- μένους ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν εἰ ἄρα ἔστιν ταῦτα ἢ οὐκ ἔστιν. λέγε αὐτοῖς ὅτε ταῦτα πάντα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, καὶ οὐθὲν ἔξωθέν ἐστιν τῆς ἀληθείας, ἀλλὰ πάντα ἰσχυρὰ καὶ βέβαια καὶ τεθεμελιωμένα ἐστίν.
4In reply I said to her, “This is magnificent and marvellous. But who are the six young men who are engaged in building?” And she said, “These are the holy angels 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 will the building of the tower be finished.” “But who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the stones?” “These also are holy angels 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.” 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?” 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. 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.”
“Axove νῦν περὶ τῶν λίθων τῶν ὑπαγόντων εἷς τὴν οἰκοδομήν. οἱ μὲν οὖν λίθοι of τετράγωνοι καὶ λευκοὶ καὶ συμφωνοῦντες ταῖς ἁρμογαῖς αὐτῶν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀπόστολοι εἴ. Apoc. wai ἐπίσκοποι καὶ διδάσκαλοι καὶ διάκονοι οἱ πορευθέντες ™ '+ δάξαντες καὶ διακονήσαντες ὡγνῶς καὶ σεμνῶς τοῖς ἀκλεκτοῖφ τοῦ Θεοῦ, οἱ μὲν κεκοιμημένοι, οἱ δὰ ὅτι Evres’ καὶ πάντοτε δαυτοῖς συμφωνήσαντες καὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς εἰρήνην ἄσχον καὶ ἀλλήλων ἥκουον᾽ διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῇ οἰκοδομῇ τοῦ πύργου συμ- φωνοῦσιν αἱ ἁρμογαὶ αὑτῶν. Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ βυθοῦ ὃλκό- μενοι καὶ ἐπιτιθέμενοι εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν καὶ συμφωνοῦντες ταῖς ἁρμογαῖς αὐτῶν μετὰ τῶν ἑτέρων λίθων τῶν ἤδη φκοδο- μημένων τίνες εἰσίν; Οὗτοί εἶσιν οἱ παθόντες ὄνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Kuplov. Τοὺς δὲ érépous λίθους τοὺς φερο- μένους ἀπὸ τῆς ξηρᾶς θέλω γνῶναι τίνες εἰσίν, κυρία. ἔφη" Τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν ὑπάγοντας καὶ μὴ λατομουμένους, τούτους ὁ Ἰζύριος ἐδοκίμασεν, ὅτε ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν τῇ εὐθύτητι τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ κατωρθώσαντο τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ. Οἱ δὲ ἀγόμενοι καὶ τιθέμενοι εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τίνες εἰσίν; Νέοι εἰσὶν ἐν τῇ πίστει καὶ πιστοί. νουθετοῦνται δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν ὠγγέλων εἰς τὸ ἀγαθοποιεῖν, διότε εὑρέθη ἂν αὐτοῖς πονηρία. Οὖς δὲ ἀπέβαλλον καὶ ἐρίπτουν, τίνες εἰσίν; Οὗτοί εἶσιν ἡμαρτηκότες καὶ θέλοντες μετανοῆσαι" διὰ τοῦτο μακρὰν οὐκ ἀπερίφησαν ἔξω τοῦ πύργου, ὅτι εὔχρηστοι ἔσονται eis τὴν οἰκοδομήν, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν. οἱ οὖν μέλλοντες μετανοεῖν, ἐὰν μετανοήσωσιν, ἰσχυροὶ ἔσονται ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἐὰν νῦν μεταφοήσωσιν ἐν ᾧ οἰκοδομεῖται ὁ πύργος. ἐὰν δὲ τελεσθῇ ἡ οἰκοδομή, οὐκέτι ἔχουσιν τόπον, GAN ἔσονται ἔκβολοι. μόνον δὲ τοῦτο ἔχουσιν, παρὰ τῷ πύργῳ κεῖσθαι.
5“Hear now with regard to the stones which are in the building. Those square white stones which fitted exactly into each other, are apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons, who have lived in godly purity, and have acted as bishops and teachers and deacons chastely and reverently to the elect of God. 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.” “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.” “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 practised His commandments.” “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 angels to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them.” “Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away?” “These are they who have sinned, and wish to repent. On this account they have not been thrown far from the tower, because they will yet be useful in the building, if they repent. Those then who are to repent, if they do repent, will be strong in faith, if they now repent while the tower is building. For if the building be finished, there will not be more room for any one, but he will be rejected. This privilege, however, will belong only to him who has now been placed near the tower.”
Τοὺς δὲ κατακοπτομένους καὶ μακρὰν ῥιπτομένους ἀπὸ τοῦ πύργου θέλεις γνῶναι; οὗτοί εἶσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τῆς ἀνομίας" ἐπίστευσαν δὲ ἐν ὑποκρίσει, καὶ waca πονηρία οὐκ ἁπέστη ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν᾽ διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ὄχουσιν σωτηρίαν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν εὔχρηστοι εἰς οἰκοδομὴν διὰ τὰς πονηρίας αὐτῶν. διὰ οὖν ἀκολουθήσῃ αὐτῇ, μακάριος γίνεται ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι πάντων τῶν πονηρῶν ἔργων ἀφέξεται, πιστεύων ὅτι, ἐὰν ἀφέξ- ται πάσης ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς, κληρονομήσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Aide ἕτεραι, κυρία, τίνες εἰσίν; Θυγατέρες ἀλλήλων εἰσίν. καλοῦνται δὲ ἡ μὲν ᾿Απλότης, ἡ δὲ ᾿Επιστήμη, ἡ δὲ ᾿Ακακία, ἡ δὲ Σεμνότης, ἡ δὲ ᾿Αγάπη. ὅταν οὖν τὰ ἔργα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῶν πάντα ποιήσῃς, δύνασαι ζῆσαι. "Ἤθελον, φημί, γνῶναι, κυρία, τίς τίνα δύναμιν ἔχει αὐτῶν. “Axove, φησίν, τὰς δυνάμεις ἃς ἔχουσιν. κρατοῦνται δὲ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτῶν καὶ ἀκολουθοῦσιν ἀλλήλαις, καθὼς καὶ γεγεν- νημέναι εἰσίν. ἐκ τῆς Πίστεως γεννᾶται ᾿Ε)γκράτεια, ἐκ τῆς *Eyepateias ᾿Απλότης, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Απλότητος ᾿Ακακία, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Ακακίας Σεμνότης, ἐκ τῆς Σεμνότητος ᾿Επιστήμη, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Επιστήμης ᾿Αγάπη. τούτων οὖν τὰ ἔργα ayva καὶ σεμνὰ καὶ θεῖά ἐστιν. 8, ὃς ἂν οὖν δουλεύσῃ ταύταις καὶ ἰσχύσῃ κρατῆσαι τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν͵ ἐν τῷ πύργῳ ἕξει τὴν κατοίκησιν μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἐπηρώτων δὲ αὐτὴν περὶ τῶν καιρῶν, εἰ ἤδη συντέλεια ἐστιν, ἡ δὲ ἀνέκρωγε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγουσα ᾿Ασύνετε ἄνθρωπε, οὐχ ὁρᾷς τὸν πύργον ἔτι οἰκοδο- μούμενον; ὡς ἐὰν οὖν συντελεσθῇ ὁ πύργος οἰκοδομούμενος, ἔχεε τέλος. ἀλλὰ ταχὺ ἐποικοδομηθήσεται. μηκέτι με ἐπε- ρώτα μηδέν: ἀρκετή σοι ἡ ὑπόμνησις αὕτη καὶ τοῖς ἁγίοις, καὶ ἡ ἀνακαίνωσις τῶν πνευμάτων ὑμῶν. 1ο. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ σοὶ μόνῳ ἀπεκαλύφθη, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα πᾶσιν δηλώσῃς αὐτά. τι. μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας---νοῆσαί σε γὰρ δεῖ πρῶτον, ἐντέλλομαι δέ cos πρῶτον, ‘Epua, τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἅ σοι μέλλω λέγειν---- λαλῆσαι αὐτὰ [πάντα] εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῶν ἁγίων, ἵνα ἀκού- σαντες αὐτὰ καὶ ποιήσαντες καθαρισθῶσιν ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ σὺ δὲ μετ᾽ αὐτών.
6“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. Wherefore they have been cut off and cast far away on account of the anger of the Lord, for they have roused Him to anger. But I shall 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 saints. On this account are they unfit for use.” “Who are those that have rents?” “These are they who are at discord in their hearts one with another, and are not at peace amongst themselves: they indeed keep peace before each other, but when they separate one from the other, their wicked thoughts remain in their hearts. These, then, are the rents which are in the stones. 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.” “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 have faith indeed, but they have also the riches of this world. When, therefore, 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?” “When the riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed, then will they be of use to God. For as a round stone cannot become square unless portions be cut off and cast away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches be cut down. Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful and fit for life. Be ye useful to God; for you also will be used as one of these stones.”
᾿Ακούσατέ μου, τέκνα. ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐξέθρεψα ἐν πολλῇ ἁπλότητι καὶ ἀκακίᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι διὰ τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ Κυρίου τοῦ ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς στάξαντος τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ἵνα δικαιωθῆτε καὶ Vill. 11 λαλῆσαι) RA; but 1,,1,,Ε appear to suggest λάλησον or ἵνα λαλήσῃς. ἀληθινήν δοκοῦντες οὖν βελτίονα ὁδὸν δύνασθαε εὑρεῖν, πλα- »ὥνται καὶ ταλαιπωροῦσιν περιπατοῦντες ἐν ταῖς ἀνοδίαις. οἱ δὲ πέπτοντες εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ καιόμενοι, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰς τέλος ἀποστάντες τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος, καὶ οὐκέτε αὐτοῖς ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ μετανοῆσαι διὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀσελγείας αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν πονηριῶν ὧν εἰργάσαντο. τοὺς δὲ ἑτέρους τοὺς πίπτοντας ὀγγὺς τῶν ὑδάτων καὶ μὴ δυναμένους ευλισθῆναε εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ θέλεις γνῶναε τίνες εἰσίν ; οὗτοί εἰσιν οὗ τὸν λόγον ἀκούσαντες καὶ θέλοντες βαπτισθῆναι εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Kupiov’ εἶτα ὅταν αὐτοῖς ἔλθῃ eis μνείαν ἡ ἀγνότης τῆς ἀληθείας, μετανοοῦσιν, καὶ πορεύονται πάλιν ὀπίσω τῶν ὀπιθυμιῶν αὐτῶν τῶν πονηρῶν. ἐτέλεσεν οὖν τὴν ἐξήγησιν τοῦ πύργου. ἀναιδευσάμενος ὅτε αὐτὴν ἐπηρώτησα, εἰ dpa πάντες οἱ λίθοι οὗτοι οἱ ἀποβεβλημένοι καὶ μὴ ἁρμόζοντες. εἷς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου. εἰ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς μετάνοια καὶ ἔχουσιν τόπον εἰς τὸν πύργον τοῦτον. "ἔχουσιν, φησίν, μετά- νοιαν, ἀλλὰ εἰς τοῦτον τὸν πύργον οὐ δύνανται ἁρμόσαι. ἑτέρῳ δὲ τόπῳ ἁρμόσουσιν πολὺ ἐλάττονε, καὶ τοῦτο ὅταν βασανισθῶσιν καὶ ἐκπληρώσωσιν τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μετατεθήσονται, ὅτι μετέλαβον τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ δικαίου. καὶ τότε αὐτοῖς συμβήσεται μετατεθῆ- ναι ἐκ τῶν βασάνων αὐτῶν, ἐὰν ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα ἃ εἰργάσαντο πονηρά. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ τὴν καρ- δίαν αὐτῶν, οὐ σώζονται διὰ τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν αὐτῶν.
7“Now the other stones which you saw cast far away from the tower, and falling upon 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, they wander and become wretched, and enter upon pathless places. But those which fell into the fire and were burned, are those who have departed for ever from the living God; nor does the thought of repentance ever come into their hearts, on account of their devotion to their lusts and to the crimes which they committed. 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 baptized 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.” She finished her exposition of the tower. But I, shameless as I yet was, asked her, “Is repentance 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?” “Repentance,” said she, “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. And on this account will they be transferred, because they have partaken of the righteous Word. And then only will they be removed from their punishments when the thought of repenting 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.”
“Ὅτε οὖν ἐπαυσάμην ἐρωτῶν αὐτὴν περὶ πάντων τούτων, λέγεε pos’ Θέλεις ἄλλο ἰδεῖν; κατεπίθυμος ὧν τοῦ θεάσασθαι περιχαρὴς ὀγενόμην τοῦ ἰδεῖν. ἐμβλέψασά μοι ὑπεμειδίασεν καὶ λέγεε pos’ Βλέπεις ἑπτὰ γυναῖκας κύκλῳ τοῦ πύργου; Βλέπω, φημί, κυρία. Ὃ πύργος οὗτος ὑπὸ τούτων βαστάζεται κατ᾽ ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ Kuplov. ἄκουε νῦν τὰς ἐνεργείας αὐτῶν. ἡ μὲν πρώτη αὐτῶν, ἡ κρατοῦσα τὰς χεῖρας, Πίστις καλεῖται" διὰ ταύτης σώζοντα: οἱ ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα, ἡ περιεζωσμένη καὶ ἀνδριζομένη, ’Ey- κράτεια καλεῖται᾽ αὕτη θυγάτηρ ἐστὶν τῆς Πίστεως. ὃς ἂν οὖν ἀκολουθήσῃ αὐτῇ, μακάριος γίνεται ἐν τῇ ζωῇ avrod, ὅτι πάντων τῶν πονηρῶν ἔργων ἀφέξεται, πιστεύων ὅτι, ἐὰν ἀφέξ- ηται πάσης ἐπιθυμίας πονηρᾶς, κληρονομήσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον. ς. Al dé ὅτεραι, κυρία, tives εἰσίν ; Θυγατέρες ἀλλήλων εἰσίν. καλοῦνται δὲ ἡ μὲν ᾿Απλότης, ἡ δὲ ᾿Επιστήμη, ἡ δὲ ᾿Ακακία, ἡ δὲ Σεμνότης, ἡ δὲ ᾿Αγάπη. ὅταν οὖν τὰ ὄργα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῶν πάντα ποιήσῃς, δύνασαι ζῆσαι. Ἤθελον, φημί, γνῶναι, κυρία, τίς τίνα δύναμιν ἔχει αὐτῶν. “Axove, φησίν, τὰς δυνάμεις ἃς ἔχουσιν. κρατοῦνται δὲ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτῶν καὶ ἀκολουθοῦσιν ἀλλήλαις, καθὼς καὶ γεγεν- νημέναι εἰσίν. ἐκ τῆς Πίστεως γεννᾶται 'Eyxpatea, ἐκ τῆς "Eyapatelas ᾿Απλότης, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Απλότητος ᾿Ακακία, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Ακακίας Σεμνότης, ἐκ τῆς Σεμνότητος ᾿Επιστήμη, ἐκ τῆς ᾿Ἐπιστήμης ᾿Αγάπη. τούτων οὖν τὰ ἔργα ἁγνὰ καὶ σεμνὰ καὶ θεῖά ἐστιν. ὃς ἂν οὖν δουλεύσῃ ταύταις καὶ ἰσχύσῃ κρατῆσαι τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν, ἐν τῷ πύργῳ ἕξει τὴν κατοίκησιν μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἐπηρώτων δὲ αὐτὴν περὶ τῶν καιρῶν, εἰ ἥδη συντέλειά ἐστιν. ἡ δὲ ἀνέκραγε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγουσα᾽ ᾿Ασύνετε ἄνθρωπε, οὐχ ὁρᾷς τὸν πύργον ἔτι οἰκοδο- μούμενον; ὡς ἐὰν οὖν συντελεσθῇ ὁ πύργος οἰκοδομούμενος, ἔχει τέλος. ἀλλὰ ταχὺ ἐποικοδομηθήσεται. μηκέτι με ἐπε- ρώτα μηδέν' ἀρκετή σοι ἡ ὑπόμνησις αὕτη καὶ τοῖς ἁγίοις, καὶ ἡ ἀνακαίνωσις τῶν πνευμάτων ὑμῶν. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ σοὶ μόνῳ ἀπεκαλύφθη, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα πᾶσιν δηλώσῃς αὐτά. μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας---νοῆσαί σε γὰρ δεῖ πρῶτον, ἐντέλλομαι δέ σοι πρῶτον, ‘Epua, τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα & σοι μέλλω λέγειν--- λαλῆσαι αὐτὰ [πάντα] εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῶν ἁγίων, ἵνα ἀκού- σαντες αὐτὰ καὶ ποιήσαντες καθαρισθῶσιν ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν αὐτών, καὶ σὺ δὲ μετ᾽ αὐτών.
8When 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. She looked towards me with a smile, and said, “Do you see seven women around the tower?” “I do, Lady,” said I. “This tower,” said she, “is supported by them according to the precept of the Lord. Listen now to their functions. The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her the elect of God are saved. Another, who has her garments tucked up and acts with vigour, 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 restrain himself from all evil desire, he will inherit eternal life.” “But the others,” said I, “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. When then you do all the works of their mother, you will be able to live.” “I should like to know,” said I, “O Lady, what power each one of them possesses.” “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. 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, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God.” 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 be soon finished. Ask me no more questions. Let you and all the saints 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. 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 saints, that hearing them and doing them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and you along with them.”
᾿Ακούσατέ μου, τέκνα. ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐξέθρεψα ἐν πολλῇ ἅπλότητι καὶ ἀκακίᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι διὰ τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ Κυρίου τοῦ ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς στάξαντος τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ἵνα δικαιωθῆτε καὶ ἁγιασθῆτε ἀπὸ πάσης πονηρίας καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης σκολιότητος. ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐ θέλετε παῆναι ἀπὸ τῆς πονηρίας ὑμῶν. νῦν οὖν ἀκούσατέ μου καὶ εἰρηνεύετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπισκέπτεσθε ἀλλήλους καὶ ἀντιλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλων, καὶ μὴ μόνοι τὰ κτί- σματα τοῦ Θεοῦ μεταλαμβάνετε ἐκ καταχύματος, ἀλλὰ μετα- δίδοτε καὶ τοῖς ὑστερουμένοις' of μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ τῶν πολ- λῶν ἐδεσμάτων ἀσθένειαν τῇ σαρκὶ ἐπισπῶνται καὶ λυμαί- νονται τὴν σάρκα αὐτῶν' τῶν δὲ μὴ ἐχόντων ἐδέσματα λυμαίνεται ἡ σὰρξ αὐτῶν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν τὸ ἀρκετὸν τῆς τροφῆς, καὶ διαφθείρεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν. αὕτη οὖν ἡ ἀσυνκρασία βλαβερὰ ὑμῖν τοῖς ἔχουσιν καὶ μὴ μεταδιδοῦσιν τοῖς ὑστερουμένοις. βλέπετε τὴν κρίσιν τὴν ἐπερχομένην. οἱ ὑπερέχοντες οὖν ἐκζητεῖτε τοὺς πεινῶντας fas οὕπω ὁ πύργος ἐτελέσθη" μετὰ γὰρ τὸ τελεσθῆναι τὸν πύργον θελή- σετε ἀγαθοποιεῖν, καὶ οὐχ ἕξετε τόπον. βλέπετε οὖν ὑμεῖς οἱ γαυρούμενοι ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ ὑμῶν, μήποτε στενάξουσιν οἱ cf. James ὑστερούμενοι, καὶ ὃ στεναγμὸς αὐτῶν ἀναβήσεται πρὸς τὸν δ * - Κύριον, καὶ ἐκκλεισθήσεσθε μετὰ τῶν [ἀσχέτω»] ἀγαθῶν ὑμῶν ὄξω τῆς θύρας τοῦ πύργου. νῦν οὖν ὑμῖν λόγω τοῖς προη- γουμένοις τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ τοῖς πρωτοκαθεδρίταις᾽ μὴ γίνε- σθε ὅμοιοι τοῖς φαρμακοῖς. οἱ φαρμακοὶ μὲν οὖν τὰ φάρμακα ἑαυτῶν eis τὰς πυξίδας βαστάζουσιν, ὑμεῖς δὲ τὸ φάρμακον ὑμῶν καὶ τὸν ἰὸν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν. ἐνεσκιρωμένοι ἐστὲ καὶ ov θέλετε καθαρίσαι τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ συνκεράσαι ὑμῶν τὴν φρόνησιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ, ἵνα σχῆτε ἔλεος παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου. βλέπετε οὖν, τέκνα, μήποτε αὗται αἱ διχοστασίαι ὑμῶν ἀποστερήσουσιν τὴν ζωὴν ὑμῶν. πῶς ὑμεῖς παιδεύειν θέλετε τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς Κυρώου, αὐτοὶ μὴ ἔχοντες παιδείαν; παιδεύετε οὖν ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰρηνεύετε ἐν αὑτοῖς, ἵνα κἀγὼ κατέναντε τοῦ πατρὸς ἱλαρὰ σταθεῖσα λόγον ἀποδῶ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν πάντων τῷ Κυρίῳ ὑμῶν.
9Give ear unto 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 upon you, that ye may be made righteous and holy from all your iniquity and depravity; but you do not wish to rest from your iniquity. 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. 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. 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. Ye, 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. Give heed, therefore, ye who glory in your wealth, lest those who are needy should groan, and their groans should ascend to the Lord, and ye be shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of the tower. Wherefore I now say to you who preside over the church and love the first seats, “Be not like to drug-mixers. For the drug-mixers carry their drugs in boxes, but ye carry your drug and poison in your heart. Ye 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. How will you instruct the elect of the Lord, if you yourselves have not 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.”
Ὅτε οὖν ἐπαύσατο per ἐμοῦ λαλοῦσα, ἦλθον οἱ ὃδξ νεανίσκοι οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, καὶ ἀπήνεγκαν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν 312 THE SHEPHERD ΟΕ HERMAS. [Ν. 8.χ πύργον, καὶ ἄλλοι τέσσαρες ἦραν τὸ συμψέλιον καὶ ἀπήνεγ- καν καὶ αὐτὸ πρὸς τὸν πύργον. τούτων τὸ πρόσωπον οὐκ εἶδον, ὅτι ἀπεστραμμένοε ἦσαν. ὑπάγουσαν δὲ αὐτὴν ᾿ρώτων iva μοι ἀποκαλύψῃ περὶ τῶν τριῶν μορφῶν ἐν αἷς μοι ἐνεφανίσθη. ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι eye’ Περὶ τούτων ὅτερον δεὲ σε ἐπερωτῆσαι ἵνα σοι ἀποκαλυφθῇ. ὥφθη δέ μοι, ὡδελφοί, τῇ μὲν πρώτῃ ὁράσει τῇ περυσινῇ λίαν πρεσβυτέρα καὶ ἐν καθέδρᾳ καθημένη. τῇ δὲ ἑτέρᾳ ὁράσει τὴν μὲν ὄψιν νεωτέραν εἶχεν, τὴν δὲ σάρκα καὶ τὰς τρίχας πρεσβυ- τέρας, καὶ ἑστηκυῖά μοι ἐλάλει. ἱλαρωτέρα δὲ ἦν ἢ τὸ πρό- τερον. τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ ὁράσει ὅλη νεωτέρα καὶ κάλλει éxmpe- πεστάτη, μόνας δὲ τὰς τρίχας πρεσβυτέρας εἶχεν" ἱλαρὰ δὲ εἰς τέλος ἦν καὶ ἐπὶ συμψελίου καθημένη. περὶ τούτων περίλνπος ἤμην λίαν τοῦ γνῶναί με τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν ταύτην. καὶ βλέπω τὴν πρεσβυτέραν ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς λέγου- σὰν pos’ Πᾶσα ἐρώτησις ταπεινοφροσύνης χρήζει" νήστευσον οὖν, καὶ λήμψῃ ὃ αἰτεῖς παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου. ἐνήστευσα οὖν μίαν ἡμέραν, καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ νυκτί μοι ὥφθη νεανίσκος καὶ λέγει pos Ὅτι σὺ ὑπὸ χεῖρα αἰτεῖς ἀποκαλύψεις ἐν δεήσει, βλέπε μήποτε πολλὰ αἰτούμενος βλάψῃς σου τὴν σάρκα. ἀρκοῦ- σίν σοι ai ἀποκαλύψεις αὗται. μήτε δύνῃ ἰσχυροτέρας ἀπο- καλύψεις ὧν ἑώρακας ἰδεῖν; ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγω" Kupse, τοῦτο μόνον αἰτοῦμαι, περὶ τῶν τριῶν μορφῶν τῆς πρεσβντέρας ἵνα ἀποκάλυψις ὁλοτελὴς γένηται. ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει: Μέχρι τίνος ἀσύνετοί ἐστε; ἀλλ᾽ αἱ διψυχίαι ὑμῶν ἀσυνέτους ὑμᾶς ποιοῦσιν καὶ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν πρὸς τὸν Κύριον. ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ πάλεν elroy’ ᾿Αλλ᾽ ἀπὸ σοῦ, κύριε, ἀκριβέστερον αὐτὰ γνωσόμεθα.
10On her ceasing to speak to me, those six young men who were engaged in building came and conveyed her to the tower, and other 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. And as she was going, I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of the three forms in which she appeared to me. In reply she said to me: “With regard to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to you.” For she had appeared to me, brethren, in the first vision the previous year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair. In the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair betokened age, and she stood while she spoke to me. She was also more joyful than on the first occasion. 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. Now I was exceeding 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 unto me: “Every prayer should be accompanied with humility: fast, therefore, and you will obtain from the Lord what you beg.” I fasted therefore for one day. 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?” I answered and said to him, “Sir, one thing only I ask, that in regard to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete.” He answered me, “How long are ye senseless? But your doubts make you senseless, because you have not your hearts turned towards the Lord.” But I answered and said to him, “From you, sir, we shall learn these things more accurately.”
“Axove, φησίν, περὶ τῶν τριῶν μορφῶν ὧν ἐπιζητεῖς. τῇ μὲν πρώτῃ ὁράσει διατί πρεσβυτέρα ὠφθη σοι καὶ ἐπὶ καθέδραν καθημένη; ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα ὑμῶν πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἤδη μεμαρασμένον καὶ μὴ ἔχον δύναμιν ἀπὸ τῶν μαλακιῶν ὑμῶν καὶ διψυχιῶν. ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, μηκέτι ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα τοῦ ἀνανεῶσαι, οὐδὲν ἄλλο προσδοκῶσιν εἰ μὴ τὴν xolunow αὐτῶν, οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς μαλακισθέντες ἀπὸ τῶν βιωτικῶν πραγμάτων παρεδώκατε ἑαυτοὺς εἰς τὰς ἀκηδίας, καὶ οὐκ ἐπερίψατε ἑαυτῶν τὰς μερίμνας ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον᾽ cf. Ps. ἵν. ἀλλὰ ἐθραύσθη ὑμῶν ἡ διάνοια, καὶ ἐπαλαιώθητε ταῖς λύπαις tet. v, ὑμῶν. Διατί οὖν ἐν καθέδρᾳ ἐκάθητο, ἤθελον γνῶναε, κύριε. “Ὅτι πᾶς ἀσθενὴς εἰς καθέδραν καθέζεται διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν αὐτοῦ, ἵνα συνκρατηθῇ ἡ ἀσθένεια τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ. ἔχεις τὸν τύπον τῆς πρώτης ὁράσεως.
11“Hear then,” said he, “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? 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 upon the Lord. Your spirit therefore is broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows.” “I should like then to know, sir, 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. Lo! you have the form of the first vision.”
Ty δὲ δευτέρᾳ ὁράσει εἶδες αὐτὴν ἑστηκυῖαν καὶ τὴν ὄψιν νεωτέραν Eyovcay καὶ ἱλαρωτέραν παρὰ τὸ πρό- τερον, τὴν δὲ σάρκα καὶ τὰς τρίχας πρεσβυτέρας. ἄκονε, φησίν, καὶ ταύτην τὴν παραβολήν. ὅταν πρεσβύτερός τις, ἤδη ἀφηλπικὼς ἑαυτὸν διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν πτωχότητα, οὐδὲν ἕτερον προσδέχεται εἰ μὴ τὴν ἐσχάτην ἡμέραν τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ" εἶτα ἐξαίφνης κατελείφθη αὐτῷ κληρονομία, ἀκούσας δὲ ἐξηγέρθη καὶ περιχαρὴς γενόμενος ἐνεδύσατο τὴν ἰσχύν, καὶ οὐκέτι ἀνάκειται, ἀλλὰ ἕστηκεν, καὶ ἀνανεοῦται αὐτοῦ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἤδη ἐφθαρμένον ἀπὸ τῶν προτέρων αὐτοῦ πράξεων, καὶ οὐκέτε κάθηται, ἀλλὰ ἀνδρί- ζεται" οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀκούσαντες τὴν ἀποκάλυψεν ἣν ὑμῖν ὁ Κύριος ἀπεκάλυψεν. ὅτε ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐφ᾽ ὑμάς, καὶ ἀνενεώσατο τὰ πνεύματα ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀπέθεσθε τὰς μαλακίας ὑμῶν, καὶ προσῆλθεν ὑμῖν ἰσχυρότης καὶ ἐδυναμωθητε ἐν τῇ πίστει, καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Κύριος τὴν ἐἰσχυροποίησιν ὑμῶν ἐχάρη᾽ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐδήλωσεν ὑμῖν τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου, καὶ ὅτερα δηλώσει, ἐὰν ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας εἰρηνεύετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς.
12“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,” said he, “this parable also. 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. Then suddenly an inheritance is left him; and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceeding 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 vigour. So happened it with you on hearing the revelation which God gave you. For the Lord had compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and ye laid aside your infirmities. Vigour arose within you, and ye 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.”
Τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ ὁράσει εἶδες αὐτὴν νεωτέραν καὶ καλὴν καὶ ἱλαράν, καὶ καλὴν τὴν μορφὴν αὐτῆς" ὡς ἐὰν γάρ τινι λυπουμένῳ ἔλθῃ ὡγγελία ἀγαθή τις, εὐθὺς ἐπελάθετο τῶν προτέρων λνπῶν καὶ οὐδὲν ἄλλο προσδέχεται εἰ μὴ τὴν ἀγγελίαν ἣν ἤκουσεν, καὶ ἰσχυροποιεῖται λοιπὸν εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ ἀνανεοῦται αὐτοῦ τὸ πνεῦμα διὰ τὴν χαρὰν ἣν ἔλαβεν᾽ οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀνανέωσιν εἰλήφατε τῶν πνευμάτων ὑμῶν ἰδόντες ταῦτα τὰ ἀγαθά. καὶ ὅτι ἐπὶ συμψελίου εἶδες 414 THE SHEPHERD ΟΕ HERMAS._[V. xii καθημένην͵ ἰσχυρὰ ἡ θέσις" ὅτι τέσσαρας πόδας ἔχει τὸ συμ- ψέλιον καὶ ἰσχυρῶς ἕστηκεν᾽ καὶ γὰρ ὁ κόσμος διὰ τεσσάρων στοιχείων κρατεῖται. οἱ οὖν μετανοήσαντες ὁλοτελῶς νέοι ἔσονται καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοε, οἱ ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας μετανοήσαντες. ἀπέχεις ὁλοτελῆ τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν" μηκέτι μηδὲν αἰτήσεις περὶ ἀποκαλύψεως, ἐάν τι δὲ δέῃ, ἀτοκαλυφθήσεταί σοι.
13“Now, in the third vision, you saw her still younger, and she was noble and joyful, and her shape was beautiful. 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 ye also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things. 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 also is kept together by means of four elements. Those, therefore, who repent completely and with the whole heart, will become young and firmly established. You now have the revelation completely given you. Make no further demands for revelations. If anything ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to you.”