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The Shepherd of Hermas /
Parable 9
1[78]:3 yet must thou learn everything more accurately from me. For
to this end also was I appointed by the glorious angel to dwell in
thy house, that thou mightest see all things mightily, in nothing
terrified, even as before."
1[78]:6 the fourth had the vegetation half-withered, the upper part
of the grass green, but the part by the roots withered, and some of
the grass became withered, whenever the sun had scorched it;
1[78]:7 the fifth mountain had green grass and was rugged; the
sixth mountain was full with clefts throughout, some small and some
great, and the clefts had vegetation, but the grass was not very
luxuriant, but rather as if it had been withered;
1[78]:8 the seventh mountain had smiling vegetation, and the whole
mountain was in a thriving condition, and cattle and birds of every
kind did feed upon that mountain; and the more the cattle and the
birds did feed, so much the more did the herbage of that mountain
flourish. The eighth mountain was full of springs, and every kind of
creature of the Lord did drink of the springs on that mountain.
1[78]:9 the ninth mountain had no water at all, and was entirely
desert; and it had in it wild beasts and deadly reptiles, which
destroy mankind. The tenth mountain had very large trees and was
umbrageous throughout, and beneath the shade lay sheep resting and
feeding.
1[78]:10 the eleventh mountain was thickly wooded all over, and
the trees thereon were very productive, decked with divers kinds of
fruits, so that one seeing them would desire to eat of their fruits.
The twelfth mountain was altogether white and its aspect was
cheerful; and the mountain was most beauteous in itself.
2[79]:1 And in the middle of the plain he showed me a great white
rock, rising up from the plain. The rock was loftier than the
mountains, being four-square, so that it could contain the whole world.
2[79]:2 Now this rock was ancient, and had a gate hewn out of it;
but the gate seemed to me to have been hewed out quite recently. And
the gate glistened beyond the brightness of the sun, so that I
marvelled at the brightness of the gate.
2[79]:3 And around the gate stood twelve virgins. The four then
that stood at the corners seemed to me to be more glorious (than the
rest); but the others likewise were glorious; and they stood at the
four quarters of the gate, and virgins stood in pairs between them.
2[79]:4 And they were clothed in linen tunics and girt about in
seemly fashion, having their right shoulders free, as if they intended
to carry some burden. Thus were they prepared, for they were very
cheerful and eager.
2[79]:5 After I had seen these things, I marvelled in myself at the
greatness and the glory of what I was seeing And again I was perplexed
concerning the virgins, that delicate as they were they stood up like
men, as if they intended to carry the whole heaven.
2[79]:6 And the shepherd saith unto me; "Why questionest thou
within thyself and art perplexed, and bringest sadness on thyself?
For whatsoever things thou canst not comprehend, attempt them not,
if thou art prudent; but entreat the Lord, that thou mayest receive
understanding to comprehend them.
2[79]:7 What is behind thee thou canst not see, but what is before
thee thou beholdest. The things therefore which thou canst not see,
let alone, and trouble not thyself (about them; but the things which
thou seest, these master, and be not over curious about the rest; but
I will explain unto thee all things whatsoever I shall show thee.
Have an eye therefore to what remaineth."
3[80]:1 I saw six men come, tall and glorious and alike in
appearance and they summoned a multitude of men. And the others also
which came were tall men and handsome and powerful. And the six men
ordered them to build a tower above the gate. And there arose a great
noise from those men who had come to build the tower, as they ran
hither and thither round the gate.
3[80]:2 For the virgins standing round the gate told the men to
hasten to build the tower. Now the virgins had spread out their hands,
as if they would take something from the men.
3[80]:3 And the six men ordered stones to come up from a certain
deep place, and to go to the building of the tower. And there went
up ten stones square and polished, [not] hewn from a quarry.
3[80]:4 And the six men called to the virgins, and ordered them to
carry all the stones which should go unto the building of the tower,
and to pass through the gate and to hand them to the men that were
about to build the tower.
3[80]:5 And the virgins laid the first ten stones that rose out of
the deep on each other, and they carried them together, stone by
stone.
4[81]:1 And just as they stood together around the gate, in that
order they carried them that seemed to be strong enough and had
stooped under the corners of the stone, while the others stooped at
the sides of the stone. And so they carried all the stones. And they
carried them right through the gate, as they were ordered, and handed
them to the men for the tower; and these took the stones and builded.
4[81]:2 Now the building of the tower was upon the great rock and
above the gate. Those ten stones then were joined together, and they
covered the whole rock. And these formed a foundation for the building
of the tower. And [the rock and] the gate supported the whole tower.
4[81]:3 And, after the ten stones, other twenty-five stones came
up from the deep, and these were fitted into the building of the tower,
being carried by the virgins, like the former. And after these
thirty-five stones came up. And these likewise were fitted into the
tower. And after these came up other forty stones. and these all were
put into the building of the tower. So four rows were made in the found
ations of the tower.
4[81]:4 And (the stones) ceased coming up from the deep, and the
builders likewise ceased for a little. And again the six men ordered
the multitude of the people to bring in stones from the mountains for
the building of the tower.
4[81]:7 Then the six men, seeing the stones that were unsightly in
the building, ordered them to be removed and carried [below] into
their own place whence they were brought.
4[81]:8 And they say to the men who were bringing the stones in;
"Abstain for your parts altogether from handing in stones for the
building; but place them by the tower, that the virgins may carry
them through the gate, and hand them in for the building. For if,"
[say they,] they be not carried in through the gate by the hands of
these virgins, they cannot change their colors. Labor not therefore,"
[say they,] "in vain."
5[82]:5 "If," saith he, "thou be not found possessed of an idle
curiosity, thou shalt know all things. For after a few days we shall
come here, and thou shalt see the sequel that overtaketh this tower
and shalt understand all the parables accurately."
5[82]:6 And after a few days we came to the place where we had sat,
and he saith to me, "Let us go to the tower; for the owner of the
tower cometh to inspect it." And we came to the tower, and there was
no one at all by it, save the virgins alone.
5[82]:7 And the shepherd asked the virgins whether the master of
the tower had arrived. And they said that he would be there directly
to inspect the building.
6[83]:3 And that man inspected the building so carefully, that he
felt each single stone; and he held a rod in his hand and struck each
single stone that was built in.
6[83]:4 And when he smote, some of the stones became black as soot,
others mildewed, others cracked, others broke off short, others
became neither white nor black, others rough and not fitting in with
the other stones, and others with many spots; these were the varied
aspects of the stones which were found unsound for the building.
6[83]:7 And the plain was dug, and stones were found there bright
and square, but some of them too were round. And all the stones which
there were anywhere in that plain were brought every one of them, and
were carried through the gate by the virgins.
6[83]:8 And the square stones were hewed, and set in the place of
those which had been removed; but the round ones were not placed in
the building, because they were too hard to be shaped, and to work
on them was slow. So they were placed by the side of the tower, as
though they were intended to be shaped and placed in the building;
for they were very bright.
7[84]:3 Having given these orders to the shepherd, he departed from
the tower with all those with whom he had come. And the virgins stood
round the tower watching it.
7[84]:6 With these words he saith to me, "Let us go away, and after
two days let us come and clean these stones, and put them into the
building; for all things round the tower must be made clean, lest
haply the master come suddenly and find the circuit of the tower dirty,
and he be wroth, and so these stones shall not go to the building of
the tower, and I shall appear to be careless in my master's sight."
8[85]:2 Then he inspected those that were mildewed, and he took and
shaped many of them, and ordered the virgins to take them up and put
them into the building. And the virgins took them up and placed them
in the building of the tower in a middle position. But the rest he
ordered to be placed with the black ones; for these also were found
black.
8[85]:3 Then he began to inspect those that had the cracks; and of
these he shaped many, and he ordered them to be carried away by the
hands of the virgins for the building. And they were placed towards
the outside, because they were found to be sounder. But the rest could
not be shaped owing to the number of the cracks. For this reason
therefore they were cast aside from the building of the tower.
8[85]:4 Then he proceeded to inspect the stunted (stones), and many
among them were found black, and some had contracted great cracks;
and he ordered these also to be placed with those that had been cast
aside. But those of them which remained he cleaned and shaped, and
ordered to be placed in the building So the virgins took them up, and
fitted them into the middle of the building of the tower; for they
were somewhat weak.
8[85]:5 Then he began to inspect those that were half white and
half black, and many of them were (now) found black; and he ordered
these also to be taken up with those that had been cast aside. But
all the rest were [found white, and were] taken up by the virgins;
for being white they were fitted by [the virgins] them[selves] into
the building. But they were placed towards the outside, because they
were found sound, so that they could hold together those that were
placed in the middle; for not a single one of them was too short.
9[86]:1 Then he came to inspect the white and round stones, and he
saith unto me; "What shall we do with these stones?" "How do I know,
Sir?" say I [And he saith to me,] "Perceivest thou nothing concerning
them?"
9[86]:2 "I, Sir," say I, "do not possess this art, neither am I a
mason, nor can I understand." Seest thou not," saith he, "that they
are very round; and if I wish to make them square, very much must
needs be chiseled off from them? Yet some of them must of necessity
be placed into the building."
9[86]:3 "If then, Sir," say I, "it must needs be so, why distress
thyself, and why not choose out for the building those thou willest,
and fit them into it?" He chose out from them the large and the
bright ones, and shaped them; and the virgins took them up, and fitted
them into the outer parts of the building.
9[86]:4 But the rest, which remained over, were taken up, and put
aside into the plain whence they were brought; they were not however
cast away, "Because," saith he, there remaineth still a little of the
tower to be builded. And the master of the tower is exceedingly
anxious that these stones be fitted into the building, for they are
very bright."
9[86]:5 So twelve women were called, most beautiful in form, clad
in black, [girded about and having the shoulders bare,] with their
hair hanging loose. And these women, methought, had a savage look.
And the shepherd ordered them to take up the stones which had been
cast away from the building, and to carry them off to the same
mountains from which also they had been brought;
9[86]:6 and they took them up joyfully, and carried away all the
stones and put them in the place whence they had been taken. And after
all the stones had been taken up, and not a single stone still lay
round the tower, the shepherd saith unto me; "Let us go round the tower,
and see that there is no defect in it." And I proceeded to go round
it with him.
9[86]:7 And when the shepherd saw that the tower was very comely
in the building, he was exceedingly glad; for the tower was so well
builded, that when I saw it I coveted the building of it; for it was
builded, as it were, of one stone, having one fitting in it. And the
stone-work appeared as if hewn out of the rock; for it seemed to me
to be all a single stone.
10[87]:1 And I, as I walked with him, was glad to see so brave a
sight. And the shepherd saith to me; "Go and bring plaster and fine
clay, that I may fill up the shapes of the stones that have been taken
up and put into the building; for all the circuit of the tower must
be made smooth."
10[87]:2 And I did as he bade, and brought them to him. "Assist
me," saith he, "and the work will speedily be accomplished." So he
filled in the shapes of the stones which had gone to the building,
and ordered the circuit of the tower to be swept and made clean.
10[87]:3 And the virgins took brooms and swept, and they removed
all the rubbish from the tower, and sprinkled water, and the site
of the tower was made cheerful and very seemly.
10[87]:4 The shepherd saith unto me, "All," saith he, "hath now
been cleaned. If the lord come to inspect the tower, he hath nothing
for which to blame us." Saying this, he desired to go away.
10[87]:5 But I caught hold of his wallet, and began to adjure him
by the Lord that he would explain to me [all] what he had showed me.
He saith to me; "I am busy for a little while, and then I will explain
everything to thee. Await me here till I come."
10[87]:6 I say to him; "Sir, when I am here alone what shall I do?"
"Thou art not alone," saith he; "for these virgins are here with thee."
"Commend me then to them," say I. The shepherd calleth them to him
and saith to them; "I commend this man to you till I come," and he
departed.
11[88]:2 I say to them; "I will await him till evening, and if he
come not, I will depart home and return early in the morning." But
they answered and said unto me; "To us thou wast entrusted; thou
canst not depart from us."
11[88]:3 "Where then," say I, "shall I remain?" "Thou shalt pass
the night with us," say they as a brother, not as a husband; for thou
art our brother, and henceforward we will dwell with thee; for we love
thee dearly." But I was ashamed to abide with them.
11[88]:4 And she that seemed to be the chief of them began to kiss
and to embrace me; and the others seeing her embrace me, they too began
to kiss me, and to lead me round the tower, and to sport with me.
11[88]:5 And I had become as it were a younger man, and I commenced
myself likewise to sport with them. For some of them began to dance,
[others to skip,] others to sing. But I kept silence and walked with
them round the tower, and was glad with them.
11[88]:6 But when evening came I wished to go away home; but they
would not let me go, but detained me. And I stayed the night with
them, and I slept by the side of the tower.
11[88]:7 For the virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground,
and made me lie down in the midst of them, and they did nothing else
but pray; and I prayed with them without ceasing, and not less than
they. And the virgins rejoiced that I so prayed. And I stayed there
with the virgins until the morning till the second hour.
11[88]:8 Then came the shepherd, and saith to the virgins; "Have
ye done him any injury?" "Ask him," say they. I say to him, "Sir,
I was rejoiced to stay with them." "On what didst thou sup?" saith
he "I supped, Sir," say I, "on the words of the Lord the whole night
through." "Did they treat thee well?" saith he. "Yes, Sir," say I.
11[88]:9 "Now," saith he, "what wouldest thou hear first?" "In the
order as thou showedst to me, Sir, from the beginning," say I;
"I request thee, Sir, to explain to me exactly in the order that
I shall enquire of thee." According as thou desirest," saith he,
"even so will I interpret to thee, and I will conceal nothing whatever
from thee."
12[89]:1 "First of all, Sir," say I, "explain this to me. The rock
and the gate, what is it?" "This rock," saith he, "and gate is the
Son of God." "How, Sir," say I, "is the rock ancient, but the gate
recent?" "Listen," saith he, "and understand, foolish man.
12[89]:2 The Son of God is older than all His creation, so that
He became the Father's adviser in His creation. Therefore also He is
ancient." "But the gate, why is it recent, Sir?" say I.
12[89]:3 "Because," saith he, "He was made manifest in the last
days of the consummation; therefore the gate was made recent, that
they which are to be saved may enter through it into the kingdom of
God.
12[89]:4 Didst thou see," saith he, "that the stones which came
through the gate have gone to the building of the tower, but those
which came not through it were cast away again to their own place?"
"I saw, Sir," say I. "Thus," saith he, "no one shall enter into the
kingdom of God, except he receive the name of His Son.
12[89]:5 For if thou wishest to enter into any city, and that city
is walled all round and has one gate only, canst thou enter into that
city except through the gate which it hath?" "Why, how, Sir," say I,
"is it possible otherwise?" "If then thou canst not enter into the
city except through the gate itself, even so," saith he, "a man cannot
enter into the kingdom of God except by the name of His Son that is
beloved by Him.
12[89]:8 "The glorious man," saith he, "is the Son of God, and those
six are the glorious angels who guard Him on the right hand and on the
left. Of these glorious angels not one," saith he, "shall enter in
unto God without Him; whosoever shall not receive His name, shall not
enter into the kingdom of God."
13[90]:1 "But the tower," say I, "what is it?" "The tower," saith
he, "why, this is the Church.
13[90]:2 "And these virgins, who are they?" "They," saith he, "are
holy spirits; and no man can otherwise be found in the kingdom of God,
unless these shall clothe him with their garment; for if thou receive
only the name, but receive not the garment from them, thou profitest
nothing. For these virgins are powers of the Son of God. If [therefore]
thou bear the Name, and bear not His power, thou shalt bear His Name
to none effect.
13[90]:3 And the stones," saith he, "which thou didst see cast
away, these bare the Name, but clothed not themselves with the raiment
of the virgins." "Of what sort, Sir," say I, "is their raiment?" "The
names themselves," saith he, "are their raiment. Whosoever beareth the
Name of the Son of God, ought to bear the names of these also; for
even the Son Himself beareth the names of these virgins.
13[90]:4 As many stones," saith he, "as thou sawest enter into the
building of the tower, being given in by their hands and waiting for
the building, they have been clothed in the power of these virgins.
13[90]:5 For this cause thou seest the tower made a single stone
with the rock. So also they that have believed in the Lord through
His Son and clothe themselves in these spirits, shall become one spirit
and one body, and their garments all of one color. But such persons as
bear the names of the virgins have their dwelling in the tower."
13[90]:6 "The stones then, Sir," say I, "which are cast aside,
wherefore were they cast aside? For they passed through the gate and
were placed in the building of the tower by the hands of the virgins."
"Since all these things interest thee," saith he, "and thou enquirest
diligently, listen as touching the stones that have been cast aside.
13[90]:9 They then were cast away from the house of God, and
delivered to these (women). But they that were not deceived by the
beauty of these women remained in the house of God. So thou hast,"
saith he, "the interpretation of them that were cast aside."
13[90]:1 What then, Sir," say I, "if these men, being such as they
are, should repent and put away their desire for these women, and
return unto the virgins, and walk in their power and in their works?
Shall they not enter into the house of God?"
13[90]:2 "They shall enter," saith he, "if they shall put away the
works of these women, and take again the power of the virgins, and
walk in their works. For this is the reason why there was also a
cessation in the building, that, if these repent, they may go into
the building of the tower; but if they repent not, then others will
go, and these shall be cast away finally."
13[90]:5 "Listen," saith he. "The name of the Son of God is great
and incomprehensible, and sustaineth the whole world. If then all
creation is sustained by the Son [of God], what thinkest thou of those
that are called by Him, and bear the name of the Son of God, and walk
according to His commandments?
13[90]:6 Seest thou then what manner of men He sustaineth? Even
those that bear His name with their whole heart. He Himself then is
become their foundation, and He sustaineth them gladly, because they
are not ashamed to bear His name."
15[92]:1 "Declare to me, Sir," say I, "the names of the virgins,
and of the women that are clothed in the black garments." "Hear,"
saith he, "the names of the more powerful virgins, those that are
stationed at the corners.
15[92]:2 The first is Faith, and the second, Continence, and the
third, Power, and the fourth, Long-suffering. But the others
stationed between them have these names--Simplicity, Guilelessness,
Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, Love. He that
beareth these names and the name of the Son of God shall be able to
enter into the kingdom of God.
15[92]:3 Hear," saith he, "likewise the names of the women that
wear the black garments. Of these also four are more powerful than
the rest; the first is Unbelief; the second, Intemperance; the third,
Disobedience; the fourth, Deceit; and their followers are called,
Sadness, Wickedness, Wantonness, Irascibility, Falsehood, Folly,
Slander, Hatred. The servant of God that beareth these names shall
see the kingdom of God, but shall not enter into it."
15[92]:4 "But the stones, Sir," say I, "that came from the deep,
and were fitted into the building, who are they?" "The first," saith
he, "even the ten, that were placed in the foundations, are the first
generation; the twenty-five are the second generation of righteous
men; the thirty-five are God's prophets and His ministers; the forty
are apostles and teachers of the preaching of the Son of God."
15[92]:5 "Wherefore then, Sir," say I, "did the virgins give in
these stones also for the building of the tower and carry them through
the gate?"
15[92]:6 "Because these first," saith he, "bore these spirits, and
they never separated the one from the other, neither the spirits from
the men nor the men from the spirits, but the spirits abode with them
till they fell asleep; and if they had not had these spirits with them,
they would not have been found useful for the building of this tower."
15[92]:1 "Show me still further, Sir," say I. "What desirest thou
to know besides?" saith he. "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "did the stones
come up from the deep, and wherefore were they placed into the building,
though they bore these spirits?"
15[92]:2 "It was necessary for them," saith he, "to rise up through
water, that they might be made alive; for otherwise they could not
enter into the kingdom of God, except they had put aside the deadness
of their [former] life.
15[92]:3 So these likewise that had fallen asleep received the seal
of the Son of God and entered into the kingdom of God. For before a
man," saith he, "has borne the name of [the Son of] God, he is dead;
but when he has received the seal, he layeth aside his deadness, and
resumeth life.
15[92]:4 The seal then is the water: so they go down into the water
dead, and they come up alive. "thus to them also this seal was
preached, and they availed themselves of it that they might enter
into the kingdom of God."
15[92]:5 "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "did the forty stones also come
up with them from the deep, though they had already received the seal?"
"Because," saith he, "these, the apostles and the teachers who preached
the name of the Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power
and faith of the Son of God, preached also to them that had fallen
asleep before them, and themselves gave unto them the seal of the
preaching.
15[92]:6 Therefore they went down with them into the water, and
came up again. But these went down alive [and again came up alive];
whereas the others that had fallen asleep before them went down dead
and came up alive.
15[92]:7 So by their means they were quickened into life, and came
to the full knowledge of the name of the Son of God. For this cause
also they came up with them, and were fitted with them into the
building of the tower and were builded with them, without being shaped;
for they fell asleep in righteousness and in great purity. Only they
had not this seal. Thou hast then the interpretation of these things
also." "I have, Sir," say I.
17[94]:1 "Now then, Sir, explain to me concerning the mountains.
Wherefore are their forms diverse the one from the other, and various?"
"Listen," saith he. "These twelve mountains are [twelve] tribes that
inhabit the whole world. To these (tribes) then the Son of God was
preached by the Apostles."
17[94]:2 But explain to me, Sir, why they are various--these
mountains--and each has a different appearance." "Listen," saith he.
"These twelve tribes which inhabit the whole world are twelve nations;
and they are various in understanding and in mind. As various, then,
as thou sawest these mountains to be, such also are the varieties in
the mind of these nations, and such their understanding. And I will
show unto thee the conduct of each."
17[94]:3 "First, Sir," say I, "show me this, why the mountains
being so various, yet, when their stones were set into the building,
became bright and of one color, just like the stones that had come
up from the deep."
17[94]:4 "Because," saith he, "all the nations that dwell under
heaven, when they heard and believed, were called by the one name of
[the Son of] God. So having received the seal, they had one
understanding and one mind, and one faith became theirs and [one]
love, and they bore the spirits of the virgins along with the Name;
therefore the building of the tower became of one color, even bright
as the sun.
17[94]:5 But after they entered in together, and became one body,
some of them defiled themselves, and were cast out from the society
of the righteous, and became again such as they were before, or rather
even worse."
18[95]:1 "How, Sir," say I, "did they become worse, after they had
fully known God?" "He that knoweth not God," saith he, "and
committeth wickedness, hath a certain punishment for his wickedness;
but he that knoweth God fully ought not any longer to commit
wickedness, but to do good.
18[95]:2 If then he that ought to do good committeth wickedness,
does he not seem to do greater wickedness than the man that knoweth
not God? Therefore they that have not known God, and commit wickedness,
are condemned to death; but they that have known God and seen His
mighty works, and yet commit wickedness, shall receive a double
punishment, and shall die eternally. In this way therefore shall the
Church of God be purified.
18[95]:3 And as thou sawest the stones removed from the tower and
delivered over to the evil spirits, they too shall be cast out; and
there shall be one body of them that are purified, just as the tower,
after it had been purified, became made as it were of one stone.
Thus shall it be with the Church of God also, after she hath been
purified, and the wicked and hypocrites and blasphemers and
double-minded and they that commit various kinds of wickedness have
been cast out.
18[95]:4 When these have been cast out, the Church of God shall be
one body, one understanding, one mind, one faith, one love. And then
the Son of God shall rejoice and be glad in them, for that He hath
received back His people pure." "Great and glorious, Sir," say I,
"are all these things.
18[95]:5 Once more, Sir," [say I,] "show me the force and the
doings of each one of the mountains, that every soul that trusteth
in the Lord, when it heareth, may glorify His great and marvelous and
glorious name." "Listen," saith he, "to the variety of the mountains
and of the twelve nations.
19[96]:1 "From the first mountain, which was black, they that have
believed are such as these; rebels and blasphemers against the Lord,
and betrayers of the servants of God. For these there is no
repentance, but there is death. For this cause also they are black;
for their race is lawless.
19[96]:2 And from the second mountain, the bare one, they that
believed are such as these; hypocrites and teachers of wickedness.
And these then are like the former in not having the fruit of
righteousness. For, even as their mountain is unfruitful, so likewise
such men as these have a name indeed, but they are void of the faith,
and there is no fruit of truth in them. For these then repentance is
offered, if they repent quickly; but if they delay, they will have
their death with the former."
19[96]:3 "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "is repentance possible for
them, but not for the former ? For their doings are almost the same."
"On this account," he saith, "is repentance offered for them, because
they blasphemed not their Lord, nor became betrayers of the servants
of God; yet from desire of gain they played the hypocrite, and taught
each other [after] the desires of sinful men. But they shall pay a
certain penalty; yet repentance is ordained for them, because they
are not become blasphemers or betrayers.
20[97]:1 "And from the third mountain, which had thorns and briars,
they that believed are such as these; some of them are wealthy and
others are entangled in many business affairs. The briars are the
wealthy, and the thorns are they that are mixed up in various business
affairs.
20[97]:2 These [then, that are mixed up in many and various business
affairs,] cleave [not] to the servants of God, but go astray, being
choked by their affairs, but the wealthy unwillingly cleave to the
servants of God, fearing lest they may be asked for something by them.
Such men therefore shall hardly enter into the kingdom of God.
20[97]:3 For as it is difficult to walk on briars with bare feet,
so also it is difficult for such men to enter the kingdom of God.
20[97]:4 But for all these repentance is possible, but it must be
speedy, that in respect to what they omitted to do in the former times,
they may now revert to (past) days, and do some good. If then they
shall repent and do some good, they shall live unto God; but if they
continue in their doings, they shall be delivered over to those women,
the which shall put them to death.
20[97]:1 "And from the fourth mountain, which had much vegetation,
the upper part of the grass green and the part towards the roots
withered, and some of it dried up by the sun, they that believed are
such as these; the double-minded, and they that have the Lord on their
lips, but have Him not in their heart.
20[97]:2 Therefore their foundations are dry and without power,
and their words only live, but their works are dead. Such men are
neither alive nor dead. They are, therefore, like unto the
double-minded; for the double-minded are neither green nor withered;
for they are neither alive nor dead.
20[97]:3 For as their grass was withered up when it saw the sun,
so also the double-minded, when they hear of tribulation, through
their cowardice worship idols and are ashamed of the name of their
Lord.
20[97]:4 Such are neither alive nor dead. Yet these also, if they
repent quickly, shall be able to live; but if they repent not, they
are delivered over already to the women who deprive them of their
life.
22[99]:1 "And from the fifth mountain, which had green grass and
was rugged, they that believed are such as these; they are faithful,
but slow to learn and stubborn and self-pleasers, desiring to know
all things, and yet they know nothing at all.
22[99]:2 By reason of this their stubbornness, understanding stood
aloof from them, and a foolish senselessness entered into them; and
they praise themselves as having understanding, and they desire to be
self-appointed teachers, senseless though they are.
22[99]:3 Owing then to this pride of heart many, while they exalted
themselves, have been made empty; for a mighty demon is stubbornness
and vain confidence. Of these then many were cast away, but some
repented and believed, and submitted themselves to those that had
understanding, having learnt their own senselessness.
22[99]:4 Yea, and to the rest that belong to this class repentance
is offered; for they did not become wicked, but rather foolish and
without understanding. If these then shall repent, they shall live
unto God; but if they repent not, they shall have their abode with
the women who work evil against them.
23[100]:1 "But they that believed from the sixth mountain, which
had clefts great and small, and in the clefts herbage withered, are
such as these;
23[100]:2 they that have the small clefts, these are they that
have aught against one another, and from their backbitings they are
withered in the faith; but many of these repented Yea, and the rest
shall repent, when they hear my commandments; for their backbitings
are but small, and they shall quickly repent.
23[100]:3 But they that have great clefts, these are persistent in
their backbitings and bear grudges, nursing wrath against one another.
These then were thrown right away from the tower and rejected from
its building. Such persons therefore shall with difficulty live.
23[100]:4 If God and our Lord, Who ruleth over all things and hath
the authority over all His creation, beareth no grudge against them
that confess their sins, but is propitiated, doth man, who is mortal
and full of sins, bear a grudge against man, as though he were able
to destroy or save him?
23[100]:5 I say unto you--I, the angel of repentance--unto as many
as hold this heresy, put it away from you and repent, and the Lord
shall heal your former sins, if ye shall purify yourselves from this
demon; but if not, ye shall be delivered unto him to be put to death.
24[101]:1 " And from the seventh mountain, on which was herbage
green and smiling, and the whole mountain thriving, and cattle of
every kind and the fowls of heaven were feeding on the herbage on that
mountain, and the green herbage, on which they fed, only grew the more
luxuriant, they that believed are such as these;
24[101]:2 they were ever simple and guileless and blessed, having
nothing against one another, but rejoicing always in the servants of
God, and clothed in the Holy Spirit of these virgins, and having
compassion always on every man, and out of their labors they supplied
every man's need without reproach and without misgiving.
24[101]:3 The Lord then seeing their simplicity and entire
childliness made them to abound in the labors of their hands, and
bestowed favor on them in all their doings.
24[101]:4 But I say unto you that are such--I, the angel of
repentance--remain to the end such as ye are, and your seed shall
never be blotted out. For the Lord hath put you to the proof, and
enrolled you among our number, and your whole seed shall dwell with
the Son of God; for of His Spirit did ye receive.
25[102]:1 "And from the eighth mountain, where were the many
springs, and all the creatures of the Lord did drink of the springs,
they that believed are such as these;
25[102]:2 apostles and teachers, who preached unto the whole world,
and who taught the word of the Lord in soberness and purity, and kept
back no part at all for evil desire, but walked always in
righteousness and truth, even as also they received the Holy Spirit.
Such therefore shall have their entrance with the angels.
26[103]:1 "And from the ninth mountain, which was desert, which had
[the] reptiles and wild beasts in it which destroy mankind, they that
believed are such as these;
26[103]:2 they that have the spots are deacons that exercised their
office ill, and plundered the livelihood of widows and orphans, and
made gain for themselves from the ministrations which they had received
to perform. If then they abide in the same evil desire, they are dead
and there is no hope of life for them; but if they turn again and
fulfill their ministrations in purity, it shall be possible for them
to live.
26[103]:3 But they that are mildewed, these are they that denied
and turned not again unto their Lord, but having become barren and
desert, because they cleave not unto the servants of God but remain
alone, they destroy their own souls.
26[103]:4 For as a vine left alone in a hedge, if it meet with
neglect, is destroyed and wasted by the weeds, and in time becometh
wild and is no longer useful to its owner, so also men of this kind
have given themselves up in despair and become useless to their Lord,
by growing wild.
26[103]:5 To these then repentance cometh, unless they be found to
have denied from the heart; but if a man be found to have denied from
the heart, I know not whether it is possible for him to live.
26[103]:6 And this I say not in reference to these days, that a man
after denying should receive repentance; for it is impossible for him
to be saved who shall now deny his Lord; but for those who denied
Him long ago repentance seemeth to be possible. If a man therefore
will repent, let him do so speedily before the tower is completed;
but if not, he shall be destroyed by the women and put to death.
26[103]:7 And the stunted, these are the treacherous and backbiters;
and the wild beasts which thou sawest on the mountain are these. For as
wild beasts with their venom poison and kill a man, so also do the
words of such men poison and kill a man.
26[103]:8 These then are broken off short from their faith through
the conduct which they have in themselves; but some of them repented
and were saved; and the rest that are of this kind can be saved, if
they repent; but if they repent not, they shall meet their death from
those women of whose power they are possessed.
27[104]:1 "And from the tenth mountain, where were trees sheltering
certain sheep, they that believed are such as these;
27[104]:2 bishops, hospitable persons, who gladly received into
their houses at all times the servants of God without hypocrisy.
[These bishops] at all times without ceasing sheltered the needy and
the widows in their ministration and conducted themselves in purity
at all times.
27[104]:3 These [all] then shall be sheltered by the Lord for ever.
They therefore that have done these things are glorious in the sight
of God, and their place is even now with the angels, if they shall
continue unto the end serving the Lord.
27[104]:1 "And from the eleventh mountain, where were trees full
of fruit, decked with divers kinds of fruits, they that believed are
such as these;
27[104]:2 they that suffered for the Name [of the Son of God], who
also suffered readily with their whole heart, and yielded up their
lives."
27[104]:3 "Wherefore then, Sir," say I, "have all the trees fruits,
but some of their fruits are more beautiful than others?" "Listen,"
saith he; "all as many as ever suffered for the Name's sake are
glorious in the sight of God, and the sins of all these were taken
away, because they suffered for the name of the Son of God. Now here
why their fruits are various, and some surpassing others.
27[104]:4 "As many," saith he, "as were tortured and denied not,
when brought before the magistery, but suffered readily, these are the
more glorious in the sight of the Lord; their fruit is that which
surpasseth. But as many as become cowards, and were lost in uncertainty,
and considered in their hearts whether they should deny or confess,
and yet suffered, their fruits are less, because this design entered
into their heart; for this design is evil, that a servant should deny
his own lord.
27[104]:5 See to it, therefore, ye who entertain this idea, lest
this design remain in your hearts, and ye die unto God. But ye that
suffer for the Name's sake ought to glorify God, because God deemed
you worthy that ye should bear this name, and that all your sins
should be healed.
27[104]:6 Reckon yourselves blessed therefore; yea, rather think
that ye have done a great work, if any of you shall suffer for God's
sake. The Lord bestoweth life upon you, and ye percieved it not; for
your sins weighed you down, and if ye had not suffered for the Name
[of the Lord], ye had died unto God by reason of your sins.
27[104]:7 These things I say unto you that waver as touching denial
and confession. Confess that ye have the Lord, lest denying Him ye
be delivered into prison.
27[104]:8 If the Gentiles punish their slaves, if any one deny his
lord, what think ye the Lord will do unto you, He who has authority
over all things? Away with these designs from your hearts, that ye may
live forever unto God."
27[104]:1 "And from the twelfth mountain, which was white, they
that believed are such as these; they that are as very babes, into
whose heart no guile entereth, neither lernt they what wickedness is,
but they remained as babes forever.
27[104]:2 Such as these then dwell without doubt in the kingdom of
God, because they defiled the commandments of God in nothing, but
continued as babes all the days of their life in the same mind.
27[104]:3 As many of you therefore as shall continue," saith he,
"and shall be as infants not having guile, shall be glorious [even]
than all them that have been mentioned before; for all infants are
glorious in the sight of God, and stand first in His sight. Blessed
then are ye, as many as have put away wickedness from you, and have
clothed yourselves in guilelessness: ye shall live unto God cheifest
of all."
27[104]:4 After he had finished the parables of the mountains,
I say unto him, "Sir, now explain to me concerning the stones that
were taken from the plain and placed in the building in the room of
the stoes that were taken from the tower, and concerning the round
(stones) which were placed in the building, and concerning those that
were still round".
27[104]:1 "Hear," saith he, "likewise concerning all these things.
The stones which were taken from the plain and placed in the building
of the tower in the room of those that were rejected, are the roots of
this white mountain.
27[104]:2 When then they that believed from this mountain were all
found guiltless, the lord of the tower ordered these from the roots
of the mountain to be put into the building of the tower. For He knew
that if these stones should go into the building [of the tower], they
would remain bright and not one of them would turn black.
27[104]:3 But if he added (stones) from other mountains, he would
have been obliged to visit the tower again, and to purify it. Now all
these have been found white, who have believed and who shall believe;
for they are of the same kind. Blessed is this kind, for it is
innocent!
27[104]:4 Hear now likewise concerning those round and bright
stones. All these are from the white mountain. Now here wherefore they
have been found round. Their riches have darkened and obscured them a
little from the truth.
27[104]:5 When therefore the Lord percieved their mind, *that they
could favor the truth,* and likewise remain good, He commanded their
possessions to be cut off from them, yet not to be taken away
altogether, so that they might be able to do some good with that which
hath been left to them, and might live unto God for that they come of
a good kind. So therefore they have been cut away a little, and placed
in the building of this tower".
27[104]:1 "But the other (stones), which have remained round and
have not been fitted into the building, because they have not yet
received the seal, have been replaced in their own possession, for
they were found very round.
27[104]:2 For this world and the vanities of their possessions must
be cut off from them, and then they will fit into the kingdom of God.
For it is necessary that they should enter into the kingdom of God;
because the Lord hath blessed this innocent kind. Of this kind then
not one shall perish. Yea, even though any one of them being tempted
by the most wicked devil have committed any fault, he shall return
speedily unto his Lord.
27[104]:3 Blessed I pronounced you all to be--I the angel of
repentance--whoever of you are guileless as infants, because your
part is good and honorable in the sight of God.
27[104]a:4 Moreover I bid all of you, whoever have received this
seal, keep guilelessness, and bear no grudge, and continue not in your
wickedness nor in the memory of the offenses of bitterness; but become
of one spirit, and heal these evil clefts and take them away from among
you, that the owner of the flocks may rejoice concerning them.
27[104a]:5 For he will rejoice, if he find all things whole. But
if he find any part of the flock scattered, woe unto the shepherds.
27[104a]:6 For if the shepherds themselves shall have been found
scattered, how will they answer for the flocks? Will they say that they
were harassed by the flock? No credence will be given them. For it is
an incredible thing that a shepherd should be injured by his flock;
and he will be punished the more because of his falsehood. And I am
the shepherd, and it behoveth me most strongly to render an account
for you.
32[109]:1 "Amend yourselves therefore, while the tower is still in
course of building.
32[109]:2 The Lord dwelleth in men that love peace; for to Him
peace is dear; but from the contentious and them that are given up to
wickedness He keepeth afar off. Restore therefore to Him your spirit
whole as ye received it.
32[109]:3 For suppose thou hast given to a fuller a new garment
whole, and desirest to receive it back again whole, but the fuller
give it back to thee torn, wilt thou receive it thus? Wilt thou not
at once blaze out and attack him with reproaches, saying; "The
garment which I gave thee was whole; wherefore hast thou rent it and
made it useless? See, by reason of the rent, which thou hast made in
it, it cannot be of use." Wilt thou not then say all this to a fuller
even about a rent which he has made in thy garment?
32[109]:4 If therefore thou art thus vexed in the matter of thy
garment, and complainest because thou receivest it not back whole,
what thinkest thou the Lord will do to thee, He, Who gave thee the
spirit whole, and thou hast made it absolutely useless, so that it
cannot be of any use at all to its Lord? For its use began to be
useless, when it was corrupted by thee. Will not therefore the Lord
of this spirit for this thy deed punish [thee with death]?"
32[109]:5 "Certainly," I said, "all those, whomsoever He shall find
continuing to bear malice, He will punish." "Trample not," said he,
"upon His mercy, but rather glorify Him, because He is so
long-suffering with your sins, and is not like unto you. Practice
then repentance which is expedient for you.
33[110]:1 "All these things which are written above I, the shepherd,
the angel of repentance, have declared and spoken to the servants of
God. If then ye shall believe and hear my words, and walk in them, and
amend your ways, ye shall be able to live. But if ye continue in
wickedness and in bearing malice, no one of this kind shall live unto
God. All things which were to be spoken by me have (now) been spoken
to you."
33[110]:2 The shepherd said to me, "Hast thou asked me all thy
questions?" And I said, "Yes, Sir." "Why then hast thou not enquired
of me concerning the shape of the stones placed in the building, in
that we filled up their shapes?" And I said, "I forgot, Sir."
33[110]:3 "Listen now," said he, "concerning them. These are they
that have heard my commandments now, and have practiced repentance
with their whole heart. So when the Lord saw that their repentance was
good and pure, and that they could continue therein, he ordered their
former sins to be blotted out. These shapes then were their former
sins, and they have been chiseled away that they might not appear."
Parable 10
1[111]:1 After I had written out this book completely, the angel
who had delivered me to the shepherd came to the house where I was,
and sat upon a couch, and the shepherd stood at his right hand. Then
he called me, and spake thus unto me;
1[111]:2 "I delivered thee," said he, "and thy house to this
shepherd, that thou mightest be protected by him." "True, Sir,"
I said "If therefore," said he, "thou desirest to be protected from
all annoyance and all cruelty, to have also success in every good work
and word, and all the power of righteousness, walk in his commandments,
which I have given thee, and thou shalt be able to get the mastery
over all wickedness.
1[111]:3 For if thou keep his commandments, all evil desire and
the sweetness of this world shall be subject unto thee; moreover
success shall attend thee in every good undertaking. Embrace his
gravity and self-restraint, and tell it out unto all men that he is
held in great honor and dignity with the Lord, and is a ruler of great
authority, and powerful in his office. To him alone in the whole world
hath authority over repentance been assigned. Seemeth he to thee to be
powerful? Yet ye despise the gravity and moderation which he useth
towards you."
2[112]:1 I say unto him; "Ask him, Sir, himself, whether from the
time that he hath been in my house, I have done ought out of order,
whereby I have offended him."
2[112]:2 "I myself know," said he, "that thou hast done nothing
out of order, nor art about to do so. And so I speak these things
unto thee, that thou mayest persevere. For he hath given a good
account of thee unto me. Thou therefore shalt speak these words to
others, that they too who have practiced or shall practice repentance
may be of the same mind as thou art; and he may give a good report of
them to me, and I unto the Lord."
2[112]:3 "I too, Sir," I say, "declare to every man the mighty
works of the Lord; for I hope that all who have sinned in the past,
if they hear these things, will gladly repent and recover life."
2[112]:4 "Continue therefore," said he, "in this ministry, and
complete it unto the end. For whosoever fulfill his commandments
shall have life; yea such a man (shall have) great honor with the Lord.
But whosoever keep not his commandments, fly from their life, and
oppose him, and follow not his commandments, but deliver themselves
over to death; and each one becometh guilty of his own blood. But
I bid thee obey these commandments, and thou shalt have a remedy for
thy sins.
3[113]:1 "Moreover, I have sent these virgins unto thee, that they
may dwell with thee; for I have seen that they are friendly towards
thee. Thou hast them therefore as helpers, that thou mayest be the
better able to keep his commandments; for it is impossible that these
commandments be kept without the help of these virgins. I see too that
they are glad to be with thee. But I will charge them that they
depart not at all from thy house.
3[113]:2 Only do thou purify thy house; for in a clean house they
will gladly dwell. For they are clean and chaste and industrious,
and have favor in the sight of the Lord. If, therefore, they shall
find thy house pure, they will continue with thee; but if the
slightest pollution arise, they will depart from thy house at once.
For these virgins love not pollution in any form."
3[113]:3 I said unto him, "I hope, Sir, that I shall please them,
so that they may gladly dwell in my house for ever; and just as he to
whom thou didst deliver me maketh no complaint against me, so they
likewise shall make no complaint."
3[113]:4 He saith unto the shepherd, "I perceive," saith he, "that
he wishes to live as the servant of God, and that he will keep these
commandments, and will place these virgins in a clean habitation."
3[113]:5 With these words he again delivered me over to the
shepherd, and called the virgins, and said to them; "Inasmuch as
I see that ye are glad to dwell in this man's house, I commend to you
him and his house, that ye depart not at all from his house." But they
heard these words gladly.
4[114]:1 He said then to me, "Quit you like a man in this ministry;
declare to every man the mighty works of the Lord, and thou shalt
have favor in this ministry. Whosoever therefore shall walk in these
commandments, shall live and be happy in his life; but whosoever shall
neglect them, shall not live, and shall be unhappy in his life.
4[114]:2 Charge all men who are able to do right, that they cease
not to practice good works; for it is useful for them. I say moreover
that every man ought to be rescued from misfortune; for he that hath
need, and suffereth misfortune in his daily life, is in great torment
and want.
4[114]:3 Whosoever therefore rescueth from penury a life of this
kind, winneth great joy for himself. For he who is harassed by
misfortune of this sort is afflicted and tortured with equal torment
as one who is in chains. For many men on account of calamities of this
kind, because they can bear them no longer, lay violent hands on
themselves. He then who knows the calamity of a man of this kind and
rescueth him not, committeth great sin, and becometh guilty of the
man's blood.
4[114]:4 Do therefore good works, whoever of you have received
(benefits) from the Lord, lest, while ye delay to do them, the
building of the tower be completed. For it is on your account that
the work of the building has been interrupted. Unless then ye hasten
to do right, the tower will be completed, and ye shut out."
4[114]:5 When then he had finished speaking with me, he rose from
the couch and departed, taking with him the shepherd and the virgins.
He said however unto me, that he would send the shepherd and the
virgins back again to my house. . .
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