top 1 Clement ch 30

Chapter 30

Live a holy life

1 ἁγίου οὖν μερὶς ὑπάρχοντες ποιήσωμεν τὰ τοῦ ἁγιασμοῦ πάντα, φεύγοντες καταλαλιάς, μιαράς τε καὶ ἀνάγνους συμπλοκάς, μέθας τε καὶ νεωτερισμοὺς καὶ βδελυκτὰς ἐπιθυμίας, μυσερὰν μοιχείαν, βδελυκτὴν ὑπερηφανίαν. Therefore, since we are the special portion of the Holy One, let's do all things that pertain to holiness, forsaking slander, filthy and impure liaisons, drunkenness, rebellions, foul adultery, disgusting pride.
2 Θεὸς γάρ, φησίν, ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. "For God," it says, "resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Prov. 3:34).
3 κολληθῶμεν οὖν ἐκείνοις, οἷς ἡ χάρις ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ δέδοται· ἐνδυσώμεθα τὴν ὁμόνοιαν ταπεινοφρονοῦντες, ἐγκρατευόμενοι, ἀπὸ παντὸς ψιθυρισμοῦ καὶ καταλαλιᾶς πόρρω ἑαυτοὺς ποιοῦντες, ἔργοις δικαιούμενοι, μὴ λόγοις. Let's cling to those to whom grace has been given from God. Let's clothe ourselves in harmony, being humble, self-controlled, keeping ourselves away from all backbiting and slander, being justified by works and not by words.
4 λέγει γάρ· Ὁ τὰ πολλὰ λέγων καὶ ἀντακούσεται· ἢ ὁ εὔλαλος οἴεται εἶναι δίκαιος; For it says, "He who says much will also hear much in return. Does the talkative person think he is righteous?
5 εὐλογημένος γεννητὸς γυναικὸς ὀλιγόβιος. μὴ πολὺς ἐν ῥήμασιν γίνου. Blessed is the person who is born of a woman but lives only a short time. Don't be extra talkative.
6 ὁ ἔπαινος ἡμῶν ἔστω ἐν θεῷ καὶ μὴ ἐξ αὐτῶν· αὐτεπαινέτους γὰρ μισεῖ ὁ θεός. Let our praise be in God and not in ourselves, for God hates those who praise themselves.
7 ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς ἀγαθῆς πράξεως ἡμῶν διδόσθω ὑπ᾿ ἄλλων, καθὼς ἐδόθη τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν τοῖς δικαίοις. Let the testimony to our good deeds be given by others just as it was given to our fathers who were righteous.
8 θράσος καὶ αὐθάδεια καὶ τόλμα τοῖς κατηραμένοις ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ· ἐπιείκεια καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνη καὶ πραΰτης παρὰ τοῖς ηὐλογημένοις ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ. Boldness, arrogance, and audacity are for those who are cursed by God; but graciousness, humility, and gentleness are with those who are blessed by God.