top Hermas: Parables 10

Parable 10 Chapter 1
1  Postquam perscripseram librum hunc, venit nuntius ille, qui me tradiderat huic pastori, in domum in qua eram et consedit supra lectum, et adstitit ad dexteram hic pastor. Deinde vocavit me et haec mihi dixit: 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 spoke thus unto me:
2  Tradidi te, inquit, et domum tuam huic pastori, ut ab eo protegi possis. Ita, inquam, domine. Si vis ergo protegi, inquit, ab omni vexatione et ab omni saevitia, successum autem habere in omni opere bono atque verbo, et omnem virtutem aequitatis, in mandatis huius ingredere, quae dedi tibi, et poteris dominari omni nequitiae. "I delivered you," said he, "and your house to this shepherd, that you mightest be protected by him." "True, Sir," I said "If therefore," said he, "you 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 you, and you shall be able to get the mastery over all wickedness.
3  Custodienti enim tibi mandata huius subiecta erit omnis cupiditas et dulcedo saeculi huius; successus vero in omni bono negotio te sequetur. Maturitatem huius et modestiam suscipe in te, et dic omnibus in magno honore esse eum et dignitate apud dominum, et magnae potestatis eum praesidem esse et potentem in officio suo. Huic soli per totum orbem paenitentiae potestas tributa est. Potensne tibi videtur esse? Sed vos maturitatem huius et verecundiam, quam in vos habet, dispicitis. For if you keep his commandments, all evil desire and the sweetness of this world shall be subject unto you; moreover success shall attend you 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 has authority over repentance been assigned. Seems he to you to be powerful? Yet you despise the gravity and moderation which he uses toward you."

Parable 10 Chapter 2
1 Dico ei: Interroga ipsum, domine, ex quo in domo mea est, an aliquid extra ordinem fecerim, ex quo eum offenderim. I say unto him; "Ask him, Sir, himself, whether from the time that he has been in my house, I have done ought out of order, whereby I have offended him."
2 Et ego, inquit, scio nihil extra ordinem fecisse te neque esse facturum. Et ideo haec loquor tecum, ut perseveres. Bene enim de te hic apud me existimavit. Tu autem ceteris haec verba dices, ut et illi, qui egerunt aut acturi sunt paenitentiam, eadem quae tu sentiant et hic apud me de his bene interpretetur et ego apud dominum. "I myself know," said he, "that you had done nothing out of order, nor are about to do so. And so I speak these things unto you, that you may persevere. For he has given a good account of you unto me. You therefore shall speak these words to others, that they too who have practiced or shall practice repentance may be of the same mind as you are; and he may give a good report of them to me, and I unto the Lord."
3 Et ego, inquam, domine, omni homini indico magnalia domini; spero autem, quia omnes, qui antea peccaverunt, si haec audiant, libenter acturi sunt paenitentiam vitam recuperantes. "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."
4 Permane ergo, inquit, in hoc ministerio et consumma illud. Quicumque autem mandata huius efficiunt, habebunt vitam, et hic apud dominum magnum honorem. Quicumque vero huius mandata non servant, fugiunt a sua vita et illum adversus; nec mandata eius sequuntur, sed morti se tradunt et unusquisque eorum reus fit sanguinis sui. Tibi autem dico, ut servias mandatis his, et remedium peccatorum habebis. "Continue therefore," said he, "in this ministry, and complete it unto the end. For whosoever fulfill his commandments shall have life; yes 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 becomes guilty of his own blood. But I bid you obey these commandments, and you shall have a remedy for your sins.

Parable 10 Chapter 3
1 Misi autem tibi has virgines, ut habitent tecum; vidi enim eas affabiles tibi esse. Habes ergo eas adiutrices, quo magis possis huius mandata servare; non potest enim fieri, ut sine his virginibus haec mandata serventur. Video autem eas libenter esse tecum; sed ego praecipiam eis, ut omnino a domo tua non discedant. "Moreover, I have sent these virgins unto you, that they may dwell with you; for I have seen that they are friendly toward you. You had them therefore as helpers, that you may 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 you. But I will charge them who they depart not at all from your house.
2 Tu tantum communda domum tuam; in munda enim domo libenter habitabunt; mundae enim sunt atque castae et industriae et omnes habentes gratiam apud dominum. Igitur si habuerint domum tuam puram, tecum permanebunt. Sin autem pusillum aliquid inquinationis acciderit, protinus a domo tua recedent; hae enim virgenes nullum omnino diligunt inquinationem. Only do you purify your 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 your house pure, they will continue with you; but if the slightest pollution arise, they will depart from your house at once. For these virgins love not pollution in any form."
3 Dico ei: Spero me, domine, placiturum eis, ita ut in domo mea libenter habitent semper. καὶ ὥσπερ οὗτος, ᾧ παρέδωκάς με, οὐ μέμφεταί με, οὐδὲ αὗται μέμψονταί με. 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 you did deliver me makes no complaint against me, so they likewise shall make no complaint."
4 λέγει τῷ ποιμένι· Οἶδα, ὅτι ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ θεοῦ θέλει ζῆν καὶ τηρήσει τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας καὶ τὰς παρθένους ἐν καθαρότητι καταστήσει. He says unto the shepherd, "I perceive," says 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."
5 ταῦτα εἰπὼν τῷ ποιμένι πάλιν παρέδωκέν με καὶ τὰς παρθένους καλέσας. . .. λέγει αὐταῖς· Quoniam video vos libenter in domo huius habitare, commendo eum vobis et domum eius, ut a domo eius non recedatis omnino. Illae vero haec verba libenter audierunt. With these words he again delivered me over to the shepherd, and called the virgins, and said to them; "Inasmuch as I see that you are glad to dwell in this man's house, I commend to you him and his house, that you depart not at all from his house." But they heard these words gladly.

Parable 10 Chapter 4
1 Ait deinde mihi: Viriliter in ministerio hoc conversare, omni homini indica magnalia domini, et habebis gratiam in hoc ministerio. Quicumque ergo in his mandatis ambulaverit, vivet et felix erit in vita sua; quicumque vero neglexerit, non vivet et erit infelix in vita sua. He said then to me, "Quit you like a man in this ministry; declare to every man the mighty works of the Lord, and you shall 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.
2 Dic omnibus, ut non cessent, quicumque recte facere possunt; bona opera exercere utile est illis. Dico autem, omnen hominem de incommodis eripi oportere. Et is enim, qui eget et in cotidiana vita patitur incommoda, in magno tormento est ac necessitate. 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 who has need, and suffers misfortune in his daily life, is in great torment and want.
3 Qui igitur huiusmodi animam eripit de necessitate, magnum gaudium sibi adquirit. Is enim, qui huiusmodi vexatur incommodo, pari tormento cruciatur atque torquet se qui in vincula est. Multi enim propter huiusmodi calamites, cum eas sufferre non possunt, mortem sibi adducunt. Qui novit igitur calamitatem huiusmodi hominis et non eripit eum, magnum peccatum admittit et reus fit sanguinis eius. Whosoever therefore rescues from penury a life of this kind, wins 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 rescues him not, commits great sin, and becomes guilty of the man's blood.
4 Facite igitur opera bona, quicumque accepistis a domino, ne, dum tardatis facere, consummetur structura turris. Propter vos enim intermissum est opus aedificationis eius. Nisi festinetis igitur facere recte, consummabitur turris, et excludemini. Do therefore good works, whoever of you have received (benefits) from the Lord, lest, while you 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 you hasten to do right, the tower will be completed, and you shut out."
5 Postquam vero locutus est mecum, surrexit de lecto et apprehenso pastore et virginibus abiit, dicens autem mihi, remissurum se pastorem illum et virgines in domum meam. 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. ..