Shepherd of Hermas — Mandate 8, Chapter 1
Restrain Yourself from Evil, Never from Good
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Mandate 8.1.1“I told you,” he says, “that God’s creatures are twofold; for self-control is also twofold. In some matters one must restrain oneself, but in others one must not.”
Mandate 8.1.2“Make known to me, sir,” I say, “in what matters one must restrain oneself and in what matters one must not.” “Listen,” he says. “Restrain yourself from evil, and do not do it; but do not restrain yourself from good—do it. For if you restrain yourself so as not to do good, you commit a great sin; but if you restrain yourself so as not to do evil, you perform great righteousness. Restrain yourself, then, from every wickedness, doing good.”
Mandate 8.1.3“What kinds of wickedness, sir,” I say, “must we restrain ourselves from?” “Listen,” he says. “From adultery and sexual immorality, from lawless drunkenness, from evil luxury, from abundant foods and the extravagance of wealth, from boasting, conceit, pride, falsehood, slander, hypocrisy, bearing grudges, and every blasphemy.
Mandate 8.1.4“These deeds are the most wicked of all in human life. God’s servant must therefore restrain himself from these deeds, for one who does not restrain himself from them cannot live to God. Hear also the things that follow from these.”
Mandate 8.1.5“Are there still more evil deeds, sir?” I say. “Indeed there are many,” he says, “from which God’s servant must restrain himself: theft, lying, fraud, false witness, greed, evil desire, deceit, empty glory, arrogance, and everything like these.
Mandate 8.1.6“Do you not think these things are evil?” “Very evil,” I say, “for God’s servants.” “The one who serves God must restrain himself from all these things. Restrain yourself from all of them, then, so that you may live to God and be enrolled with those who abstain from them. These, then, are the things from which you must restrain yourself.
Mandate 8.1.7“But hear the things,” he says, “from which you must not restrain yourself, but which you must do. Do not restrain yourself from good, but do it.”
Mandate 8.1.8“Explain to me also, sir,” I say, “the power of good things, so that I may walk in them and serve them, and by doing them be able to be saved.” “Hear also,” he says, “the good works that you must do and from which you must not restrain yourself.
Mandate 8.1.9“First of all: faith, fear of the Lord, love, harmony, words of righteousness, truth, endurance. There is nothing better than these in human life. If someone keeps these things and does not restrain himself from them, he becomes blessed in his life.
Mandate 8.1.10“Next, hear the things that follow them: serve widows; care for orphans and those in need; ransom God’s servants from distress; be hospitable, for in hospitality some doing of good is found; oppose no one; be quiet; place yourself below all people; respect the elderly; practice righteousness; preserve the brotherhood; bear insult; be patient; hold no grudge; encourage those weary in soul; do not cast away those who have stumbled from the faith, but turn them back and cheer them; admonish sinners; do not oppress debtors and the needy; and do anything resembling these.
Mandate 8.1.11“Do these things seem good to you?” he says. “For what, sir,” I say, “could be better than these?” “Walk in them, then,” he says, “and do not restrain yourself from them, and you will live to God.
Mandate 8.1.12“Keep this commandment, then. If you do good and do not restrain yourself from it, you will live to God, and all who do this will live to God. And again, if you do not do evil but restrain yourself from it, you will live to God; and all who keep these commandments and walk in them will live to God.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.