Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 5, Chapter 4
The Field, the Vineyard, and the Son
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Similitude 5.4.1I begged him earnestly to explain to me the parable of the field, the master, the vineyard, the slave who staked the vineyard, the stakes, the weeds pulled out of the vineyard, the son, and the friends who were counselors. For I understood that all these things formed a parable.
Similitude 5.4.2He answered me, “You are very insistent in asking questions. You ought not to ask anything at all. If something needs to be explained to you, it will be explained.” I said to him, “Sir, whatever you show me without explaining, I will have seen in vain, without understanding what it is. Likewise, if you tell me parables without explaining them, I will have heard something from you in vain.”
Similitude 5.4.3Again he answered me, saying, “Whoever is God’s servant and has his own Lord in his heart asks Him for understanding and receives it. He interprets every parable, and the Lord’s sayings spoken through parables become known to him. But those who are weak and idle in petition hesitate to ask the Lord.
Similitude 5.4.4“The Lord is deeply compassionate and gives continually to everyone who asks Him. But you have been strengthened by the holy angel, have received such petition from him, and are not idle. Why do you not ask the Lord for understanding and receive it from Him?”
Similitude 5.4.5I said to him, “Sir, since I have you with me, I need to ask you and question you, for you show me everything and speak with me. If I had seen or heard these things without you, I would have asked the Lord to have them explained to me.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.