Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 9, Chapter 20

Among Thorns and Thistles, the Riches Choke

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Similitude 9.20.1Those who believed from the third mountain, which has thorns and thistles, are like this: some are rich, and some are entangled in many business dealings. The thistles are the rich, and the thorns are those entangled in various business dealings.

Similitude 9.20.2These people entangled in many and varied business dealings do not attach themselves to God’s servants, but wander away, choked by their occupations. The rich attach themselves to God’s servants with difficulty, fearing that something might be asked of them. Such people, therefore, will enter the kingdom of God with difficulty.

Similitude 9.20.3For just as walking barefoot among thistles is difficult, so it is difficult for such people to enter the kingdom of God.

Similitude 9.20.4But repentance is available to all these, though it must be swift, so that they may now make up in these days what they did not do in former times and do some good. If they repent and do some good, they will live to God. But if they persist in their occupations, they will be handed over to those women, who will put them to death.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.