Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 9, Chapter 8
The Stones Carried Outside the Tower
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Similitude 9.8.1We began by inspecting the black stones. They were found just as they had been when removed from the building, and the shepherd ordered them taken away from the tower and set apart.
Similitude 9.8.2Then he inspected the scabby stones. He took many of them and cut them, and commanded the virgins to carry them and put them into the building. The virgins carried them and placed them in the building at the middle of the tower. He ordered the others placed with the black stones, for these too were found black.
Similitude 9.8.3Then he inspected those with cracks. He cut many of these and ordered them taken into the building by the virgins. They were placed on the outside, because they were found sounder. But the others could not be cut because of their many cracks. For this reason they were rejected from the building of the tower.
Similitude 9.8.4Then he inspected the stones broken short, and many among them were found black, while some had developed large cracks. He ordered these too placed with the rejected stones. After cleaning and cutting those that remained, he ordered them placed in the building. The virgins carried them and fitted them into the middle of the tower’s construction, for they were weaker.
Similitude 9.8.5Then he inspected those that were half white and half black, and many of them were found black. He ordered these too removed with the rejected stones. All the others were carried by the virgins; being white, they were fitted into the building by the virgins themselves. They were placed on the outside, because they were found sound enough to hold together those placed in the middle; for nothing at all had been broken off them.
Similitude 9.8.6Then he inspected the rough, hard stones. A few were rejected because they could not be cut, for they were found very hard. The others were cut, carried by the virgins, and fitted into the middle of the tower’s construction, for they were weaker.
Similitude 9.8.7Then he inspected those with stains. Very few of these had turned black and were rejected with the others. Those remaining were found gleaming and sound; these were fitted into the building by the virgins and placed on the outside because of their strength.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.