Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 3, Chapter 1
The Right Hand Is Kept for Those Who Suffered
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Vision 3.1.1Brothers and sisters, this is the vision I saw.
Vision 3.1.2After I had fasted often and begged the Lord to make clear to me the revelation He had promised to show me through that elderly woman, that very night the elderly woman appeared to me and said, “Since you are so needy and eager to know everything, come to the field where you grind grain. About the fifth hour I will appear to you and show you what you must see.”
Vision 3.1.3I asked her, “Lady, to what part of the field?” “Wherever you wish,” she said. I chose a pleasant secluded place. But before I spoke to her and named the place, she said to me, “I will come there, where you wish.”
Vision 3.1.4So, brothers and sisters, I went to the field, counted the hours, and came to the place where I had arranged for her to come. I saw an ivory bench standing there, with a linen cushion on it and a cloth of fine linen spread over it.
Vision 3.1.5When I saw these things set there, with no one in the place, I was astonished. A trembling seized me and my hair stood on end; a shudder came over me as I stood alone. Then I came to myself, remembered God’s glory, and took courage. I knelt down and again confessed my sins to the Lord, as before.
Vision 3.1.6She came with six young men whom I had also seen before, stood beside me, and listened while I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. Touching me, she said, “Hermas, stop making all your requests about your sins. Ask also about righteousness, so that you may receive some share of it for your household.”
Vision 3.1.7She raised me by the hand, led me to the bench, and said to the young men, “Go and build.”
Vision 3.1.8After the young men withdrew and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit here.” I said to her, “Lady, let the elders sit first.” “Do as I tell you,” she said. “Sit down.”
Vision 3.1.9When I wanted to sit on the right side, she did not allow it, but signaled with her hand that I should sit on the left. As I wondered and grieved because she had not let me sit on the right, she said to me, “Are you grieving, Hermas? The place on the right belongs to others, those who have already pleased God and suffered for the Name. You still lack much before you can sit with them. But continue in your simplicity as you are doing, and you will sit with them, as will all who do their works and endure what they endured.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.