Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 3, Chapter 2
Scourgings, Prisons, and Crosses for the Name
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Vision 3.2.1“What did they endure?” I said. “Listen,” she said. “Scourgings, imprisonments, great afflictions, crosses, wild beasts, for the sake of the Name. For this reason the right side of the sanctuary belongs to them and to whoever suffers for the Name; the left side belongs to the rest. But both those seated on the right and those on the left have the same gifts and the same promises. Only, the former sit on the right and have a certain glory.
Vision 3.2.2“You eagerly desire to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. Yet you will be cleansed from your shortcomings, and all who are not double-minded will be cleansed from all their sins up to this day.”
Vision 3.2.3Having said this, she wished to depart. But I fell at her feet and entreated her by the Lord to show me the vision she had promised.
Vision 3.2.4Again she took my hand, raised me, and seated me on the bench on the left; she herself sat on the right. Raising a shining rod, she said to me, “Do you see something great?” I said to her, “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to me, “Look! Do you not see before you a great tower being built upon waters with shining square stones?”
Vision 3.2.5The tower was being built in a square by the six young men who had come with her. Countless other men were carrying stones, some from the deep and some from the land, and handing them to the six young men. They received them and built.
Vision 3.2.6All the stones drawn from the deep they placed straight into the building, for they were already fitted and joined harmoniously with the others. They adhered to one another so closely that their joints could not be seen. The structure of the tower appeared to be built from a single stone.
Vision 3.2.7Of the other stones, brought from the dry land, they rejected some and placed others in the building. Others they cut up and threw far away from the tower.
Vision 3.2.8Many other stones lay around the tower, and they did not use them for the building. Some were scabrous, others had cracks, others were broken short, and others were white and round, not fitting into the building.
Vision 3.2.9I saw other stones thrown far from the tower, landing on the road but not remaining there; they rolled off the road into trackless ground. Others fell into fire and burned. Others fell near waters but could not roll into the water, although they wished to roll and enter the water.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.