Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 2 · Chapter 1

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.1 As I walked in the field, I observed an elm and a vine and reflected on them and their fruit. The shepherd appeared to me and said, “What are you considering within yourself about the elm and the vine?” “I am considering, sir,” I said, “how very well they suit each other.”

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.2 “These two trees,” he said, “stand as a pattern for God's servants.” “I would like to understand,” I said, “the pattern of these trees you speak of.” “Do you see the elm and the vine?” he asked. “I do, sir,” I said.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.3 “This vine bears fruit,” he said, “but the elm is a fruitless tree. Yet unless this vine climbs the elm, it cannot bear much fruit while lying on the ground. The fruit it does bear is rotten, because it does not hang upon the elm. But when the vine is laid upon the elm, it bears fruit both from itself and from the elm.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.4 “You see, then, that the elm also gives much fruit—no less than the vine, but indeed more.” “How more, sir?” I asked. “Because,” he said, “when the vine hangs upon the elm, it gives abundant, good fruit; but when it lies on the ground, it bears little, rotten fruit. This parable therefore concerns God's servants, the poor person and the rich person.”

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.5 “How, sir?” I asked. “Explain it to me.” “Listen,” he said. “The rich person has money, but is poor in matters concerning the Lord, being distracted by his wealth. His petition and confession to the Lord are very slight; what he has is weak, slight, and without further power. But when the rich person rests upon the poor person and supplies his necessities, he believes that by working for the poor person he will be able to find his reward with God. For the poor person is rich in petition and confession, and his petition has great power with God. So the rich person supplies everything to the poor person without hesitation.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.6 “The poor person, supplied by the rich person, petitions God, thanking Him for the one who gives to him. The other becomes still more diligent about the poor person, so that he may lack nothing throughout his life; for he knows that the poor person's petition is acceptable and rich before the Lord.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.7 “So both accomplish their work. The poor person works through petition, in which he is rich and which he received from the Lord. This he returns to the Lord who supplies him. Likewise, the rich person unhesitatingly provides the poor person with the wealth he received from the Lord. This too is a great work, acceptable to God, because he understood the purpose of his wealth, worked for the poor person from the Lord's gifts, and carried out his service rightly.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.8 “To people, then, the elm seems to bear no fruit. They neither know nor understand that when drought comes, the elm, which has water, nourishes the vine. With its uninterrupted supply of water, the vine yields double fruit, both for itself and for the elm. In the same way, poor people who petition the Lord for the rich bring their wealth to fullness; and rich people who supply the poor with their necessities, in turn, bring their prayers to fullness.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.9 “So both become partners in the righteous work. Whoever does these things will not be abandoned by God, but will be written in the books of the living.

Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)

Similitude 2.1.10 “Blessed are those who possess wealth and understand that the Lord makes them rich. For whoever understands this will also be able to render some good service.”