Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 4 · Chapter 1

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

Similitude 4.1.1 Again he showed me many trees, some budding and some dry. He said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I do, sir,” I said, “some budding and some dry.”

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

Similitude 4.1.2 “These budding trees,” he said, “are the righteous who are going to inhabit the coming age. For the coming age is summer for the righteous, but winter for sinners. When the Lord's mercy shines forth, those who serve God will then be revealed, and all will be revealed.

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

Similitude 4.1.3 “Just as in summer the fruits of each individual tree are revealed, and their kinds are recognized, so the fruits of the righteous will be evident, and all will be recognized as flourishing in that age.

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

Similitude 4.1.4 “But the nations and the sinners—the dry trees you saw—will be found dry and fruitless like these in that age. They will be burned up like wood, and it will become evident that their conduct during their lives was evil. The sinners will be burned because they sinned and did not repent; the nations will be burned because they did not know the One who created them.

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

Similitude 4.1.5 “Bear fruit, then, so that your fruit may be recognized in that summer. Keep away from many undertakings, and you will not go astray at all. For those who undertake many things also sin much, distracted by their undertakings and doing no service for their own Lord.

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

Similitude 4.1.6 “How, then,” he said, “can such a person ask anything from the Lord and receive it, when he does not serve the Lord? Those who serve Him will receive their requests; those who do not serve the Lord will receive nothing.

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

Similitude 4.1.7 “But if someone pursues one undertaking, he can also serve the Lord. His mind will not be corrupted away from the Lord; rather, he will serve Him, keeping his mind pure.

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

Similitude 4.1.8 “If you do these things, then, you can bear fruit for the coming age. Whoever does these things will bear fruit.”