Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 9 · Chapter 6

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.1 And behold, a little later I saw a formation of many men approaching, and in their midst a man so tall in stature that he rose above the tower.

Greek including Lake’s editorial reconstruction from versions

Similitude 9.6.2 The six men who supervised the building walked with him on his right and left. All who had worked on the building were with him, and many other glorious men surrounded him. The virgins guarding the tower ran up, kissed him, and began walking close to him around the tower.

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.3 That man inspected the building carefully, touching each stone individually. Holding a rod in his hand, he struck each of the stones that had been built in.

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.4 Whenever he struck them, some became black as soot; some were scabby; some had cracks; some were broken short; some were neither white nor black; some were rough and did not fit with the other stones; and some had many stains. These were the various kinds of stones found unsound in the building.

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.5 He therefore ordered all these to be removed from the tower and placed beside it, and other stones to be brought and put into their places.

Greek including Lake’s editorial reconstruction from versions

Similitude 9.6.6 The builders asked him from which mountain he wished stones to be brought and put into their places. He did not order them brought from the mountains, but ordered them brought from a certain nearby plain.

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.7 The plain was dug up, and gleaming square stones were found, and some round ones too. All the stones that were in that plain were brought and carried through the gateway by the virgins.

Greek (Lake printed edition)

Similitude 9.6.8 The square stones were cut and placed where the removed stones had been. But the round ones were not put into the building, because they were hard to cut and the work proceeded slowly. They were placed beside the tower, since they were to be cut and put into the building, for they were very gleaming.