Pastor de Hermas 25

1Depois de eu ter orado em casa e me ter sentado no meu leito, entrou um homem de aspecto glorioso, vestido como pastor, com uma pele branca de cabra, uma bolsa nos ombros e uma vara na mão, e me saudou. Devolvi-lhe a saudação.

1After I had been praying at home, and had sat down on my couch, there entered a man of glorious aspect, dressed like a shepherd, with a white goat’s skin, a wallet on his shoulders, and a rod in his hand, and saluted me. I returned his salutation.

2E logo se sentou ao meu lado e me disse: “Fui enviado por um anjo venerabilíssimo para habitar contigo os restantes dias da tua vida.” E pensei que ele viera tentar-me, e disse-lhe: “Quem és tu? Pois conheço aquele a quem fui confiado.” Ele me disse: “Não me conheces?” “Não,” disse eu. “Eu,” disse ele, “sou aquele pastor a quem foste confiado.” E enquanto ainda falava, a sua figura se mudou; e então soube que era aquele a quem eu fora confiado.

2And straightway he sat down beside me, and said to me, “I have been sent by a most venerable angel to dwell with you the remaining days of your life.” And I thought that he had come to tempt me, and I said to him, “Who are you? For I know him to whom I have been entrusted.” He said to me, “Do you not know me?” “No,” said I. “I,” said he, “am that shepherd to whom you have been entrusted.” And while he yet spake, his figure was changed; and then I knew that it was he to whom I had been entrusted.

3E logo fiquei confuso, e o temor se apoderou de mim, e fui dominado por profunda tristeza por lhe ter respondido tão mal e tolamente. Mas ele respondeu e me disse: “Não te confundas, mas recebe força dos mandamentos que te vou dar. Pois fui enviado,” disse ele, “para te mostrar de novo todas as coisas que viste antes, especialmente aquelas que te são úteis.

3And straightway I became confused, and fear took hold of me, and I was overpowered with deep sorrow that I had answered him so wickedly and foolishly. But he answered, and said to me, “Do not be confounded, but receive strength from the commandments which I am going to give you. For I have been sent,” said he, “to show you again all the things which you saw before, especially those of them which are useful to you.

4Primeiro de tudo, pois, escreve os meus mandamentos e semelhanças, e escreverás as outras coisas conforme eu te mostrar. Para isso,” disse ele, “ordeno-te que escrevas primeiro os mandamentos e semelhanças, para que os possas ler facilmente e ser capaz de os guardar.” Assim escrevi os mandamentos e semelhanças, exatamente como ele me ordenara.

4First of all, then, write down my commandments and similitudes, and you will write the other things as I shall show you. For this purpose,” said he, “I command you to write down the commandments and similitudes first, that you may read them easily, and be able to keep them.” Accordingly I wrote down the commandments and similitudes, exactly as he had ordered me.

5Se, pois, depois de os ouvirdes, os guardardes e andardes neles e os praticardes com mentes puras, recebereis do Senhor tudo o que ele vos prometeu. Mas se, depois de os ouvirdes, não vos arrependerdes, mas continuardes a acrescentar aos vossos pecados, então recebereis do Senhor as coisas contrárias. Todas estas palavras o pastor, o anjo do arrependimento, ordenou-me que escrevesse.

5If then, when you have heard these, ye keep them and walk in them, and practise them with pure minds, you will receive from the Lord all that He has promised to you. But if, after you have heard them, ye do not repent, but continue to add to your sins, then shall ye receive from the Lord the opposite things. All these words did the shepherd, even the angel of repentance, command me to write.