Pastor de Hermas 61

1Sentado em minha casa e glorificando o Senhor por tudo o que tinha visto, e refletindo sobre os mandamentos, que são excelentes, e poderosos, e gloriosos, e capazes de salvar a alma de um homem, disse dentro de mim: “Serei bem-aventurado se andar nestes mandamentos, e todo aquele que andar neles será bem-aventurado.” Enquanto eu dizia estas palavras a mim mesmo, de repente o vejo sentado ao meu lado e o ouço falar assim: “Por que estás em dúvida acerca dos mandamentos que te dei? São excelentes: não tenhas dúvida alguma acerca deles, mas reveste-te de fé no Senhor, e andarás neles, pois te fortalecerei neles.

1Sitting in my house, and glorifying the Lord for all that I had seen, and reflecting on the commandments, that they are excellent, and powerful, and glorious, and able to save a man’s soul, I said within myself, “I shall be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and every one who walks in them will be blessed.” While I was saying these words to myself, I suddenly see him sitting beside me, and hear him thus speak: “Why are you in doubt about the commandments which I gave you? They are excellent: have no doubt about them at all, but put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them.

2Estes mandamentos são benéficos para os que pretendem arrepender-se: pois se não andarem neles, o seu arrependimento é em vão. Vós, portanto, que vos arrependeis, lançai fora a maldade deste mundo que vos desgasta; e, revestindo-vos de todas as virtudes de uma vida santa, podereis guardar estes mandamentos e já não acrescentareis ao número dos vossos pecados. Andai, portanto, nestes meus mandamentos, e vivereis para Deus.

2These commandments are beneficial to those who intend to repent: for if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain. You, therefore, who repent cast away the wickedness of this world which wears you out; and by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep these commandments, and will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk, therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live unto God.

3Todas estas coisas te foram ditas por mim.” E depois de proferir estas palavras, disse-me: “Vamos aos campos, e mostrar-te-ei os pastores dos rebanhos.” “Vamos, senhor,” respondi. E chegamos a uma certa planície, e ele me mostrou um jovem, um pastor, vestido com um traje de cor amarela: e apascentava muitíssimas ovelhas, e estas ovelhas pastavam luxuosamente, por assim dizer, e desenfreadamente, e saltitavam alegremente de cá para lá.

3All these things have been spoken to you by me.” And after he had uttered these words, he said to me, “Let us go into the fields, and I will show you the shepherds of the flocks.” “Let us go, sir,” I replied. And we came to a certain plain, and he showed me a young man, a shepherd, clothed in a suit of garments of a yellow colour: and he was herding very many sheep, and these sheep were feeding luxuriously, as it were, and riotously, and merrily skipping hither and thither.

4E o próprio pastor estava alegre por causa do seu rebanho; e o aspecto do pastor era jubiloso, e corria entre o seu rebanho. [E vi outras ovelhas que se entregavam a folguedos e luxo num lugar, mas sem, contudo, saltar.]

4And the shepherd himself was merry, because of his flock; and the appearance of the shepherd was joyous, and he was running about amongst his flock. [And other sheep I saw rioting and luxuriating in one place, but not, however, leaping about.]