Pastor de Hermas 84

1O homem glorioso, o senhor de toda a torre, tendo, portanto, terminado estas alterações, chamou a si o Pastor e entregou-lhe todas as pedras que jaziam ao lado da torre, que tinham sido rejeitadas da construção, e disse-lhe: “Limpa cuidadosamente todas estas pedras e põe de lado as que puderem harmonizar-se com as outras para a construção da torre; e as que não, lança-as para longe da torre.” [Tendo dado estas ordens ao Pastor, partiu da torre], com todos aqueles com quem viera.

1The glorious man, the lord of the whole tower, having accordingly finished these alterations, called to him the Shepherd, and delivered to him all the stones that were lying beside the tower, that had been rejected from the building, and said to him, “Carefully clean all these stones, and put aside such for the building of the tower as may harmonize with the others; and those that do not, throw far away from the tower.” [Having given these orders to the Shepherd, he departed from the tower], with all those with whom he had come.

2Ora, as virgens estavam ao redor da torre, guardando-a. Disse de novo ao Pastor: “Podem estas pedras voltar à construção da torre, depois de rejeitadas?” Respondeu-me e disse: “Vês estas pedras?” “Vejo-as, senhor,” respondi.

2Now the virgins were standing around the tower, keeping it. I said again to the Shepherd, “Can these stones return to the building of the tower, after being rejected?” He answered me, and said, “Do you see these stones?” “I see them, sir,” I replied.

3“A maior parte destas pedras,” disse, “talharei e porei na construção, e se harmonizarão com as outras.” “Como, senhor,” disse eu, “podem elas, depois de cortadas ao redor, preencher o mesmo espaço?” Respondeu: “As que forem achadas pequenas serão lançadas no meio da construção, e as que são maiores serão colocadas por fora, e as manterão unidas.” Tendo dito estas palavras, disse-me: “Vamos e, depois de dois dias, venhamos e limpemos estas pedras e lancemo-las na construção; pois todas as coisas ao redor da torre devem ser limpas, para que o Senhor não venha de repente e ache sujos os lugares ao redor da torre e se desagrade, e estas pedras não sejam devolvidas para a construção da torre, e eu também pareça negligente para com o Senhor.” E depois de dois dias chegamos à torre, e me disse: “Examinemos todas as pedras e verifiquemos as que podem voltar à construção.” Disse-lhe: “Senhor, examinemo-las!”

3“The greater part of these stones,” he said, “I will hew, and put into the building, and they will harmonize with the others.” “How, sir,” I said, “can they, after being cut all round about, fill up the same space?” He answered, “Those that shall be found small will be thrown into the middle of the building, and those that are larger will be placed on the outside, and they will hold them together.” Having spoken these words, he said to me, “Let us go, and after two days let us come and clean these stones, and cast them into the building; for all things around the tower must be cleaned, lest the Master come suddenly, and find the places about the tower dirty, and be displeased, and these stones be not returned for the building of the tower, and I also shall seem to be neglectful towards the Master.” And after two days we came to the tower, and he said to me, “Let us examine all the stones, and ascertain those which may return to the building.” I said to him, “Sir, let us examine them!”