English (Translation) 1It is good therefore to learn the ordinances of the Lord, as many as have been written above, and to walk in them. For he that doeth these things shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; whereas he that chooseth their opposites shall perish together with his works. For this cause is the resurrection, for this the recompense. 2I entreat those of you who are in a higher station, if ye will receive any counsel of good advice from me, keep amongst you those to whom ye may do good. Fail not. 3The day is at hand, in which everything shall be destroyed together with the Evil One. The Lord is at hand and his reward. 4Again and again I entreat you; be good lawgivers one to another; continue faithful councilors to yourselves; take away from you all hypocrisy. 5And may God, who is Lord of the whole world, give you wisdom, judgment, learning, knowledge of His ordinances, patience. 6And be ye taught of God, seeking diligently what the Lord requireth of you, and act that ye may be found in the day of judgment. 7But if you have any remembrance of good, call me to mind when ye practice these things these things, that both my desire and my watchfulness may lead to some good result. I entreat you asking it as a favor. 8So long as the good vessel (of the body) is with you, be lacking in none of these things, but search them out constantly, and fulfill every commandment; for they deserve it. 9For this reason I was the more eager to write to you so far as I was able, that I might give you joy. Fare ye well, children of love and peace. The Lord of glory and of every grace be with your spirit. (Brn 21) | Greek (Original) 1Καλὸν οὖν ἐστίν, μαθόντα τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ κυρίου, ὅσα γέγραπται, ἐν τούτοις περιπατεῖν. Ὁ γὰρ ταῦτα ποιῶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ δοξασθήσεται· ὁ ἐκεῖνα ἐκλεγόμενος μετὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ συναπολεῖται. Διὰ τοῦτο ἀνάστασις, διὰ τοῦτο ἀνταπόδομα. 2Ἐρωτῶ τοὺς ὑπερέχοντας- εἴ τινά μου γνώμης ἀγαθῆς λαμβάνετε συμβουλίαν- ἔχετε μεθ ̓ ἑαυτῶν εἰς οὓς ἐργάσεσθε τὸ καλόν· μὴ ἐλλείπητε. 3Ἐγγὺς ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ συναπολεῖται πάντα τῷ πονηρῷ· ἐγγὺς ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ μισθὸς αὐτοῦ. 4Ἔτι καὶ ἔτι ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς· ἑαυτῶν γίνεσθε νομοθέται ἀγαθοί, ἑαυτῶν μένετε σύμβουλοι πιστοί, ἄρατε ἐξ ὑμῶν πᾶσαν ὑπόκρισιν. 5Ὁ δὲ θεός, ὁ τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου κυριεύων, δώῃ ὑμῖν σοφίαν, σύνεσιν, ἐπιστήμην, γνῶσιν τῶν δικαιωμάτων αὐτοῦ, ὑπομονήν. 6Γίνεσθε δὲ θεοδίδακτοι, ἐκζητοῦντες τί ζητεῖ κύριος ἀφ ̓ ὑμῶν, καὶ ποιεῖτε, ἵνα εὕρητε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως. 7Εἰ δέ τίς ἐστιν ἀγαθοῦ μνεία, μνημονεύετέ μου μελετῶντες ταῦτα, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία εἴς τι ἀγαθὸν χωρήσῃ. 8Ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς, χάριν αἰτούμενος, ἕως ἔτι τὸ καλὸν σκεῦός ἐστιν μεθ ̓ ὑμῶν, μὴ ἐλλείπητε μηδενὶ αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ συνεχῶς ἐκζητεῖτε ταῦτα καὶ ἀναπληροῦτε πᾶσαν ἐντολήν, ἔστιν γὰρ ἄξια. 9Διὸ μᾶλλον ἐσπούδασα γράψαι ἀφ ̓ ὧν ἠδυνήθην. Σώζεσθε, ἀγάπης τέκνα καὶ εἰρήνης. Ὁ κύριος τῆς δόξης καὶ πάσης χάριτος μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν. (Brn 21) |