[This is part of a running series on the Didache. See the introductory post for more information — RWB]

Phrasing/Translation

Δευτέρα δὲ ἐντολὴ τῆς διδαχῆς·
And the second commandment of the teaching [is this]:
   οὐ φονεύσεις,
   Do not murder,
   οὐ μοιχεύσεις,
   do not commit adultery,
   οὐ παιδοφθορήσεις,
   do not sodomise,
   οὐ πορνεύσεις,
   do not fornicate,
   οὐ κλέψεις,
   do not steal,
   οὐ μαγεύσεις,
   do not practice magic,
   οὐ φαρμακεύσεις,
   do not use potions,
   οὐ φονεύσεις τέκνον ἐν φθορᾷ,
   do not murder a child by abortion,
      οὐδὲ γεννηθὲν ἀποκτενεῖς,
      nor kill the just-born ones,
   οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις τὰ τοῦ πλησίον.
   do not yearn after the things of your neighbor,
   οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις,
   do not commit perjury,
   οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις,
   do not bear false witness,
   οὐ κακολογήσεις,
   do not speak evil,
   οὐ μνησικακήσεις.
   do not bear a grudge.

   οὐκ ἔσῃ διγνώμων
   Do not be double-minded
      οὐδὲ δίγλωσσος·
      or double-tongued:
         παγὶς γὰρ θανάτου ἡ διγλωσσία.
         for being double-tongued is a death trap.

   οὐκ ἔσται ὁ λόγος σου ψευδής ου κενός,
   Your speech should not be false or vain,
      ἀλλὰ μεμεστωμένος πράξει.
      but verified by action.

   οὐκ ἔσῃ πλεονέκτης
   You should not be greedy
      οὐδὲ ἅρπαξ
      or a robber
      οὐδὲ ὑποκριτὴς
      or a hypocrite
      οὐδὲ κακοήθης
      or spiteful
      οὐδὲ ὑπερήφανος.
      or proud.

   οὐ λήψῃ βουλὴν πονηρὰν
   Do not enter into evil plans
      κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου. 
      against your neighbor.

   οὐ μισήσεις πάντα ἄνθρωπον,
   Do not hate any man,
      ἀλλὰ οὓς μὲν ἐλέγξεις,
      but some you should correct,
      περὶ δὲ ὧν προσεύξῃ,
      some you should pray for,
      οὓς δὲ ἀγαπήσεις
      and some you should love
         ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν σου.
         even more than your own life.

Notes

The above sees Did 2.2-3 as one large list after the list preface. Lake breaks that into two sentences in his Greek, but has one sentence in the English. I think it makes sense to treat the list as a whole, even though the portion about abortion, infanticide and covetousness does offer explanatory expansion instead of just a verb. (Note: I was half-tempted to translate "do not yearn after the things of your neighbor" as "do not attempt to 'keep up with the Joneses' ", but I withstood the urge.).

It strikes me that many today wouldn't consider the Didachist's list of "thou shalt nots" to be too "politically correct". The baptismal candidates (likely new converts) reading this were urged to forsake, as BDAG's extended gloss words it, engaging "in same-sex activity with a young male" (BDAG, 750). This sort of practice (as I understand it) was socially acceptable to some degree or another. New converts were to stop doing it. No discussion. As well, new converts are made aware that the practice of killing a child in the womb (abortion) or killing a newly-born child (infanticide, likely through exposure) is unacceptable practice.

The other groups are guidelines with expansion. That is, instead of just listing stuff, these items have some further explanation. Being "double-tongued" is to be avoided because it is a snare that leads to death. Instead of saying different things to different people, Christians are to let their "yes" be yes, and their "no" be no. Doing otherwise will only lead to trouble. This is expanded further in the next statement, which I love -- maybe I'll make a sign and put it up on my bathroom mirror or office wall: "Your speech should not be false or vain, but verified by action." In other words, these baptismal candidates are taught that their words are to be proven by their actions. They are, to put it into Christian-ese, "walk the talk". Lies and empty words are to be avoided.

Next is a short list mentioning greediness, stealing, hypocrisy, spite and pride. This is self explanatory. Following that is mention regarding plotting evil or malice towards one's neighbor. In light of Didache 1's exhortation to love one's neighbor as one's self, this doesn't really seem necessary. But it does underscore the importance of that command by restating the same thing (in essence) negatively; one's relationship with his neighbor (fellow human being) is again brought to the forefront.

This transitions into a general statement that speaks against hatred of others. The transition seems to be moving from hating others to acting in love toward others. Instead of hating others, instead of hatching evil plots against our neighbors, we are to love others through offering correction to some of them, through praying for others of them, and through loving others of them even more than we love our own selves.

Next up: Didache 3, though I may revisit portions of the above in some more detail between now and then.