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

Phrasing/Translation

Περὶ δὲ τῆς εὐχαριστίας, οὕτως εὐχαριστήσατε·
Concerning the Eucharist, Eucharistise* in this way.
   πρῶτον περὶ τοῦ ποτηρίου·
   First, concerning the cup:
      Εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι,
      We give thanks to you,
         πάτερ ἡμῶν,
         our Father,
         ὑπὲρ τῆς ἁγίας ἀμπέλου Δαυεὶδ τοῦ παιδός σου,
         for the holy vine of David your son,
            ἧς ἐγνώρισας ἡμῖν διὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ παιδός σου·
            which you made known to us through Jesus your son;
      σοὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.
      glory to you forever.

   περὶ δὲ τοῦ κλάσματος·
   Next, concerning the broken bread:
      Εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι,
      We give thanks to you,
         πάτερ ἡμῶν,
         our Father,
         ὑπὲρ τῆς ζωῆς καὶ γνώσεως,
         for the life and the knowledge
            ἧς ἐγνώρισας ἡμῖν διὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ παιδός σου.
            which you made known to us through Jesus your son;
      σοὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.
      glory to you forever.

ὥσπερ ἦν τοῦτο τὸ κλάσμα διεσκορπισμένον ἐπάνω τῶν ὀρέων
Just as this broken bread had been scattered over the mountains,
   καὶ συναχθὲν ἐγένετο ἕν,
   was brought together and has become one;
οὕτω συναχθήτω σου ἡ ἐκκλησία
likewise bring together your church
   ἀπὸ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς
   from the ends of the earth
      εἰς τὴν σὴν βασιλείαν.
      into your Kingdom.
   ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ δόξα
   So yours is the glory
      καὶ ἡ δύναμις
      and the power
         διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
         through Jesus Christ
      εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.
      forever.

μηδεὶς δὲ φαγέτω μηδὲ πιέτω
But none shall eat or drink
   ἀπὸ τῆς εὐχαριστίας ὑμῶν,
   from your Eucharist,
   ἀλλ’ οἱ βαπτισθέντες
   but those baptised
      εἰς ὄνομα κυρίου·
      in the name of the Lord;
   καὶ γὰρ περὶ τούτου εἴρηκεν ὁ κύριος·
   for concerning this the Lord said:
      Μὴ δῶτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσί.
      “Do not give what is holy to dogs”.

* “Eucharistise” simply verbs the noun to keep the Greek wordplay in the English. It could also be translated partake in the Eucharist.

Notes

First off, the structural consistency of the section regarding the cup and the section regarding the bread is obvious, moreso in the above indented view.

Also interesting is the seemingly inverted order of the Eucharist. The cup is given thanks for first, then the bread. Today, Communion/Lord's Supper/Eucharist services (that I'm aware of, anyway) typically take the bread first, as the gospels (Mk 14.22-25 || Mt 26.26-29 || Lu 14.14-23) and First Corinthians (1Co 11.23-34) testify.

The opportunity to pray for the unity of the Church is also refreshing. This isn't unity in the way we hear of today ("can't we just all get along?") but unity in end: We are saved, and we will enter into his Kingdom. The Eucharist points toward this, reminding us of the sacrifice of Christ and of the redemption his blood purchases for us. This redemption is powerful and sacred; it glorifies Christ as he assembles his own, building his kingdom.

It would be most wonderful if this aspect of "unity" was preached more frequently, and if the other aspect ("let's just agree to be tolerant look the other way on topics we disagree on") were preached on far, far less frequently.

Because the Eucharist is sacred, it is only to be celebrated (yes, celebrated!) by those who have been redeemed; only by those who proclaim Christ as their Saviour. Mt 7.6 is quoted in support of this practice.

Next up: Didache 10