Didache 4

1My child, you shall remember night and day the one who speaks to you the word of God, and you shall honor him as the Lord; for where lordship is spoken, there the Lord is.

2And you shall seek out day by day the presence of the saints, so that you may find rest in their words.

3You shall not cause division, but you shall reconcile those who are fighting. You shall judge justly; you shall not show partiality in reproving transgressions.

4You shall not be double-minded whether it will be or not.

5Do not be one who stretches out his hands to receive, but draws them in to avoid giving.

6If you have anything, you shall give through your hands a ransom for your sins.

7You shall not hesitate to give, nor grumble while giving; for you will know who is the good giver of the reward.

8You shall not turn away the one in need, but you shall share all things with your brother, and you shall not say they are your own; for if you are sharers in what is immortal, how much more in mortal things?

9You shall not take your hand away from your son or from your daughter, but from youth you shall teach them the fear of God.

10You shall not, in your bitterness, command your servant or female servant who hope in the same God, lest they should fail to fear the God who is over both; for he does not come to call according to outward standing, but upon those whom the Spirit has prepared.

11But you servants shall be subject to your masters as to a representative of God, in reverence and fear.

12You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord.

13You shall never forsake the commandments of the Lord, but you shall keep what you received, neither adding nor taking away.

14In the assembly you shall confess your transgressions, and you shall not come to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.