Shepherd of Hermas 35

1“I said to you,” he says, “that the things created by God are twofold; for self‑control is twofold as well. For with regard to some things one must exercise self‑control, and with regard to others one must not.

2“Make it known to me, Lord,” I say, “with respect to what things one must exercise self‑control, and with respect to what things one must not.” “Listen,” he says: “Exercise self‑control with regard to what is evil and do not do it; but do not exercise self‑control with regard to what is good—rather, do it. For if you exercise self‑control so as not to do the good, you commit a great sin; but if you exercise self‑control so as not to do what is evil, you accomplish great righteousness. Therefore exercise self‑control from every wickedness, doing the good.”

3“What kinds, Lord,” I say, “are the wickednesses from which we must exercise self‑control?” “Listen,” he says: “From adultery and fornication, from lawless drunkenness, from wicked luxury, from many foods and the extravagance of wealth and boasting and haughtiness and arrogance, and from lying and slander and hypocrisy, resentment, and every blasphemy.

4“These deeds are the most evil of all in the life of human beings. From these works, then, the servant of God must exercise self‑control; for the one who does not exercise self‑control from these is not able to live to God. Listen, then, also to the things that follow these.”

5“Are there still,” I say, “Lord, evil works?” “Indeed, there are many,” he says, “from which the servant of God must exercise self‑control: theft, falsehood, defrauding, false testimony, greed, evil desire, deceit, vainglory, boastfulness, and whatever things are like these.”

6“Do these not seem to you to be evil?” “Very evil,” I say, “for the servants of God.” “From all these the one who serves God must exercise self‑control. Exercise self‑control, then, from all these, that you may live to God and be enrolled with those who exercise self‑control from them. These, then, are the things from which you must exercise self‑control.

7“But the things from which you must not exercise self‑control,” he says, “but rather do them—listen: Do not exercise self‑control with regard to the good, but do it.”

8“And of the good things, Lord,” I say, “declare to me their power, so that I may walk in them and serve them, that by practicing them I may be able to be saved.” “Listen,” he says, “also to the works of the good, which you must do and not exercise self‑control from.

9“First of all: faith, fear of the Lord, love, concord, words of righteousness, truth, endurance—there is nothing better than these in the life of human beings. If someone keeps these and does not exercise self‑control from them, he becomes blessed in his life.

10“Next, hear what follows these: to serve widows; to visit orphans and those in want; to redeem the servants of God from distresses; to be hospitable (for in hospitality one sometimes finds an opportunity for doing good); to oppose no one; to be quiet; to become lower than all people; to honor the elderly; to practice righteousness; to preserve the brotherhood; to endure insult; to be long‑suffering; to have no resentment; to encourage those who are weary in soul; not to cast off those who have stumbled away from the faith, but to turn them back and make them cheerful; to admonish those who sin; not to oppress debtors and the needy; and if there is anything like these.

11“Do these seem to you to be good?” “What, Lord, is better than these?” I say. “Go, then,” he says, “walk in them and do not exercise self‑control from them, and you will live to God.

12“Therefore keep this commandment. If you do the good and do not exercise self‑control from it, you will live to God—and all who act in this way will live to God. And again, if you do not do the evil and exercise self‑control from it, you will live to God; and all will live to God—whoever keeps these commandments and walks in them.”