Shepherd of Hermas 47

1…to establish them in the faith.

2Therefore, believe God—you who, on account of your sins, have despaired of your life, and are adding sins and weighing down your life—that if you turn back to the Lord with your whole heart and work righteousness for the remaining days of your life, and serve him rightly according to his will, he will bring healing to your former sins, and you will have power to gain mastery over the works of the devil. And do not at all fear the devil’s threat; for he is powerless, like the sinews of a dead man.

3Listen to me, then, and fear the One who is able to do all things, to save and to destroy; and keep these commandments, and you will live to God.

4I say to him, “Lord, now I have been strengthened in all the righteous requirements of the Lord, because you are with me; and I know that you will cut off all the devil’s power, and we shall gain mastery over him and prevail against all his works. And I hope, Lord, that now I can keep these commandments that you have commanded, with the Lord strengthening me.”

5“You will keep them,” he says, “if you bend toward your own city.

6Foolish, double‑minded, and wretched man, do you not understand that all these things are alien, and are under the authority of another? For the lord of this city will say, ‘I do not want you to dwell in my city; rather, go out from this city, because you do not make use of my laws.’ So then, you—having fields and dwellings and many other possessions—when you are cast out by him, what will you do with your field and your house, and the rest of the things you have prepared for yourself? For the lord of this land says to you, rightly, ‘Either make use of my laws, or withdraw from my land.’ So then, what are you about to do, having…