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THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT BISHOPS OUGHT TO RECEIVE IN LOVE AND MEEKNESS THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO TURN. [ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for them- selves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, (and) thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel (and) dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning trans- gressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** (ii., 18.) ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him ** P adds: the evil of, be saved. ** P omits: deeds and. °* Hos 10, 13. ** P God. “© Mt 18, 10. PI translates : 3° Cf. Dt 5, 32 (29). offend not, confusing two very 3°’ Lit. salvation. P omits: similar words. and: hence PI's translation : “" P will answer, saving, The fuide of salvation. Lord hath pardoned. shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° {ii., 19.) Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and he- goats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds 4“) Lk 12, 48. 5! Ezek 34, 17. “« P the deeds and the lives. 53-This sentence and the fol- ‘6 Jn 10, 297f. lowing one, though introduced “* See Add. notes. as quotations, are not from “* Some words have dropped Scripture. out here, possibly per homoiote- 83 Or, hywna. It is not the lenton. same word as is used in the who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. {ii., 20.] For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. {ii., 21.] Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, (and) men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO ADMONISH ANY MAN EXCEPT IT BE PROVED BY TESTIMONY THAT HE HATH SINNED. For he that thrustcth forth an innocent person, is worse than a murderer, and perceiveth not the mercy of God, for he reniembereth not the love of his neighbour.'| And he who doeth thus shall not find salvation,? for he hath slipped away, and fallen into grievous sin, because he hath not admonished, nor con- verted those who have committed many sins, but hath scattered the flock of God,® and also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment, wherewith He judgeth all, righteous men and sinners; (He is) merciful to those who turn unto Him in righteousness and mercy and meekness, as David the beloved of God (saith).‘ [ii., 22.] The bishop, then, ought to judge upright and follow after God * and do His will, fortod ident righteously those* that turn to Him. Rememberest thou not David, when he sinned and Nathan said unto him, Why hast thou done thus? And he said, I have sinned and I repent. And when he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. And Nathan said unto him, “Be of good cheer and doubt not; thou shalt not die."”7 Jonah the prophet, also, not wishing to preach to the men of Nineveh, was plunged in the sea, and a whale swallowed him up, but afterwards he came forth from the whale’s belly, and was saved from death. And Hezekiah, also—when he became proud, ® judgment came upon him. And Hezekiah humbled himself, and forsook his pride, and wept before God, and (God) had mercy on him. Hear, ye bishops, the profit that is in this matter; for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: ‘And Manassceh his son reigned in his stead. Twelve years old was Manasseh when he began to reign, (and) fifty and five years reigned he ® in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Hephzibah; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”?° Moreover it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles, saying, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord rooted out from before the children of Israel. And he turned and built in the high place the altar which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he set up pillars for the Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said,!! Let my name be 7? in Jerusalem for ever. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in'the two courts of the house of the Lord; and he himself made his own sons to pass through ' the fire in the land of Benomnimén,"* and used signs, and [made himself like an ass '5], and practised magic, and sct up diviners and soothsayers, (and) wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to sin against Him. And he set the graven and molten images which he made in the house of the Lord; (of which the Lord had said) to David and Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever; and I will not again move the foot of Israel t from the landt?** which I gave io their fathers. Howbeit let them observe all that I have commanded them in all my law and mine ordinances and my judgments by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah to sin, and them that dwelt in Jerusalem, by doing evil above'’ all the nations whom the Lord removcd before the face of the children of Israel. And the Lord spake against Manasseh and against his people, and they hearkened not unto him. And the Lord sent against them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, and they took Manasseh in bonds, and bound him in chains, and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and he humbled himself '* greatly before the face of the God of his fathers.’’'® And Manasseh the son of Hezekiah the King prayed, and said thus: “O Lord, Ruler of all the world, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all their righteous race, who hast made heaven and earth with all that in them " Lit. serve in. ‘' Lit. on account of. The ' P. Benonim. AC fe Be- word must be translated as vevvéu, i.e. the valley of the above to give sense. The trans- children of Hinnom. lator has confused the two % The Greek has oiwsl{ero. meanings of the preposition In the extraordinary mistrans- dwép. lation of the Eth. the trans- 18 Lit. was solitary. That is, lator has apparently taken the as Dillmann explains: was verb as in some way connected afflicted in mind. with 8vos. 2 Chr 33, 2ff. 1 have followed Platt’s ** What follows is an Eth. emendation. A and P read: version of the apocryphal the great land. Prayer of Manasseh., is; *! who didst rebuke 7? the sea with the word of thy commandment; who didst shut up the depths, and seal them in terrible majesty, and that by thy glorious name; before the face of whose might everything trembleth and shaketh, for the greatness of thy glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of thy wrath against sinners. The mercy of thy commandment hath no number, nor measure, for thou alone are the Lord most high, merciful, slow of anger, and bountiful in com- Passion, and gentle towards the sins of the sons of men. And now, O my Lord, the God of the righteous—for it is not for a righteous man that thou hast appointed repentance, not for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who sinned not against thee—turn thee unto the repentance of mea sinner, for I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea; and my sins are many. And I am not worthy to look up, and behold the height of heaven, because of the multitude of mine iniquities. I have toiled in chains of iron, that I might get me respite of my sins, and by this also I have had no respite, for I have provoked thee to anger, and done evil in thy sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that profited me not. And now I bow the knecs of my heart, entreating thy mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; and I confess my sin. I make supplica- tion and entreat of thee; have compassion on me, O Lord, have compassion on me, and deliver me not over unto my sin. Reserve not evil against me for ever; and take not vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those that repent; and thy goodness shall be manifest upon me, since while I was not worthy, thou didst save me in the multitude of thy compassion. I will glorify thee at all times and all the days of my life; for all the host of heaven glorify thee, and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.” And when the Lord saw that Manasseh repented of the evil ‘of his doings which he had done in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him and heard his prayer and accepted the voice of his petition. And forthwith a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his chains of iron were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his affliction, “and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God,” and he served the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, all the days of his life; and he was reckoned with the righteous. Then he thrust forth from the house of the Lord the strange gods that were made by the hands of men, ‘and he raised high (the wall),?° and appointed captains of the host in every place over the walls of Judah. And all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, he utterly destroyed ?* from out the city; and he erected the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed on the altar,?> and offered praise. And Manassch spake unto Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. And Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace; and Amon” his son reigned in his stead. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manassch his father had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.” 37 {ii., 23.] Behold then, ye have heard, our children, how he served idols, and sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness slew many. And the Lord God afflicted him for a while, but when he repented, He forgave his sins, and restored him to his kingdom. For God receiveth the repentance of them that turn unto Him, and restoreth them again 7® to their former honour. For there is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet men are saved from it by true repentance. But whosoever transgresseth and com- mitteth sin, and saith in his heart,2* What will God do unto me?—he is a rebel against God. For he doth not first try himself, but walketh in his own way, and doeth ** Some object must be sup- ** Eth. Amos. plied, cf. 2 Chr 33, 14. ' Cf. 2 Chr 33, 13ff. the desire of his soul, and saith, This is good. Whoso doeth thus, and repenteth not, shall not have forgive- ness.*° Thus, then, did Amon, the scn of Manassch. For the Holy Scripture saith, “ Amon conceived rebellion in his heart, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done; and he multiplied proud words,*! and said, My father sinned much in his youth, and when he was old, he turned and repented. I also will do in like manner and will walk in mine own way, and will follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn theréfrom,*? and repent before the Lord. Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought exceeding much evil,®® as ** those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him, and destroyed him from off the good land, and his servants [aid (hands) ** upon him, and slew him in (his) house. “And the people of the land slew those who had laid (hands) on King Amon. And he reigned two years.” 5¢ {ii., 24.] Understand then, ye people, and think not to do evil as Amon did, lest ye be destroyed. In like manner, the bishop ought to’’ feed and convert the people ** and admonish them,®® and heal them of their sickness and receive their repentance, so far as he is able. But if he be lacking in mercy, and receive not the repentance of sinners who turn to him,*" he is despised and dishonoured, and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. But if he receive the repentance of those that turn to him,*! he shall find compassion and mercy with the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world; and He was pleased to be born of a woman, and was made man for our sakes. And He endured suffering on the Cross, and was wounded,*? and died. He ** is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel; He took our sicknesses and bare our suflerings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. .In_ like manner, let us, too, paticntly endure suffering and afflic- tion, and receive the repentance of them that have sinned. See then the mercy of the Lord towards Matthew, who was a publican—when he turned unto Him, He made him an evangelist ; and towards Peter, who denied Him thrice through fear—when he repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance, and made him the shepherd of His sheep; and towards Paul, our brother, though he was formerly a persecutor, who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, yet when he turned unto Him, He made him an apostle. And to the woman who was a sinner, who gave alms ‘** unto many, He said, ‘Thy sin hath been forgiven thee.” ‘* And the other woman also, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to prove Him,‘* He saved, and said unto her, ‘‘Go thy way, from henceforth sin no more.” 4” It is right for you, ye bishops, to set your trust and hope in God, our Lord and our Saviour,** Jesus Christ the Saviour of your souls. Draw nigh unto Him in meekness and in mercy, aS peacemakers without strife and anger: convert the sinful, and lift up the fallen; and render not evil for evil. Morcover be ye not railers, nor passionate, nor blasphemers, nor boastful, nor accepters of persons, nor drinkers of much wine, nor drunkards, nor singers,‘® nor dancers, nor thieves,*®® nor murderers, nor takers of bribes. Neither seek. ye honour and riches from strange gods, but keep far from them, for ye have been called to this work, that ye should serve God. : {ii., 25.] Thus let the life of the bishop be. (Let) his raiment and his food (be) in moderation and purity, as much as is sufficient for him, that he transgress not in any other way or matter.*? For he that serveth is worthy of his meat, even the tithes and first fruits which men bring to the Church, as is commanded by our 5 Lord. The bishop may give what they need to the poor, and the needy, and the widows, and the orphans, and to the destitute, and to the Strangers, and to them °* that have nothing. But if the bishop exercise no care for them, God will require it of him on their behalf, for (the bishop) hath authority to appoint for every man, as is meet. And ye also that are set in authority in the Church, if ye have need, take from its store, but if ye are not impoverished, it is not right that ye should take therefrom. And if ye act thus, ye shall be saved before God. But if the bishops take for them- selves alone, and be insatiable in eating, and lay up store for themselves, and give not to the destitute, God will require this of them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonour. Wherefore it is said, “Ye have drunk the milk, and clothed you with the wool, and have slain the bulls; ye have not lifted up that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost.” ® “ Will ye live alone upon the earth? ’’** Therefore hath He com- manded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbour, as yourselves.” §@ And moreover it is said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox when thou treadest out thy corn.” *7 And seek ye not to take aught but that which is according to your service and your toil, as is right. For the threshing-floor is the Holy Church of God. And do ye also eat therein, as the Levites, who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is meet, then, that the priests eat the offerings with their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, from the offering that has been offered to the Lord of Hosts,™ first-fruits, or tithes,) or a sacrifice, or an oblation; for they have no other duty, nor any portion of land with the children of Israel, but only to serve in the tabernacle; for the offering which the people bring is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O bishops, are the exemplars of the priests and Levites, as those of old. Ye ought to entreat and pray on behalf of the people, for ye are prepared for the service of this ** church, who stand before the altars of the Lord our God, and (who) offer up a pure and reasonable and bloodless sacrifice to °° Jesus Christ, the great High-priest. Tor ye are preachers,*' and elders, and prophets,*? and rulers, and kings, who have authority over all the people and over all** who are under you. It besecemeth you to preach and speak and cause the people to hear the word of God, and not to ‘ hide the keys ** of wisdom and knowledge. And if ye hide them, ye shall meet with condemnation, which is prepared for you before God; but if ye preach and teach the people, ye shall meet with honour and recompense ** before God, because ye have patiently endured and borne every burden.“ Wherefore ye shall attain in every thing that which ye need,*’ because ye have imitated Jesus Christ, who took our sicknesses, and bare our sorrows on the Cross. For He, who had no sin, was crucified for us; in like manner ye also must needs bear the sins of His people. For Isaiah the prophet saith, concerning our Saviour, “He took our sicknesses and bare our sorrows, and for our sakes He was afflicted.”** And again he saith, ‘He was wounded for our sakes and for our sins,** and was afflicted for our iniquities.” 7° And in like manner 5° It would be nerhaps better *? P omits: and over all. to follow the reading of P: to ** P adds: of the doctrine the V.ord a vow which they ** P recompense and honour have vowed. and favour. S ** P adds: holy and blessed. ** A every evil and offence (7). “A slight Fe gears z y your hope. i - ugh Jesus rist,”” SA 5% 4. Lea aie Bed ** P was crucified for our “' P omits: preachers. sins. "2 — prophets and elders. should ye also save the people, even as Christ saved you. Think not that the burden is light which presbyters and ”* bishops bear. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the first-fruits, and give”? thereof to the destitute.”> For One will call you to account, with whom none can” dispute or contend. It is right, then, that they who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied, and receive the offerings as priests, and Levites, and 7* ministers; even as it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “And the Lord said unto Aaron, Behold, I have given unto you to keep the first-fruits which they offer unto me7’* of all that is sanctified by the children of Israel; to thee I have given it; feven all the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land and all that they offer unto the Lord; to thee have I given it all] 7 until thine old age,’* and after thee to thy children as an ordinance for ever. And this shall be yours of that which is sanctified unto the holy place, of the sacrifices, both of every oblation, and of all their sacrifices, and of their trespass-offerings, and of all their sin-offerings ; whatso- ever they bring unto me of all their holy things, to thee shall it be and to thy children. In the most holy place eat of it; let every male eat of it, thou and thy sons; for it is holy unto thee. And let this be yours of their first gifts, and of all that the children of Israel offer; to thee have I given it, and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee as an ordinance for ever. Let everyone that is clean in thy house eat of it. And all7* the first-fruits of oil, and all the first-fruits of wine and wheat, even their first-fruits, and all that they ™' P omits: presbyters and. "™ The words enclosed in ™ P let them give. square brackets seem to be an ™> In A the word is fem.; in insertion in A. The same P masc. words occur further on in both ™ P you cannot. manuscripts. '® P omits: and. P thou art old. There is " P omits: unto me; but aconfusion here between yfpas inserts the same words after and yépas. “sanctified. ’’ ™ P omits: all. ane. offer unto the Lord, to thee I have given it. All the first-fruits of corn that are in all their land, and all that they offer unto the Lord, to thee have I given it all.2° Let him that is clean in thy house eat of it. All that they dedicate among the children of Israel is thine, and everything that openeth the womb of his mother *! of all flesh, everything that they bring unto the Lord from man even unto beast is thine. And those that are redeemed with a ransom—the first born of men, and the first born of beasts that are unclean, ye shall redeem. And for a ransom for each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.

. THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BRING OFFERINGS TO THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY. (ii. 26.) Hear now also, ye people of the elect Church of God. For of old the Hebrews were called the people of God, a holy people; but now ye are priests, a holy people, elect (in) your generation, and your names are written in heaven for a kingdom and a priesthood, a holy people, a bride adorned for the Lord God, a glorious and faithful Church. Hear how it was appointed of old what should be given to those set in authority over the Church of God,’ (whether) vows, first-fruits of corn, or tithes? for the salvation of men’s souls. The beginning of the name of Jesus is iota, by number, ten.* Hear,* O thou Holy Church, the congregation of people which hath been founded on iota, which was manifested in the law, and hath kept ® the faith, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and been a guide to the knowledge of the word iota, and hath stood fast in the perfection of His glory. For in old times they brought ® sacrifices, and thank-offerings, and vows,’ and tithes, and first-fruits, which were their oblations in those days; but now let the bishops and priests offer the sacrifice of the oblation to the Lord our God and® our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom * for us. And He hath appointed high-priests, and presbyters, and deacons,”° and readers, and singers, and doorkeepers, and deaconesses; and also widows, and virgins, and orphans. And over all these is set the bishop, for he is the teacher and instructor of all who serve God in the right faith, and for their sakes he delivereth the word. It is right that they obey him, for he is the teacher of the law for all, and besides their father, who hath begotten them by water and by the spirit. Since he is your chief and your teacher, and your stay, and your god on earth under the true God, ye ought to magnify him,'? and others who are like him; even as God spake by the mouth of David the prophet, saying, “I said ye are gods, and all of you * P Christ. number of the testimony of the 2 This is the punctuation of | Holy Church. ‘ the Eth. (A and P). Accord- * A reads: established. ing to AC a new sentence be- oP adds: offerings and. gins with “Tithes.’’ * Platt omits : and vows. > P omits: ten. * P omits: and. “In P this goes with the pre- * P omits: as a ransom. children of the Most High.” '? Speak no evil word against the gods, that is, the bishops; but let the bishops have the first seat amongst you, for to them hath been given honour and glory from the Lord God, that they may feed His people in peace, as Christ the great High-priest."* But let the deacon minister in purity without blame, and let him do nothing without the permission of the bishop his father. And let the deaconess do nothing without the permission of the deacon. And Ict no other woman go to the deacon save only with the deaconess; and in like manner let no woman go to the bishop save with the deacon. Honour then the priests, for they admonish you and teach you the way of God; and ye shall receive from them the word in the right faith. For He sent them to preach, and teach, and admonish, and baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach men to observe all that t Het ™ had commanded them. Honour widows and orphans as the Church; and virgins also as the altar and the offering of incense. [ii., 27.] For of old none was able to offer sacrifice except he were of the sons of Levi, and the people could not approach the altar except along with the priests." And in like manner do ye also do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. He who acteth thus without the permission of the bishop his work (?) is idle and vain and without profit. As Saul offered a sacrifice without Samuel the prophet, and heard a voice saying, “Thy sacrifice is vain”;'* in like manner, if a layman do (anything) without the priest, it is vain. Uzziah the King also, when he was not a priest, and yet did the office of a priest, became a leper. And if there be anyone of the people that usurpeth the priest’s office, and doeth not the commandments of God, he shall not escape judgment, for he hath taken an honour that was not given unto him, and hath resisted the priest- hood, and hath not imitated Christ, ‘‘who glorified not Himself to be made a great High-priest”;'7 but patiently endured until '® He heard the voice of the Father saying, ‘‘The Lord sware, and will not repent, thou art his priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” '® But if Christ glorified not Himself without the Father who is equal with Him, how then can a man by himself take ?° the priesthood to himself, unless he that hath authority over him have given it unto him? For the sons of Korah were of the tribe of Levi, yet when they strove against Moses and Aaron, the fire consumed them, because they sought to take that which belonged not to them. Dathan?! and Abiram ?? went down alive into Sheol. The rod that budded destroyed the counsel 2° of many foolish men, and He made manifest thereby the great High-priest who was ordained by God. Therefore, brethren, ye ought to bring your sacrifices and your incense to the bishop, for he is the High-priest. Bring unto him your first-fruits and tithes (and) all your vows, that he may give to each one according to his need, even to the destitute who have nothing. Let him appoint unto them as is fitting, that none wrong his neighbour in receiving alms. The bishop ought to exercise due care concerning all the destitute, and to examine their lives and know well their condition. . at {ii., 28.] Moreover when the faithful desire to invite to a feast the destitute 7* and the widows,?* as ?* the Lord hath commanded, the deacons ought to minister. And let them, knowing well the lives (of all), invite them and set them each one in his place, as is fitting. And let them distribute unto them; and to the shepherd also let them give thereof in secret, for the honour of God, seeing that the priesthood hath been given unto him. And after distribution hath been made unto the widows, let the deacons take thereof two portions; and in like manner the presbyters also, who watch, and teach the word of admonition, and let them receive double,?’ for they are apostles of our Lord,”* they being counsellors of the bishop, and the crown of the Church, who therein judge uprightly. And let the reader receive one portion, and in like manner the singers also, and let the doorkeepers get cach one according to the appoint- ment of the Church; and to the people let them give such portions as befit them.?® And let them not neglect the bishop, nor delay to give unto him, but send speedily unto him along with the ministering deacons. The deacons ought to inform the bishop of every need of the people, that he may command them®*® to do as befitteth. For of old there was no man that entered into the temple, or did anything (therein) without the Priest. Malachi the prophet saith, “For the priest’s lips keep counsel and search out the law.” 3! For those who serve (false) gods, and do their will, and set them- selves up. as righteous, though they are impure and their works evil, and (who) have no good works, and account themselves as the saints—men indeed seeing their works mock at, and detest,*? and despise them— yet is there none of these that can accomplish or do anything without the counsel of the idol-priests, but they look up to them and hearken to the voice of him that commandcth them, and do all that he saith unto them ; and they honour the idol-priests, and put their trust in them, and believe in their gods. Now if they believe in these that have no life, and (if they) serve unclean spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity and set themselves up as righteous, how much more should we, who have received grace,** and have an enlightened faith and a perfect hope wherein is no deceit,*! believe the message ** which is full of glory and without fear, that we may please the Lord our God. For know of a truth that the first fathers °* and the bishops are the mouth of God. (ii, 29.] For Aaron spake to Pharaoh, being a _helper to Moses, and therefore he was called the prophet, and Moses was ca as a king and high-priest. lled °7 the god of Pharaoh, Even as God said unto him,** “Behold, I have made thee to be a god unto Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother to be unto thee ** a prophet.” ‘° How then do ye not believe them, for they intercede for you, and deliver the word? [ii., 30.] Serve them, for they are prophets and servants of God, the deacon like Aaron, and the bishop like Moses. And if Moses was called a god by the Lord, it is right that for you also to honour the bishops as God, and the deacon as a prophet. As Christ did vothing without the Father, in like manner let the Jeacon do nothing without the counsel of the bishop. Also there is nothing that the Son doeth without the Father, and as the Son is subject to His Father, in like manner let the deacon be subject to the bishop.