Skip to main content
← Hermas edition hub

Stromata Editions · The Shepherd of Hermas

Mandate V

Man. 5.1.1–5.2.8

Complete audiobook →
Reading mode

Chapter 1

Man. 5.1.1

Greek source

Μακρόθυμος, φησί, γίνου καὶ συνετός, καὶ πάντων τῶν πονηρῶν ἔργων κατακυριεύσεις καὶ ἐργάσῃ πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην.

Translation

“Be patient and understanding,” he said, “and you will master all wicked deeds and practise every righteousness.

Man. 5.1.2

Greek source

ἐὰν γὰρ μακρόθυμος ἔσῃ, τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον τὸ κατοικοῦν ἐν σοὶ καθαρὸν ἔσται, μὴ ἐπισκοτούμενον ὑπὸ ἑτέρου πονηροῦ πνεύματος, ἀλλ’ ἐν εὐρυχώρῳ κατοικοῦν ἀγαλλιάσεται καὶ εὐφρανθήσεται μετὰ τοῦ σκεύους ἐν ᾧ κατοικεῖ, καὶ λειτουργήσει τῷ θεῷ ἐν ἱλαρότητι πολλῇ, ἔχον τὴν εὐθηνίαν ἐν ἑαυτῷ.

Translation

“For if you are patient, the holy spirit dwelling in you will be pure, not darkened by another, wicked spirit. Dwelling in a spacious place, it will rejoice and be glad with the vessel in which it lives. It will serve God with great cheerfulness, enjoying well-being within itself.

Man. 5.1.3

Greek source

ἐὰν δὲ ὀξυχολία τις προσέλθῃ, εὐθὺς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, τρυφερὸν ὄν, στενοχωρεῖται, μὴ ἔχον τὸν τόπον καθαρόν, καὶ ζητεῖ ἀποστῆναι ἐκ τοῦ τόπου· πνίγεται γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ πνεύματος, μὴ ἔχον τόπον λειτουργῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ καθὼς βούλεται, μιαινόμενον ὑπὸ τῆς ὀξυχολίας. ἐν γὰρ τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ ὁ κύριος κατοικεῖ, ἐν δὲ τῇ ὀξυχολίᾳ ὁ διάβολος.

Translation

“But if a quick temper approaches, the holy spirit, being tender, is hemmed in. Its place is no longer clean, and it seeks to leave. For the wicked spirit chokes it, leaving it no room to serve the Lord as it wishes, and the quick temper defiles it. The Lord dwells in patience, but the devil dwells in a quick temper.

Man. 5.1.4

Greek source

ἀμφότερα οὖν τὰ πνεύματα ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατοικοῦντα, ἀσύμφορόν ἐστιν καὶ πονηρὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐκείνῳ ἐν ᾧ κατοικοῦσιν.

Translation

“So when both spirits dwell together, it is harmful and evil for the person in whom they dwell.

Man. 5.1.5

Greek source

ἐὰν γὰρ λάβῃς ἀψινθίου μικρὸν λίαν καὶ εἰς κεράμιον μέλιτος ἐπιχέῃς, οὐχὶ ὅλον τὸ μέλι ἀφανίζεται, καὶ τοσοῦτον μέλι ὑπὸ τοῦ ἐλαχίστου ἀψινθίου ἀπόλλυται καὶ ἀπολλύει τὴν γλυκύτητα τοῦ μέλιτος, καὶ οὐκέτι τὴν αὐτὴν χάριν ἔχει παρὰ τῷ δεσπότῃ, ὅτι ἐπικράνθη καὶ τὴν χρῆσιν αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν; ἐὰν δὲ εἰς τὸ μέλι μὴ βληθῇ τὸ ἀψίνθιον, γλυκὺ εὑρίσκεται τὸ μέλι καὶ εὔχρηστον γίνεται τῷ δεσπότῃ αὐτοῦ.

Translation

“For if you take a very small amount of wormwood and pour it into a jar of honey, is not all the honey spoiled? So much honey is ruined by the smallest amount of wormwood, which destroys its sweetness. It no longer has the same appeal to its owner, because it has become bitter and lost its usefulness. But if wormwood is not put into the honey, it remains sweet and is useful to its owner.

Man. 5.1.6

Greek source

βλέπεις ὅτι ἡ μακροθυμία γλυκυτάτη ἐστὶν ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι καὶ εὔχρηστός ἐστι τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ κατοικεῖ. ἡ δὲ ὀξυχολία πικρὰ καὶ ἄχρηστός ἐστιν. ἐὰν οὖν μιγῇ ἡ ὀξυχολία τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, μιαίνεται ἡ μακροθυμία, καὶ οὐκ εὔχρηστός ἐστι τῷ θεῷ ἡ ἔντευξις αὐτῆς.

Translation

“You see that patience is very sweet, sweeter than honey, and useful to the Lord, who dwells in it. A quick temper, however, is bitter and useless. If a quick temper is mixed with patience, patience is defiled, and its petition is no longer of use to God.”

Man. 5.1.7

Greek source

Ἤθελον, φημί, κύριε, γνῶναι τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς ὀξυχολίας, ἵνα φυλάξωμαι ἀπ’ αὐτῆς. Καὶ μήν, φησίν, ἐὰν μὴ φυλάξῃ ἀπ’ αὐτῆς σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου, ἀπώλεσάς σου τὴν πᾶσαν ἐλπίδα. ἀλλὰ φύλαξαι ἀπ’ αὐτῆς· ἐγὼ γὰρ μετὰ σοῦ εἰμί. καὶ πάντες δὲ ἀφέξονται ἀπ’ αὐτῆς, ὅσοι ἂν μετανοήσωσιν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν· μετ’ αὐτῶν γὰρ ἔσομαι καὶ συντηρήσω αὐτούς· ἐδικαιώθησαν γὰρ πάντες ὑπὸ τοῦ σεμνοτάτου ἀγγέλου.

Translation

“Sir,” I said, “I would like to know how a quick temper works, so that I can guard against it.” “Indeed,” he said, “if you and your household do not guard against it, you have lost all your hope. But guard against it, for I am with you. All who repent with all their heart will also keep away from it, for I will be with them and preserve them. They have all been made righteous by the most venerable angel.

Chapter 2

Man. 5.2.1

Greek source

Ἄκουε νῦν, φησί, τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς ὀξυχολίας, πῶς πονηρά ἐστι, καὶ πῶς τοὺς δούλους τοῦ θεοῦ καταστρέφει τῇ ἑαυτῆς ἐνεργείᾳ, καὶ πῶς ἀποπλανᾷ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς δικαιοσύνης. οὐκ ἀποπλανᾷ δὲ τοὺς πλήρεις ὄντας ἐν τῇ πίστει, οὐδὲ ἐνεργῆσαι δύναται εἰς αὐτούς, ὅτι ἡ δύναμις τοῦ κυρίου μετ’ αὐτῶν ἐστιν·

Translation

“Listen now,” he said, “to how a quick temper works: how wicked it is, how its own workings overthrow God's servants, and how it leads them astray from righteousness. It does not lead astray those who are full of faith, nor can it work upon them, because the Lord's power is with them.

Man. 5.2.2

Greek source

ἀποπλανᾷ δὲ τοὺς ἀποκένους καὶ διψύχους ὄντας. ὅταν γὰρ ἴδῃ τοὺς τοιούτους ἀνθρώπους εὐσταθοῦντας, παρεμβάλλει ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ μηδενὸς ἡ γυνὴ ἢ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἐν πικρίᾳ γίνεται ἕνεκεν βιωτικῶν πραγμάτων, ἢ περὶ ἐδεσμάτων ἢ μικρολογίας τινος, ἢ περὶ φίλου τινος, ἢ περὶ δόσεως ἢ λήψεως, ἢ περὶ τοιούτων μωρῶν πραγμάτων. ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα μωρά ἐστι καὶ κενὰ καὶ ἄφρονα καὶ ἀσύμφορα τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ θεοῦ.

Translation

“But it leads astray those who are empty and wavering. When it sees such people at ease, it forces its way into their hearts. Out of nothing, a wife or husband becomes bitter over everyday affairs: about food, about some petty matter, about a friend, about giving or receiving, or about other foolish things of that kind. All these things are foolish, empty, senseless, and of no benefit to God's servants.

Man. 5.2.3

Greek source

ἡ δὲ μακροθυμία μεγάλη ἐστὶ καὶ ὀχυρά, ἰσχυρὰν δύναμιν ἔχουσα καὶ στιβαρὰν καὶ εὐθηνουμένην ἐν πλατυσμῷ μεγάλῳ, ἱλαρά, ἀγαλλιωμένη, ἀμέριμνος οὖσα, δοξάζουσα τὸν κύριον ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ, μηδὲν ἐν ἑαυτῇ ἔχουσα πικρόν, παραμένουσα διαπαντὸς πραεῖα καὶ ἡσύχιος. αὕτη οὖν ἡ μακροθυμία κατοικεῖ μετὰ τῶν τὴν πίστιν ἐχόντων ὁλόκληρον.

Translation

“Patience, however, is great and well fortified, with strong, solid power, flourishing in great spaciousness. It is cheerful, rejoicing and free from care, glorifying the Lord at all times. It has no bitterness within it and remains continually gentle and quiet. This patience dwells with those whose faith is whole.

Man. 5.2.4

Greek source

ἡ δὲ ὀξυχολία πρῶτον μὲν μωρά ἐστιν, ἐλαφρά τε καὶ ἄφρων. εἶτα ἐκ τῆς ἀφροσύνης γίνεται πικρία, ἐκ δὲ τῆς πικρίας θυμός, ἐκ δὲ τοῦ θυμοῦ ὀργή, ἐκ δὲ τῆς ὀργῆς μῆνις· εἶτα ἡ μῆνις αὕτη ἐκ τοσούτων κακῶν συνισταμένη γίνεται ἁμαρτία μεγάλη καὶ ἀνίατος.

Translation

“A quick temper is first of all foolish, fickle, and senseless. From this folly comes bitterness; from bitterness, fury; from fury, anger; and from anger, wrath. Then this wrath, compounded from so many evils, becomes a great and incurable sin.

Man. 5.2.5

Greek source

ὅταν γὰρ ταῦτα τὰ πνεύματα ἐν ἑνὶ ἀγγείῳ κατοικῇ, οὗ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον κατοικεῖ, οὐ χωρεῖ τὸ ἄγγος ἐκεῖνο, ἀλλ’ ὑπερπλεονάζει.

Translation

“For when these spirits dwell in a single vessel where the holy spirit also dwells, that vessel cannot contain them; it overflows.

Man. 5.2.6

Greek source

τὸ τρυφερὸν οὖν πνεῦμα, μὴ ἔχον συνήθειαν μετὰ πονηροῦ πνεύματος κατοικεῖν μηδὲ μετὰ σκληρότητος, ἀποχωρεῖ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ τοιούτου καὶ ζητεῖ κατοικεῖν μετὰ πραότητος καὶ ἡσυχίας.

Translation

“The tender spirit is not accustomed to living with a wicked spirit or with harshness. It therefore leaves such a person and seeks to dwell with gentleness and quiet.

Man. 5.2.7

Greek source

εἶτα ὅταν ἀποστῇ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου οὗ κατοικεῖ, γίνεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος κενὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ δικαίου, καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν πεπληρωμένος τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς πονηροῖς ἀκαταστατεῖ ἐν πάσῃ πράξει αὐτοῦ, περισπώμενος ὧδε κἀκεῖ ἀπὸ τῶν πνευμάτων τῶν πονηρῶν, καὶ ὅλως ἀποτυφλοῦται ἀπὸ τῆς διανοίας τῆς ἀγαθῆς. οὕτως οὖν συμβαίνει πᾶσι τοῖς ὀξυχόλοις.

Translation

“Once it leaves the person in whom it dwells, that person is emptied of the righteous spirit. Filled from then on with the wicked spirits, they are unsettled in everything they do, dragged here and there by those spirits and entirely blinded to good understanding. This is what happens to all the quick-tempered.

Man. 5.2.8

Greek source

ἀπέχου οὖν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀξυχολίας, τοῦ πονηροτάτου πνεύματος· ἔνδυσαι δὲ τὴν μακροθυμίαν καὶ ἀντίστα τῇ ὀξυχολίᾳ καὶ τῇ πικρίᾳ, καὶ ἔσῃ εὑρισκόμενος μετὰ τῆς σεμνότητος τῆς ἠγαπημένης ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου. βλέπε οὖν μήποτε παρενθυμηθῇς τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην· ἐὰν γὰρ ταύτης τῆς ἐντολῆς κυριεύσῃς, καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐντολὰς δυνήσῃ φυλάξαι, ἅς σοι μέλλω ἐντέλλεσθαι. ἰσχυροῦ ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ ἐνδυναμοῦ, καὶ πάντες ἐνδυναμούσθωσαν ὅσοι ἐὰν θέλωσιν ἐν αὐταῖς πορεύεσθαι.

Translation

“So keep away from a quick temper, that most wicked spirit. Put on patience, resist a quick temper and bitterness, and you will be found with the reverence the Lord loves. Take care not to neglect this commandment. If you master it, you will also be able to keep the remaining commandments I am going to give you. Grow strong in them and take strength, and let all who wish to live by them take strength.”

Reader’s notes

  1. 1. 5.1.2–6; 5.2.5–7

    The tender holy spirit's dwelling in a spacious vessel and being choked when the spirits compete remain bodily and spatial images. “Holy spirit” does not by itself identify every occurrence with a later doctrinal formulation. The differing agents and the departure of the righteous spirit in 5.2.7 are retained.

  2. 2. 5.1.5

    Wormwood is a bitter plant; its spoiling the honey illustrates the effect of an admixture of anger. The comparison is not a medical recommendation.

  3. 3. 5.1.6–7

    The warning about a petition becoming useless and the condition involving those who have given up hope remain as stated. They have not been softened into practical advice about feeling calmer.

  4. 4. 5.2.4

    “Bitterness,” “fury,” “anger,” and “wrath” distinguish the successive Greek terms. The sequence is the author's moral account, not a modern clinical classification.

About this edition

English translation v02. Greek source v01: Molly Whittaker, second revised edition, 1967; Patristic Text Archive (2018), Annette von Stockhausen — conversion to CTS-compliant PTA TEI and markup of places and persons. Technical derivative: Stromata Editions, 2026-09-29. Fixed version ef861ab3.

Dotted underlining marks editorial supplied spans in the selected source and the corresponding translation, including partial spans. The sign alone does not establish the intervention’s nature or necessarily indicate a conjecture. Original square brackets are preserved.

Latin ending: the ancient Vulgata edited by Adolphus Hilgenfeld, Hermae Pastor (Leipzig, 1873), pp. 155–164; project source HER-ENDING-SOURCE-v01. Hilgenfeld took the insertion in Sim. 10.2.4 from the Palatina and added habet himself. The Greek digital source’s license does not automatically cover the Latin edition or the translations.

The translation is a reviewed working version following an AI editorial pass; human philological review is not claimed.

The reproduced Greek source and its technical derivative: CC BY-SA 4.0. Whitespace adapted for reading; words and diacritics preserved. Attribution does not imply endorsement of Stromata by PTA contributors.

Vulgata · Hilgenfeld 1873 · StromataPTA · ef861ab3CC BY-SA 4.0

← Hermas edition hub