Didache

Anonymous

Didache. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation In Two Volumes. Vol. I. Lake, Kirsopp, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1912.

Abstain from carnal and bodily lusts. If any man smite thee on the

right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also, and thou wilt be perfect. If any man impress thee to go with him one mile, go with him two. If any man take thy coat, give him thy shirt also. If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not—not even if thou canst.[*](The Greek is literally for thou art not even able; but this makes no sense, and though an emendation is difficult the sense must be something like that given by the translation—unless, indeed, the whole phrase be merely a flippant gloss, which has been erroneously taken into the text.)

Give to everyone[*](Alms-giving) that asks thee, and do not refuse, for the Father’s will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that gives according to the mandate; for he is innocent. Woe to him who receives; for if any man receive alms under pressure of need he is innocent; but he who receives it without need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and he shall not come out thence until he pay the last farthing.

But concerning this it was also said, Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving.

But the second commandment of the teaching[*](The second part of the teaching) is this;

Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not commit sodomy; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not use magic; thou shalt not use philtres; thou shalt not procure abortion, nor

commit infanticide; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods;

thou shalt not commit perjury, thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt not speak evil; thou shalt not bear malice.

Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death.

Thy speech shall not be false nor vain, but completed in action.

Thou shalt not be covetous nor extortionate, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, nor proud, thou shalt make no evil plan against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt hate no man; but some thou shalt reprove,[*](On the ground of a comparison with Jude 22 f. etc., some think that and some thou shalt pity ought to be added.) and for some shalt thou pray, and some thou shalt love more than thine own life.