The Shepherd of Hermas

When therefore I saw them thus beaten and miserable I grieved for them that they were being so tormented, and had no rest at all.

I said to the shepherd who was speaking with me: Sir, who is this shepherd who is so pitiless and bitter, and has no compassion at all on these sheep? This, said he, is the angel of punishment. He is one of the righteous angels, but is set over punishment.

Therefore he receives those who have wandered away from God, and walked in the lusts and deceits of this world, and punishes them, as they deserve, with various terrible punishments.

I should like, sir, said I, to know these different punishments, of what kind they are. Hear, said he, the different tortures and punishments. The tortures befall them in this life, for some are punished with loss, others with deprivations, others with divers illnesses, others with all unsettlement, and others are insulted by the unworthy, and suffer many other things.

For many have been unsettled in their

When, therefore, they have been afflicted with every affliction, then they are handed over to me, for good instruction, and are made strong in the faith of the Lord, and they serve the Lord the rest of the days of their life with a pure heart. And if they repent, then it enters into their hearts, that the deeds which they did were evil, and then they glorify God saying that he is a righteous judge, and that they suffered righteously, each according to his deeds, and for the future they serve the Lord with a pure heart, and they prosper in all their deeds, receiving from the Lord all things, whatever they ask; , and then they glorify the Lord that they were handed over to me, and they no longer suffer any of the evils.