Didache (Lightfoot translation)

Chapter 1

¹There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. ²The way of life is this. ³First of all, thou shalt love the God that made thee; ⁴secondly, thy neighbour as thyself. ⁵And all things whatsoever thou wouldest not have befal thyself neither do thou unto another. ⁶Now of these words the doctrine is this. ⁷Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies and fast for them that persecute you; ⁸for what thank is it, if ye love them that love you? Do not even the Gentiles the same? But do ye love them that hate you, and ye shall not have an enemy. ⁹Abstain thou from fleshly and bodily lusts. ¹⁰If any man give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect; ¹¹if a man impress thee to go with him, one mile, go with him twain; ¹²if a man take away thy cloak, give him thy coat also; ¹³if a man take away from thee that which is thine own, ask it not back, for neither art thou able. ¹⁴To every man that asketh of thee give, and ask not back; ¹⁵for the Father desireth that gifts be given to all from His own bounties. ¹⁶Blessed is he that giveth according to the commandment; ¹⁷for he is guiltless. ¹⁸Woe to him that receiveth; ¹⁹for, if a man receiveth having need, he is guiltless; ²⁰but he that hath no need shall give satisfaction why and wherefore he received; ²¹and being put in confinement he shall be examined concerning the deeds that he hath done, and he shall not come out thence until he hath given back the last farthing. ²²Yea, as touching this also it is said; ²³Let thine alms sweat into thine hands, until thou shalt have learnt to whom to give.

Chapter 2

¹And this is the second commandment of the teaching. ²Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not deal in magic, thou shalt do no sorcery, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods, thou shalt not perjure thyself, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not speak evil, thou shalt not cherish a grudge, thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued; ³for the double tongue is a snare of death. ⁴Thy word shall not be false or empty, but fulfilled by action. ⁵Thou shalt not be avaricious nor a plunderer nor a hypocrite nor ill-tempered nor proud. ⁶Thou shalt not entertain an evil design against thy neighbour. ⁷Thou shalt not hate any man, but some thou shalt reprove, and for others thou shalt pray, and others thou shalt love more than thy life.

Chapter 3

¹My child, flee from every evil and everything that resembleth it. ²Be not angry, for anger leadeth to murder, nor jealous nor contentious nor wrathful; ³for of all these things murders are engendered. ⁴My child, be not lustful, for lust leadeth to fornication, neither foul-speaking neither with uplifted eyes; ⁵for of all these things adulteries are engendered. ⁶My child, be no dealer in omens, since it leads to idolatry, nor an enchanter nor an astrologer nor a magician, neither be willing to look at them; ⁷for from all these things idolatry is engendered. ⁸My child, be not a liar, since lying leads to theft, neither avaricious neither vainglorious; ⁹for from all these things thefts are engendered. ¹⁰My child, be not a murmurer, since it leadeth to blasphemy, neither self-willed neither a thinker of evil thoughts; ¹¹for from all these things blasphemies are engendered. ¹²But be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. ¹³Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and quiet and kindly and always fearing the words which thou hast heard. ¹⁴Thou shalt not exalt thyself, neither shalt thou admit boldness into thy soul. ¹⁵Thy soul shall not cleave together with the lofty, but with the righteous and humble shalt thou walk. ¹⁶The accidents that befal thee thou shalt receive as good, knowing that nothing is done without God.

Chapter 4

¹My child, thou shalt remember him that speaketh unto thee the word of God night and day, and shalt honour him as the Lord; ²for whencesoever the Lordship speaketh, there is the Lord. ³Moreover thou shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, that thou mayest find rest in their words. ⁴Thou shalt not make a schism, but thou shalt pacify them that contend; ⁵thou shalt judge righteously, thou shalt not make a difference in a person to reprove him for transgressions. ⁶Thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not be. ⁷Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive, but drawing them in as to giving. ⁸If thou hast ought passing through thy hands, thou shalt give a ransom for thy sins. ⁹Thou shalt not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when giving; ¹⁰for thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward. ¹¹Thou shalt not turn away from him that is in want, but shalt make thy brother partaker in all things, and shalt not say that anything is thine own. ¹²For if ye are fellow-partakers in that which is imperishable, how much rather in the things which are perishable? Thou shalt not withhold thy hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but from their youth thou shalt teach them the fear of God. ¹³Thou shalt not command thy bondservant or thine handmaid in thy bitterness, who trust in the same God as thyself, lest haply they should cease to fear the God who is over both of you; ¹⁴for He cometh, not to call men with respect of persons, but He cometh to those whom the Spirit hath prepared. ¹⁵But ye, servants, shall be subject unto your masters, as to a type of God, in shame and fear. ¹⁶Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. ¹⁷Thou shalt never forsake the commandments of the Lord; ¹⁸but shalt keep those things which thou hast received, neither adding to them nor taking away from them. ¹⁹In church thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and shalt not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. ²⁰This is the way of life.

Chapter 5

¹But the way of death is this. ²First of all, it is evil and full of a curse murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magical arts, witchcrafts, plunderings, false witnessings, hypocrisies, doubleness of heart, treachery, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetousness, foul-speaking, jealousy, boldness, exaltation, boastfulness; ³persecutors of good men, hating truth, loving a lie, not perceiving the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to righteous judgment, wakeful not for that which is good but for that which is evil; ⁴from whom gentleness and forbearance stand aloof; ⁵loving vain things, pursuing a recompense, not pitying the poor man, not toiling for him that is oppressed with toil, not recognizing Him that made them, murderers of children, corrupters of the creatures of God, turning away from him that is in want, oppressing him that is afflicted, advocates of the wealthy, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful. ⁶May ye be delivered, my children, from all these things.

Chapter 6

¹See lest any man lead you astray from this way of righteousness, for he teacheth thee apart from God. ²For if thou art able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou shalt be perfect; ³but if thou art not able, do that which thou art able. ⁴But concerning eating, bear that which thou art able; ⁵yet abstain by all means from meat sacrificed to idols; ⁶for it is the worship of dead gods.

Chapter 7

¹But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize. ²Having first recited all these things, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living (running) water. ³But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water; ⁴and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm. ⁵But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ⁶But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able; ⁷and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.

Chapter 8

¹And let not your fastings be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and the fifth day of the week; ²but do ye keep your fast on the fourth and on the preparation (the sixth) day. ³Neither pray ye as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, thus pray ye. ⁴Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; ⁵Thy kingdom come; ⁶Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth; ⁷give us this day our daily bread; ⁸and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors; ⁹and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; ¹⁰for Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever. ¹¹Three times in the day pray ye so.

Chapter 9

¹But as touching the eucharistic thanksgiving give ye thanks thus. ²First, as regards the cup: ³We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Thy son David, which Thou madest known unto us through Thy Son Jesus; ⁴Thine is the glory for ever and ever. ⁵Then as regards the broken bread: ⁶We give Thee thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou didst make known unto us through Thy Son Jesus; ⁷Thine is the glory for ever and ever. ⁸As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being gathered together became one, so may Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom; ⁹for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. ¹⁰But let no one eat or drink of this eucharistic thanksgiving, but they that have been baptized into the name of the Lord; ¹¹for concerning this also the Lord hath said: ¹²Give not that which is holy to the dogs.

Chapter 10

¹And after ye are satisfied thus give ye thanks: ²We give Thee thanks, Holy Father, for Thy holy name, which Thou hast made to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which Thou hast made known unto us through Thy Son Jesus; ³Thine is the glory for ever and ever. ⁴Thou, Almighty Master, didst create all things for Thy name's sake, and didst give food and drink unto men for enjoyment, that they might render thanks to Thee; ⁵but didst bestow upon us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Thy Son. ⁶Before all things we give Thee thanks that Thou art powerful; ⁷Thine is the glory for ever and ever. ⁸Remember, Lord, Thy Church to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Thy love; ⁹and gather it together from the four winds—even the Church which has been sanctified—into Thy kingdom which Thou hast prepared for it; ¹⁰for Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever. ¹¹May grace come and may this world pass away. ¹²Hosanna to the God of David. ¹³If any man is holy, let him come; ¹⁴if any man is not, let him repent. Maran Atha. Amen. ¹⁵But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving as much as they desire.

Chapter 11

¹Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these things that have been said before, receive him; ²but if the teacher himself be perverted and teach a different doctrine to the destruction thereof, hear him not; ³but if to the increase of righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. ⁴But concerning the apostles and prophets, so do ye according to the ordinance of the Gospel. ⁵Let every apostle, when he cometh to you, be received as the Lord; ⁶but he shall not abide more than a single day, or if there be need, a second likewise; ⁷but if he abide three days, he is a false prophet. ⁸And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing save bread, until he findeth shelter; ⁹but if he ask money, he is a false prophet. ¹⁰And any prophet speaking in the Spirit ye shall not try neither discern; ¹¹for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. ¹²Yet not every one that speaketh in the Spirit is a prophet, but only if he have the ways of the Lord. ¹³From his ways therefore the false prophet and the prophet shall be recognized. ¹⁴And no prophet when he ordereth a table in the Spirit shall eat of it; ¹⁵otherwise he is a false prophet. ¹⁶And every prophet teaching the truth, if he doeth not what he teacheth, is a false prophet. ¹⁷And every prophet approved and found true, if he doeth ought as an outward mystery typical of the Church, and yet teacheth you not to do all that he himself doeth, shall not be judged before you; ¹⁸he hath his judgment in the presence of God; ¹⁹for in like manner also did the prophets of old time. ²⁰And whosoever shall say in the Spirit, Give me silver or anything else, ye shall not listen to him; ²¹but if he tell you to give on behalf of others that are in want, let no man judge him.

Chapter 12

¹But let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be received; ²and then when ye have tested him ye shall know him, for ye shall have understanding on the right hand and on the left. ³If the comer is a traveller, assist him, so far as ye are able; ⁴but he shall not stay with you more than two or three days, if it be necessary. ⁵But if he wishes to settle with you, being a craftsman, let him work for and eat his bread. ⁶But if he has no craft, according to your wisdom provide how he shall live as a Christian among you, but not in idleness. ⁷If he will not do this, he is trafficking upon Christ. ⁸Beware of such men.

Chapter 13

¹But every true prophet desiring to settle among you is worthy of his food. ²In like manner a true teacher is also worthy, like the workman, of his food. ³Every firstfruit then of the produce of the wine-vat and of the threshing-floor, of thy oxen and of thy sheep, thou shalt take and give as the firstfruit to the prophets; ⁴for they are your chief-priests. ⁵But if ye have not a prophet, give them to the poor. ⁶If thou makest bread, take the firstfruit and give according to the commandment. ⁷In like manner, when thou openest a jar of wine or of oil, take the firstfruit and give to the prophets; ⁸yea and of money and raiment and every possession take the firstfruit, as shall seem good to thee, and give according to the commandment.

Chapter 14

¹And on the Lord's own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. ²And let no man, having his dispute with his fellow, join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled; ³for this sacrifice it is that was spoken of by the Lord; ⁴In every place and at every time offer Me a pure sacrifice; ⁵for I am a great king, saith the Lord and My name is wonderful among the nations.

Chapter 15

¹Appoint for yourselves therefore bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved; ²for unto you they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers. ³Therefore despise them not; ⁴for they are your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers. ⁵And reprove one another, not in anger but in peace, as ye find in the Gospel; ⁶and let no one speak to any that has gone wrong towards his neighbour, neither let him hear a word from you, until he repent. ⁷But your prayers and your almsgivings and all your deeds so do ye as ye find it in the Gospel of our Lord.

Chapter 16

¹Be watchful for your life; ²let your lamps not be quenched and your loins not ungirded, but be ye ready; ²for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. ⁴And ye shall gather yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls; ⁵for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season. ⁶For in the last days the false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate. ⁷For as lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray. ⁸And then the world-deceiver shall appear as a son of God; ⁹and shall work signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; ¹⁰and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began. ¹¹Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many shall be offended and perish; ¹²but they that endure in their faith shall be saved by the Curse Himself. ¹³And then shall the signs of the truth appear; ¹⁴first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead; ¹⁵yet not of all, but as it was said: ¹⁶The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him. ¹⁷Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.