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THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.

not be of doubtful mind[1] as to whether a thing shall be or not. Thou shalt not take the name[2] of the Lord in vain. Thou shalt love thy neighbour more than thine own soul.[3] Thou shalt not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shalt thou destroy it after it is born. Thou shalt not withdraw thy hand from thy son, or from thy daughter, but from their infancy thou shalt teach them the fear of the Lord.[4] Thou shalt not covet what is thy neighbour's, nor shalt thou be avaricious. Thou shalt not be joined in soul with the haughty, but thou shalt be reckoned with the righteous and lowly. Receive thou as good things the trials[5] which come upon thee.[6] Thou shalt not be of double mind or of double tongue,[7] for a double tongue is a snare of death. Thou shalt be subject[8] to the Lord, and to [other] masters as the image of God, with modesty and fear. Thou shalt not issue orders with bitterness to thy maid-servant or thy man-servant, who trust in the same [God[9]], lest thou shouldst not[10] reverence that God who is above both; for He came to call men not according to their outward appearance,[11] but according as the Spirit had prepared them.[12] Thou shalt communicate in all things with thy neighbour; thou shalt not call[13] things thine own; for if ye are partakers in common of things which are incorruptible,[14] how much more [should you be] of those things which are corruptible![15] Thou shalt not be hasty with thy tongue, for the mouth is a snare of death.

  1. ↑ Comp. James i. 8.
  2. ↑ Cod. Sin. has "thy name," but this is corrected as above.
  3. ↑ Cod. Sin. corrects to, "as thine own soul."
  4. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "of God."
  5. ↑ "Difficulties," or "troubles."
  6. ↑ Cod. Sin. adds, "knowing that without God nothing happens."
  7. ↑ Cod. Sin. has "talkative," and omits the following clause.
  8. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "Thou shalt be subject (ὑποταγη—untouched by the corrector) to masters as a type of God."
  9. ↑ Inserted in Cod. Sin.
  10. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "they should not."
  11. ↑ Comp. Eph. vi. 9.
  12. ↑ Comp. Rom. viii. 29, 30.
  13. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "and not call."
  14. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "in that which is incorruptible."
  15. ↑ Cod. Sin. has, "in things that are subject to death," but is corrected as above.
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