top Rechabites

διήγησις ζωσίμου εἰς τὸν βίον τῶν μακάρων κύριε εὐλόγησον
Story of Zosimus concerning the Life of the Blessed Ones. Oh Lord, Bless.

Chapter One

1.1 κατ’ ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου ὑπῆρχεν ἀνήρ τις ὀνόματι ζώσιμος ὅς οὐκ ἔφαγεν ἄρτον ἔτη τεσσαράκοντα καὶ οἶνον οὐκ ἔπιεν · καὶ πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπου οὐχ ἑόρακεν · At that time in the desert, there was a man named Zōsimus, who for forty years did not eat bread and did not drink wine; and he did not see the face of a human being.
1.2 οὗτος ἦν παρακαλῶν τὸν θεὸν ἵνα ἴδῃ τὴν διοίκησιν τῶν μακάρων · This man continued appealing God in order that he might see the governing place of the Blessed Ones.
1.3 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἀπεστάλη λέγων αὐτῷ · ζώσιμε ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ · ἰδοὺ ἀπεστάλην ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑψίστου τοῦ τῶν ὅλων θεοῦ εἰπεῖν σοὶ ὅτι πεπορεύσῃ εἰς τοὺς μάκαρας · οὐ κατοικήσεις δὲ μετ’ αὐτῶν · And behold, an angel of the Lord was sent, saying to him: “Oh Zosimus, man of God, behold, I was sent from the Most High, the One of all gods, to tell you to go to the Blessed Ones, but you shall not dwell with them.”
1.4 ἀλλὰ μὴ ὑψώσῃς τὴν καρδίαν σου εἰπών · ἔτη τεσσαράκοντα ἄρτον οὐκ ἔφαγον · ὁ γὰρ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ ἄρτον ἐστιν , καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ οἶνόν ἐστιν · “But don’t lift up your heart saying, ‘for forty years I haven’t eaten bread’; for the word of God is better than bread, and the spirit of God is better than wine.”
1.5 τὸ γὰρ [ εἰπεῖν σὲ ] πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπου οὐκ εἶδον · ἰδοὺ τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως , ἐγγύς σου · “As for your saying, ‘I haven’t seen the face of a man,’ behold, the face of the great king is near you.”
1.6 ὁ δὲ ζώσιμος ἔφη · οἶδα ὅτι ὅσα ἂν θέλῃ ὁ κύριος δύναται · And Zosimus said, “I know that whatever the Lord wants, he is able (to do).”
1.7 ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν · γνῶθι καὶ τοῦτο · ὅτι πρὸς ἓν τῶν γευμάτων αὐτῶν οὐκ εἶ ἄξιος · πλὴν ἀναστὰς πορεύου · And the angel said to him: “Know this also, that you are not worthy of (eating) one of their meals. Nevertheless, get up, proceed forth.”

Chapter Two

2.1 ἐγὼ δὲ ζώσιμος ἐξελθὼν ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου μου τοῦ θεοῦ με προάγοντος ἐπορευόμην μὴ ἐπιστάμενος τὴν ὁδὸν ποῦ ἀπέρχομαι · Then I, Zosimus, came out of my cave as God was leading me forward, although not knowing where I was going.
2.2 καὶ ὁδεύσας ἡμέρας [ τεσσαράκοντα ὠλιγοψύχησεν ] τὸ πνεῦμά μου καὶ ἐξελύθη τὸ σῶμά μου · καὶ ἀκηδιάσας ἐκαθέσθην καὶ ἤμην προσευχόμενος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ ἐπὶ ἡμέρας τρεῖς · And after travelling forty days, my spirit became faint and my body failed. Then being discouraged, I sat down and continued praying in that place for three days.
2.3 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ζῷον ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου ὄνομα αὐτῷ κάμηλος · καὶ θήσας τὰ γόνατα εἰς τὴν γῆν · ἔλαβέν με εἰς τὸν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἐπορεύθη τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἀπέθετό με · And behold, an animal came out of the desert, its name was camel. It put its knees on the ground, took me up on itself. Then it crossed the desert and put me down.
2.4 καὶ ἦν ἀλαλαγμὸς τῶν θηρίων ἐκεῖ πολύς · καὶ βρυγμὸς καὶ ἰὸς θανατηφόρος · and there was a great roaring of the beasts there; and a gnashing (of teeth), and deadly venom.
2.5 ἔμφοβος δὲ γενόμενος , προσηυξάμην πρὸς κύριον · καὶ ἐγένετο σεισμὸς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ πολὺς μετ’ ἠχοῦς · And being afraid, I prayed to the Lord. And there was an earthquake in that place with a great noise.
2.6 καὶ [ ἐφύσησεν λαῖλαψ ] ἀνέμου · καὶ ἐκίνησέν με ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὕψωσέν με εἰς τὸ πτερύγιον αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἤμην προσευχόμενος καὶ πορευόμενος · καὶ ἔστησέν με ἐπὶ τόπου ποταμώδους · καὶ ὄνομα τῷ ποταμῷ εὐμελής · and a wind storm blew and moved me from the ground and lifted me up on its wing. and I kept praying and proceeding. Then it set me in a place by a river, and the name of the river is Eumeles (i.e., gentle).
2.7 καὶ ἰδοὺ βουλομένου μου · διέρχεσθαι τὸν ποταμόν · ἐβόησέν τις ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος λέγων · ζώσιμε ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ · οὐ δύνασαι διελθεῖν δι’ ἐμοῦ · οὐ γὰρ δύναται ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὰ ὕδατά μου διακόψαι · ἀλλ’ ἢ κατανόησον ἀπὸ τῶν ὑδάτων ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ · And behold, when I wanted to cross the river, someone called out from the water, saying, “Oh Zosimus, man of God, you cannot pass through me, for man cannot sever my waters; but look up from the waters to the sky.”
2.8 καὶ κατανόησας · [ εἶδον τεῖχος ] νεφέλης κρατοῦν ἀπὸ τῶν ὑδάτων ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ · And looking up, I saw a wall of clouds stretches from the waters to the sky;
2.9 καὶ εἶπεν ἡ νεφέλη · ζώσιμε ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ · δι’ ἐμοῦ οὐ διέρχεται πετεινὸν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου · οὐδὲ πνοὴ ἀνέμου · οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ὁ ἥλιος · οὐδὲ ὁ πειράζων ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ δύναται διελθεῖν δι’ ἐμοῦ · and the cloud said: “Oh Zosimus, man of God; through me, no bird can pass out of this world, nor a breath of wind, nor the sun itself. Not (even) the tempter in this world can pass through me.”

Chapter Three

3.1 ἐγὼ δὲ ἐξέστην ἐπὶ τοῖς ῥήμασιν τούτοις καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ φωνῇ τῇ λεγούσῃ μοι ταῦτα · I, however, was amazed at these words and at the voice which spoke these things to me.
3.2 καὶ ἐμοῦ προσευχομένου ἰδοὺ δύο δένδρα ἀνεφάνησαν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καλοείδη καὶ εὐπρεπέστατα · γέμοντα καρπῶν εὐωδίας · And while I was praying, behold, two trees appeared from the earth, good form and most handsome; full of fragrant fruits;
3.3 καὶ κλιθὲν τὸ δένδρον ἐντεῦθεν · ἔλαβεν με ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ ὑψώθη σφόδρα ἀνάμεσον τοῦ ποταμοῦ · καὶ ὑπήντησεν τὸ ἄλλο δένδρον καὶ ἐδέξατό με ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ κλιθέν · ἔστησέν με ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν and when the tree on lthis side bent down; it took me on its top, and it rose up greatly over the middle of the river. Then it met the other tree and received me in its branches, and bending down, it set me on the ground.
3.4 καὶ ἀνυψώθησαν τὰ [ ἀμφότερα δένδρα ]· καὶ ἔστησάν με ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ πέραν · Thus both trees rose up and they set me up beyond the river.
3.5 καὶ ἀνεπαυσάμην ἡμέρας τρεῖς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ · καὶ πάλιν ἀναστὰς ἐπορευόμην · ὅπου δ’ ἂν οὐκ ἐγίνωσκον · And I rested for three day in that place. Then having risen again, I proceeded forth, but I did not know where (I was going).
3.6 καὶ ἦν ὁ τόπος ἐκεῖνος πλήρης εὐωδίας πολλῆς · καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὄρος ἔνθα · ἀλλ’ ἦν ὁ τόπος ἐκεῖνος πεδινὸς ἄφθορος · ὅλος ἐστεφανωμένος · καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ εὐπρεπής · And that place was full of much fragrance; and there was no mountain here or there. But that plalce was level, unspoiled, all wreath-surrounded, and all the land was handsome.

Chapter Four

4.1 καὶ εἶδον ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον γυμνὸν καθήμενον · καὶ εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτῷ · ἆρα μὴ οὕτως ἐστὶν ὁ πειράζων ; And I saw a man sitting there naked; and I said to myself: “This is not the tempter, is it?”
4.2 καὶ ἐμνήσθην τῆς φωνῆς τῆς νεφέλης ὅτι εἶπέν μοι · ὅτι οὐ διέρχεται δι’ ἐμοῦ οὔτε αὐτὸς ὁ πειράζων ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ · Then I remembered the voice of the cloud that said to me, “No one passes through me, not even the tempter in the world itself.”
4.3 καὶ οὕτως θαρρήσας · εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν · χαίροις ἀδελφέ · And thus taking courage, I said to him, “Greetings, brother.”
4.4 καὶ αὐτὸς ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπέν μοι · ἡ χάρις μετά σου · And answering, he said to me, “Grace be with you.”
4.5 καὶ πάλιν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν · εἰπέ μοι ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ , τίς εἶ ; And again I said to him, “Tell me, man of God, who are you?”
4.6 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπέν μοι · σὺ γὰρ εἶ ; τίς εἶ ; And answering, he said to me: “Is it you? Who are you?”
4.7 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ἐγὼ εἶπον πάντα τὰ περὶ ἐμοῦ · καὶ ὅτι ηὐξάμην πρὸς κύριον , καὶ ἤνεγκέν με ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ · And answering, I told (him) all about myself, and that I had besought the Lord, and he brought me to this place.
4.8 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπέν μοι · κἀγὼ γινώσκω ὅτι ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ εἶ σύ · εἶ [ δὲ μή ] γε · οὐκ ἂν διῆλθες τὴν νεφέλην καὶ τὸν ποταμὸν καὶ [ τὸν ἀέρα . ] and answering, he said to me, “I also know that you are a man of God. For indeed, if you were not, you wouldn’t have passed through the cloud and the river and the air.
4.9 τὸ γὰρ πλάτος τοῦ ποταμοῦ · ὡς ἀπὸ μιλίων τριάκοντα · ἡ δὲ νεφέλη ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ · τὸ δὲ βάθος τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἕως τῶν ἀβύσων · for the width of the river is about thirty miles, and the clouds (reach) up to the sky, and the depth of the river (reach down) to the abyss.”

Chapter Five

5.1 καὶ πληρώσας τὸν λόγον τοῦτον ὁ ἄνθρωπος · εἶπεν πάλιν · σὺ ἐκ τῆς ματαιότητος τοῦ κόσμου ἦλθες ὧδε ; And when the man finished this statement, he said again, “Did you come here from the vanity of the world?”
5.2 ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ · διατί γυμνὸς ὑπάρχεις ; And I said to him, “Why are you naked?”
5.3 καὶ εἶπεν · πόθεν ἔγνως ὅτι γυμνὸς ὑπάρχω ; σὺ γὰρ φορῶν δέρματα ἐκ τῶν προβάτων τῆς γῆς ὑπάρχεις · καὶ αὐτὰ φθειρόμενα σὺν τῷ σώματί σου · ἀλλὰ κατανόησον τῷ ὑψώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ θέασαι τὸ ἔνδυμά μου ποῖόν ἐστιν · And he said, “How did you know that I was naked? For you wear skins from the sheep of the earth, and these wear out with your body; but look up to the height of the sky and you will see what my garment is.”
5.4 καὶ θεασάμενος ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ‎ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου · καὶ τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ‎ ὡς ἀστραπὴν ἡ ἐξ ἀνατολῶν εἰς δυσμὰς πορευομένη · καὶ ἐφοβήθην ὅτι υἱὸς θεοῦ ἦν · καὶ ἐγενήθην ἔντρομος πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν · And looking up in the sky, I saw his face like the face of an angel; and his clothing like lightning traveling from the east to the west. And I was afraid because he was the son of God; and I became terrified, falling to the ground.

Chapter Six

6.1 Καὶ [ δεδωκὼς χεῖρα ] ἀνέστησέν με λέγων · κἀγὼ εἷς εἰμὶ τῶν μακάρων · And giving me a hand, he raised me up, saying, “I am also one of the Blessed Ones.”
6.2 δεῦρο ὅπως ἄξω σὲ πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους · “Come, so that I will lead you to the elders.”
6.3 καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρός μου · συμπεριεπάτησέν μοι · καὶ ἤγαγέν με ἐπί τινα ὄχλον καὶ ἦσαν ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ ἐκείνῳ πρεσβῦται ὅμοιοι υἱοὶ θεοῦ · καὶ ἦσαν παριστάμενοι νεανίσκοι τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις · And taking my hand, he walked with me and led me to a crowd. And in that crowd there were elders like sons of God, and young men were standing beside the elders.
6.4 ἀπελθόντος δὲ ἐμοῦ ἔγγιστα αὐτῶν εἶπαν · οὗτος ἐκ τῆς ματαιότητος τοῦ κόσμου ἐλήλυθεν δεῦτε δεηθῶμεν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ φανερώσει ἡμῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο · And when I came near to them, they said, “This man has come from the vanity of the world. Come, let us appeal to the Lord and he will reveal this mystery to us.”
6.5 μὴ ἄρα τὸ τέλος ἔφθασεν · ὅτι ἄνθρωπος τῆς ματαιότητος ἦλθεν ὧδε · “Perhaps the end has come, for a man of vanity has come here.”
6.6 καὶ ἀναστάντες , ἐδεήθησαν τοῦ κυρίου ὁμοθυμαδόν · καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἄγγελοι δύο κατέβησαν ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν , καὶ εἶπαν · μὴ φοβήθητε τὸν ἄνδρα · ὅτι ἀπέσταλκεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς ἵνα ποιήσῃ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας · καὶ λάβῃ τὰς διοικήσεις ὑμῶν · καὶ τότε ἐκπορεύεται · καὶ ἀπελεύσεται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ‎ · And rising up, they petitioned the Lord simultaneously; and behold, two angels came down from the skies, and said, “Don’t be afraid of the man, for God has sent him in order that he might stay seven days, and understand your governing place. Then he will depart and return to his own place.”
6.7 οἱ δὲ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ εἰπόντες ταῦτα · ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐνώπιον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἡμῶν · When the angels of God said these things, they ascended into the sky before our eyes.

Chapter Seven

7.1 τότε παρέδωκάν με οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν μακάρων ἕνα τῶν ὑπηρετῶν λέγοντες · φύλαξον αὐτὸν ἕως ἡμερῶν ἑπτά · Then the elders of the Blessed Ones delivered me over to one of the attendants, saying, “Keep him for seven days.”
7.2 παραλαβών με οὖν ὁ ὑπηρέτης · ἀπήγαγέν με εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἤμεθα ὑποκάτω δένδρου διοικούμενοι · Therefore, when the attendant received me; he led me to his cave. And we continued sitting under a tree provided for us.
7.3 ἀπὸ γὰρ ἕκτης ὥρας ἕως ἕκτης τότε ἠσθίομεν · καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐξήρχετο ἀπὸ τοῦ δένδρου γλυκὺ ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι · καὶ ἐπίνομεν πρὸς τὸν κόρον ἡμῶν , καὶ πάλιν τὸ ὕδωρ ἐδίδυσκεν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ‎ · for from noon1 until six o'clock (we fasted) and then we ate. And the water that was sweeter than honey flowed from the tree. And we drank to our fill. And again, the water flowed back to its place.
1Lit., "the sixth hour."
7.4 ἤκουσεν δὲ πᾶσα ἡ πατριὰ τῶν ἐκεῖσε περὶ ἐμοῦ · ὅτι ἦλθεν ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τῆς ματαιότητος τοῦ κόσμου ὧδε · And the whole (Rechabite) tribe of those (who were) there heard about me, that a man came here from the vanity of the world.
7.5 καὶ ἐσαλεύθη πᾶσα ἡ πατριά · καὶ [ ἦλθον ἰδεῖν με ] ὅτι ξένον αὐτοῖς ἐφάνη · and the whole tribe was bewildered; and they came to see me because I appeared to them as a stranger.
7.6 ἦσαν οὖν [ ἐπερωτῶντές · κἀγὼ ἤμην ἀναγγέλλων αὐτοῖς · They were therefore questioning me about all things, and I was answering them
7.7 καὶ ὠλιγοψύχησα τῷ πνεύματι καὶ τῷ σώματί μου · καὶ παρεκάλεσα τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ θεοῦ τὸν ὑπηρετοῦντά μοι καὶ εἶπον · παρακαλῶ σὲ ἀδελφέ · ἐὰν ἔλθωσίν τινες ἰδεῖν με ἀνάγγειλον αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε ἵνα ἀναπαύσωμαι μικρόν · and I fainted in my spirit and body; and I begged the man of God who served me and I said, “I beg you, brother, if some come to see me, tell them that I am not here, so I might rest a little.”
7.8 καὶ ἐβόησεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ λέγων · οἴμοι ὅτι ἱστορία τοῦ ἀδὰμ ἐμοὶ ἀνεκεφαλαιώθη · ἐκεῖνον γὰρ διὰ τῆς εὔας ἠπάτησεν ὁ Σατανᾶς καὶ ἐμὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος · διὰ τῆς κολακείας , ψεύστην θέλει ἀποκαταστῆσαι · ὄντος αὐτοῦ‎ ὧδε · εἶπέν μοι · ὅτι ψεύσῃ καὶ εἶπε ὅτι οὐκ [ ἔστιν ὧδε ]· And the man of God cried out, saying, “Woe to me, that the story of Adam has been repeated; for he was deceived by Eve, and through flattery, this man wants to make me a liar. Although he is here, he told me, ‘Lie and say that he is not here.’ ”
7.9 [ ἀπαγάγετέ με ] ἐντεῦθεν , ἐπεί · φεύξομαι [ ἀπὸ τῆς κώμης · ] ἰδοὺ γὰρ βούλεται κατασπείρειν ἐμοὶ σπέρματα τοῦ κόσμου τῆς ματαιότητος · “Take me away from here, since I shall flee the village. For behold, he wants to sow in me the seeds of the world of vanity.”
7.10 καὶ κατεπανέστησάν μου πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος · καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ εἶπον · ἄπελθε ἀφ’ ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπε οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐλήλυθας πρὸς ἡμᾶς · And all the people rebelled against me, and the elders also said, “Get away from us, man. We don’t know from where you have come to us.”
7.11 ἐγὼ δὲ ἔκλαυσα κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ · καὶ ἀπέστη ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ἡ φρόνησις · καὶ ἐβόησα πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους λέγων · συγχωρήσατέ μοι κύριοί μου · καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καταπαύσαντες · ἡσυχίαν παρέσχον · Then I wept with a great cry; and understanding departed from me. I cried out to the elders, saying: “Forgive me, my lords.” And the elders, ceasing, provided silence.
7.12 τότε ἐξηγησάμην αὐτοῖς τὰ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἕως δεῦρο · καὶ ὅτι ἐδεήθην τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς · καὶ κατηξίωσέν με · Then I explained to them everything from beginning to end; and that I begged God to come to you, and he considered me worthy.
7.13 καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι εἶπον · καὶ νῦν τί [ θέλεις ἵνα ] ποιήσωμέν σοὶ · And the elders said, “And now what do you want us to do for you?”
7.14 ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον αὐτοῖς · θέλω λαβεῖν ἐξ ὑμῶν τὰς διοικήσεις ὑμῶν · And I said to them, “I want to take your administrations from you.”

Chapter Eight

8.1 οἱ δὲ ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην , καὶ ἄραντες πλάκας λιθινάς · κατέγραψαν τοῖς ὄνυξιν αὐτῶν αὐτῶν οὕτως · ἀκούσατε ἀκούσατε υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἡμῶν τῶν γενομένων μακάρων · ὅτι καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐσμέν · And they rejoiced greatly, and they brought a stone tablet. With their fingernails, they wrote thus: Hear, hear, sons of our people, from us who became blessed, because we also are from you.
8.2 ὅτε γὰρ ἐκήρυξεν ἰερεμίας ὁ προφήτης · ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἰερουσαλὴμ παραδοθήσεται εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ὀλοθρευόντων · διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ περιεζώσατο σάκκον περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ [ κατεπάσατο σποδὸν ] ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ χοῦν ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ εἶπεν παντὶ τῷ λαῷ ἀποστραφῆναι ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ‎ τῆς πονηρᾶς · For, when Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed that the city of Jerusalem would be given into the hands of the destroyers, he tore his clothes, and girded himself with sackcloth around his waist, and sprinkled ashes on his head, and put dirt on his bed. And he exhorted all the people to turn from his wicked way.
8.3 ἤκουσεν δὲ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν Ῥηχὰβ υἱὸς Ἀμιναδὰβ καὶ εἶπεν · πρὸς ἡμᾶς · ἀκούσατε υἱοὶ Ῥηχὰβ καὶ θυγατέρες τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν · καὶ ἀποδύσασθε τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος ὑμῶν καὶ κεράμιον οἴνου οὐ πίεσθε · καὶ ἄρτον ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς οὐ φάγεσθε · καὶ σίκερα καὶ μέλι οὐ πίεσθε · ἕως τοῦ εἰσακοῦσαι κύριον τῆς δεήσεως ὑμῶν · And our father Rechab, son of Aminadab, also heard (Jeremiah) and said to us, “Listen, sons of Rechab and daughters of your father, and put off your clothes from your body, and don’t drink a jar of wine jar and don’t eat bread from the fire; and don’t drink beer and honey until the Lord hears your petition.”
8.4 ἡμεῖς δὲ εἶπαμεν · ὅτι ἃ ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν ποιήσωμεν καὶ ἀκουσώμεθα · Then we said, “What he commanded us, let us do and obey.”
8.5 καὶ ἀπερρίψαμεν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν τὴν περιβολὴν ἡμῶν · καὶ οὐκ ἐφάγομεν ἄρτον ἐκ πυρός · καὶ οὐκ ἐπίομεν κεράμιον οἴνου · οὔτε μέλι οὔτε σίκερα · καὶ ἐκλαύσαμεν κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ · καὶ ἐδεήθημεν τοῦ κυρίου And we threw off our clothing1 from our body our covering; and we did not eat bread from the fire; and we did not drink a cup of wine; neither honey nor honey; and we wept with a great cry; and we bound ourselves to the Lord
1Or "covering."
8.6 καὶ ἤκουσεν τῆς προσευχῆς ἡμῶν · καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν τὴν ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ‎ ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ἰερουσαλήμ · καὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ πόλει ἰερουσαλὴμ ἔλεος παρὰ κυρίου καὶ ἠλέησεν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν τὴν ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ‎ τὴν θανατηφόρον · And he heard our prayer, and turned away his anger from the city of Jerusalem. And the Lord’s mercy came to the city of Jerusalem. He was merciful to his people, and turned away his deadly anger.

Chapter Nine

9.1 καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπέθανεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς πόλεως ἰερουσαλήμ · καὶ ἀνέστη βασιλεὺς ἕτερος · After these things, the king of the city of Jerusalem died, and another king arose.
9.2 καὶ συνηθροίσθη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς αὐτόν · καὶ κατάδηλον ἐποίησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν περὶ ἡμῶν καὶ εἶπαν · εἰσίν τινες ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ σου · οἵτινες ἤλλαξαν τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν ἀφ’ ἡμῶν · And all the people gathered to him, and instructed him concerning us, and they said, “There are some of your people who changed their way from us.”
9.3 καλέσας οὖν αὐτοὺς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτοὺς ἕνεκεν τίνος πεποιήκασιν τοῦτο · Therefore, when the king called them, he asked them why they had done this.
9.4 καὶ μετεκαλέσατο ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν · [ τίνες ἐστὲ ] καὶ ποίας θρησκείας ἢ ἐκ ποίας πατρίδος ; And he summoned us and asked, “Who are you, and of what religion, or from what fatherland?”
9.5 καὶ εἴπαμεν αὐτῷ ἡμεῖς · ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ σού ἐσμεν τῆς πόλεως ἰερουσαλήμ · καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς · τίνος υἱοί ἐστε · καὶ εἴπαμεν αὐτῷ · υἱοί ἐσμεν παιδός σου · πατρὸς δὲ ἡμῶν Ῥηχὰβ υἱοῖ ἰωναδάβ And we said to him, “We are from your people, the city of Jerusalem.” And the king said, “Whose sons are you?” And we said to him, “We are the sons of your servant and our father Rechab, the son of Jonadab.”
9.6 καὶ ὅτε ἐκήρυξεν ἰερεμίας ὁ προφήτης ζῶντος τοῦ πατρός σου τοῦ βασιλέως , ἐκήρυξεν θάνατον τῇ πόλει ἰερουσαλὴμ ὅτι ἔτι τριῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις θανατωθήσεται · “And when Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed, while your father the king was alive, he proclaimed death to the city of Jerusalem (saying) ‘Yet three days and all the city will be put to death.’ ”
9.7 ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ πατήρ σου μετέγνω ἐπὶ ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἐξέθετο δόγμα πᾶσιν τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτῶν τῆς πονηρᾶς · “And when the king, your father, heard (this proclamation), he repented of his sins, and issued a decree for all to turn away from their evil way.”
9.8 ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ παῖς σου · ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν λέγων · κεράμιον οἴνου οὐ πίεσθε · καὶ ἄρτον ἐκ πυρὸς οὐ φάγεσθε · ἕως τοῦ εἰσακοῦσαι κύριον τῆς δεήσεως ὑμῶν · “And when our father, your servant, heard (the decree), he commanded us, saying, ‘Don’t drink a jar of wine, and don’t eat bread from the fire until the Lord hears your petition.’ ”
9.9 ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐπηκούσαμεν τῆς ἐντολῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν · καὶ ἐγυμνώσαμεν τὰ σώματα ἡμῶν · καὶ οἶνον οὐκ ἐπίομεν · καὶ ἄρτον ἐκ πυρὸς οὐκ ἐφάγομεν · καὶ προσηυξάμεθα πρὸς κύριον περὶ τῆς πόλεως ἰερουσαλήμ · “And we listened to the command of our father, and made our bodies naked, and did not drink wine, and did not eat bread from the fire; and we prayed to the Lord for the city of Jerusalem.”
9.10 καὶ ἠλέησεν κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἀπέσρεψεν τὴν ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ εἴδομεν καὶ ὀνήθη ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν καὶ εἶπαμεν · καλὸν εἶναι ἡμᾶς οὕτως · “And the Lord had mercy upon his people, and turned aside his anger. And we saw it, and our soul had delight, and we said, ‘Thus it is good for us.’ ”

Chapter Ten

10.1 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὁ βασιλεύς · καλῶς πεποιήκατε · And the king said to us, “You have done well.”
10.2 νῦν οὖν καταμίχθητε μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ μου · καὶ φάγεσθε ἄρτον · καὶ πίεσθε οἶνον · καὶ δοξάσατε τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν · καὶ ἔσεσθε ὑπακούοντες , θεῷ καὶ βασιλεῖ · “Now then,” (said the king) “mingle with my people, eat bread and drink wine, and glorify your Lord, and you will be obeying God and king.”
10.3 ἡμεῖς δὲ εἴπαμεν ὅτι οὐ παρακούομεν τὸν θεόν · But we said, “We don’t disobey God.”
10.4 τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ βασιλεύς · ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ἐν φυλακῇ · καὶ ἤμεθα διανυκτερεύοντες τὴν νύκταν ἐκείνην · Then the king became angry. He placed us in prison. And we stayed there throughout that night.
10.5 καὶ ἰδοὺ φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι · καὶ ἄγγελος ἀπεστέγασεν τὴν φυλακήν · καὶ ἐκράτησεν τῆς κορυφῆς ἡμῶν καὶ ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς φυλακῆς · καὶ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς εἰς ἀέρα · καὶ ἤνεγκεν ἡμᾶς πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ποταμοῦ · καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς · ὅπου πορεύεται τὸ ὕδωρ πορεύεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς · And behold, a light shone in the cell, and an angel removed the roof from the prison and seized the top of our heads, and led us out from the prison, and placed us in the (open) air, and carried us to the water of the river. “Then he said to us, Wherever the water proceeds, you proceed also.”
10.6 καὶ ἐβαδίσαμεν σὺν τῷ ὕδατι καὶ σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ · And we walked with the water and with the angel.
10.7 ὅτε οὖν ἤνεγκεν ἡμᾶς πρὸς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον · ἐψύγη ὁ ποταμὸς καὶ ἀπώλετο τὸ ὕδωρ · καὶ διερράγη ὁ τόπος · καὶ ἀνῆλθεν ὕδωρ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀβύσσου · Then, when it carried us to this place, the river became dry, and the water was lost, and the place was split, and water came up out of the abyss.
10.8 καὶ περιετείχισεν τὴν πατρίδα ταύτην · καὶ ἦλθεν τεῖχος νεφέλης καὶ ἐπεσκίασεν ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος · And he surrounded this country (with) a wall of cloud which overshadowed the water.
10.9 καὶ οὐ διέστησεν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν · ἀλλ’ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὴν πατρίδα ταύτην · And he didn’t scatter us over all the earth, but gave us (just) this country.1
1i.e., "this fatherland."

Chapter Eleven

11.1 ἀκούσατε ἀκούσατε , υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὴν διοίκησιν τῶν μακάρων · Hear, hear, sons of men, about the administration of the Blessed Ones.
11.2 ἔθετο γὰρ ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ταύτης · καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐσεβεῖς · ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἀθάνατοι · For God placed us on this land; For also we are pious, but not immortal.
11.2 ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ἡ γῆ καρπὸν εὐωδέστατον · καὶ ἐξέρχεται ἐκ τῶν κορμῶν τῶν δένδρων ὕδωρ γλυκὺ ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι · καὶ ταῦτα ἡμῖν βρῶσις καί πόσις · For the land caused most fragrant fruit to sprout up, and water sweeter than honey comes out of the trunks of the trees, and these are food and drink for us.
11.4 ἐσμὲν δὲ καὶ προσευχόμενοι νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας · πᾶσα δὲ ἡ σπουδὴ ἡμῶν τοῦτό ἐστιν · And we also pray night and day, and this is our entire pursuit.
11.5 ἀκούσατε υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων · ὅτι παρ’ ἡμῖν ἄμπελος οὐκ ἔστιν · οὔτε ἄρουρα · οὔτε ἔργα ἐκ ξύλου οὔτε σιδήρου · οὔτε οἶκός ἐστιν ἡμῖν · οὔτε οἰκοδομή οὔτε πῦρ οὔτε ξίφος · οὔτε ἀργὸς σίδηρος οὔτε ἐργάσιμος · οὔτε ἀργύριον οὔτε χρυσίον · οὔτε [ ἀὴρ βαρύτατος ] οὔτε πικρότατος · Hear, sons of mankind, that with us there is no vine, nor cultivated field, nor works of wood or iron, nor is there a house with us, nor a building, nor fire, nor sword, nor worked or unworked iron, nor silver, nor gold, nor air most heavy or bitter.
11.6 οὔτε εἰσὶν ἐξ ἡμῶν λαμβάνοντες ἑαυτοῖς γυναῖκας ἕως οὗ ποιήσωσιν δύο τέκνα · Nor are there any of taking wives for themselves, (except) until they produce two children.
11.7 καὶ μετὰ τὸ δύο τέκνα ποιῆσαι · ἀφίστανται ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων καί εἰσιν ἐν ἁγνείᾳ μὴ γινώσκοντες [ ὅτι ἦσάν ποτε ἐν ] συνηθείᾳ τοῦ γάμου · ἀλλ’ ὡς ὅτι ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἐν τῇ παρθενίᾳ ὑπάρχοντες · And after they produced two children, they separate from each other and are in chastity, not knowing that they were once in the intimacy of marriage; but as if from the beginning being in virginity.
11.8 μένει τὸ ἓν τέκνον εἰς τὸν γάμον · καὶ τὸ ἓν εἰς τὴν παρθενίαν · One of the children remains for marriage, and the other for virginity.

Chapter Twelve

12.1 καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν [ ἀριθμὸς χρόνου ]· οὔτε ἑβδομάδες οὔτε μῆνες · οὔτε ἐνιαυτός · πᾶσα γὰρ ἡ ἡμέρα ἡμῶν μία ἡμέρα ἐστίν · And there is no chronological numeration,1 neither weeks, nor months, nor year; for every day of ours is one day.
1Lit., "counting of time."
12.2 ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν σπηλαίων ἡμῶν · [ ἀπόκειται φύλλα ] τῶν δένδρων · καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ κοίτη ἡμῶν ὑποκάτω τῶν δένδρων · And in our caves are laid away leaves of the trees, and this is our bed under the trees.
12.3 οὐκ ἐσμὲν δὲ γυμνοὶ τῷ σώματι ὡς δὴ ἀλογίζεσθε ὑμεῖς · ἔχομεν γὰρ τὸ ἔνδυμα τῆς ἀθανασίας καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνόμεθα ἀλλήλους · And we are not naked of body, as indeed you incorrectly think, for we have the garment of immortality, and we are not ashamed before each other.
12.4 ἐν δὲ τῇ ἕκτῃ ὥρᾳ ἐσθίομεν κατὰ πᾶσαν ἡμέραν · κατέρχεται γὰρ ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ δένδρου ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἕκτῃ ὥρᾳ καὶ ἐσθίομεν πρὸς τὸν κόρον ἡμῶν καὶ πίνομεν And at noon1 on every day, we eat, for the fruit of the tree comes down by itself at noon, and we eat and drink to our fill;
1Lit., "the sixth hour."
12.5 καὶ πάλιν τὸ ὕδωρ διδύσκει εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ‎ · and again the water sinks into its place.
12.6 οἴδαμεν δὲ καὶ ὑμᾶς τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ [ τῷ αὐτόθι ] καὶ τοὺς ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ὄντας καὶ τὰ ἔργα ὑμῶν · ὅτι καθ’ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ ἔρχονται καὶ ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ἡμῖν καὶ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν ἐτῶν ὑμῶν · And we also know you who are there in the world, and who are in sins, even your works; for every day the angels of God come and announce to us even the number of your years.
12.7 ἡμεῖς δὲ εὐχόμεθα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν πρὸς τὸν κύριον · ὅτι καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐσμὲν καὶ ἐκ τοῦ γένους ὑμῶν ἀλλ’ ὅτι καὶ ἐξελέξατο ἡμᾶς ὁ θεός · καὶ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ ἀναμαρτήτους · And on your behalf, we beseech the Lord because we are also from you and from your race; however, God chose us, and God set us sinless in this place.
12.8 καὶ οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ οἰκοῦσιν μεθ’ ἡμῶν κατὰ πᾶσαν ἡμέραν καὶ λέγουσιν ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν · καὶ χαίρομεν μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων ἕνεκεν τῶν ἔργων τῶν δικαίων · And the angels of God dwell with us through all the day, and tell us everything about you, and we rejoice with the angels on account of the works of the righteous ones.
12.9 ἐπὶ δὲ τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν λυπούμεθα · καὶ κλαίοντες προσευχόμεθα πρὸς κύριον · ἵνα παύσηται ἀπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς καὶ φείσηται τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ὑμῶν · But concerning the works of the sinners, we are distressed; and while weeping, we pray to the Lord that he should cease from his anger and spare your sins.

Chapter Thirteen

13.1 ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ χρόνος [ τῆς τεσσαρακοστῆς ] πάντα παύονται τὰ δένδρα ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν · And when the time of the fortieth comes, all the trees cease from their fruits.
13.2 καὶ βρέχει τὸ μάννα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅπερ ἔδωκεν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν · ἔστιν δὲ τὸ μάννα ὑπὲρ τὸ μέλι γλυκύ · Then the manna, which is exactly what he gave to our fathers, rains out of heaven, and the manna is sweeter than honey.
13.3 καὶ οὕτως γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐνήλλακται ὁ καιρὸς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ · And thus we know that the time of the year has changed.
13.4 ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ καιρὸς τοῦ ἁγίου πάσχα · τότε πάλιν ἀνατέλλει τὰ δένδρα τὸν καρπὸν τῆς εὐωδίας · καὶ οὕτως γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἀρχὴ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐστίν · And when the time of the holy passover comes, then again the trees cause the fragrant fruit to sprout up, and thus we know that it is the beginning of a year.
13.5 ἡ δὲ ἑορτὴ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ κυρίου · ἐν πολλῇ ἀγρυπνίᾳ ἐκτελεῖται · ἐσόμεθα γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἡμέρας τρεῖς καὶ νύκτας τρεῖς · And the feast of the resurrection of the Lord is performed with a great vigil, for we continue to keep a vigil for three days and three nights.

Chapter Fourteen

14.1 οἴδαμεν δὲ καὶ τὸν χρόνον ἡμῶν , τῆς τελειώσεως · οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν αἰκισμὸς καὶ βάσανος · οὐδὲ κόπος τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν · οὔτε ἀκηδία · οὔτε ἀρρώστημα · ἀλλ’ ἔστιν εἰρήνη καὶ ἀνεκτότης πολλὴ καὶ ἀγάπη · And we also know our time of consummation for there is no discomfort or torment, nor trouble for our body, nor anxiety, nor sickness; but there is peace and much tolerance and love.
14.2 οὔτε γὰρ ὀχλεῖται ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ ἐξελθεῖν · χαίρουσιν γὰρ οἱ Ἄγγελοι ὅταν παραλαμβάνωσιν ἡμῶν τὰς ψυχάς · χαίρουσιν δὲ καὶ αἱ ψυχαὶ ἡμῶν σὺν τοῖς ἀγγέλοις ὅταν βλέπωσιν αὐτούς · For neither is our soul troubled by the angels to depart, for the angels rejoice when they receive our souls, and our souls also rejoice together with the angels when they see them.
14.3 ὥσπερ ἐκδέχεται νύμφη τὸν νυμφίον · οὕτως ἐκδέχεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν τὸν εὐαγγελισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων ἀγγέλων · οὐδὲν περισσὸν λέγοντες · ἀλλ’ ἢ μόνον τοῦτο , καλεῖ σὲ ὁ κύριος · Just as a bride receives the bridegroom, thus our soul receives the good news of the holy angels, saying nothing in excess, but only this: “The Lord calls you.”
14.4 τότε ἡ ψυχὴ ἐξέρχεται ἐκ τοῦ σώματος , καὶ προσέρχεται τοῖς ἀγγέλοις · καὶ ἰδόντες τὴν ψυχὴν ἄσπιλον ἐξερχομένην , χαίρουσιν οἱ Ἄγγελοι καὶ ἁπλώσαντες τὰς στολὰς αὐτῶν δέχονται αὐτήν · Then the soul comes out from the body, and goes to the angels; and seeing the unblemished soul coming out, the angels rejoice, and spreading out their robes, they receive it.
14.5 τότε μακαριοῦσιν αὐτὴν οἱ Ἄγγελοι λέγοντες · μακαρία σὺ ψυχὴ ὅτι ἐπληρώθη τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν σοί · Then the angels bless it, saying, “Blessed are you, Oh soul, for the will of God was fulfilled in you.”

Chapter Fifteen

15.1 ὁ δὲ χρόνος τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν οὗτός ἐστιν · And the time of our life is this:
15.2 εἰ ἐν νεότητι ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ σώματος · αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ‎ αἱ ἐντεῦθεν ἔτη τριακόσια ἑξήκοντα · If one leaves the body in youth, the days of his life here are three hundred sixty years.
15.3 ὁ δὲ ἐν τῷ γήρει ἐξερχόμενος ἐκ τοῦ σώματος , αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ‎ αἱ ἐντεῦθεν · ἔτη ἑπτακόσια ὀγδοήκοντα ὀκτώ · But he who leaves the body in old age, the days of his life here are seven hundred eighty-eight years.
15.4 δεδήλωται δὲ ἡμῖν ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων · ἡ ἡμέρα τῆς συμπληρώσεως ἡμῶν · And the day of our completion has been made known to us by the angels.
15.5 ὅτε δὲ ἔλθωσιν οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ λαβεῖν ἡμᾶς πορευόμεθα μετ’ αὐτῶν · And when the angels of God come to take us, we proceed with them.
15.6 καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἰδόντες τοὺς ἀγγέλους συνάγουσιν πάντα τὸν λαόν · καὶ ἀπερχόμεθα μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων ψάλλοντες · ἕως ἀπέλθωσιν οἱ Ἄγγελοι ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τῆς κατοικίας ἡμῶν · And the elders, seeing the angels, gather together all the people, and we go out with the angels, singing until the angels arrive at the place of our habitation.
15.7 διὰ δὲ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἡμᾶς σκεῦος οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ δι’ ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦσιν τὴν θήκην τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν · And because we do not have any tool, the angels of God themsleves make the casket for our body.
15.8 καὶ οὕτως κατέρχεται ὁ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ · πάντες δὲ ἀσπαζόμεθα αὐτὸν ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου προπέμποντες καὶ συντασσόμενοι · And thus, the one who is called by God goes down, and we all salute him, from the small to the great, sending him off and bidding farewell.
15.9 καὶ τότε ἡ ψυχὴ ἐξέρχεται ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος · καὶ ἀσπάζονται αὐτὴν οἱ Ἄγγελοι · And then the soul leaves the body, and the angels salute it.
15.10 ἡμεῖς δὲ θεωροῦμεν τὸ εἶδος τῆς ψυχῆς , ὡς εἶδος φωτὸς πεπληρωμένην καθ’ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος χωρὶς τοῦ ἄρσενος καὶ τῆς θηλείας · And we see the form of the soul as a form of light, complete throughout the body without the (distinctive features of) the male and the female.

Chapter Sixteen

16.1 τότε οἱ Ἄγγελοι ἀναλαμβάνοντες · ᾄδουσιν ᾆσμα καὶ ὕμνον ψάλλοντες τῷ θεῷ · καὶ πάλιν ἄλλα τάγματα τῶν ἀγγέλων μετὰ σπουδῆς ὑπαντῶσιν ἀσπαζόμενοι τὴν ψυχὴν τὴν προσερχομένην καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὰ στερεώματα · Then, while the angels take it up, they chant a song and a hymn, while singing to God; and again other divisions of the angels meet it with haste, saluting the soul which is coming and entering into the firmaments.
16.2 καὶ ὅτε ἀπέλθῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον ἐν ᾧ δεῖ προσκυνεῖν τὸν θεόν · αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων δέχεται τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ μάκαρος · καὶ προσφέρει πρὸς τὸν ἄχραντον πατέρα τῶν αἰώνων · And when it has arrived at the place which it is necessary to worship God, the son of God himself, with the angels, receives the soul of the Blessed One and carries it to the undefiled father of the ages.
16.3 καὶ πάλιν ὅταν ψάλλωσιν οἱ Ἄγγελοι ἄνω · ἡμεῖς ὄντες κάτω ὑπακούομεν αὐτῶν · καὶ πάλιν ἡμεῖς ψάλλομεν , καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπακούουσιν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω · And again, whenever the angels above sing, we being below respond to them; and again we sing and they respond in the heaven above.
16.4 καὶ οὕτως ἀνάμεσον ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων · ἀνέρχεται ἡ δοξολογία τῆς ὑμνολογίας · And thus, between us and the angels the doxology of praise goes up.
16.5 ὅτε δὲ ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ μάκαρος πεσοῦσα ἐπὶ πρόσωπον προσκυνεῖ τὸν κύριον · τότε καὶ ἡμεῖς πεσόντες προσκυνοῦμεν τῇ αὐτῇ ὥρᾳ τὸν κύριον · And when the soul of the Blessed One, having fallen on his face, worships the Lord, then dwe also, having fallen, worship the Lord in the same hour.
16.6 ὅτε δὲ ἀναστήσει αὐτὴν ὁ κύριος τότε καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀνιστάμεθα · And when the Lord raises it, then we also rise up.
16.7 καὶ ὅτε ἀπέρχεται εἰς τὸν ὡρισμένον τόπον · καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀπερχόμεθα ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ · πληροῦντες τὴν εὐχαριστίαν τοῦ κυρίου · And when it arrives at the appointed place, we also arrive in the church, fulfilling the thanksgiving of the Lord.
16.8 ταῦτα γράψαντες · καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν διοίκησιν τῶν μακάρων · ἐδώκαμεν τῷ ἀδελθῷ Ζωσίμῳ · καὶ προεπέμψαμεν αὐτὸν ἕως τοῦ τόπου τῶν δένδρων πρὸς τῷ ποταμῷ τῷ εὐμέλῃ Having written these things and all (about) the administration of the Blessed Ones, we gave (them) to brother Zosimus, and sent him forth until the place of the trees near the river Eumeles.

Chapter Seventeen

17.1 ἐγὼ δὲ ζώσιμος ἐδεήθην πάλιν τῶν μακάρων · ἵνα δεηθῶσιν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πρὸς τὸν κύριον · ἵνα δέξωνταί με τὰ δένδρα τοῦ περάσαι με · And I, Zosimus, petitioned again the Blessed Ones in order that they might petition the Lord for me so that the trees might receive me to pass me across (the river).
17.2 καὶ κράξαντες πάντες πρὸς κύριον εἶπαν · ὁ θεὸς ὁ [ δείξας ἡμῖν ] τὰ θαυμάσιά σου καὶ ποιήσας ἐλθεῖν τὸν δοῦλόν σου ζώσιμον πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τῆς ματαιότητος · πάλιν ἀποκατάστησον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ‎ μετ’ εἰρήνης · Then all called out to the Lord, and said, “Oh God who has shown to us your wonderes and has caused your servant Zosimus to come to us out of the world of vanity, again restore him into his place with peace.”
17.3 καὶ κέλευσον κλιθῆναι τὰ δένδρα ταῦτα καὶ ἀναλαβεῖν τὸν δοῦλόν σου , καὶ στῆσαι αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν · “And command these trees to bend down and to take up your servant and to set him beyond (the river).”
17.4 καὶ πληρωσάντων αὐτῶν τὴν εὐχήν · εὐθέως ἐκλίθησαν τὰ δένδρα ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν καὶ ἐδέξαντό με καθὰ καὶ τὸ πρώην · And when they finished their entreaty, immediately the trees in front of them bent down and received me just as before.
17.5 καὶ σταθεὶς πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ , ἔκραξα φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπον · ἄνθρωποι τῆς δικαιοσύνης · οἱ ὄντες ἀδελφοὶ τῶν ἁγίων ἀγγέλων · δότε μοι εὐχὴν μετ’ εἰρήνης · ἰδοὺ γὰρ πορεύομαι ἀφ’ ὑμῶν · And when I stood beyond the river, I called out with a loud voice and said, “Men of righteousness, who are brothers of the holy angels, give me an entreaty with peace; for behold, I proceed forth from you.”
17.6 καὶ ποιήσαντες εὐχὴν , ἔκραξαν πάντες λέγοντες · εἰρήνη εἰρήνη σοὶ ἀδελφέ And as they made the entreaty, all called out, saying, “Peace, peace, to you, brother.”

Chapter Eighteen

18.1 τότε ηὐξάμην πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἦλθέν μοι λαῖλαψ τοῦ ἀνέμου · καὶ ἔλαβέν με ἐπὶ τῶν πτερύγων αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ εἵλκυσέν με ἕως τοῦ τόπου οὗ ηὗρέν με καθήμενον · καὶ ἀνέλυσέν μετ’ εἰρήνης · Then I besought the Lord, and a storm of wind came to me and took me upon its wings and drew me until the place where it found me sitting, and departed with peace.
18.2 καὶ ἄρας φωνήν · εἶπεν πρός με ὁ ἄνεμος · μακάριος εἶ ζώσιμε · ὅτι κατηριθμήθης μετὰ τῶν μακάρων · And lifting (its) voice, the wind said to me, “Blessed are you, Zosimus, because you have been counted among the Blessed Ones.”
18.3 καὶ ἦλθεν τὸ ζῷον ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου ᾧ ὄνομα κάμηλος · καὶ ἔλαβέν με ἐπὶ τὸν αὐτοῦ‎ · καὶ ἤνεγκέν με ὀγδοήκοντα πέντε μονάς · And the animal whose name is camel camel came out of the desert and took me upon its neck and carried me eighty-five stations.
18.4 καὶ ἔθηκέν με εἰς τὸν τόπον οὗ ηὗρέν με προσευχόμενον · And it set me in the place where it found me kpraying.
18.5 καὶ ἀνέλυσεν ἐν εἰρήνῃ κράζων καὶ λέγων · [ μακάριος εἶ ] ζώσιμε , ὅτι μετὰ τῶν μακάρων κατηριθμήθης · And it departed in peace, calling out and saying, “Blessed are you, Zosimus, because you have been counted among the Blessed Ones.”

Chapter Nineteen

19.1 ἰδὼν δέ με ἐγκωμιαζόμενον ὁ Σατανᾶς · ἠθέλησεν πειράσαι με καὶ ἀκοντίσαι ἀπὸ τῆς μονῆς · But seeing me being lauded, Satan desired to tempt me and to hurl me out of the station.
19.2 ἦλθεν δὲ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπέν μοι · ζώσιμε · ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται ὁ Σατανᾶς πειράσαι σὲ · ἀλλ’ ἔσται πολεμῶν ὑπέρ σου ὁ κύριος · ἡ γὰρ δόξα τῆς πίστεώς σου δεῖ σὲ ἔχειν τὸν σατανᾶν · But an angel of God came and said to me, “Behold, Zosimus, Satan comes to tempt you, but the Lord will be fighting for you; for the glory of your faith requires you to hold Satan.”
19.3 καὶ ἐφάνη ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ κράζων καὶ λέγων · καλῶς ἐλήλυθας μάκαρ τοῦ χριστοῦ · And an angel of God appeared, calling out and saying, “Welcome, Blessed One of Christ.”
19.4 δεῦρο ἀπάξω σὲ ἐπὶ τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ γινόμενον κατοικητήριον τοῦ σώματός σου · “Come, I shall lead you to the cave which will become the habitation of your body.”
19.5 ἔσται γὰρ τὸ σπήλαιόν σου μαρτύριον τῆς ἐρήμου · ἴασις τῶν προσερχομένων · ἀσθενῶν · πειρατήριον καὶ βάσανος τῶν δαιμόνων · “For your cave will be a martyrium in the desert, a healing for the sick ones who approach, a place of trial and torture for the demons.”
19.6 καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρός μου · ἐνίσχυσέν με · καὶ διήγαγέν με δι’ ἡμερῶν τεσσαράκοντα εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον · ἐν ᾧ ἤμην κατοικῶν · And seizing my hand, he strengthened me and led me through (the desert) for forty days into the cave in which I had been dwelling.
19.7 καὶ ἐγενήθη τράπεζα δικαιοσύνης · καὶ ἤμην αὐλιζόμενος · μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ · And it became a table of righteousness, and I passed the night with the angels of God.
19.8 ἔθηκα δὲ τὰς πλάκας τὰς δοθείσας μοι ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων μακάρων ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ μου · And I placed the tablets which had been given to me by the holy Blessed Ones upon the platform of the altar which was in my cave.

Chapter Twenty

20.1 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀναβάντων τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ · παρεγένετο ὁ διάβολος σχῆμα ἔχων ἄγριον · καὶ θυμοῦ ἀγόμενος καὶ χολῆς · And behold, when the angels of God ascended, the devil appeared, having a savage form and being overcome by rage and bile.
20.2 εἶπεν πρός με · ἐγὼ ᾔδειν ὅτι οὕτως ποιῆσαί σὲ εἶχεν ὁ θεὸς ὡς καὶ τοὺς μάκαρας · καὶ ἔχουσιν εἶναι ἀναμάρτητοι · καὶ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἀγγέλους · He said to me, “I have known that God would do for you as (he had done) for the Blessed Ones; and they are able to be sinless and to be greater than the angels.”
20.3 καὶ διὰ τοῦτο εἰσήνεγκα διάνοιαν πονηράν · καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ σκεῦος τοῦ ὄφεως πανούργως πρὸς πανοῦργον · “And because of this, I brought in an evil thought and entered into the body of the serpent, (acting) deceitfully toward a deceitful one.”
20.4 καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐποίησα παραβῆναι τὸν ἀδὰμ τὸν πρῶτον ἄνθρωπον · γεύσασθαι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς · ἐπειδὴ δὲ παρήγγειλεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς μὴ φαγεῖν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ‎ · ἵνα ἔμεινεν ἴσος τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τῶν ἁγίων ἀγγέλων · “And through this, I caused Adam, the first man, to transgress and to taste from the tree of life,1 and since God commanded him not to eat from it, that he might remain equal to the glory of God and to the holy angels.”
1According to Genesis 2:17, Adam was forbidden to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Once he did, he was banned from the tree of life (3:22).
20.5 καὶ σὺ πάλιν ἀπελθὼν ἤνεγκας τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην “And you again, having gone away, brought back this commandment.”
20.6 ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἀναμάρτητοι , ἐγώ σοὶ δείξω πῶς ἀπολέσω σὲ · καὶ πάντας τοὺς δεχομένους τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἀναμάρτητοι καὶ τὴν βίβλον ἣν ἤνεγκας · “In order that they may not be sinless, I shall show you how I shall destroy you, and all those who receive this commandment so that they may not be sinless, and (how I shall destroy) the book which you brought.”

Chapter Twenty-one

21.1 καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ διάβολος , ἐπορεύθη ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ · And having said these things, the devil proceeded from me.
21.2 καὶ μεθ’ ἡμέρας ὀκτώ · συνήγαγεν μεθ’ ἑαυτοῦ · χιλίους τριακοσίους ἑξήκοντα δαίμονας · καὶ ἥρπασέν με ἀπὸ τοῦ σπηλαίου προσευχόμενον · And after eight days, he brought one thousand three hundred and sixty demons with him and dragged me away from the cave as I was praying.
21.3 καὶ ἔτυπτόν με σφαιρίζοντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἡμέρας τεσσαράκοντα · And they repeatedly beat me, playing (with me as a) ball among themselves for forty days.
21.4 καὶ [ μετὰ τὰς τεσσαράκοντα ] ἡμέρας ἔκλαυσεν ὁ διάβολος ἔμπροσθέν μου καὶ εἶπεν · οὐαί μοι · ὅτι δι’ ἕνα ἄνθρωπον τὸν κόσμον ἀπώλεσα · ἐνίκησέν με γὰρ διὰ τῆς προσευχῆς αὐτοῦ‎ · And after forty days, the devil wailed before me and said, “Woe is me that through one man I lost the world, for he conquered me through his prayer.”
21.5 καὶ ἤρξατο τρέχειν ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ · ἐγὼ δὲ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔστησα καὶ εἶπον · οὐ μὴ ἀποδράσῃς καὶ φύγῃς ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ · ἕως [ οὗ ὀμόσῃς ] μοι τοῦ μηκέτι ἄνθρωπον πειράσαι: And he began to run from me; but I, seizing him, stood, and said, “You shall certainly not escape and flee from me until you swear to be that you shall never again tempt a man.”
21.6 καὶ κλαύσας κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ καὶ βιαίῳ · ὤμοσέν μοι ἐπὶ τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἕως οὗ ἡ κατοικία σού ἐστιν καὶ μετά σὲ οὐ μὴ ἀπέλθω ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον · And wailing a great and violent wail, he swore to me by the firmament of heaven, “So long as your habitation exists, I shall also certainly not pursue you to that place.”
21.7 τότε ἀπέλυσα αὐτὸν ἐκπέμψας εἰς τὸ αἰώνιον πῦρ καὶ τοὺς μετ’ αὐτοῦ‎ δαίμονας · Then I released him, sending out into the eternal fire him and the demons who were with him.
21.8 τότε ἦλθεν ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ συνευδοκήσας μοι ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης · καὶ ἤγαγέν με ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ μου , μετὰ δόξης πολλῆς · Then the angel who agreed with me at the table, came and led me to my cave with much glory.

Chapter Twenty-Two

22.1 ἔζησα δὲ μετὰ τοῦτο ἔτη τριάκοντα ἕξ · καὶ διέδωκα τὴν διοίκησιν τῶν μακάρων , τοῖς πατράσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ · And I lived after this thirty-six years, and passed on the place-of-sojourning of the Blessed Ones to the fathers who are in the desert.
22.2 ἔκλαυσεν δὲ ὁ διάβολος διὰ τὰς πλάκας τῆς διοικήσεως τῶν μακάρων · ὅτι ἐὰν περιέλθῃ τοῦτο ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ γέγονα κατάγελως · καὶ οὗτοι μένουσιν ἀναμάρτητοι · κἀγὼ μόνος ἐν τῇ μωρίᾳ · But the devil wailed because of the tablets (concerning) the place-of-sojourning of the Blessed Ones, saying, “If this should come to the world, then I have become a laughing-stock, and these men will remain sinless, and I will be alone in my foolishness.”
22.3 καὶ μετὰ τὴν συμπλήρωσιν τῶν τριάκοντα ἓξ ἐτῶν · παρεγένοντο οἱ Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ πρός με καθάπερ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς μάκαρας · And after the completion of thirty-six years, the angels of God came to me just as also to the Blessed Ones.
22.4 συνήχθησαν δὲ πάντες οἱ μοναχοὶ καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀκούσας · καὶ ἀνεγνώσθη ἐπὶ πάντων ἡ διαθήκη αὕτη · And all the monks and everyone who had heard gathered together; and this testament was read to all.
22.5 καὶ ἐν τῇ τοιαύτῃ πολιτείᾳ παρέδωκεν τὴν ψυχὴν τῷ θεῷ · And in such conduct, he gave up his soul to God.

Chapter Twenty-Three

23.1 ἐγὼ δὲ κρύσεως εἷς ὣν τῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ · ἐκβαλὼν ἔδωκα πᾶσιν τοῖς θέλουσιν μανθάνειν καὶ ὠφελεῖται · And I, Kruseos, being one of those in the desert, having dispatched (the tablet), gave it to all those wishing to learn and to benefit.
23.2 οἱ οὖν Ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ συνεκόμισαν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἁγίου ζωσίμου ὡς πολύτιμον δῶρον · Therefore, the angels of God carried the body of holy Zosimus as a precious gift.
23.3 καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ μακαρίου , ὑπὲρ τὸν ἥλιον πεφωτισμένην ἑπταπλασίως · And we saw the soul of the Blessed One lit seven times (brighter) than the sun.
23.4 ἀνέβησαν δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον παραχρῆμα φοίνικες ἑπτὰ , καὶ ἐπεσκίασαν τὸ σπήλαιον · And immediately seven palm-trees arose in the place, and overshadowed the cave.
23.5 ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ πηγὴ ὕδατος ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου ὕδωρ ἅγιον · καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης · ἴασις καὶ σωτηρία πάντων τῶν προσερχομένων ἀσθενῶν · And also a fountain of water, holy water, arose in that place. And until this day, it is a cure and salvation for all the sick ones who come to it.
23.6 εἰρήνη πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν τὴν μνήμην τοῦ ἁγίου ζωσίμου · Peace be to all who hear the remembrance of holy Zosimus.
23.7 ἔστιν δὲ ὁ κύριος συνήγορος καὶ ὄφελος πάντων εἰς τοὺς ἀτελευτήτους αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν · And the Lord is an advocate and a help of all into the unending ages of ages. Amen.