Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 31

darkened ; but let us perform the will of God the Father, the Creator of the whole world by our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever ! Amen. The Bishop ought not to hear the word of accusation from the evil man who speaketh falsely against his neighbour. But do thou put thy trust in the Lord, and direct the people as is right. And let not the son exalt himself against his father, nor the servant against his master, nor the disciple against his teacher, nor the officer of the Court against the King, nor the layman against the Bishop. For a teacher must not have communion with the wicked; for the sinner desireth not the voice of reproof. Ezekiel the Prophet saith. As I live, saith the Lord God, they shall not again speak this proverb in Israel : for the soul of every man is mine. As the soul of the father, so the soul of his children, and so the soul of every man is mine; and the soul that sinneth, it shall die. But the man that doeth that which is just and right, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the imagination of the House of Israel, nor hath defiled his neighbour's wife, nor come near to a woman in her uncleanness, nor hath done violence to his neighbour ; and hath returned the pledge of his debt, and hath not taken by violence, nor oppressed, and hath given of his sub- stance to the poor, and clothing from his garments to the naked, and hath not lent his money upon usury, nor hath taken unjustly, but hath turned his hand 31