Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 6

hast committed adultery, and hast done thus, thou shalt die the death ; and the judgment of God shall come upon thee, and thou shalt be condemned with a bitter condemnation. Moreover, if thou thinkest evil in thy heart, and hast not committed adultery with her, it shall be sin unto thee. And if thou preparest and adornest thyself that the wife of thy neighbour may love thee, thou hast sinned, and art become unto her a stumbling-block, and hast made her commit adultery. And for this cause shall judgment come upon thee ; for God hath said. Desire not, and commit not adultery. But if thou hast drawn her aside by the beauty of thy youth and the fairness of thy face, that she should love thee, through this hast thou partaken with her in the work of sin and the curse. And for this cause it behoveth thee to pray to the Lord thy God that all this sin overtake thee not. But thou oughtest in purity to please the Lord, that thou mayest find rest and life everlasting in the presence of the Lord. For He saith. Make not the hair o thy head long, but cut it, and make thyself pure, that thou mayest be obedient unto the Lord, and not depart from Him. And do not thou anoint thyself with perfumed ointment, and put not on gay apparel, to draw women aside ; and be not vain, nor become an occasion of sin, but follow after purity and doing good. Thou then, O man of God ! make not the hair of thy head long, neither plait it