Chapter 35

1Moses the prophet said plainly to the people, namely to the people of Israel, “Behold, I plainly show you the way of death and the way of life. Choose life for yourselves, so that you may live.” Elijah the prophet said to the people, “How long will your heart halt concerning the Lord? The Lord is one; seek him.”

2Our Lord Jesus Christ said: We say, then, that there are two ways, one of death and one of life. They are separate and have no connection with one another: one leads to death, and the other leads to life.

3The first is the way of life, concerning which the Law has spoken and said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your strength, and with your soul; besides him there is no other god”; and, “Love your neighbor as yourself”; and, “What you do not desire for yourself, do not do to your neighbor.” “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who oppress you,” and, “Love your enemies.” “What reward do you have if you do good to those who do good to you?” Take care, then, to hate no one. Again it is said, “You shall not hate anyone, whether an Egyptian or an Edomite,” for they are all God’s creatures.

4Stay far away from evil people and from the desires of this world. “To the one who strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other.” For David says, “If I have repaid those who did evil to me, let my enemies cause me to fall naked.” Again it is said, “If anyone compels you to go one mile, go two with him”; and, “If anyone takes your coat, leave him your cloak also”; and, “Do not hinder the one who takes your goods”; and, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not shut your door against one who wishes to borrow from you.” For God is merciful, loves humanity, and gives all things to the one who asks him. The Father “makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain upon the righteous and the sinful.” You should give to everyone from the labor of your hands, and you should honor the saints.

5For it is said, “You shall not murder.” Every person is your image and your likeness, and there is nothing worse than murder. “You shall not commit adultery,” nor separate what is your own flesh, nor divide it into two parts; for it is said, “The two shall be one flesh,” and one spirit. They are separate only in outward form.

6“You shall not steal.” When Achan the Israelite stole, they stoned him, and he perished. Likewise, Gehazi stole and lied, and he was clothed with the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian. Judas Iscariot also stole the alms purse—the alms that had been given to the poor—and betrayed the Lord of Glory into the hands of the Jews. He then repented, hanged himself, and died when his bowels gushed out. Ananias and his wife Sapphira kept back part of the price of their possessions, lied to the Holy Spirit, and died by the sentence of our beloved brother Peter the Apostle.

7You shall not practice magic, use divination, or consult wizards, for it is said, “You shall not trust in wizards.” You shall not kill a child by abortion, for it is the image and spirit of God. “You shall not covet your brother’s possessions, his wife, his male servant, his female servant, his donkey, or his ox.”

8Moreover, you shall never swear falsely; but if you swear, swear truthfully. Again it is said, “You shall not bear false witness,” for “the one who speaks lies against the poor provokes his Creator to anger.” The way of evildoers leads to death.

9You shall not be double-hearted or double-tongued, for “a man’s snare is the word of his mouth,” and, “A talkative man shall not prosper upon the earth.” Do not let your words be idle, for everyone who speaks thoughtlessly will be condemned. You shall not be rapacious, for it is said, “Woe to those who wrong their neighbors.” You shall not show partiality, be deceitful in heart, or be proud, for “God humbles the proud.”

10You shall not hate anyone, curse your brother, or do evil to him. Abstain from every evil, and do not be passionate or envious, lest what befell Cain, Saul, and Joab also befall you. Cain killed his brother Abel, and God chose Abel and accepted his sacrifice. Saul persecuted David after David overcame Goliath the Philistine; he envied him because of the songs the women sang. Joab also killed Abner the Israelite and Amasa of Judah.

11You shall not be an augur, for this leads to idolatry. Concerning this Samuel says, “This thing is sin.” It shall not be so in Israel, for all these things are rejected in the Law. You shall not be a murmurer, for you have heard what befell those who murmured against Moses.

12Be meek like Moses and David, for the meek shall inherit the earth. Therefore be merciful, for the merciful shall obtain mercy. Accept every hardship that comes upon you, like Job and Lazarus, so that you may receive a reward from God. Reconcile those who are at variance, and judge uprightly, for judgment belongs to the Lord.

13When you pray, do not be double-hearted. Peter said, “He said to me while I was on the sea, ‘Why do you doubt and make yourself double-hearted?’” If you give alms to the poor, do not doubt. Know who it is who will give the reward—is it not the Lord? Give, then, to everyone who asks you whatever he needs.

14Do not forget any of the Lord’s commandments. Confess your trespass before him, and sin no more, so that you may find what is good before the Lord your God. He does not desire the death of a sinner, but that the sinner should turn in repentance. Honor your father and your mother, and do not forsake your brothers or your relatives.

15Fear the King, and know that his position comes from the Lord; [text damaged], and honor rulers, for they [text damaged]. Do not offer a sacrifice while you do evil, before you have repented of the evil of your [text damaged]. This [text damaged] of death and the way of life; and [text damaged] Lord Jesus Christ.