The Testament of Our Lord 2.20–2.27

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

Let the bishop command that they proclaim that no one taste anything until the Offering is completed. And the whole body of the Church shall receive a new food. Then in the evening let those who are to be baptized be baptized, after one lection.

But if any one before he approacheth and receiveth of the Eucharist eat something else, he sinneth and his fast is not reckoned to him.

When the catechumens are dismissed, let a hand be laid on them.

If a faithful because of sickness remain [away], let the deacon carry the Offering to him.

If any one be a presbyter who cannot come, let a presbyter carry [it] to him.

Similarly if a woman be pregnant [and] sick, and cannot fast these two days, let her fast that one day, taking on the first [day] bread and water. And if she cannot come, let a deaconess carry [the Offering] to her.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

Let them take [it] up to the hearing of the bishop, so that if it seem good to the bishop he may visit them; for the sick [man] is much comforted when the high priest remembereth him, and especially when he is faithful.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

In answer to him who singeth the psalms in the church, let the virgins and boys respond and sing. But if they sing the psalms in a house privately, if they be two or three, let them respond to one another, singing the psalms. Similarly the men.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

If a poor man die, let those who provide for each one, provide for his clothing. If any one who is a stranger die and he have no place to be buried, let those who have a place give [it]. But if the Church hath [a place] let it give [it], And if he have no covering, let the Church similarly give it. But if he have not grave clothes, let him be shrouded.

But if a man be found to have possessions, and do not leave them to the Church, let them be kept for.a time; and after a year let not the Church appropriate them, but let them be given to the poor for his soul.

But if he desire to be embalmed, let the deacons provide for this, a presbyter standing by.

If the Church have a graveyard, and there be one who abideth there and keepeth it, let the bishop provide for him from the Church, so that he be no burden to those who come there.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

Let the people alway take care about the early dawn, that arising and washing their hands they immediately pray. And so let each one go to the work which he willeth.

Let all take care to pray at the third hour with mourning and labour, either in the church, or in the house because they cannot go (to the church). For this is the hour of the fixing of the Only-begotten on the cross.

But at the sixth hour similarly let there be prayer with sorrow. For then the daylight was divided by the darkness. Let there be then that voice which is like to the prophets, and to creation mourning.

At the ninth hour also let prayer be protracted, as with a hymn of praise that is like to the souls of those who give praise to God that lieth not, as one who hath remembered His saints, and hath sent His Word and Wisdom to enlighten them. For in that hour life was opened to the faithful, and blood and water were shed from the side of our Lord.

But at evening, when it is the beginning of another day, shewing an image of the resurrection, He hath caused us to give praise.

But at midnight let them arise praising and lauding because of the resurrection.

But at dawn [let them arise] praising with psalms, because after He rose He glorified the Father while they were singing psalms. But if any have a consort or wife [not] faithful, let the husband who is faithful go and pray at these times without fail.

Let those who are chaste not lessen [them]. For the adornments of heaven give praise, the lights, the sun, the moon, the stars, the lightnings, the thunders, the clouds, the angels, the archangels, the glories, the dominions, the whole [heavenly] army, the depths, the sea, the rivers, the wells, fire, dew, and all nature that produceth rain.

All the saints also give praise and all the souls of the righteous. These, then, who pray are numbered together in the remembrance of God.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

When ye the faithful accomplish these things, teach and instruct one another, causing the catechumens to make progress, as loving all men; ye do not perish, but will be in Me and I will be among you.

But alway let the faithful take care that before he eat he partake of the Eucharist, that he may be incapable of receiving injury.

When ye teach these things and keep [them], ye shall be saved, and evil heresy shall not prevail against you.

Lo, then, I have taught you now all [things] that ye desire; and those things which I have spoken with you [of] from the beginning, and have taught and commanded you before I should suffer, ye know.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

And thou especially John, and Andrew and Peter, even now ye know all [the things] which I have spoken to you while I am with you, as also that which [is] in this Testament, in order that when ye deliver [them] to the nations the will of My Father may alway be accomplished, abiding firm in carefulness, so that there may be good fruits in them that hear.

Ye know that I have spoken with you that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. All [things], then, that I have commanded you openly and secretly, do. And the God of tranquillity be with you.

English translation by James Cooper and Arthur John Maclean (1902); the original is not shown

And falling down we worshipped Him, saying, Glory to Thee, O Jesus, Name of light, who didst give us the teaching of Thy commandments, so that we may be like unto Thee, we and all those who hear Thee. And when He spoke to us and taught and commanded us, and showed many loosings and miracles, He was taken up from us, giving us tranquillity.

John and Peter and Matthew wrote this Testament, and sent [it] in copies from Jerusalem by Dositheus and Silas and Magnus and Aquila, whom they chose to send [them] to all dioceses. Amen.

The Second Book of Clement is ended, translated from the Greek to the Syrian language by James the poor, in the year 998 of the Greeks.