Shepherd of Hermas — Mandate 6
“Hear now,” he said, “about faith. There are two angels with a human being: one of righteousness and one of wickedness.”
“How then, Lord,” I said, “will I know their workings, since both angels live with me?”
“Hear,” he said, “and you will understand them. The angel of righteousness is tender, shamefast, gentle, and quiet. When he rises in your heart, he at once speaks with you about righteousness, purity, dignity, contentment, every righteous work, and every holy virtue. Those are the works of the angel of righteousness. Trust him and his works.
Look also at the works of the angel of wickedness. First of all he is quick-tempered, bitter, and senseless, and his works are wicked, overthrowing the servants of God. When he rises in your heart, know him from his works.”
Greek
Ἄκουε νῦν, φησί, περὶ τῆς πίστεως. δύο εἰσὶν ἄγγελοι μετὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, εἷς τῆς δικαιοσύνης καὶ εἷς τῆς πονηρίας. Πῶς οὖν, φημί, κύριε, γνώσομαι τὰς αὐτῶν ἐνεργείας, ὅτι ἀμφότεροι ἄγγελοι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ κατοικοῦσιν; Ἄκουε, φησί, καὶ συνήσεις αὐτάς. ὁ μὲν τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἄγγελος τρυφερός ἐστι καὶ αἰσχυντηρὸς καὶ πραῢς καὶ ἡσύχιος· ὅταν οὖν οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἀναβῇ, εὐθέως λαλεῖ μετὰ σοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης, περὶ ἁγνείας, περὶ σεμνότητος, περὶ αὐταρκείας, καὶ περὶ παντὸς ἔργου δικαίου καὶ περὶ πάσης ἀρετῆς ἁγίας. ταῦτα οὖν ἐστι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ἀγγέλου τῆς δικαιοσύνης. τούτῳ οὖν πίστευε καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ. ὅρα οὖν καὶ τοῦ ἀγγέλου τῆς πονηρίας τὰ ἔργα. πρῶτον πάντων ὀξύχολός ἐστι καὶ πικρὸς καὶ ἄφρων, καὶ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ πονηρά, καταστρέφοντα τοὺς δούλους τοῦ θεοῦ· ὅταν οὖν οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἀναβῇ, γνῶθι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.