The Didache (a.k.a. The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) was written circa 100 AD. Saint Clement of Alexandria, who lived circa 150-215 AD (before the canon of scripture was codified) considered The Didache to be on a par with scriptural writing. (For an in-depth study, link to the external web site Early Christian Writings.)

The following, uncopyrighted, translation is the work of Charles H. Hoole with adaptation to modern American English by Rev. Bartholomew Wojcik.

1:2 Now the path of life is this -- first, you shall love the God who made you, your neighbor as yourself, and all things that you would not have done to you, do not do to another.

1:3 And the doctrine of these maxims is as follows. Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies. Fast on behalf of those that persecute you; for what thank is there if you love them that love you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? But you, love them that hate you, and you will not have an enemy.

1:4 Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If any one give you a blow on your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect; if any one compel you to go a mile, go with him two; if a man take away your cloak, give him your coat also; if a man take from you what is yours, ask not for it again, for neither are you able to do so.

1:5 Give to every one that asks of you, and ask not again; for the Father wishes that from his own gifts there should be given to all. Blessed is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is free from guilt; but woe unto him that receives. For if a man receive being in need, he shall be free from guilt; but he who receives when not in need, shall pay a penalty as to why he received and for what purpose; and when he is in tribulation he shall be examined concerning the things that he has done, and shall not depart thence until he has paid the last farthing.

1:6 For of a truth it has been said on these matters, let your almsgiving abide in your hands until you know to whom you have given. [I.e., give to those who truly are in need, not carelessly giving as a victim of fraud. -- editorial note by B.W.]

2:2 You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not corrupt youth; you shall not commit fornication; you shall not steal; you shall not use soothsaying; you shall not practice sorcery; you shall not kill a child by abortion, neither shall you slay it when born; you shall not covet the goods of your neighbor;

2:6 You shall not be covetous, or rapacious, or hypocritical, or malicious, or proud; you shall not take up an evil design against your neighbor;

2:7 you shall not hate any man, but some you shall refute, concerning some you shall pray, and some you shall love beyond your own soul.

3:2 Be not wrathful, for wrath leads to slaughter; be not jealous, or contentious, or quarrelsome, for from all these things slaughter ensues.

3:3 My child, be not lustful, for lust leads to fornication; be not a filthy talker; be not a lifter up of the eye, for from all these things come adulteries.

3:4 My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads to idolatry, nor a user of spells, nor an astrologer, nor a traveling purifier, nor wish to see these things, for from all these things idolatry arises.

3:6 My child, do not be a murmurer, since it leads to blasphemy; be not self-willed or evil-minded, for from all these things blasphemies are produced;

3:8 be long-suffering, and compassionate, and harmless, and peaceable, and good, and fearing always the words that you have heard.

3:9 You shall not exalt yourself, neither shall you put boldness into your soul. Your soul shall not be joined to the lofty, but you shall walk with the just and humble.

4:1 My child, you shall remember both night and day him that speaks to you the Word of God; you shall honor him as you do the Lord, for where the teaching of the Lord is given, there is the Lord;

4:3 you shall not desire schism, but shall set at peace them that contend; you shall judge righteously; you shall not accept the person of any one to convict him of transgression;

4:7 You shall not doubt to give, neither shall you murmur when giving; for you should know who is the fair Recompenser of the reward.

4:8 You shall not turn away from him that is in need, but shall share with your brother in all things, and shall not say that things are your own; for if you are partners in what is immortal, how much more in what is mortal?

4:9 You shall not remove your heart from your son or from your daughter, but from their youth shall teach them the fear of God.

4:10 You shall not command your servant or your handmaid with bitterness, who hope in the same God as yourself, lest, as a result, they not fear the God who is over both; for He comes not to call with respect of persons, but those whom the Spirit has prepared.

4:13 you shall not abandon the commandments of the Lord, but shall guard that which you have received, neither adding thereto nor taking therefrom;

4:14 you shall confess your transgressions in the Church, and shall not come to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the path of life.

5:1 But the path of death is this. First of all, it is evil, and full of cursing; there are found murders, adulteries, lusts, fornication, thefts, idolatries, soothsaying, sorceries, robberies, false witnessings, hypocrisies, double-mindedness, craft, pride, malice, self-will, covetousness, filthy talking, jealousy, audacity, pride, arrogance;

5:2 there are they who persecute the good -- lovers of a lie, not knowing the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for the good but for the bad, from whom meekness and patience are afar off, loving things that are vain, following after recompense, having no compassion on the needy, nor laboring for him that is in trouble, not knowing him that made them, murderers of children, corrupters of the image of God, who turn away from him that is in need, who oppress him that is in trouble, unjust judges of the poor, erring in all things. From all these, children, may you be delivered.

6:2 If you are able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, what you are able to do, do that.

6:3 But concerning meat, bear that which you are able to do. But keep with care from things sacrificed to idols, for it is the worship of the infernal deities.

7:1 But concerning baptism, thus baptize: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;

7:3 but if you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

7:4 But before the baptism, let him who baptizes and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able. And you shall command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.

8:1 But as for your fasts, let them not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second [Monday] and fifth [Thursday] days of the week, but you fast on the fourth [Wednesday] and sixth [Friday] days.

8:2 Neither pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord has commanded in His gospel so pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil: for Yours is the power, and the glory, for ever.

9:2 First, concerning the cup. We thank You, our Father, for the holy vine, David Your Son, which you have made known to us through Jesus Christ Your Son; to You be the glory for ever.

9:3 And concerning the broken bread. We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you have made known to us through Jesus Your Son; to You be the glory for ever.

9:4 As this broken bread was once scattered on the mountains, and after it had been brought together became one, so may Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth unto Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory, and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever.

9:5 And let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such as have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for of a truth the Lord has said concerning this, "Give not that which is holy to dogs."

10:2 We thank You, holy Father, for Your holy name, which you have caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you have made known to us through Jesus Your Son; to You be the glory for ever.

10:3 You, Almighty Master, created all things for the sake of Your name, and have given both meat and drink, for men to enjoy, that we might give thanks to You, but to us you have given spiritual meat and drink, and life everlasting, through Your Son.

10:5 Remember, Lord, Your Church, to redeem it from every evil, and to perfect it in Your love, and gather it together from the four winds, even that which has been sanctified for Your kingdom which you have prepared for it; for Yours is the kingdom and the glory for ever.

10:6 Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the Son of David. If any one is holy let him come (to the Eucharist); if any one is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. ["Maranatha" is an Aramaic phrase meaning, "O Lord, come!" or "Our Lord is present!" -- Editorial note by B.W.]

11:2 but if the teacher himself turn and teach another doctrine with a view to subvert you, hearken not to him; but if he come to add to your righteousness, and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.

11:6 And let the apostle when departing take nothing but bread until he arrive at his resting-place; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.

11:7 And you shall not tempt or dispute with any prophet who speaks in the Spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven.

11:8 But not every one who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but he is so who has the disposition of the Lord; by their dispositions, therefore, they shall be known, the false prophet and the prophet.

11:9 And every prophet who orders in the Spirit that a table shall be laid, shall not eat of it himself, but if he do otherwise, he is a false prophet;

11:11 and every prophet who is approved and true, and ministering in the visible mystery of the Church, but who teaches others not to do the things that he does himself, shall not be judged by you, for his judgment lies with God, for in this manner the ancient prophets also did.

11:12 But whoever shall say in the spirit, "Give me money," or things of that kind, do not listen to him; but if he tell you concerning others that are in need that you should give to them, let no one judge him.

12:1 Let every one that comes in the name of the Lord be received, but afterwards you shall examine him and know his character, for you have knowledge both of good and evil.

12:2 If the person who comes be a wayfarer, assist him so far as you are able; but he will not remain with you more than two or three days, unless there be a necessity.

13:3 You shall, therefore, take the first-fruits of every produce of the winepress and threshing-floor, of oxen and sheep, and shall give it to the prophets, for they are your chief priests;

13:7 take also the first-fruits of money, of clothes, and of every possession, as it shall seem good to you, and give it according to the commandment.

14:1 But on the Lord's day, after you have assembled together, break bread and give thanks, having in addition confessed your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure.

14:2 But let not any one who has a quarrel with his companion join with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be polluted,

14:3 for it is that which is spoken of by the Lord. "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great King," says the Lord, and "My name is wonderful among the Gentiles."

15:1 Elect, therefore, for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not covetous, and true and approved, for they perform for you the service of prophets and teachers.

15:3 Rebuke one another, not in wrath but peaceably, as you have commandment in the Gospel; and, but let no one speak to any one who walks disorderly with regard to his neighbor, neither let him be heard by you until he repent.

16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ready, for you do not know the hour at which our Lord comes.

16:2 But be gathered together frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless you be found perfect in the last time.

16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;

16:4 and because iniquity abounds they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world.

16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offense itself.

16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead