Rule of IColumncille  (Reeves, William, ed. The Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy. By Adomnán. Dublin: Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, 1857.)

• Bi nad aonar ann an àite fa leth faisg air baile mòr, ma tha do chridhe nach eil deiseil a bhith còmhla ris a’ bhuidheann.
Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if thy conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.

• Bi an-còmhnaidh le do chorp fosgailte mar dhòigh air Crìosd agus na h-Evangelistean.
Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists.

• Ciod a th’ ann am beagan no mòran a tha agad, ge bith dè th’ ann, ma tha e a’ freagairt do shean duine agus aig a’ bheàrn aige, oir cha bu chòir do dhuine creidimh a bhith le beachd a’ phrothaidh le a bhràthair.
Whatsoever little or much thou possessest of anything, whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not befitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.

• Leig àite fasta, le aon doras, a dhìon thu.
Let a fast place, with one door, enclose thee.

• Beagan daoine creidimh airson bruidhinn riut mu Dhia agus a Thestament; gus tadhal ort air làithean mòra; gus neartachadh thu ann an Testaments Dhè, agus na h-eachdraidh de na Scrìobhadairean.
A few religious men to converse with thee of God and his Testament; to visit thee on days of solemnity; to strengthen thee in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the Scriptures.

• Duine cuideachd a bhruidhneas riut ann an faclan gun chiall, no mu dheidhinn an t-saoghail; no a tha a’ bruidhinn mu na h-ùidhean nach urrainn dha freagairt, ach a dh’fhaodadh cur dragh ort nas motha ma tha e na dhearbh-craobh eadar càirdean agus nàimhdean, na leig thu a-steach e dhut, ach thoir seachad dha do bheannachadh ma tha e freagairteach.
A person too who would talk with thee in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress thee more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, thou shalt not admit him to thee, but at once give him thy benediction should he deserve it.

• Bi do sheirbheiseach mar dhuine freagairteach, creidimh, nach bi a’ sgeulachd, a bhios an làthair gu leantainneach ort, le obrach modhail, ach an-còmhnaidh deiseil.
Let thy servant be a discreet, religious, not tale-telling man, who is to attend continually on thee, with moderate labour of course, but always ready.

• Fhàg freagairteachd do gach riaghailt a tha de dheasbhadh.
Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.

• Inntinn deiseil airson martaidh dhearg[is e sin bàs air son a' chreidimh} A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is to die for the faith].

• Inntinn làidir agus seasmhach airson martaidh bhàn. [ise ascetic practices] Maithidhean bho chridhe gach neach.
A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom. [that is ascetic practices] Forgiveness from the heart of every one.

• Duine urraichte airson na daoine a thèid a thoirt a-steach ort.
Constant prayers for those who trouble thee.

• Làn air son a’ ghuth fhad ‘s a tha an t-sìth air falbh, mar gum biodh gach neach creidsinn mar do charaid sònraichte.
Fervour in singing the office for the dead, as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of thine.

• Dùthchannan airson an anam a bhith air an seinn a’ seasamh.
Hymns for souls to be sung standing.

• Leig do na h-oidhchean a bhith leantainneach bho dhusgadh gu dusgadh, fo stiùireadh duine eile.
Let thy vigils be constant from eve to eve, under the direction of another person.

• Trì obraichean anns a’ là, is e molaidh, obair, agus leughadh.
Three labours in the day, viz., prayers, work, and reading.

• Bu chòir na h-obrach a roinn ann an trì pàirtean, is e sin, do chuid obrach fhèin, agus obair do àite, a tha a’ freagairt a dhìth fìor; an dàrna, do chuid de na h-oibrean bhràithrean; mu dheireadh, gus cuideachadh na comhshìnte, is e sin, le duilleagan no sgrìobhadh, no a’ sewadh aodach, no dè a dh’fhaodadh iad a bhith a’ feumachdainn, mar a tha an Tighearna ag ràdh, "Na thig thu a-steach dhomh mar dhùthchas."
The work to be divided into three parts, viz., thine own work, and the work of thy place, as regards its real wants; secondly, thy share of the brethen's [work]; lastly, to help the neighbours, viz., by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they may be in want of, ut Dominus ait, "Non apparebis ante Me vacuus [as the Lord says, "You shall not appear before me empty."].

• Gach nì anns an òrdugh cheart; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit.
Everything in its proper order; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit. [For no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully.]

• Lean seirbheis a’ chàirdeas ro gach nì.
Follow alms-giving before all things.

• Na ithe gu bheil do dhòigh a’ faireachdainn.
Take not of food till thou art hungry.

• Na codhachadh gu bheil thu a’ faireachdainn miann.
Sleep not till thou feelest desire.

• Na bruidhinn ach mu ghnothaichean.
Speak not except on business.

• Gach àrdachadh a thig dhut ann am biadh laghail, no ann am fasan aodaich, thoir seachad e le coimhearsnachd don bhràithrean a tha a’ feumachdainn, no do na daoine bochda mar sin.
Every increase which comes to thee in lawful meals, or in wearing apparel, give it for pity to the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.

• Gràdh Dhè le do chridhe gu lèir agus do neart gu lèir;
The love of God with all thy heart and all thy strength;

• Gràdh do chomharran mar thu fhèin.
The love of thy neighbour as thyself.

• Fanaidh anns an Tèstament Dhè fad na h-ùine.
Abide in the Testament of God throughout all times.

• Thèid do thomhais airson molaidhean gu bheil do dhroighinn a’ tighinn;
Thy measure of prayer shall be until thy tears come;

• No do thomhais de obair làimhseachaidh gu bheil do dhroighinn a’ tighinn;
Or thy measure of work of labour till thy tears come;

• No do thomhais de do obair làimhseachaidh, no de do ghainmheach, gu bheil do dhroighinn a’ tighinn gu tric, ma tha do dhroighean gun a bhith saor.
Or thy measure of thy work of labour, or of thy genuflexions, until thy perspiration often comes, if thy tears are not free.