{"slug":"dsc-106","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-106","title":"On Reproof of the Clergy","title_source":"On Reproof of the Clergy","author":"Narsai","genre":"other","date":"Second half of the fifth century CE","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T05:27:20Z","cost_usd":0.011619},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-106","work_id":"dsc-106","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"},"stats":{"passages":18,"english_words":4725,"coptic_letters":0,"source_letters":10613,"commentary_units":102,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":32,"work_notes":5,"external_links":3,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"dsc-106","abstract":"On Reproof of the Clergy is a verse homily (memrā) by the East Syriac theologian and poet Narsai (d. ca. 503 CE). Composed in Syriac during the late fifth century, the work belongs to the genre of ecclesiastical reproof, targeting clerical misconduct with an admonitory and homiletic register. It survives in a single manuscript tradition, though the edition provides no explicit manuscript siglum or date. The memrā reflects Narsai’s concern with moral decay among clergy and was used in East Syriac liturgical and educational contexts. The English translation is a working draft without critical apparatus; readers should consult the Syriac for ambiguous passages.","historical_context":"Narsai (d. ca. 503 CE) was a leading figure of the East Syriac tradition, active in the schools of Nisibis and Edessa. This memrā likely dates to the late fifth century, a period of institutional consolidation for the Church of the East, when clerical discipline was a recurring concern. The work is a verse homily (memrā) in the genre of ecclesiastical reproof, a form common in Syriac literature for moral and pastoral correction. It survives in a single manuscript tradition, but the edition does not specify the manuscript siglum or date, and variants from other witnesses are not collated. Narsai’s memrē were used in East Syriac liturgical and educational settings, though this work’s later citation in canonical collections or monastic rules is not documented. The text’s transmission attests to its continued use in Syriac Christian communities, but the lack of a critical edition limits precise historical placement.","significance":"On Reproof of the Clergy is significant as a witness to late fifth-century East Syriac homiletic literature and its concern with clerical ethics. It exemplifies Narsai’s rhetorical skill in using biblical imagery to critique moral decay, and its survival in a single manuscript tradition highlights the challenges of studying Syriac textual transmission. The work also provides insight into the liturgical and educational functions of memrē within the Church of the East.","timeline":[{"date":"Late 5th c.","event":"Composition of On Reproof of the Clergy by Narsai, likely in Nisibis or Edessa."},{"date":"ca. 503","event":"Death of Narsai."},{"date":"5th–6th c.","event":"Use of Narsai’s memrē in East Syriac liturgical and educational contexts."},{"date":"Undated","event":"Survival of the Syriac text in a single manuscript tradition; edition does not specify manuscript siglum or date."},{"date":"Modern","event":"English translation produced as a working draft without critical apparatus."}],"relations":[{"work":"Narsai’s other memrē","relation":"Part of the same corpus of verse homilies by Narsai, often used in liturgical and educational settings.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"East Syriac liturgical tradition","relation":"The memrā was used in liturgical and monastic contexts for clerical correction.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Biblical imagery (Isaiah, Psalms)","relation":"Echoes biblical depictions of lawlessness, e.g., comparing clergy to 'wild beasts'.","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"wikipedia:Narsai","label":"Narsai on Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsai","reason":"Provides background on the author and his historical context."},{"key":"wikipedia:Church of the East","label":"Church of the East on Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_East","reason":"Context for the ecclesiastical setting of the work."},{"key":"wikipedia:Syriac literature","label":"Syriac literature on Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_literature","reason":"Overview of the literary tradition to which the memrā belongs."}],"cautions":["The edition provides no explicit manuscript siglum or date for the Syriac text; dating relies on Narsai’s floruit.","The English translation is a working draft without critical apparatus; ambiguous passages should be checked against the Syriac.","Variants from other manuscript witnesses are not collated, limiting textual criticism.","Later citation in canonical collections or monastic rules is not documented in the edition."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000445,"generated":"2026-11-15T02:38:21Z"},"links":[{"kind":"source","label":"Digital Syriac Corpus text","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"},{"kind":"authority","label":"syriaca.org work record","url":"http://syriaca.org/work/8607"},{"kind":"authority","label":"syriaca.org author record","url":"http://syriaca.org/person/650"}],"checks":{"work":"dsc-106","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":18,"translated":18,"commentary_passages":18,"commentary_units":102,"english_words":4725,"source_letters":16529,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is a verse homily (memrā) in the genre of ecclesiastical reproof, targeting clerical misconduct. Its rhetorical register is admonitory and homiletic, not doctrinal or exegetical.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai (d. ca. 503) was active in Nisibis and Edessa. This memrā likely dates to the late 5th century, but the edition provides no explicit manuscript evidence for the dating.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text survives in a single manuscript tradition; the edition does not specify the manuscript siglum or date. Variants from other witnesses are not collated.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai’s memrē were used in East Syriac liturgical and educational contexts. This work’s later citation in canonical collections or monastic rules is not documented in the edition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The English draft is a working translation; the edition does not include a critical apparatus or commentary on textual cruces. Readers should consult the Syriac for ambiguous passages.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 18 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":18},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-106":{"label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܥܲܠ ܡܲܟܿܣܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ\nܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܐܪܒܥܝܢ ܘܚܡܫܐ\nܥܲܠ ܡܲܟܿܣܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ\nܘܠܵܚܹ̇ܡ ܠܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܥܲܣܩܵܐ\n:ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܥܨ̣ܵܢܝ ܕܐܹܡܲܠܸܠ ܥܲܠ ܒܝܼܫܘܼܬܹܗ\nܘܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܹܗ ܥܒ݂ܲܕܼܬܲܢܝ ܕܐܹܡ݂ܲܪ ܥܲܠ ܒܘܼܠܒܵܠܹܗ ܀ :ܠܒܲܪ ܡ̣ܢ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܚܙܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܕܲܡܕܼܵܘܲܕܼ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܐܘܼܪܚܹܗ\nܘܲܪܗܸܛ ܪܸܥܝܵܢܝ ܠܡܸܬܼܒܲܩܵܝܘܼ ܒܲܒܼܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ :ܒܲܥܪܝܼܪܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܚܙܹ̇ܝܬܹܗ ܕܐܵܙܹ̇ܠ ܒܲܫܒܼܝܼܠ ܬܵܘܫܵܐ\nܘܬܸܘܪܹܬܼ ܣܲܓܿܝܼ ܒܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܹܗ ܕܲܕܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܚܲܝ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܣܵܪ̈ܘܿܚܵܬܼܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܒܲܥܪܲܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܝܵܗܹ̇ܒܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܐܝܼܕܼܵܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܡܸܩܪܲܒܼ ܨܹܐܕܼܵܘܗܝ ܀ :ܒܲܟܼܬܼܝܼܫܘܼܬܹܗ ܦܗ̣ܵܘ ܚܘܼܫܵܒܲܝ̈ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܚܸܠܡܵܐ\nܘܲܪܢܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܕܲܟܼܒܲܪ ܚܸܠܡܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܪܲܗܛܹܗ ܘܠܵܘ ܣܘܼܥܪܵܢܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܀ :ܚܸܠܡܵܐ ܚܫ݂ܲܒܼܬܹܿܗ ܠܫܘܼܚܠܵܦ ܙܲܒܼܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܒܝܵܘ̈ܡܲܝ\nܠܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܕܚܸܠܡܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܐܸܠܵܐ ܕܕܲܓܵܠ ܛܵܒܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܸܠܡܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܹܗ ܥܨ̣ܵܬܲܢܝ ܕܐܸܩܪܹܝܘܗܝ ܦܸܗܝܵܐ ܕܚܸܠܡܵܐ\nܘܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܚܸܠܡܵܐ ܡܲܦܗܸܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܘܵܠܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܫܸܢܬܼܵܐ ܛܲܒܿܥܹܗ ܠܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܒܝܲܩܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܨܵܒܹ̇ܐ ܠܡܸܦܲܨ ܡܸܢܹܗ ܝܘܼܩܪܵܐ ܕܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܀ :ܠܚܸܫܟܵܐ ܕܠܸܠܝܵܐ ܕܵܡܹ̇ܐ ܚܸܫܟܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܼܕܲܥܬܹܗ\nܘܲܥܣܸܩ ܣܲܓܿܝܼ ܠܡܸܪܕܼܵܐ ܫܲܦܝܼܪ ܒܥܲܡܘܼܛܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ ܚܸܫܘ̇ܟ ܙܲܒܼܢܹܗ ܕܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܗܵܢܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܙܲܒܼܢܝܼ̈ܢ:\nܘܸܟܼܒܲܪ ܠܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܐ̄ܚܪܹܢܵܐ ܕܚܸܫܘܿܟ ܡܸܢܹܗ ܀ :ܥܲܠ ܟܠ ܘܲܒܼܟܼܠ ܡ̣ܬܲܚ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܹܗ ܒܚܸܫܘܿܟܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܚܲܣܢܹܗ ܠܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ ܕܦܵܪܘܿܫܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܒܡܲܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ ܀","english":"On Reproof of the Clergy\nMemra Forty-Five\nOn Reproof of the Clergy\n\nAnd it is fitting for a difficult time:\nA wicked time, it is hard for me to speak about its evil,\nAnd its inequality made me that I should say about its confusion.\nOutside of the order I saw that it disturbed the order of its path,\nAnd my mind ran to be confounded in its confusion.\nI saw it clearly going on a path of error,\nAnd its ruin was great in its wantonness without law.\nLike wild beasts it was agitated,\nAnd it gave no hand to a man to approach it.\nIn its madness my thoughts flew as in a dream,\nAnd I thought that a dream was its course and not its reality.\nI considered the dream to be a change of times that occurred in my days;\nIt was not a dream, but a deception better than a dream.\nIts inequality constrained me that I called it a vision of a dream,\nAnd like a dream it shows a man away from reality.\nLike a seal it stamped the world with its heaviness,\nAnd no man desires to remove from it the burden of iniquity.\nThe darkness of the night resembles the darkness of its ignorance,\nAnd it is very difficult to discern well in its depth.\nDark is the time of this time more than all times,\nAnd there is no other time darker than it.\nOver all and everything it extends its dominion in darkness,\nAnd it hinders the light of discernment by its bitterness.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܐܪܒܥܝܢ ܘܚܡܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The heading identifies this as the forty-fifth memra of Narsai's corpus, a structural marker within the collection.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ (zabnā) means 'time' or 'era', here used to denote the present wicked age, a key thematic concept in Narsai's reproach.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai (d. ca. 500 CE) was a prominent East Syriac theologian and poet. This memra reflects his concern with clerical corruption and the moral decay of his era, common in his homiletic works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܲܝܟ ܚܲܝ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܣܵܪ̈ܘܿܚܵܬܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The comparison of the clergy to 'wild beasts' (ܚܲܝ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܣܵܪ̈ܘܿܚܵܬܼܵܐ) echoes biblical imagery of unruly animals, e.g., in Isaiah or Psalms, used to depict lawlessness.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܸܠܡܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The term ܚܸܠܡܵܐ (helmā) means 'dream', but the text plays on its ambiguity: the speaker initially mistakes the vision for a dream, then clarifies it is a 'deception' (ܕܲܓܵܠ), not a dream. The Syriac allows both literal and metaphorical readings.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This memra is part of the East Syriac liturgical tradition, often read in monastic settings as a corrective for clergy. Its manuscript transmission (e.g., in the source edition) attests to its continued use in Syriac Christianity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the 'wicked time' is not specified; it may refer to a particular historical period (e.g., under a specific ruler) or be a general moral critique.","The phrase 'outside of the order' (ܠܒܲܪ ܡ̣ܢ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ) could mean either a breach of ecclesiastical order or a disruption of natural or cosmic order."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":":ܦܵܫ̣ܘ ܗܲܠܵܟܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܠܡܸܪܕܵܐ ܠܘܲܥܕܵܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ\nܕܩܵܡ̣ ܠܹܗ ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܒܲܕܼܡܘܼܬܼ ܚܸܫܟܵܐ ܩܕܼܵܡ ܥܲܝܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܛܸܠܘ ܟܠ ܡܘܼܫ̈ܚܵܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܸܢܝܵܢܵܐ ܕܫܲܦܝܼܪ̈ܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܲܚܒ݂ܲܫ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܝܲܨܪܹܗ ܒܓܼܵܘܹܗ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܣܲܬܼܘܵܐ ܀ :ܟܪܲܟܼܘ ܦܵܪ̈ܘܿܫܹܐ ܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܢܲܚܬܵܐ\nܘܥܲܠ̣ܘ ܘܐܸܣܬܲܬܲܪܘ ܕܠܵܐ ܢܸܫܬܲܚܩܘܼܢ ܒܥܲܪܝܹܗ ܕܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܀ :ܡܲܐܝܼܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܐܸܚܕܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܐܲܝܟ ܐܸܫܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܠܑܵ ܨܒܼܵܘ ܬܲܪܓܸܿܡܘ ܩܵܠܹ̈ܐ ܟܣܲܝܵܐ ܒܐܸܕܢܲܝ̈ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܀ :ܒܚܲܕܼ ܟܘܼܪܗܵܢܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܼܕܲܥܬܼܵܐ ܢܦܲܠ̣ܘ ܟܠ ܬܸܓܼܡܝܼ̈ܢ\nܘܠܲܝܬܼ ܕܲܡܛܲܦܸܐ ܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ ܠܟܹܐܒܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܀ :ܠܫܘܼܚܢܵܐ ܕܢܘܼܦܚܹ̈ܐ ܕܵܡܹ̇ܐ ܟܹܐܒܼܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܗܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܝܵܕܲ݁ܥ ܠܡܸܥܨܲܒܼ ܫܲܦܝܼܪ ܒܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܥܣܸܩ ܟܘܼܪܗܵܢܵܐ ܕܢܲܦܝܼܠܝܼܢ ܒܹܗ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܟܹܐܒܼܝܼ̈ܢ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܣܲܡܡܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܡܨܹܝܢ ܡܲܐܣܹܝܢ ܠܲܚܒܼܵܪ̈ܵܬܹܗ ܀ :ܒܢܲܦܫܵܐ ܟܣܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܚܠ݂ܲܕܼ ܟܘܼܪܗܵܢܹܗ ܕܗܵܢܵܐ ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܚܲܠܚܸܠ ܠܹܗ ܠܲܟܼܝܵܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܒܲܕܼܡܘܼܬܼ ܣܵܣܵܐ ܀ :ܒܲܢܣܝܼܡܘܼܬܹܗ ܪܡܹܝܢ ܟܠ ܬܸܓܼܡܝܼ̈ܢ ܥܲܡ ܟܠ ܡܘܼܫ̈ܚܵܢ\nܘܗܵܢܵܘ̇ ܬܸܡܗܵܐ ܕܲܟܼܪܝܼܗ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܡܲܪܓܸܿܫ ܀ :ܟܪܝܼܗܝܼܢ ܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ܘܲܢܣܝܼܣ ܬܵܓܼܵܐ ܕܲܒܼܪܹ̈ܫܲܝܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܕܲܚܠܝܼܡ ܕܲܪܓܹܗ ܘܪܵܕܹܐ ܒܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܀ :ܟܪܝܼܗܝܼܢ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܡܚܝܼܠ ܫܲܒܼܛܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܩܕܵܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ ܕܩܲܝܵܡ ܨܹܐܕܼܵܘܗܝ ܚܘܼܠܡܵܢ ܪܘܼܚܵܐ ܀ :ܪܘܼܚܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܟܪܝܼܗܝܼܢ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܲܐܣܲܝ̈ ܢܲܦܫܵܐ\nܘܲܒܼܢܲܦܫܵܬܼ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܪܡܹܝܢ ܒܐܸܫܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܫܲܝ̈ ܦܲܓܼܪܵܐ ܀","english":"The travellers turned aside from the path to the appointed time of the hour, which stood before them in the likeness of darkness before their eyes. All the measures were blotted out from the order of the beautiful things, and each one concealed his thought within himself as in a secret place. The dividers turned their minds as in a hidden manner, and they went up and hid themselves so that they might not be found in the bitterness of the time. Injustice took hold of them like fire, and it did not consent to interpret the hidden voices in the hands of men. In a sickness without knowledge, all the orders fell, and there is none who applies the word of truth to the pain of his companion. The pain of their circles resembles the burning of coals, and no man knows how to suffer beautifully in faith. The sickness of the fallen ones is difficult beyond all pains, and there are no physicians who can heal its wounds. In a hidden manner, the sickness of this time has become solitary, and behold, it shakes the rational man as in the likeness of a moth. In its sweetness, all the orders and all the measures are cast down, and this wonder each one sees, yet no man perceives. The kings are sick, and the crown on their heads is weakened, and there is no strong authority that maintains its rank and governs in order. The priests are sick, and the rod of their commands is enfeebled, and there is no foundation that stands before the health of the spirit. Spiritually, the priests are sick, healers of the soul, and in their persons they are cast into the fire of the passions of the body.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܦܵܫ̣ܘ ܗܲܠܵܟܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܠܡܸܪܕܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The travellers (ܗܲܠܵܟܹ̈ܐ) turn aside from the path, a metaphor for clergy abandoning proper order in a corrupt time.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ (zabba) means 'time' or 'hour'; here it denotes the present corrupt age, a key theme in Narsai's reproof.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The priests (ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ) are identified as spiritual healers, yet they are themselves sick, reflecting Narsai's critique of clerical corruption in the Church of the East.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܪܝܼܗܝܼܢ ܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ... ܟܪܝܼܗܝܼܢ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"A parallel structure: kings and priests are both declared sick, emphasizing the universal disorder affecting both secular and religious authority.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܲܢܣܝܼܡܘܼܬܹܗ ܪܡܹܝܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'in its sweetness all orders are cast down' is paradoxical; the Syriac ܒܲܢܣܝܼܡܘܼܬܹܗ may be ironic, describing the seductive nature of the corrupt time.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the 'travellers' (ܗܲܠܵܟܹ̈ܐ) is ambiguous: they may be clergy, ascetics, or a general figure for those in authority; the reading taken follows the context of clerical reproof.","The phrase 'sickness without knowledge' (ܒܚܲܕܼ ܟܘܼܪܗܵܢܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܼܕܲܥܬܼܵܐ) could refer to a moral or spiritual ignorance; the translation opts for a general sense of unknowing."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":":ܚܲܫܹ̈ܐ ܣܢܲܝܵ̈ܐ ܕܟܼܠ ܐܸܣܟܹܿܡܝܼ̈ܢ ܡܕܼܝܼܩܝܼܢ ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ\nܘܚܲܕܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܢܣܝܼܣ ܘܲܡܚܲܒܲܠ ܒܲܫܟܼܝܼܪ̈ܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܚܣܵܡܵܐ ܢܵܚ̇ܟܹܬܼ ܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܒܵܥܹ̇ܛ ܟܪܘܿܡ̇ܐ ܡܲܩܠܸܐ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܥܸܠܠܹ̈ܐ ܩܛܝܼܪ̈ܵܢ ܥܸܠܠܹ̈ܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܫܬܿܪ̈ܝܵܢ ܀ :ܚܸܡܬܼܵܐ ܫܓܼܝܼܫܵܐ ܗܸܪܬܼܵܐ ܝܵܩ̇ܕܵܐ ܣܸܢܐܬܼܵܐ ܠܚܝܼܡܵܐ\nܘܛܵܐܹ̇ܢ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܕܢܵܘܒܸܿܕܼ ܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܢܘܼܪܵܐ ܀ :ܦܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܒܢܸܟܼܠܵܐ ܢܸܫ̈ܒܹܿܐ ܒܙܹܐܦܵܐ ܟܡܹܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܛܘܼܫܝܵܐ\nܘܡܲܢ̣ܘܼ ܕܲܡܨܸܐ ܠܡܸܬܼܦܲܠܵܛܘܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܵܩ̈ܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܣܲܝܦܹ̈ܐ ܠܛܝܼܫܝܼܢ ܓܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ ܫܢܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܢܲܝܙܟܹ̈ܐ ܬܪܝܼܨܝܼܢ\nܘܛܵܟ ܠܵܐ ܦܵܐܹ̇ܫ ܣܪܝܼܕܼܵܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܚܲܒܲܠ ܀ :ܩܪܵܒܼܵܐ ܡܥܲܬܲܕܼ ܩܹܐܪܣܵܐ ܡܛܲܝܲܒܼ ܣܸܕܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܠܚܝܼܡܝܼܢ\nܘܗܵܢܵܘ̇ ܓܘܼܢܚܵܐ ܕܲܠܡܲܢ ܘܥܲܡ ܡܲܢ ܐܝܼܬܼ ܬܲܟܼܬܿܘܼܫܵܐ ܀ :ܬܵܘ ܐܸܬܿܕܲܡܲܪܘ ܟܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܠܝܼ̈ܠܹܐ ܐܵܦ ܫܲܬܿܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ\nܒܩܹܐܪ̈ܣܹ ܩ̈ܫܲܝܵܐ ܕܣܵܕܼܪܝܼܢ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܚܲܕܼ ܠܘܼܩܒܲܠ ܚܲܕܼ ܀ :ܬܵܘ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܹܐ ܚܘܼܪܘ ܘܐܸܬܼܒܲܩܵܘ ܦܵܪܘܿܫ̇ܐܝܼܬܼ\nܕܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܥܸܫܢܲܬ̤ ܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܿܢ ܒܗܵܢܵܐ ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ ܀ :ܬܵܐ ܐܸܬܿܬܲܢܲܚ ܟܝܵܢ ܒ̇ܝܘܿܬܹ̈ܐ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܥܲܠ ܢܲܦܫܵܟ\nܘܐܲܝܠܸܠ ܘܲܒܼܟܼܝܼ ܥܲܠ ܒܝܼ̈ܫܵܬܼܵܟ ܕܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣ ܀ :ܕܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐ ܥܫܸ݂ܢ ܒܝܼ̈ܫܵܢܼܵܟ ܟܝܵܢܵܐ ܫܝܼܛܵܐ\nܘܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܪܕܲܝܬܿ ܒܲܫܒܼܝܼ̈ܠܹܐ ܕܩ̇ܪܘܿܕܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܡܲܪܵܚܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܣܥ̣ܵܐ ܨܸܒܼܝܵܢܵܟ ܠܘܼܩܒܲܠ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܬܲܚܘܝܼܬܼܵ ܕܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܼܵܟ ܒܪܹ̈ܫܲܝ ܥܲܡܵܟ ܀ :ܪܹ݁ܫܲܝ ܥܲܡܵܟ ܣܕܲܩܘ ܐܵܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܣܝܼܡܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܬܼ ܒܵܟ\nܘܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܦܲܠܓܼܘܼܟ ܠܲܡ̈ܢܘܿܬܼܵܐ ܕܟܼܠ ܐܸܣܟܹܿܡܝܼ̈ܢ ܀","english":"The pains, the boundaries of all the orders, are pressed and confined, and one of his companions is crushed and destroyed in the contests. The end: the traveler sought the path, desiring to cry out, and when there are no causes bound, causes that are not loosed. Wrath, disturbed, burning, raging against the living, and each one goes astray who would destroy his companion like a beast. Snares in cunning, nets in anger, coverings in deceit, and who can escape from the distresses? Swords unsheathed, arrows shot, spears sharpened, and no survivor remains for the indestructible substance. Battle is prepared, the arena is made ready, the ranks are set for the living, and this tumult is with whom and with whom there is a contest. Come, marvel, rational natures, and also the silent ones, at the harsh arenas that the priests arrange, one against the other. Come, see, spiritual ones, and be amazed distinctly, how much revelry there is at this time. Come, contemplate, nature, in yourself, you who are upon yourself, and wail and weep over your evils that have no law. Without law, your evils have grown, O wandering nature, and without order you have trodden the paths of coldness. Revelrously, your will has turned against the truth, and behold the proof of your revelry upon the heads of your people. The heads of your people have received the harmony that was placed in you, and they have divided you into the portions of all the orders.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܸܣܟܹܿܡܝܼ̈ܢ","severity":"info","text":"The Greek loanword eskēmē (σχῆμα) denotes ecclesiastical orders or ranks, a key term in Narsai’s critique of clerical hierarchy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'without law' echoes Paul’s contrast between law and grace (Rom 2:12–15) and the Syriac tradition’s emphasis on the law of the covenant.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܹܐܪܣܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The arena (qīrsā) imagery reflects the late antique context of public spectacles and martyr contests, used here to condemn clerical infighting.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܵܘ ... ܬܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The repeated imperatives 'Come, marvel' and 'Come, contemplate' mark a rhetorical shift from vivid description to direct exhortation, a common homiletic device in Narsai.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܿܢ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'revelry' (marraḥūṯā) parallels Narsai’s earlier use in Homily 32 to condemn the clergy’s worldly distractions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܣܢܲܝܵ̈ܐ (boundaries) may be a textual corruption; the reading 'pains' in the English draft is uncertain.","The identity of 'the silent ones' (ܫܲܬܿܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ) is ambiguous—possibly referring to laypeople or monastic contemplatives."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":":ܙܵܪ̈ܥܲܝ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܲܠܚܘܼܗܝ ܠܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܒܚܸܪ݁ܝܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ\nܘܐܲܪܡܝܼܘ ܗܸܪܬܼܵܐ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ ܠܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܗܸܪܬܼܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܬܵܐ ܐܲܪܡܝܼܘ ܡܵܗܢܹ̈ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܟܠ ܘܲܠܟܼܠ\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܬܲܫ ܥܵܠܡܑܵܐ ܫܓܼܝܼܫܵܐ ܗܘ̤ ܥܲܡ ܢܲܦܫܹܗ ܀ :ܛܢܵܢܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܠܒܸ݂ܫܘ ܐܲܝܟ ܙܲܝܢܵܐ ܚܲܕܼ ܠܘܼܩܒܲܠ ܚܲܕܸ\nܘܲܕܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢ ܫܲܕܿܝܼܘ ܡܸܠܹ̈ܐ ܒܲܕܼܡܘܼܬܼ ܓܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܓܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܨܲܥܪܵܐ ܫܕܼܵܘ ܝܵܕܼܘܿܥܹ̈ܐ ܒܗܲܕܵܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܣܬܲܟܲܠܘ ܕܲܠܡܲܢ ܡ̇ܚܹ̇ܝܢ ܒܦܸܬܼ ܓܼܵܡܲܝܗ̈ܘܿܢ ܀ :ܚܣܵܡܵܐ ܣܲܡܝܵܐ ܣܲܡܝܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܘܼܝܵܢܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܒܲܝܲܢܘ ܕܲܠܡܲܢ ܐܲܟܿܝܼܘ ܒܢܸܟܼܝܵܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܣܲܟܼܠܵܐ ܐܲܛܥܝܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܘܼܝܵܢܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܦܪܲܫ̣ܘ ܘܝܼܕܲܥܘ ܕܐܲܝܕܵܐ ܦܲܐܝܵܬ ܠܫܸܡܗܘܿܢ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܀ :ܪܸܚܡܲܬܼ ܟܸܣܦܵܐ ܐܸܣܪܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܒܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܝܲܐܲܒܼܘ ܠܡܘܼܠܟܵܢ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܥܬܼܝܼ̈ܕܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܥܵܠܘܿܒܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܫܸܓܼܪܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܒܢܘܼܪ ܚܘܼܬܼܚܵܬܹ̈ܐ\nܘܲܙܥ݂ܲܪ ܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܛܵܒܼܵܬܼ̈ܐ ܠܣܘܼܢܩܵܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܪܸܚܡܲܬܼ ܫܘܼܒܼܚܵܐ ܨܵܕܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܒܦܲܚܵܐ ܕܫܘܼܒܼܚܵܐ\nܘܐܲܝܟ ܦܵܪܲܚܬܼܵܐ ܢܦ݂ܲܠܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܕܕܼܒܵܪ݁ܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܪܲܒܿܘܼܬܼ ܟܲܪܣܵܐ ܥ̣ܠܲܬ̤ ܚܸܠܕܲܬ̤ ܒܚܘܼܫ̇ܒܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ\nܘܟܲܢܸܫܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܡܲܠܝܲܬ̤ ܪܸܓܿܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܒܼܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܚܲܣܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܚܲܣܝܼܪܹ݁ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܡ̣ܕܹܿܡ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܟܠ ܕܝܼܠܗܘܿܢ ܦܲܕܼ ܐܝܼܕܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܡܸܕܸܿܡ ܀ ܨܪܲܟܼܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܝܼܠܗܘܿܢ ܩܲܢܝܲܝ̈ ܥܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܕܡܲܪ̈ܗܵܛܲܝܗܘܿܢ:\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܫܦܝܼܢ ܠܡܸܫܐܲܠ ܙܸܕܩܵܐ ܐܲܝܟ ܚܵܕܼܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ ܀","english":"The sowers of discord cast their seed among the orders, and they threw a dart between the earth and the heavens. An evil dart they cast, the orders, between all and everything, and behold, the troubled world is in conflict with itself. An evil error they put on like a garment, one against another, and without restraint they hurled words like arrows. Arrows of wrath the nobles shot at their own members, and they did not consider that they strike the face of their own bodies. A blind wound they inflicted upon themselves from the beginning, and they did not understand that they ate from their own limbs. A foolish sting they drove into themselves from the beginning, and they did not discern nor know which part was fitting for their great name. The love of money bound them in earthly matters, and they did not prepare for the exchange of the life that is to come. Greed stirred them up in the pit of errors, and the world was diminished of good things for their markets. The love of glory trapped them in the snare of glory, and like a bird they fell from the height of their conduct. The desire of the belly corrupted their thoughts, and they were cut off from everything, yet the craving within them was not filled. They were not lacking in anything, yet when everything of theirs was in their hands, they were empty of everything. They rejected their own, the firm foundations of the wealth of their patrons, and behold, they are compelled to ask for alms like beggars.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܙܵܪ̈ܥܲܝ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'sowers of discord' (lit. 'sowers of the demon') is a metaphor for those who incite conflict within the church hierarchy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage catalogs a series of vices (discord, wrath, love of money, greed, love of glory, desire of the belly) that corrupt the clergy, each introduced with a similar syntactic pattern.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai's reproach of the clergy reflects the ascetic and monastic ideals of the East Syriac tradition, where wealth, glory, and gluttony were seen as betrayals of clerical duty.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The image of arrows shot at one's own members (ܓܹܐܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܨܲܥܪܵܐ ܫܕܼܵܘ ܝܵܕܼܘܿܥܹ̈ܐ ܒܗܲܕܵܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ) echoes the biblical motif of self-inflicted harm, as in Psalm 64:4 (Peshitta).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains several uncertain readings (e.g., ܚܸܪ݁ܝܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ, ܗܸܪܬܼܵܐ) that may affect the precise sense of the opening lines; the translation 'dart' and 'seed' are interpretive.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The final lines contrast the clergy's former wealth ('firm foundations of the wealth of their patrons') with their current state of begging, underscoring the moral decline.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the orders' (ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ) is ambiguous: it may refer to ecclesiastical ranks or to monastic communities.","The phrase 'between the earth and the heavens' (ܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ ܠܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ) could be a metaphor for cosmic disruption or a reference to the church and the divine realm."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":":ܚܵܣܘܿܡܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܥ̣ܒܼܕܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܨܪ̈ܝܼܟܲܝ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ\nܘܚܪܚ̇ܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܟܠܵܬ̤ ܛܵܒܼܵܬܼܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܦܵܘܼܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܐܲܫܝܼܛܘ ܠܲܩܢܘܿܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܦܲܐ̈ܝܵܢ\nܘܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܐܲܙܥܲܪܘ ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܪܵܡ̇ܐ ܕܩܵܝ̇ܡܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܒܹܗ ܀ :ܪ̈ܵܥܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܡܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܢܹܝܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ\nܘܲܫܒܲܩ̣ܘ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܘܲܢܦܲܩ̣ܘ ܛܵܥܹ̇ܝܢ ܒܵܬܲܪ ܚܲܪ̈ܫܹܐ ܀ :ܠܠܵܐ ܦܵܪ݁ܘܿܫܹܐ ܪܚܸܡ̣ܘ ܦܵܪ݁ܘܿܫܹܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܦܵܪ̈ܘܿܫܹܐ\nܘܲܠܫܲܬܿܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܩ̣ܢܵܘ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܵܐ ܕܝܘܼܬܼܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܪܸܚܡܲܬܸ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܛܥ̣̇ܘ ܥܸܢܝܵܢܵܐ ܕܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܲܒܼܫܝܼܛ̈ܬܼܵܐ ܚܲܠܸܦܘ ܥܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܕܝܲܩܝܼܪ݁ܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܡܲܡܟܿܘܼܬܼ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܙܲܡܸܢ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܚܲܬܼܢܵܐ ܕܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ\nܘܕܲܓܸܿܠܘ ܐܸܢܹܝܢ ܠܲܒܼ̈ܢܵܬܼ ܩܵܠܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܫܲܪܝܼܪ݁ܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܫܪܵܪܵܐ ܢܸܗܘܸܐ ܣܵܗܕ̇ܐ ܒܕܼܝܼܢܵܐ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܠܹܗ ܘܲܠܗܘܿܢ\nܘܢܸܬܼܒܲܥ ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ ܥܝܵܪܬܵܐ ܕܨܲܥܪܵܐ ܕܫܲܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ :ܒܕܼܝܼܢܵܐ ܟܹܐܢܵܐ ܢܲܟܸܿܣ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܠܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܢܟܼܝܼܠܹ̈ܐ\nܕܫܵܛ̣ܘ ܡ̇ܘܗܲܒܼܬܹܗ ܘܨܲܥܲܪܘ ܐ̄ܪ̈ܵܙܹܐ ܕܝܲܩܝܼܪ݁ܵܬܹܗ ܀ :ܕܝܼܢܵܐ ܢܹܐܡܲܪ ܥܲܡ ܢܸܟܼܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܕܢܲܟܿܘܼܠܬܼܵܢܹ̈ܐ\nܕܟܼܵܡ̣ܘ ܥܲܠ ܥܘܼܬܼܪܹܗ ܘܠܵܐ ܦܲܪܢܸܣܘ ܒܹܗ ܣܘܼܢܩܵܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܀ :ܠܗܘܿܢ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒܼ ܡܸܠܬܹܗ ܕܲܢܦܲܠܓܼܘܼܢ ܒܵܗ̇ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܛܲܫܝܘܼܗ̇ ܠܓܼܵܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܲܚܬܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܠܘܵܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܐܸܡ݂ܲܪ ܗܵܝ̇ ܒܲܪ̄ܬܼ ܩܵܠܵܐ ܕܲܠܘܵܬܼ ܫܸܡܥܘܿܢ\nܘܫܲܡ̣ܥܘܼܗ̇ ܘܲܫܬܸܩܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܣܘܼܟܵܠܵܐ ܕܲܟܼܣܸܐ ܒܓܼܵܘܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܠܗܘܿܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܐܲܓܼܥܸܠ ܩܲܝܵܡܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܥܵܢ̈ܐ ܕܐ̄ܢܵܫܑܵ\nܘܐܸܟܲܠ̣ܘ ܒܸܣܪܵܐ ܕܫܲܡܝܼ̈ܢܵܢܼܵܐ ܘܫܵܛ̣ܘ ܕܲܡܚ̈ܝܼܠܵܢ ܀","english":"Their severity made the upright flee from all, and their disturbances consumed the good from their mouths. They cast their foundations in a worthless place, and they diminished the high rank in which they once stood. The thoughts of eloquence were disturbed, and they left humanity and went astray after enchanters. Without distinction they loved the distinguished from the distinguished, and to the silent they set up a barrier of their excesses. With the love of the earth they obscured the vision of spiritual things, and with simple things they exchanged the wealth of precious things. For the sake of lowliness they stirred up a tumult of height, and they falsified the true voices of the orders with lies. Truth became a witness in judgment between him and them, and from them followed the shaving of the hair of his truthfulness. In judgment he sat and covered the priests who were able, who rejected his gift and diminished the mysteries of his precious things. Judgment spoke with all the partakers who were silent about his wealth and did not distribute the sustenance of humanity in it. To them he gave his word to distribute life to humanity through it, and they hid it within from the foundation of their actions. To them he said that daughter of the voice which is for hearing, and they heard it and were silent about the meaning that was concealed within it. To them he hastened the stability of the members of humanity, and they ate the flesh of the heavenly ones and drank the blood of the weak.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The English draft renders ܚܵܣܘܿܡܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ as 'severity', but the Syriac more precisely denotes 'violence' or 'oppression', intensifying the critique of clerical misconduct.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܕܲܓܸܿܠܘ","severity":"info","text":"The verb ܕܲܓܸܿܠܘ ('they falsified') is a key term in Syriac moral discourse, often denoting deliberate deception or heresy; here it underscores the clergy's corruption of true teaching.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܲܡܚ̈ܝܼܠܵܢ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'drank the blood of the weak' echoes Eucharistic language inverted, possibly alluding to the corruption of the sacrament; compare 1 Cor 11:25–26 on the cup of blessing.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The 'shaving of the hair of his truthfulness' likely refers to a ritual act of humiliation or deposition, reflecting Narsai's concern with clerical discipline in the Church of the East.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of clerical corruption, moving from general discord (previous passage) to specific abuses: false teaching, neglect of the poor, and perversion of sacraments.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܝܵܪܬܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The word ܥܝܵܪܬܵܐ ('shaving') is ambiguous; it could also mean 'shearing' or 'cutting', and the exact ritual or metaphorical sense is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'him' and 'them' in the judgment scene is unclear; likely the poet and the corrupt clergy.","The phrase 'daughter of the voice' (ܒܲܪ̄ܬܼ ܩܵܠܵܐ) may be a technical term for an echo or a prophetic utterance; its precise referent is uncertain."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":6,"ref":"p6","source":":ܥܠܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܦܲܐܝܵܐ ܠܡܸܬܼܢܵܐ ܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܢܒܼܝܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܕܐܘܿܢ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܵܥܵܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܒܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ ܘܣܲܟܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܕܠܵܐ ܒܲܟܼܝܵܢܵܐ ܪܥܵܘ̣ ܠܲܟܼܝܵܢܲܢ ܪ̈ܵܥܵܘܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢ ܒܲܕܿܪܘ ܚܲܝܲܝ̈ܢ ܒܛܘܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܛܘܥܝܲܝ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܡܲܪܥܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܲܝܬܿ ܠܵܗ̇ ܪܵܥܝܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܬܼ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܘܼܬܲܢ\nܘܥܲܠ̣ ܚܲܝ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܥܝܵܪܹ݁ܐ ܒܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܘܚܲܒܸܿܠܘ ܓܸܢܣܲܢ ܀ :ܒܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܘܼܪ̈ܚܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܑܵ ܝܼܕܲܥܬܼܵܐ ܛܥ̣ܵܘ ܡܲܠܵܠܹ̈ܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܐܲܦܢܝܼ ܠܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܵܝܗܘܿܢ ܨܹܝܕܼ ܕܲܟܼܬܼܝܼ̈ܒܼܵܢ ܀ :ܪ̈ܵܥܵܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܦܵܫ̣ܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܕܕܼܚܠܲܬܼ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ\nܘܲܛܥܵܬ̤ ܥܵܢ̈ܐ ܒܲܫܒܼܝܼܠ ܙܹܐܦܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܥܪ݁ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ ܒܣܘܼܥܪ݁ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܕܵܘܕܼܘܼܗ̇ ܠܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ:\nܘܲܒܼܢܼܟܼܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܠܵܐܘܼܗ̇ ܩܸܢܛܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܫܕܼܵܘ ܐܲܝܟ ܟܹܐܦܵܐ ܩܕܼܵܡ ܗܲܠܵܟܹ̈ܐ\nܘܲܣܓܼܝܼ ܩܸܢܛܵܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܪܵܕܹܐ ܫܲܪܝܼܪܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܀ :ܡܝܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܫܲܢܝܼܘ ܘܐܲܪܚܸܩܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܘܼܟܲܬܼܗܘܿܢ\nܘܐܸܬܿܕܵܘܲܕܼ ܠܹܗ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܵܘܢܵܐ ܕܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܘܚܘܼܒܑܵܐ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܓܲܝܵܣܹ̈ܐ ܟܡܸܢ̣ܘ ܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܹܐ ܥܲܠ ܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܹܐ\nܘܫܲܠܲܚܘ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܲܒܼܢܲܝ̈ܢܵܫܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܛܵܒܼܵܬܼ̈ܐ ܀ :ܥܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܡܠܸܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܓܼܙܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܒܲܙ̣ܘܼܗܝ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܒܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܐܸܠܵܐ ܒܢܸܟܼܠܵܐ ܀ :ܢܸܟܼܠܵܐ ܪܲܟܸܿܒܼܘ ܢܲܟܿܘܼܠܬܼܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܥܲܡ ܢܵܟܼܵܘܿܠܵܐ\nܘܒܲܙܘ ܬܵܘܕܿܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܦܘܼܠܵܓܼܵܐ ܒܦܸܬܼܓܼܵܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܐ̄ܪ̈ܵܙܹܐ ܕܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܩ̣ܛܲܪܘ ܡܲܪ̈ܵܚܹܐ ܥܲܠ ܡ̇ܪܘܿܕܼܵܐ\nܘܕܲܠܚܘܼܗܝ ܠܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܫܸܡ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ ܕܒܹܝܬܼ ܠܲܢ ܘܲܠܗܘܿܢ ܀","english":"Upon them it is fitting to apply the word of reproof, because the pastors are evil, foolish, and stupid. Without discernment they pastured the flock of pastors, and without care they scattered the lives among the mountains of error. Like a flock that has no shepherd, our humanity became, and upon the wild beasts, evil and destructive, they fell and ruined the race. In the paths of ignorance the guides wandered, and no man turned their thoughts toward the written truths. The pastors departed from the foundation of the fear of truth, and the people erred in the path of the corruption of their deeds. By their deeds they corrupted the way of faith, and by their words they filled the measure of inequality. Inequality they cast like a stone before the travelers, and the measure increased, and no man walked rightly. The words of the church they changed and removed from their place, and the house of hope and love became desolate. Like warriors they heaped thoughts upon thoughts, and they sent man away from the good things empty-handed. Great wealth filled the treasury of faith, and man plundered it not with love but with guile. Guile they mounted, the deceivers with the deceiver, and they plundered the confession without division in their utterances. The mysteries of iniquity the revelers bound upon the rebellious one, and they disturbed the church of the name of the Creator, the house of you and them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪ̈ܵܥܵܘܵܬܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term rāʿwātā (pastors) is a plural of rāʿyā, literally 'shepherd', used here for clergy. The wordplay with 'flock' (rāʿyātā) in the same line reinforces the pastoral metaphor.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܲܝܟ ܡܲܪܥܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܲܝܬܿ ܠܵܗ̇ ܪܵܥܝܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The image of a flock without a shepherd echoes John 10:12-16 and the broader biblical pastoral metaphor for ecclesiastical leadership, common in Syriac literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܵܘܢܵܐ ܕܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܘܚܘܼܒܑܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'house of hope and love' (bēt sawrā w-ḥubbā) likely refers to the church as a community of faith, a common Syriac ecclesiological trope. Narsai contrasts this ideal with the clergy's corruption.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"passage 6","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of clerical decline, using a series of parallel couplets (e.g., 'by their deeds... by their words') to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the corruption.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܵܘܕܼܘܼܗ̇","severity":"caution","text":"The verb dāwdūh (they corrupted) is a Pael form of dwd, which can also mean 'to lead astray' or 'to pollute'. The sense is clear from context, but the root is rare and may be a scribal variant.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܒܲܙ̣ܘܼܗܝ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܒܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܐܸܠܵܐ ܒܢܸܟܼܠܵܐ' (man plundered it not with love but with guile) is textually sound, but the referent of 'it' (the treasury of faith) is clear from the preceding line."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":7,"ref":"p7","source":":ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܫܵܘܬܵܦܹ̈ܐ ܒܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܐܲܩܝܼܡܘ ܡܸܪܕܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܢܸܬܼܛܦܝܼܣܘܼܢ ܠܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܀ :ܠܡܹܐܢܵܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܣܵܡܲܬ̤ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ\nܘܪܲܕܼܦܘܼܗܝ ܠܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܓܵܘ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܠܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܕܲܠܒܲܪ ܀ :ܒܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܕܲܠܒܲܪ ܦܵܗܹ̇ܐ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܫܸܡ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܠܹܗ ܐܲܬܼܪܵܐ ܕܢܸܥܘܿܠ ܢܸܫܪܸܐ ܨܹܝܕܼ ܝܵܕܲܘܿܥܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܡܸܣܟܹܿܢܵܐ ܛܪܝܼܕܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܵܘܼܡܪܵܐ ܕܫܲܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ\nܘܥܲܠܝܼܠ ܙܹܐܦܵܐ ܠܒܹܝܬܼ ܝܵܪܬܿܘܼܬܹܗ ܘܒܼܵܐܹ̇ܙ ܢܼܟܼܣܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܀ :ܢܘܼܡܹܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܠܒܼܝܼܟ ܚܸܪܝܵܢܵܐ ܘܲܡܕܲܝܲܪ ܒܹܗ\nܘܲܡܪܝܼܡ ܩܵܠܹܗ ܘܡܲܩܠܸܐ ܒܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܟܹܐܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܕܚܝܼܠ ܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܓܲܝܵܣܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܡܕܲܝܪܝܼܢ ܒܹܗ\nܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܩܢܹ̇ܛ ܓܼܒܵܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܸܪ̈ܝܵܢܹܐ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܡܸܣܬܲܪܕܼܝܼܢ ܥܵܡ̇ܪ̈ܲܝ ܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܲܝ̈ܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܙܵܝ̇ܥܝܼܢ ܪ̈ܵܚܡܲܝ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܸܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܓܘܼܢܚܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܒܹܗ ܒܕܼܵܪܲܢ ܡܲܪܝܼܪ ܝܲܨܪܵܐ\nܕܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܬܼ ܠܵܗ̇ ܥܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܕܟܼܠ ܒܝܼܫ̈ܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܬܼ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ\nܘܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܗܲܦ̣ܟܿܘܼܗܝ ܠܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܠܘܵܬܼ ܚܸܪܝܵܢܵܐ ܀ :ܒܕܼܘܼܟܲܬܼ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ ܘܲܚܠܵܦ ܡܸܠܚܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܝܲܗ̄ܒܲܬ̤ ܠܲܢ\nܘܲܚܫܸܟ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܗ̇ ܘܲܦܟ݂ܲܗ ܛܲܥܡܵܗ̇ ܘܗܲܦܟܲܬ̤ ܠܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܀ :ܡܚܲܣܝܲܬܼ ܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܘܝܵܗ̇ܒܲܬܼ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܩ̣ܪܵܗ̇ ܝܵܗܘܿܒܼܵܗ̇\nܘܲܣܓܼܝܼ ܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܗ̇ ܘܲܦܟ݂ܲܗ ܡܸܢܵܗ̇ ܪܹܚܝ ܚܲܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܩܠܝܼܕܲܝ̈ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒܼ ܠܵܗ̇ ܪܸܡܙܵܐ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܝܵܐ\nܘܠܑܵ ܗ̤ܝ ܥܸܠܲܬ̤ ܘܠܵܐ ܠܬܲܝܵܒܹ̈ܐ ܦܬܼܚܲܬ̤ ܬܲܪܥܵܐ ܀","english":"The evil priests were companions without equity, and they set up a rebellion without discipline against the word of the flock. To the pasture of the flock they set the word of the flock as a snare, and they drove the flock from within the flock to the desolation outside. In the desolation outside the flock of the Creator's name is scattered, and it has no place to enter or settle near its acquaintances. Like a wretched one driven from the dwelling of its truth, and it wanders, grieving for its inheritance, and seeks its possessions. The voice of the flock is heard in the desert, and it dwells there, and it raises its voice and cries out with a staff against the priesthood. The desert does not fear the tyrants who dwell in it, as the side of the flock is cut off from the deserts. The inhabitants of the desert are not disciplined by the beasts, as the lovers of love tremble from discipline. A great ruin occurred in it in the bitter generation of the evil one, for the cause of the flock became the cause of all evils. The cause of the flock was the priesthood among the lands, and the priests turned the order of the flock toward the desert. In place of light and instead of salt, it was given to us, and its light darkened and its taste spoiled, and it turned the land to ruin. It gave evil counsel and gave life to its own sickness, and its evil increased and its taste spoiled, and the scent of life fled from it. The keys of the heights gave it a divine sign, but it did not open the door for the cause nor for the penitents.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ (kāhnē) means 'priests' and is the same word used in the title for the clergy; here it is explicitly linked to the 'evil priests' who corrupt the flock.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܲܝܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܫܲܝܢܵܐ (šayʿā) appears repeatedly and means 'flock' or 'herd'; it is a central metaphor for the Christian community under pastoral care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The imagery of the flock being driven to the 'desolation outside' (ܚܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܕܲܠܒܲܪ) reflects a common Syriac ascetic trope of the wilderness as a place of spiritual exile and danger.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'word of the flock' (ܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ) may echo the Johannine 'Word' (Logos) as applied to Christ the shepherd, but here it is perverted by the priests into a snare.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of the previous section, intensifying the metaphor of the corrupted flock and introducing the 'desert' as a new spatial symbol of disorder.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text has a scribal mark (a dot above ܟ) that may indicate a variant reading or emphasis; the translation 'evil priests' is standard but the exact nuance of ܒܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ could be moral or ritual.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'companions without equity' (ܫܵܘܬܵܦܹ̈ܐ ܒܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ) could mean either that the priests lacked justice among themselves or that they failed to treat the flock equitably; the translation takes the latter sense.","The 'keys of the heights' (ܩܠܝܼܕܲܝ̈ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ) is ambiguous: it may refer to ecclesiastical authority or to a divine attribute; the translation opts for a celestial referent."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":8,"ref":"p8","source":":ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܲܚܕܿܘܼܗܝ ܠܲܬܼܪܲܥ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ ܒܐܲܦܲܝ̈ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܩܲܒܸܿܠܘ ܬܵܘܬܼܵܐ ܘܕܸܡܥܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܡܦܝܼܣܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܛܲܫܝܘܼܗ̇ ܠܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܵܝܘܿܬܹ̈ܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒܼܘ ܐܝܼܕܼܵܐ ܠܡܝܼܬܹ̈ܐ ܕܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܕܢܸܚܘܿܢ ܡܲܓܵܢ ܀ :ܕܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢܵܐ ܓܼܙܲܪܘ ܠܘܼܚܵܡܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܚܲܛܵܝܹ̈ܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܣܵܡ̣ܘ ܣܲܡܵܐ ܕܲܬܼܝܵܒܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܫܘܼܚܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܡܲܐܝܼܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܩܪܸܒܼܘ ܠܲܥܒܼܵܕܵܐ ܕܣܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܠܹܗ\nܘܲܒܼܩܘܼܛܵܢܵܐ ܦܪ݂ܲܥܘ ܬܵܘ ܕܲܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܝܵܒܼܝܼܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܀ :ܥܒܼܵܕܹ݁ܵܐ ܟܲܢܝܹܗ ܟܵܪܘܿܙ ܪܘܼܚܵܐ ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ\nܘܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܗܲܦ̣ܟܿܘܼܗܝ ܠܫܸܡ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܐܲܪܥܵܢܵܝܵܐ ܀ :ܐܲܪܥܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܣܒܲܪ̣ܘ ܕܐܝܼܬܿܝܗܘܿ ܛܲܟܼܣܹ̈ܐ ܕܥܹܕܿܬܵܐ\nܘܐܲܝܟ ܒܲܪ݁ܲܝܹܐ ܬܒܲܥ̣ܘ ܛܲܟܼܣܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܝܵܢܵܐ ܝܵ̇ܬܹܒܼ ܟܵܗܢܵܐ ܒܲܬܼܪܲܥ ܒܲܝܬܹܿܗ\nܘܐܲܝܟ ܫܲܠܝܼܛܵܐ ܡܪܝܼܡ ܒܲܪ̄ܬܼ ܩܵܠܹܗ ܘܬܵܒܲܥ ܫܸܩܠܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܫܸܡ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܡܪܝܼܡ ܗܸܕܼܝܘܼܛܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܫܵܡ̇ܘܿܥܵܘ̈ܗܝ\nܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܒܲܝܲܢ ܕܕܲܪܓܹܗ ܪܲܚܝܼܩ ܡ̣ܢ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܕܲܪܓܼܵܟ ܣܲܟܼܠܵܐ ܡ̇ܢ ܛܵܥܹ̇ܐ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ\nܥܲܒܼܕܵܐ ܐܝܼܬܲܝܟ ܘܲܡܫܡܫܵܢܵܐ ܕܲܟܼܢܵܘ̈ܬܼܵܟ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܠܲܬܼܒܲܥܬܼܵܐ ܣܝܼܡ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܓܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܡ̇ܢ ܒܵܥܹ̇ܐ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ\nܠܲܡܚܵܢ ܡܲܓܵܢ ܩܪ̣ܵܐܘܼܟ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ ܠܲܬܼܪܲܥ ܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܕܝܼܠܵܟ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܓܲܙܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܕܡܲܓܼܥܲܐ ܒܐܝܼܕܲܝ̈ܟ\nܡܵܢܵܐ ܚܬܝܼܪ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܕܝܼܠܵܟ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܕܼܝܼܠܵܟ ܀ :ܓܹܐܙܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܒܲܪ ܡ̇ܝܘܿܬܹ̈ܐ ܕܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܕܥܲܠ ܟܠ\nܠܵܐ ܬܸܫܬܲܒܼܗܲܪ ܡ̇ܐ ܕܝܵܗܹ̇ܒܼ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܡ̇ܪܵܟ ܀","english":"The priests seized the gate of mercy in the face of the people, and they did not accept the groaning and tears of the penitents. The priests hid the word of life from the dying, and they did not give a hand to the dead of iniquity who sought healing. Without compassion they decreed judgment upon sinners, and they did not place the medicine of repentance upon their wounds. With haste they approached the work that was appointed to them, and with violence they exacted the debt that they owed. The work of the priest is a herald of the Spirit to the rank of priests, and they turned the name of authority into earthly things. Earthly-mindedly they thought that the orders of the Church were theirs, and like laymen they sought their orders from the people. Like a judge the priest sits at the gate of his house, and like a ruler he raises his voice and demands fees. The name of authority he raises over the laity among his hearers, and he does not understand that his rank is far from authority. It is not authority that is your rank, O foolish one; you err, O woman, you are a servant and a minister of your virtues. It is not for demanding that you are set, O man; you are one who seeks, to strike a bargain. Mercy called you to the gate of the king. It is not your own, the great treasure that you dispense with your hands; why are you proud of the portion that is yours as if it were your own? You are a steward, son of the dying, of the king who is over all; do not boast when you give from the house of your Lord.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ (kāhnē) is the plural of ܟܵܗܢܵܐ (kāhnā), meaning 'priest'. Narsai uses it throughout to denote clergy who have failed in their pastoral duties.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܵܘܬܼܵܐ ܘܕܸܡܥܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase ܬܵܘܬܼܵܐ ܘܕܸܡܥܹ̈ܐ (tāwtā w-demʿē) means 'groaning and tears'. It is a conventional Syriac pairing for expressions of penitence, here rejected by the corrupt priests.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܲܓܵܢ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܡܲܓܵܢ (maggāʿ) means 'healing' or 'medicine'. Narsai contrasts the priests' refusal to offer spiritual healing with their violent exaction of debts, underscoring their hypocrisy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܓܹܐܙܲܒܼܪܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܓܹܐܙܲܒܼܪܵܐ (gēzabrā) means 'steward' or 'treasurer'. Narsai likens the priest to a steward of the king (Christ), emphasizing that clerical authority is delegated, not proprietary.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a narrative of priestly misconduct (lines 1–6) to a direct apostrophe (lines 7–12), where Narsai addresses the errant priest in the second person, using rhetorical questions and imperatives.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ (ʾatt) is the feminine singular 'you'. Narsai addresses the priest as 'O woman' (ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܣܲܟܼܠܵܐ ܡ̇ܢ ܛܵܥܹ̇ܐ ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ), likely a rhetorical insult implying effeminacy or weakness, not a literal gender designation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'O woman' (ܐܲܢ̄ܬܿ ܣܲܟܼܠܵܐ) may be a textual corruption or a deliberate rhetorical device; the reading taken is as a gendered insult."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":9,"ref":"p9","source":":ܡ̇ܪܵܟ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒܼ ܠܵܟ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܓܲܙܹܗ ܠܲܡܦܲܪܢܵܣܘܼ\nܚܙܝܼ ܠܵܐ ܬܸܛܠܘܿܡ ܠܲܟܼ̈ܢܵܘܵܬܼܵܟ ܒܡܲܣܲܒܼ ܒܐܲܦܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܫܡܲܥ ܩܵܠ ܡ̇ܪܵܟ ܕܲܡܩܲܛܪܸܓܼ ܠܹܗ ܠܥܲܒܼܕܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ\nܦܲܪܢܸܣ ܫܲܦܝܼܪ ܕܠܵܐ ܬܸܗܘܸܐ ܠܹܗ ܚܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܒܕܼܝܼܢܵܐ ܀ :ܒܕܼܝܼܢܵܐ ܟܹܐܢܵܐ ܥܬܼܝܼܕܼ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ ܕܢܸܒܼܚܘܿܪ ܥܲܒܼܕܵܘ̈ܗܝ\nܘܵܝ ܠܲܕܿܛܲܫܝܼ ܟܸܣܦܵܐ ܕܡ̇ܪܹܗ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܵܣܘܼܒܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܒܪܸ̈ܓܼܫܹܐ ܘܙܵܘܥܹ̈ܐ ܥܵܐ̇ܠܵܐ ܒܨܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܕܲܝܵܢܘܼܬܹܗ\nܘܵܝ ܠܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܚܲܢ ܠܲܟܼ̈ܢܵܘܵܬܹܗ ܚܘܼܒܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܀ :ܒܢܘܼܪܵܐ ܒܵܚܲ̇ܪ ܥܒܼܵܕܹ̈ܐ ܘܡܸܠܹ̈ܐ ܕܦܲܓܼܪܵܐ ܘܢܲܦܫܵܐ\nܘܵܝ ܠܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܒܢ̣ܵܐ ܥܲܡܠܹ̈ܐ ܕܟܲܝܵ̈ܐ ܒܒܸܢܝܵܢ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ ܀ :ܕܠܵܐ ܒܘܼܣܪܵܢܵܐ ܡܲܦܸܩ ܕܝܼܢܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܟܠ ܬܸܓܼܡܝܼ̈ܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܚܲܕܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܘܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ܀ ܠܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܝܲܬܿܝܼܪ ܡܲܨܪܸܦ ܢܸܓܼܕܹܿܗ ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐܝܼܬܼ:\nܠܦܘܼܬܼ ܡ̇ܘܗܲܒܼܬܼܵܐ ܘܪܲܒܿܘܼܬܼ ܚܲܝܠܵܐ ܕܩܲܒܸܿܠܘ ܡܸܢܹܗ ܀ :ܥܠܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܡܩܲܫܸܐ ܢܸܓܼܕܵܐ ܥܦܝܼܦܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢܵܐ\nܠܦܘܼܬܼ ܕܐܸܫܬܲܠܲܛܘ ܠܲܡܚܲܣܵܝܘܼ ܘܠܵܐ ܚܲܢ̣ܘܼ ܘܫܲܒܲܩ̣ܘ ܀ :ܩܕܼܵܡ ܡܲܠܲܐܟܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܒܼܢܲܝ̈ܢܵܫܵܐ ܕܵܐܹ̇ܢ ܥܲܡܗܘܿܢ\nܠܦܘܼܬܼ ܕܐܸܬܼܝܲܩܲܪܘ ܠܥܹܝܢ ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ ܘܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܠܥܹܝܢ ܐܲܪ̈ܥܵܢܹܐ ܘܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܝܲܩܲܪ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ\nܘܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܫܵܛ̇ܘܼܗ̇ ܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܦܲܐ̈ܝܵܢ ܠܝܲܩܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ :ܠܥܸܠ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܸܢܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܝܲܩܲܪ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܦܪܲܫܘ ܘܝܼܕܲܥܘ ܕܠܲܐܝܢܵܐ ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܣܠܸ̣ܩܘ ܬܵܚܘܿܒܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܪܵܡ̇ܐ ܕܪܵܡ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܐܵܣܸܩ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܒܲܝܲܢܘ ܕܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܝܸܪܒܲܬ̤ ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܼ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܀","english":"Your Lord gives you from his treasury to dispense.  \nSee that you do not wrong your congregations by taking with [your] face.  \nHear the voice of your Lord who rebukes the evil servant.  \nDispense well, so that he may not be a companion in judgment.  \nIn judgment the Creator is prepared to choose his servants.  \nWoe to him who hides his Lord’s money from the needy.  \nWith feelings and tremors he enters the court of his judgment.  \nWoe to him who does not pity his congregations mercifully.  \nIn fire he burns deeds and words of body and soul.  \nWoe to him who does not seek the labors of the just in the quest of truth.  \nWithout profit he brings forth judgment upon all his orders,  \nAnd is not restrained from the authority of priests and kings.  \nFor priests he sharpens his cord more severely,  \nAccording to the gift and the greatness of power they received from him.  \nUpon them he stretches a tight cord without loss,  \nBecause they were entrusted to show mercy and did not pity and forgive.  \nBefore angels and men he contends with them,  \nBecause they were honored above earthly and heavenly orders.  \nAbove earthly and heavenly orders he was honored,  \nAnd they became his servants without worthy deeds for his honor.  \nAbove the stars of the heavens he was honored,  \nAnd they did not discern and know that they ascended to a place of rank unworthily.  \nTo the high rank higher than the watchers he ascended,  \nAnd they did not understand how much folly increased in man.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡ̇ܪܵܟ ܝܲܗ̣̄ܒܼ ܠܵܟ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܓܲܙܹܗ ܠܲܡܦܲܪܢܵܣܘܼ","severity":"info","text":"The opening line addresses the priest directly, warning him not to misuse the authority (the 'treasury') given by the Lord. The phrase 'taking with your face' likely means taking bribes or acting with partiality.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܝܼܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܕܝܼܢܵܐ (dīyānā) means 'judge' or 'judgment'. Here it is used both for the divine judgment and for the priest's role as judge over others, with the warning that the priest may become a 'companion in judgment' (i.e., subject to judgment) if he fails in his duty.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܵܝ ܠܲܕܿܛܲܫܝܼ ܟܸܣܦܵܐ ܕܡ̇ܪܹܗ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܵܣܘܼܒܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The image of hiding the Lord's money from the needy echoes the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the broader biblical theme of stewardship. The priest is cast as a steward who withholds resources meant for the poor.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܝܲܬܿܝܼܪ ܡܲܨܪܸܦ ܢܸܓܼܕܹܿܗ ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐܝܼܬܼ","severity":"info","text":"Narsai emphasizes that priests are held to a higher standard than laity because of the 'gift and greatness of power' they received. This reflects the Syriac tradition of clerical responsibility, where ordination confers both authority and stricter accountability.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܵܝ ܠܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܚܲܢ ܠܲܟܼ̈ܢܵܘܵܬܹܗ ܚܘܼܒܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ","severity":"info","text":"The passage uses a series of 'woe' (ܘܵܝ) exclamations to condemn specific failures of the clergy: hiding resources, lacking mercy, and failing to seek truth. This rhetorical pattern intensifies the reproach and structures the argument.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܒܲܝܲܢܘ ܕܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܝܸܪܒܲܬ̤ ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܼ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The final line is textually uncertain: the phrase 'how much folly increased in man' may be a scribal gloss or a later addition. The Syriac ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܼ (šīṭūṯā) can mean 'folly' or 'madness', and the sense of the line is ambiguous in context.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'taking with your face' (ܒܡܲܣܲܒܼ ܒܐܲܦܹ̈ܐ) is ambiguous: it may mean taking bribes openly, or acting with arrogance. The reading here follows the sense of partiality.","The final line's reference to 'folly' (ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܼ) is ambiguous: it could refer to the priests' failure to understand their own unworthiness, or to a general human condition."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":10,"ref":"p10","source":":ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܩܲܒܸܿܠܘ ܣܵܗܹ̇ܕܼ ܕܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܝ̄ܪܸܒܼܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠܵܐ\nܕܐܵܦ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܹܐ ܕܪܵܡܝܼܢ ܡܸܢܹܗܘܿܢ ܡ̇ܟܿܝܼܢ ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܫܲܠܝܼܛܝܼܢ ܥܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܠܡܸܣܲܩ ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܲܢܣ݂ܲܒܼܘ\nܘܠܵܐ ܡܨܹܝܢ ܣܵܦ̇ܩܝܼܢ ܠܲܡܫܲܡܵܫܘܼ ܒܲܩܢܘܿܡܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܕܚܝܼܠܝܼܢ ܟܸܢܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܘܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ\nܘܡ̇ܐ ܕܡܸܬܼܦܲܚܡܝܼܢ ܒܨܝܼܪܝܼܢ ܣܲܓܿܝܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܫܒܼܝܼܚ ܓܲܒܼܪܝܹܠ ܘܪܲܒܿ ܡܝܼܟܼܵܐܹܝܠ ܘܫܸܡܗܘܿܢ ܣܵܗܹ̇ܕܼ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܗܵܟܲܢ ܒܨܝܼܪ ܟܘܼܢܵܝܗܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܫܸܡ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܪܲܒܿ ܟܘܼܢܵܝܹܗ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܡܸܕܹܿܡ\nܘܐܸܢ ܐܝܼܬܼ ܡܸܕܹܿܡ ܕܪܲܒܿ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܸܕܹܿܡ ܬܚܹܝܬܼ ܡܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܀ :ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܫܵܛ̣ܘܼܗܝ ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܪܵܡ̇ܐ ܕܝܲܩܲܪ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ\nܘܐܲܣܢܝܼܘ ܫܘܼܦܪܹܗ ܒܲܫܟܼܝܼܪ̈ܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܥܪ݁ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܟܼܠ ܐܸܣܟܿܡܝܼ̈ܢ ܫܵܛ̣ܘܼܗܝ ܠܲܫܡܵܐ ܕܝܲܩܝܼܪܘܼܬܹܗ\nܥܕܲܡ̇ܐ ܕܐܲܗܸܠܘ ܘܲܓܼܚܸܟܼܘ ܫܝܼܛܹ̈ܐ ܥܲܠ ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ :ܒܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ ܙܲܒܿܢܘܼܗ̇ ܠܗܵܝ̇ ܡ̇ܘܗܵܒܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܙܕܲܒܿܢܵܐ\nܘܟܲܕ ܠܵܐ ܣܵܦ݂̇ܩ ܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܠܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܝܗ̇ ܩܲܨ̣ܘ ܠܵܗ̇ ܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܒܥܵܒܼܘܿܪ̈ܝܵܬܼܵܐ ܚܲܠܦܘܼܗܝ ܠܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܚܲܠܲܦ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܡܸܕܸܿܡ ܕܕܼܵܡܹ̇ܐ ܠܲܫܡܹܗ ܣܵܡ̣ܘ ܠܹܗ ܦܸܚܡܵܐ ܀ :ܐܘܿ ܝܼܥܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܟܪܘܿܡܬܼܵܢܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܚܕܼܵܐ\nܕܣܵܡܲܬ̤ ܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ ܠܡܸܕܹܿܡ ܕܲܥܣܸܩ ܠܡܸܙܕܲܒܵܢܘܼ ܀ :ܐܘܿ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܠܦܲܬ̤ ܠܲܫܡܵܗ̇ ܒܲܨܥܝܼܪ̈ܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܟܠ ܕܝܼܠܵܗ̇ ܝܸܗܒܲܬ̤ ܕܝܼܠܵܗ̇ ܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܝܘܼܬܼܪܵܢ ܀ :ܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܕܝܼܠܵܗ̇ ܙܸܒܼܢܲܬ̤ ܕܝܼܠܵܗ̇ ܗܸܕܼܝܘܿܛܵܐܝܼܬܼ\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܓܲܚܟܼܵܐ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܙܵܒܼܘܿܢܵܐ ܠܲܡܙܲܒܿܢܵܢܵܐ ܀","english":"the step of the priesthood, witness how many have fallen from all [their] honor, for even the spiritual ones who are cast down from it are humbled from it. The watchers are not permitted to ascend to the step of receiving, and the worthy are not able to serve in their places. The powers of the heavens are mighty, and their authorities, and when they are compared, they are found to be much less than the priesthood. Glorious is Gabriel, and great is Michael, and their names are witness, and when they are thus compared, their rank is less than the priesthood. The name of the priesthood is greater in rank than everything, and if there is anything greater than something, it is beneath the priesthood. Priests have set up the high step of honor for themselves, and they have adorned its beauty with the virtues of their deeds. In every form they have set up the name of its dignity, until the foolish have laughed and mocked at its folly. With prices they have sold this gift which is not to be sold, and when the world was not sufficient for its prices, they set prices for it. With substitutes they have exchanged the step which is not to be exchanged, and when there is nothing that resembles its name, they set a price for it. O wretched ignorance that is not to be denied, which set prices for something that is difficult to sell. O priesthood that exchanged its name for trifles, and when it gave all that is its own, it gave its own in exchange for a loss. In exchange for its own, it sold its own as a common thing, and behold, it is laughed at among the buyers and sellers.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term dargā (step) is used throughout for the rank or order of priesthood, a common metaphor in Syriac literature for ecclesiastical office.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The mention of Gabriel and Michael as witnesses to the priesthood's superiority reflects the angelological hierarchy in Syriac tradition, where angels are subordinate to the priestly office.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a general warning about clerical corruption to a specific lament over the priesthood's degradation, using a series of parallel contrasts (e.g., 'step not to be exchanged' vs. 'substitutes').","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai's critique of simony and clerical venality echoes earlier Syriac monastic and conciliar condemnations, such as those in the Canons of the Synod of Isaac (410 CE).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac term kāhnūtā (priesthood) is ambiguous: it can denote the office, the order, or the collective body of priests. The context suggests the office, but the personification in the apostrophe ('O priesthood') allows a collective reading.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܩܲܒܸܿܠܘ' (step of receiving) may refer to the altar or the Eucharistic offering, but the context of selling suggests a broader reference to priestly prerogatives.","The identity of 'the foolish' (ܫܝܼܛܹ̈ܐ) who mock is unspecified; it could refer to laity, heretics, or rival clergy."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":11,"ref":"p11","source":":ܚܲܕܼ ܡܲܥܘܸܠ ܒܵܗ̇ ܟܲܕܼ ܝܵܗܹ̇ܒܼ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ ܫܝܼܛܹ̈ܐ\nܘܚܲܕܼ ܫܵܐܲܛ ܒܲܕܼ ܢܲܣܹ̇ܒܼ ܠܵܗ̇ ܒܦܲܟܿܝܼ̈ܗܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܒܹܝܬܼ ܙܵܒܼܘܿܢܵܐ ܠܲܡܙܲܒܿܢܵܢܵܐ ܨܲܥܪܵܗ̇ ܣܵܓܹ̇ܐ\nܒܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܪܓܼܝܼܫܝܼܢ ܕܡܵܢ̇ܵܘ ܚܲܝܠܵܐ ܕܲܟܼܣܸܐ ܒܓܼܵܘܼܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܐܵܪܵܐ ܒܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܣܬܲܟܿܠܝܼܢ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܘܲܠܒܼܝܼܫ\nܠܡܵܢ ܙܲܒܸܿܢܬܿܘܿܢ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܘܥܘܼܡܩܵܐ ܒܠܵܐ ܝܼܕܲܥܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܐܵܪܵܐ ܚܬܼܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܲܛܥܝܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܣܲܟܼܠܵܐ\nܠܡܵܢ ܚܲܠܸܦܬܿܘܿܢ ܫܲܡܝܵܢ̈ܝܵܬܼܵܐ ܒܡܸܕܼܪܵܐ ܫܝܼܛܵܐ ܀ :ܡܲܪܓܵܢܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܡܸܙܕܲܒܿܢܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܵܕܼܘܿܥܹ̈ܐ\nܘܗܵܢܵܘ̇ ܓܘܼܚܟܵܐ ܕܲܠܟܼܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܲܐ ܙܲܒܿܢܘܼܗ̇ ܣܲܟܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܛܲܒܼܥܹ̈ܐ ܕܟܹܐܦܹ̈ܐ ܒܓܲܙܵܐ ܕܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ܫܟܼܝܼܚܝܼܢ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕܼ\nܘܗܵܢܵܘ̇ ܬܸܡܗܵܐ ܕܩܘܼܕܼܫܵܐ ܕܩܘܼܕܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܒܟܼܝܼܪ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܫܘܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܕܲܪ̈ܓܹܐ ܕܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܝܼܗ̄ܒܿܝܼܢ ܕܠܵܐ ܒܘܼܝܵܢܵܐ\nܘܚܸܟܼܡܲܬܼ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܫܘܼܐܵܠܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܦܘܼܪܢܵܣܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܗܵܕܹܐ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕܼ ܡܫܲܐܸܠ ܟܵܗܢܵܐ ܡ̇ܐ ܕܝܵܗܹ̇ܒܼ ܠܵܗ̇\nܕܐܸܢ ܐܝܼܬܼ ܕܲܗܒܼܵܐ ܘܐܸܢ ܠܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܦܠܸܐ ܠܲܡܙܲܒܵܢܘܼ ܀ :ܠܦܘܼܬܼ ܡ̇ܘܗܲܒܼܬܼܵܐ ܚܵܐܲ݁ܪ ܟܵܗܢܵܐ ܘܟܸܢ ܝܵܗܹ̇ܒܼ ܠܵܗ̇\nܕܐܸܢ ܣܲܓܿܝܼܠܵܐ ܐܵܦ ܗܘ̤ ܡܲܣܓܸܿܐ ܘܲܡܫܲܦܲܥ ܠܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܠܦܘܼܬܼ ܚܘܼܣܪܵܢܵܐ ܡܸܬܿܬܲܓܼܪ ܒܵܗ̇ ܐܵܦ ܙܵܒܼܘܿܢܵܐ\nܟܲܕܼ ܡܸܬܼܦܲܪܲܣ ܕܢܸܥܩܘܿܒܼ ܕܐܵܘܒܸܿܕܼ ܒܐܘܼܡ̇ܢܘܼܬܹܗ ܀ :ܐܘܼܡ̇ܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܚܫܝܼܒܼ ܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܵܗ̇ ܠܲܡܙܲܒܿܢܵܢܵܗ̇\nܘܐܲܝܟ ܬܹܐܓܼܘܼܪܬܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܗܲܦܟܼܝܼܢ ܒܵܗ̇ ܐܵܦ ܙܵܒܼܘܿܢܹ̈ܝܗ̇ ܀ :ܠܲܝܬܿ ܣܘܼܦܣܵܪܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܬܹܐܓܼܘܼܪܬܵܐ ܕܐܲܪ݁ܥܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ\nܐܲܝܟ ܣܘܼܦܣܵܪܵܐ ܕܡܲܣܒܼܵܐ ܘܡܲܬܿܠܵܐ ܕܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ ܀","english":"One enters it while giving base coins, and one casts it away while taking it with the palms. The buyer looks at the fleece of the animal to be sacrificed, but is not aware of the power that is hidden within it. O blind ones who do not perceive between good and evil, to what end have you exchanged the height and depth without knowledge? O foolish ones who have erred, to what end have you exchanged the heavenly things for a base garment? Pearls that cannot be sold without connoisseurs, and behold, the foolish ones have sold the laughter of priesthood. The seals of stones are found only in the treasury of kings, and behold, the wonder of the Holy of Holies is proclaimed in the marketplace. The ranks of the world are not given without examination, and the wisdom of truth has no inquiry concerning its price. This alone the priest asks when he gives it: whether there is gold or not; if not, he does not care to sell. According to the gift, the priest looks and gives it: if it is abundant, he also increases and multiplies it. According to the loss, the buyer trades in it, while being stripped of the fraud that he would lose by his craft. Craft is considered the work of the sacrifice, and like merchandise, both its buyers are turned about in it. There is no dispute over the merchandise of earthly things as there is over the dispute that brings in and takes away the spiritual things.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܛܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ ܫܝܼܛܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'base coins' (bṭīmē šīṭē) contrasts debased currency with the spiritual value of the priesthood, reinforcing Narsai's critique of simony.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܘܼܕܼܫܵܐ ܕܩܘܼܕܼܫܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'Holy of Holies' (qudšā d-qudšē) echoes the biblical inner sanctuary (Exod 26:33–34; 1 Kgs 6:16), here profaned by being sold in the marketplace.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܙܲܒܿܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The repeated use of 'sacrifice' (zabbā) and 'buyer' (zābō‘ā) frames priestly ordination as a commercial transaction, reflecting Narsai's condemnation of simony in the Church of the East.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܵܪܵܐ ܒܘܿܪܹ̈ܐ ... ܐܵܪܵܐ ܚܬܼܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"Two parallel exclamations ('O blind ones' and 'O foolish ones') structure the passage as a rhetorical indictment, each followed by a question on the exchange of spiritual for material.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܹܐܓܼܘܼܪܬܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The metaphor of merchandise (tegūrtā) for spiritual offices parallels earlier Syriac critiques of simony, e.g., in Ephrem's Hymns on the Church (cf. ed:dsc-106).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܲܪ̈ܓܹܐ ܕܥܵܠܡܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'ranks of the world' (dargē d-‘ālmā) is ambiguous: it may refer to ecclesiastical orders or secular hierarchies; the context favors the former, given the preceding critique of priesthood.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ranks of the world' (dargē d-‘ālmā) could denote either ecclesiastical or secular orders; the context of priestly reproof suggests ecclesiastical.","The identity of 'the buyer' (zābō‘ā) is not specified—could be a lay patron or a cleric seeking office."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":12,"ref":"p12","source":":ܠܲܝܬܿ ܡܲܨܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܸܬܼܚܲܒܿܠܵܢܹ̈ܐ\nܐܲܝܟ ܬܲܟܼܬܿܘܼܫܵܐ ܕܲܪܡܸܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܕܲܥܢܼܝܼ̈ܕܼܵܢ ܀ :ܠܵܐ ܥܒ݂ܲܕܼܘ ܩܹܐܪ̈ܣܹܐ ܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ܛܪ̈ܘܼܢܹܐ ܚܲܕܼ ܠܘܼܩܒܲܠ ܚܲܕܼ\nܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܣܥ̣ܵܘ ܥܲܠ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܚܲܪܡ̇ܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܀ :ܚܲܪܡ̇ܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܐܲܩܠܝܼܘ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܥܲܠ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢ ܕܵܫܘ̣ ܠܲܚܕܼܵܕܹ̈ܐ ܒܚܸܪܝܵܝܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܚܸܪܝܵܝܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܕܲܠܚܘܼܗܝ ܠܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܕܲܡܫܲܝܲܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܟܲܬܲܫ ܠܹܠܲܝ ܐܝܼܡܵܡ ܕܠܵܐ ܫܘܼܠܵܡܵܐ ܀ :ܒܦܘܼܠܵܓܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܣܲܕܿܩܘܼܗܝ ܠܢܲܚܬܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܲܣܓܼܝܼ ܒܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܗܲܝܡܵܢ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܢܝܵܢܵܐ ܀ :ܒܚܵܣܘܿܡܘܼܬܼܗܘܿܢ ܐܲܪܡܝܼܘ ܐܲܪܡܝܼܘ ܣܸܕܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܒܹܝܬܼ ܥܹ̈ܕܼܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܦܠܝܼܓܼ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܘܠܵܐ ܐ̇̄ܢܵܫ ܫܵܠܹ̇ܡ ܠܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܀ :ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܓܘܼܫܡܵܐ ܟܢܘܼܫܝܵܐ ܕܟܲܢܸܫ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܒܚܲܫܹܗ\nܘܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܦܲܠܓܼܘܼܗܝ ܠܲܡ̈ܢܵܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܡܲܢ̈ܝܵܢ ܀ :ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܦܲܓܼܪܵܐ ܕܲܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܕܸܒܼܚܵܐ ܚܠܵܦ ܬܲܪܥܘܼܬܲܢ\nܘܛܲܠܩܘܼܗܝ ܣܲܟܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܒܝܲܕܼ ܡܘܼܙܵܓܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܕܼ ܒܲܐ̄ܚܪܹܢܵܐ ܀ :ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܟܝܵܢܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܼܵܘܗܝ ܘܐܝܼܬܼܵܘܗܝ ܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܼܵܘܗܝ\nܘܡܲܙܓܼܘܼܗܝ ܥܲܛܠܹ̈ܐ ܥܲܡ ܬܘܼܩܵܢܵܐ ܕܲܥܒܼܵܕܼ ܐܝܼܕܼܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܀ :ܒܦܲܓܼܪܵܐ ܘܢܲܦܫܵܐ ܓܡܝܼܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܕܸܒܼܚܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܪܩܵܢ ܚܲܝܲܝ̈ܢ\nܘܥܲܒܼ݂ܕܿܘܼܗܝ ܚܲܪ̈ܡܹܐ ܚܲܣܝܼܪ ܢܲܦܫܵܐ ܘܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܗܵܘܢܵܐ ܀ :ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܒܪܵܐ ܕܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܥܲܡ ܝܵܠܘܿܕܹܗ\nܘܣܲܕܩܵܗ̇ ܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܠܗܵܝ̇ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܟܲܕܼ ܠܵܐ ܣܲܕܼܩܵܗ̇ ܀","english":"There is no reproof for the corrupt priests, like the weaver who casts a web upon the looms. The foolish kings did not make treaties one with another, as the priests acted against the priests with enmity. With enmity they persecuted the priesthood, and without shame they trampled one another in their freedom. In their freedom they denied the world that was to come, and behold, it is being stirred up against them, a day without end. In their divisions they sold the foundation of faith, and many faiths without number multiplied in the land. In their insolence they cast down the righteous ones in the churches, and behold, every man is divided and no man completes the word of his companion. One is the hidden body that Christ conceals in his passion, and the priests have divided it into countless parts. One is the body that was a sacrifice for our salvation, and the foolish have destroyed it through the mixture of one with another. One is the nature that is and is not as it is, and the crippled have mixed it with the sign of the work of his hands. In body and soul the sacrifice of the salvation of our life was complete, and the excommunicated, deficient in soul and without substance, have made it. One is the Word, the Son of God, with his begetter, and the insolent one has sold that equality, though he did not sell it.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܲܝܬܿ ܡܲܨܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܩܸܢܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܸܬܼܚܲܒܿܠܵܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The opening line denies the possibility of reproof for corrupt priests, using the metaphor of a weaver casting a web on looms to suggest futility.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܚܲܪܡ̇ܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ","severity":"info","text":"The adverb ܚܲܪܡ̇ܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ (ḥarmāʾīt) means 'with enmity' or 'hostilely,' derived from the root Ḥ-R-M, which can also connote exclusion or anathema. Here it intensifies the priests' adversarial actions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܓܘܼܫܡܵܐ ܟܢܘܼܫܝܵܐ ܕܟܲܢܸܫ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܒܚܲܫܹܗ","severity":"info","text":"The 'hidden body that Christ conceals in his passion' alludes to the Eucharist as the body of Christ, a central theme in Narsai's liturgical homilies. The division of this body by priests echoes controversies over Eucharistic unity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܦܘܼܠܵܓܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܣܲܕܿܩܘܼܗܝ ܠܢܲܚܬܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The selling of the 'foundation of faith' and multiplication of 'many faiths' reflects Narsai's critique of doctrinal fragmentation in the Church of the East, likely referencing post-Ephesus divisions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ... ܘ ...","severity":"info","text":"The passage employs a repetitive anaphoric structure with 'One is the ...' (ܚܲܕܼ ܗ̄ܘ̣) to contrast the unity of Christ's body, nature, and Word with the priests' divisive actions, reinforcing the homiletic theme.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܲܣܓܼܝܼ ܒܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܗܲܝܡܵܢ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܢܝܵܢܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'many faiths without number multiplied in the land' may be hyperbolic, but the Syriac ܗܲܝܡܵܢ̈ܘܵܬܼܵܐ (hāymānwātā) can mean 'beliefs' or 'creeds,' not necessarily distinct religions, so the sense is ambiguous.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the 'foolish kings' (ܡܲܠ̈ܟܹܿܐ ܛܪ̈ܘܼܢܹܐ) is unclear; they may be allegorical or refer to specific rulers. The phrase 'the insolent one has sold that equality' (ܘܣܲܕܩܵܗ̇ ܚܘܼܬܼܪܵܐ ܠܗܵܝ̇ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ) is syntactically difficult; the English draft interprets it as a denial of sale, but the Syriac may imply a failed attempt."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":13,"ref":"p13","source":":ܕܠܵܐ ܣܘܼܝܵܟܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܘܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܚܙܵܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܟܝܵܢ ܐܝܼܬܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܚܲܒܼܫܘܼܗܝ ܦܲܩܪܹ̈ܐ ܒܓܼܵܘ ܗܲܕܵܡܹ̈ܐ ܟܲܕܼ ܠܵܐ ܚܲܒܼ݂ܫܘܼܗܝ ܀ :ܟܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܦܪ̈ܝܼܫܹܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܒܐܝܼܬܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܚܲܕܼ ܦܲܪܨܘܿܦܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܣܬܲܟܿܠܝܼܢ ܥܲܛ̈ܠܲܝ ܠܸܒܵܐ ܙܢܵܐ ܕܲܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܒܹܗ ܀ :ܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܒܹܗ ܐܸܡ̇ܪܹܬܼ ܠܵܘ ܒܲܟܼܝܵܢܵܐ ܐܸܠܵܐ ܒܚܘܼܒܵܐ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܗܵܟܲܢ ܦܪܝܼܫ ܚܲܕܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܐܲܝܟ ܡ̇ܐ ܕܲܦܪܝܼܫ ܀ :ܦܪܝܼܫ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܡܸܬܼܚܲܠܲܛ ܒܲܥܵܒܼ̇ܕܼ ܐܝܼܕܼܵܘ̈ܗܝ\nܘܡ̇ܟܵܐ ܒܪܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܪܲܒܿܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܲܝܠܵܐ ܕܲܒܼܪ̣ܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܒܪܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܒܪܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܟܡܵܐ ܐܸܢ ܬܹܐܪܲܒܼ ܒܝܲܕܼ ܥܸܠ̈ܠܵܬܼܵܗ̇\nܘܐܝܼܬܼܝܵܐ ܐܝܼܬܼܝܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܟܡܵܐ ܐܸܢ ܢܸܙܥܲܪ ܒܲܫܡܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ ܀ :ܒܲܫܡܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ ܙܥܲܪ̣ ܥܵܒܼܘܿܕܼܵܐ ܟܲܕܼܚܵܣ ܕܲܙܥܲܪ̣\nܕܐܵܦ ܗ̤ܝ ܗܵܕܹܐ ܕܲܫܡܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ ܕܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܀ :ܕܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܕܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܥܲܠ ܐܝܼܬܼܝܵܐ ܢܣܝܼܡ ܫܘܼܠܵܦܵܐ\nܘܲܕܼܫܘܼܥܠܵܝܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܕܢܹܐܡܲܪ ܕܲܡܥ݂ܲܪ ܐܵܦܸܢ ܒܲܫܡܵܐ ܀ :ܠܲܝܬܿ ܠܐܝܼܬܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܠܡܸܙܥܲܪ ܡܸܡܬܼܘܿܡ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܹܝܗ̇\nܠܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܘܠܵܐ ܒܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܹܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܟܠ ܟܠܹܗ ܀ :ܝܲܨܪܵܐ ܕܒܼܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܣܥ̣ܵܐ ܠܡܲܙܥܵܪܘܼ ܠܲܟܼܝܵܢ ܟܲܣܝܵܐ\nܘܗܵܕܹܐ ܥܝܵܪܬܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܠܵܐ ܚܲܝܵܒܼ ܐܸܠܵܐ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܟܵܡܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܸܠܘܼ ܒܢܵܘ̣ ܬܲܩܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܚܕܼܵܐ ܬܵܘܕܿܝܼܬܼܵܐ\nܠܵܐ ܒܵܢܹ̇ܝܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܣܲܟܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܥܡܝܼܪܵܐ ܒܒܸܢܝܵܢ ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ ܀ :ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܸܠܘ ܚܢ̣ܵܘ ܙܵܘܥܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܠܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܬܪܝܼܨܵܐ\nܠܵܐ ܫܵܟܹ̇ܝܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܥܲܛܠܲܝ̈ ܠܸܒܵܐ ܡܸܠܹ̈ܐ ܕܨܲܥܪܵܐ ܀","english":"without reproof, and without vision, is the substance of nature. And its members are bound within the limbs, while it is not bound. The natures were distinct in substance, one person, and the eyes of the heart do not perceive the smallness that was in it. I said to you, not in reproach, but in love. And when it is good, thus one is separated from another, as it is separated. The Creator is separate and does not mingle with the work of his hands. And creation is humbled by the greatness of the power that created it. Creation is creation, how could it be increased by its own causes? And being is being, how could it be diminished by a borrowed name? By a borrowed name the worker is diminished, as it is fitting that it be diminished, for this too, the borrowed name, is of arrogance. It is of arrogance that it afflicts being, and a confusion is set, and it is of foolishness that it says that it will return again by a name. There is nothing for substance to be diminished from what it is, neither by borrowing nor by actions, nor at all. The fashioner of evils sought to diminish the hidden reproach, and this affliction does not condemn the priests. The priests, if they had stood firmly in one confession, the foolish ones dwelling in the house of truth would not have desired. The priests, if they had seen their movements towards the straight path, the eyes of the heart would not have been filled with words of anger.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܝܼܬܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܐܝܼܬܼܘܼܬܼܵܐ (īṯūṯā) is rendered as 'substance' or 'being', a key ontological term in Syriac theological discourse, often denoting the underlying reality or essence.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܝܵܢ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܟܝܵܢ (kyān) means 'nature', here contrasted with 'substance' (īṯūṯā) to articulate a distinction between the created order and its divine source.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects Narsai's engagement with Christological debates, particularly the distinction between nature and substance, which was central to Antiochene theology and the condemnation of Nestorianism.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a critique of priestly corruption to a metaphysical reflection on the inalterability of substance, using a series of rhetorical questions to emphasize the futility of diminishing being.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase ܒܲܫܡܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ (bašmā šəʾīlā) is translated as 'by a borrowed name', but the Syriac could also imply 'by a name that is asked for' or 'a requested name', introducing ambiguity about the nature of the borrowing.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai's works were transmitted in the East Syriac tradition and later edited in the 20th century, with this passage reflecting his characteristic blend of ascetic reproof and theological speculation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac phrase ܒܲܫܡܵܐ ܫܐܝܼܠܵܐ may be read as 'by a borrowed name' or 'by a name that is asked for', with implications for the agency of the naming.","The referent of 'it' in 'it is not bound' is ambiguous, possibly referring to substance or nature."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":14,"ref":"p14","source":":ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܸܠܘܼ ܪܚܸܡ̣ܘ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܓܼܘܼܫܡܵܐ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ\nܠܵܐ ܢܵܒܼܥ̇ܝܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܣܸܕܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܦܠܝܼܓܹ̈ܐ ܒܓܼܵܘ ܥܹ̈ܕܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܸܠܘܼ ܗܪܲܓܼ ܪܸܥܝܵܢܗܘܿܢ ܒܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ:\nܠܵܐ ܦܵܟܲ̇ܗ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܕܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܲܥܬܼܝܼ̈ܕܼܵܢ ܀ :ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܘ ܠܲܢ ܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܡ̇ܘܬܵܐ\nܘܐܸܠܘܼ ܩܵܘܝܘܼ ܒܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܛܘܼܒܼ ܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܠܓܸܢܣܲܢ ܀ :ܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܡ̇ܘܬܵܐ ܥܸܠܒܲܬ̤ ܗܵܫ̇ܐ ܒܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܥܗܘܿܢ\nܘܗܵܐ ܚܦܝܼܛ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܠܡܸܩܛܲܠ ܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܕܠܵܐ ܚܵܘܣܵܢܵܐ ܀ :ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ ܝܼܠܸܦܘ ܐ̄̈ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܡܸܚܣܲܡ ܒܲܒܼܢܲܝ̈ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܠܒܼܝܼܫ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܛܢܵܢܵܐ ܕܪܘܼܓܼܙܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܩܲܪܝܼܒܹܗ ܀ :ܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܫܲܪܝܼܘ ܒܝܲܕܼ ܬܲܒܼܥ̈ܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܥܝܵܪ݁ܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܠܚܝܼܡ ܟܠܢܵܫ ܠܡܸܬܼܒܲܥ ܥܝܵܪܬܼܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܲܪ ܙܵܘܓܹܿܗ ܀ :ܗܸܢܘ̣ܿܢ ܕܵܘܸܕܼܘ ܛܲܟܼܣܹ̈ܐ ܬܲܩܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܪܵܕܹܝܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܘ ܒܲܢ\nܘܗܵܐ ܒܠܝܼܠ ܥܘܼܡܪܲܢ ܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܒܲܢ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܕܼܵܡܹ̇ܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܀ :ܠܗܘܿܢ ܙܵܕܹܩ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܕܲܢܚܲܟܿܡܘܼܢܵܗ̇ ܠܫܲܒܼܪܘܼܬܼ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܢܲܩܢܘܿܢ ܛܲܥܡܵܐ ܠܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܛܲܥܡܵܐ ܒܝܲܕܼ ܡܸܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܠܗܘܿܢ ܘܵܠܹ̇ܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܠܡܸܪܕܵܐ ܫܲܦܝܼܪ ܠܘܲܥܕܵܐ ܕܲܠܗܲܠ\nܘܲܒܼܥܲܡܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܠܲܡܚܵܘܵܝܹܘ ܫܒܼܝܼܠ ܡܲܠܟܿܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܡܲܠܟܿܘܼܬܼ ܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܡ̣ܠܲܟ ܒܵܪܘܿܝܵܐ ܠܲܟܼܝܵܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܣܵܓܼܘܼܗ̇ ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܠܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܪܵܡ̇ܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܪܵܕܹܐ ܀ :ܒܛ̣ܠܘ ܚܵܙܘܿܩܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܡܲܪܕܲܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܫܲܦܝܼܪ݁ܵܬܼܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܚܵܙܹ̇ܩ ܒܲܫܒܼܝܼܠ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀","english":"If the priests had loved the equality of the body of Christ,\nthe righteous ones would not be divided within the churches. If the priests had considered the thoughts of spiritual things,\nthe love of man would not have laughed at the future things. The priests are the cause of life and the cause of death,\nand if they had remained in the order of life, it would have been good for the race. The cause of death is now manifest in their actions,\nand behold, each one is eager to kill his companion without mercy. From them men learned to shut the doors,\nand behold, each one wears the garment of wrath against his neighbor. From them began the pursuits of the watches,\nand behold, each one is bound to pursue the watch from his partner. From them they established the orders of the canons that were to be observed,\nand behold, our community is confused, and there is in it no order that resembles man. It was fitting for them to teach wisdom to the childhood of man,\nand to establish taste for the tasteless by means of their words. It was necessary for them to guide well to the promise of the world to come,\nand by their labors to show the way of the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven rules over the rational man,\nand the priests have closed the way of heaven, and no man walks. The travelers have ceased from the discipline of the beautiful things,\nand no man travels on the path of the hope of faith.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ (kāhnē) means 'priests' and is the subject of the passage. Narsai uses it to address the clergy directly, consistent with the work's genre of reproof.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects Narsai's critique of clerical division and moral failure, likely responding to ecclesiastical conflicts in the Church of the East during the 5th–6th centuries. The reference to 'canons' (ܛܲܟܼܣܹ̈ܐ ܬܲܩܢܹ̈ܐ) suggests liturgical or disciplinary orders that have fallen into disarray.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage is structured as a series of conditional and declarative statements contrasting an ideal past with a corrupt present. Each unit begins with 'If the priests had...' (ܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܸܠܘܼ) or 'From them...' (ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ), building a cumulative indictment.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܲܠܟܿܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'kingdom of heaven' (ܡܲܠܟܿܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ) echoes New Testament usage, particularly Matthew's Gospel (e.g., Matt 3:2; 4:17), where it denotes the eschatological reign of God. Narsai contrasts this ideal with the clergy's failure to guide the faithful.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The motif of priests as 'cause of life and cause of death' (ܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܥܸܠܲܬܼ ܡ̇ܘܬܵܐ) parallels Narsai's homiletic style elsewhere, where he attributes both salvific and destructive agency to the clergy. This dual role is a recurring theme in his reproofs.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The English draft translates ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܓܼܘܼܫܡܵܐ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ as 'equality of the body of Christ,' but the Syriac could also be read as 'the equality of the body of Christ' in a sacramental or ecclesiological sense. The precise referent—whether eucharistic or ecclesial—is ambiguous.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'equality of the body of Christ' (ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܓܼܘܼܫܡܵܐ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ) may refer to eucharistic unity or to the ideal of clerical equality; the text does not disambiguate. The reading taken is ecclesiological, consistent with the reproof context."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":15,"ref":"p15","source":":ܘܐܸܢ ܐܝܼܬܼ ܕܚܵܙܹ̇ܩ ܐܵܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܐܵܘ ܒܲܟܼܝܵܢܵܐ\nܠܵܐ ܡܲܪܦܸܐ ܠܹܗ ܩܹܐܪܣܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܠܡܸܪܕܼܵܐ ܫܲܦܝܼܪ ܀ :ܩܸܢܛܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܕܬܲܟܼܬܿܘܼܫܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܪܡܸܐ ܥܲܠ ܟܠܢܵܫ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܕܲܡܗܲܝܡܸܢ ܘܐܵܦܠܵܐ ܠܐܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܫܲܪܝܼܪ ܚܘܼܒܹܿܗ ܀ :ܒܹܝܬܼ ܦܘܼܠܵܓܼܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܫܲܘܝܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܪܡܸܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܟܠܢܵܫ\nܘܠܲܝܬܿ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܥܲܠ ܚܲܒܼܪܹܗ ܐܵܦܠܵܐ ܒܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܐܸܢ ܐܝܼܬܼ ܕܲܬܼܟܼܝܼܠ ܗܘ̤ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܹܗ ܠܵܘ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣\nܕܲܨܠܹܝܢ ܦܲܚܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܓܼܒܿܝܼ̈ܢ ܩܕܼܵܡ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܹܗ ܀ :ܒܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܨܵܝ̇ܕܲܝܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܒܼܦܲܚܹ̈ܐ\nܘܛܵܟ ܥܵܗܹ̇ܢ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܫܸܬܼܩܵܐ ܘܫܸܠܝܵܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܥܸܢܝܵܢܐ ܀ :ܡܸܠܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܐܵܬܼܵܐ ܕܲܡܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܼ ܒܲܟܼܝܵܢܲܢ\nܘܡ̇ܢܵܐ ܢܸܥܒܸܿܕܼ ܕܲܟܼܠܵܗ̇ ܚܣܵܡܵܐ ܠܣܵܥܘܿܪܘܼܬܼܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܚܣܵܡܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܙܩܝܼܦ ܐܲܝܟ ܐܲܪܝܵܐ ܒܲܥܪܝܼܪܵܝܵܐ\nܘܗܵܐ ܡܢܲܟܸܿܬܼ ܠܵܗ̇ ܠܲܡܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܒܢܝܼܒܼܵܐ ܕܪܘܼܓܼܙܵܐ ܀ :ܢܝܼܒܹ̈ܐ ܕܚܲܝܘܬܼܵܐ ܩܢܵܬ̤ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܡ̇ܫܚܲܬܼ ܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ\nܘܫܲܪܝܲܬ̤ ܢܵܟܼܬܵܐ ܘܒܼܵܥ̇ܛܵܐ ܠܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܒܘܼܝܵܢܵܐ ܀ ܒܵܗ̇ ܐܲܣܝܼܪ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܐ̄̈ܢܵܫܵܐ ܘܲܕܼܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܹܐ:\nܘܗܵܐ ܕܲܚܝܼܠܝܼܢ ܥܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܘܐ̄ܢܵܫܵܐ ܠܡܸܩܪܲܒܼ ܨܹܐܕܹܝܗ̇ ܀ :ܓܘܼܢܚܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܗܘ̤ܵܐ ܒܹܗ ܒܕܼܵܪܲܢ ܡܠܸܐ ܚܵܘ̈ܒܵܬܼܵܐ\nܕܡ̣ܢ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܵܗ̇ ܢܒ݂ܲܥ ܠܲܢ ܩܸܢܛܵܐ ܘܲܦܣܵܩ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܀ :ܥܲܠ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܣܝܼܡ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܢ ܘܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܲܢ\nܘܗܵܐ ܢܸܦܠܲܬ̤ ܠܵܗ̇ ܘܲܢܦ݂ܲܠ ܥܲܡܵܗ̇ ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢ ܢܲܦܫܵܢ ܀","english":"If there is one who is zealous from love or from a just cause, he does not let go of the rope of the priests for a good reproof. A great calamity of their faults has fallen upon everyone, and there is none who believes, nor even one whose love is true. In the house of division without equality, a calamity has fallen upon everyone, and there is no trust of a man in his companion, not even in word. If there is one who trusts, his trust is not the trust that sets snares from all sides before his trust. In word, men hunt men like snares, and silence and quiet would be better than disturbance. The word is the sign of eloquence that is in the just cause, and when will it be done that all reproof is for its correction? The reproof of the priests is set like a fierce lion, and behold, it humbles eloquence with the evil of wrath. The evils of the beast have corrupted the priesthood, have defiled man, and have begun to cause error and confusion to man without remedy. In it, the peace of men and of ranks was bound, and behold, the watchers and men are afraid to approach it. A great tumult was in this generation full of sins, which from its trust sought a calamity for us and cut off hope. Upon the priesthood were placed hopes and faiths, and behold, it has fallen and with it has fallen the trust itself.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܹܐܪܣܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term qērsā (rope) is used metaphorically for the bond or connection between priests and their duty of reproof. The image of a rope suggests both a tether and a tool for guidance.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܘܼܟܼܠܵܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word tūkālānā (trust) appears repeatedly, contrasting true trust with the false trust that sets snares. Narsai plays on the ambiguity of trust as both faith and misplaced confidence.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai’s critique of clerical corruption reflects the late 5th-century context of ecclesiastical infighting in the Church of the East, where divisions over Christology and authority were acute.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a conditional opening (If there is one who is zealous) to a series of declarative statements on the collapse of trust and the failure of priestly reproof, building to a climax of fallen hopes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai’s homilies on clerical reform were transmitted in the East Syriac tradition and used in monastic settings as admonitory texts, though this specific passage is less frequently cited in later commentaries.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'rope of the priests' may be a fixed idiom or a creative metaphor; the exact referent of the 'snares' (ܦܲܚܹ̈ܐ) is ambiguous—whether literal traps or rhetorical devices.","The identity of 'the watchers' (ܥܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ) is unclear: they could be angels, monastic overseers, or a class of clergy."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":16,"ref":"p16","source":":ܐܲܝܟ ܫܲܬܸܐܣܬܼܵܐ ܛܥܝܼܢܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܠܹܗ ܠܒܸܢܝܵܢ ܚܲܝܲܝ̈ܢ\nܘܲܢܫ݂ܲܒܼ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܹܐ ܕܲܪ̈ܓܼܝܼܓܼܵܬܼܵܐ ܘܙܵܥܲܬ̤ ܢܵܕܲܬ̤ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܟܵܗܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܙܵܥܲܬ̤ ܘܢܵܕܲܬ̤ ܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܐܸܡܪܹܬܼ\nܟܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܦܲܝܵܐ ܙܵܥܘ̣ ܡ̣ܢ ܩܵܠܵܐ ܕܪܘܼܚ ܚܘܼܬܼܚܵܬܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܗܝ̤ ܙܵܥܲܬ̤ ܒܐܲܝܠܹܝܢ ܕܲܬܼܢܹܝܬܼ ܥܲܠ ܫܲܡܵܫܹ̈ܝܗ̇\nܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܙܥܲܪܘ ܘܐܸܬܼܒܲܨܲܪܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܘܵܠܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܗܝ̤ ܕܠܲܚܬܼܵܗ̇ ܠܡܸܠܲܬܼ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܕܫܲܪܝܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ܵܐ ܒܵܗ̇\nܒܢܲܝ̈ ܝܲܡܝܼܢܵܗ̇ ܠܵܐ ܨܒܼܵܘ ܩܵܘܝܘܼ ܒܒܸܢܝܵܢ ܚܘܼܒܵܗ̇ ܀ :ܠܵܘ ܗܝ̤ ܫܵܛܲܬ̤ ܠܝܲܩܝܼܪܘܼܬܼܵܗ̇ ܩܕܼܵܡ ܒܲܪ̈ܲܝܹܐ\nܢܵܛܪܲܝ ܓܼܙܵܗ̇ ܦܲܣܝܼܘ ܐ̄ܪܵܘܵܗ̇ ܒܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܫܝܼܛܘܼܬܼ ܐ̄ܪ̈ܵܙܹܝܗ̇ ܚܙܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܟܲܕܼ ܬܵܢܹ̇ܐ ܦܘܼܡ̇ܐ ܕܣܲܟܼܠܹ̈ܐ\nܘܐܲܚܢܝ ܬܲܗܪܵܐ ܕܡܲܢܘܼ ܠܡܲܢ̣ܘܼ ܡܨܲܚܸܐ ܒܓܼܘܼܡܕܸܵܐ ܀ :ܥܝܵܪܬܵܐ ܕܨܲܥܪܵܗ̇ ܒܥܹ̇̄ܝܬܼ ܕܐܸܬܼܢܲܩܲܡ ܒܝܲܕܼ ܦܸܬܼܓܼܵܡܲܝ̈\nܡ̣ܢ ܡܲܪ̈ܵܚܹܐ ܕܫܵܛܘ̣ ܚܹܐܪܘܼܬܼܵܗ̇ ܘܨܲܥܲܪܘ ܕܲܪ̈ܓܹܝܗ̇ ܀ :ܒܪܲܒܿܘܼܬܼ ܕܲܪ̈ܚܹܝܗ̇ ܚܙܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܟܲܕܼ ܡܲܗܠܝܼܢ ܥܲܛܠܲܝ̈ ܠܸܒܵܐ\nܘܛܸܢܹ̇ܬܼ ܣܲܓܿܝܼ ܕܐܵܘܠܸܕܼ ܡܸܠܹ݁̈ܐ ܕܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܡܲܪܵܚܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܝܼ ܕܐ̄̈ܢܵܫ ܢܸܬܼܥܲܕܲܠ ܒܪܲܒܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ\nܘܐܸܢܵܐ ܕܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ ܠܵܐ ܛܲܥܝܵܐ ܠܝܼ ܕܐܲܝܟܲܢ ܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ ܀ :ܛܢܵܢܵܐ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܥܨ̣ܵܢܝ ܕܐܸܬܼܥܲܕܲܠ ܒܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ\nܕܲܫܒܲܩ̣ܘ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬܼܵܐ ܘܲܕܼܪܲܫܘ̣ ܙܹܐܦܵܐ ܀ :ܠܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܕܲܕܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣ ܥܸܕܼܠܲܬ̤ ܡܸܠܲܬܼܝ\nܘܟܲܕܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ ܠܵܐ ܫܵܐܹ̇ܛ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܠܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܲܒܼܗܘܿܢ ܀","english":"like a foundation that has gone astray, the building of life became for him,\nand he loosed the spirits of the orders and shook the custom. It is not the priesthood that shook and disturbed, as I said;\nthe negligent priests shook from the voice of the spirit of the mysteries. It is not the shaking among those whom I accused of the deacons;\ntheir minds became small and were cut off from the duty. It is not the pressing of the word of the peace that was established in her;\nthe sons of her right hand did not wish to confirm the building of her love. It is not the disturbance of her honor before strangers;\nthe guardians of her treasure became weak, her air in their deeds. I saw the folly of her mysteries when the mouth of fools was open,\nand they hid the window of the entrance to the entrance, which shines in the darkness. I sought the watchfulness of her hair, that it might be set by her words,\nfrom the wanderers who disturbed her freedom and diminished her orders. In the multitude of her limbs, I saw how the deceivers of the heart delight,\nand much dust that gives birth to words of wandering. Wandering is that which is adorned with greatness,\nand I do not know how the church is adorned. The error of the priests is difficult to be adorned in their deeds,\nfor they left the way of faith and followed after filth. My word is adorned for their lawless deeds,\nand when it is well adorned, it does not reach the order that is in them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"like a foundation that has gone astray, the building of life became for him","severity":"info","text":"The opening metaphor compares the priesthood to a misaligned foundation, causing the entire edifice of spiritual life to collapse. This continues the passage's critique of clerical negligence.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܪ̈ܘܼܚܹܐ ܕܲܪ̈ܓܼܝܼܓܼܵܬܼܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'spirits of the orders' likely refers to the spiritual ranks or hierarchical orders within the church, which the negligent priests have disrupted.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"It is not the priesthood that shook and disturbed... It is not the shaking among those whom I accused of the deacons...","severity":"info","text":"The passage uses a series of negations ('It is not...') to distinguish the true source of disorder from the priesthood and deacons themselves, pointing instead to the negligent priests and their failure.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"the sons of her right hand","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'sons of her right hand' is a Syriac idiom for the clergy or those in positions of authority within the church, likely the higher-ranking priests.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"I saw the folly of her mysteries when the mouth of fools was open","severity":"info","text":"This imagery of fools revealing sacred mysteries parallels Narsai's earlier warnings in the work about the laity or unworthy clergy exposing church secrets, a common theme in Syriac reproof literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"I do not know how the church is adorned","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'I do not know' may indicate rhetorical modesty or genuine perplexity. The Syriac ܠܵܐ ܛܲܥܝܵܐ ܠܝܼ could also be read as 'I am not mistaken,' but the context of confusion supports the translation as given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'him' in the first line is ambiguous; it may refer to a specific negligent priest or a generic figure. The reading taken follows the context of the previous passage, where a zealous person is contrasted with the negligent.","The phrase 'her air' (ܐ̄ܪܵܘܵܗ̇) is obscure; it may be a metaphor for the church's spiritual vitality or reputation."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":17,"ref":"p17","source":":ܠܵܘ ܒܲܚܣܵܡܵܐ ܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܐܲܟܼܡܵܐ ܕܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ\nܘܠܵܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܒܝܼܫܘܼ ܐܸܟܼܠܹ̇̄ܬܼ ܩܲܪܨܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܩܘܼܫܬܵܐ ܣܵܗܹ̇ܕܼ ܕܠܵܐ ܣܢܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܘܠܵܐ ܣܵܢܹ̇ܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ\nܠܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܕܲܒܼܗܘܿܢ ܣܢܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܕܐܲܪܡܝܼ ܠܲܢ ܗܸܪܬܼܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܬܵܐ ܀ :ܪܚܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܠܝܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܡܸܛܠ ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܣܝܼܡ ܒܐܝܼܕܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ\nܘܲܣܢܹܝܢ ܠܝܼ ܛܵܒܼ ܡܸܛܠ ܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܕܐܲܪܡܝܼܘ ܒܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܀ :ܪܵܚܹ̇ܡ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܡܸܛܠ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܘܡܸܛܠ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ\nܘܣܵܢܹ̇ܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܡܸܛܠ ܥܵܘ̣ܠܵܐ ܘܡܲܣܲܒܼ ܒܐܲܦܹ̈ܿܐ ܀ ܠܵܐ ܡ̇ܠܹܝܢ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܕܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܢܸܫܬܲܥܠܸܐ ܥܲܠ ܕܲܪ̈ܓܲܝܗܘܿܢ:\nܕܠܵܐ ܢܸܬܿܬܿܫܝܼܛܘܼܢ ܟܡܵܐ ܐܸܢ ܒܝܼܫܝܼܢ ܕܘܼܒܵܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܕܲܦܠܸܐ ܢܸܦܪܘܿܥ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܚܸܘܒܲܬܼ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ\nܘܐܸܢ ܠܵܐ ܫܵܘܹ̇ܝܢ ܚܢܲܢ ܠܵܐ ܢܸܛܠܘܿܡ ܐܲܝܕܵܐ ܕܦܲܐܝܵܐ ܀ :ܪܲܒܵܐ ܕܪ̈ܲܒܹܿܐ ܣܵܡ̣ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܕܲܪ̈ܓܼܝܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܡܲܦܲܣ ܠܲܢ ܠܲܡܫܵܛ ܛܲܟܼܣܵܐ ܕܩܵܢܘܿܢܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܠܕܼܘܼܒܵܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܕܲܕܼܠܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܼܣ ܢܫܘܼܛ ܫܵܝܘܿܛܵܐ\nܟܲܕܼ ܠܵܐ ܡܲܗܡܸܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܘܵܠܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܦܲܐܝܵܐ ܠܫܸܡܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܫܡܵܐ ܝܲܩܝܼܪܵܐ ܕܥܸܠܵܝ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܣܝܼܡ ܥܲܠ ܪܹܫܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܙܵܕܹܩ ܠܲܢ ܕܲܢܫܘܼܛ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܐܲܝܟ ܕܲܠܒܼܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܀ :ܩܠܝܼܕܹ̈ܐ ܕܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ ܠܒܼܝܼܟܼܝܼܢ ܒܐܝܼܕܼܵܐ ܕܪܸ̈ܥܝܵܢܲܝܗܘܿܢ\nܘܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܥܵܐܹ̇ܠ ܠܗܵܘ̇ ܬܘܼܩܵܢܵܐ ܒܸܠܥܵܕܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܀ :ܒܗܵܕܹܐ ܬܸܢܘܲܝ ܢܝܲܩܲܪ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܚܘܼܒܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ\nܐܲܝܟ ܓܹܐܙܲܒܼܪܹ̈ܐ ܘܢܵܛܪ̈ܲܝ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܕܪ̈ܘܼܚܵܢܝܵܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܒܗܵܢܵܐ ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܫܸܬܼܩܹ̇ܬܼ ܐܵܦ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܩܘܼܛܪܵܓܼܗܘܿܢ\nܕܠܵܐ ܐ̄ܢܵܫ ܢܸܣܥܸܐ ܠܲܡܒܲܙܵܚܘܼ ܒܫܸܢܗܘܿܢ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܀","english":"Not out of envy do I speak against you, nor from malice do I bite the heel of your deeds. Truth bears witness that I have not spoken against you, nor do I hate you. Against the injustice that you have committed, I have spoken, that it might cast upon you an evil inheritance. I love you because of the rank that is placed in your hands, and I hate you because of the injustice that you have cast upon the earth. I love you because of the bond of the order, and I hate you because of the injustice, and I take it upon your face. I do not say that a man should be disturbed concerning your ranks, that you should not be disgraced, however evil your conduct may be. By the bond of the mystery, I will repay you the debt of the bond; and if you are not worthy, I will not wrong whichever side is fitting. The great one of the great ones has placed a canon upon your ranks, and he does not permit us to loosen the order of your canons. For your conduct that is without law, a scourge shall scourge, while it does not spare from the duty that is fitting for your name. The heavy name that is above all is placed upon your head, and it is not right for us to speak against you as against the laity. The keys of height are entrusted to the hand of your minds, and no man enters that door apart from you. In this, you shall bear honor as a bond, like treasurers and keepers of the bond of the spiritualities. In this matter, I also have kept silence from your reproach, that no man might be able to mock your great name.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܲܪܨܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܩܲܪܨܵܐ (qarṣā) literally means 'heel' but idiomatically denotes 'backbiting' or 'slander'. Narsai uses the physical image to reject malicious gossip against the clergy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ (qānoʿā) is a Greek loanword (κανών) meaning 'canon' or 'rule'. Here it refers to ecclesiastical regulations imposed by a superior authority, likely a bishop or synod.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The 'keys of height' (ܩܠܝܼܕܹ̈ܐ ܕܪܵܘܡ̇ܐ) allude to priestly authority over the mysteries, especially the Eucharist. Narsai draws on a common Syriac trope of clergy as gatekeepers of the sanctuary.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from direct accusation to a nuanced defense: Narsai distinguishes his critique of clerical misconduct from any attack on the sacerdotal office itself, a rhetorical move typical of his homilies on clergy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The pairing of love for the rank and hatred for the injustice echoes a topos found in earlier Syriac writers such as Ephrem, who similarly separate the person from the office in moral rebuke.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'I take it upon your face' (ܘܡܲܣܲܒ ܒܐܲܦܹ̈ܿܐ) is ambiguous: it may mean 'I confront you openly' or 'I accept (the burden) on your behalf'. The context of rebuke favors the former.","The identity of 'the great one of the great ones' (ܪܲܒܵܐ ܕܪ̈ܲܒܹܿܐ) is unspecified; it could refer to Christ, a bishop, or a synodal authority. Narsai leaves the referent deliberately vague."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":18,"ref":"p18","source":":ܐܵܦܠܵܐ ܩܘܼܛܪܵܓܼܝ ܗܘ̤ ܩܘܼܛܪܵܓܼܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܕܡܟܹܠܩܲܨܵܐ\nܐܸܠܵܐ ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܗ̄ܘ̣ ܕܲܡܠܸܐ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܘܣܵܗܹ̇ܕܼ ܚܘܼܒܠܵܐ ܀ :ܚܘܼܒܵܬ ܣܵܗܹ̇ܕܼ ܕܚܘܼܒܵܢܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܥܸܕܼܠܹ̇ܬܼ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ\nܘܗܘ̤ ܐܲܦܸܣ ܠܝܼ ܕܐܹܕܿܘܼܢ ܥܲܡܗܘܿܢ ܡ̣ܢ ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܀ :ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐܝܼܬܼ ܕܵܢܹ̇ܬܼ ܥܲܡܗܘܿܢ ܕܟܼܵܗܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܥܹܕܿܬܵܐ\nܕܲܚܙܹ̇ܝܬܼ ܕܲܣܛ̣ܵܘ ܡ̣ܢ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܝܵܐ ܀ :ܒܲܫܒܼܝܼܠ ܡܸܠܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܚܸܙܩܲܬ̤ ܡܸܠܲܬܼܝ ܡ̣ܢ ܫܘܼܪܵܝܵܐ\nܘܠܵܐ ܦܵܐܹ̇ܫ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܕܐܹܬܿܢܹܝܘܗܝ ܥܕܲܡ̇ܐ ܠܚܲܪܬܼܵܐ ܀ :ܠܘܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܘܼܒܹܿܗ ܗܢܵܬ̤ ܠܝܼ ܣܲܓܿܝܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܟܠ ܡܸܕܹܿܡ\nܘܚܵܣ ܠܝܼ ܕܐܸܛܥܹܝܘܗܝ ܘܐܲܗܡܸܐ ܘܐܸܫܬܿܘܿܩ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܸܢܝܵܢܹܗ ܀","english":"Nor is it a quarrel that I quarrel, one that is full of bitterness, but it is a fire that is full of love and bears witness to destruction. The love bears witness that I have spoken justly with you, and it has compelled me to go with you according to its laws. Lawfully I have gone with you, O priests of the Church, because I have seen that you have deviated from the canonical law. On account of its words, I have strengthened my speech from the beginning, and I will not cease from that which I have begun until the end. The garment of its love has covered me more than anything, and it grieves me that I have begun and have become weary and have kept silent from its correction.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܢܝܼܫܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac word ܢܝܼܫܵܐ (nūrā) means 'fire'. Narsai uses it metaphorically to contrast with 'quarrel' (ܩܘܼܛܪܵܓܼܵܐ), presenting his reproof as a purifying, love-filled force rather than a bitter dispute.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܘܼܒܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܚܘܼܒܵܐ (ḥubbā) means 'love'. Here it is the motivating principle behind Narsai's speech, distinct from personal enmity. The phrase 'fire full of love' (ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܕܲܡܠܸܐ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ) underscores the paradox of corrective affection.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐ (nāmōsā) is a Greek loanword (νόμος) meaning 'law'. In this passage it appears in the compound 'canonical law' (ܢܵܡܘܿܣܵܐ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܐ), referring to ecclesiastical regulations from which the priests have deviated.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the work with a chiastic structure: Narsai began with a declaration of love (not envy), and ends by reaffirming that love (the 'garment of its love') compels him to speak, even as he wearies. The final line echoes the opening theme of reluctant correction.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Narsai (d. ca. 500) was a prominent theologian of the Church of the East. This work, 'On Reproof of the Clergy', reflects his concern for clerical discipline and adherence to canon law, a theme common in late antique Syriac homiletic literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܸܫܬܿܘܿܩ","severity":"caution","text":"The verb ܐܸܫܬܿܘܿܩ (eštōq) is the Ethpe'el perfect of ܫܬܩ, 'to be silent'. The reading is clear, but the sense is ambiguous: Narsai may mean he has fallen silent from weariness, or that he has refrained from further correction. The context suggests the former, as he laments his own failure.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-106","label":"source edition: On Reproof of the Clergy","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/106"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'garment of its love' (ܠܘܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܕܚܘܼܒܹܿܗ) could be read as a metaphor for divine or ecclesial protection; the referent of 'its' (the love or the law) is ambiguous. The translation takes it as the love that motivates Narsai.","The final clause 'I have kept silent from its correction' (ܐܸܫܬܿܘܿܩ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܸܢܝܵܢܹܗ) may imply either that Narsai ceased correcting the clergy or that he stopped speaking altogether; the former is more likely given the context of reproof."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]}]}