Liber de Divinis Scripturis sive Speculum quod fertur S. Augustini

I. On the One God. In Deuteronomy: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is one God." And: "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength." Likewise there: "The Lord alone led them, and there was no foreign god with them." Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: "No one is good except the one God." Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments and unsearchable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who was His counselor? Or who first gave to Him, and will it be rendered to Him? Since all things are from Him and through Him and in Him are all things. Glory to Him forever." Likewise to the Corinthians: "We know that an idol is nothing and that no one is God except the one." Likewise to the Galatians: "What then is the law? It was placed as a grace of deeds, until the seed should come, to which it was promised, arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator. But a mediator of one is not, and God is truly one." Likewise to Timothy: "For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.

II. On the Distinction of the Persons of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Genesis: And God said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it divide between water and water. And it was done so. And God made the firmament. Likewise there: And God said: Let us make man in our image and likeness. And God made man; He made him in the image of God. Likewise there: Whoever shall have shed the blood of a man, for that blood the soul of that man shall be poured out, because I made man in the image of God. Likewise there: And the angel of the Lord said to her: Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah, whence come you? and whither go you? And she said: I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarah. But the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to your mistress and humble yourself under her hands. And the angel of the Lord said to her: I will fill and refill your seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude, because the Lord has heard your humility. And she named the name of God who was speaking to her: You are God who looked upon me. Likewise there: And when the sun had risen over the earth and Lot had entered Zoar, the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from heaven from the Lord. Likewise there: And the angel of the Lord said to me in Jebus: Jacob. And I said: What is it? And he said: I have seen how much trouble he has caused you. I am God who appeared to you in the place where you anointed a stone for me and vowed to me there a vow. Likewise there: And Abraham called the angel of the Lord from heaven and said: Abraham, Abraham. And he said: Here I am.

and he said to him: Do not lay your hand upon the boy, nor do anything to him; now that I have known that you fear the Lord and did not spare your most beloved son for my sake. Likewise there: And the angel wrestled with Jacob until morning, and he saw that he could not prevail against him; and he touched the breadth of his thigh, and the breadth of Jacob’s thigh became lame while he wrestled with him. And he said to him: Let me go, for the dawn is rising. And Jacob said: I will not let you go unless you bless me. And he said to him: What is your name? And he said: Jacob. And he said to him: Your name shall not be Jacob, but Israel shall be your name, because you have prevailed with God, and you will be made mighty among men. Jacob questioned him and said: Tell me your name. And he said: Why do you ask my name? It is wondrous. And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of that place the Vision of God. For I saw God face to face, and my soul was saved. Likewise there: And God said to Jacob: Arise and go up to the place Bethel and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of your brother Esau. Likewise in Numbers: There will be no labor in Jacob, nor will sorrow be seen in Israel. The Lord God is with him, and that glorious beginning is with him. Likewise in the Book of Judges: Now it happened, while Gideon was still in his father’s winepress.

his son, Heshdri, the Lord spoke to him that night, saying: Take two calves, one from your father’s herd and another of seven years, and go overturn the altar of Baal which your father built, and cut down the grove that is upon it, and you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, which is set for you on the summit of Maoch in order. Likewise there: And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord: What is your name, so that when your word comes, we may honor you? And the angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name? And that is wonderful. Likewise in Psalm 32: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made firm, and by the breath of his mouth all their power. Likewise there: Because he spoke and they were made, he commanded and they were created. Likewise in Psalm 44: Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: your scepter is straight, the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness before your companions.

Likewise in Psalm 109: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, and I will cast your enemies beneath your feet. Likewise in the Proverbs of Solomon: The Lord raised me up at the beginning of his ways in his works, and before the age he founded me; before he made the earth and before he established the abysses, before he brought forth the springs of waters, before the mountains were set in place, before all the hills he begot me. The Lord made the regions and the deserts and the summits that are inhabited under the sky. When he prepared the sky, I was with him. And when he set apart his seat: when he made strong winds on high in the clouds and placed stable foundations under the sky, and when he made the foundations of the earth most firm, I was with him, arranging. Likewise there: Who holds the ends of the earth? What is his name? Or what is the name of his son? Likewise in the Book of Wisdom: For it is the radiance of eternal light and the spotless mirror of the majesty of God and the image of his goodness; and though it is one, it can do all things; and remaining in itself, it does all things.

renews. Likewise there: God of parents and Lord of your mercy, who made all things by your word and established man by your wisdom. Likewise there: And with you is wisdom, which knows your works, and which was also present when you were making the orb of the earth. Likewise there: This one, who was first formed, the father of the orb of the earth, when he alone was created, preserved him and led him out of the slime of the earth, and gave him the power of containing all things. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, firstborn before every creature: I caused the undying light to arise in the heavens. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Draw near to me and hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning, nor in a dark place of the earth. When it was happening, I was there. And now the Lord has sent me and his spirit. Likewise in the prophet Hosea: But I will have mercy on the sons of Judah and will save them in the Lord their God. Likewise in the book of the prophet Zechariah: Flee into Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus says the Almighty Lord: After the honor, he sent me against the nations that have plundered you, because whoever touches you is as one who touches the pupil of his own eye. Behold, I will lay my hand upon them, and they will become prey for those who serve them, and they will know that the Almighty Lord has sent me. Likewise there: And the Lord said to the devil: Let the Lord who chose Jerusalem rule over you. Likewise there: And I will confirm them in the Lord their God, and they will glory in his name, says the Lord.

Likewise in the prophet Malachi: And suddenly the Lord whom you seek comes into his temple, and the angel of the testament whom you desire. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Beepoadens eimon Peter said: You are Christ, the son of the living God. Likewise there: Behold, where from a cloud a voice was heard saying: This is my beloved son, who has pleased me; listen to him. Likewise there: What have we to do with you, son of God? Have you come here before your time to torment us? Likewise there: All things have been handed over to me by my father. And no one knows the son except the father: nor does anyone know the father except the son and whomever the son wishes to reveal him to. Likewise there: Go now, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Likewise according to John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made.

Likewise there: For God so loved this world that he gave his only Son for it, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into this world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. For whoever believes in him is not judged; whoever does not believe in him is already judged, because he did not believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. Likewise there: If I do not do the works of the Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, and you do not wish to believe me, at least believe the works, because I am in the Father and the Father is in me. For I and the Father are one. Likewise there: My Father works even now, and I work. For this reason the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because not only did he break the Sabbath, but he also called his Father God, making himself equal to God. Likewise there: For the Father does not judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son,

does not honor the Father who sent him. Likewise there: Thomas said to him: Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you have also known my Father, and from now on you know him and see him. Philip said to him: Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. Jesus said to him: Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has also seen the Father. How can you say: Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak from myself, but the Father, abiding in me, himself speaks, and the works that I do, he himself does. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; if not, then at least believe because of the works themselves. Likewise according to John: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him. Likewise according to John: This is eternal life, that they may know you alone as the true God and Jesus Christ whom you sent; I have glorified you on earth, I have completed the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with that glory which I had with you.

before the world existed. Likewise there: Thomas answered and said: My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him: Because you have seen, you have believed: blessed are those who have not seen and have believed! Likewise there: But these things are written, that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that believing you may have life in his name. Likewise according to Luke, the angel to Mary: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason, he who is born from you will be called holy, the Son of God. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: But Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Likewise there: And the eunuch answered, saying: I believe that the Son of God is Christ Jesus. Likewise there: And Paul, entering, immediately in the synagogue of the Jews preached to them with confidence about the Lord Jesus, saying that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Likewise there: For he sent his word to the sons of Israel, announcing peace through Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of all. Likewise there: To whom Paul preached, saying: This is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, by whom the whole world will be judged. Likewise to the Romans: If God is for us, who is against us? If God did not spare his own Son, but delivered him for us to all, how has he not also given us everything along with him?

Likewise there: whose fathers and from what Christ according to the flesh, who is the blessed God over all things forever. Likewise to the Corinthians: But we preach Christ crucified, a scandal to the Jews indeed, but foolishness to the Gentiles, and to the Jews and Greeks themselves who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Likewise there: But we speak of the wisdom of God in mystery, which is hidden, which God predestined before the ages for our glory, which none of the princes of this age knew. For if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of majesty. Likewise there: For this reason I make known to you that no one in the spirit of God says anathema to Jesus. And no one can say the Lord Jesus except in the Holy Spirit. But the divisions of gifts are the same spirit, and the divisions of ministries are the same Lord, and the divisions of operations are the same Lord who works all things in all. Likewise there: Therefore concerning the food of sacrifices we know that the idol is nothing and that no one is God except the one. For even if there are those who are called gods either in heaven or on earth, for us nevertheless there is one God the Father, from whom all things are for us and we into him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things

and we through him. Likewise to the Corinthians II: Grace to you and mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise there: Blessed is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. Likewise there: But he who confirms us with you is Christ the Lord, and he who anointed us is God, and he who sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. Likewise there: But if even our gospel is covered, it is covered in those things which perish, in which the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, does not shine for them. Likewise there: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with all of you. Likewise to the Galatians: After the fullness of times came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law. Likewise there: But since you are sons of God, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying: Abba, Father. Likewise to the Philippians: For think this in yourselves, that in Christ Jesus, who is in the form of God, he did not consider it a usurpation to be equal to God, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, constituted in the likeness of men, found in appearance as a man. He humbled himself; obedient even unto death, but the death of the cross.

Wherefore also God exalted him above all and gave him a name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the celestial, the terrestrial, and the infernal: and every tongue confess, that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Likewise to the Ephesians: One God, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all of us. Likewise to the Colossians: Giving thanks to God the Father, who called us into a part of the eternal inheritance in the light, who snatched us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the son of his brightness, in whom we have redemption, remission of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, because in him all things were created. Likewise to Timothy I: For there is one God and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself as a redemption for all. Likewise John the apostle in his first epistle: Announcing to you eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us. Likewise there: That you also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship may be with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ. Likewise there:

Everyone who denies the Son has not the Father; but whoever confesses the Son has both the Son and the Father. Likewise there: And this is how the Lord’s love was manifested in us, that He sent His only Son into this world, so that we might live through Him. Likewise there: Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ was born from God has God in himself, and himself in God; and everyone who loves the Begetter loves him who was born from God. Likewise there: For there are three who bear witness on earth, spirit, water, and blood; and these three are one in Christ Jesus. And there are three who bear witness in heaven, Father, Word, and Spirit; and these three are one. Likewise there: He who believes in the Son of God has his testimony within himself; but he who does not believe in Jesus Christ makes God a liar, because he does not believe the testimony that He testified concerning His Son. Likewise there: And we know that the Son of God came and put on flesh for our sake, and suffered and rose from the dead, took us up and gave us understanding, so that we might know Him who is true and be in His true Son Jesus Christ. He is the true one and eternal life and our resurrection. Likewise in the same author’s second: For many deceivers have come forth into this world, who do not confess that our Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh. These are deceivers and antichrists.

III. CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT HE IS THE CO-WORKER OF THE FATHER AND THE SON, AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OF ONE SUBSTANCE AND DEITY WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON. In Genesis: And the spirit of God was borne over the water. Likewise in Psalm 140: Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit will lead me in the right way. Likewise in Psalm 32: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made firm, and by the spirit of his mouth all their power. Likewise in Job: The divine spirit which made me, and the inspiration of the Almighty which teaches me. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: And a rod shall go forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall ascend from the root, and the spirit of God shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and piety. The spirit of the fear of God shall fill him. Likewise there: Draw near to me and hear these things: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning, nor in a dark place of the earth. When they were being made, I was there. And now the Lord has sent me and his spirit. Likewise there: The spirit

Lord over me, because he anointed me to evangelize the poor... He sent me to heal the broken-hearted." Likewise there: And they provoked the Holy Spirit, and the Lord turned into enmity for them. Likewise there: Where is he who placed the Holy Spirit in them? who led Moses out of the land by his own arm of honor? Likewise in the prophet Micah: The house of Jacob provoked the spirit of the Lord. Likewise there: Who will not be there to obey: if I do not fill the power with my holy spirit and judgment and authority, so that I may denounce to this Jacob his iniquities and to this Israel his sins. Likewise in the prophet Joel: And it will be after this, I will pour out from my spirit upon all flesh, and their sons and daughters will prophesy. Likewise in the prophet Haggai: And my spirit stands in your midst. Likewise in the prophet Zechariah: And the words which the almighty Lord sent through his spirit into the hands of the former prophets. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: And the spirit took me and led me into the land of the Chaldeans in captivity in a vision of the spirit of God. Likewise there: And the spirit of God came upon me and took and lifted me and set me upon my feet, and I heard him speaking to me: and he said to me: Son of man, come, I will send you to the house of Israel, who provoke me according to the contempt of their fathers up to this present day. Likewise in Daniel: And when Susanna was being led to death, the Lord roused the Holy Spirit in a younger boy, whose name

Daniel. Likewise there: For there is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Holy Spirit of God. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: And when Jesus was baptized, he immediately ascended from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit descending like a dove and coming into him. Likewise there: Therefore, when they have handed you over, do not be anxious about what you should say, for it will be given to you at that very hour what you should say; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Likewise there: But if I cast out demons in the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has drawn near. Likewise there: Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy is forgiven to men; but he who has blasphemed in the Spirit shall not be forgiven. For whoever has spoken a word against the Son of Man shall be forgiven; but he who has spoken against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven, neither in this age nor in the future. Likewise according to John: Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him: Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born again from water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. For what is born of flesh is flesh, and what is born of Spirit is spirit, because God is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you: You must be born again. The Spirit blows where it wills, and you hear its voice, but you do not know whence it comes and whither it goes. So it is with everyone who is born from water and Spirit.

Likewise there: If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth. Likewise there: I have spoken these things to you while remaining with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything that I have said. Likewise there: When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from my Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness concerning me: and you will bear witness concerning me, because you have been with me from the beginning. Likewise there: But because I have spoken these things to you, your heart will be filled with sadness. But I tell you the truth, that it is expedient for you that I go. For if I do not depart, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. Likewise there: I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. But when that Spirit of Truth comes, he will unfold to you the whole truth. For he will not speak from himself, but he will speak what he has heard, and he will announce future things to you. He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine, and will announce to you. Everything that my Father has is mine.

... so I said that he will receive from mine and announce to you. Likewise according to Luke: But Mary said to the angel: How shall this be, since I have not known a man? The angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Because of this, he who will be born from you shall be called holy, the Son of God. Likewise there: Go now, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Likewise to the Romans: Because the love of God is diffused in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Likewise there: But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit—if, however, the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. The body indeed is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of justification. But if his Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit dwelling in you. Likewise there: For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Likewise there: For I dare not say anything which Christ does not perfect through me in the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and work and his power, by signs and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise to 1 Corinthians: For God reveals to us through his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

For who among men knows the things of man, which are in him, except the spirit that is in him? So also no one has known the things that are in God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we may know what has been given to us by God. These things we also speak, not those that are taught through the word of human wisdom, but those that are taught through the spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. But the carnal man does not perceive what belongs to the Spirit of God: for it is folly to him, and he cannot know what is asked spiritually. But he who is spiritual inquires into all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. Likewise there: For this reason I make known to you that no one in the Spirit of God says "anathema" to Jesus: and no one can call Christ Lord Jesus except in the Holy Spirit. But the divisions of gifts are many, yet the spirit is the same. And the divisions of ministries are many, yet the Lord is the same. And the divisions of operations are many, but the same Lord who works all things in all. But to each one of us a manifestation of the spirit is given for utility. But to one is given through the spirit the word of wisdom: to another, however, the word of knowledge according to the same spirit. To another, faith in the same spirit: to another, the graces of healings in one spirit. To another, the working of power, to another, prophecy, to another

separation of the Spirit, others kinds of tongues, others interpretations of tongues. But all these things one and the same Spirit works, distributing to each as He wills. Likewise to the Corinthians II: For the Lord is Spirit. But where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Likewise to the Philippians: For I know that this will profit me for salvation through your prayer and the ministration of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. Likewise to the Galatians: But because you are sons of God, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying: Abba, Father. Likewise John in the first epistle: It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. Likewise there: There are three who bear witness in heaven, Father, Word, and Spirit, and these three are one. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: With stiff neck and uncircumcised heart, you have always resisted the Holy Spirit. Likewise there: The Holy Spirit told me to go with them. Likewise there: But the Holy Spirit said to me: Behold, men are seeking you: but rise, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, because I sent them. Likewise there: The Holy Spirit said: Separate for me Barnabas and Paul for the work to which I called them. Likewise there: For it pleased the Holy Spirit and us. Likewise there: But they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God at all in Asia.

Likewise there: Pay attention therefore to yourselves and to the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you to be bishops for pasturing the Church of Jesus Christ. Likewise there: The Holy Spirit says this: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind thus in Jerusalem. IV. ON THE LOVE OF THE LORD. In Deuteronomy: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength. And these words, whatever I command you today, shall be in your heart and in your soul, and you shall show them to your sons and speak them to them sitting in your house and when you make a journey on the road and in rest and in vigils: and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand. And they shall be movable before your eyes: and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Likewise there: And when you have eaten and are satisfied, beware lest you forget the Lord your God, who led you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servitude. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him alone and cleave to Him and swear by His name. Likewise there: You shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies and justices, whatever He has commanded you: and you shall do what is good and pleasing before the Lord your God, so that it may be well with you.

Likewise there: And you will keep in mind every path which the Lord your God led you through in the desert, so that he might test and try you in all things, and so that your heart might be known, whether you would truly keep his commandments or not. And therefore you have experienced all evils: and you hungered, and he gave you manna to eat, which your fathers did not know: so that it might be announced to you, that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God man lives. Your garments are not worn out: your feet have not become calloused, behold forty years have passed. And you will know in your heart, that just as a man teaches his son, so the Lord your God has instructed you. And you will keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in his ways and to fear him. Likewise there: And now, Israel, what else does the Lord God demand of you, than that you fear the Lord your God and walk in all his ways and love him and serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep the precepts of the Lord your God and his ordinances, which I command you today, so that it may be well with you? Likewise in Psalm 96: You who love the Lord, hate evil. Likewise in the Gospel according to John: If you love me, keep my commandments.

V. On Conversion and Contempt for the World. In Genesis, the Lord to Abraham: Go out from your land and from your kindred and from your father’s house, and go into the land which I will show you, and I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will magnify your name, and you will be blessed, and I will bless whoever blesses you and curse whoever curses you. [Likewise in Psalm 44: Hear, daughter, and see and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house, for the king has desired your beauty, because he is the Lord your God.] Likewise there to Lot, after they had cast them out, they said: Save your soul, and do not look back behind you, nor stand in this whole region, but go into the mountain, and there you will be saved. Likewise in Numbers: In their land you will not possess, and a portion will not be yours among them, because I am your portion and your inheritance. Likewise in Deuteronomy: He who says to father and mother: I do not know you, and did not acknowledge his brothers and did not know his sons, has kept your words and will observe your covenant. Likewise in 3 Kings: And Elijah found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him. And when he came to him, he cast his mantle over him, and covered him. And he, leaving his oxen, ran after Elijah and said: I will kiss my father and follow you. And Elijah said: Go and return, for I have done for you. And he returned after him.

and he unyoked the oxen from the yokes and killed them and cooked them in vessels and gave to the peoples, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah and served him. Likewise in Psalm VI: For there is no one in death who remembers you; but in hell, who will confess to you? Likewise in Psalm VII: Unless you turn, he will brandish his sword: he has bent his bow and will prepare it. And in that he has prepared vessels of death. Likewise in Psalm XXIV: Make your ways known to me, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Likewise in Psalm XXXI: Do not become like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding: with bit and bridle constrain the jaws of those who do not draw near to you. Likewise in Psalm XXXIII: Draw near to the Lord and be enlightened, and your faces will not blush. Taste and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man who hopes in him! Likewise in the same psalm: Come, children, hear me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who wants life and desires to see good days? Restrain your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and follow it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to destroy their memory from the earth. Likewise

In Psalm XXXVI: Do not emulate among the malignant, nor be emulous of those doing iniquity: for like hay they will quickly wither and like the herbs of the meadow they will quickly fall. Hope in the Lord and do good, and inhabit the earth and you will be fed by its riches. Delight in the Lord and He will give you the petition of your heart. Reveal your way to the Lord and hope in Him, and He Himself will act. And He will bring forth your righteousness like light and your judgment like noonday: be subject to the Lord and beseech Him. Do not emulate him who prospers in his way, in a man doing iniquity. Do not be emulous, so as to do evil, because those who do unjust things will be destroyed, but those who endure the Lord will possess the earth. And yet a little while and there will be no sinner, and you will seek his place and not find it. But the meek will possess the earth and will delight in an abundance of peace. The steps of a man are directed by the Lord, and he will greatly desire His way. Turn aside from evil and do good, and inhabit the ages of ages. Guard innocence and see equity, because there are remnants for a peaceful man. Likewise in Psalm XLV: Be at leisure and see that I am the Lord.

Likewise in Psalm 94: If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts. Likewise in Psalm 118: In what does the youth correct his way? In keeping your words. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not delay in turning to the Lord, and do not put it off from day to day; for his wrath comes suddenly, and at the time of vengeance he will destroy. Likewise there: God from the beginning established man and left him in his own free will. He added commandments and precepts, if he is willing to keep the commandments and make good his pledge. He set before him water and fire: stretch forth your hand to whichever you wish. Before man are life and death, good and evil: what pleases him will be given to him. He commanded no one to act impiously, and he gave no one license to sin. For he does not desire a multitude of unbelieving and useless children. Likewise there: Turn to the Lord and leave your sins, and hate abomination with all your might. Know the judgments and the justice of the Lord. Stand firm in the lot of your purpose and prayer.

Go into the part of the holy world while you are among the just and those giving confession. Do not delay in the error of the impious. From a dead man, almost nothing is granted to confession: alive and well you will confess and praise the Lord, and you will glory in his mercies. How great is the mercy of the Lord and the propitiation for those turning to him! Likewise there: Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent. If you approach them, they will seize you like the teeth of a lion in devouring, killing you like a two-edged sword, the avenger of iniquities; there is no remedy for its wound. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Seek the Lord; and as soon as you have found him, call upon him. But immediately when he draws near to you, let the impious man leave his ways and the unjust man his counsels; and they will turn to the Lord and obtain mercy, because he will remit many of your sins. Likewise there: When you begin to cry out, I will draw you out of your distress. Likewise there: When you have turned and groaned, then you will be safe and will know where you have been. Likewise in the prophet Jeremiah: Stand in the ways of the Lord and see and inquire into the eternal paths of the Lord; and see which is the good way and walk in it, and you will find sanctification for your souls. Likewise there: Correct your ways and your thoughts; do not trust in false words, because they will not profit you at all.

Likewise there: Let us examine our ways, and turn to the Lord: let us cleanse our hearts with our hands, and look to the Lord, who dwells in the heavens. Likewise in the prophet Micah: It has been announced to you, man, what is good: or what else does the Lord seek from you, except that you do equity, and love mercy, and be ready to go with your Lord God? Likewise in the prophet Zephaniah: Assemble and gather together, undisciplined people, before you become like a passing flower, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, work equity, and seek justice, and answer it, that you may be protected on the day of the Lord’s wrath. Likewise in Job: For if you turn and humble yourself before him and put far from your path all injustice, then the Almighty will be your helper and will free you from your enemies and will restore you pure from all iniquity, and will receive you like silver tested by fire: and you will have confidence before him, looking to heaven with cheerfulness. And he will hear you praying with joy and will grant that you fulfill your vows, and there will be splendor in your ways. Likewise in Tobit: Therefore turn back, sinners, and do justice before him. For who knows whether he wishes you, that he may show mercy to you?

In the prophet Ezekiel: And you, son of man, I have set you as a watchman over the house of Israel. And you shall hear a word from my mouth, that you may say to the sinner: you shall die the death. And if you have not spoken, so that the impious man may beware of his way, the iniquitous man himself will die in his iniquity, but I will demand his blood from your hand. But if you have foretold to the impious man his way, that he may turn aside from the way, and he has not turned aside from his way, he will die in his impiety, and you have saved your own soul. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: And when Jesus was passing by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew, casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets and followed him. Likewise there: And therefore I say to you: Do not think in your soul about what you may eat or what you may drink, nor for your body what you may put on, for the soul is more than

food and body more than clothing. Behold the birds of the air, which neither sow nor reap nor store in granaries, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more than they? Likewise there: But which of you can add a single cubit to his stature? and you think about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not labor nor spin, and yet they are not naked. And I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these. For if the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God so clothes, how much more you of little faith? Therefore do not think, saying: What shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For all these things the Gentiles desire. But your Father knows that you are in need of all these things. Seek first the kingdom and its justice, and all these things will be provided to you. Therefore do not think about tomorrow: for tomorrow itself will think for itself; the day is sufficient for its own evil. Likewise there: Enter through the narrow gate:

because the way that leads to perdition is broad and spacious, and many are those who enter by it. Because the way that leads to life is narrow and constricted, and few are those who find it. Likewise there: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn that I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls: because my yoke is pleasant and my burden is light. Likewise there: Then Peter answered and said to him: Behold, we have left everything and followed you; what then will be for us? But Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you who have followed me in the resurrection, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you also will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left his home or brothers or mother or sons or fields for the sake of my name will receive a hundredfold and will possess eternal life. But many of the first

The last shall be first, and the first last. Likewise there: For as in the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking and giving in marriage, and they did not perceive until the flood came and swept all away, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. Likewise according to John: Walk therefore while you have light, lest the darkness overtake you; and he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. Likewise according to Luke: And Jesus said: A certain man made a great supper and invited many. And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to those invited: Come now, for everything is ready. And they began each to excuse themselves. The first said: I have bought a farm and I need to go out and see it; I beg you, hold me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to test them, and therefore I cannot come. And

Another said: "I have taken a wife, and therefore I cannot come." But I say to you, that none of those invited men will taste of my supper. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: Therefore God, despising the times of ignorance, now announces to men that all everywhere are to do penance, because he has appointed a day to judge the world in equity. VI. ON THE FEAR OF THE LORD. In Exodus: Proceed after your Lord God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and hear his voice, and acquiesce to him. Likewise in Psalm 32: Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, who hope in his mercy. Likewise in Psalm 33: Fear the Lord, his saints, for nothing is lacking to those who fear him. Likewise in Psalm 127: Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. Likewise in Proverbs: The fear of the Lord adds days; but the years of the impious will be shortened. Likewise there: The fortification of the just is the fear of the Lord; but destruction for those who work evil. Likewise there: The fear of the Lord is life for a man; but he who is without fear will dwell in a place which knowledge does not visit. Likewise there: The generation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life. Likewise there: Let not your heart emulate sinners, but be in the fear of the Lord all day long. Likewise there: Blessed is he who fears all things through fear; for he who is hard of heart will fall into evils. Likewise

In Ecclesiasticus: The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and it is co-created with the faithful in the womb, and it is believed with the chosen seeds, and it is acknowledged with the just and the sensible. Likewise there: The fear of the Lord acknowledges the knowledge of holiness; it will guard chastity and the heart will be justified, it will give joy and gladness. Likewise there: It will be well for him who fears the Lord, and in the days of his consummation he will be blessed. The fullness of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the fullness from its fruits; it will fill his whole house with generations, and the storehouses from his treasures. The crown of wisdom is to fear the Lord; both, however, are gifts of God. Likewise there: The fear of the Lord drives out sin; for he who is without fear cannot be justified. Likewise there: Do not be unbelieving toward the fear of the Lord, and do not approach him with a double heart. Likewise there: Those who fear the Lord will not be unbelieving of his word; and those who love him will preserve his way. Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts and will sanctify their souls in his sight. Likewise there: Those who fear the Lord will keep his commandments and have patience until his inspection. The fear of the Lord is not to despise a just poor man, and not to magnify a sinful rich man. Likewise there: All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and in that to fear the Lord. Likewise there: How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! There is none greater than him who fears God. The fear of the Lord is set above all things.

Likewise there: If you do not hold the fear of God steadfastly, your house will quickly be overturned. Likewise in Ecclesiastes: The end of every word is the hearer: fear the Lord and keep his commandments, for this is every man, because all this work God will bring into judgment in every despised thing, whether good or evil. Likewise in Proverbs: The fear of the Lord hates malice, insult, and pride, and the ways of the wicked. VII. ON THE GOOD OF PEACE AND CHARITY. In Deuteronomy: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Likewise in Psalm 118: Great peace to those who love your name, and there is no scandal among them. Likewise in Psalm 132: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together! Likewise in Proverbs: Those who wish for peace will rejoice. Likewise there: Better is a little bread with sweetness in peace than a house full of many goods with unjust sacrifices and strife. Likewise there: He who conceals an injury seeks friendship: for he who hates to conceal separates friends and household members. Likewise there: Grace and friendship set free, keep them for yourself lest you be in reproaches. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: The sons of wisdom are the church of the just, and their nation is obedience and charity. Likewise there: In three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men: concord of brothers, love of neighbors, and a man and woman consenting to each other. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Likewise there: I say to you, that if two of you have agreed upon the earth concerning any matter whatsoever that you ask of my Father, who is in heaven, it will be granted to you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst. Likewise according to John: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Likewise the apostle Paul to the Romans: Therefore let not our good be blasphemed. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in this pleases God and is approved by men. Therefore let us pursue those things which are of peace and let us mutually preserve those things which are of edification. Likewise there: Be kind to one another with the love of brotherhood; anticipate one another with honor. Likewise there: The love of the neighbor does not work evil, but the fullness of the gospel is love.

Likewise in First Corinthians: "Emulate better gifts, and I will show you an even greater way. If I speak in the tongues of men or angels, but do not have charity, I am one thing, like a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have every faith, so that I move mountains, but do not have charity, I am nothing. If I have distributed all my substance to the poor and if I have given my body to be burned, but do not have charity, it profits me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind: charity does not envy: charity is not perverse, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not think evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, endures all things, hopes all things, believes all things, sustains all things. Charity never fails." Likewise there: "But hope, faith, charity remain, these three: but the greatest of these is charity. Pursue charity." Likewise there: "Watch, stand in faith, be strengthened, act manfully, let all your things be done in charity.

Likewise to the Philippians: If therefore there is any consolation in Christ, if any address of charity, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of compassion: fulfill my joy, that you may all know the same thing, having the same charity, of one mind, feeling as one, nothing through contention nor through vain glory, but with humility of mind each esteeming others as superior to themselves, not each regarding their own things but those of others. Likewise to the Ephesians: I therefore beseech you, a prisoner in the Lord, that you may worthily walk in the calling to which you are called, with all humility of mind and gentleness, with much patience, bearing with one another in charity, careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Likewise there: Be therefore imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in charity as Christ also loved you, and gave himself for you as an offering and a sacrifice to God in an odor of sweetness. Likewise to Timothy I: For the end of the commandment is charity from a pure heart and a good conscience and an unfeigned faith, from which some departing have turned to vain talk. Likewise in the first epistle of the apostle Peter: Wherefore be all consentient, of one mind, compassionate, lovers of fraternity, merciful, modest, humble, not returning evil for evil, nor curse for curse: but on the contrary blessing, that you may possess the inheritance of blessing. Likewise there: Before all things, however, mutual charity among you per-

ever having: because charity has covered a multitude of sins. Likewise in the first epistle of John: He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. But he who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no scandal in him. Likewise there: And because from this we know his charity, since he laid down his life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. VIII. THAT THE LORD IS EVERYWHERE. In Psalm 138: Whither shall I go from your spirit? And from your face whither shall I flee? If I ascend into heaven, you are there: and if I descend into hell, you are present. If I take my wings before the dawn and dwell in the farthest parts of the sea, even there your hand will lead me and your right hand will hold me. Likewise in the book of Wisdom: For the spirit of wisdom is holy and will not free a curse from his lips: because God is the witness of his reins, and the true watcher of his heart, and the hearer of his tongue: because the spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the heavens and the whole earth are full of his majesty. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Because the wisdom of God is great, mighty in power, seeing all without ceasing. Likewise in the prophet Jeremiah: I am a God who draws near, says the Lord, and not a God from afar. For if a man is hidden in secret places, shall I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

IX. That the Lord Knows the Hidden Things of the Heart. In 1 Kings: Not as man sees, so will God see: because man sees the face, but God sees the heart. Likewise in 3 Kings: For you alone know the hearts of the sons of men. Likewise in 1 Chronicles: And now, Solomon, know the God of your fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing soul: because the Lord searches all hearts and knows every thought. Likewise in Psalm 7: God searching hearts and reins. Likewise in Proverbs: For in the sight of God are the ways of a man: and over all his courses God is a watcher. Likewise there: In every place the eyes of the Lord watch over the good and the evil. Likewise there: Death and hell are manifest to God: how then are not also the hearts of men? Likewise in Job: If I have sinned, what can I do to you, you who know the human mind? Likewise there: For he himself perceives the works of men, nor does anything they do lie hidden from him. Likewise the prophet Jeremiah: Lord, judging justly and testing reins and hearts. Likewise there: I am the Lord searching hearts and testing reins, to give to each according to his ways and according to the fruit of his endeavors. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: Thus says the Lord: So you have spoken, house of Israel, and I know the thoughts of your spirit. Likewise in the Gospel

According to Matthew: But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said: “What are you thinking that is evil in your hearts?” Likewise according to John: And Peter was saddened because he said to him a third time: “Do you love me?” And he said to him: “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.” Likewise the Apostle Paul to the Romans: On the day when God will judge the hidden things of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ our Lord. Likewise to 1 Corinthians: Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes, who will illuminate the counsels of the heart: and then praise will be to each one from God. — Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: You, Lord, who know the hearts of men, show us whom you have chosen from these two. Likewise in the Apocalypse of John: And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches the reins and hearts. X. THAT JUDGMENT IS TO BE MADE JUSTLY. In Exodus: Do not pervert the judgment of the poor in his case. Withdraw from every unjust word. You shall not kill the innocent and the just: you shall not justify the unjust. And you shall not accept gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of those who see and corrupt just words. Likewise there: Do not despise the poor in judgment. Likewise in Leviticus: Do not commit iniquity in judgment: you shall not accept the person of the poor, nor shall you admire the person of the powerful: you shall judge your neighbor with justice. Likewise there: Do not do what is unjust in judgment, in measures, in weights, and in scales. A balanced scale and a just weight.

And my reward will be just for you. I am the Lord your God. Likewise in Deuteronomy: You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall judge against the lesser and against the greater: you shall not show partiality to persons, because judgment is of God. Likewise there: You shall appoint judges and teachers of the law for yourself in all your cities, which the Lord your God will give you through each tribe, and they shall judge the people with just judgment: they shall not pervert judgment, they shall not show partiality, nor shall they accept bribes: for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and undermine just speech. Pursue justice, that you may live. Likewise there: Cursed is he who perverts judgment for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. And all the people say: So be it, so be it. Likewise in the second book of Chronicles: And Jehoshaphat established judges in all the fortified cities of Judah, and in each city he said to the judges: See what you do: for you judge not for man, but for the Lord; and He is with you in

the word of judgment. Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and you shall observe and do: for there is no iniquity with our Lord God, neither acceptance of persons nor acceptance of bribes. Likewise there to the priests: Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faith and with a perfect heart: and every judgment that shall be received from you by your brothers who dwell in their cities, between the midst of blood and the midst of law, in the commandments for justifications and for judgments: and you shall distinguish for them, and they shall not sin against the Lord. Likewise in the first book of Esdras: But truth abides and grows strong forever, and will live and endure for ages of ages, and it does not accept the person of a man nor differences, but judges and does what is just: it departs from all the wicked, deceitful, and impious, and all the just hope in it, and there is no injustice in its judgment: and its strength and kingdom and power are for ages of ages. For the Lord of truth is blessed! Likewise in Psalm 57: If truly

utique iustitiam loquimini, iusta iudicate, fili hominum. Likewise in Psalm 81: How long will you judge iniquity and take the faces of those who sin? Judge for the orphan and the needy, justify the humble and the poor: rescue the poor and the needy from the hand of the sinner. Likewise in Proverbs: Let mercy and faith not abandon you, and let truth possess you: grasp them diligently from your soul, and you will find grace. And provide for good things before God and men. Likewise there: He destroys himself who accepts gifts: for he who hates the acceptance of gifts lives. Likewise there: The ways of one who iniquitously takes gifts into his bosom will not prosper. Likewise there: To admire the face of the impious is not good, nor is it holy to turn aside the just in judgment. Likewise there: To do just things and to be truthful pleases God more than the blood of sacrifices. Likewise there: But these things I say to you who are wise to know:

It is not good to show respect to a person in judgment. Likewise there: He who calls a just man impious will be cursed among peoples and hateful to nations. For those who reprove will hope for better things. Likewise there: Open your mouth with the word of God and judge all with integrity. Open your mouth and judge justly: but distinguish the poor and the weak. Likewise there: The just man knows how to judge for the poor: for the impious does not understand knowledge, and the needy has no sense as a knower. Likewise there: The king who judges truthfully for the poor, his seat will rise up in testimony. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not seek to be chosen a judge unless you can break through iniquities by virtue: lest you fear the face of the powerful, and place a stumbling block in your cunning. Likewise there: There is one who destroys his soul out of confusion, and because of acceptance of a person he will destroy himself. Likewise there: Bribes and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and like a mute in the mouth of many, they turn away correction. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Woe to those who justify the impious for the sake of gifts, and who unjustly take away what is just! Likewise there: Woe to those who write wickedness, turning aside the judgment of the poor, and seizing the judgment of the poor of my people! so that the widow is for them a prey, and the orphan a plunder. And what will they do on the day of visitation?

Likewise there: He who enters with equity speaks the right way, he who hates iniquity and injustice, and keeps his hands from gifts, weighs down his ears so that he does not hear judgment of blood, shuts his eyes so that he does not see iniquity: he will dwell in a high cave of firm rock, strong bread will be given to him and his water faithful. Likewise there: Thus says the Lord: keep judgment, do justice, for my salvation has drawn near to come, and my mercy to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does these things, and the man who embraces them, and keeps them, lest he violate my sabbaths, and restrains his hands, lest he do iniquitous things. Likewise there: I am the Lord who loves justice and hates plunder and iniquities. Likewise in Job: For the testimony of the impious is death: and fire will burn the houses of those who accept gifts. He will conceive groans in his belly, and vain things will come to him, and his belly will bear deceit. Likewise in Jeremiah: Judge judgment in the morning, and act rightly, and free the plundered from the hand of him who harms him, lest my anger be kindled like fire and burn, and there will be none to extinguish it. And rescue the plundered from the hand of him who injures him, and do not oppress the stranger and the orphan and the widow: and do not act impiously, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Likewise in the prophet Micah: Hear therefore these things, leaders of the house of Jacob and the rest of the house of Israel, who abominate

they overturn equity and all that is right, you who build Sion in bloodshed and Jerusalem in iniquities. Their leaders judged with bribes, and their priests answered for hire, and their prophets divined for money, and they rested in the Lord, saying: Is not the Lord among us? Will no evil come upon us? Likewise in the prophet Habakkuk: Why have you shown me toils and sorrows, that I might see misery and impiety? Judgment has risen against me, and the judge has taken. Because of this the law is cast aside, and judgment is not brought to completion: for the impious man oppresses the just man through power, and therefore perverse judgment goes forth. Likewise in the prophet Zechariah: Thus says the almighty Lord: Judge just judgment, and each one of you show mercy and piety to his brother: and do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the proselyte, and the poor through power, and let none of you remember the malice of his brother in your hearts. Likewise Job: I was the eye of the blind, I was the foot of the lame, I was the father of the powerless. I examined cases without

and crushing the jaws of the unjust, I used to snatch plunder from between their teeth. Likewise in the Gospel according to John: Do not judge by appearance, but judge a just judgment. XI. GOOD MUST BE DONE TO THE POOR, AND PLEDGES MUST NOT BE TAKEN. In Deuteronomy: If something is owed to you by your neighbor, you shall not enter his house to take a pledge: you shall stand outside, and the man shall bring out your pledge to you outside, which is his debt that is with him. But if the man is poor, you shall not sleep on his pledge: you shall return his pledge to him around sunset, and he shall sleep in his own garment and shall bless you, and the mercy of the Lord shall be upon you in the sight of your God. Likewise there: You shall not take a widow’s garment as a pledge, because you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God freed you from there. For this reason I command you to do this thing. Likewise, in Exodus: But if you lend money to a poor man from your people, you shall not press him nor exact usury from him. But if you take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset: for this is his only covering for his poverty: where does he sleep? But if he cries out to me, I will hear him: for I am merciful to you. Likewise in Proverbs: Do not refrain from doing good to the poor, when your hand is able to help. Do not say: go and come back, I will give tomorrow, when you can do good immediately. For you do not know what may happen on the following day.

Likewise there: He who insults the poor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor is blessed. Likewise there: He who brings false accusation against the poor provokes him who made him: for he who honors him has mercy on the poor. Likewise there: He who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord; and according to his gift it will be repaid to him. Likewise there: He who has mercy on the poor will himself be nourished: for he gave from his own bread to the poor. Likewise there: He who gives to the poor will not be in need; but he who turns away his eye will be in great need. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: But you who set my vineyard on fire, and have the plunder of the poor in your houses, why do you do injury to my people and confound the persons of the needy? Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: He did not oppress the needy and the poor, and he did not seize plunder, and he restored a pledge, and he did not set his eyes on idols, and he did not commit iniquity, and he did not

He who lends at usury: he is just, he will live his life for the Lord. Likewise in Tobit: Directing yourself to justice in all the days of your life, do good before him, and do not walk in the paths of iniquity, nor turn your face away from any needy and poor person, for almsgiving will deliver from death. XII. GOOD MUST BE DONE TO THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN AND THE STRANGER. In Exodus: You shall not harm the stranger, nor oppress him: for you yourselves were strangers in Egypt. You shall not harm any widow or orphan. But if you harm them out of malice, and they cry out to me in their torment, I will hear their cry when I hear it, and I will be angry in my spirit and will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children orphans. Likewise there: And you shall not oppress the stranger: for you know the souls of strangers: for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. Likewise in Leviticus: If any stranger comes to you in your land, you shall not oppress him: the stranger who comes to you shall be as a fellow countryman among you: you shall love him as yourselves, for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Likewise there: And when you are reaping the harvest of your land, you shall not finish reaping the harvest of your field: and what falls from your harvest, you shall not gather. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor gather the grapes of your vineyard: you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am the Lord your God. You shall not turn aside the judgment of the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.

Likewise in Job: For I was saving the poor man from the hand of the powerful, and I was aiding the orphan, who had no assistance. The mouth of the widow blessed me. And I was clothed in judgment, and surrounded by equity. I was the eye of the blind, I was the foot of the lame, I was the father of the powerless. I examined cases without exception, and, breaking the jaws of the unjust, I carried off plunder from between their teeth. Likewise in Numbers: But know that every soul which, being proud, has despised the commands of the Lord, whether it be from the natives or from the proselytes in the city, will perish from its people, because it has contemned the word of the Lord and neglected his precepts, and therefore in tribulation that soul itself will be afflicted, and its sin will be in it. XIII. THAT THE WAGE OF A HIRELING IS NOT TO BE WITHHELD. In Leviticus: You shall not harm your neighbor, and you shall not commit robbery, and the wage of a hireling shall not remain with you until morning. Likewise in Deuteronomy: You shall not defraud the wage of the poor and needy from among your brothers or from the strangers who are of this city: you shall pay his daily wage: the sun shall not set upon him, because he is poor, and has hope in it, and he will not cry out against you to the Lord, and sin will be in you. Likewise in Proverbs: Do not be violent toward the poor: he is needy.

Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not harm a servant who works in truth, nor a hireling who gives his life. Likewise there: He who offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who strikes a son in the presence of his father. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; he who defrauds him is a man of blood. He who takes away bread earned by sweat is like one who kills his neighbor, and he who cheats the hireling of his wages. Likewise in Tobit: Therefore, my son, love your brothers, and do not act with a proud heart toward the daughters of your people's daughters; nor take anyone among them into subjection because of poverty and need; for in pride abounds ruin and faithlessness, nor does one stand firmly whose step is fixed on planks; for the fruit of fraud is discoloration and diminution of life; and in time of distress, the exploitation of poverty is the mother of all wickedness; and the profit of base gain acquired in famine is the acquisition of eternal fire. And avoiding these things, pay every man his wage who labors for you on the day of his work.

XIIII. THE WEAK ARE NOT TO BE HARMED In Leviticus: You shall not curse the deaf, and before the blind you shall place no stumbling block, and you shall fear the Lord your God. I am the Lord your God. Likewise in Deuteronomy: Cursed is he who leads a blind man astray on the road, and all the people say: Amen, amen. Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor deceitfully, and all the people say: Amen, amen. Cursed is he who accepts bribes to strike the life of innocent blood, and all the people say: Amen, amen. Likewise in Proverbs: He who stops up his ears so that he does not hear the weak man will himself call upon the Lord, and there will be no one to hear him. Likewise there: Do not be violent toward the poor, for he is needy; nor do injury to the weak man at the gates, for the Lord judges his case, and you will free your own innocent soul. Likewise in Job: Do not let the will of your mind turn you away from the prayers of the weak when they are in need.

XV. ONE MUST NOT WALK WITH GUILE OR HYPOCRISY. In Leviticus: You shall not walk deceitfully among your people, you shall not make an attack upon the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord your God. You shall not speak with your brother or your sister feignedly, but you shall speak from the heart, and there will be no sin in you: for I am the Lord your God. You shall not hold hatred for your brother in your heart: by arguing you shall argue with your neighbor, and you shall not incur sin for him; and your hand shall not take vengeance, and you shall not be angry with the children of your people, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord your God. Keep my law. You shall not be in agreement with those who speak ill against your neighbor, and you shall not incur sin through them. You shall not cause your cattle to mate with a different kind, and in your vineyard you shall not sow for a double harvest, and you shall not cover yourself with a garment of double weave, which is abominable. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not be unbelieving regarding the fear of the Lord, and do not approach him with a double heart. Do not be a hypocrite in the sight of men, and do not stumble with your lips. Pay attention to them, lest you fall and bring confusion to your soul, and God lay bare your secrets, and cast you down in the midst of the synagogue: because you approached the Lord wickedly, and your heart is full of guile and deceit. Likewise there: Woe to the double heart and the wicked lips, and to the sinner entering two ways!

Also there: The heart that enters two ways will have no success; and the perverse of heart will be scandalized among them. Also there: He who throws a stone upward, it will fall upon him; and the wound of the deceitful will divide his wounds; and he who digs a pit will fall into it; and he who sets a snare for his neighbor will perish in it; the most wicked deed will roll back upon the doer, and he will not know whence it comes to him. Also in Job: Dissemblers and cunning men provoke the wrath of God. Also in the prophet Jeremiah: Their tongue wounds like iron, the deceitful words of their mouth: they speak peaceably to their neighbor and among themselves they have enmity. In these, therefore, will I not visit, says the Lord, or will not my soul take vengeance on such a people? Also in Solomon: The words of the cunning are soft, but they strike the inner parts of the bowels. Also the Apostle to the Corinthians II: But we, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are transformed in that same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. And therefore, having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we do not fail, but we renounce the hidden things of shame, not

walking in cunning, nor adulterating the word of God, but in the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God. Also there: For we provide for goods not only before God, but also before men. Also there: Those things which are according to the face, see. Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but within they are ravenous wolves: you will know them by their fruits. XVI. EVIL IS NOT TO BE RETURNED FOR EVIL. In Exodus: But if you meet the ox of your enemy or his beast wandering, you shall lead them back and return them to him. And if you see the beast of your enemy fallen under its burden, you shall not pass it by, but rather you shall set it upright with him. Also in Proverbs: If your enemy falls, do not rejoice and do not exalt yourself in his stumbling, lest the Lord see and it not please him and he turn his anger away from him. Also there: If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he thirsts, give him drink. For by doing this you heap coals of fire upon his head. But God will reward you. Also in Ecclesiasticus: He who does not avenge himself will indeed find vengeance, and preserving his sins will preserve them. Leave your neighbor who harms you, and then your sins will be loosed for you when you ask. Does a man keep anger against a man, and seek healing from God? Does he have no mercy for a man like himself, and pray for his own sins?

He himself began to restrain his anger and sought propitiation from God. Who will be offered for his transgressions? Remember the last things, and cease to be hostile. Remember the fear of God and do not be angry with your neighbor. Remember the testament of the Most High, and disregard the ignorance of your neighbor. Abstain from strife; you will sin less. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Hear the word of the Lord, you who fear his name; say: You are our brothers to those who hate you and to those who abhor you, so that the name of the Lord may be magnified and appear to them in their joy, and they will be confounded. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you; and be sons of your Father who is in heaven, who commands his sun to rise over the good and the bad and rains upon the just and the unjust. Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: Do not be wise in your own conceit; render no one evil for evil; providing for goods not only before God, but also before men, if possible, that which is from you, having peace with all men, not defending yourselves, dearest ones, but give place to anger. For it is written: Vengeance to me, I will repay,

The Lord says: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink. For by doing this you heap coals of fire upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Likewise the Apostle Peter, I: Wherefore be all of one mind, unanimous, compassionate, lovers of brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble, not returning evil for evil or curse for curse; but on the contrary blessing, that you may possess the blessing as an inheritance. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: And they were stoning Stephen, who was invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. But kneeling down, he cried out with a loud voice, saying: Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge. XVII. THAT IT MUST BE FORGIVEN A BROTHER WHAT HE HAS COMMITTED AGAINST A BROTHER. In Genesis: But the brothers of Joseph, seeing that their father was dead, said: Lest Joseph perhaps remember our malice and repay us with all the evils which we showed him. And they came to Joseph, saying: Your father adjured us before he died, saying: Tell Joseph: Forgive them the iniquity and the sin, because they showed themselves malign to you. And now take the iniquity of your father's servants. And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. And coming to him they said: Behold, we are your servants. And Joseph said to them: Do not fear; for I am of God. You thought evil against me, but God thought good concerning me, as it would come to pass, as today, that a great multitude might be fed.

And he said to them: Do not be afraid, I will feed you and your households. And he begged them, and spoke in their hearts. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Peter approached Jesus and said to him: Lord, if my brother sins against me, how many times shall I forgive him? Up to seven times? He said to him: I do not tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Likewise there: Wicked servant, I have forgiven you every debt because you asked me; thus you ought not to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you? And his master, angered, handed him over to the torturers until he paid the debt. So also will my Father, who is in heaven, do to you, if you do not each forgive your brother from your hearts. Likewise according to Luke: Take heed: if your brother sins, reprove him, and if he does penance, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and if seven times in a day he turns and says: I repent, forgive him. Likewise according to Mark: And when you stand at prayer, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in heaven, forgive

your sins. Likewise the Apostle to the Colossians: Therefore clothe yourselves as chosen of God, holy and beloved, with the bowels of mercy, kindness, gentleness, justice, patience: bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against someone: just as the Lord forgave you, so also do you. XVIII. ON AVOIDING THE SEDUCTION OF THE WICKED. In Exodus: You shall not accept a vain hearing: you shall not consent to become an unjust witness with an unjust man: you shall not be with the majority in wickedness: you shall not join with the multitude to turn aside with the many, so that you are excluded. Likewise in Psalm I: Blessed is the man who has not gone into the counsel of the impious, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of pestilence: but his will was in the law of the Lord, and he will meditate on his law day and night. Likewise in Psalm XXV: I have not sat in the council of vanity, and I will not go in with those who do iniquity. I have hated the congregation of the malignant, and I will not sit with the impious. I will wash my hands among the innocent, and I will go around your altar, O Lord. Likewise in Proverbs: Son, let not impious men seduce you, nor wish, if they ask you saying: Come, share blood with us, let us hide in the earth the just man unjustly: let us devour him as hell devours the living, and let us remove his memory from the earth: let us possess his precious possession. Likewise there: Son, do not go their ways, but turn your foot away from their paths.

For not unjustly are nets spread for birds. For those who are participants in homicide gather evils for themselves, but the overthrow of wicked men is evil. Likewise there: Do not rejoice over evildoers, nor emulate sinners: they will not be. Born of evil, the light of the impious will be extinguished. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Keep far away from a man who has the power to kill, and do not entertain the fear of death. Know that you walk in the midst of snares and stand among the weapons of the grieving. According to your strength, beware of your neighbor, and consult with the wise and prudent. Likewise Tobit: See, my son, do not follow the path of the wicked, and let the multitude of sinners not persuade you: for their wages are confusion, their end is death. But if you have worked the truth, there will be the regard of God in your works, and with all who do justice you will inherit eternal life.

XIX. ON HONORING PRIESTS OR MINISTERS. In Exodus: You shall not curse the prince of your people. Likewise in Leviticus: You shall rise before the face of one having gray hair, and you shall honor the face of a presbyter, and you shall fear the Lord your God. I am the Lord your God. Likewise in Deuteronomy: And any man who acts in pride, so that he does not heed the priest who stands to minister in the name of the Lord your God, or the judges who are in those days, that man shall die. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Make yourself affable to the assembly of the poor, and humble your soul before a presbyter, and humble your head before a magnate. Likewise there: With your whole soul fear the Lord and sanctify his priests. With all your strength love him who made you, and do not forsake his ministers. Honor God with your whole soul, and honor the priests. Likewise there: Do not despise the discourse of wise presbyters, and abide by their proverbs; for from them you will learn the teaching of understanding and to serve a magnate without complaint. Let not the discourse of elders pass you by, for they too learned from their fathers. Likewise

The Apostle to Timothy I: Those who preside well as presbyters are to be honored with a double honor, especially those who labor in word and in doctrine. XX. ON HONORING PARENTS. In Exodus: Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you and that you may be long upon the good earth which the Lord your God will give you. Likewise in Leviticus: Let each one fear his father and his mother. Likewise in Tobit: Have honor for your mother, and do not abandon her, but console her all the days of your life, and do not grieve her spirit even in the least; but do what pleases her. And remember, son, how many dangers she saw when she bore you: for nine months she carried you in her womb; and do not forget her groans of childbirth, since without her you would not have been. And therefore honor her in her life. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: He who honors his father will live a longer life, and he who obeys his father refreshes his mother. And behave as servants to those who begot you, in deed and word and with all patience; and their blessing remains at the end. Likewise there: Son, bear your father's old age, and do not grieve him in his life; and if his mind fails, have patience, and do not despise him in your strength; for it is not glory for you, but shame. For the alms of a father will not be forgotten. And righteousness will be built up for you, and in the day of tribulation it will be remembered for you; and like fair weather in ice, your sins will be dissolved.

Also there: Honor your father, and do not forget the groans of your mother; for unless through them, you would not have been born; and now you will repay them, as they did for you. Remember your mother and your father, for you will stand among the great. Also the Apostle to the Colossians: Children, obey your parents in all things; for this pleases God. XXI. ON PROUD CHILDREN. In Exodus: Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall die; whoever curses his father or his mother shall die. Also in Deuteronomy: Cursed is the man who does not honor his father or his mother, and all the people say: Amen, amen. Also in Proverbs: A deceitful son will have nothing good. Also there: The son who does not honor his father and drives away his mother will be confounded and will be in disgrace. The son who neglects to keep his father’s discipline will meditate on words of malice. Also there: The one cursing his father or mother, his light will be extinguished, and the pupils of his eyes will see darkness. Also there: A bad son curses his father, but does not bless his mother. A bad son judges himself just, but will not wash away his own end. A bad son has proud eyes, and will be lifted up by his own eyelids. A bad son has sword-like teeth and knife-like molars, so that he kills and devours the humble from the earth and their poor from among men.

Also there: Let the eye that is irreverent toward a father and insulting to the old age of a mother be plucked out by ravens in the valleys, and let the young of eagles devour it. Also there: A wise son keeps the law; for he who is fed by luxury dishonors his father. Also there: He who drives away his father or his mother, thinking he does not sin, is a partner of an impious man. Also there: The blessing of a father builds the houses of sons; the curse of a mother uproots the foundations. XXII. THAT TREASURES ARE OF NO USE TO THE UNJUST. In Proverbs: Treasures will be of no use to the unjust, but justice snatches from death. Also there: Riches will be of no use on the day of wrath, but justice frees from death. Also there: He who trusts in riches falls; but he who aids the just will rise. Also there: A modest portion with fear of the Lord is better than great treasures without fear. Also there: A modest acquisition with justice is better than many fruits

with iniquity. Also there: A good name is better than great riches; but over silver and gold a good grace is better. Also there: A rich man and a poor man met each other, but the Lord made both. Also in Ecclesiasticus: Do not pay attention to unjust possessions, and do not say: I have enough for life; for nothing will avail at the time of vengeance and death. Also there: Nothing is more unjust than to love money; for such men even sell their own soul: because in their life they have cast out their innermost self. Also there: For a greedy, miserly man there is no good substance; and for an envious man, what use is gold? There is one who grows rich by being sparing, and this is part of his reward, when he says: I have found rest for myself, I will eat of my goods alone. And he does not know that time passes, and he will leave all to them. Also there: He who heaps up much unjustly for his own soul gathers for others, and in his goods another will rejoice. Also there: He who loves gold will not be justified; and he who pursues many things will be ensnared in them. Many have been given to the fall of gold, and their ruin has been made in his face. Also there: Gold is a tree of display; woe to those who pursue it! And every imprudent man will perish in it; for gold has seduced many, and those hoping in it have fallen away. Also there: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money.

Also in Ecclesiastes: There is a calamity which I have seen under the sun, that riches are kept for the evil of their possessor, with whom they are to his own ruin — just as he comes, and he will receive nothing from his labor, so that he goes, empty-handed. I said: Better than this is a miscarriage: — rest is more for this one than for that one. Also in Isaiah the prophet: Just as those who in dreams are hungry and eat, and when they have awakened, their dream is vain, and just as one who is thirsty dreams, as if he drinks, and upon waking still thirsts, his soul has labored in vain, so will be the riches of all nations. Also in Jeremiah the prophet: Those who hoard silver and gold, in which men trusted, and there is no end of their substance, have been destroyed, and have descended into hell, and others have risen up in their place. But they did not understand the way of the Lord nor did they remember his paths. Also in Hosea the prophet: Money will possess destruction: their honors from usury and their sorrows. Also in Amos the prophet: Therefore hear these things, you who oppress the poor in the morning, and violate the needy from the land, saying: Let us open treasuries, and let us make a smaller measure and let us increase the weight and let us make a false balance, so that we may possess the money of the poor and needy for shoes. Also in Zephaniah the prophet: All who exalt themselves in silver and gold have perished. Also in Habakkuk the prophet: O he who acquires evil greed for his own house!

you have devised confusion for your house; your soul has sinned. Likewise in the prophet Zephaniah: And I will pour out their blood like mud, and their flesh like the dung of oxen, and their silver and gold will not be able to free them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: Silver and gold will be thrown into the streets, and their gold will be destroyed, their souls will not enjoy, and their bellies will not be filled: because the torment of their iniquities has been accomplished. The chosen of the world placed them in pride, and they made images of their abominations from them. Likewise in the prophet Jeremiah: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the strong man boast in his strength, but let him boast who boasts that he knows and understands the Lord and does justice and righteousness, judgment in the midst of the earth. Likewise in Psalm 38: Although man walks in the image of God, yet he will be vainly troubled: he hoards and does not know for whom he will gather them. Likewise in Psalm 48: Do not fear when man has become rich, and when the glory of his house has multiplied: because when he dies he will not take all things, nor will the glory of his house descend with him. Likewise in Psalm 51: Behold a man who did not place God as his helper, but trusted in the multitude of his riches and prevailed in his vanity. Likewise in

Psalm 61: Do not hope in iniquity, and do not covet plunder. If riches flow, do not set your heart upon them. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Do not lay up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves dig through. But make for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Likewise the Apostle Paul to Timothy I: Command the rich of this world not to be proud, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who provides us with everything to favor the will of good works. Let them do good, let them be rich in good works, let them give readily, let them share, let them lay up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp the true life. Likewise the Apostle James: Come now, you rich, weep and howl over your miseries, which come upon riches.

your garments have rotted and become moth-eaten; your gold and silver, which you stored up in the last days, have grown tarnished, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. XXIII. ON PENITENCE. In 3 Kings: For you alone, Lord, who raise up your falling people Israel in the sight of their enemies with your right hand. For if they sin against you, they will return again and confess your name, and they will pray and beseech in this house, and you will hear from heaven, and you will be propitiated for the sins of your people Israel. Likewise there: And if the enemy humiliates any one of their cities, you will be present to your own in every encounter and will mitigate all sorrow: for you, Lord, are ready for every prayer and supplication: so that if a man is converted, and each one acknowledges the offenses of his own heart, as soon as he stretches out his hands in this house, you will hear from your prepared dwelling and be propitiated and will make justification according to all the ways of those who ask you and according to what you know of the human heart: for you alone know the hearts of the sons of men, so that they may fear you all the days they live upon the earth. Likewise in Psalm 31: I have made my offense known to you, and I have not concealed my injustice. I said: I will declare my injustice against myself to my Lord, and you have remitted the impiety of my heart. Likewise in Psalm 24: Do not remember the offenses of my youth and my ignorance.

For your name's sake, O Lord, you will be merciful to my sin: for it is abundant. Likewise in Psalm 50: The sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: For the Lord is pious and merciful, and on the day of tribulation he will remit the sins of all who seek him in truth. Likewise there: If we do not do penance, we will fall into the hands of the Lord; according to his greatness, his mercy is with him. Likewise there: He who loves the Lord will pray for his sins, and will refrain from them, and in the prayer of days he will be heard. Likewise there: But to those repenting he gave a way of justice, and he strengthened the faltering to endure, and he assigned to them a lot of truth. Turn to the Lord and leave your sins, and greatly hate abomination. Know the justices and judgments of the Lord. Stand in the lot of proposition and in the prayer of the Most High. Go into the part of the holy world with the just and those giving confession. Do not linger in the error of the impious. From a dead man, almost nothing is granted to confession. Alive and sound, you will confess and praise the Lord, and you will glory in his mercies. Great is the mercy of the Lord and his propitiation to those turning to him! Likewise there: Son, you have sinned, do not add again, but also pray concerning your former sins, that they may be forgiven you. Likewise there: As from the face of a serpent, flee sins.

If you approach them, they will seize you like the teeth of a lion devouring, killing like a two-edged sword, the avenger of iniquities, and there is no cure for that wound. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Be mindful of these things and groan, have repentance, you who err, turn from the heart. Likewise there: Thus says the holy Lord of Israel: When you have turned and groaned, then you will be safe and will know where you have been. When you trusted in them, your vain strength came to nothing. And you were unwilling to listen. Likewise there: Lord, have mercy on us: for in you we trust. Our seed has become the ruin of the unbelieving, but our salvation is in the time of tribulation, because of the voice of your fear. Likewise there: I am the one who grieves over your iniquities and I have gnawed at your iniquities beforehand, so that you may be justified. Likewise there: Abstain from iniquity, and you will not fear it: death will not approach you. Likewise there: Seek the Lord, and as soon as you find him, call upon him. But immediately when he approaches you, let the impious man abandon his ways and the wicked man his counsels, and let them turn to the Lord, and they will obtain mercy: because he will forgive many of your sins. Likewise there: When you begin to cry out, I will draw you out from your distress. Likewise there: Take heart, you with slack hands and weak knees, be comforted, you who are faint-hearted, be strong in heart, do not fear: turn, and you will be saved. Likewise there: The Spirit of the Lord

upon me, because He anointed me to evangelize the poor, sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach remission to captives and to restore sight to the blind, to call the acceptable year of the Lord, the day of retribution: to console all who mourn, to give to those who mourn glory for ashes, anointing of joy to the mourners, for the spirit of sadness a garment of glory: and they shall be called the ages of justice, the planting of the Lord in glory. Likewise in the prophet Jeremiah: Turn back, O son of those returning, and I will heal your contritions. Likewise there: Behold, I judge against you, in that you say: I have not sinned. Because you have too much despised repeating your ways, because God has rejected your hope, and you will not prosper in it. Likewise there: Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament and wail: because the wrath of the Lord is not turned away from you. Likewise there: Wash your heart from malice, Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long will the thoughts of your sorrows be in you? Likewise there: Thus says the Lord: Does not he who falls rise again? Or he who turns himself away, does he not turn back? Why has this people turned a malignant conversion, and held onto their presumption and refused to be converted? Therefore give ear and listen: There is no man repenting of his malice, saying: What have I done? He has failed because he ran from his course, like a horse sweating in its neighing. And the stork in the sky knows its time,

The turtledove and the swallow, to which the fields’ cells belong, have kept the times of their entering; but my people have not known the judgment of their Lord. Likewise there: Let each one now turn away from his evil way, and make your pursuits better. Likewise there: Almighty Lord, God of Israel, a soul in distress and an anxious spirit cries out to you. Hear me, Lord, for you are a merciful God, and have mercy, for we have sinned in your sight, for you are God forever. Likewise there: To our Lord God belongs justice, but to us belongs confusion of our face: for we have sinned in the sight of the Lord and have not believed in him, and we have not heard the voice of our Lord God, so that we might walk in his commandments, which he gave us. And we have not besought the Lord, that each one might turn away from the most wicked thoughts of his heart. We have sinned, we have acted impiously, we have done iniquity, O Lord our God, in all your justifications.

Incline, Lord, your ear and hear: open, Lord, your eyes and see that it is not the dead who are in hell, whose spirit you have taken from their innermost being, who will give glory and justification to the Lord: but the anxious soul in its state, which walks bowed and weak, and the failing eyes and the hungry soul will give you glory and justification, Lord. Likewise there: Let us scrutinize our ways and turn to the Lord: let us cleanse our hearts with our hands and look to the Lord, who dwells in the heavens. Likewise in the prophet Hosea: Return, Israel, to the Lord your God, because you have grown weak through your iniquities. Take many with you and turn to the Lord your God. Say to him: You are mighty to forgive sins, that you may receive good things. Likewise in the prophet Joel: And now thus says the Lord your God: Turn to me with your whole heart and with your whole soul in fasting and weeping and lamentation. And rend your hearts, not your garments: and turn to the Lord your God, because he is merciful and patient and great-hearted and very merciful and patient in the face of wickednesses.

Again in the prophet Ezekiel: "And if the wicked man turns himself away from all his iniquities which he has committed, and keeps all my commandments and does justice and mercy, he shall live life and shall not die: and all the offenses, whatever he has committed, shall not be remembered: in the justice which he has done, he shall live life," says the Lord. "For do I desire the death of the wicked man, rather than that he turn himself away from his evil way and live?" Again there: "Turn yourselves and turn yourselves away from all your impieties, and they shall not be to you a penalty for iniquity. Cast away from yourselves all your impieties, which you have impiously committed against me, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. And why should you die, house of Israel?" Again in the Gospel according to Matthew: "Which of you, having a hundred sheep, if one has gone astray, does not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains and go to seek that one which went astray? If it happens that he finds it, amen I say to you that he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray. Thus it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Again in the Acts of the Apostles: "Do penance and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out." Again the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians II: "Now I rejoice, not because you are saddened, but because you are saddened to repentance. For you are saddened according to God, so that you may suffer no detriment from yourselves.

For sorrow according to God works repentance into stable salvation. For the sorrow of this world works death. Again the apostle Peter in his second epistle: The Lord does not delay his promise, as some think he delays, but he waits because of you, unwilling to lose anyone, but expects everyone to return to the place of repentance. Again in the Apocalypse: And to the angel of the Laodicean church write: Thus says that Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creature of God: I know your works, because you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot, but since you are tepid, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say: I am rich and wealthy, and I have no need of anything; and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and a beggar and naked and blind. I urge you to buy from me gold tested by fire, so that you may be rich and wealthy, and my white garments, so that you may clothe yourself, so that the confusion of your nakedness may not appear; and with eye-salve anoint your eyes, so that you may see. I reprove and chastise whomever I love. Therefore be zealous and do penance. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter to him and dine with him, and he with me. To the one who conquers, I will give him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sit with my father on his throne.

CHAPTER 24. ON ALMS. In Psalm 111: He who distributes, who gives to the poor, his justice endures forever and ever. Likewise in Proverbs: Do not refrain from doing good to the poor, when your hand is able to help. Do not say: go and come back, I will give tomorrow, when you are able to do good immediately: for you do not know what may happen on the following day. Likewise there: The redemption of a man's soul is his wealth. Likewise there: He who has mercy on the poor is blessed. Likewise there: He who honors the Lord has mercy on the poor. Likewise there: By alms and faith are sins cleansed: but he who has mercy will obtain mercy. Likewise there: He who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord: and according to his gift it will be repaid to him. Likewise there: The fruit of a man is alms. Likewise there: He who hardens his ears, so that he does not hear the weak, he himself will call upon the Lord and there will be no one to hear him. Likewise there: He who has mercy on the poor will himself be nourished: for he gave from his own bread to the poor. Likewise there: He who gives to the poor will not be in need: but he who turns away his eye, in

There will be great poverty. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Water extinguishes a burning fire, and alms resists sins: and God the overseer, who will return the favor, remembers for the future, and at the time of your fall you will find support. Likewise there: Son, do not defraud the poor man of alms, and do not turn your eye away from the needy and destitute: do not despise a hungry soul, and do not delay your gift to the distressed: do not cast aside the plea of the afflicted, and do not turn your face away from the needy, and do not turn your eye away from the destitute on account of anger: and do not leave behind those who seek to curse you: for the prayer of the one cursing you in bitterness will be heard: but the one who made him will hear. Incline your ear to the poor man, and pay your debt, and answer peacefully with gentleness. Likewise there: Do not be faint-hearted in your soul: do not despise to pray and to give alms. And reach out your hand to the poor, so that your propitiation and blessing may be perfected. Likewise there: Do good to the just man, and you will find a great reward: and if not from him, certainly from the Lord. Likewise there: Son, do good to yourself, if you have the means, and offer worthy oblations to the Lord. Remember that death does not tarry and the testament of the underworld has been shown to you: the testament of this world dies with death. Before death, do good to your friend, and according to your means

reach out to the poor. Do not deprive yourself of a good day, and let no portion of a good gift pass you by. Will you not leave your labors and sorrows to others? Before your death, prepare justice, for there is no way to find food in the underworld. Likewise there: A man's alms is like a seal with him, and a man's grace will preserve him like the pupil of the eye. Likewise there: Yet do not be slow to pity the humble soul, and do not drag him for the sake of alms. Lose money for the sake of a brother and a friend, and do not hide it under a stone to perish. Place your treasure in the commandments of the Most High; it will profit you more than a mother. Store alms in the heart of the poor, and this will plead for you against all evil. Likewise there: Mercy is beautiful in time of tribulation, like a cloud of rain in time of need. Likewise in the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy more than sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Likewise in Deuteronomy: Let there be no needy person lacking in your land; for this reason I command you to do this thing, saying: You shall open your hands to your poor and needy brother in your land, each according to the strength of his hands, in accordance with the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you. Likewise Job: I did not make a widow's eye weep over me, nor did I ever eat my bread alone.

Beautiful is mercy in the day of tribulation. In Job, chapter: (I ate and did not give to the orphan from it; if I despised the naked passerby and did not clothe him; if the shoulders of the sick did not bless me; if they were not warmed from the shearing of my sheep; if I did not open my hand to the orphan or was not a help to them: let my shoulder depart from my neck, and let my arm be torn from my neck. For the fear of the Lord restrained me from doing these things. If I allowed the least and the powerless to go out of my door with an empty lap, let the hand of the Lord not look upon me: for in directing my heart to this, I feared God.) Likewise Baruch: Do good before him, and do not walk in the ways of iniquity. Nor turn your face away from the needy and the poor, for almsgiving frees from death. And see, son, that you do not follow the ways of the wicked, and let the multitude of sinners not persuade you. Likewise there: But if you have worked the truth, there will be regard of God in your works, and with all who do justice you will inherit eternal life. Likewise there: Do not delay, however, in offering alms from your substance, nor turn your face away from the poor: for by your doing this,

The face of God will turn away from you: for he will repay each one according to his works. Likewise there: But you, according as you have, stretch out your hand; and if your substance is abundant, give readily, do good, and be rich in good works. But even if your substance is meager, from this same share without sadness, and do not fear poverty in giving alms, because the giver is inexhaustible in his gifts, and you will store up a good reward for yourself, preparing its aid for the day of need. For alms will rescue from death, and does not allow the one who does good to go into darkness. For alms are an acceptable gift of God, and are present to all who do them before the Lord. And share your bread with the hungry: and cover the naked with your garments: from everything that you have in abundance, give alms, and let not your eye begrudge your good will. And do not be troubled, son, that we have lived a poor life: for you have many goods, if you keep the inheritance of my precepts: for prayer with fasting is perfect, and alms with justice. And in all these things, even a little with justice is better than much with iniquity: and it is better for you to treasure up the alms of mercy than an abundance of money. For alms frees from death and does not allow one to go into darkness, and it is this which purges sins: and those who give alms work justice, they will be filled for eternal life.

Item Paul the Apostle to the Romans: It pleased, however, in Macedonia and Achaia to make some collection for the poor who are in Jerusalem among the saints. For they are debtors of them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, the Gentiles ought also to serve them in carnal things. Item to the Corinthians II: I thought it necessary to ask the brothers to go to you and prepare beforehand this promised blessing to be ready, but as a blessing, not as avarice. I say this, because he who sows sparingly, sparingly also reaps, and he who sows in blessing reaps from blessing and reaps eternal life. Each one as he has purposed in his heart, not from sadness or necessity: for a cheerful giver does God love. Item to the Galatians: Doing good, let us not grow weary: for in its time we shall reap, not growing weary. Therefore while we have time, let us work good towards all, but especially towards the household of the faith. Item to the Philippians: Not that I seek a gift, but I require an abundant fruit in your account. I have everything, and I abound: I am filled with what was sent by Epaphroditus from you, the odor of sweetness, an acceptable offering pleasing to God. Item John the Apostle I:

Whoever, however, has worldly substance and sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God remain in him? Little children, let us not love only in word and tongue, but in deed and truth. Likewise James the Apostle: Pure and uncontaminated holiness before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Likewise there: Judgment without mercy for him who did not show mercy, for mercy is preferred to judgment. Likewise there: What good is it, brothers, if someone says that faith remains in himself, but he has no works? Can faith alone save him? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily bread, and one of you says to them: Go in peace, warm yourselves and be filled, but does not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it to have said these things to them? So also faith which has no works is dead in itself. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: To everyone asking you

give; and do not turn away from him who wishes to borrow. Likewise there: When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men: amen I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your alms be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you openly. Likewise according to Luke: Yet give alms, and behold, all things are clean for you. Likewise there: And Jesus, looking, saw those who were placing their gifts in the treasury, the rich. He also saw a certain poor widow placing two small copper coins. And he said: Truly I say to you, this poor widow has given more than all. All these gave abundantly from their own to the gifts of God: but she gave from what she lacked, all the sustenance she had. Likewise there: Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure that does not fail in heaven, where no air reaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure will be, there also will be your heart.

yours will be. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: But all who believed had everything in common, and they sold their possessions and whatever they had, and distributed daily to all, as each had need. Likewise there: But the multitude of believers had one heart and one soul: and none of them called anything they possessed their own, but all things were common to them. XXV. ONE MUST ALWAYS PRAY. In Psalm 118: I was mindful of your name in the night, O Lord, and I kept your law. Likewise there: At midnight I arose to confess to you concerning the judgments of your justice. Likewise in Psalm 6: I will wash my bed each night, I will water my couch with tears. Likewise in Psalm 133: In the nights lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not be hindered from praying always, and do not grow old until death without being justified: for the Lord's reward remains forever. Before prayer prepare your soul, and do not be like a man who tempts God. Likewise there: The prayer of the poor hastens from the mouth up to the clouds, and judgment will come quickly to him, and he hears the weighty supplication. Likewise there: He will not despise the prayers of an orphan, nor a widow if she pours forth prayer. Does not the tear fall to the cheek, and the cry ascend to heaven, and God the hearer delight in them? Likewise there: He who pleases the Lord will be received with delight, and his prayer will approach up to the clouds.

The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds, and it will not be delayed until it draws near, nor will it withdraw until the Most High looks down. Likewise according to Luke: And Jesus said: Which of you will have a friend and go to him at midnight and say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, because my friend has come to me from the road and I have nothing to set before him. And he, answering from within, will say: Do not trouble me, for the door is already shut, and the boys are in the bedroom with me, I cannot get up and give to you. And if he persists in knocking, I tell you, even if he does not give to him rising up because he is his friend, yet on account of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he desires. I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everything that one asks he receives, and what one seeks he finds, and to one who knocks it will be opened. Likewise there: Watch therefore at all times, that you may be deemed worthy to escape all those things which are to come, and you will stand before the Son of Man. Likewise to the Philippians: The Lord is near: be anxious about nothing, but in all

has a reason to flee from gratitude, your petitions become known before God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, directs your hearts and bodies in Christ Jesus. Likewise to the Thessalonians I: Always rejoice in the Lord, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all things: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you. Likewise to the Colossians: Be diligent in prayer, watchful in it with thanksgiving. Likewise to Timothy I: I desire, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting holy hands without anger and disputation. Likewise there: But she who is truly a widow and desolate, hopes in God and persists in prayers night and day. XXVI. CONCERNING THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE COMING JUDGMENT. In Deuteronomy: Because fire blazed forth from my wrath, and it will burn down to the depths of the underworld: it consumes the earth and its produce, and burns up the foundations of the mountains. Likewise there: Behold, these things are gathered in my treasuries: on the day of judgment I will repay in time, when their foot has slipped: because the day of their destruction is near, and it will come, prepared for you: for the Lord has judged his people, and will take comfort in his servants. Likewise there: And I will repay judgment to my enemies, and to those who hate me I will requite. Likewise in Psalm VII: The Lord is a just judge, strong and patient, does he not grow angry day by day? Unless you turn back, he will brandish his sword, he has stretched his bow and made it ready: and in it he has prepared vessels of death, his arrows.

has been at work among those burning. Likewise in Psalm 46: God will come manifestly, our God, and he will not be silent. Fire will burn before his face, and a mighty storm around him. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: Howl, for the day of the Lord is near, and destruction will come from God. Likewise there: For behold, the day of the Lord will come without respite, of indignation and wrath, to lay waste the orb of the earth and destroy sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and Lucifer and all the ornament of heaven will give no light, and they will be darkened at the rising of the sun, and the moon will not retain its light. And I will command evils upon the whole world and upon the impious their sins: and I will destroy the insolence of the wicked, and I will humble the insolence of the proud. And those who are left will be more precious than gold, and a man more precious than a sapphire stone. Likewise there: For behold, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariot like a storm, to render vengeance in wrath and the destruction of the flame of fire. For in the fire of the Lord every land will be judged, and in

a sword of all flesh. Likewise there: For the visitation will be with commotion and thunder and earthquake, with a very loud tempest falling, and a flame of fire consuming. And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its stars will fall like leaves from a vine and like leaves from a fig tree. For it is the day of the Lord's judgment and the year of retribution. Likewise in the prophet Amos: Woe to those who desire the day of the Lord! And why do you desire this day of the Lord? For this is a day of darkness and not light, as if a man flees from the face of a lion, and a bear falls upon him, and he rushes into his house and thrusts his hands into the wall, and a serpent bites him. Is not that day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and a mist without light? Likewise in the prophet Joel: Gird yourselves and lament, you priests, mourn, you who serve the altar, enter, sleep on sackcloth, you who serve God, because the sacrifice and the libation have ceased from the house of your God. Likewise there: Sanctify a fast, proclaim a service,

summon the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of our Lord God, and cry out vehemently to the Lord: Woe to me, woe to me, woe to me, on the day of the Lord! For the day of the Lord is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and fog. Before his face the earth will be shaken and the sky will be moved, and the sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars will fall and will not give their light. And the Lord will give his voice before the face of his army, because that army is exceedingly great, and because the works of his words are mighty, and the day of the Lord is great, exceedingly great and manifest, and who will be sufficient for him? Likewise in the prophet Zephaniah: The voice of the day of the Lord is established as bitter and harsh. That day is a powerful day, a day of wrath, a day of tribulation and necessity, a day of unhappiness and destruction, a day of darkness and tempest, a day of cloud and fog, a day of trumpet and clamor over strong cities and over high towers. Likewise there: And I will pour out their blood like mud, and their flesh like the dung of oxen, and their silver and gold will not be able to free them on the day

wrath of the Lord. Also in the prophet Isaiah: And the saints shall go forth, and they shall see the limbs of men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be extinguished: and they shall be in the sight of all flesh. Also according to Matthew: Thus it shall be at the consummation of this age: angels shall go forth and separate the wicked from the company of the righteous, and they shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be their weeping and gnashing of teeth. Also there: Immediately after those days of tribulation the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth shall lament, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky with great power and majesty. And he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a loud voice, and they shall gather his elect from the four

in the corners of the winds, from the heights of heaven to their highest point. Likewise the apostle Peter II: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will rush by with great force, and the elements will be dissolved by the heat of fire, and the earth and all the works in it. Of all those perishing, such as they must eat abominable foods and impieties, not awaiting the presence of the day of the Lord, through which the burning heavens will be dissolved and the elements will be boiled down by the heat of fire. Likewise in the Apocalypse of John: But for the doubtful and the unfaithful and the abominable and murderers and adulterers and sorcerers and those serving idols and liars, their portion is in the lake of burning fire and sulfur, which is the second death. XXVII. ON THE RESURRECTION. In Job: Your sons will be like the green of the field. And at the consummation of the age, rising from the tomb, you will return like ripe wheat, which is cut at its own time, and ascends in the heap of the threshing floor, which is accumulated every hour. For he who is without malice has raised him from the earth, and will not forget him. Likewise there: Because I know that, even if a man has died, having completed the days of his life, he will not perish before you, but will live. For which reason I too will endure, until I am made again: and when you call me, I will obey. The works of your hands. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: And the hand of the Lord was upon me, and the Lord led me in spirit, and placed me in the middle of a field, and it was full of human bones. And he led me around in a circle over their faces.

And behold, there were very many bones, exceedingly dry, upon the face of the plain. And he said to me: Son of man, shall these bones live? And I answered: Lord, you know this. And he said to me: Son of man, prophesy over these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord to these bones: Behold, I will bring into you the spirit of life, and I will give you sinews, and I will bring flesh upon you, and I will stretch skin over you, and I will give my spirit into you, and you will live, and you will know that I am the Lord. And I prophesied as the Lord commanded me. And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, and behold, a great earthquake, and the bones were coming together, each to its own joint. And I saw, and behold, sinews and flesh were growing upon them, and skin was being stretched, but there was no spirit in them. And the Lord said to me: Prophesy in the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord: Come from the four winds of heaven, O spirit, and breathe into these dead ones, and let them live. And I prophesied as he commanded me: and the spirit of life entered into them, and they lived, and they stood upon their feet, a very great multitude. And the Lord spoke to me, saying: Son of man, these bones are the house of Israel. And they themselves say: Our bones have become dry, our hope has perished. Therefore prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will open your tombs, and I will lead you out of your tombs, that I may bring you into the land of Israel.

and you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your tombs and lead my people out of the monuments. And I will place my spirit in you and you will live, and I will set you in your land, and you will know that I am the Lord: and I have spoken and I will do it, says the Lord. Likewise in the prophet Daniel: And many of the sleeping will arise upon the covering of the earth, and they will arise into eternal life. Likewise there: And these into reproach and eternal confusion. Likewise there: And you will arise in your lot at the end of days. Likewise in 2 Maccabees: Therefore the Lord, who made heaven and earth and the sea, who made man and examines the deed of all, he himself will restore spirit and soul to us again with mercy. Likewise there: You indeed, wicked and impious one, will destroy us from the present life: but the king of the world—who reigns eternally, and whose kingdom has no end—will resurrect us, dead for his sacred laws, into the fellowship of eternal life.

Also there: It is better to choose to die at the hands of men and to have hope from the Lord for a future resurrection. But for you, tyrant, there will be no resurrection into life. Also there: Therefore do not fear this executioner, but accept death worthy of such brothers, so that I may receive you in great mercy together with your brothers. Also in the Gospel according to John: For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also the Son gives life to whom he wills. Also there: Amen I say to you, the hour has come and is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Also there: For I say to you, do not marvel at this, because the hour will come in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come forth—those who have done good into the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil into the resurrection of judgment. Also there: For this is the will of my Father, who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last with me. Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: But when these things begin to happen, you will breathe again and lift up your heads, because your redemption has drawn near. Also the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians I: But now Christ has risen from the dead, the beginning of the sleeping. For because through man came death, so through man comes the resurrection of the dead. For just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be given life.

Each one, however, in his own order: the beginning is Christ, then those who are of Christ, who believed in his coming, then the end. Also there: Do not be led astray: evil conversations corrupt good morals. Be sober and just, and do not sin: for some have ignorance of God. I say this to you for shame. But someone says: How do the dead rise? And with what body do they come? Foolish one: what you sow is not given life unless it dies, and what you sow you do not sow as the body that is born, but as a bare grain, for example of wheat or of some other among the rest: but God gives it a body as he wills, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh, but one kind is of man, another of beast, another of birds, another of fish. And there are celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies: one kind is of celestial glory, another of terrestrial glory: one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for star differs from star in brightness. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown into destruction, it rises into perpetuity.

It is sown in contumely, it rises in glory. It is sown in infirmity, it rises in virtue. It is sown as an animal body, it rises as a spiritual body. Thus also it is written: the first man Adam was made into a living soul, the last Adam into a life-giving spirit. But not that which is spiritual comes first, but that which is animal, then spiritual. Likewise there: Behold, I tell you a mystery: we all indeed rise again, but not all will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise incorrupt, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Likewise to the Corinthians II: For we who live in death are thus delivered up for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Likewise there: For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation is dissolved, the building from God

we have a home not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, our dwelling-place, which is from heaven, desiring to be clothed over: if, however, we are found stripped, not naked. For even we who are in this dwelling-place groan, burdened by that which we are unwilling to be stripped of, but desire to be clothed over, so that this mortal thing may be absorbed by life. But the one who makes us in this very thing is God, who gave us the pledge of the Spirit. Likewise to the Philippians: But our citizenship is in the heavens, whence we await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who reformed the body of our humility conformed to the body of his glory. Likewise to the Thessalonians: But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who sleep, that you may not be sad as the rest who have no hope in the Lord. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God will bring those who have slept through Jesus with him. For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who live, who are left behind, will not anticipate those who sleep at the coming of the Lord: since the Lord himself, in the cry of the archangel and in the trumpet of God