But it must be known that some of the psalms, as I have already said before, clearly and plainly speak the mystery of Christ, the savior of us all, while others have the power of personification. For one is introduced, for example, offering thanks for the good things he has received and fulfilling the sacrifice of praise; another, suffering for piety's sake, enduring persecutions and afflictions and temptations, and desiring help from above; yet another, having acted bravely and having conquered and having triumphed over the strength of those who opposed him; another, being held fast in the storms of sin and of the passions, and asking for mercy from the one who knows how to save. And there are also those which contain a narrative and teaching of a most lawful and decent way of life, and how one might live splendidly, but they also make remembrance of more ancient matters that happened for the glory of God. And all these things will work the greatest possible benefit and will show forth as craftsmen for every good work those who are willing to survey the path of a holy life with the precise eye of the mind.

Ἰστέον δὲ ὅτι οἱ μὲν τῶν ψαλμῶν, ὡς ἤδη φθάσας προεῖπον, σαφῶς τε καὶ ἐναργῶς τὸ τοῦ πάντων ἡμῶν σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ λαλοῦσι μυστήριον, οἱ δὲ προσωποποιΐας ἐπέχουσι δύναμιν. εἰσφέρεται γὰρ ὁ δέ τις τυχὸν τὰ ἐφ' οἷς εὖ πέπονθεν ἀνατιθεὶς χαριστήρια καὶ τὴν τῆς αἰνέσεως ἀποπληρῶν θυσίαν· ὁ δὲ πάσχων ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας διωγμούς τε καὶ θλίψεις καὶ πειρασμοὺς ὑπομένων καὶ τῆς ἄνωθεν ἐπικουρίας γλιχόμενος· ἕτερος δέ τις ἀνδρισάμενος καὶ νενικηκὼς καὶ τῆς τῶν ἀνθεστηκότων αὐτῷ κατευμεγεθήσας ἰσχύος· ὁ δὲ τοῖς τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τοῖς τῶν παθῶν χειμῶσιν ἐνισχημένος καὶ παρὰ τοῦ σώζειν εἰδότος τὸν ἔλεον αἰτῶν. εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ οἳ ἀφήγησιν ἔχουσι καὶ διδα σκαλίαν ἐννομωτάτης τε καὶ ἐπιεικοῦς πολιτείας, καὶ ὅπως ἄν τις διαβιῴη λαμπρῶς, ἀλλὰ καὶ πραγμάτων ἀρχαιοτέρων εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ γεγονότων ποιοῦνται τὴν ἀνάμνησιν. ἅπαντα δὲ ταυτὶ πλείστην ὅσην τὴν ὄνησιν ἐνεργάσεται καὶ τεχνίτας ἀποφανεῖ πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν τοὺς ἀκριβεῖ διανοίας ὄμματι τῆς εὐαγοῦς πολιτείας περιαθρεῖν ἐθέλοντας τὴν ὁδόν.