John Chrysostom, On Psalm 118

they steal; but in the storehouses of the heart I have hidden your words, says the prophet, that I might not fall into sin. But the word teaches another thing also: for it does not bid us offer the divine oracles to all; For give not, he says, that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine. And though these things were spoken by him, yet we who sing the psalms are debtors to preserve the confession of our hymnody. But the word also has another meaning. I do not do good things to be seen by men, for then I have my reward; but I do good for myself, that God who sees in secret may reward me openly. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes; instead of, you are gentle and loving, and worthy to be hymned by all; for which cause I beseech you to learn from you the things that are able to justify. Or thus: blessed are you and glorified above all, for you are loving, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy; I beseech you, teach me your statutes. I do not desire wealth, I do not seek gold, nor silver, nor dignity, nor any of the pleasant things of this world; but I seek to learn your statutes, because in keeping them there is great reward. For this is a Christian's quest. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of your mouth. For it is not fitting for one who knows the judgments of God to be silent within himself, but to declare them, and to correct others; for to proclaim the works of God is glorious. For what I might learn from your goodness, these things I will teach those who are ignorant. In the way of your testimonies I have been delighted, as in all riches. The path of virtue is indeed arduous, but to the perfect it is greatly desired. For this reason the Lord Christ also said: Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The prophetic word also said this: that the possession of your testimonies is more pleasing to me than all wealth. But the phrase, "In all riches," is not added simply, but it indicates every kind of wealth. For there are many kinds of wealth. For one who has gold is called rich; and another, silver; and another, much land, some planted, some sown; and another, cattle. But the prophet, including all these things, and comparing them to the divine testimonies, said that the divine testimonies are as desirable to him as all the kinds of wealth are to lovers of wealth; and just as he who is rich in these things rejoices, so also, and very rightly, he exults in the statutes of God as in all riches. I will meditate on your commandments, and I will understand your ways. The prophet promises to be at leisure and to meditate on the commandments of God, and not to hold them as a secondary matter. For this reason, he says, I will constantly have the study of your words, and I will make my journey in your ways. For on this account he also understood his ways; wherefore he also adds: I will meditate on your statutes; I will not forget your words; that is, I will keep the memory of your oracles unforgettable in myself. Render to your servant. Not all of us ask this; for the request is for the just. Those who live soberly and piously and justly, they themselves say with boldness: Render to your servant; but those who are in 55.680 sins and pleasures and passions of dishonor, cannot say: Render to your servant. For no one bearing an evil conscience rouses the judge to recompense; but he who uses pure reasonings uses this voice with boldness. I will live, and I will keep your words. I ask for this life, that I may walk in the keeping of your words; for enjoying your help, I will escape the death of sin, and I will gather the life from your words. Uncover my eyes, and I will understand the wondrous things from your law. Not all who encounter the divine oracles, the

κλέπτουσιν· ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις τῆς καρδίας ἔκρυψα τὰ λόγιά σου, φησὶν ὁ προφήτης, ἵνα μὴ καταπέσω εἰς ἁμαρτίαν. ∆ιδάσκει δὲ καὶ ἕτερον ὁ λό γος οὐ γὰρ ἅπασι τὰ θεῖα λόγια προσφέρειν παρεγγυᾷ· Μὴ δῶτε γὰρ, φησὶ, τὰ ἅγια τοῖς κυσὶ, μηδὲ ῥίψητε τοὺς μαργαρίτας ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων. Ταῦτα δὲ εἰ καὶ παρ' αὐτῷ εἴρηται, ἀλλ' οὖν ἡμεῖς οἱ ψάλλον τες ὀφειλέται ἐσμὲν συντηρεῖν τῆς ὑμνῳδίας ἡμῶν τὴν ὁμολογίαν. Ἔχει δὲ καὶ ἕτερον νοῦν ὁ λόγος. Οὐχὶ πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ ἀγαθὰ πράττω, ἐπεὶ ἀπέχω τὸν μισθόν μου· ἀλλ' ἐμαυτῷ ποιῶ τὸ καλὸν, ἵνα ὁ βλέπων Θεὸς ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσῃ μοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε· δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου· ἀντὶ τοῦ, ἥμερος εἶ καὶ φιλάνθρωπος, καὶ ἄξιος παρὰ πάντων ὑμνεῖσθαι· οὗ δὴ χάριν ἀντιβολῶ σε μαθεῖν παρὰ σοῦ τὰ δικαιῶσαι δυνάμενα. Ἢ οὕτως· εὐλογημένος εἶ καὶ δεδοξασμένος παρὰ πάντας, ὅτι φιλάνθρωπος εἶ, οἰ κτίρμων καὶ ἐλεήμων, μακρόθυμος καὶ πολυέλεος· ἱκε τεύω, δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου. Οὐ πλούτου ἐφίε μαι, οὐ χρυσὸν ζητῶ, οὐκ ἄργυρον, οὐκ ἀξίαν, οὔτε τι τῶν τερπνῶν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου· ἀλλὰ τὰ δικαιώματά σου μαθεῖν ζητῶ, ὅτι ἐν τῷ φυλάσσειν αὐτὰ ἀνταπόδο σις πολλή. Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι Χριστιανοῦ ζήτησις. Ἐν τοῖς χείλεσί μου ἐξήγγειλα πάντα τὰ κρίματα τοῦ στό ματός σου. Οὐ γὰρ γινώσκοντι τὰ κρίματα τοῦ Θεοῦ πρέπον ἐστι σιωπᾷν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, ἀλλ' ἐξαγγέλλειν, καὶ ἑτέρους ἐπανορθοῦν· Θεοῦ γὰρ ἀναγγέλλειν ἔργα ἔνδοξον. Ἃ γὰρ ἂν παρὰ τῆς σῆς ἀγαθότητος μάθοιμι, ταῦτα διδάξω τοὺς ἀγνοοῦντας. Ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τῶν μαρτυρίων σου ἐτέρφθην, ὡς ἐπὶ παντὶ πλούτῳ. Ἐπίπονος μὲν ἡ τῆς ἀρετῆς ὁδὸς, ἀλλὰ τοῖς τελείοις τριπόθητος. ∆ιά τοι τοῦτο καὶ ∆εσπότης ἔφη Χριστός· Λάβετε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ' ὑμᾶς, ὅτι ὁ ζυγός μου χρηστὸς, καὶ τὸ φορτίον μου ἐλαφρόν ἐστι. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ προφητικὸς ἔφη λόγος· ὅτι πλούτου παντὸς θυμηρεστέρα μοι τῶν σῶν μαρτυ ρίων ἡ κτῆσις. Τὸ δὲ, Ἐπὶ παντὶ πλούτῳ, οὐχ ἁπλῶς πρόσκειται, ἀλλὰ τὸν παντοδαπὸν πλοῦτον παραδηλοῖ. Πολλὰ γὰρ τοῦ πλούτου τὰ εἴδη. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ χρυσὸν ἔχων ὀνομάζεται πλούσιος· ὁ δὲ ἄργυρον· ὁ δὲ γῆν πλείστην, τὴν μὲν πεφυτευμένην, τὴν δὲ καὶ σπειρομένην· ὁ δὲ βοσκήματα. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα περιλαβὼν ὁ προφήτης, καὶ τοῖς θείοις μαρτυρίοις παραβαλὼν, ἔφησεν ἀξιέραστα αὐτῷ εἶναι τὰ θεῖα μαρτύρια, ὡς τοῖς φιλοπλούτοις ἅπαντα τοῦ πλούτου τὰ εἴδη· καὶ ὥσπερ ὁ ταῦτα πλουτῶν εὐφραίνεται, οὕτω καὶ μάλα εἰκότως ἐπὶ τοῖς δικαιώμασι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὡς ἐπὶ παντὶ πλούτῳ, ἀγάλλεται. Ἐν ταῖς ἐν τολαῖς σου ἀδολεσχήσω, καὶ κατανοήσω τὰς ὁδούς σου. Σχολάζειν καὶ μελετᾷν ἐπαγγέλλεται ὁ προφήτης ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ οὐχὶ παρέργως ταύτας ἔχειν. Τούτου γὰρ χάριν, φησὶν, ἐνδελεχῶς τῶν σῶν λόγων τὴν μελέτην σχήσω, καὶ ἐν ταῖς σαῖς ὁδοῖς τὴν πορείαν ποιήσομαι. ∆ιὰ γὰρ τοῦτο κατενόησε καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐ τοῦ· διὸ καὶ ἐπιφέρει· Ἐν τοῖς δικαιώμασί σου με λετήσω· οὐκ ἐπιλήσομαι τῶν λόγων σου· τουτέστιν, ἄληστον τῶν σῶν λογίων ἐν ἐμαυτῷ φυλάξω τὴν μνήμην. Ἀνταπόδος τῷ δούλῳ σου. Οὐ πάντες τοῦτο παρακα λοῦμεν· τῶν γὰρ δικαίων ἐστὶν ἡ παράκλησις. Οἱ σω φρόνως καὶ εὐσεβῶς καὶ δικαίως ζῶντες, αὐτοὶ τεθαῤῥη κότως λέγουσιν· Ἀνταπόδος τῷ δούλῳ σου· οἱ δὲ ἐν 55.680 ἁμαρτίαις καὶ ἡδοναῖς καὶ πάθεσιν ἀτιμίας, οὐ δύνανται λέγειν· Ἀνταπόδος τῷ δούλῳ σου. Οὐδεὶς γὰρ πονηρὸν συνειδὸς περιφέρων εἰς ἀνταπόδοσιν τὸν κριτὴν διεγεί ρει· ὁ δὲ καθαροῖς χρώμενος λογισμοῖς σὺν παῤῥησίᾳ ταύτῃ κέχρηται τῇ φωνῇ. Ζήσομαι, καὶ φυλάξω τοὺς λόγους σου. Ταύτην τὴν ζωὴν αἰτῶ, ἵνα ἐν φυλακῇ τῶν λόγων σου πορεύωμαι· τῆς σῆς γὰρ ἀπολαύων ἐπικουρίας, διαφεύξομαι τῆς ἁμαρτίας τὸν θάνατον, καὶ τὴν ἐκ τῶν λόγων σου τρυγήσω ζωήν. Ἀποκάλυψον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ κατανοήσω τὰ θαυμάσια ἐκ τοῦ νόμου σου. Οὐχ ἅπαντες οἱ τοῖς θείοις ἐντυγχά νοντες λογίοις, τὰ