John Chrysostom, On Psalm 118

somewhere he says: In affliction you have made room for me; and again: You have enlarged my steps under me, and my footsteps have not weakened, when you made my circumstances easy and light, and you drove away from me every choking and crooked assault of the enemy. For this is, When you enlarged my heart, I ran the way of your commandments. Such was Paul when he said: So I run, not as uncertainly; so I box, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, Likewise also all the saints. Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will seek it out always. The word "Teach," Symmachus has "Show"; but Aquila and Theodotion, "Enlighten 55.683." Always, he says, I need your enlightenment and teaching, so as both to know the way of your statutes, and to walk in it accordingly. Every good gift therefore, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. And we, choosing to do something good, if we do not have cooperation from Him, our desire is incomplete. The prophet therefore prays, and we who sing the psalms (for whatever was written before was written for our salvation), to have God as a co-worker. Therefore he adds: Give me understanding, and I shall search your law, and I shall keep it with my whole heart. This verse also holds to the same contemplation, and does not require another meaning for its interpretation. For the Lord also commanded to search the Scriptures; but those who search need the radiance from above, so that they may both find what is sought, and guard what is captured. Guide me in the path of your commandments, for I have desired it. He does not simply ask the God of all to be his guide, but showing his longing for the journey. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness. The nature of water is to be carried downward, and if it should find any outlet, it all goes there; so, when the devil opened the way to sin, human nature inclined to the worse. Very fittingly, therefore, the prophet beseeches that his heart be inclined to the divine testimonies, and that he escape the experience of the motion to the other side. For the mind of man is diligently set on evil things from his youth, as it is written. We pray therefore, taught by the prophet, that our hearts may be inclined to His testimonies, and not to covetousness, to robberies and injustices, and to the distractions of this world. For all the life of the wicked is in care, according to the much-suffering Job. For from these things wealth is also gathered, which is also called mammon. Turn away my eyes, that I may not see vanity; in your way, give me life. ςʹ. The prophet entreats not to let his eyes be carried away by certain spectacles, both by the races of horses and peers, and the flexions of dancers, which are things of vanity, and unprofitable and useless; since also all the affairs and the many cares of this world that contribute to carnal passions, are vanities. Therefore also in Ecclesiastes it is said: Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, that is, earthly things; for he adds: What profit has a man in all his labor, in which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes; and again: I built for myself houses, I planted for myself vineyards, I made for myself gardens and parks, pools of water to water from them. I acquired male and female servants, and homeborn servants were mine, and indeed the possession of many herds and flocks was mine above all who were before me in Jerusalem. I gathered for myself also silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and of the provinces. I got for myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of man, male and female cupbearers; and I did not withhold the

λαχοῦ φησιν· Ἐν θλίψει ἐπλάτυνάς μοι· καὶ πάλιν· Ἐπλάτυνας τὰ διαβήματά μου ὑποκάτω μου, καὶ οὐκ ἠσθένησε τὰ ἴχνη μου, ὅταν εὔκολα καὶ εὐχερῆ ἐποίη σας τὰ κατ' ἐμὲ, καὶ ἀπεδίωξας ἀπ' ἐμοῦ πᾶσαν στραγ γαλιώδη καὶ σκολιὰν προσβολὴν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν, Ὅταν ἐπλάτυνας τὴν καρδίαν μου, ὁδὸν ἐν τολῶν σου ἔδραμον. Τοιοῦτος ἦν ὁ Παῦλος λέγων· Οὕτω τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως· οὕτω πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων· ἀλλ' ὑπωπιάζω μου τὸ σῶμα καὶ δου λαγωγῶ, Ὡσαύτως καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι. Νομοθέτησόν μοι, Κύριε, τὴν ὁδὸν τῶν δικαιωμάτων σου, καὶ ἐκ ζητήσω αὐτὴν διαπαντός. Τὸ Νομοθέτησον ὁ Σύμμαχος, Ὑπόδειξον εἶν· Ἀκύλας δὲ καὶ Θεοδοτίων, Φώ 55.683 τισον ∆ιαπαντὸς, φησὶ, τῆς σῆς δέομαι φωταγωγίας καὶ νομοθεσίας. ὥστε καὶ γνῶναι τῶν δικαιωμάτων σου τὴν ὁδὸν, καὶ ταύτην ἀκολούθως ὁδεύειν. Πᾶσα οὖν δό σις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον, ἄνωθέν ἐστι καταβαῖνον παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων. Καὶ ἡμεῖς προαιρούμενοι ἀγαθόν τι ποιεῖν, εἰ μὴ αὐτόθεν ἔχομεν τὴν συνεργίαν. ἀτελής ἐστιν ἡ ἔφεσις ἡμῶν. Εὔχεται οὖν ὁ προφήτης, καὶ ἡμεῖς οἱ ψάλλοντες (ὅσα οὖν προε γράφη, διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν προεγράφη), τὸν Θεὸν συνεργὸν ἔχειν. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐπιφέρει· Συνέτισόν με, καὶ ἐξερευνήσω τὸν νόμον σου, καὶ φυλάξω αὐ τὸν ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου. Τῆς αὐτῆς θεωρίας ἔχεται καὶ ὁ στίχος οὗτος, καὶ οὐ δέεται ἑτέρας ἐννοίας εἰς ἑρμη νείαν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος προσέταξεν ἐρευνᾷν τὰς Γραφάς· ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐρευνῶσι χρεία τῆς ἄνωθεν αἴγλης, ἵνα καὶ εὕρωσι τὸ ζητούμενον, καὶ φυλάξωσι τὸ θηρώμενον. Ὁδήγησόν με ἐν τῇ τρίβῳ τῶν ἐντολῶν σου, ὅτι αὐ τὴν ἠθέλησα. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς αἰτεῖ ποδηγὸν αὐτοῦ γενέσθαι τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεὸν, ἀλλὰ δεικνὺς τῆς πορείας τὸν πόθον. Κλῖνον τὴν καρδίαν μου εἰς τὰ μαρτύριά σου, καὶ μὴ εἰς πλεονεξίαν. Ἐπὶ τὸ πρανὲς φέρεσθαι πέφυκε τῶν ὑδάτων ἡ φύσις, κἄν τινος ἐπιλάβηται διεξόδου, ἐκεῖσε πᾶσα χωρεῖ· οὕτω τοῦ διαβόλου τὴν ἐπὶ τὴν ἁμαρ τίαν ὁδὸν διανοίξαντος, τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἔῤῥεψεν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον ἡ φύσις. Σφόδρα τοίνυν ὁ προφήτης ἁρμοδίως ἀν τιβολεῖ ἐπὶ τὰ θεῖα μαρτύρια τὴν καρδίαν κλιθῆναι, καὶ τῆς ἐπὶ θάτερον φορᾶς τὴν πεῖραν διαφυγεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ ἡ διάνοια τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπιμελῶς ἔγκειται ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ ἐκ νεότητος αὐτοῦ, καθὼς γέγραπται. Εὐχό μεθα οὖν διδασκόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ προφήτου κλιθῆναι τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν εἰς τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ εἰς πλεον εξίαν, εἰς ἁρπαγὰς καὶ ἀδικίας, καὶ εἰς περισπασμοὺς τοῦ κόσμου τούτου. Ὅτι πᾶς ὁ βίος τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἐν φροντίδι, κατὰ τὸν πολύαθλον Ἰώβ. Ἐκ τούτων γὰρ καὶ συνάγεται πλοῦτος, ὅστις καὶ μαμωνᾶς καλεῖται. Ἀπόστρεψον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν μα ταιότητα· ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου ζῆσόν με. ςʹ. Παρακαλεῖ ὁ προφήτης μὴ μετεωρίζεσθαι τοῖς ὀφ θαλμοῖς διά τινων θεάτρων, ἵππων τε καὶ ἡλίκων δρομαῖς, καὶ ὀρχηστικῶν λυγισμάτων, ἅτινά ἐστι ματαιότητος, καὶ ἀκερδῆ καὶ ἀνόνητα· ἐπεὶ καὶ πάντα τὰ πράγματα καὶ αἱ φροντίδες αἱ πολλαὶ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου αἱ συν τείνουσαι πρὸς πάθη σαρκικὰ, ματαιότητές εἰσι. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐν τῷ Ἐκκλησιαστῇ εἴρηται· Ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, καὶ πάντα ματαιότης, τὰ γήϊνα δηλονότι· ἐπάγει γάρ· Τίς περισσεία τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον; Γενεὰ πορεύεται, καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται· καὶ αὖθις· Ὠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους, ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας, ἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδεί σους, κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπ' αὐτῶν. Ἐκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας, καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι, καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίων καὶ ποιμνίων πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ. Συνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον, καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν. Ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ᾀδούσας, καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, οἰνοχόους καὶ οἰνο χοούσας· καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκώλυσα τὴν