Expositio in Proverbia

 the things that have fallen, that is, from the pretext of Uriah. How then does Solomon say before: “He who rejoices 17.165 at another's destruction wi

 would have difficulty, just as the desire for money a pure mind draws near to wisdom since it knows well but the impure will be far from it. Adam i

 but here, that he names the mind a good gift, on account of the one who unjustly receives gifts in his bosom, and is not prospered for those unjust g

 of virtue And this persuades me, in a small way, that the rich man being judged in Hades for his wickedness was not completely given over to every ev

 to you, You shall not be angry. It must be noted here that he calls the natural harmonious movement of the ant, wisdom for indeed one wiser than a wi

 for he was the lamp that was burning and shining a light, the New Testament For I, he says, am the light of the world a refutation of evil things,

 of the kemphos fish in the sea, flying in schools here and there which the sailors, having baited a many-hooked line, catch and not only does it not

 come to the introductions but when they become wise, and are strengthened, reprove them. And Christ, when his disciples were still young, did not rep

 of the evil one. But the impious who sin will not only fall from the kingdom, but they will inhabit the fire and not the earth. Instead of, he is full

 be not silent to me, says David, and I will be like those who go down into the pit. A lawless man will be passed over in silence by God, that is, he w

 sinning. Here he calls the senses ways but he who guards them, keeps his own soul from death unto life for life is the Holy Trinity that gives life

 afflicted, distressed? And how will the unbeliever not have an obol, when many unbelievers are clothed with much wealth, I mean kings and rulers of th

 the love of God for humanity which also brings us to God the Father himself, as sons weaned, and desiring spiritual solid food so that just as his S

 your eyes, say: for many, even without having begun virtue, not only advise others to act rightly, but also compel and exhort them. Here he says man

 body is profitable to the foolish man for he will trample it underfoot, being a pleasure-loving pig and by sensible luxury his flesh will be moved t

 that is, to imitate the virtues of the righteous and prophets who shone in the six ages before the coming of Christ, who also feed the widow and orpha

 of the Lord, is the knowledge of the Lord, and the light of the Lord is the breath of men, therefore the knowledge of the Lord is the breath of men b

 He calls the mind a horse, which is warred against by the devil, and which wars in return For you will mount, he says, upon your horses and your rid

 he slanders us to God, taking from us the virtues which he has not given us, so also we slander him taking from him the vices which we have not given

 But do not enter into the land of those who have orphaned themselves from God, who possess wickedness as the property of demons, on account of which t

 but vice diminishes virtue, and virtue obviously corrupts vice and this will happen in the age to come, until vice ceases for shall be defiled, in

 earth-born nations, and having strengthened them with virtues in faith in him, Christ the God, and having stored up the heavenly water that which flo

 is, the law given to us by him in righteousness and those who gouge out the eyes of the impious, he called ravens but those who devour him whole, he

 of lands, he keeps his own justly. Cast a precious sardius into a golden earring, and the wisdom of the Lord into a dispassionate and obedient mind to

 defines servants or those under his hand for the rod is a symbol of punishment. From his own feet, etc. Here he calls servants 'feet' and from them

 to the devil who made it, to yield as to a brother, so as to be destroyed with him. -Better is he who is joined to me through true knowledge, than he

 lawless, are the doctrines of demons, which the instructed son does not obey and by son he means the mind but he who restrains his mind from being c

 of blood are the demons, who killed those living in Christ by the shedding of blood but the upright will seek out his soul these are they who wish t

 a soul of abundance for its bodily house. He says that the soul of the diligent man has the Church as a tree of knowledge and a tree of life of knowl

be not silent to me, says David, and I will be like those who go down into the pit. A lawless man will be passed over in silence by God, that is, he will be hated, and will not be pitied, when He bestows the rewards on those who have received the grace of His incarnate economy, as He says in the Gospels, And grace for grace. The wealth of the ungodly is wickedness. But the righteous will consume them, that is, through good teaching; therefore also in the age to come being placed over fifteen cities; for the heavenly inheritance which those who gave themselves over to impiety were about to receive, this the righteous will inherit, as Paul also says: 17.193 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. But the good man will cause those who obey him as sons obey a father to inherit, and for that one he will adopt the kingdom of the heavens. Just as they are invincible, just as weapons provide security; for nothing evil will stand against wisdom, because it is an unconquerable weapon; for against this alone are the demons powerless; but to the foolish man, all things both visible and incorporeal are contrary. Here he calls the bodies "houses"; for they are the houses of souls; but it is owed by those who know godliness and contemplative knowledge, that the lawless learn not only the knowledge of God, but also all of the life-giving commandments; so that having become pure, they might see God with their spiritual eyes; for this is the blessed end, which has been reserved for every rational nature; but the houses of the righteous are ready for the reception of all, as the Lord commands. He now called "thoughts" the divine visions and the states of the virtues, which he set against the ways of a presumptuous mind; For out of the abundance of the heart the lips speak, said the Lord; for the good man intends not to do evil, but to do good; but the presumptuous man, acting and speaking as a fool, will be filled with scourges, and the removal of possessions, and in the end will lose his own soul. He now called the commandments "reproofs"; for these reprove us when we sin; but those who hate them, and die along with the shamefulness of their sins, will miserably waste away with their wicked inventor; but by those who pass by wickedness, the discipline of sinlessness of the innocent is known. Stillness is abstinence from actual wickedness and visions, which the good practice in their stillness; but the eyes of the mind and body of the wicked, all the time devise evil things. But the prudent man is not in the Hades of sinners; ways of life, thoughts of divine words and deeds; but the prudent man always does and teaches these things, so that having turned aside from Hades with those who learn from him, he may be saved. Those who do not do His commandments are His enemies; but they become His friends when they run to the righteous, confessing their own wicked deeds; from which having been led, they will travel the life-giving ways as those do; as Paul preached, Those who were once enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son; it must be noted that all enemies become friends through the righteous; so that Christ might also say to all: No longer do I call you servants, but friends. 17.196 Again there also is need of wisdom, that it may propitiate; or the angel who knows the reasons concerning punishment, is called the wrath of God. But the wise man in divine works and words, being of one mind with him, will not be terrified of him. The nests of wisdom are the Churches, or the tabernacles in heaven; and wisdom is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But the nests of prudence, more desirable than silver, are the practical virtues; righteousness, knowledge, wisdom, moderation, courage, long-suffering, forbearance, freedom from anger, mercy, faith with hope and love; through which, as on the rungs of a ladder, it is unhindered for those who wish to ascend and dwell to enter into the tabernacles of wisdom. He calls discipline the fear of God, fasting, self-control, vigilance, hymnody, and the discipline that comes upon us in sickness for a trial from God. He calls reproofs the commandments of God; for these reprove us

παρασιωπήσῃς ἀπ' ἐμοῦ, φησὶν ὁ ∆αυῒδ, καὶ ὁμοιωθήσομαι τοῖς καταβαίνουσιν εἰς λάκκον. Ἀνὴρ παράνομος παρασιωπηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, τουτέστι μισηθήσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἐλεηθήσεται, ὅταν τὰ γέρα τοῖς τὴν χάριν τῆς ἐνσάρκου οἰκονομίας αὐτοῦ δεξαμένοις, ἀπονέμῃ, καθά φησιν ἐν Εὐαγγελίοις, Καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος. Πλοῦτος ἀσεβῶν κακία. Οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι ἐξαναλώσου σιν αὐτοὺς, δηλονότι διὰ τῆς ἀγαθῆς διδασκαλίας· τοίνυν καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι ἐπάνω πεντεκαίδεκα πόλεων γενόμενοι· τὴν γὰρ κληροδοσίαν τὴν οὐράνιον ἣν ἤμελλον ἀπολαβεῖν οἱ ἀσεβείᾳ αὑτοὺς ἐκδώσαντες, ταύτην κληρονομήσουσι δίκαιοι, καθὰ καὶ Παῦλός φη 17.193 σιν· Κατὰ δὲ τὴν σκληρότητά σου καὶ ἀμετανόητόν σου καρδίαν θησαυρίζεις σεαυτῷ ὀργὴν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως καὶ δικαιοκρισίας Θεοῦ. Ὁ δὲ ἀγαθὸς κληροδοτῆσαι ποιήσει τοὺς ὡς υἱοὺς πατρὶ πειθομένους αὐτῷ, καὶ τοὺς ἐκείνῳ υἱοθετή σει τὴν τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείαν. Ὥσπερ ἀήττητά εἰσι, καθάπερ τὰ ὅπλα τὴν ἀσφά λειαν περιποιεῖ· οὐδὲν γὰρ πονηρὸν ἀντιστήσεται τῇ σοφίᾳ, διότι ὅπλον ἐστὶν ἀκαταμάχητον· μόνην γὰρ πρὸς ταύτην ἀδυνατοῦσιν οἱ δαίμονες· τῷ δὲ ἄφρονι τά τε ὁρατὰ καὶ ἀσώματα πάντα ἐναντία. Οἰκίας ἐνταῦθα τὰ σώματα λέγει· οἰκίαι γάρ εἰσι τῶν ψυχῶν· ὀφείλονται δὲ παρὰ τῶν τὴν θεοσέβειαν εἰδότων καὶ τὴν θεωρητικὴν γνῶσιν, οἱ παράνομοι τὴν θεογνωσίαν μαθεῖν οὐ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσαν τῶν ζωοποιῶν ἐντολῶν· ἵνα καθαροὶ γενόμενοι, ἴδωσι τὸν Θεὸν τοῖς νοεροῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς· τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ μακά ριον τέλος, ὅπερ πάσῃ φύσει λογικῇ τετήρηται· αἱ δὲ οἰκίαι τῶν δικαίων ἕτοιμαί εἰσιν εἰς δοχὴν πάντων, ὡς κελεύει ὁ Κύριος. ∆ιανοήματα νῦν εἶπεν τὰς θείας ὁράσεις καὶ τὰς ἕξεις τῶν ἀρετῶν, ἅσπερ ταῖς ὁδοῖς νοῦ θρασυκαρδίου ἀντέθεικεν· Ἀπὸ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρ δίας λαλεῖ τὰ χείλη, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· οὐ γὰρ κακο ποιῆσαι, ἀλλ' ἀγαθοποιῆσαι ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἀνὴρ διανοεῖται· ὁ δὲ θρασυκάρδιος ὡς ἄφρων πράττων καὶ λέγων, ἐμ πλησθήσεται μαστίγων, καὶ πραγμάτων ἀφαιρέσεως, καὶ τέλος τὴν ψυχὴν αὑτοῦ ἀπολέσει. Ἐλέγχους νῦν τὰς ἐντολὰς εἶπεν· αὗται γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἁμαρτάνοντας ἐλέγχουσιν· οἱ δὲ μισοῦντες αὐτὰς, καὶ τῇ αἰσχρότητι τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν συναποθνήσκοντες, σὺν τῷ πονηρῷ αὐτῶν ἐφευρετῇ πονηρῶς τακήσονται· ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν παριόντων τὴν κακίαν, γνωρίζεται τῆς ἀναμαρτησίας ἡ παιδεία τοῦ ἀκάκου. Ἡσυχία ἐστὶν ἀποχὴ κακίας ἐμπράκτου καὶ ὁρά σεων, ἣν οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ἡσυχάζουσιν· οἱ δὲ τοῦ νοὸς καὶ σώματος ὀφθαλμοὶ τῶν κακῶν, πάντα τὸν χρόνον ἐπι νοοῦνται κακά. Ὁ δὲ συνετὸς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ᾅδου τοῦ τῶν ἁμαρτω λῶν· ὁδοὶ ζωῆς, διανοήματα θείων λόγων καὶ ἔργων· ὁ δὲ συνετὸς ἀεὶ ταῦτα ποιεῖ καὶ διδάσκει, ἵνα σὺν τοῖς μαθητιῶσιν ἐκκλίνας ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου σωθῇ. Οἱ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ μὴ πράττοντες, ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ εἰσιν· φίλοι δὲ αὐτοῦ γίνονται ἐπὰν τοῖς δικαίοις προσδράμωσιν, ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς πράξεις αὑτῶν τὰς πονηράς· ἐξ ὧν ἐναχθέντες ὡς ἐκεῖνοι τὰς ζωοποιοὺς ὁδοὺς πορεύσονται· Παύλου κηρύξαντος, Οἵ ποτε ὄντες ἐχθροὶ, κατηλλάγησαν τῷ Θεῷ διὰ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ· προσεκτέον ὅτι πάντες οἱ ἐχθροὶ, διὰ τῶν δικαίων φίλοι γίνονται· ἵνα καὶ πᾶσιν εἴπῃ Χριστός· Οὐκέτι ὑμᾶς καλῶ δούλους, ἀλλὰ φίλους. 17.196 Πάλιν κἀκεῖ τῆς σοφίας χρεία, ἵνα ἐξιλάσηται· ἢ ὁ τοὺς περὶ κολάσεως ἐπιστάμενος λόγους ἄγγελος, θυμὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγεται. Ὁ δὲ σοφὸς ἐν θείοις ἔργοις καὶ λόγοις, ὡς ὁμόφρων αὐτῷ ὢν, οὐ πτοηθήσεται αὐτόν. Νοσσιαὶ σοφίας εἰσὶν αἱ Ἐκκλησίαι, ἢ αἱ ἐν τῷ οὐ ρανῷ σκηναί· σοφία δὲ, Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς, ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Υἱός ἐστιν. Νοσσιαὶ δὲ φρονήσεως αἱρετώτεραι ὑπὲρ ἀργύριον, αἱ πρακτικαὶ ἀρεταί· δικαιοσύνη, γνῶσις, σοφία, σωφροσύνη, ἀνδρεία, μακροθυμία, ἀνεξικα κία, ἀοργησία, ἐλεημοσύνη, πίστις σὺν ἐλπίδι καὶ ἀγάπῃ· δι' ἃς ὡς κλίμακος βαθμίδας, εἰς τὰς τῆς σο φίας σκηνὰς εἰσιέναι ἀκώλυτον τοὺς ἀνιέναι καὶ οἰκῆσαι βουλομένους. Παιδείαν λέγει φόβου Θεοῦ, νηστείαν, ἐγκράτειαν, ἀγρυπνίαν, ὕμνον, καὶ τὴν ἐν νόσοις πρὸς δοκιμὴν Θεοῦ ἐπερχομένην ἡμῖν παιδείαν. Ἐλέγχους λέγει τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ· αὗται γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἐλέγχουσιν