30

to make, and he says he will neither pay attention to their fasting, nor accept the sacrifices offered by them, but will deliver them to famine and plague, and slaughter. Having heard these things, the prophet brings forward the predictions of the false prophets, and says that they foretell the opposite things, and promise them peace, and an abundance of good things. But again the Master says to the prophet that they prophesy falsely, not ministering with divine words, nor having become instruments of grace, but speaking whatever they wish. "For I have not commanded them, he says, and I have not spoken to them, for they prophesy to you false visions, and divinations, and omens, and the choices of their own heart." He calls dreams "visions," and augury from birds "omens;" and things from the energy of demons "divinations;" and the deceit from their own reasonings "choices of the heart." Then he threatens these same ones both with death from sickness, and with slaughter in war. "For, he says, they will die a sickly death, and they will perish by the sword and by famine." And along with them also those who followed their words. And they will not be deemed worthy even of burial, since all alike are falling into the same evils. But again the philanthropist, having foretold the grim things, exhorts them to use the medicines of repentance. "For bring down, he says, tears in your eyes day and night;" on account of the magnitude of the evils that will be brought upon you. And the prophet narrates the tragedy of what has happened. 81.593 18. If I go out into the field, and behold, those wounded by the sword; and if I enter into the city, behold, the pain of famine. To these things he also adds the evils of captivity. "For prophet and priest have gone to a land which they did not know." And the blessed prophet Daniel, and the divine Ezekiel, both priest and prophet, and in addition to these very many other priests partook of the grim things. For God, providing for those unholy ones, sent prophets with them as certain tutors and teachers, so that they might not turn away completely to impiety. Having narrated these things, the prophet directs his words to God: "In utterly rejecting, have you rejected Judah, or has your soul departed from Zion?" Instead of, your providence; for he has used the word "soul" in a human way, for a clearer emphasis of the prophecy. And he says the blow inflicted is incurable, and adds, saying thus: 20, 21. We have known, Lord, our sins, the iniquities of our fathers; for we have sinned before you. Cease for your name's sake. Instead of: Cease being angry with us; and look not to us, but to your name. For we are called your people. "Do not destroy the throne of your glory." He so named Jerusalem; and the Lord in the holy Gospels said, forbidding oaths, "Neither shall you swear by Jerusalem, for it is the throne of the great king;" for there he made his own appearance. And he reminds him also of the covenant made with the fathers, and that there is no help from idols; but he himself supplies the rain brought from above; for creation is not ungoverned; for this he says: "And the heaven will give its plenty; is it not you yourself, Lord, and we will wait for you? For you have made all these things. CHAPTER 15. To these things the Master again answers, that "If Moses and Samuel stand before my face, my soul is not in them." And through these things he consoles the prophet. For do not think, he says, that despising you I do not accept your intercession; for neither would I have yielded to them entreating, who worked so many wonders. However, he mentioned these, both as elders, and as ones who had often persuaded him on behalf of the people. And

30

ποιήσασθαι, καὶ φάσκει μήτε τῇ νηστείᾳ αὐτῶν προσέξειν, μήτε τὰς ὑπ' αὐτῶν προσφερομένας δέξασθαι θυσίας, ἀλλὰ λιμῷ καὶ λοιμῷ, καὶ σφαγῇ παραδώσειν. Τού των ἀκούσας ὁ προφήτης τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν τὰς προῤῥήσεις προφέρει, καί φησιν ἐκείνους τὰ ἐναν τία προλέγειν, καὶ εἰρήνην αὐτοῖς ὑπισχνεῖσθαι, καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἀφθονίαν. Ἀλλὰ πάλιν ὁ ∆εσπότης τῷ προ φήτῃ φησὶ, ψευδῆ προλέγειν ἐκείνους, οὐ θείοις λόγοις διακονοῦντας, οὐδὲ ὄργανα τῆς χάριτος γενο μένους, ἀλλ' ἅπερ ἐθέλουσι φθεγγομένους. "Οὐκ ἐνετειλάμην γὰρ αὐτοῖς, φησὶ, καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησα πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὅτι ὁράσεις ψευδεῖς, καὶ μαντείας, καὶ οἰωνίσματα, καὶ προαιρέσεις καρδίας αὐτῶν οὗτοι προφητεύουσιν ὑμῖν." Ὁράσεις τὰ ἐνύπνια καλεῖ, οἰωνίσματα δὲ τὰς ὀρνεοσκοπίας· μαντείας δὲ τὰ ἐξ ἐνεργείας δαιμόνων· προαιρέσεις δὲ καρδίας, τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν λογισμῶν ἐξαπάτην. Εἶτα τούτοις αὐτοῖς ἀπειλεῖ καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἀῤῥωστίας τελευτὴν, καὶ τὴν ἐν πο λέμῳ σφαγήν. "Ἐν θανάτῳ γὰρ, φησὶ, νοσερῷ ἀποθανοῦνται, καὶ ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ λιμῷ τελευ τήσουσι." Σὺν δὲ τούτοις καὶ οἱ τοῖς τούτων ἀκολου θήσαντες λόγοις. Οὐκ ἀξιωθήσονται δὲ οὐδὲ ταφῆς, πάντων ὁμοίως τοῖς αὐτοῖς περιπιπτόντων κακοῖς. Ἀλλὰ πάλιν ὁ φιλάνθρωπος τὰ σκυθρωπὰ προειπὼν, τοῖς τῆς μετανοίας χρήσασθαι φαρμάκοις παρεγγυᾷ. "Καταγάγετε γὰρ, φησὶν, ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν δάκρυα ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός·" διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῶν ἐπενεχθησομένων ὑμῖν κακῶν. ∆ιηγεῖται δὲ ὁ προφήτης τῶν γεγενημένων τὴν τραγῳδίαν. 81.593 ιηʹ. Ἐὰν ἐξέλθω εἰς τὸ πεδίον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τραυ ματίαι ῥομφαίας· καὶ ἐὰν εἰσέλθω εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἰδοὺ πόνος λιμοῦ. Προστίθησι καὶ τούτοις καὶ τὰ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας κακά. "Ὅτι προφήτης καὶ ἱερεὺς ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς γῆν ἣν οὐκ ᾔδεισαν." Καὶ ὁ μακάριος ∆ανιὴλ ὁ προφήτης, καὶ ὁ θεῖος Ἐζε κιὴλ, καὶ ἱερεὺς καὶ προφήτης, καὶ ἕτεροι δὲ πρὸς τούτοις πλεῖστοι ἱερεῖς μετέλαχον τῶν σκυθρωπῶν. Τῶν γὰρ ἀνοσίων ἐκείνων προμηθούμενος ὁ Θεὸς, συνέπεμψε καὶ προφήτας οἷόν τινας παιδονόμους καὶ διδασκάλους, ἵνα μὴ παντελῶς ἐκκλίνωσιν εἰς ἀσέ βειαν. Ταῦτα διηγησάμενος, ὁ προφήτης πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν μεταφέρει τοὺς λόγους· "Μὴ ἀποδοκιμάζων ἀπεδοκίμασας τὸν Ἰούδαν, ἢ ἀπὸ Σιὼν ἀπέστη ἡ ψυχή σου;" Ἀντὶ τοῦ, ἡ πρόνοιά σου· ἀνθρωπίνως γὰρ τέθεικε τὴν ψυχὴν, εἰς σαφεστέραν ἔμφασιν τῆς προφητείας. Λέγει δὲ ἀνίατον τὴν ἐπενεχθεῖσαν πλη γὴν, καὶ ἐπιφέρει λέγων οὕτως·" κʹ, καʹ. Ἔγνωμεν, Κύριε, ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, ἀδι κίας πατέρων ἡμῶν· ὅτι ἡμάρτομεν ἐναντίον σου. Κόπασον διὰ τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ἀντὶ τοῦ· Παῦσαι χαλεπαίνων ἡμῖν· καὶ μὴ εἰς ἡμᾶς ἀπίδῃς, ἀλλ' εἰς τὸ ὄνομά σου. Σὸς γὰρ λαὸς χρηματίζομεν. "Μὴ ἀπολέσῃς θρόνον δόξης σου." Τὴν Ἱερουσα λὴμ οὕτως ὠνόμασε· καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς Εὐαγγελίοις ἔφη, τοὺς ὅρκους ἀπαγορεύων, "Μήτε εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ὀμόσῃς, ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶ τοῦ με γάλου βασιλέως·" ἐκεῖ γὰρ τὴν οἰκείαν ἐπιφάνειαν ἐποιεῖτο. Ἀναμιμνήσκει δὲ καὶ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς πα τέρας γεγενημένης διαθήκης, καὶ ὅτι παρὰ τῶν εἰδώ λων οὐδεμία βοήθεια· ἀλλ' αὐτὸς τὸν ἄνωθεν φερό μενον ὑετὸν χορηγεῖ· οὐ γὰρ ἀκυβέρνητος ἡ κτίσις· τοῦτο γάρ φησι· "Καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς δώσει πλησμονὴν αὑτοῦ· οὐχὶ σὺ αὐτὸς, Κύριε, καὶ ὑπομενοῦμέν σε; ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας σύμπαντα ταῦτα. ΚΕΦΑΛ. ΙΕʹ. Πρὸς ταῦτα πάλιν ὁ ∆εσπότης ἀποκρίνεται, ὅτι "Ἐὰν στῇ Μωσῆς καὶ Σαμουὴλ πρὸ προσώπου μου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτοῖς." ∆ιὰ τούτων δὲ τὸν προφήτην ψυχαγωγεῖ. Μὴ νόμιζε γὰρ, φησὶν, ὅτι σοῦ καταφρονῶν τὴν πρεσβείαν οὐ δέχομαι· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκείνοις εἶξα ἂν ἀντιβολοῦσιν, οἳ τοσαῦτα εἰργά σαντο θαύματα. Τούτων μέντοι ἐμνήσθη, καὶ ὡς πρεσβυτέρων, καὶ ὡς πολλάκις αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ πεπεικότων. Καὶ