[Concerning Long-Suffering, Simplicity, Meekness, and Patience.]
VIII. Be slow to wrath; for such a one is very prudent, since “he that is hasty of spirit is a very fool.” 68 Ps. xli. 10. Ps. xli. 10. Be merciful; for “blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” 69 Luke xxii. 19. Luke xxii. 19. Be sincere, quiet, good, “trembling at the word of God.” 70 John xx. 25. John xx. 25. Thou shalt not exalt thyself, as did the Pharisee; for “every one that exalteth himself shall be abased,” 71 Zech. xii. 10; John xix. 37. Zech. xii. 10; John xix. 37. and “that which is of high esteem with man is abomination with God.” 72 The words “and their wives apart” are not in one V. ms. The words “and their wives apart” are not in one V. ms. Thou shalt not entertain confidence in thy soul; for “a confident man shall fall into mischief.” 73 Lam. iv. 20. Lam. iv. 20. Thou shalt not go along with the foolish, but with the wise and righteous; for “he that walketh 74 Bar. iii. 35–37. Bar. iii. 35–37. with wise men shall be wise, but he that walketh with the foolish shall be known.” 75 Acts ii. 4. Acts ii. 4. Receive the afflictions that fall upon thee with an even mind, and the chances of life without over-much sorrow, knowing that a reward shall be given to thee by God, as was given to Job and to Lazarus. 76 Acts x. 42. Acts x. 42.
[8] Γίνου μακρόθυμος: ὁ γὰρ τοιοῦτος πολὺς ἐν φρονήσει, ἐπείπερ: »Ὁ ὀλιγόψυχος ἰσχυρὸς ἄφρων«. Γίνου ἐλεήμων: »Μακάριοι γὰρ οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.« Ἔσο ἄκακος, ἥσυχος, ἀγαθός, τρέμων τοὺς λόγους τοῦ Θεοῦ. Οὐχ ὑψώσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ὁ Φαρισαῖος, ὅτι: »Πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται«, καὶ »Τὸ ὑψηλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποις βδέλυγμα παρὰ Θεῷ.« Οὐ δώσεις τῇ ψυχῇ σου θράσος, ὅτι: »Ἀνὴρ θρασὺς ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά.« Οὐ συμπορεύσῃ μετὰ ἀφρόνων, ἀλλὰ μετὰ σοφῶν καὶ δικαίων. Τὰ συμβαίνοντά σοι πάθη εὐμενῶς δέχου καὶ τὰς περιστάσεις ἀλύπως, εἰδὼς ὅτι μισθός σοι παρὰ Θεοῦ δοθήσεται ὡς τῷ Ἰὼβ καὶ τῷ Λαζάρῳ.