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blood, that they may take advantage with greed. And her prophets anoint 95.1400 ing them. Between holy and profane they did not distinguish, and between unclean and the clean they made no distinction. The souls of my people were perverted, and they would save souls, and they profaned me before my people for a handful of barley, and for pieces of bread, to kill souls that should not die, and to save souls alive that should not live. A swift judgment comes upon those in high positions; a severe scrutiny falls upon the powerful. Gifts and bribes blind the eyes of the wise. You are without excuse, O man, who judges. For in what you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge do the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those who do such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? He who does not have justice laid up beforehand in his soul, but is corrupted by money, or shows favor out of friendship, or avenges himself on an enemy, or is swayed by power, cannot direct judgment aright. To whom the psalm will say: If you indeed speak righteousness, judge uprightly, you sons of men. This we see many of the present judges suffering, who would more easily forgive the great things for the high, than the smallest for the humble. For it is a matter of extreme misfortune, not to have security in one's own strong points, but in the weaknesses of others. Rulers who honor reputation before truth have as much power as robbers in a desert. They have become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of virtue, sluggish and negligent, and they have not kept the dignity of their office irreproachable. The efforts concerning the courts serve manifold sins, finding countless defenses for those who do wrong. And rulers and judges will be examined with great accuracy, and it will be known if they have not corrupted justice; if they did not vote for those on trial for favor or for enmity; if, being flattered, they did not give in to what was right; if, bearing a grudge, they did not insult those who had done no wrong. An unjust judge, a defiled conscience.

TITLE 20. -Concerning good slaves.

A prudent servant will rule over foolish masters. The deeds of a wise servant will be prosperous, and his ways will be directed aright. Wise servants will lend to their own masters. Sweet is the sleep of a servant, whether he eats little or much. 95.1401 Do not mistreat a servant who works in truth. Let your soul love a prudent servant, and do not deprive him of his freedom. Freemen will minister to a prudent servant. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in simplicity of your heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, serving with goodwill as to the Lord, and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Slaves, obey your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it from the soul, as for the Lord and not for man. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward. Let as many as are slaves under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. But those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers; but rather serve them, because they are faithful and beloved, and partakers of the benefit. Servants, being subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is grace with God, if through

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αἷμα, ὅπως πλεονεξία πλεονεκτῶσι. Καὶ οἱ προφῆται αὐτῆς ἀλεί 95.1400 φοντες αὐτούς. Ἀναμέσον ἁγίου καὶ βεβήλου οὐ διεσκέδαζον, καὶ ἀναμέσον ἀκαθάρτου καὶ τοῦ καθαροῦ οὐ διέστελλον. Αἱ ψυχαὶ διεστράφησαν τοῦ λαοῦ μου, καὶ ψυχὰς περιεποιοῦντο, καὶ ἐβεβήλουν με πρὸς τὸν λαόν μου ἕνεκεν δρακὸς κριθῶν, καὶ ἕνεκεν κλασμάτων ἄρτου, ἀποκτεῖναι ψυχὰς, ἃς οὐκ ἔδει ἀποθανεῖν, καὶ τοῦ περιποιεῖσθαι ψυχὰς, ἃς οὐκ ἔδει ζῆσαι. Κρίσις ἀπότομος ἐν τοῖς ὑπερέχουσι γίνεται· τοῖς κραταιοῖς ἰσχυρὰ ἐφίσταται ἔρευνα. Ξένια καὶ δῶρα ἀποτυφλοῖ ὀφθαλμοὺς σοφῶν. Ἀναπολόγητος εἶ, ἄνθρωπε, ὁ κρίνων. Ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρινεῖς τὸν ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν κατακρίνεις. Τὰ γὰρ αὐτὰ πράσσεις ὁ κρίνων. Οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι τὸ κρῖμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστι κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ἐπὶ τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντας. Λογίζῃ δὲ τοῦτο, ὦ ἄνθρωπε, ὁ κρίνων τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντας, καὶ ποιῶν αὐτὰ, ὅτι σὺ ἐκφεύξῃ τὸ κρῖμα τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ τὴν δικαιοσύνην μὴ ἔχων προεναποκειμένην αὐτοῦ τῇ ψυχῇ, ἀλλ' ἢ χρήμασι διεφθαρμένος, ἢ φιλίᾳ χαριζόμενος, ἢ ἐχθρὸν ἀμυνόμενος, ἢ δυναστείαν δυσωπούμενος, τὸ κρῖμα κατευθύνειν οὐ δύναται. Πρὸς ὃν ἐρεῖ ὁ ψαλμός· Εἰ ἀληθῶς ἄρα δικαιοσύνην λαλεῖτε, εὐθείας κρίνατε, υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Τοῦτο πολλοὺς ὁρῶμεν τῶν νῦν κριτῶν πάσχοντας, οἳ ῥᾷον τοῖς ὑψηλοῖς τὰ μεγάλα συγχωρήσειαν, ἢ τοῖς ταπεινοῖς τὰ ἐλάχιστα. Ἔστι γὰρ ἄκρας κακοδαιμονίας, μὴ ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις ἰσχυροῖς τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἔχειν, ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς ἑτέρων σαθροῖς. Τοσοῦτον δύνανται ἄρχοντες πρὸ τῆς ἀληθείας δόξαν τιμῶντες, ὅσον καὶ λῃσταὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ. Γεγόνασι φιλήδονοι μᾶλλον ἢ φιλάρετοι, νωθροί τε καὶ κατημελημένοι, καὶ οὐ τετηρήκασιν ἀδιάβλητον τὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀξίωμα. Αἱ περὶ τὰ δικαστήρια σπουδαὶ ταῖς πολυτρόποις ἁμαρτίαις ὑπηρετοῦσιν, μυρίας τοῖς ἀδικοῦσι τὰς συνηγορίας εὑρίσκουσαι. Ἐξετασθήσονται, καὶ ἄρχοντες, καὶ δικασταὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀκριβείας, καὶ γνωσθήσονται, εἰ μὴ διέφθειραν τὸ δίκαιον· εἰ μὴ πρὸς χάριν, μηδὲ πρὸς ἀπέχθειαν ἐψηφίσαντο τοῖς δικαζομένοις· εἰ μὴ κολακευθέντες ἐνέδωκαν πρὸς τὸ δέον· εἰ μὴ μνησικακοῦντες ἐπηρέασαν τοῖς οὐδὲν ἠδικηκόσιν. Ἄδικος δικαστὴς, μεμολυσμένη συνείδησις.

ΤΙΤΛ. Κʹ. -Περὶ δούλων χρηστῶν.

Οἰκέτης νοήμων κρατήσει δεσποτῶν ἀφρόνων. Οἰκέτου σοφοῦ εὔοδοι ἔσονται πράξεις, καὶ κατευθυνθήσονται αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ. Οἰκέται σοφοὶ ἰδίοις δεσπόταις δανείσουσιν. Γλυκὺς ὁ ὕπνος τοῦ δούλου, εἰ ὀλίγον, καὶ εἰ πολὺ φάγεται. 95.1401 Μὴ κακώσῃς οἰκέτην ἐργαζόμενον ἐν ἀληθείᾳ. Οἰκέτην συνετὸν ἀγαπάτω σου ἡ ψυχὴ, καὶ μὴ στερήσῃς αὐτὸν ἐλευθερίας. Οἰκέτῃ συνετῷ ἐλεύθεροι ὑπουργήσουσι. Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις ὑμῶν, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς Χριστῷ, μὴ κατ' ὀφθαλμοδουλείαν, ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ' ὡς δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ· ποιοῦντες τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκ ψυχῆς, μετ' εὐνοίας δουλεύοντες ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπῳ· εἰδότες ὅτι ἕκαστος ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἀγαθὸν, τοῦτο κομιεῖται παρὰ Κυρίου, εἴτε δοῦλος, εἴτε ἐλεύθερος. Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλείᾳ, ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ' ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας, φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον. Ὃ ἐὰν ποιῆτε, ἐκ ψυχῆς ἐργάζεσθε, ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπῳ. εἰδότες ὅτι παρὰ Κυρίου λήψεσθε τὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν. Ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι, τοὺς ἰδίους δεσπότας πάσης τιμῆς ἀξίους ἡγείσθωσαν, ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται. Οἱ δὲ πιστοὺς ἔχοντες δεσπότας, μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν, ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσιν· ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν, ὅτι πιστοί εἰσι καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ, καὶ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι. Οἱ οἰκέται, ὑποτασσόμενοι ἐν παντὶ φόβῳ τοῖς δεσπόταις ὑμῶν, οὐ μόνον ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπιεικέσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς σκολιοῖς. Τοῦτο γὰρ χάρις παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, εἰ διὰ