240

smoke is of fire; for it is formed either when the fire exists or after it has existed. The enemies of the Lord, therefore, even if they are exceedingly proud, even if they are lifted up as able, as glorious, like smoke they are extinguished as soon as they are exalted. It is for us to see their vanishing, since even if they remain for some time being glorified and lifted up, thinking great things, yet to the one who is able to see that on which they pride themselves, they are found to have vanished at once. 21 The sinner borrows and will not repay. What God gives for the benefit of men and of the soul, those who receive it do not receive according to what is owed; for no one receives anything according to what is owed in this age, but being gracious He lends, He gives the good as a loan, so that by working from it one may gain and give interest. I receive the word concerning righteousness. If in repaying I also provide the interest, I bring the works of righteousness to God. But if, having received the word concerning righteousness, I do nothing according to righteousness, having borrowed from God, I have not repaid; for God gives, so that we may work; God provides, so that we may turn words into deeds. And He lends His divine silver, about which it is said: "silver refined, tried in the earth". The one who borrows, therefore, repays interest and the very thing he received. 21 But the righteous has compassion and gives.

240

πυρὸς ὁ καπνός· ἢ ὄντος γὰρ πυρὸς συνίσταται ἢ γενομένου. οἱ ἐχθροὶ οὖν τοῦ κυρίου κἂν βρενθύωνται ἔκπαγλα, κἂν ἐπαίρωνται ὡς ἱκανοί, ὡς ἐπίδοξοι, κατὰ τὸν καπνὸν σβέννυνται ἅμα τῷ ὑψωθῆναι αὐτούς. ἡμῶν ἐστιν τὸ ὁρᾶν τὴν ἔκλειψιν αὐτῶν, ἐπεὶ κἂν μένωσιν μέχρι τινὸς χρόνου δοξαζόμενοι καὶ ἐπαιρόμενοι μεγάλα φρονοῦντες, ἀλλὰ τῷ δυναμένῳ ὁρᾶν ἐφ' ᾧ μέγα φρονοῦσιν, εὐθέως ἐκλιπόντες εὑρίσκονται. 21 δανείζεται ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς καὶ οὐκ ἀποτείσει. ἃ δίδωσιν θεὸς ἐπ' ὠφελίᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ τῆς ψυχῆς, οὐ κατὰ ὀφειλὴν λαμβάνουσιν οἱ δεχόμενοι· οὐδεὶς γὰρ κατὰ ὀφειλὴν δέχεταί τι ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ χαριζόμενος δανείζει, προχρείαν δίδωσιν τὸ καλόν, ἵνα κατεργασάμενος ἀπ' αὐτοῦ κερδήσῃ καὶ δοῖ τόκους. λαμβάνω τὸν περὶ δικαιοσύνης λόγον. ἐὰν ἀποδιδοὺς καὶ τοὺς τόκους παρέχω, τὰ ἔργα τῆς δικαιοσύνης̣ τῳ῀̣ θεῷ προσκομίζω. ἐὰν δὲ λαβὼν τὸν περὶ δικαιοσύνης λόγον μηδὲν κατὰ δικαιοσύνην ἐνεργήσω, δανεισάμενος παρὰ θεοῦ οὐκ ἀποδέδωκα· δίδωσιν γὰρ ὁ θεός, ἵν' ἐνεργῶμεν, παρέχει θεός, ἵν' εἰς πράξεις τοὺς λόγους μεταβάλλωμεν. δανείζει δὲ τὸ θεῖον αὐτοῦ ἀργύριον, περὶ οὗ λέγεται· "ἀργύριον πεπυρωμένον δοκίμιον τῇ γῇ". ὁ δανειζόμενος οὖν ἀποδίδωσιν τόκους καὶ αὐτὸ ὃ ἐδέξατο. 21 ὁ δὲ δίκαιος οἰκτίρει καὶ δίδωσιν.