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has added glory. Thus to the sons of Israel he gave the wealth of the Egyptians. "And his righteousness endures for ever and ever." For the God of all has an unforgetting memory, and guards his glory ever-memorable. 4. "Light has sprung up in the darkness for the nations." Sometimes he calls darkness ignorance, and at other times calamities, and likewise he calls light now knowledge, and now deliverance from evils. He says, therefore, that he will show the truth to the ignorant, and in the assault of grievous things he will extend his own aid. Thus he snatched Joseph from the blood-guiltiness of his brothers; thus he showed him to be superior to the slander; thus when Sarah was seized, he extended his own decisive help to Abraham; thus he terrified Laban, and showed the one fleeing to be more powerful than the one pursuing. This, therefore, is also a proof of the divine power, that for the sake of training he allows grievous things to assail the righteous, but he disperses the cloud of these things and grants a clear sky. "Merciful, and compassionate, and righteous." And he administers these things using righteousness, and mercy, and goodness. For he cares as one who loves mankind, but wishing to crown the righteous, he allows the contests, but resolves them as quickly as possible on account of his immeasurable goodness. 5. "A good man is he who shows compassion and lends; he will manage his affairs with judgment." But Symmachus has it thus: A good man, gracious, and lending, managing his affairs with judgment. For he who imitates his own master generously serves his fellow-servants; showing compassion, as a partaker of nature, and lending, as awaiting the settlement from the common Master. Such a one does nothing without discernment, but using reason rightly, he orders both his words and his deeds. 80.1784 6. "For he will not be shaken for ever." For such a one has a firm mind, admitting no change in the difficulties of the times. 7. "The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance." And such a one will be much talked of, and sung of by all, and will leave behind an ever-memorable glory. "He will not be afraid of an evil report." He will fear neither threats, nor tidings able to cause fear. "His heart is ready to hope in the Lord." But Symmachus again translated "ready" as "steadfast." He has, he says, a steadfast and firm hope in God, and for this reason he despises such disturbances. 8. "His heart is established, he will not be afraid, until he looks upon his enemies." For not only does he not fear his enemies, but he also awaits their defeat because of his hope in God. 9. "He has scattered, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever and ever." Each of these things offers a teaching of virtue to those who wish it. And he says that he who is adorned with piety and the fear of God does not simply extend mercy to those in need, but does this with great generosity, and imitates those who sow seeds unsparingly, scattering them for the hope of sheaves. For similarly this one also awaits the profit of righteousness. "His horn shall be exalted in glory." He calls the horn strength, from a metaphor of animals armed with horns, and defending themselves with these against attackers. He says, therefore, that he who has acquired the wealth of virtue will be both powerful and conspicuous. 10. "The sinner shall see, and be angered, he will gnash his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the sinner shall perish." And those who choose to live with evil, seeing the prominence of the righteous, will melt away with envy, and will contrive schemes of blood-guiltiness; but they will fail in their plans, and will not enjoy their desire. For it is unjust and exceedingly hateful to God.

INTERPRETATION OF THE 112TH PSALM. Alleluia. This is another hymn, also written for benefit, and

rousing men to the singing of praise of the benefactor. 1. "Praise, O servants, the Lord."

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δόξαν προστέθεικεν. Οὕτω τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ τὸν τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ἐδωρήσατο πλοῦτον. "Καὶ ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος." Ἄληστον γὰρ ὁ τῶν ὅλων Θεὸς ἔχει τὴν μνήμην, καὶ ἀείμνηστον αὑτοῦ διαφυ λάττει τὸ κλέος. δʹ. "Ἐξανέτειλεν ἐν σκότει φῶς τοῖς ἔθνεσιν." Σκότος ποτὲ μὲν τὴν ἄγνοιαν, ποτὲ δὲ τὰς συμ φορὰς ὀνομάζει, καὶ φῶς δὲ ὡσαύτως νῦν μὲν τὴν γνῶσιν, νῦν δὲ τῶν κακῶν τὴν ἀπαλλαγὴν προσαγο ρεύει. Λέγει τοίνυν, ὅτι καὶ ἀγνοοῦσιν ὑποδείξει τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ ἐν τῇ τῶν λυπηρῶν προσβολῇ τὴν οἰκείαν ἐπικουρίαν ὀρέξει. Οὕτω τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἐκ τῆς τῶν ἀδελφῶν μιαιφονίας ἐξήρπασεν, οὕτως αὐτὸν τῆς συκοφαντίας ἀπέφηνε κρείττονα· οὕτω τῆς Σάῤ ῥας ἁρπαγείσης ὤρεξε τῷ Ἀβραὰμ τὴν οἰκείαν ῥοπήν· οὕτω τὸν Λάβαν ἐξεδειμάτωσε, καὶ τὸν φεύ γοντα τοῦ διώκοντος δυνατώτερον ἔδειξε. Τῆς θείας τοίνυν δυνάμεως καὶ τοῦτο τεκμήριον, τὸ γυμνασίας μὲν εἵνεκα συγχωρεῖν προσβάλλειν τοῖς δικαίοις τὰ λυπηρὰ, διαλύειν δὲ τούτων τὸ νέφος, καὶ καθαρὰν αἰθρίαν χαρίζεσθαι. "Ἐλεήμων, καὶ οἰκτίρμων, καὶ δίκαιος." Ταῦτα δὲ πρυτανεύει δι καιοσύνῃ, καὶ ἐλέῳ, καὶ ἀγαθότητι χρώμενος. Κήδε ται μὲν γὰρ ὡς φιλάνθρωπος, στεφανοῦν δὲ τοὺς δι καίους βουλόμενος, συγχωρεῖ τοὺς ἀγῶνας, λύει δὲ τούτους ὅτι τάχιστα διὰ τὴν ἀμέτρητον ἀγα θότητα. εʹ. "Χρηστὸς ἀνὴρ ὁ οἰκτείρων, καὶ κιχρῶν· οἰ κονομήσει τοὺς λόγους αὑτοῦ ἐν κρίσει." Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος οὕτως· Ἀγαθὸς, χαριστικὸς, καὶ κιχρῶν, οἰκονομῶν τὰ πράγματα αὑτοῦ μετὰ κρί σεως. Ὁ γὰρ τὸν οἰκεῖον δεσπότην μιμούμενος φι λοτίμως θεραπεύει τοὺς ὁμοδούλους· οἰκτείρων μὲν, ὡς τῆς φύσεως κοινωνὸς, κιχρῶν δὲ, ὡς τὴν ἔκτισιν παρὰ τοῦ κοινοῦ προσμένων ∆εσπότου. Οὐ δὲν δὲ ὁ τοιοῦτος ἀδιακρίτως ἐργάζεται, ἀλλ' ὀρ θῶς χρώμενος λογισμῷ, καὶ τοὺς λόγους καὶ τὰ ἔργα κοσμεῖ. 80.1784 ʹ. "Ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα οὐ σαλευθήσεται." Βεβαίαν γὰρ ὁ τοιοῦτος ἔχει τὴν γνώμην, οὐδεμίαν τροπὴν δεχομένην ἐν ταῖς τῶν καιρῶν δυσκο λίαις. ζʹ. "Εἰς μνημόσυνον αἰώνιον ἔσται δίκαιος." Πολυθρύλλητος δὲ ὁ τοιοῦτος ἔσται, καὶ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀοίδιμος, καὶ ἀείμνηστον καταλείψει τὸ κλέος. "Ἀπὸ ἀκοῆς πονηρᾶς οὐ φοβηθήσεται." Οὔτε δὲ ἀπειλὰς δείσει, οὔτε ἀγγελίας φόβον ἱκανὰς ἐμ ποιῆσαι. "Ἑτοίμη ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἐλπίζειν ἐπὶ Κυρίου." Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος τὴν ἑτοίμην πάλιν ἑδραίαν ἡρμήνευσεν. Ἑδραίαν ἔχει, φησὶ, καὶ βεβαίαν τὴν εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίδα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τῶν τοιούτων θορύβων καταφρονεῖ. ηʹ. "Ἐστήρικται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ φοβηθῇ, ἕως οὗ ἐπίδῃ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὑτοῦ." Οὐ γὰρ μόνον οὐ δέδιε τοὺς δυσμενεῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν ἐκείνων ἧτταν διὰ τὴν εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίδα προσ μένει. θʹ. "Ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύ νη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος." Τούτων ἕκαστον διδασκαλίαν ἀρετῆς τοῖς βουλομένοις προσ φέρει. Λέγει δὲ, ὅτι ὁ τῇ εὐλαβείᾳ καὶ τῷ θείῳ φόβῳ κοσμούμενος οὐχ ἁπλῶς τοῖς δεομένοις ὀρέγει τὸν ἔλεον, ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς φιλοτιμίας τοῦτο ποιεῖ, καὶ μιμεῖται τοὺς σπείροντας ἀφειδῶς τὰ σπέρματα, καὶ σκεδαννύντας διὰ τὴν τῶν δραγμάτων ἐλπίδα. Παραπλησίως γὰρ καὶ οὗτος τῆς δικαιοσύνης προσ μένει τὸ κέρδος. "Τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ ὑψωθήσεται ἐν δόξῃ." Κέρας τὴν ἰσχὺν καλεῖ ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν ζώων τῶν καθωπλισμένων τοῖς κέρασι, καὶ τούτοις ἀμυνομένων τοὺς ἐπιόντας. Λέγει τοίνυν ὅτι καὶ δυνατὸς καὶ περίβλεπτος ἔσται ὁ τῆς ἀρετῆς κεκτη μένος τὸν πλοῦτον. ιʹ. "Ἁμαρτωλὸς ὄψεται, καὶ ὀργισθήσεται, τοὺς ὀδόντας αὑτοῦ βρύξει, καὶ τακήσεται, ἐπιθυμία ἁμαρτωλοῦ ἀπολεῖται." Οἱ δὲ κακίᾳ συζῇν προαιρού μενοι, τῶν δικαίων ὁρῶντες τὴν περιφάνειαν, τακή σονται μὲν τῷ φθόνῳ, καὶ τῆς μιαιφονίας τυρεύ σουσι μηχανάς· διαμαρτήσονται δὲ τῶν βουλευμά των, καὶ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας οὐκ ἀπολαύσουσιν. Ἄδικος γὰρ αὕτη καὶ λίαν θεομισής.

ΕΡΜΗΝ. ΤΟΥ ΡΙΒʹ ΨΑΛΜΟΥ. Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἕτερος ὕμνος καὶ οὗτος εἰς ὠφέλειαν συγγεγραμμένος, καὶ

ἐγείρων τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς ὑμνῳδίαν τοῦ εὐεργέτου. αʹ. "Αἰνεῖτε, παῖδες, Κύριον."