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"Despondency has taken hold of me because of the sinners who forsake your law." While I was suffering evil, I was refreshed by the memory of your judgments; yet I was distressed, and I continued to be vexed, seeing many fearlessly transgressing your laws. 54. "Your statutes have been my songs, in the place of my sojourning." The blessed David sojourned among the Philistines while being persecuted by Saul. But I think he calls sojourning not that time, but his whole life. For he lived it not as an inhabitant, but as a sojourner, and passed through life singing the statutes of God. For thus also the other interpreters have translated: "All your commandments were songs to me, in the place of my sojourning." 55. "I have remembered your name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept your law." For the choir of the saints, always rising up at night, both prays and hymns the God of all. But I think that by "night" here is named the time of temptations. For it brings darkness, and comes upon men like the night. 80.1840 And in this is especially necessary the remembrance of the God of all, refreshing and encouraging, and driving out contrary thoughts. 56. "This has become mine, because I have sought your statutes." Thus, he says, I was able to overcome, and to choose the possession of your statutes. 57. "You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep your law." God is not the portion of all, but of those who embrace what is perfect. Thus he became the portion and inheritance of the priests and Levites. "For to the sons, he says, of Levi there shall be no portion in the midst of their brethren, because I, the Lord, am their portion." Thus also in the fifteenth psalm he said, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup." Therefore he says here also, that Having disregarded all other things I have you as a portion, and an abundance, and wealth. Wherefore indeed I hasten to keep your laws. 58. "I have entreated your face with my whole heart." Everywhere he adds "with my whole heart," obeying the law in this also. For thus also the God of all commanded, "You shall love the Lord your God, from all your heart, and from all your soul, and from all your strength, and from all your power." -"Have mercy on me according to your word." He does not ask to be shown mercy indefinitely; but to receive mercy according to the divine oracle. This also a wise sick person would say to the physician, Heal me as you know how, as the art dictates. This also a wise merchant would say to the pilot, Steer the ship according to the laws of the art, govern it as science commands. Thus also it is fitting for us to ask for the divine mercy. For he who asks knows the manner of the mercy; for often he accomplishes salvation through discipline, and the punishment becomes philanthropy. Thus also a physician both cuts and burns, working out health for the one who is sick. Thus also we must ask for mercy. For there are times when mercy is supplied through poverty, and through sickness he provides philanthropy, and according to the medical principle, he cures opposites with opposites. 59. "I have considered your ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies." But the Hebrew has "my ways"; and likewise the other interpreters have translated, and the Seventy in the Hexapla. And he says that, Considering my ways, I directed my feet toward your testimonies, and I did not allow them to turn aside from the way that leads to you. 60. "I was ready and was not troubled, that I might keep your commandments." For having made myself ready for the assaults of dreadful things, from the sudden attack I did not suffer turmoil. 80.1841 Thus the divine Daniel, thus the blessed children, thus the wondrous Maccabees, thus all the martyrs of the Savior, conquered the attacks of the impious. This also the Lord enjoins in the holy Gospels: "Watch, because you do not know at what hour the thief is coming." 61. "The cords of sinners have entangled me, but I have not forgotten your law." The plots, either of demons, or of men,

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"Ἀθυμία κατέσχε με ἀπὸ ἁμαρτωλῶν τῶν ἐγκαταλιμπανόντων τὸν νόμον σου." Ἐγὼ μὲν κα κῶς πάσχων τῇ μνήμῃ τῶν σῶν ἐψυχαγωγούμην κρι μάτων· ἠνιώμην δὲ ὅμως, καὶ διετέλουν ἀσχάλλων, πολλοὺς ὁρῶν ἀδεῶς τοὺς σοὺς παραβαίνοντας νό μους. νδʹ. "Ψαλτὰ ἦσάν μοι τὰ δικαιώματά σου, ἐν τόπῳ παροικίας μου." Παρῴκησεν ὁ μακάριος ∆αβὶδ ὑπὸ τοῦ Σαοὺλ διωκόμενος παρὰ τοῖς Ἀλλοφύλοις. Παρ οικίαν δὲ οἶμαι αὐτὸν καλεῖν, οὐκ ἐκεῖνον τὸν χρό νον, ἀλλὰ πάντα τὸν βίον. Οὐ γὰρ ὡς κατοικῶν, ἀλλὰ ὡς παροικῶν αὐτὸν διετέλεσε, καὶ ᾄδων τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ δικαιώματα τὸν βίον διώδευσεν. Οὕτω γὰρ ἡρμήνευ σαν καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἑρμηνευταί· "Ἄσματα ἦν μοι πάν τα τὰ προστάγματά σου, ἐν τόπῳ τῆς παροικίας μου." νεʹ. "Ἐμνήσθην ἐν νυκτὶ τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, καὶ ἐφύλαξα τὸν νόμον σου." Νύκτωρ μὲν ἀεὶ διαν ιστάμενος ὁ τῶν ἁγίων χορὸς, καὶ προσεύχεται, καὶ ἀνυμνεῖ τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεόν. Οἶμαι δὲ νύκτα ἐνταῦθα τῶν πειρασμῶν τὸν καιρὸν ὀνομάζεσθαι. Ζόφον γὰρ ἐπιφέρει, καὶ νυκτὸς δίκην τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἐπέρχεται. 80.1840 Ἐν δὲ τούτῳ διαφερόντως ἀναγκαία τοῦ Θεοῦ τῶν ὅλων ἡ μνήμη, ψυχαγωγοῦσα, καὶ παραθαῤῥύνουσα, καὶ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐξελαύνουσα λογισμούς. νʹ. "Αὕτη ἐγενήθη μοι, ὅτι τὰ δικαιώματά σου ἐξεζήτησα." Οὕτω, φησὶν, ἠδυνήθην περιγενέσθαι, καὶ τῶν σῶν δικαιωμάτων προελέσθαι τὴν κτῆσιν. νζʹ. "Μερίς μου εἶ, Κύριε, εἶπα τοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὸν νόμον σου." Οὐ πάντων ἐστὶ μερὶς ὁ Θεὸς, ἀλλὰ τῶν ἀσπαζομένων τὰ τέλεια. Οὕτω τῶν ἱερέων καὶ Λευϊτῶν μερὶς καὶ κλῆρος ἐγένετο. "Τοῖς γὰρ υἱοῖς, φησὶ, Λευῒ οὐκ ἔσται μερὶς ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελ φῶν αὐτῶν, ὅτι μερὶς αὐτῶν ἐγὼ Κύριος." Οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῷ πέμπτῳ καὶ δεκάτῳ ἔφη ψαλμῷ, "Κύριος μερὶς τῆς κληρονομίας μου, καὶ τοῦ ποτηρίου μου." Λέγει τοίνυν καὶ ἐνταῦθα, ὅτι Τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων ὑπεριδών σε ἔχω μερίδα, καὶ περιουσίαν, καὶ πλοῦ τον. ∆ιὸ δὴ καὶ φυλάξαι τοὺς σοὺς ἐπείγομαι νό μους. νηʹ. "Ἐδεήθην τοῦ προσώπου σου ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου." Πανταχοῦ τὸ "ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ μου" προστί θησι, τῷ νόμῳ καὶ ἐν τούτῳ πειθόμενος. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ τῶν ὅλων Θεὸς ἐνετείλατο, "Ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάμεώς σου." -"Ἐλέησόν με κατὰ τὸ λόγιόν σου." Οὐκ ἀορίστως ἐλεηθῆναι παρακαλεῖ· ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ θεῖον λόγιον τοῦ ἐλέους τυχεῖν. Τοῦτο δ' ἂν εἴποι καὶ συνετὸς ἄῤῥωστος τῷ ἰατρῷ, Ὡς οἶδας θεράπευσον, ὡς ἡ τέχνη διαγορεύει. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ συνετὸς ἔμπορος εἴποι ἂν τῷ κυβερνήτῃ, Κατὰ τοὺς νόμους τῆς τέχνης ἴθυνον τὸ σκάφος, ὡς καὶ ἡ ἐπιστήμη κελεύει, κυβέρνησον. Οὕτω καὶ ἡμᾶς προσ ήκει τὸν θεῖον ἔλεον ἐπαγγέλλειν. Ὁ γὰρ αἰτούμε νος οἶδε τοῦ ἐλέου τὸν τρόπον· πολλάκις γὰρ διὰ παιδείας πραγματεύεται σωτηρίαν, καὶ γίνεται ἡ τιμωρία φιλανθρωπία. Οὕτω καὶ ἰατρὸς, καὶ τέμνει, καὶ καίει, τῷ κάμνοντι τὴν ὑγίειαν πραγματευόμε νος. Οὕτω καὶ ἡμᾶς αἰτεῖν τὸν ἔλεον χρή. Ἔστι γὰρ ὅτε καὶ διὰ πενίαν ἔλεος χορηγεῖται, καὶ δι' ἀῤῥωστίας φιλανθρωπίαν παρέχεται, καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἰατρικὸν λόγον τοῖς ἐναντίοις τὰ ἐναντία ἰᾶται. νθʹ. "∆ιελογισάμην τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ ἐπέστρεψα τοὺς πόδας μου εἰς τὰ μαρτύριά σου." Ὁ Ἑβραῖος δὲ τὰς ὁδούς μου ἔχει· ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι ἡρ μήνευσαν ἑρμηνευταὶ, καὶ οἱ Ἑβδομήκοντα ἐν τῷ Ἑξαπλῷ. Λέγει δὲ, ὅτι Λογιστεύων μου τὰς ὁδοὺς, πρὸς τὰ μαρτύριά σου τοὺς ἐμοὺς πόδας κατ εύθυνον, καὶ οὐκ εἴων ἐκτρέπεσθαι τῆς πρὸς σὲ φε ρούσης ὁδοῦ. ξʹ. "Ἡτοιμάσθην καὶ οὐκ ἐταράχθην, τοῦ φυ λάξασθαι τὰς ἐντολάς σου." Εὐτρεπῆ γὰρ ἐμαυτὸν πρὸς τὰς τῶν δεινῶν ἐμβολὰς καταστήσας, ἐκ τῆς 80.1841 ἀθρόας προσβολῆς οὐχ ὑπέμεινα ζάλην. Οὕτως ὁ θεῖος ∆ανιὴλ, οὕτως οἱ μακάριοι παῖδες, οὕτως οἱ θαυμάσιοι Μακκαβαῖοι, οὕτως ἅπαντες τοῦ Σωτῆρος οἱ μάρτυρες, τὰς τῶν δυσσεβῶν ἐνίκησαν προσβο λάς. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς Εὐαγγελίοις παρεγγυᾷ· "Γρηγορεῖτε, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε ποίᾳ ὥρᾳ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται." ξαʹ. "Σχοινία ἁμαρτωλῶν περιεπλάκησάν μοι, καὶ τοῦ νόμου σου οὐκ ἐπελαθόμην." Τὰς ἐπιβουλὰς, ἤ τοι δαιμόνων, ἤ τοι ἀνθρώπων,