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they suffer with those who suffer evils, and do not envy those who prosper, but they also rejoice, and celebrate with, and delight with those who are well-treated. Which Paul also commanded, saying, Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. This is no small virtue. For many both rejoice over the fallen, and envy those who rise, bringing forth both passions from much cruelty and inhumanity. But the just are not so, but 55.446 having been freed from each of these evils, and being merciful and philanthropic, they acquire these virtues. Therefore, just as those ones suffer both from cruelty, so these from philanthropy, both grieve by sympathizing, and fare well by rejoicing with others. Why did he say, Repay me? One says, When you shall do good to me. But the others, Repay and requite me. And yet above he spoke of affliction and humiliation, not accomplishments, and the confidence from works. For what does he ask for repayment? For the days of humiliation. For this is no small accomplishment, to bear affliction with thanksgiving. Therefore he also calls the reward after these things repayment. Therefore, let us not be distressed in afflictions, but let us pray not to enter into temptation; but when it comes, let us receive it. For we both put away our existing sins, and if we have any righteousness, we make it more brilliant. And Job shows this, having shone more greatly then. This is good also in bodies; this not only in humans, but also in irrational creatures; not only in irrational creatures, but also in plants. For this reason, the farmers do not allow the vines to grow foliage beyond measure, nor other trees, but they prevent forward growth, by the pruning knife turning all its strength to the root, so that having been spent in the leaves it does not bear withered fruit. Which also happens with men. For when zeal is spent on superfluous things, the soul becomes weaker towards bearing the ripe and flourishing fruit of piety. This one might see also with waters. For that which is standing and stagnant is harmful; but that which is moving and being drawn from and channeled is not only healthful, but also more pleasant to see and to touch and to drink. And often affliction has even conquered nature. For this downward-flowing and fluid thing, when afflicted, is shot upwards. Which indeed also happens with men. For those who bear afflictions easily are made higher, even if they are very low-growing, and very earthly, and humble, they gain great things from this. Knowing these things, therefore, let us bear with thanksgiving the terrible things brought upon us, so that they may become easier for us, and we may obtain the good things to come; of which may we all be deemed worthy, by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

ON PSALM 142. O Lord, hear my prayer.

1. There is prayer which is supplication through words, and there is also the vow. For this reason a certain wise man 55.447 advises, saying: Do not repeat a word in your prayer. Not that we should not say the same things a second time, calling upon God and entreating, does he advise and counsel this, far from it; for we are commanded to persevere in prayers; but that we should not put off when we promise something to God, but that we should be earnest. Wherefore he also says elsewhere: Do not delay to fulfill the prayer. For the future is uncertain. For either sickness, or unexpected engagements of affairs falling upon us have prevented it. But if also death

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πάσχουσι κακῶς συναλγοῦσι, καὶ εὐθηνουμένοις οὐ βασκαίνουσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαίρουσι, καὶ συνευφραίνονται καὶ συνήδονται τοῖς εὐεργετουμένοις. Ὃ καὶ Παῦλος ἐκέλευσε λέγων, Χαίρειν μετὰ χαιρόντων, καὶ κλαίειν μετὰ κλαιόντων. Οὐ μικρὰ δὲ αὕτη ἀρετή. Πολλοὶ γὰρ καὶ κειμένοις ἐφήδονται, καὶ ἀνισταμένοις βασκαίνουσιν, ἐξ ὠμότητος καὶ ἀπανθρωπίας πολλῆς ἑκάτερα τὰ πάθη τίκτοντες. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οἱ δίκαιοι οὕτως, ἀλλ' 55.446 ἑκατέρας ταύτης τῆς κακίας ἀπηλλαγμένοι, καὶ ἐλεήμονες ὄντες καὶ φιλάνθρωποι, τὰς ἀρετὰς ταύτας κτῶνται. Ὥσπερ οὖν ἐκεῖνοι ἐξ ὠμότητος ἀμφότερα πάσχουσιν, οὕτως οὗτοι ἀπὸ φιλανθρωπίας, τῷ τε συμπάσχειν ἀλγοῦσι, τῷ τε συγχαίρειν εὖ πάσχουσι. ∆ιὰ τί δὲ εἶπεν, Ἀνταποδῷς μοι; Ὁ μὲν ἕτερός φησιν, Ὅταν εὐεργετήσῃς με. Οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι, Ἀνταποδῷς καὶ ἀμείψῃ με. Καίτοι γε ἀνωτέρω θλίψιν καὶ ταπείνωσιν εἶπεν, οὐ κατορθώματα, καὶ παῤῥησίαν τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων. Ἀντὶ τίνος δὲ καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν αἰτεῖ; Ἀντὶ τῶν ἡμερῶν τῆς ταπεινώσεως. Οὐ γὰρ μικρὸν καὶ τοῦτο κατόρθωμα, τὸ θλίψιν ἐνεγκεῖν μετ' εὐχαριστίας. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἀνταπόδοσιν καλεῖ τὴν μετὰ ταῦτα ἀμοιβήν. Μὴ τοίνυν μηδὲ ἡμεῖς ἀλύωμεν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν, ἀλλ' εὐχώμεθα μὴ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς πειρασμόν· ἐπιόντα δὲ δεχώμεθα. Τά τε γὰρ ὄντα ἁμαρτήματα ἀποτιθέμεθα, καὶ εἴ τινα δικαιοσύνην ἔχομεν, κἀκείνην λαμπροτέραν ἐργαζόμεθα. Καὶ τοῦτο δείκνυσιν ὁ Ἰὼβ, τότε μειζόνως διαλάμψας. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐν σώμασιν ἀγαθόν· τοῦτο οὐκ ἐν ἀνθρώποις μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ἀλόγοις· οὐκ ἐν ἀλόγοις μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν φυτοῖς. ∆ιὰ δὴ τοῦτο οὐδὲ ταῖς ἀμπέλοις συγχωροῦσιν οἱ γηπόνοι ὑπὲρ τὸ μέτρον κομᾷν, οὐδὲ ἑτέροις δένδροις, ἀλλὰ κωλύουσι τὴν εἰς τὸ πρόσω φορὰν, τῇ δρεπάνῃ ἅπασαν αὐτῆς τὴν δύναμιν εἰς τὴν ῥίζαν περιστρέφοντες, ὥστε μὴ ἐν τοῖς φύλλοις ἀναλωθεῖσαν αὐτὴν ἐξίτηλον ἐνεγκεῖν τὸν καρπόν. Ὅπερ καὶ ἐπ' ἀνθρώπων συμβαίνει. Τῆς γὰρ σπουδῆς εἰς τὰ περιττὰ ἀναλισκομένης, ἀτονωτέρα γίνεται ἡ ψυχὴ πρὸς τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας καρπὸν ὥριμον ἐνεγκεῖν καὶ ἀκμάζοντα. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ ὑδάτων ἴδοι τις ἄν. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἑστηκὸς καὶ ἀπόρευτον, βλαβερόν· τὸ δὲ κινούμενον καὶ ἐξαντλούμενον καὶ μετοχετευόμενον, οὐ μόνον ὑγιεινὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰδεῖν καὶ ἅψασθαι καὶ πιεῖν ἥδιόν ἐστι. Πολλάκις δὲ καὶ τὴν φύσιν ἐνίκησεν ἡ θλίψις. Τὸ γὰρ κατωφερὲς τοῦτο καὶ ῥυτὸν θλιβόμενον πρὸς τὴν ἄνω φορὰν ἐξακοντίζεται. Ὃ δὴ καὶ ἐπ' ἀνθρώπων συμβαίνει. Οἱ γὰρ εὐκόλως τὰς θλίψεις φέροντες, ὑψηλότεροι καθίστανται, κἂν σφόδρα ὦσι χαμαίζηλοι, καὶ σφόδρα γήϊνοι, καὶ ταπεινοὶ, μεγάλα ἐντεῦθεν κερδαίνουσι. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες, φέρωμεν μετ' εὐχαριστίας τὰ ἐπαγόμενα δεινὰ, ἵνα κἀκεῖνα εὐκολώτερα ἡμῖν γένηται, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν· ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἀξιωθῆναι, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

ΕΙΣ ΤΟΝ ΡΜΒʹ ΨΑΛΜΟΝ. Κύριε, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου.

αʹ. Ἔστι μὲν προσευχὴ καὶ ἡ διὰ ῥημάτων δέησις, ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ ἐπαγγελία. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καί τις σοφὸς 55.447 παραινεῖ, λέγων· Μὴ δευτερώσῃς λόγον ἐν προσευχῇ σου. Οὐχ ἵνα μὴ δεύτερον τὰ αὐτὰ λέγωμεν, παρακαλοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν καὶ δεόμενοι, τοῦτο παραινεῖ καὶ συμβουλεύει, ἄπαγε· καὶ γὰρ κελευόμεθα προσκαρτερεῖν ταῖς προσευχαῖς· ἀλλ' ἵνα μὴ ἀναβαλλώμεθα ὅταν τι ὑποσχώμεθα τῷ Θεῷ, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἐπειγώμεθα. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησι· Μὴ χρονίσῃς ἀποδοῦναι τὴν προσευχήν. Καὶ γὰρ ἄδηλον τὸ μέλλον. Ἢ γὰρ νόσος, ἢ πραγμάτων ἀδόκητοι ἀσχολίαι συμπεσοῦσαι ἐκώλυσαν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ θάνατος