Fragments on Psalms 1-150 1.1,2 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has
are not deemed worthy of the judgment of resurrection, just as sinners are not of the council of the righteous. For the way of the righteous, being wo
they have. 3.4 But you, O Lord, are my helper, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. The mind is exalted then, when it applies itself to the man
The Lord has made his holy one wonderful. Know therefore, you who trust in multitudes, that he has shown to be wonderful the one who trusts in him. -D
a soul that acts for God, they provoke God, clearly fighting against God. - Cast them out from impiety, having made them pious. - It is a blessing to
mentions, on account of the many altars throughout the whole earth established through Christ in his churches. Therefore also in the 83rd psalm, it to
is named among the nations. - His name, therefore, has been blotted out forever. For every rite has been extinguished of men now and of those who are
a footstool for his feet. For his kingdom is the contemplation of all ages that have been and that will be through which contemplation even enemies b
from me? Of the same. Teaching, that [forgetfulness] has fallen away from the memory of God at some time (for God makes a forgetting of those who are
to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 17.9 Smoke went up in his wrath, and fire from his presence devoured, coals were kindled from
in this way He is shown to be the master of the elements, so as even to bring on night in the middle of the day. 18.6 He set His tabernacle in the sun
and these on horses. Understand also horses as the leapings of the passions, on [which] the demons ride and chariots as the conspiracy of the impetuo
The Lord restores the soul, and re-establishes it after shepherding it, and makes it dwell in a place of green pasture then having restored it, he le
Amalek. And: Lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. And: The lifting up of my hands, an evening sacrifice. I would say, then, that our hand
to consider as the author of creation therefore let these be punished. 27.6,7 Blessed is the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication.
his saints, because the Lord seeks out truth, and repays those who act with exceeding pride. Be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened, a
to use metaphors, as here. Of pride, not being a footed animal, but a state, he has named a foot what he prays for, therefore, is this: may I not bec
should he be so disposed, he says, the just and good one, that is, God, will not cease to pity him, and to give the things from himself, so that it mi
saying that he feared the justice he was about to flee, through the words and the frequent misfortunes, which he called hands. 37.4 There is no healin
my. Those who are not aware of their own sins cannot say these things for some even boast and take pleasure in their own faults, as if carrying them
of the dragon Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his power is upon the navel of his belly. For the strength of the dia bol is especially a
This he says: for if I had not hoped in you, I would have defended myself. But now I know this: Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to
I was dumb and was humbled, and kept silence from good things, and my pain was renewed. - My heart grew hot within me, and in my meditation a fire wil
such by Satan. And you have melted away his soul like a spider's web. But the sinning soul grows thick for such is the nature of sin wherefore it is
in the contemplation of the things that have happened. Another. First, God leads someone up from a pit of misery second, he sets his feet upon a rock
we say, the repenting people asks of God why he has forsaken him thus afflicted and sorrowful. -But the Where, spoken of God, which is significant o
with intelligible sweet odors the daughters of kings have delighted you, that is, at the time when it was necessary for you to be honored by them. For
discourse, and the daughter, he says, of Tyre will come with gifts, and the rich of the people will entreat your face with gifts, for they do not wors
minding earthly things, and clinging to the desires of the flesh. Then the sons of men, those who exercise some care and practice of reason for the r
they did not do, nor was deceit found in their mouth it is likely they have sinned in the final and the last and the very small things, which have be
from you, and do not take your holy Spirit from me. He prays not to be deprived of divine care (for this he here called face), nor to be stripped of t
they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they were angry with me. He confesses here, teaching us to confess, as having taken on our person. - Being la
Likewise: Do not be anxious about what you shall eat or what you shall drink. Depend for your own needs on that providence for thus you will remain u
he was deemed worthy of the honor of the sons. Who then will return in the evening, and will be hungry as dogs, and will go around the city, but the m
of the prophecy, for since the Jews themselves did not work his death at the time of the Savior's passion, but this was done by a Roman hand while Pi
will trace out? 60.9 So will I sing praise to your name for ever and ever, that I may daily perform my vows. He who promises and does not perform his
to be able for us to succeed without the shelter from the so-called wings of God, that is, of His virtues for by these God is exalted, and raised up,
the doctrines, or the ordinances and canons handed down by the apostles. And in this, virtue is wonderfully accomplished, called righteousness, that i
the salvation of all nations. The prophet, having seen with the eyes of the spirit the coming salvation for all men through the divine epiphany, suppl
that the exultation is worthy in the eyes of God, being not worldly, but a fruit of the Spirit. 67.5 Sing to God, sing psalms to his name, make a way
likewise those who provoke, those dwelling in tombs. The place of God is a pure soul wherefore it adds, God makes the solitary to dwell, those who ha
the place of hades, which in the present things he also names matter of the deep and depth of the sea. 68.13 Those who sit in the gate were talking id
being honored. 69.5,6 And let them say continually: Let God be magnified, you who love your salvation. But I am poor and needy ... And you are my deli
they say, he says also in deed: Let them not attack do not delay to grant again your aid. 70.14 But I will hope continually. It is possible indeed to
henceforth, but to be overturned and to be dragged down into a slip. And he adds the reason, saying: 72.3,4 Because I was envious of the lawless, when
72.23 And I am always with you. One is said to be with God, first, he who knows the Holy Trinity, and after him, he who contemplates the principles co
I consider, whether perhaps the hand [does things] against the enemies of the people but the right hand, the good things for the people, for instance
the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father to which those here who have won the good fight will attain incorruptible life, or concerni
ria, I, he says, will judge you and the Babylonians and the Assyrians. 74.4 The earth melted, and all who dwell in it. But let Jesus also testify to u
and all to be according to God. And we, therefore, if we do not pray to him with our whole soul devoted, but pray only for the occasion, we will cry o
it was fitting for him to say: The words of my mouth. For he did not utter his own words, but the words from the Spirit. Therefore, the one speaking i
is to hear and to know, or only for those who understand the words but not even to all did the fathers by nature relate, but to some, and those accor
and those who sever the Godhead did not wish to walk in the spiritual law of the creator. -Tanis is called a commandment from judgment, or a humble co
to the streams. He who causes the divine stream to spring forth for the thirsty, and pours out the water from his side, when the iron opened this vein
of thought nor as fire be kindled from the fiery darts of the enemy but may the windows of heaven open for us, the expansions of intelligible and sp
the ark for one hundred years. What else, then, does he want through the one hundred years of the construction of the ark, than to turn men back, so t
pure and clear is the spring of faith, which they draw through the divine teaching but for those who are Egyptianized by their wicked assumption, the
firstborn to the devil is the one first born to him in a dogma foreign to salvation, for instance the Marcionites are not firstborn, but Marcion is. A
to the same place, honoring the day of the resurrection of our Lord, so that the bone of Christ may be gathered to bone, and joint, and veins, and sin
These things to the unworthy, because they do not ask as worthy but as if God ought to follow Himself, they add: for the glory of Your name, when we
the time to come. -You will make us alive, no one can make us alive, unless he has said: I am the life for when this firstfruit is taken from us, all
- He heard His [God's] tongue, the voice that came on Mount Sinai, who, having never enjoyed a divine voice, spoke these words while receiving the law
to be judged. For he judges them, just as a king on a joyful day, rewarding each one with the honor of their ranks. Who is worthy to rise in the resur
to become a rest, as all wheels, he says, are brought by and rolled for the wheel touches the earth. 82.19 And let them know that your name is Lord.
The Lord loves mercy and truth God will give grace and glory. Mercy and truth, instead of: the Lord loves the merciful and truthful one. For it is cu
it is necessary to be unceasing in prayer. He lifts his own soul to the Lord, who lightens it through action and contemplation. 85.5 For you, Lord, ar
The Lord will recount, that which happened in the heavens, which he himself recounted to them, saying: Rejoice, because your names are written in the
Show Your wondrous power for having died, I will not see it, there is no physician able to avert death or Christ teaches us the causes of His descen
of his mouth. But having said, I will be mindful of the promise, he adds his words for he entreats the master with what God said. His words, being
places him among the sons of God, but again places him above them, inasmuch as the clouds are higher than the earth not that he differs from them by
from God, but are they rational by nature? -But through Theodotion, again the east [understand in Tabor]. It is a mountain of the tribe of Issachar an
a plot of the Jews, and their undertaking has come to nothing for the Savior lived again on the third day, having trampled death, and he plundered Ha
O master, the reproaches, an exchange, [that is] the transformation of your Christ, or of David, in that the beginning was changed into a servant thi
For he dwells in all the faithful. 90.1,2 He who dwells in the help of the Most High, will abide in the shelter of the God of heaven he will say to t
in a rich old age, many good things abound in a rich old age, and living well they will be in what are called good states, as if in joy and reverence
to judge the earth, his highest being revealed and in the judging of those on the earth, let us guard ourselves from pride, knowing that God strongly
Whom the Lord loves, he chastens, says the apostle. But if whom he chastens, he blesses, every one chastened by him becomes passionless, for the Lord
it was written for God, providing for all, brings forth the healing of all. - Symmachus: Let not a throne of insolence be joined to you, fashioning h
the rock, the church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. 95.10,11 He will judge the peoples in uprightness. Let the heavens rejoice,
of the Lord. What the North wind freezes, this the South wind melts. Therefore the bride well says in the Song of Songs Awake, O North wind, and come
stretched out and tested of the evangelical proclamation by means of the beaten, that is, forged trumpets, it signifies but by the horn, the royal, b
to narrate the good deeds that have come to pass. The virtues are the gates of wisdom, for through them we enter into the kingdom of heaven. 100.2 I w
I come to a desolation of things. But if in mountains and caves the men of God avoided the life of the impious, they rightly said this: I have become
Unless, then, the Lord had looked down from his holy height, a people would not have praised him, a people still being created, and being created unti
those who desire him. After death the soul does not exist in this life. If, then, our nature is mortal, but the divine love for humanity grants a long
is restored, though fearful, to its own place. For the waves are lifted up like mountains. For the like is missing, so that it might be: The waters,
its setting. You appointed darkness, and it became night in it all the beasts of the forest will roam about, young lions roaring to seize and to seek
that it may desire bodily things since, therefore, the oracle of the Lord also inflamed Joseph, the evil one was not able to inflame him against his
his people in exultation, and his chosen ones in gladness. If the people went out in exultation, but his chosen ones in the gladness of exultation, si
to test them in the wilderness but they did not endure the test at all, but lusted with a desire he means the contention over the water. And on this
Sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in poverty and iron. Inasmuch as the Lord is light, he leads us out of darkness and inasmuch as he
they sowed fields, and planted vineyards, and produced fruit of increase, and he blessed them. Those who change from worse things to better through th
I was praying. From this we know that, when someone accuses us, we must pray for our enemies, so that we may not, having fallen into bearing a grudge,
To one who desires the curse, the blessing does not come, and to one who does not desire the curse, the curse does not come. And who wants a curse to
his kings. - He will judge among the nations, he will fill them with corpses, he will crush heads over a wide land. By the grace of God, the prophet h
of him remains forever and ever, but the just are called just because of righteousness, and they therefore remain forever and ever well then did Paul
Symmachus rendered servants instead of children. For children do not differ from servants, being disciplined by the fear of servitude for which r
the soul is in its rest for indeed the one who has fallen ill was once in health. This the apostle also says in the passage: I desire to depart and b
What came to be was not human, he says, it was not of angels, nor of archangels, to establish such a corner. What is wonderful? The corner, the joinin
in the psalm. 118p.3 For this reason the elements are also placed first here, so that it might be shown to the readers that the elements are the knowl
the verses, let us make: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. And thus let us begin the second one following. It sho
to offer a hymn, when I have learned all your judgments and have lived according to them. If I learn, he says, the judgments from your righteousness,
to the royal and perfect way, Christ, the one who said: I am the way. There are some ways of God, which he travels, that he might be among men, or whi
118.25 My soul has cleaved to the ground give me life according to your word. The souls of sinners cleave to the ground, minding earthly things but
the soul of the just man, from which nothing flows away but that of the wicked is not such, but unable to hold on to the word of God which it is taug
A path is a well-worn way, which many of the righteous before us have trod, for which there is need of God to guide. For we must become imitators of C
souls of saints. And after a little. For he who does not receive a word from God with much power to preach the gospel speaks things worthy of shame. B
But for the God-fearing, transgression is dreadful, because he foresees the terror of the punishment. 118.54 Your statutes were my songs in the place
of those who desire you, and of those who keep your commandments. He who is a partaker with those who fear the Lord, also fears the Lord himself and
118.72 The law of your mouth is good for me, more than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Being well-pleased instead of, the law is good for me, whi
in truth you have humbled me, that is, according to truth. 118.76 Let your mercy be to comfort me, according to your word to your servant. But now is
To those left behind by God for the benefit of the soul: I have not forgotten your ordinances. And in the gospel the body is said to be a wineskin: Fo
remains. Two are the generations which have contained the truth of God, both the people of the Jews, who had the law and the prophets, and the church
to have become, since they were the first to receive the law and the prophets we now who are from the nations say: I have understood more than all my
by the word in every action, as one might say, at every step lifting his foot to walk, this one cannot stumble for he has the lamp, and uses it. But
I have hoped, and give me life. Why did he not say: 'I hoped in your words,' but 'I have hoped'? Those who hope do not remain as they begin to hope, b
you may hand me over to the demons those ones do not cease from doing wrong. -Who is he who has done unexpected judgment and justice? who is he who d
is and is life. And he has given the reason for having drawn spirit into his mouth, saying: Because I longed for your commandments, the desire itself
is afflicted, which leads to life. And: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, and out of them all He will deliver them. Then he says: Your comman
and not a God from afar, says the Lord. For the power of God is everywhere according to the principle of creation and providence. And after a little.
he becomes a witness of God. As often as he is persecuted by opposing powers and is not defeated, nor is he overcome by the passions of dishonor, he a
of the judgment seat of God, and fearing that, and becoming entirely a representation of it and of the punishments laid up there for the one who denie
they draw near but concerning this, they say a prayer: My prayer has drawn near, and so forth. And what is the difference between these? It is worthy
to save that which was lost, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 119.π A song of the ascents. Only those who ascend in word and in life are fami
of Him who gave to the twelve apostles, who sit upon twelve thrones to judge Israel. - For there He commanded to sacrifice, to pray, to celebrate feas
someone, nor the one who hoped in God, as neither Daniel, nor the three youths, [even if] they were cast out from [their] homeland, and were held by s
all who hate Zion. -Let them be as the grass of the housetops, which withers before it is plucked up. -With which the reaper has not filled his hand,
nor in wonderful things beyond me. But in great things he says, referring to arrogant men for he fled those having this passion, seeing the harm fr
a wedding garment, a priestly garment of righteousness, which one puts on oneself, because one is righteous, so that after this God himself might clot
spoken of allegorically, the demons under the earth, to whom the earthly demons in the gospels called for Christ not to be sent. But the more precise
the wonder for many were the things threatening death, plague, drought, thirst, and fierce heat, and a multitude of beasts, and a desert of all neces
the power. -But according to the other version [before the gods] he calls the priests gods, according to that: You shall not speak evil of the gods. A
Your providence protected. -And the phrase you have possessed my reins, because the one who possesses cares, and coming forth from the womb, I immed
flee the letter, for from the judgment of sayings side-by-side the thing sought appears. For you will not, he says, go through all the scriptures, whi
to the perishing. -And one form of prayer is the converse of the mind with God, preserving the mind without form and I say the mind is without form w
being deemed worthy and he calls contemplation mercy, because it gives rest to minds that are weary and burdened by iniquities for indeed Solomon in
but to call upon the Lord his God. 144.2 Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name [forever]. And these things follow what has been said
it is easy to extend joined fingers, and to open the hand, thus it is easy for you at the right time to provide the abundance of good things. -If his
he says: All her gates are destroyed, and she herself is turned backward. For he who, after achieving virtue, is conquered has destroyed within himsel
to continually receive the powers above as partners in praise. Another says: for His mighty acts. But what is it that he says: Praise Him for His migh
being deemed worthy; and he calls contemplation mercy, because it gives rest to minds that are weary and burdened by iniquities; for indeed Solomon in the proverbs says: Give strong drink to those in sorrow, and wine to drink to those in pain, that they may forget their poverty, (that is, of ignorance; for this is the poverty of a rational nature), and may no longer remember their toils; for he who is intoxicated by the richness of the Lord's wine forgets poverty and toils and pains. And it is no small thing, when one is in prosperity, not to come to forgetfulness of the benefaction, or also this: "repay," in place of the days of humiliation. 142.12 And you will destroy all who afflict my soul. Nothing so drives away our enemies as spiritual contemplation. 143.1 Blessed be the Lord my God, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. He who is taught by the Lord the war against the opposing power, understands the principles of virtues and vices, and the differences of thoughts, and the signs of dispassion; and further he also knows the principles of nocturnal phantasms and dreams; of which some arise from the rational part of the soul, when the memory is stirred, others from the irascible part, and others from the concupiscible part; but concerning these things we have included a more precise account in the *Monostichos*. For such an examination of principles belongs to the ethical treatise. But now we have briefly touched upon the war taught by the Lord, wishing to represent it. 143.7,8 Send forth your hand from on high, deliver me, and rescue me from many waters, from the hand of foreign sons. Whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of injustice. Some have thought that the multitude of enemies is spoken of as waters, for which reason it was added, "from the hand of foreign sons"; but this signifies the impious, not the foreign-born, whom he says have also blasphemed against the divine glory, and have accomplished nothing right. -A foreign hand is a thought arising with the passionate part of the soul and seizing the mind; but this hand touches upon practical matters; but the hand of contemplative matters is a false knowledge of the things themselves or of their contemplation, suggesting the creator to be unjust or unwise ... 143.12 Whose sons are as young plants well-established in their youth; their daughters beautifully adorned, decorated like the likeness of a temple. Such are the children of the former and utterly impious people. But the flesh of the righteous man is weak and his mindset is deadened. Their daughters are adorned like harlots, likened to a temple in which an evil spirit dwells, so that the prophet said [in summary]: The daughters of Zion went with outstretched necks and with winking eyes, and what follows this. But the saints are a temple of God, and the spirit of God dwells in them. And those who store up treasures on earth say: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones. But their treasure is in heaven; likewise also their flock has encompassed innocent and good and rational sheep; [in] the earthly world they have also become a temple of God, like the holy souls of those who have believed. But [they were as] a likeness of a temple; for they pretended to practice the way of life according to the law, but they did not have the Word in them, but the evil spirit; for they treasured up not heavenly but earthly wealth. 143.14 There is no falling of a wall, nor a way through, nor a cry in their courtyards. He says their fields are walled in on all sides, providing no passage. And they are also in peace, with no cry to fear. And the prophet says: But I will speak judgments to you. What? That the way of the wicked prospers. And again David says: My steps were almost poured out, because I was envious of the lawless, seeing the peace of sinners. 143.15 Blessed is the people whose Lord is their God. Those who do not judge rightly, but who also imagine the things of the flesh, believe it to be blessed to be in much enjoyment of these things; but this is not blessed,
