1

1

An Alphabetic Exhortation Consider God to be the beginning of all things. Think that nothing in life is certain. Honoring parents, most of all fear God. Teach yourself not to speak what is not right. Strive to please God in deeds and in words. Desire the life that has no end. By yielding yourself to friends, you will be victorious. Being mortal, be not at all proud. Always frequent the doors of the wise. And adorn your mind more than your form. With the word of God open your mouth, child. Never forget the memory of Him. Being sober, pray to God daily. Welcome strangers, lest you become a stranger to God. Restrain the soul-destroying impulses of the passions. Prudently secure the body with fetters. Carry your conscience as a rod for yourself. Devote your leisure clearly to the divine Scriptures. Soothe the sorrows of the poor. Wish well for your neighbors more than for yourself. Be eager to have friends, rather than much wealth. For they are far more glorious than gold. Hate falsehood, but love the truth. O child, by keeping these things, you will be saved immediately.

1

Alphabeticum paraeneticum Ἀρχὴν νόμιζε τῶν ὅλων εἶναι Θεόν. Βέβαιον οὐδὲν ἐν βίῳ δόκει πέλειν. Γονεῖς τιμῶν μάλιστα Θεὸν φοβοῦ. ∆ίδασκε σαυτὸν μὴ λαλεῖν ἃ μὴ θέμις. Ἔργοις δ' ἀρέσκειν σπεῦδε καὶ λόγοις Θεῷ. Ζωὴν πόθησον τὴν ἔχουσαν μὴ τέλος. Ἡττῶν σεαυτὸν τοῖς φίλοις νικῶν ἔσῃ. Θνητὸς δ' ὑπάρχων μηδόλως μέγα φρόνει. Ἰχνηλάτει μὲν τῶν σοφῶν ἀεὶ θύρας. Καὶ νοῦν δὲ καλλώπιζε τῆς μορφῆς πλέον. Λόγῳ Θεοῦ ἄνοιγε σόν, τέκνον, στόμα. Μνήμης δὲ αὐτοῦ μηδαμῶς λάθῃ ποτέ. Νήφων προςεύχου τῷ Θεῷ καθ' ἡμέραν. Ξένους ξένιζε, μὴ ξένος γένῃ Θεοῦ. Ὁρμὰς χαλίνου τῶν παθῶν ψυχοφθόρους. Πέδαις τὸ σῶμα ἀσφαλίζου σωφρόνως. Ῥάβδον σεαυτῷ τὴν συνείδησιν φέρε. Σαφῶς σχόλαζε ἐν Γραφαῖς ταῖς ἐν θέοις. Τὰς τῶν πενήτων ψυχαγώγησον λύπας. Ὑπὲρ σεαυτὸν τοὺς πέλας καλῶς θέλε. Φίλους ἔχειν σπούδαζε, ἢ πλοῦτον πολύν. Χρυσοῦ γὰρ αὐτοὶ εὐκλεέστεροι λίαν. Ψεῦδος μίσησον, τὴν δ' ἀλήθειαν φίλει. Ὦ παῖ, φυλάσσων ταῦτα σώζῃ ἐνθέως.