A. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord lifts up all who fall, and raises up all who are cast down. By the Lord the steps of a man are directed, and he shall desire his way. With the Lord is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption. Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way. Strait and narrow is the way that leads to life. The soul that sins, it shall die. The soul of the just is the seat of wisdom. A wise man, hearing, shall be wiser. The turning away of the little ones shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. The tongue of the just is choice silver.
The friend of fools shall become like them. He who walks in the right path and fears God is despised by him who walks in a shameful way. To follow the Lamb wherever he goes specially befits virginity. The covetous man is not satisfied with money, and he who loves riches takes no fruit from them. Coming to the service of God, stand fast in justice and in the fear of Christ, and prepare your soul for temptation. Before ruin the heart is exalted, and before glory it is humbled. Bear one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law. The natural man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God. He refuses to be Abel whom the malice of Cain does not try. The love of God is never idle.
He who casts away discipline will soon feel ruin. A friend is proved in time of need. Love of the world is contempt of God. Love of the world lays up treasure for death. There is one stroke by which any sinner is corrected, and another by which he is condemned. Great joys cannot be attained except through great labours. He hastens to death who quickly passes judgement on anyone. To love belongs to sons, to fear belongs to servants. Among men the heart is weighed from words, but with God words are weighed from the heart. Water is turned into wine for us when sacred history is changed for us into spiritual understanding. The covetous man is properly the cause of his own misery, bringing upon himself the thirst of avarice.
Prosperity provides a friend, adversity proves him. The covetous man does nothing right except when he dies. To the covetous man what he has is as much lacking as what he does not have. Avarice always makes men hateful, generosity makes them renowned. Avarice is not quenched by the riches desired, but increased. Before conversion a throng of sins goes before; after conversion a throng of temptations follows. Every virtue needs the help of another virtue. You cannot love right things unless you are humbled for Christ's sake. You cannot attain humility except by great contrition of both the inner and the outer man. Hard faith demands robust years.
Unless the affections of the flesh are taken away by the law of the mind, they lead every man to perdition. It is too hard a thing to serve after having ruled. From the Lord all good things are altogether to be sought. The practice of the virtues constitutes the perfection of conduct. Before the face of God nothing wicked stands unpunished. The way of life is conveyed more clearly and better by works than by words. Ambition has compelled many mortals to become false. B. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed is he who has regard for the needy and the poor; in the evil day God will deliver him.
Blessed is he who shall take and dash his little ones against the rock. The arms of sinners shall be broken, but the Lord strengthens the just. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. Blessed is the man who is found without blemish, who has not gone after gold, nor put his hope in money and treasures. Blessed is the man who is always fearful, but he who is hard of mind shall fall into evil. He rises well at dawn who seeks good things. It is good for a man when he has borne the yoke from his youth.
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him. All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection. Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life. To speak well and to live ill is nothing else than to condemn oneself. He has good understanding who does what he rightly understands. He who knows not how to give a kindness unjustly asks for one. The mind of the good, the harder the things it endures for the truth, the more surely does it hope for the rewards of eternity. It is more blessed to give than to receive. If you cannot do good, yet do not blame it or hinder it.
A good conscience keeps its own splendour in the darkness. The brevity of the present life is to be weighed by all. The best war is waged when the spirit opposes the flesh. He is a strong warrior who can overcome himself. He gives doubly pleasing who quickly pays what he owes. Be gentle to the meek and stern to the proud. The heart of a wicked woman is a cruel beast. To drink and eat is granted to no one for the filling of gluttony, but for the restraining of hunger and thirst. He is not good whom the wickedness of evil men has not tested. C. Charity is not to be extorted from anyone, but to be sought out with kindnesses. Charity is patient, is kind.
Charity covers a multitude of sins. No one ought to prefer his loved ones to Christ. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. With the elect you shall be elect, and with the perverse you shall be perverted. A contrite and humbled heart God will not despise. The sinner watches the just man, and seeks to put him to death. In the hand of the Lord is a cup of pure wine, full of mixture. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. When he gives sleep to his beloved, behold, the inheritance of the Lord. God keeps all who love him, and all sinners he will destroy. When you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the words of God shall not pass away. If a blind man leads a blind man, both fall into the pit. The thought of the human heart is prone to evil from its youth. Care brings the greatest sins to cease. When a man's ways please the Lord, even his enemies are turned to peace. The thoughts of the just are judgements. The heart of the king is in the hand of God; wherever he wills, he inclines it. Consider the works of God, that no one can correct him whom he has despised. A golden ring in a swine's snout is a woman fair and foolish. The heart of man disposes his way, but it is the Lord's to direct his steps.
The heart of the wise is where there is sorrow, and the heart of fools where there is gladness. The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its joy a stranger shall not share. Turn to the Lord, and forsake your sins. The grey hairs of man are his understanding, and the age of old age is an unspotted life. To whom much is given, much is required of him. Be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. With the heart one believes unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. The body that is corrupted weighs down the soul, and presses down the mind that muses on many things. Evil conversations corrupt good morals.
Confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be saved. Although God can do all things, yet he cannot make evil, because it is nothing. He who believes that God can grant all things merits to obtain what he asks the sooner. Against God there is no counsel, neither great nor small. A cause that is not foreseen does not allow anyone to advance to better things. God does not seek forced service. The guardian of chastity is the virtue of humility. He quickly falls into greater crimes who counts the small ones as nothing. The head of discord is that which strives to make private property out of what is common. Continence is a virtue not of the body but of the mind. A deed needs counsel.
By concord small things grow, by discord the greatest fall apart. Whatever advantages we have seem small while we possess them; but when they are gone, it becomes plain how great they were. Virginity of the flesh, though it be a heavenly virtue, profits no one without virginity of the mind. An evil habit is scarcely, or never, overcome. They change their sky, not their soul, who run across the sea. The love of money grows as much as the money itself grows. Bring whatever help you can to the wretched and the needy. The abundance of virtues stands like a single body. They commit an equal crime, both he who slanders another and he who gladly listens to the slanderer. Those things must be cut off with pain which cannot be lightly healed.
Whose works anyone does, his son he is called. To whom it is pleasing to be called a son of God, let him venerate God as a Father, doing his will. The greatest captivity is where souls are led captive. He falls with open eyes who indeed knows how to speak rightly, but scorns to live rightly. He who desires to know how great God's grace is toward him, let him look at others; and by however much more he perceives himself to have in health, or understanding, or in the possession of any thing, by so much let him know himself to be the richer in God's grace. A common disease must be driven away in common. Correct yourself first, you who would be a ruler of others. It befits everyone to weigh carefully what is fitting.
He has compassion on no one who knows not how to have pity on himself. When the head is sick, the whole body labours at the same time. D. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there is one who understands or seeks God. The Lord examines the just and the wicked; but he who loves iniquity hates his own soul. The Lord shall give the word to those who preach with great power. The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain. The Lord is sweet and upright; therefore he will give a law to those who go astray in the way. God is a just judge, strong and patient. The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
God shall come manifestly, and shall not keep silence. The rich have been in want and have hungered, but they who seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your heart. Turn away from evil, and do good. Give, and it shall be given to you. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. The labourer is worthy of his wage. You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and your neighbour as yourself. God is faithful and without any iniquity. The Lord makes poor and makes rich, he humbles and exalts. The Lord puts to death and gives life, brings down to the grave and brings back.
Fear God, and keep his commandments; this is the whole of man. Cast not away the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are corrected by him. Love justice, you who judge the earth. The riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge. The learning of a man is known by his patience. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. God is charity, and he who abides in charity abides in God, and God in him. No one has ever seen God. The love of the neighbour works no evil. The day of the Lord shall come like a thief in the night. To those who love God all things work together for good. While we have time, let us do good to all, but especially to those of the household of the faith.
He who seeks God seeks joy. Discretion is the mother of the virtues. Discipline or mercy is much weakened if one is held without the other. The wickedness which one conceives in childhood is corrected with difficulty. Nothing evil is to be imputed to God, since he uses even evil itself for good. It is difficult for anyone to recognise the grace of health except through the discipline of sickness. Delicacies and a variety of feasts are the fuel of lust. He cannot console the grieving who does not enter into the grief. He is bound by a double guilt who both commits wicked things in himself, and corrupts others by his wickedness.
He who lies long in sins, if he should wish to be converted, will also long endure the troubles of diabolical temptation. God is therefore said to create evils, because he also sends scourges for our sins. The divine word, as it exercises the prudent with mysteries, so it cherishes the simple with its surface. He pleases God more who offers him pure hands than he who offers full ones. We are deprived of arrogance with more difficulty than of gold and gems. It is the guilt of a double sin both not to be holy as you are believed to be, and to feign that you are holy. While the unjust rage, the just are purified. It is most difficult for a man to conquer himself. Prolonged idleness supplies nourishment to the vices.
The bountiful and generous man pleases all mortals. Do not call half a deed complete. He who wishes to imitate Christ has always something to learn. The words of doctrine profit few without deeds. Do not contend with words about doubtful matters. Call back the discordant; as a supporter, stand by the deserving. True riches are all the goods of the virtues. He is to be called rich for whom a small use suffices. E. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Wait for the Lord, act manfully, and let your heart take courage, and wait for the Lord. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Be merciful, as your Father also is merciful. By your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. With the same measure with which you measure, it shall be measured back to you. Deliver those who are led to death, and cease not to free those who are dragged to destruction. The worship of God is an abomination to the sinner. Want and shame come to him who forsakes discipline, but he who heeds the one who reproves shall be glorified. There is a way that seems just to a man, but its ends lead to death. The horse is prepared for battle, but victory is given by the Lord. A boy is known by his pursuits.
There is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life, says God almighty. Let us amend for the better what we have sinned through ignorance. Drunkenness and surfeiting are to be detested by every Christian. Abundance of food inflames the flesh to harmful desires. God abhors that alms which is offered out of plunder. To blush at evil belongs to wisdom, but to blush at good belongs to folly. He errs most easily who cares not in what direction he may more rightly go. Equally needy is he who has not enough, and he for whom no abundance suffices. To will the same things and to reject the same things, that at last is firm friendship.
Each one begins to be evil at the very time when he could become good. From another's peril the wise man corrects and amends himself. He grants the prayer its effect according to the life of the one who prays. He is an excellent teacher who himself does the good things he teaches. Holy speech becomes more precious than gold. It must rightly be known by all that Being belongs properly to God. He who is without learning will suffer darkness everywhere. The elect are few, but many are called. He is like an empty vessel who lacks the care of souls. F. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and holy in all his works. The Lord is a firm support to those who fear him. The river of God is filled with water.
The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. The children of this world are wiser in their own generation than the children of light. Make for yourselves friends of the mammon of iniquity, that when you fail, they may receive you into eternal dwellings. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. Break your bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the wandering into your house. In vain is the net cast before the eyes of the winged. The lips of a harlot are a dripping honeycomb, and her throat is smoother than oil; but her end is bitter as wormwood.
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; the woman who fears God, she shall be praised. God scourges every son whom he receives. He lends to the Lord who has mercy on the poor. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the just, bold as a lion, shall be without dread. Almsgiving shall be great confidence before God for all who do it. No one can lay another foundation besides that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith without works is dead.
Fornicators and adulterers God will judge. If a brother helps a brother, both shall be comforted. The fever of the body is heat, but the fever of the soul is avarice and lust. The strongest fast is bread and water. The scourge of God then washes away guilt, when it has changed one's life. He seems to commit fraud against God who, having abandoned the resolve of the spiritual life, returns to the world. To provide for the future pertains especially to those to whom the care over others has been committed. Cold and hunger can be driven off by simple clothing and food. For the faithful, night is changed into day; but for the unfaithful, even the light itself becomes dark. The mind does not desire a woman's beauty before the bodily eye does.
Frequently those are overcome by prosperity who could not be overcome by adversity. The strength of the just is to conquer the flesh, to extinguish the pleasure of the present life. The strength of the reprobate is to love transitory things without ceasing, and to endure unfeelingly against the scourges of the Creator. The devil ought not to be dreaded, who can do nothing except what he is permitted. To strive in vain, and by wearying oneself to gain nothing but hatred, is the utmost madness. In vain is labour spent for the health of the body, unless the salvation of the soul is obtained. We more easily renounce the world than ourselves. More faithful and more pleasing is the service which is rendered by love rather than by fear. Lust tames iron minds.
He shall one day be handed over to the inextinguishable flame who here neglected to quench the fires of his avarice and malice. Easy pardon is to be given to him who does not sin on purpose. Stronger is he who subdues his desires than he who subdues enemies. The fierce and restless man, ever exercising his tongue in quarrels, is likened to a dog. We commit fornication against the Lord when by adulterous thoughts we stray from his chaste love. He who is given over to foul and unclean lusts imitates the pleasure of a filthy swine. He easily offends who desires to please not the best, but the worst. Do not be quick to display the brave deeds of your life. Happy is he who can seize everlasting rest.
Happy are the eyes that behold the joys of heaven. An iron mind is often overcome by wicked words. Every tree is known by its own fruits. The end of the commandment is the love of Christ. G. Taste and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man who hopes in him. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God. The Lord will give grace and glory. The generation of the upright shall be blessed. There shall be joy in heaven over one sinner doing penance, more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no penance. A stone is heavy and the sand burdensome, but the anger of a fool is heavier than both. A wise son is the glory of his father.
Glory and honour and peace to everyone who works good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. This is our glory, the testimony of our conscience. The twofold love makes men near to God. It is a great offence to be unwilling to appease him whom you have offended. A great destruction of the Church is the neglected provision of monasteries. By the gesture of the body the disposition of the mind is shown. The word of God is a sword sharp on both sides, penetrating soul and body. The gravest kind of enmity is to bless with the lips and to curse with the heart. To boast and grow proud over temporal advantages is a sign of a foolish mind. It is more glorious to bear an injury by keeping silent than to avenge it by answering.
Complete joys are nowhere on earth. He who is given over to gluttony and lust is likened to senseless beasts. What is freely given by God must also be freely given to men. A steadfast mind has no doubtful opinion. Grave is the sin from which someone takes an example for sinning. No one ought to make common goods his own private property. He brings gifts pleasing to God who breaks evil vows. He who rejoices in the Lord tastes the sweetest honey. A great crime must be overcome by great zeal. Worldly glory is to be loved by no one at all. The grace of God alone makes those whom it wills to merit high things. H. Man is like grass, his days as the flower of the field.
Man, though he was in honour, was likened to senseless beasts, and was made like to them. Man is made like to vanity; his days pass away like a shadow. Put your confidence in the Lord with your whole heart. Man looks on the face, but God beholds the heart. The inheritance hastened to in the beginning shall lack a blessing at the end. Honour the Lord with your substance, and give to the poor of the first-fruits of your harvest. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation. God loves a cheerful giver. It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. Man is born to labour, the bird to flight.
A heretical man, after one and a second admonition, avoid. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. To sin is human, but to persevere in sin is diabolical. Each one ought to turn to good things with the same zeal with which he wrought evil. Let him who clung continually to evil, once converted, do the same in good. Honesty and sobriety are to be sought after in all things. Honour shown to God makes those who show it worthy of eternal glory. If you wish to have honour and command, I will give you a great one: rule yourself. To honour parents pertains to all men. To the humble and faithful the mysteries of the divine law are open, but to the proud and unfaithful they are hidden.
This is to withdraw utterly from evil: out of the love of God, no longer to wish to sin. To fear men more than God is not of the Christian religion. A spiritual friend is an heir and a kinsman. Thus the last very often become the first. Remember to appease quickly those whom you have hurt. He wages dreadful wars who spurns the covenants of peace. Endure the Lord as one who chastens, yet love in him what is dear. Alas! how rare is faith now found among all. I. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Good understanding to all who do it. The wicked walk round about. In God we shall do mightily, and he himself will bring our enemies to nothing.
The Lord sends his angels round about those who fear him, and he will deliver them. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not fear evil tidings. In your patience you shall possess your souls. The wicked, when he has come into the depth of sins, will hold them in contempt. Into a malevolent soul wisdom will not enter, nor will it dwell in a body subject to sins. By the envy of the devil death entered into the world. Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the sons of men. Among the proud there are always quarrels, but those who do all things with counsel are governed by wisdom. In all your works remember your last end, and you shall never sin. At the end of a man is the laying bare of his works.