The Law, Confession, and Courage

A discerning mind does not exist even for a poor man. Truly, one without discernment is poor.

A wise man judges nations; but a foolish man, being enraged, is laughed at and does not fall. 'And at him, says David, they shall laugh and say: Behold a man who did not set God as his helper' (Ps 71:10).

Men sharing in blood will seek the holy; but the upright will seek his soul. He who seeks the soul of the righteous is the one desiring to understand things as they have been thought.

A fool pours out his whole passion; but a wise man stores up his passion in measure. This one stores up his passion in measure, that is, he who is enraged at things concerning the righteous, or he who consumes his passion in measure through long-suffering. And to the simpler ones, one should speak the former, but to the serious ones, the latter.

An interpreter shall not exist for a nation that is lawless; but he who keeps the law is blessed. To those who have kept the law, an interpreter shall exist; but to those who have acted lawlessly, an interpreter shall not exist, but a punisher shall exist; if not by word, then by rod; a rod is given to a lawless nation.

A harsh servant will not be instructed by words; for even if he understands, he will not obey. Because no one is harsh by nature, he demonstrates 'for even if he understands, he will not obey'; for the one who is harsh by nature could never understand anything right. I say this because of Pharaoh, having been hardened against Israel, being instructed not by words, but by scourging.

He who squanders from childhood will be a servant; but at the last he will grieve for himself. If squandering makes one sin, 'for everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin' (Rom 6:16), then everyone who squanders is a slave of sin.

Pride humbles a man; but the humble-minded, the Lord exalts with glory. Now the evil pride of the soul...

He calls it logical. He who divides the truth is hated by his own soul. 'The thief,' he says, 'does not come except in order to steal and slaughter and destroy' (John 10:10).

If, however, having an oath set forth, they hear it and do not disclose the sin, they will be turned aside by fear and shame of men. The Oath spoke the law; for just as the oath places God in the soul, so also the law introduces God into the soul; and in whatever way perjury again annuls God from the soul, so also lawlessness casts God out from it. If, therefore, he says, having heard the law set forth, they do not confess their sins, 'they will be turned aside by fear and shame of men.' Thus also David says: 'I swore and I stood to keep your judgments of righteousness' (Psalm 119:160). And again Solomon says: 'He who covers his impiety will not prosper; but he who explains and reproves will be loved' (Proverbs 28:13). And David: 'I said, he says, I will confess to the Lord my iniquity, and you forgave the impiety of my heart' (Psalm 32:5); and 'speak first of your iniquities.'

Many treat the faces of leaders; but from the Lord, justice happens to the man. In acting rightly, we treat the angels; for they are our leaders having taken us from the beginning, 'when the Most High divided the nations' (Deut 32:8) and 'he set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of his angels' (Deut 32:8). And the justice from the judgment will be for us from the Lord on that day when he judges the inhabited world in righteousness (Acts 17:31), if indeed the Father has given all judgment to the Son.

What man will find a courageous woman? Courage is an excellent state of the logical soul, by which he has mastered the opposing forces of enemies. Such a thing will not fail good dogs. We plunder the opposing power having conquered.