Sentences on Virginity and Conduct
Humans are like grass flowers, but the glory of the Lord remains for ever. The Lord loves a gentle virgin, but an angry virgin he will hate. An obedient virgin will be shown mercy, but a contentious one is strongly foolish. The Lord will destroy a grumbling virgin, but the thankful one he will rescue from death.
Shameful laughter and shamelessness are disgraceful, and every fool is entangled in such things. She who beautifies her garments will be outside of temperance. Do not associate with worldly women, lest they turn away your heart and make your righteous purposes invalid. Call upon the Lord with tears in the night, and though no one perceives you praying, you will find grace.
Lustful wandering and longing for others' homes overturns the state of the soul and corrupts its readiness. A faithful virgin will not fear, but the unfaithful will flee even from her own shadow. Envy destroys the soul, and jealousy consumes it. Despising a weak sister, she will be far from Christ.
Do not say, 'this is mine and that is yours.' For in Christ Jesus all things are common (Galatians 3:28). She will not labor for another's life, nor will she rejoice in her sister's fall. It is enough for virgins to pray, and do not boast of your nobility. Do not bring forth a word from your mouth in the assembly of the Lord, and do not wander your eyes. For the Lord knows your heart, and he scrutinizes all your thoughts. Put away every evil desire from you, and they will not grieve you.
Greek
ἀνθρώπων ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου, δόξα δὲ κυρίου μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. 19 Παρθένον πραεῖαν ἀγαπᾷ ὁ κύριος, παρθένος δὲ ὀργίλος μισηθήσεται. 20 Ὑπακούουσα παρθένος ἐλεηθήσεται, ἡ δὲ ἀντιλέγουσα ἰσχυρῶς ἄφρων. 21 Γόγγυσον παρθένον ἀπολεῖ κύριος, τὴν δὲ εὐχάριστον ῥύσεται ἐκ θανάτου. 22 Αἰσχρὸν γέλως καὶ ἐπονείδιστον ἀναισχυντία, πᾶσα δὲ ἄφρων τοῖς τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται. 23 Ἡ καλλωπίζουσα ἱμάτια αὐτῆς καὶ σωφροσύνης ἐκτὸς ἔσται. 24 Μὴ συναυλίζου κοσμικαῖς, ἵνα μὴ διαστρέψωσι σὴν καρδίαν καὶ ἀκύρους ποιήσωσι βουλὰς δικαίας. 25 ∆άκρυσιν ἐν νυκτὶ παρακάλει τὸν κύριον, καὶ μηδεὶς αἴσθηται προσευχομένης σου καὶ εὑρήσεις χάριν. 1 26 Ἐπιθυμία περιπάτων καὶ πόθος οἰκιῶν ἀλλοτρίων ἀνατρέπει κατάστασιν ψυχῆς καὶ διαφθείρει προθυμίαν αὐτῆς. 27 Πιστὴ παρθένος οὐ δειλιάσει, ἡ δὲ ἄπιστος φεύξεται καὶ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτῆς. 28 Φθόνος τήκει ψυχήν, καὶ ζῆλος κατεσθίει αὐτήν. 29 Καταφρονοῦσα τῆς ἀδελφῆς τῆς ἀσθενούσης καὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μακρὰν ἔσται. 30 Μὴ εἴπῃς· ἐμὸν τοῦτο καὶ σὸν τοῦτο. ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πάντα κοινά. 31 Οὐ περιεργάσῃ ζωὴν ἀλλοτρίαν, καὶ πτώματι ἀδελφῆς σου οὐκ ἐπιχαρήσῃ. 32 Ἐπάρκει δεομέναις παρθένοις, καὶ ἐπὶ εὐγενείᾳ σου μὴ ἐπαίρου. 33 Μὴ προενέγκῃς λόγον ἐκ στόματός σου ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ κυρίου, καὶ μὴ μετεωρίσῃς τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου. ὁ γὰρ κύριος γινώσκει σὴν καρδίαν, καὶ πάντας τοὺς διαλογισμούς σου σκοπεύει. 34 Πᾶσαν κακὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἄπωσαι ἀπό σου, καὶ οὐ μὴ λυπήσωσίν σε οἱ
About this text
A spiritual guide for virgins offering practical advice on faith, humility, and avoiding worldly distractions.
Original English Translation of Evagrius Ponticus’s Sententiae ad virginem — new OET from PG 40 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 40 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.