Spiritual Discipline and the Virgin's Soul
Sing from your heart, and do not move only your tongue in your mouth.
A foolish virgin will love silver, but the prudent one will add even her food. Just as an unquenchable impulse of fire is difficult to manage, so a virgin's soul, once wounded, is difficult to heal. Do not give your soul over to evil thoughts, so that they may not stain your heart and cause them to make a long distance from you of pure prayer.
Heavy sorrow and unsubstantial acedia; but tears toward God are stronger than both. Fasting and thirsting wither bad desires, but good wakefulness cleanses the mind. Love turns away anger and passion, but gifts overturn grudgefulness.
The one who slanders her sister in secret will be cast out from the bridal chamber, and she will cry out at its doors and there will be no one listening. A virgin without mercy will have her lamps extinguished, and she will certainly not see her bridegroom having come forth. A wave falling upon a rock will be crushed, and a virgin touching a man will not be acquitted.
A gentle woman is better than an angry and hot-tempered virgin. She who draws out a man's words in jest is like one throwing a noose around her own neck. Just as a pearl in a golden headband, so is a virgin covered by modesty.
The songs of demons and flutes release the soul and destroy its stability, which you must guard always, so that you may not become vulnerable. Do not delight in trifles, and do not rejoice in those who mock, because the Lord has abandoned them.
Greek
ἐχθροί σου. 35 Ψάλλε ἀπὸ καρδίας σου, καὶ μὴ κίνει μόνον τὴν γλῶσσαν σου ἐν τῷ στόματί σου. 36 Ἄφρων παρθένος ἀγαπήσει ἀργύριον, ἡ δὲ φρονίμη προσθήσει καὶ τὸν ψωμὸν αὐτῆς. 37 Ὥσπερ ὁρμὴ πυρὸς δυσκάθεκτος, οὕτως ψυχὴ παρθένου τρωθεῖσα δυσίατος. 38 Μὴ δώῃς τὴν ψυχήν σου διαλογισμοῖς πονηροῖς, ἵνα μὴ μιάνωσι σὴν καρδίαν καὶ καθαρὰν προσευχὴν μακρὰν ποιήσωσι ἀπό σου. 39 Βαρεῖα λύπη καὶ ἀνυπόστατος ἀκηδία, δάκρυα δὲ πρὸς θεὸν ἰσχυρότερα ἀμφοτέρων. 40 Λιμὸς καὶ δίψα μαραίνει ἐπιθυμίας κακάς, ἀγρυπνία δὲ ἀγαθὴ καθαίρει διάνοιαν. 41 Ὀργὴν καὶ θυμὸν ἀποστρέφει ἀγάπη, μνησικακίαν δὲ ἀνατρέπει δῶρα. 42 Ἡ καταλαλοῦσα λάθρα τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς ἐξωσθήσεται τοῦ νυμφῶνος, καὶ βοήσεται πρὸς ταῖς θύραις αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ὑπακούων. 43 Παρθένου ἀνελεήμονος σβεσθήσεται λαμπάς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδῃ προελθόντα τὸν νυμφίον αὐτῆς. 44 Ὕαλος προσπίπτων λίθῳ συντριβήσεται, καὶ παρθένος ἁπτομένη ἀνδρὸς οὐκ ἀθωωθήσεται. 45 Κρείσσων γυνὴ πραεῖα παρθένου ὀργίλου καὶ θυμώδους. 46 Ἡ ἐξέλκουσα ἐν γέλωτι λόγους ἀνδρός, ὁμοία ἐστὶν τῇ περιβαλλούσῃ βρόχον τῷ ἑαυτῆς τραχήλῳ. 47 Ὥσπερ μαργαρίτης ἐν σφενδόνῃ χρυσῇ, οὕτως παρθένος καλυπτομένη ὑπὸ αἰδοῦς. 48 Ὠιδαὶ δαιμόνων καὶ αὐλοὶ ἐκλύουσιν ψυχὴν καὶ ἀπολλύουσιν εὐτονίαν αὐτῆς, ἣν φύλαξον διὰ παντός, ἵνα μὴ ἐπονείδιστος γένῃ. 49 Μὴ τέρπου ἐπὶ γελοίοις, καὶ ἐπισκωπτούσαις μὴ εὐφραίνου, ὅτι κύριος ἐγκατέλιπεν αὐτάς.
About this text
A spiritual guide for virgins offering practical advice on faith, humility, and avoiding worldly distractions.
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.