Jeremiah 48
Commentary from 5 fathers
Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ismael the son of Nathanias the son of Eleasa of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, to Godolias to Massepha: and they ate bread there together.
(Μασ. ΜΑ´) ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἦλθεν ᾿Ισμαὴλ υἰὸς Ναθανίου υἱοῦ ᾿Ελεασὰ ἀπὸ γένους τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ δέκα ἄνδρες μετ’ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Γοδολίαν εἰς Μασσηφά, καὶ ἔφαγον ἐκεῖ ἄρτον ἅμα.
Ѡ҆ мѡа́вѣ та́кѡ речѐ гдⷭ҇ь Вседержи́тель, бг҃ъ і҆и҃левъ: ѽ, лю́тѣ нава́ѵꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ поги́бе, взѧ́сѧ карїаѳаі́мъ, посрами́сѧ масїга́ѳъ и҆ побѣжде́нъ є҆́сть.
And Ismael rose up, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Godolias, whom the king of Babylon had appointed [governor] over the land,
καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Ισμαὴλ καὶ οἱ δέκα ἄνδρες, οἳ ἦσαν μετ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὸν Γοδολίαν, ὃν κατέστησε βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
Нѣ́сть ктомꙋ̀ цѣле́нїе въ мѡа́вѣ, весе́лїе во є҆севѡ́нѣ, помы́слиша на́нь ѕла̑ѧ: прїиди́те и҆ потреби́мъ ѧ҆̀ ѿ ꙗ҆зы̑къ: (сегѡ̀ ра́ди) молчѧ̀ ᲂу҆мо́лкнеши, по́йдетъ за тобо́ю ме́чь.
and all the Jews that were with him in Massepha, and all the Chaldeans that were found there.
καὶ πάντας τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους τοὺς ὄντας μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν Μασσηφᾷ καὶ πάντας τοὺς Χαλδαίους τοὺς εὑρεθέντας ἐκεῖ. -
Гла́съ во́плѧ ѿ ѡ҆рѡнаі́ма, погꙋбле́нїе и҆ сотре́нїе вели́ко.
And it came to pass on the second day after he had smitten Godolias, and no man knew [of it],
Καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ δευτέρᾳ πατάξαντος αὐτοῦ τὸν Γοδολίαν, καὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔγνω,
Сотре́сѧ мѡа́въ, возвѣсти́те во́пль ма́лыхъ є҆гѡ̀.
that there came men from Sychem, and from Salem, and from Samaria, [even] eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and beating their breasts, and [they had] manna and frankincense in their hands, to bring [them] into the house of the Lord.
καὶ ἤλθοσαν ἄνδρες ἀπὸ Συχὲμ καὶ ἀπὸ Σαλὴμ καὶ ἀπὸ Σαμαρείας, ὀγδοήκοντα ἄνδρες, ἐξυρημένοι πώγωνας καὶ διερρηγμένοι τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ κοπτόμενοι, καὶ μαναὰ καὶ λίβανος ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν τοῦ εἰσενεγκεῖν εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου.
Ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆спо́лнисѧ а҆лаѡ́ѳъ пла́ча: взы́детъ рыда́ѧ пꙋте́мъ ѡ҆рѡнаі́ма, вразѝ, во́пль сотре́нїѧ слы́шасте.
And Ismael went out to meet them; [and] they went on and wept: and he said to them, Come in to Godolias.
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῖς ᾿Ισμαήλ· αὐτοὶ ἐπορεύοντο καὶ ἔκλαιον, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· εἰσέλθετε πρὸς Γοδολίαν.
Бѣжи́те и҆ спаси́те дꙋ́шы ва́шѧ, и҆ бꙋ́дете ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆се́лъ ди́вїй въ пꙋсты́ни.
And it came to pass, when they had entered into the midst of the city, [that] he slew them [and cast them] into a pit.
καὶ ἐγένετο εἰσελθόντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ μέσον τῆς πόλεως, ἔσφαξεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ φρέαρ.
Поне́же и҆мѣ́лъ є҆сѝ наде́ждꙋ во ѡ҆гра́дахъ твои́хъ и҆ въ сокро́вищихъ твои́хъ, и҆ ты̀ ꙗ҆́тъ бꙋ́деши: и҆ по́йдетъ хамѡ́съ во преселе́нїе, и҆ свѧще́нницы є҆гѡ̀ и҆ кнѧ̑зи є҆гѡ̀ вкꙋ́пѣ.
But ten men were found there, and they said to Ismael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he passed by, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.
καὶ δέκα ἄνδρες εὑρέθησαν ἐκεῖ καὶ εἶπαν τῷ ᾿Ισμαήλ· μὴ ἀνέλῃς ἡμᾶς, ὅτι εἰσὶν ἡμῖν θησαυροὶ ἐν ἀγρῷ, πυροὶ καὶ κριθαί, μέλι καὶ ἔλαιον· καὶ παρῆλθε καὶ οὐκ ἀνεῖλεν αὐτοὺς ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν.
И҆ прїи́детъ гꙋби́тель на всѧ́къ гра́дъ, и҆ не и҆зба́витсѧ ни є҆ди́нъ гра́дъ, и҆ поги́бнꙋтъ ᲂу҆дѡ́лїѧ, и҆ погꙋбѧ́тсѧ полѧ̀, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ гдⷭ҇ь.
Now the pit into which Ismael cast all whom he smote, is the great pit, which king Asa had made for fear of Baasa king of Israel: [even] this Ismael filled with slain men.
καὶ τὸ φρέαρ, εἰς ὃ ἔρριψεν ἐκεῖ ᾿Ισμαὴλ πάντας, οὓς ἐπάταξε, φρέαρ μέγα τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασὰ ἀπὸ προσώπου Βαασὰ βασιλέως ᾿Ισραήλ· τοῦτο ἐνέπλησεν ᾿Ισμαὴλ τραυματιῶν.
Да́йте зна́менїе мѡа́вꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ прикоснове́нїемъ прикоснове́нъ бꙋ́детъ, и҆ всѝ гра́ди є҆гѡ̀ бꙋ́дꙋтъ пꙋ́сти и҆ без̾ живꙋ́щихъ.
And Joanan the son of Caree, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, heard of all the evil deeds which Ismael had done.
Καὶ ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιωανὰν υἱὸς Καρηὲ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ κακά, ἃ ἐποίησεν ᾿Ισμαήλ,
Почива́ше мѡа́въ ѿ мла́дости своеѧ̀ и҆ бѣ̀ ᲂу҆пова́ѧ на сла́вꙋ свою̀: не прелїѧ́сѧ ѿ сосꙋ́да въ сосꙋ́дъ и҆ во преселе́нїе не ѿи́де: сегѡ̀ ра́ди пребы́сть вкꙋ́съ є҆гѡ̀ въ не́мъ, и҆ вонѧ̀ є҆гѡ̀ нѣ́сть премѣне́на.
And they brought all their army, and went to fight against him, and found him near much water in Gabaon.
καὶ ἤγαγον ἅπαν τὸ στρατόπεδον αὐτῶν καὶ ᾤχοντο πολεμεῖν αὐτὸν καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ ὕδατος πολλοῦ ἐν Γαβαών.
Сегѡ̀ ра́ди, сѐ, дні́е грѧдꙋ́тъ, гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь, и҆ послю̀ є҆мꙋ̀ пресели́тєли, и҆ преселѧ́тъ є҆го̀, и҆ сосꙋ́ды є҆гѡ̀ и҆стоща́тъ и҆ ро́ги є҆гѡ̀ сокрꙋша́тъ:
And it came to pass, when all the people that were with Ismael saw Joanan, and the leaders of the host that were with him,
καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε εἶδε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ ᾿Ισμαὴλ τὸν ᾿Ιωανὰν καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῆς δυνάμεως τῆς μετ’ αὐτοῦ,
и҆ посрами́тсѧ мѡа́въ ѿ хамѡ́са, ꙗ҆́коже посра́мленъ є҆́сть до́мъ і҆и҃левъ ѿ веѳи́лѧ, въ не́мже и҆мѧ́хꙋ наде́ждꙋ.
that they returned to Joanan.
καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν πρὸς ᾿Ιωανάν.
Ка́кѡ глаго́лете: си́льни є҆смы̀ и҆ мꙋ́жїе крѣ́пцы во бране́хъ;
But Ismael escaped with eight men and went to the children of Ammon.
καὶ ᾿Ισμαὴλ ἐσώθη σὺν ὀκτὼ ἀνθρώποις καὶ ᾤχετο πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Αμμών. -
Поги́бе мѡа́въ, гра́дъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ и҆збра́ннїи ю҆́нѡши є҆гѡ̀ снидо́ша под̾ ме́чь, гл҃етъ цр҃ь, гдⷭ҇ь Вседержи́тель и҆́мѧ є҆гѡ̀.
And Joanan, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, took all the remnant of the people, whom he [had] brought back from Ismael, mighty men in war, and the women, and the other [property], and the eunuchs, whom they [had] brought back from Gabaon:
Καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Ιωανὰν καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ πάντας τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ λαοῦ, οὓς ἀπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ ᾿Ισμαήλ, δυνατοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν πολέμῳ καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ καὶ τοὺς εὐνούχους, οὓς ἀπέστρεψαν ἀπὸ Γαβαών,
Бли́з̾ де́нь мѡа́вль, є҆́же прїитѝ, и҆ ѕло̀ є҆гѡ̀ ско́ро ѕѣлѡ̀.
and they departed, and dwelt in Gaberoth-Hamaam, that is by Bethleem, to go into Egypt, for fear of the Chaldeans:
καὶ ᾤχοντο καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐν Γαβηρώθ - Χαμαὰμ τῇ πρὸς Βηθλεὲμ τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς Αἴγυπτον
Оу҆тѣша́йте є҆го̀ всѝ, и҆̀же ѡ҆́крестъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ всѝ вѣ́дѧщїи и҆́мѧ є҆гѡ̀: рцы́те, ка́кѡ сокрꙋши́сѧ же́злъ крѣ́пости, па́лица сла́вна;
for they were afraid of them, because Ismael had smitten Godolias, whom the king of Babylon made [governor] in the land.
ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν Χαλδαίων, ὅτι ἐφοβήθησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἐπάταξεν ᾿Ισμαὴλ τὸν Γοδολίαν, ὃν κατέστησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐν τῇ γῇ.
Сни́ди ѿ сла́вы и҆ сѧ́ди, во вла́гѣ живꙋ́щаѧ, дщѝ дївѡ́нѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ гꙋби́тель мѡа́вскїй взы́детъ на тѧ̀ разрꙋша́ѧй ѡ҆гра̑ды твоѧ̑.
And Ismael brought back all the people that were left in Massepha, and the king’s daughter, whom the captain of the guard had committed in charge to Godolias the son of Achicam: and he went away beyond the children of Ammon.
καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν ᾿Ισμαὴλ πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν καταλειφθέντα εἰς Μασσηφὰ καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας τοῦ βασιλέως, ἃς παρακατέθετο ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος τῷ Γοδολίᾳ υἱῷ ᾿Αχεικάμ, καὶ ᾤχετο εἰς τὸ πέραν υἱῶν ᾿Αμμών. -
Про́клѧтъ (человѣ́къ) творѧ́й дѣ́ло гдⷭ҇не съ небреже́нїемъ, и҆ про́клѧтъ возбранѧ́ѧй мечꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀ ѿ кро́ве.
It is hazardous for a superior to be delinquent, since he holds the position of arbiter in everything. It is both injurious and detrimental for those under their charge when they are disobedient. It is especially perilous if, in addition, the one who is in a superior position is scandalous. Each one who shows in his own place a tireless zeal, fulfilling the apostle's precept, "in carefulness not slothful," merits praise for his promptness. But for negligence he deserves the opposite, that is, unhappiness and woe. For the prophet says, "Cursed is the one who does the work of the Lord negligently."
THE LONG RULES 24What condemnation, then, ought we to expect to fall on those who are frivolous and irresponsible in the management of goods that are already consecrated to the Lord? Are they not liable to the sentence of doom pronounced on the negligent, as it is written, "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord negligently"?
THE LONG RULES 9Do not allow another to do the work that is rightly yours, so that the reward as well may not be taken from you and given to another and he be enriched with your wealth while you are put to shame. Perform the duties of your ministry decently and with care as if you were serving Christ, for "cursed," says the prophet, "is everyone who does the work of the Lord negligently." Fear, as if the eye of the Lord were on you, the perversity that arises from fastidiousness and contempt, even though the task in hand seems to you a menial one. The work of the ministry is an exalted work and leads to the kingdom of heaven.
ON RENUNCIATION OF THE WORLDElsewhere, he expresses his condemnation more vividly: "Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels." Then he alleges not the commission of any forbidden act but the omission of commended ones, saying, "For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink," and so on. There are many passages like that that one might find to prove that not only are those who do wicked things worthy of death—for whom has been prepared the inextinguishable fire as well—but that along with these those are condemned who leave good works undone or who perform them negligently. For it is written, "Cursed is every person who does the work of the Lord negligently."
CONCERNING BAPTISM 2:6I exhort and admonish you, dearly beloved, that whenever the priest prays at the altar or when the deacon intones the prayer in a loud voice, you devoutly bow your bodies as well as your hearts. I have carefully noted that when the deacon says the usual flectamus genua, most of the people frequently remain standing like straight columns. This is not at all proper or right for Christians who are praying in church, because the deacon does not pray for us from you. Since those words are addressed to you in particular and most of all to the negligent, it is just for you to devoutly obey them. Let that prayer become a remedy for those who obey it but evidence against those who do not, according to the words, "Cursed is one who does the work of God carelessly." We also ought to fear and perfectly accomplish what the apostle said: "Be attentive in prayer, being vigilant," and "pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks."
SERMON 77:1If persons by no means ignorant of the medicinal art were to see a sore that required lancing and yet refused to lance it, certainly by their mere inactivity they would be guilty of a brother's death. Let them see, then, in how great guilt they are involved who, knowing the sores of souls, neglect to cure them by the lancing of words. And so, it is well said through the prophet, "Cursed is one who keeps back his sword from blood." For to keep back the sword from blood is to hold back the word of preaching from the killing of the carnal life. Of which sword it is said again, "And my sword shall devour flesh."
The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.25"Awake, lyre and harp." O psaltery, O harp, you were made and fashioned to give praise to God; awake my harp and give praise; why do you lie idle? O monk, you are standing there in body; why is your soul listless, why are you not chanting praises to the Lord? "Cursed is one who is remiss in doing the Lord's work." If you are a psaltery, if you are a harp, why are you so mute and not glorifying God? "I will wake the dawn." There is not blessing and praising God in darkness but only in light. I am going to say something startling. Even if we arise in the nighttime, we are blessing God in light. For the Christian, it is never night; for the Christian, the sun of justice is ever rising.
HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 34When you repeat a psalm, consider whose words you are repeating and delight yourself more with true contrition of soul than with the pleasantness of a thrilling voice. For God sets a higher value on the tears of one thus praising him than on the beauty of his voice; as the prophet says, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." Now, where there is fear and trembling, there is no lifting up of the voice but humility of mind with lamentation and tears. Display diligence in all your doings; for it is written, "Cursed is the one who carelessly performs the work of the Lord." Let grace grow in you with years; let righteousness increase with age; and let your faith appear the more perfect the older you become.
LETTERS OF SULPITIUS SEVERUS 2:19