Proverbs 4
Commentary from 20 fathers
For I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law.
δῶρον γὰρ ἀγαθὸν δωροῦμαι ὑμῖν, τὸν ἐμὸν νόμον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπητε.
да́ръ бо бл҃гі́й да́рꙋю ва́мъ: моегѡ̀ зако́на не ѡ҆ставлѧ́йте.
It must be noted, that he names the law a good gift, on account of the man who takes gifts into his bosom unrighteously. And he forsakes the law who transgresses it; the law, namely, of which he speaks, or which he has kept.
Exegetical Fragments
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
υἱὸς γὰρ ἐγενόμην κἀγὼ πατρὶ ὑπήκοος καὶ ἀγαπώμενος ἐν προσώπῳ μητρός,
Сы́нъ бо бы́хъ и҆ а҆́зъ ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ послꙋшли́вый, и҆ люби́мый пред̾ лице́мъ ма́тере,
For I too was a son to my father, tender, etc. Nothing more raises the mind to the hope of attaining wisdom than when we remember that those whom we admire as already shining in wisdom were once little and unlearned. And he taught me and said: Let your heart embrace my words. Such admonitions given to Solomon by his father David, he who reads Chronicles finds. But why does Solomon call himself the only begotten before his mother, when Scripture testifies that a uterine brother preceded him, unless because that one, born but immediately unnamed, departed life as if he had never been?
Commentary on Proverbs
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
οἳ ἐδίδασκόν με καὶ ἔλεγον· ἐρειδέτω ὁ ἡμέτερος λόγος εἰς σὴν καρδίαν· φύλασσε ἐντολάς, μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ
и҆̀же глаго́лаша и҆ ᲂу҆чи́ша мѧ̀: да ᲂу҆твержда́етсѧ на́ше сло́во въ твое́мъ се́рдцы: хранѝ за́пѡвѣди, не забыва́й:
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth. [See Appendix ]
μηδὲ παρίδῃς ῥῆσιν ἐμοῦ στόματος,
стѧжѝ премꙋ́дрость, стѧжѝ ра́зꙋмъ: не забꙋ́ди, нижѐ пре́зри речє́нїѧ мои́хъ ᲂу҆́стъ, нижѐ ᲂу҆клони́сѧ ѿ глагѡ́лъ ᲂу҆́стъ мои́хъ.
Open up the treasury door for us, Lord, at the prayers of our supplications; let our prayers serve as our ambassador, reconciling us with your Divinity. Listen, all who are wise, pay attention, all who are learned, acquire understanding and knowledge, seeing that you are instructed and wise.
Hymns Preserved in Armenian 1:1
Almost all bodily excellences alter with age, and while wisdom alone increases all other functions decay. Fasting, sleeping on the ground, moving from place to place, hospitality to travelers, pleading for the poor, perseverance in standing at prayer, the visitation of the sick, manual labor to supply money for almsgiving—all acts, in short, of which the body is the medium decrease with its decay.Now there are young men and men of riper age who, by toil and ardent study, as well as by holiness of life and constant prayer to God, have obtained knowledge. I do not speak of these, or say that in them the love of wisdom is cold, for this withers in many of the old by reason of age. What I mean is that youth, as such, has to cope with the assaults of passion, and amid the allurements of vice and the tinglings of the flesh is stifled like a fire fed with wood too green and cannot develop its proper brightness. But when men have employed their youth in commendable pursuits and have meditated on the law of the Lord day and night, they learn with the lapse of time, fresh experience and wisdom come as the years go by, and so from the pursuits of the past their old age—their old age, I repeat—reaps a harvest of delight. Hence that wise man of Greece, perceiving, after the expiration of one hundred and seven years, that he was on the verge of the grave, is reported to have said that he regretted extremely having to leave life just when he was beginning to grow wise.
Letter 52.3
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.
μηδὲ ἐγκαταλίπῃς αὐτήν, καὶ ἀνθέξεταί σου· ἐράσθητι αὐτῆς, καὶ τηρήσει σε·
Не ѡ҆ста́ви є҆ѧ̀, и҆ и҆́метсѧ тебє̀: возжелѣ́й є҆ѧ̀, и҆ соблюде́тъ тѧ̀.
Therefore, in both these and in many other places, you will find that the divine Scripture avoids the word “love” and inserted “charity” and “affection.” Nonetheless, here and there he uses the proper word “love” and invites and stirs up souls to him, as when he speaks in Proverbs about Wisdom: “Fall in love with her and she will save you; embrace her and she will exalt you; honor her that she may embrace you.” But also in that book that is called the Wisdom of Solomon it has been written about Wisdom herself, “I have become a lover of her beauty.” But I think that he he has inserted the word “love” only where there seems to be no opportunity for misunderstanding. For what fickleness or shame could anyone detect in the love of wisdom or in him who professes that he is a lover of wisdom? For if he had said that Isaac had fallen in love with Rebekah or Jacob with Rachel, some shameful passion could have been understood through these words to have transpired among the holy people of God. This misunderstanding would especially be common among those who do not know how to ascend from the letter to the spirit.
Commentary on the Song of Songs, Prologue
Just as taste and sight are different perceptions so far as the body is concerned, so, in accordance with the divine perceptions mentioned by Solomon, the visual and contemplative power of the soul is one thing, but that which is capable of tasting and apprehending the quality of spiritual foods is another.And … the Lord is capable of being tasted, being food for the soul, insofar as he is the bread of life which came down from heaven, and is capable of being seen, insofar as he is wisdom, of whose beauty he confesses to be a lover who says, “I became a lover of her beauty,” and he commands us, “Love her, and she will preserve you.,” For this reason it is said in the Psalms, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Commentary on the Gospel of John 20:405-6
If anyone is going to obey Solomon and take true wisdom as the companion and sharer of his life, concerning which he says, “Love her, and she will safeguard you,” and “Honor her, in order that she may embrace you,” he will worthily prepare himself for this longing, keeping festival in a pure garment, rejoicing with those in this marriage, in order not to be rejected because of being clothed as a married person.It is clear that the eagerness for this kind of marriage is common to men and women alike, for since, as the apostle says, “There is neither male nor female,” and Christ is all things for all human beings, the true lover of wisdom has as his goal the divine One who is true wisdom, and the soul, clinging to its incorruptible bridegroom, has a love of true wisdom which is God. Now, what spiritual marriage is and toward what goal the pure and divine love looks has been sufficiently revealed in what we have said before.
On Virginity 20
Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;
περιχαράκωσον αὐτήν, καὶ ὑψώσει σε· τίμησον αὐτήν, ἵνα σε περιλάβῃ,
Ѡ҆градѝ ю҆̀, и҆ вознесе́тъ тѧ̀: почтѝ ю҆̀, да тѧ̀ ѡ҆б̾и́метъ,
And what is meant by "exalt (fortify) her? "Surround her with holy thoughts; for you have need of large defence, since there are many things to imperil such a possession. But if it is in our power to fortify her, and if there are virtues in our power which exalt the knowledge of God, these will be her bulwarks,-as, for example, practice, study, and the whole chain of other virtues; and the man who observes these, honours wisdom; and the reward is, to be exalted to be with her, and to be embraced by her in the chamber of heaven.
Exegetical Fragments
If anyone is going to obey Solomon and take true wisdom as the companion and sharer of his life, concerning which he says, “Love her, and she will safeguard you,” and “Honor her, in order that she may embrace you,” he will worthily prepare himself for this longing, keeping festival in a pure garment, rejoicing with those in this marriage, in order not to be rejected because of being clothed as a married person.It is clear that the eagerness for this kind of marriage is common to men and women alike, for since, as the apostle says, “There is neither male nor female,” and Christ is all things for all human beings, the true lover of wisdom has as his goal the divine One who is true wisdom, and the soul, clinging to its incorruptible bridegroom, has a love of true wisdom which is God. Now, what spiritual marriage is and toward what goal the pure and divine love looks has been sufficiently revealed in what we have said before.
On Virginity 20
that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.
ἵνα δῷ τῇ σῇ κεφαλῇ στέφανον χαρίτων, στεφάνῳ δὲ τρυφῆς ὑπερασπίσῃ σου.
да да́стъ главѣ̀ твое́й вѣне́цъ благода́тей, вѣнце́мъ же сла́дости защи́титъ тѧ̀.
It will bestow ornament of grace on your head, etc. It is clear from Solomon, because while he despised all for the sake of wisdom, having received wisdom, he shone with greater exaltation of glory. But even for our head, that is, the principal part of the mind, if it embraces wisdom, the greater grace of the Spirit is increased, and moreover, in the future, the crown of life will be given. Indeed, after explaining these words he received from his father, he returns to teaching his own listener the wisdom he began.
Commentary on Proverbs
Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.
῎Ακουε, υἱέ, καὶ δέξαι ἐμοὺς λόγους, καὶ πληθυνθήσεται ἔτη ζωῆς σου, ἵνα σοι γένωνται πολλαὶ ὁδοὶ βίου·
Слы́ши, сы́не, и҆ прїимѝ моѧ̑ словеса̀, и҆ ᲂу҆мно́жатсѧ лѣ̑та живота̀ твоегѡ̀, да тѝ бꙋ́дꙋтъ мно́зи пꙋтїѐ житїѧ̀.
10–11There is only one way of truth, but different paths from different places join it, just like tributaries flowing into a perennial river. So these are really inspired words: “Hear, my son, and accept my words, to have many paths of life. I am teaching you the ways of wisdom, so that its springs may never fail you”—that is, those which spurt from the same soil. He is not merely affirming that there is more than one path of salvation for a single righteous person. He adds that there are plenty of righteous people and plenty of routes for them. He explains this as follows: “The paths of the righteous shine like light.”
The Stromata Book 1
Listen, my son, and accept my words, etc. That is, so you may receive the gifts of eternal life.
Commentary on Proverbs
For I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths.
ὁδοὺς γὰρ σοφίας διδάσκω σε, ἐμβιβάζω δέ σε τροχιαῖς ὀρθαῖς.
Пꙋтє́мъ бо премꙋ́дрости ᲂу҆чꙋ́ тѧ, наставлѧ́ю же тебѐ на течє́нїѧ пра̑ваѧ:
I will lead you in the paths of equity, etc. Paths, that is, actions of equity, while they begin, seem narrow and strait; but when they take progress, already by habit they seem spacious and broad, as the Psalmist testifies, who when he began told the Lord, Because of the words of your lips I stayed strong in the hard paths (Psalm XVI), but afterward, already making progress, he sang, I have run the way of your commandments, when you enlarged my heart (Psalm CXVIII). And therefore, even if the paths of equity seem narrow when you begin to enter them, once entered, the steps of your mind will not be constrained; but you will find that which the Lord says: His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew XI). For indeed, the reprobate in this life enter a broad way, but on the last day, with feet and hands bound, they will be cast into darkness (Matthew XXII); while the feet of the elect will be directed into the way of peace.
Commentary on Proverbs
For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.
ἐὰν γὰρ πορεύῃ, οὐ συγκλεισθήσεταί σου τὰ διαβήματα, ἐὰν δὲ τρέχῃς οὐ κοπιάσεις.
а҆́ще бо хо́диши, не за́пнꙋтсѧ стѡпы̀ твоѧ̑: а҆́ще ли тече́ши, не ᲂу҆трꙋди́шисѧ.
And running, you will not have a stumbling block. The more eagerly you run to fulfill God’s commandments, the less you will fear adversities that impede you: for whoever sweats in evil deeds finds a stumbling block in the midst of the course, because immediately, when they do not foresee, they are snatched to punishment.
Commentary on Proverbs
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go,-- but keep it for thyself for thy life.
ἐπιλαβοῦ ἐμῆς παιδείας, μὴ ἀφῇς, ἀλλὰ φύλαξον αὐτὴν σεαυτῷ εἰς ζωήν σου.
И҆ми́сѧ моегѡ̀ наказа́нїѧ, не ѡ҆ста́ви, но сохранѝ є҆̀ себѣ̀ въ жи́знь твою̀.
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
ὁδοὺς ἀσεβῶν μὴ ἐπέλθῃς, μηδὲ ζηλώσῃς ὁδοὺς παρανόμων·
На пꙋти̑ нечести́выхъ не и҆дѝ, нижѐ возревнꙋ́й пꙋтє́мъ законопрестꙋ́пныхъ.
The heterodox are the "wicked," and the transgressors of the law are "evil men," whose "ways"-that is to say, their deeds-he bids us not enter.
Exegetical Fragments
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.
ἐν ᾧ ἂν τόπῳ στρατοπεδεύσωσι, μὴ ἐπέλθῃς ἐκεῖ, ἔκκλινον δὲ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ παράλλαξον.
На не́мже а҆́ще мѣ́стѣ вѡ́ѧ соберꙋ́тъ, не и҆дѝ та́мѡ: ᲂу҆клони́сѧ же ѿ ни́хъ и҆ и҆змѣнѝ:
For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
οὐ γὰρ μὴ ὑπνώσωσιν, ἐὰν μὴ κακοποιήσωσιν, ἀφῄρηται ὁ ὕπνος αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ κοιμῶνται·
не ᲂу҆́снꙋтъ бо, а҆́ще ѕла̀ не сотворѧ́тъ: ѿи́метсѧ со́нъ ѿ ни́хъ, и҆ не спѧ́тъ:
Let your loins be girded about. Virtue should serve as a girdle in the place where passion should be checked. One who drops off the girdle of virtue cannot overcome the vices of the body. So girded with the cincture of purity—it is the badge of membership in the Christian army—let us cut away the dissolute cowardice of the flesh. Alert while watching our king, let us have no part in the restless sleep of worldly-minded people. For the wicked, Scripture says, “cannot sleep unless they have done wrong.”
Sermon 22
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
οἵδε γὰρ σιτοῦνται σῖτα ἀσεβείας, οἴνῳ δὲ παρανόμῳ μεθύσκονται.
ті́и бо пита́ютсѧ пи́щею нече́стїѧ, вїно́мъ же законопрестꙋ́пнымъ ᲂу҆пива́ютсѧ.
They eat the bread of wickedness, etc. Thus, by the action of wicked crimes, they are delighted as if by set feasts. Or certainly they drink the wine of the condemned, and they rejoice in taking ears of grain from the hungry, as the holy Scripture testifies about the custom of the impious.
Commentary on Proverbs
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν δικαίων ὁμοίως φωτὶ λάμπουσι, προπορεύονται καὶ φωτίζουσιν, ἕως κατορθώσῃ ἡ ἡμέρα·
Пꙋтїе́ же првⷣныхъ подо́бнѣ свѣ́тꙋ свѣ́тѧтсѧ: предхо́дѧтъ и҆ просвѣща́ютъ, до́ндеже и҆спра́витсѧ де́нь.
The person who removes himself from all hatred and fleshly odor and rises above all low and earthbound things, having ascended higher than the whole earth in his aforementioned flight, will find the only thing that is worth longing for. Having come close to beauty, he will become beautiful himself. Through his participation in the true light, he will himself be in a state of brightness and illumination. For just as at night the multitudinous glowing objects of the air which certain people call “shooting stars” … just as this earthly air, when it is forced upwards by the wind, becomes light-like, being changed in the clarity of the ether, so it is with the mind of man. After leaving this muddy and dusty life, it is purified through the power of the Spirit, becomes light-like, and is mixed with the true and lofty purity, and glows and is filled with rays and becomes light in accordance with the promise of the Lord who declared that the just will shine like the sun.
On Virginity 11
But the path of the just is like the shining light, etc. The works of the just are conducted in the light of knowledge, and they lead to eternal life, which is the perfect day.
Commentary on Proverbs
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν ἀσεβῶν σκοτειναί, οὐκ οἴδασι πῶς προσκόπτουσιν.
Пꙋтїе́ же нечести́выхъ те́мни: не вѣ́дѧтъ, ка́кѡ претыка́ютсѧ.
The way of the wicked is dark, etc. John the Apostle also says concerning these: Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no offense in him (1 John 2); but whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes (ibid.). Against whom it is said to the wise man above: Because running, you will have no stumbling, that is, scandal.
Commentary on Proverbs
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:
Υἱέ, ἐμῇ ρήσει πρόσεχε, τοῖς δὲ ἐμοῖς λόγοις παράβαλλε σὸν οὖς,
Сы́не, мои̑мъ глаго́лѡмъ внима́й, къ мои̑мъ же словесє́мъ прилага́й ᲂу҆́хо твоѐ:
that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in [thine] heart.
ὅπως μὴ ἐκλίπωσί σε αἱ πηγαί σου, φύλασσε αὐτὰς ἐν καρδίᾳ·
да не ѡ҆скꙋдѣ́ютъ тѝ и҆сто́чницы твоѝ, хранѝ ѧ҆̀ въ се́рдцы твое́мъ:
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
ζωὴ γάρ ἐστι τοῖς εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὰς καὶ πάσῃ σαρκὶ ἴασις.
живо́тъ бо сꙋ́ть всѣ̑мъ ѡ҆брѣта́ющымъ ѧ҆̀ и҆ все́й пло́ти и҆́хъ и҆сцѣле́нїе.
Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
πάσῃ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν, ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἔξοδοι ζωῆς.
Всѧ́цѣмъ хране́нїемъ блюдѝ твоѐ се́рдце: ѿ си́хъ бо и҆схѡ́дища живота̀.
We who knew these and similar sayings wish to observe this precept with the mystical meaning, namely, “Keep your heart with all diligence,” that nothing of a demoniacal nature may enter into our minds or any spirit of our adversaries turn our imagination whither it chooses. But we pray that the light of the knowledge of the glory of God may shine in our hearts, and that the Spirit of God may dwell in our imaginations, and lead them to contemplate the things of God; for “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Against Celsus 4:95
The spring and source, then, of every sin are evil thoughts; for, unless these gained mastery, neither murders nor adulteries nor any other such thing would exist. Therefore, each person must keep his own heart with all watchfulness; for when the Lord comes in the day of judgment, “He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.”
Commentary on Matthew 11:15
Living thus, let us watch constantly and, as it is written, keep our heart with all watchfulness, for we have terrible and crafty enemies, the wicked demons, and we wrestle against them, as the apostle said: “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness on high.” LIFE OF ST.
Life of St. Anthony 21
Whoever, therefore, would be truly a follower of God must sever the bonds of attachment to this life, and this is done through complete separation from and forgetfulness of old habits. We must wrest ourselves from both fleshly ties and worldly society, being transported, as it were, to another world in our manner of living, as the apostle said: “But our commonwealth is in heaven.” Without this it is impossible for us to achieve our goal of pleasing God, inasmuch as the Lord said specifically, “So likewise every one of you that does not renounce all that he possesses cannot be my disciple.” And having done this, we should watch over our heart with all vigilance.
The Long Rules 5
Believe these words of mine that proceed from the fraternal charity of my heart. Have recourse to older men who make themselves difficult of access and in no way harm the young by their charm of countenance but animate them to virtuous deeds by sayings from Proverbs. “With all watchfulness, keep your heart”; for, like golden treasure, it is the object of the constant vigilance of thieves, night and day, and in an unguarded moment it is stolen without your being aware of it. See that the adversary does not seduce you into the sin of our first parent and cast you with all speed out of the paradise of delight.
On Renunciation of the World
Scripture enjoins everyone to “guard his own heart with all diligence,” so that anyone, guarding the word within him like a paradise, may enjoy the grace not to listen to the serpent that creeps around inside, enticing him with things that lead to pleasure whereby anger that slays a brother is engendered and the soul, that gives birth to it, itself dies. But may he have the grace rather to listen to the Lord saying, “Be concerned with faith and hope through which love of God and of man is engendered which bestows eternal life.” …For in a proportionate measure the word of God comes to each person. As long as a person possesses the word, he is held by the word and as long as he keeps it, so long he is guarded.
Fifty Spiritual Homilies 37:1
Let us then guard our hearts, let us guard our mouths. Both have been written about. In this place we are bidden to take heed to our mouth; in another place you are told, “Keep your heart with all diligence.” If David took heed, will you not take heed? If Isaiah had unclean lips—who said, “Woe is me, for I am undone, for I am a man, and have unclean lips”—if a prophet of the Lord had unclean lips, how shall we have them clean?…Your possession is your mind, your gold your heart, your silver your speech: “The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in the fire.” A good mind is also a good possession. And, further, a pure inner life is a valuable possession. Hedge in, then, this possession of yours, enclose it with thought, guard it with thorns, that is, with pious care, lest the fierce passions of the flesh should rush upon it and lead it captive, lest strong emotions should assault it, and, overstepping their bounds, carry off its vintage. Guard your inner self.
On the Duties of the Clergy 1.3.10-11
Gerontius of Petra said, ‘Many people who are tempted by pleasures of the flesh do not sin with the body but lust with the mind; they keep their bodily virginity but lust in their heart. It is better then, beloved, to do what is written, “Let everyone keep a close guard upon his heart” (Prov. 4:23).’
The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
Let us listen to the prophet when he says, “With all watchfulness keep your heart,” and “Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity.” When someone lays hold of coals of fire but immediately throws them away they do not hurt him. But if he wants to hold on to them longer, he cannot get rid of them without injury. Similarly, if a man gazes lustfully and by lingering over it allows the evil of lust in his heart to get a hold on his thoughts, he cannot shake them off without injury to his soul.
Sermon 41:5
Solomon convinces us to chastise all these kinds of evil thoughts when he says, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for life comes forth from it.” Following his suggestion, let us act quickly, that if we transgress in any way in our thoughts by consenting to carry out something wicked, we may swiftly wipe away this [transgression] by confession and fruits worthy of repentance. If we perceive that we are being tempted by delight in committing sin, let us drive away this noxious delight by our frequent prayers and tears and by our frequent recollection of everlasting bitterness. If we see that we are not capable of ridding ourselves of it on our own, let us seek the help of our brothers, that we may accomplish by their advice and intercession what we are unable to do by our own strength.
Homilies on the Gospels 2:12
With all vigilance guard your heart, etc. There are those who seem to live rightly to men, but because they do not do so with right intention, their life which was believed good is rejected by God, who looks into the depraved. Therefore, with all diligence guard the purity of your heart, because the evaluation of life will be judged by its intention.
Commentary on Proverbs
Think of your man as a series of concentric circles, his will being the innermost, his intellect coming next, and finally his fantasy. You can hardly hope, at once, to exclude from all the circles everything that smells of the Enemy: but you must keep on shoving all the virtues outward till they are finally located in the circle of fantasy, and all the desirable qualities inward into the Will. It is only in so far as they reach the will and are there embodied in habits that the virtues are really fatal to us. (I don't, of course, mean what the patient mistakes for his will, the conscious fume and fret of resolutions and clenched teeth, but the real centre, what the Enemy calls the Heart.) All sorts of virtues painted in the fantasy or approved by the intellect or even, in some measure, loved and admired, will not keep a man from our Father's house: indeed they may make him more amusing when he gets there,
The Screwtape Letters, Chapter VI
Remove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips.
περίελε σεαυτοῦ σκολιὸν στόμα καὶ ἄδικα χείλη μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἄπωσαι.
Ѿимѝ ѿ себє̀ стропти̑ва ᲂу҆ста̀, и҆ ѡ҆би̑дливы ᲂу҆стнѣ̀ дале́че ѿ тебє̀ ѿри́ни.
Remove from you a deceitful mouth, etc. This must be understood in two ways: that you should guard your own mouth from speaking anything deceitful, and keep your lips from getting used to detractions, and that you should flee from others whom you know to be subject to this vice, lest they corrupt you.
Commentary on Proverbs
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent [to] just [things].
οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν, τὰ δὲ βλέφαρά σου νευέτω δίκαια.
Ѻ҆́чи твоѝ пра́вѡ да зрѧ́тъ, и҆ вѣ̑жди твоѝ да помава́ютъ пра́вєднаѧ.
He "looks right on" who has thoughts free of passion; and he has true judgments, who is not in a state of excitement about external appearances. When he says, "Let thine eyes look right on," he means the vision of the soul; and when he gives the exhortation, "Eat honey, my son, that it may be sweet to thy palate," he uses "honey" figuratively, meaning divine doctrine, which restores the spiritual knowledge of the soul. But wisdom embraces the soul also; for, says he, "love her, that she may embrace thee." And the soul, by her embrace being made one with wisdom, is filled with holiness and purity. Yea more, the fragrant ointments of Christ are laid hold of by the soul's sense of smell.
Exegetical Fragments
Someone will say, “What, then, is sin? Is it an animal? An angel? A demon? What is this which infects us?” Rest assured it is not an enemy attacking from without but an evil springing up within you. “Let your eyes look straight ahead,” and there exists no evil desire. If you do not steal the property of others, robbery is at an end. Be mindful of the judgment and neither fornication nor adultery nor murder nor any wickedness will prevail over you. It is when you forget God that you begin to entertain evil thoughts and commit wicked deeds.
Catechetical Lecture 2:2
It is necessary that, before other things, you have a sound mind within yourselves and that you be mindful of holy Scripture addressing you and saying, “Let your eyes look straight ahead.” … To slip away from the rightness of holy doctrines would be nothing else except to sleep in death. We depart from this rightness when we do not follow the divinely inspired Scriptures.
Letter 55:3
Solomon, advising the wise hearer, says, “And let your eyes anticipate your footsteps,” which is to declare clearly that in all our actions we should take care to foresee with earnest intent what outcome awaits us, we should examine skillfully what is done according to the will of God and what opposes it.
Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, Peter 1:9
Let your eyes look straight ahead, etc. Learn diligently the path of justice on which you ought to enter, and cautiously foresee in all things you intend to do what end they are destined to reach. This means that the eyelids of your eyes looking straight ahead should precede your steps, anticipating the good work you are going to do with diligent thought, and, considering that it is according to God, foresee it by meditating.
Commentary on Proverbs
Make straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright.
ὀρθὰς τροχιὰς ποίει σοῖς ποσὶ καὶ τὰς ὁδούς σου κατεύθυνε.
Пра̑ва течє́нїѧ творѝ твои́ма нога́ма и҆ пꙋти̑ твоѧ̑ и҆справлѧ́й.
“Invite the poor,” he says, those who are poor in words, so that you can make them rich. Invite “the crippled,” those whose minds are injured, so that you can heal them. Invite “the lame,” those who limp in their reason, so that they can make “straight paths.” Invite the blind, who do not have the faculty of contemplation, so that they can see the true light.
Fragments on Luke 209 (lk 14:12-14)
We remember holy Scripture crying out, “Make straight the path for your feet, and direct your ways.” They who honor the straight paths “run toward the goal to the prize of the heavenly calling in Christ.” But those who pay no heed to the apostolic and evangelical tradition and honor the newer, useless and truly ridiculous invention of their own mind, let them hear from all, “Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which your fathers have set.”
Letter 31:3
Make straight paths for your feet. Namely, that you do not err in actions or faith. And all your ways will be established. May you not be swayed from your good purpose by fickleness of mind. Hence also the Apostle: Be steadfast and immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).
Commentary on Proverbs
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: 27α [for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:] 27β and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.
β αὐτὸς δὲ ὀρθὰς ποιήσει τὰς τροχιάς σου, τὰς δὲ πορείας σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ προάξει.
Не ᲂу҆клони́сѧ ни на де́сно, ни на шꙋ́е: ѿврати́ же но́гꙋ твою̀ ѿ пꙋтѝ ѕла̀:
Virtue occupies the middle position; whence also he says, that manly courage is the mean between boldness and cowardice. And now he mentions the "right," not meaning thereby things which are right by nature, such as the virtues, but things which seem to thee to be right on account of their pleasures. Now pleasures are not simply sensual enjoyments, but also riches and luxury. And the "left" indicates envy, robberies, and the like. For "Boreas," says he, "is a bitter wind, and yet is called by name right." For, symbolically, under Boreas he designates the wicked devil by whom every flame of evil is kindled in the earth. And this has the name "right," because an angel is called by a right (propitious) name. Do thou, says he, turn aside from evil, and God will take care of thine end; for He will go before thee, scattering thine enemies, that thou mayest go in peace.
Exegetical Fragments
We must really walk on the King’s highway and take care not to turn aside from it either to the right hand or to the left, as the Proverbs say. For such is the case with our passions, and such in this matter is the task of the good shepherd, if he is to know properly the souls of his flock, and to guide them according to the methods of a pastoral care which is right and just, and worthy of our true Shepherd.
In Defense of His Flight, Oration 2:34
Mark well the counsel which the Holy Spirit gives us by Solomon: “Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright. Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from the evil way; for the Lord knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are perverse. He will make your ways straight, and will direct your steps in peace.” Now consider, my brothers, that in these words of holy Scripture, if there were no free will, it would not be said, “Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways; turn not aside to the right hand, nor to the left.” Nor yet, were this possible for us to achieve without the grace of God, would it be afterwards added, “He will make your ways straight and will direct your steps in peace.”
Letter 215:5
Let us hold fast, then, the confession of this faith, without faltering or failure. One alone is there who was born without sin, in the likeness of sinful flesh, who lived without sin amid the sins of others, and who died without sin on account of our sins. “Let us turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.” For to turn to the right hand is to deceive oneself, by saying that we are without sin; and to turn to the left is to surrender oneself to one’s sins with a sort of impunity, in I know not how perverse and depraved a recklessness.
On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sin and on Infant Baptism 2:57
And so one who wishes to go along the King’s highway by means of the “arms of righteousness which are on the right hand and on the left” ought by the teaching of the apostle to pass through “honor and dishonor, evil report and good report.” And with such care [such a person ought] to direct his virtuous course amid the swelling waves of temptation, with discretion at the helm and the Spirit of the Lord breathing on us, since we know that if we deviate ever so little to the right hand or to the left, we shall presently be dashed against most dangerous crags. And so we are warned by Solomon, the wisest of men: “Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left.” That is, do not flatter yourself on your virtues and be puffed up by your spiritual achievements on the right hand; nor, swerving to the path of vices on the left hand, seek from them for yourself (to use the words of the apostle) so as to “glory in your shame.”
Institutes 11:4
Do not turn to the right or to the left. The right way is taken as good, the left as reprobate. Therefore, we are forbidden to turn to the right way, but not to decline to the right. One turns to the left who is unjust; one turns to the right who arrogates to himself that he is just; one turns to the right who presumes on his own strengths; one turns to the left who, because of his frailty, despairs of being able to be saved; one turns to the left who serves folly; one turns to the right who wishes to be wiser than he ought to be. This is also understood in the same way concerning the rest of the virtues and vices.
Commentary on Proverbs
Keep your foot from evil. This means do not deviate from the right, either to this side or that, because virtues seek discernment, and all excess is in vice. For the ways which are to the right, the Lord knows. That is, He has chosen, and they are pleasing to Him. Therefore, to those who are displeasing and reprobate He will say, I never knew you (Matt. 7:23); which is to say, I did not choose you, you are not pleasing to me. But He Himself will make your steps straight, etc. If you turn your foot away from evil, if you strive to do the good which I have taught with the Lord's help, He Himself will be propitious to your efforts, so that now you may walk rightly and then be able to reach eternal peace.
Commentary on Proverbs
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
ΑΚΟΥΣΑΤΕ, παῖδες, παιδείαν πατρὸς καὶ προσέχετε γνῶναι ἔννοιαν·
Послꙋ́шайте, дѣ́ти, наказа́нїѧ ѻ҆́тча и҆ внемли́те разꙋмѣ́ти помышле́нїе,