Wisdom of Solomon 4
Commentary from 7 fathers
Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.
ΚΡΕΙΣΣΩΝ ἀτεκνία μετὰ ἀρετῆς· ἀθανασία γάρ ἐστιν ἐν μνήμῃ αὐτῆς, ὅτι καὶ παρὰ Θεῷ γινώσκεται καὶ παρὰ ἀνθρώποις·
Лꙋ́чше безча́дство со добродѣ́телїю: безсме́ртїе бо є҆́сть въ па́мѧти є҆ѧ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆ пред̾ бг҃омъ позна́етсѧ и҆ пред̾ человѣ̑ки:
When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
παροῦσάν τε μιμοῦνται αὐτὴν καὶ ποθοῦσιν ἀπελθοῦσαν· καὶ ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι στεφανηφοροῦσα πομπεύει τὸν τῶν ἀμιάντων ἄθλων ἀγῶνα νικήσασα.
присꙋ́щꙋю бо подража́ютъ ю҆̀ и҆ жела́ютъ ѿше́дшїѧ, и҆ въ вѣ́цѣ вѣнцено́снѡ чти́тсѧ нескве́рныхъ по́двигѡвъ бра́нь ѡ҆долѣ́вши.
For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.
κἂν γὰρ ἐν κλάδοις πρὸς καιρὸν ἀναθάλῃ, ἐπισφαλῶς βεβηκότα ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευθήσεται καὶ ὑπὸ βίας ἀνέμων ἐκριζωθήσεται.
а҆́ще бо и҆ вѣ̑тви на вре́мѧ процвѣтꙋ́тъ, не крѣ́пкѡ возше́дше ѿ вѣ́тра поколе́блютсѧ и҆ ѿ ѕѣ́льныхъ вѣ́трѡвъ и҆скоренѧ́тсѧ:
The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.
περικλασθήσονται κλῶνες ἀτέλεστοι, καὶ ὁ καρπὸς αὐτῶν ἄχρηστος, ἄωρος εἰς βρῶσιν καὶ εἰς οὐθὲν ἐπιτήδειος·
сокрꙋша́тсѧ вѣ̑тви несовершє́нны, и҆ пло́дъ и҆́хъ неключи́мь, ѡ҆ско́менъ въ снѣ́дь, и҆ ни во что̀ потре́бенъ.
For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.
ἐκ γὰρ ἀνόμων ὕπνων τέκνα γεννώμενα μάρτυρές εἰσι πονηρίας κατὰ γονέων ἐν ἐξετασμῷ αὐτῶν.
Ѿ беззако́нныхъ бо снѡ́въ ча̑да ражда́ємаѧ свидѣ́телїе сꙋ́ть лꙋка́вствїѧ на роди́тєли во и҆спыта́нїи и҆́хъ.
But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
Δίκαιος δὲ ἐὰν φθάσῃ τελευτῆσαι, ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἔσται·
Првⷣникъ же а҆́ще пости́гнетъ сконча́тисѧ, въ поко́и бꙋ́детъ:
“The righteous one, even if he dies prematurely, will find rest.” For whom, or from whom, is there in fact rest in this world, if there are trials on every side and, when we are spared these, temptations are everywhere? Indeed, this world should be feared, whether it threatens or seduces. But if one fears both God and the world, he will despise the latter, so as to better guard himself against it. Therefore, if we want to be at rest when death comes to surprise us, let us be righteous.
Sermon 335m
For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.
γῆρας γὰρ τίμιον οὐ τὸ πολυχρόνιον οὐδὲ ἀριθμῷ ἐτῶν μεμέτρηται·
ста́рость бо честна̀ не многолѣ́тна, нижѐ въ числѣ̀ лѣ́тъ и҆счита́етсѧ:
8–9The just man lives a good life in old age. It is not said "long" but "good", for the just man ages well; however, no one of the unjust, even if he lives a longer life than lively stags, lives a good life. For to live long is common for both the wise and the foolish, but to live well is special to the wise man, whose old age is venerable and whose old age is a blameless life: not long-lasting, as he says, nor calculated by the number of years, nor by the gray hair on his head, but by his senses. He, therefore, ages well who has sensed well.
On Abraham, Book 2, Chapter 9
8–9Indeed, old age is venerable not by years grown grey, but by character. And the age of senescence, it is said, is a blameless life. Therefore, wherever generation is expressed, let Cain come first; wherever preaching of discipline is made, let Abel run ahead. Who would deny that even youth and itself in the beginnings of young adulthood fervently burn with the various allurements of passions? But when a more mature age is succeeded, as if by the storm of a youth's lasciviousness being dissipated, tranquility is restored and the weary soul withdraws its ship into certain quiet harbors. Thus, the tumultuous movements of our youth are calmed by the steady presence of faithful old age.
On Cain and Abel, Book 1, Chapter 3
8–9If it is said of the righteous person and of the member of the church, “Gray hair is a person’s wisdom,” why is it not said of the heretic’s iniquity, “A person’s gray hair is his folly”? Of this old age Daniel said to the old man, “You have grown old in evil.” Therefore, in the book of the Shepherd (if anyone is willing to accept that it be read), the church appears to Hermas first with gray hair, then as a young woman and a bride, with ornate hair.
Commentary on Hosea 2:7.8:10
8–9The Christian who has lived in the fear of God, at whatever age he dies, is not swept away by a bitter and untimely death but crosses over supported by a maturity approved by God. Indeed, in the book of Wisdom we read, “Old age is not honored for length of time or measured by number of years. Wisdom, rather, is a person’s gray hair, and a blameless life is old age. Having become dear to God, this one was loved by him.”
Letters 2:7.4
But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.
πολιὰ δέ ἐστι φρόνησις ἀνθρώποις καὶ ἡλικία γήρως βίος ἀκηλίδωτος.
сѣди́на же є҆́сть мꙋ́дрость человѣ́кѡмъ, и҆ во́зрастъ ста́рости житїѐ нескве́рно.
He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
εὐάρεστος τῷ Θεῷ γενόμενος ἠγαπήθη καὶ ζῶν μεταξὺ ἁμαρτωλῶν μετετέθη·
Бл҃гоꙋго́денъ бг҃ови бы́въ, возлю́бленъ бы́сть, и҆ живы́й посредѣ̀ грѣ́шныхъ преста́вленъ бы́сть:
Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.
ἡρπάγη, μὴ κακία ἀλλάξῃ σύνεσιν αὐτοῦ ἢ δόλος ἀπατήσῃ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ·
восхище́нъ бы́сть, да не ѕло́ба и҆змѣни́тъ ра́зꙋмъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆лѝ ле́сть прельсти́тъ дꙋ́шꙋ є҆гѡ̀.
We see also that Enoch was taken away, because he was pleasing to God, as the divine Scriptures attest in Genesis: “Then Enoch walked with God and was no longer, because God had taken him.” Because he was pleasing before God, he was worthy to be taken away from the evil of this world. But the Holy Spirit also teaches throughugh Solomon that those who are pleasing to God are taken first and freed from here earlier, so they would not be tainted by too long a sojourn in this world.
Treatise VII. On the Mortality 23
You will say, How much and how often have I prayed, and I have not been answered! But what did you ask for? Perhaps you asked for the death of your enemy. And … what if he asked for yours, as well? The one who created you also created him. You are a human being, and he is too, but God is the judge. He has listened to both of you and answered neither. Are you sad because your prayer against your enemy has not been granted? Rejoice, rather, that your enemy’s prayer has not been granted, to your harm. But, you say, I did not ask for this. I did not ask for the death of my enemy but the life of my son. What evil is there in that? You asked for nothing evil, in your opinion. But what would you say if he was taken so that wickedness would not corrupt his soul? But, you object, he was a sinner! And this is why I wanted him to live, so that he would amend his life. You wanted him to live so that he would become better. And what would you say if someone told you that God knew that he would have become worse if he had lived? How do you know which would have been better for him, to die or to live? If, then, you do not know, return to your heart, and leave every decision to God. You will say to me, “But, then, what should I do? What should I ask for in prayer?” What should you ask for? What the Lord, the heavenly teacher, taught us. Invoke God as God, love God as God. There is nothing better than him. Desire him, long for him!
Expositions of the Psalms 85:8
For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.
βασκανία γὰρ φαυλότητος ἀμαυροῖ τὰ καλά, καὶ ρεμβασμὸς ἐπιθυμίας μεταλλεύει νοῦν ἄκακον.
Раче́нїе бо ѕло́бы помрача́етъ дѡ́браѧ, и҆ паре́нїе по́хоти премѣнѧ́етъ ᲂу҆́мъ неѕло́бивъ.
He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:
τελειωθεὶς ἐν ὀλίγῳ ἐπλήρωσε χρόνους μακρούς,
Сконча́всѧ вма́лѣ и҆спо́лни лѣ̑та дѡ́лга:
We should not think that your bishop, our brother, has departed here early and that he lived only a little while. It is right to say that he did not live only a little while if we realize that, as much as we may say of him, there is still more to say (even if, being finite, what is much here will be judged as though it were nothing). And he has not lived so little, if, instead of counting the years, we think of his works. Who knows how many people, though living many years, have not done even half of what he did in a few years? To want to keep him here, then, is nothing other than to envy him his happiness. Now, as human beings, we are saddened for the man. What would we do if we did not act like human beings? We are sad in a human way, therefore, for a man’s departure. But as we heard in the divine lesson, “In a short time, he fulfilled a long career.” But, then, let us count those times as one counts a day. All that he did among you, exhorting, speaking, offering himself for your imitation—preserve it so as to praise and adore God, and you will be his most splendid memorial. Indeed, what matters for him is not that he be hidden in a marble tomb but that he be built up in your hearts—that he who has been buried would live in living sepulchers. Indeed, your memory is his tomb. He lives near to God, to be happy. He lives near to you, so that you would be happy.
Sermon 79
For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.
ἀρεστὴ γὰρ ἦν Κυρίῳ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ· διὰ τοῦτο ἔσπευσεν ἐκ μέσου πονηρίας. οἱ δὲ λαοὶ ἰδόντες καὶ μὴ νοήσαντες, μηδὲ θέντες ἐπὶ διανοίᾳ τὸ τοιοῦτον,
ᲂу҆го́дна бо бѣ̀ гдⷭ҇еви дꙋша̀ є҆гѡ̀, сегѡ̀ ра́ди потща́сѧ ѿ среды̀ лꙋка́вствїѧ:
14–15“His soul in fact was pleasing to God, because he hastened to take him away from iniquity.” Precisely with these words the sacred Scripture teaches us that in this world, it is not a long life that matters but a good life. To know the merits, as much as we can, of a deceased person, you must closely observe not how long he lived but how he lived. In fact, just as in a wicked life, the longer one lives the more punishments are multiplied for the one who lives in sin, so in a good life, though it is over in a brief period of time, a great, unending glory is gained for the one who lives well. A wicked life, then, leads to increasing ill temper in bitter, immature old people, whereas a good life leads young people, who die mature, to the kingdom of God.
Letters 2:7.4
14–15Similarly, in the book of Wisdom it says, “Because the grace of God is in his saints.” It is said as a general rule that no one has ever been or is holy without the grace of God. But so this grace might be in the saints, to confirm them, they receive it freely through the faith that comes from God. They did not have it prior to faith. As David says, “You will save them without price.”
Hypomnesticon 3:12.27
This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
ὅτι χάρις καὶ ἔλεος ἐν τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπισκοπὴ ἐν τοῖς ὁσίοις αὐτοῦ.
лю́дїе же ви́дѣвше и҆ не разꙋмѣ́вше, нижѐ поло́жше въ помышле́нїи таково́е, ꙗ҆́кѡ блгⷣть и҆ млⷭ҇ть въ прпⷣбныхъ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ посѣще́нїе во и҆збра́нныхъ є҆гѡ̀.
"His soul in fact was pleasing to God, because he hastened to take him away from iniquity." Precisely with these words the sacred Scripture teaches us that in this world, it is not a long life that matters but a good life. To know the merits, as much as we can, of a deceased person, you must closely observe not how long he lived but how he lived. In fact, just as in a wicked life, the longer one lives the more punishments are multiplied for the one who lives in sin, so in a good life, though it is over in a brief period of time, a great, unending glory is gained for the one who lives well. A wicked life, then, leads to increasing ill temper in bitter, immature old people, whereas a good life leads young people, who die mature, to the kingdom of God. - "Letters 2.7.4"
Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
κατακρινεῖ δὲ δίκαιος καμὼν τοὺς ζῶντας ἀσεβεῖς καὶ νεότης τελεσθεῖσα ταχέως πολυετὲς γῆρας ἀδίκου·
Ѡ҆сꙋ́дитъ же првⷣникъ ᲂу҆мира́ѧй живы́хъ нечести́выхъ, и҆ ю҆́ность сконча́вшаѧсѧ ско́рѡ долголѣ́тнꙋю ста́рость непра́веднагѡ.
For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
ὄψονται γὰρ τελευτὴν σοφοῦ καὶ οὐ νοήσουσι τί ἐβουλεύσατο περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τί ἠσφαλίσατο αὐτὸν ὁ Κύριος.
Оу҆́зрѧтъ бо кончи́нꙋ премꙋ́драгѡ и҆ не ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́ютъ, что̀ ᲂу҆совѣ́това ѡ҆ не́мъ и҆ во что̀ ᲂу҆твердѝ є҆го̀ гдⷭ҇ь:
They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.
ὄψονται καὶ ἐξουθενήσουσιν, αὐτοὺς δὲ ὁ Κύριος ἐκγελάσεται
ᲂу҆́зрѧтъ и҆ ᲂу҆ничижа́тъ є҆го̀, гдⷭ҇ь же посмѣе́тсѧ и҆̀мъ:
For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
καὶ ἔσονται μετὰ τοῦτο εἰς πτῶμα ἄτιμον καὶ εἰς ὕβριν ἐν νεκροῖς δι᾿ αἰῶνος, ὅτι ρήξει αὐτοὺς ἀφώνους πρηνεῖς καὶ σαλεύσει αὐτοὺς ἐκ θεμελίων καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου χερσωθήσονται καὶ ἔσονται ἐν ὀδύνῃ, καὶ ἡ μνήμη αὐτῶν ἀπολεῖται.
и҆ бꙋ́дꙋтъ посе́мъ въ паде́нїе безче́стно и҆ во ᲂу҆кори́знꙋ въ ме́ртвыхъ въ вѣ́къ: ꙗ҆́кѡ расто́ргнетъ и҆̀хъ безгла̑сны ни́цъ и҆ поколе́блетъ и҆̀хъ ѿ ѡ҆снова́нїй, и҆ да́же до послѣ́днихъ ѡ҆пꙋстѣ́ютъ и҆ бꙋ́дꙋтъ въ болѣ́зни, и҆ па́мѧть и҆̀хъ поги́бнетъ:
And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
ἐλεύσονται ἐν συλλογισμῷ ἁμαρτημάτων αὐτῶν δειλοί, καὶ ἐλέγξει αὐτοὺς ἐξεναντίας τὰ ἀνομήματα αὐτῶν.
прїи́дꙋтъ въ помышле́нїе грѣхѡ́въ свои́хъ боѧзли́вїи, и҆ ѡ҆блича́тъ и҆̀хъ проти́вꙋ беззакѡ́нїѧ и҆́хъ.
“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge. I will never be put to shame.” I am terrified, you say, of that confusion that lasts forever. There is a certain temporal confusion that is useful: the disturbance of a soul that realizes its sins, is horrified by what it sees and in that horror is ashamed and corrects what it is ashamed of. For this reason the apostle says, “But what fruit did you reap then of the things of which you are now ashamed?” He says, then, that those who are already believers should blush not for the gifts they have now but for the sins of the past. The Christian does not fear this confusion. Indeed, if he had not known this confusion, he would know the eternal confusion. What is the eternal confusion? When what is said will take place: “Their iniquities will rise up against them to accuse them.” And the entire herd of the wicked, their accusing iniquities before them, will be on the left, as goats separated from the sheep. They will hear, “Be gone, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” They will ask, “Why?” “I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat.” They despised the hungry Christ when they did not feed him. They gave him no drink when he was thirsty or clothes when he was naked. They did not take him in when he was a traveler or visit him when he was sick. They thus despised him. When he begins to point out all these sins, they will be covered with confusion, and this confusion will be eternal.
Expositions of the Psalms 30:2.1:5
But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.
πολύγονον δὲ ἀσεβῶν πλῆθος οὐ χρησιμεύσει, καὶ ἐκ νόθων μοσχευμάτων οὐ δώσει ῥίζαν εἰς βάθος, οὐδὲ ἀσφαλῆ βάσιν ἑδράσει·
Многопло́дно же нечести́выхъ мно́жество неключи́мо бꙋ́детъ, и҆ прелюбодѣ̑йнаѧ насаждє́нїѧ не дадꙋ́тъ коре́нїѧ въ глꙋбинꙋ̀, нижѐ крѣ́пко стоѧ́нїе сотворѧ́тъ: