OT § 82
3d Wednesday of Lent Vespers
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.
Γυνὴ ἄφρων καὶ θρασεῖα ἐνδεὴς ψωμοῦ γίνεται, ἣ οὐκ ἐπίσταται αἰσχύνην.
Жена̀ безꙋ́мнаѧ и҆ проде́рзаѧ скꙋдна̀ хлѣ́бомъ быва́етъ, ꙗ҆́же не вѣ́сть стыдѣ́нїѧ,
A foolish woman, clamorous and full of allurements, etc. This woman is heresy, clearly opposed to wisdom, which above sang her sacraments. But she also sits at the doors of her house, that is, in the teachers of falsehood, who introduce the miserable to the innermost parts of deceit. Moreover, she claims for herself a chair of preaching. This is the chair of pestilence in which the blessed man refuses to sit (Psalm I).
Commentary on ProverbsShe sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ θύραις τοῦ ἑαυτῆς οἴκου, ἐπὶ δίφρου ἐμφανῶς ἐν πλατείαις,
сѣ́де при две́рехъ до́мꙋ своегѡ̀, на стольцѣ̀ ꙗ҆́вѣ на сто́гнахъ,
On a high place of the city. He speaks of wisdom as giving her voice in the high and elevated places; but she rises in the sublimity of virtues, this one elevates herself in the arrogance of pride.
Commentary on Proverbscalling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
προσκαλουμένη τοὺς παριόντας καὶ κατευθύνοντας ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν·
призыва́ющаѧ мимоходѧ́щихъ и҆ и҆справлѧ́ющихъ пꙋти̑ своѧ̑:
To call passersby who walk by the way, etc. Heresy often calls the Catholics to deception, seeing them proceed on the right path, wishing to quickly pass through this world and hasten to the eternal homeland.
Commentary on Proverbs[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,
ὅς ἐστιν ὑμῶν ἀφρονέστατος, ἐκκλινάτω πρός με καὶ τοῖς ἐνδεέσι φρονήσεως παρακελεύομαι λέγουσα·
и҆́же є҆́сть ѿ ва́съ безꙋ́мнѣйшїй, да ᲂу҆клони́тсѧ ко мнѣ̀: и҆ лишє́ннымъ ра́зꙋма повелѣва́ю, глаго́лющи:
Whoever is simple, let him turn here, etc. Wisdom also seems to invite the little ones and the foolish to her feast with nearly the same words; but it differs, as she simply asks them to come to her, whereas this one urges them to turn aside to her. For wisdom summons those she sees wandering to the right path of action; this one teaches those walking rightly to deviate from their way and turn aside to her.
Commentary on ProverbsTake and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
ἄρτων κρυφίων ἡδέως ἅψασθε καὶ ὕδατος κλοπῆς γλυκεροῦ.
хлѣ́бѡмъ сокровє́ннымъ въ сла́дость прикосни́тесѧ и҆ во́дꙋ татьбы̀ сла́дкꙋю пі́йте.
I came upon that brazen woman, empty of prudence, who, in Solomon's obscure parable, sits on a seat at the door outside her house and says, "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." This woman seduced me, because she found my soul outside its own door, dwelling externally in the eye of my flesh and ruminating within myself on such food as I had swallowed through my physical senses.
Confessions 3.6.11Bread is used in a good sense in "I am the living bread which came down from heaven," but in a bad sense in "hidden bread is more pleasant." Many other things are used in the same way. Those examples that I have mentioned create little doubt as to their meaning, for things ought not to be used as examples unless they are clear. There are, however, instances in which it is uncertain whether the signification is to be taken in a good sense or in an evil sense.
CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION 25:36Stolen waters are sweeter, etc. Wisdom has publicly set forth her table and mixed her wine; but the foolish woman, having nothing pure, gathers whoever she can to stolen waters and hidden bread, because the Catholic Church publicly spreads the feast of the divine words to the world, and has commanded the mysteries of the divinity and humanity of Christ to be celebrated. Or certainly, in the mixed wine, she offers to her listeners the historical and allegorical knowledge together, so that each one, according to his capacity, may be refreshed by the cups of life. But the doctrine of heretics secretly prefers the decrees of its public faith and profession, and when it has nothing spiritual to offer, it boasts of teaching knowledge sweeter than that of the Catholic pastors, so that what is forbidden to be said and believed openly in the Church is more willingly heard and acted upon. And so, ignorance is more sweetly received as it is thought to be knowledge, whose forbidden hearing it steals. The baptism of heretics can be signified in the stolen waters, and their sacrifice in the hidden bread. But literally, it asserts that the adulterous woman in stolen waters and hidden bread asserts that forbidden and illicit unions are sweeter.
Commentary on ProverbsHaving taken occasion from the difference between the image and the soul which is made to the image, I thought it worthwhile to make this excursus, so that if any perhaps have at some time drunk something from stolen waters, which seem sweeter, having taken the antidote, they may vomit it up, and with the stomach of the mind purged, approaching what remains to be said concerning the likeness according to our promise, they may now draw purer things in joy not from our own, but from the fountains of the Savior, the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is God blessed above all things forever.
Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 80Scripture sets down bread and water in clear reference simply to the heresies that use bread and water in their offertory contrary to the rules of the church. There are some who actually celebrate the Eucharist with plain water. "Jump up; do not linger in her place." Scripture is using the ambiguous word place to designate the synagogue rather than the church. Then it adds, "In this way you will be crossing a foreign water," regarding heretical baptism as foreign and improper, "and traversing a foreign river"—one which takes you astray and dumps you in the sea, where everyone who allows himself to be led away from the firm ground of the truth is deposited.
The Stromata Book 1What does water signify but human knowledge? This is in accord with Solomon's words implying the voice of heretics: "Stolen waters are sweeter." What does the Lamb's raw flesh indicate but his humanity that has been thoughtlessly and irreverently disregarded? Everything which we think of profoundly we cook, as it were, in our minds. The flesh of the Lamb was not to be eaten raw or boiled in water, because our Redeemer is not to be judged merely a human being, nor are we to use human science to explain how God could have been made man.
FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 22"The foolish and bold woman comes to want bread." What bread? Surely that bread which comes down from heaven. And he immediately adds, "The earth-born perish in her house, rush into the depths of hell." Who are the earth-born that perish in her house? They of course who follow the first Adam, who is of the earth, and not the second, who is from heaven.
Against Jovinianus 1.28But he knows not that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell. 18α But hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix thine eye upon her: 18β for thus shalt thou go through strange water; 18γ but do thou abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain, 18δ that thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee.
δ ἵνα πολὺν ζήσῃς χρόνον, προστεθῇ δέ σοι ἔτη ζωῆς.
Ѻ҆́нъ же не вѣ́сть, ꙗ҆́кѡ земноро́днїи ᲂу҆ неѧ̀ погиба́ютъ и҆ во днѣ̀ а҆́да ѡ҆брѣта́ютсѧ. Но ѿскочѝ, не заме́дли на мѣ́стѣ є҆ѧ̀, нижѐ наста́ви ѻ҆́ка своегѡ̀ къ не́й: та́кѡ бо про́йдеши во́дꙋ чꙋждꙋ́ю и҆ пре́йдеши рѣкꙋ̀ чꙋждꙋ́ю: ѿ воды́ же чꙋжді́ѧ ѡ҆ша́йсѧ и҆ ѿ и҆сто́чника чꙋжда́гѡ не пі́й, да мно́гое вре́мѧ поживе́ши, и҆ приложа́тсѧ тебѣ̀ лѣ̑та живота̀.
And he did not know that giants are there, etc. The adulteress does not know, the heretic does not know, that unclean spirits inhabit their houses, and those who suffer eternal punishments in the depths of hell delight in the acts of the luxurious, and in the dogmas of the heretics, as if they were lavish banquets. But when the sacraments of Christ are duly celebrated in the Church of Christ, the word of Christ is heard and preserved (who is the wisdom of God), it is established that angelic virtues are there, and in the heights of heaven, the faithful partake. For He gave them the bread of heaven; man ate the bread of angels (Psalm LXXVII).
Commentary on Proverbs
Son, if thou be wise for thyself, thou shalt also be wise for thy neighbours; and if thou shouldest prove wicked, thou alone wilt bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
υἱέ, ἐὰν σοφὸς γένῃ σεαυτῷ, σοφὸς ἔση καὶ τοῖς πλησίον· ἐὰν δὲ κακὸς ἀποβῇς, μόνος ἂν ἀντλήσεις κακά. ὃς ἐρείδεται ἐπὶ ψεύδεσιν, οὗτος ποιμαίνει ἀνέμους, ὁ δ᾿ αὐτὸς διώξεται ὄρνεα πετόμενα· ἀπέλιπε γὰρ ὁδοὺς τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τοὺς δὲ ἄξονας τοῦ ἰδίου γεωργίου πεπλάνηται· διαπορεύεται δὲ δι᾿ ἀνύδρου ἐρήμου καὶ γῆν διατεταγμένην ἐν διψώδεσι, συνάγει δὲ χερσὶν ἀκαρπίαν.
Сы́не, а҆́ще премꙋ́дръ бꙋ́деши, себѣ̀ премꙋ́дръ бꙋ́деши и҆ и҆́скрєннимъ твои̑мъ: а҆́ще же ѕо́лъ бꙋ́деши, є҆ди́нъ почерпне́ши ѕла̑ѧ. Сы́нъ нака́занъ премꙋ́дръ бꙋ́детъ, безꙋ́мный же слꙋго́ю ᲂу҆потреби́тсѧ. И҆́же ᲂу҆твержда́етсѧ на лжа́хъ, се́й пасе́тъ вѣ́тры, то́й же пожене́тъ пти̑цы парѧ́щыѧ: ѡ҆ста́ви бо пꙋти̑ своегѡ̀ вїногра́да, въ стезѧ́хъ же своегѡ̀ земледѣ́ланїѧ заблꙋдѝ, прохо́дитъ же сквозѣ̀ пꙋсты́ню безво́днꙋю и҆ зе́млю ѡ҆предѣле́ннꙋю въ жа́ждѣхъ, собира́етъ же рꙋка́ма непло́дїе.
Observe that the wise man must be useful to many; so that he who is useful only to himself cannot be wise. For great is the condemnation of wisdom if she reserves her power simply for the one possessing her. But as poison is not injurious to another body, but only to that one which takes it, so also the man who turns out wicked will injure himself, and not another. For no man of real virtue is injured by a wicked man.
Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments