The Corruption of Praise and the Nature of Wisdom

It is as if he has nothing; for he who loves silver will never be satisfied with silver. Or indeed, the faithful person will see the words of this world as if they were spoken metaphorically as matters of the mind; but the unfaithful person will not even touch the words of a chance matter because of the impurity of the soul.

Stanza 26. Regarding one who hides his own ignorance or his passion by silence, it seems to be near.

Stanza 27. He does not carry out all evil (for it is impossible), but performs those things capable of co-existing; and even while doing evil, he did not cease. Or he speaks of Christ as a good concept; for He himself guarantees it; and everyone doing good things will find Him; for he speaks of the one doing every good work as prudent.

Stanza 24. He who does not live rightly hides the hands unjustly in the soul; not wishing to work his own land, how shall he be filled with bread? For the practical virtues have a connection to the hands, bringing our bread to the mouth which has come down from heaven (Matt 6:11). Therefore, this one, being slothful, cannot even benefit from the beginning.

Stanza 10. For indeed the judgment covers the defense of the ungodly. For God exceeds those doing good in rewards.

Stanza 16. Do not give yourself over to being too ashamed to repent. For if you die and do not have time to repent, you will no longer have rest.

Stanza 23. And he who acts with vainglory or human-pleasing in doing something of the good works brings the devil, the snare, in with him, and eats his own morsel with him; for such a one withholds his own reward. And indeed the devil...

He offers these things to men, so that through the praise of the man-pleaser he may be defiled and be deprived of the eternal goods. Verse 4. Evil men will not produce virtues and right doctrines (for these are the offspring of the soul), because they do not fear the Lord; but those being in the fear of the Lord will have offspring all their days, and their hope will not be removed (Psalm 128:3). And these things follow what was said. For the enemies, he says, being evil, find advantage in the falls of others; but that which you reproach, do not envy. For their bright thing is bound and deceptive, until this life, and it is extinguished at the end; and often even while living it was exposed and was extinguished.

Verse 7. The wise man says these things by wisdom, or the slave of Christ to the Lord. And having said two, he asks concerning more; but what seems to be first is a prerequisite to the chance of obtaining what he asks, saying: Do not pass me by, but give grace; whereupon the first brought a request: Do not make my word a vain, long-winded falsehood, so that, not being filled, I may become a liar. The boy makes pride, and the appearance of being wise to be instead of an examination; by word and deed as if without sin. For the phrase, 'Who sees me?', instead of 'Reprove me', he says; so that, not being filled with wisdom, he may be incomprehensible in glory to others, or even appear a liar speaking concerning these things.

Verse 15. The leech is born indeed in the sweet waters, being a worm-like creature; and it is most smooth to the touch, which, taking hold of the grain of the water, enters unnoticed by its smoothness; then, having entwined itself within some...