Defense of the Law and the Body of Christ
They do these things through fear of falling into punishment, but with desire and longing. For from this it will happen to bear all things soberly and courageously, not only the pleasant things but also the painful and unpleasant ones, and to go toward every diligent task with eagerness.
Since some reproach and belittle me for seeking your testimonies (Ps 118:22), you have removed the reproach and the belittling from me. How could these be removed? For the coming knowledge of the truth of those formerly reproaching and belittling me; and if this exists, they themselves will seek your testimonies.
Another scripture says, 'I have declared your ways' (Ps 118:26), meaning: the ways that lead to you are not other ways of virtues, O Lord; I have declared them practically with diligent intention and in appropriate works, and you heard me; therefore, toward those who obey I say, 'Teach me your statutes' (Ps 118:29).
He who will turn away from the way of unrighteousness and approaching the law of God wants to be perfected and established toward God, who brings the ends of good things (Ps 118:29). For as one having hated ignorance has had a longing for the opposing knowledge, so one who has turned himself from ignorance and approached by faith asks the teacher: 'Turn ignorance away from me and have mercy on me by your knowledge.'
The voice is not one who is conscious of sin, but of one suspecting, as in 'From my secret things cleanse me' (Ps 118:39). But I am confident in what you will remove, the suspected reproach, being convinced of what your judgments are, being full of kindness and love for mankind.
If it is possible to say all things about the spoken word, stand by; for he himself is both mercy and salvation of the Lord (Ps 118:41-42). Therefore, it is necessary for us to seek the mercy of the Lord, the salvation according to his mercy. For having been shown mercy and having been saved...
We answer those who previously reproached us as lacking the mercy and salvation of God (Ps 118:43-44).
I ask for insights, not merely such words; even if I sometimes fall into difficulties regarding providence and similar matters, I do not wish to give an answer that merely resolves the contradictions of those who wander, but rather, since you have opened my mouth with your own goodness, give me an interpretation of the truth through your word, so that the word of truth may not be entirely torn from my mouth, but that I may be able to speak somewhat regarding the unanswerable ones, saying: 'I have erred concerning your judgments, your examined and tested words; how do you judge and provide for men?' (Ps 118:51).
Do not let the word of truth depart vehemently from my mouth. For indeed, keeping your law will not only happen in this age but unto the age, the words of Jesus not passing away. We therefore keep God's law according to the image of things, previously kept by the Jews according to a shadow, to be kept for us according to the future good things unto the age of ages (Ps 118:51).
Regarding the heterodox who boast against the law by slandering it (Ps 118:53), I was intensely occupied with its keeping, and how much I was shaken in my assent to it, not enduring the slander.
Since of the sinners some sin lawlessly, not even attempting the beginning of laws, and others transgress it while in law, discouragement seized me from the sinners who abandon God's law; for if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. And it is fitting to be grieved for our brothers who sin, what kind of people they are, and not to be divided against this holy one (Ps 118:58).
The character of His subsistence is the face of God, as it has been said to us many times. Therefore, the one who...
Greek
ἐνεργοῦντες αὐτὰ φόβῳ τοῦ μὴ περιπεσεῖν κολάσει, ἀλλὰ σὺν ὀρέξει καὶ ἐπιθυμίᾳ. συμβήσεται γὰρ ἐκ τούτου σωφρόνως καὶ γενναίως πάντα φέρειν, οὐ μόνον τὰ ἡδέα ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐπίπονα καὶ ἀηδῆ καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν πρᾶξιν σπουδαίαν σὺν πόθῳ ἰέναι. 1093 Ps 118,22 ̓Επεὶ ὀνειδίζουσι καὶ ἐξουδενοῦσί μέ τινες ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκζητεῖν τὰ 234 μαρτύριά σου, σὺ περίελε τὸ ο νειδος καὶ τὴν ἐξουδένωσίν μου. πῶς δ' α ν περιαιρεθείη ταῦτα; εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἐρχομένων ἀληθείας τῶν τέως ὀνειδιζόντων καὶ ἐξευτελιζόντων με· ὑπάρξαντος δὲ τούτου, α μα ἐμοὶ ἐκζητήσουσι καὶ αὐτοὶ τὰ μαρτύριά σου. 1094 Ps 118,26 ̔Ετέρα γραφὴ Τὰς ὁδούς σου, φησίν, ἐξήγγειλα, ι να ει πῃ· τὰς φερούσας πρὸς σὲ οὐχ ἑτέρας ου σας τῶν ἀρετῶν ὁδούς, ω δέσποτα, πρακτικῶς ἐξήγγειλα σπουδαίᾳ προθέσει καὶ καταλλήλοις αὐτῇ ε ργοις, καὶ ἐπήκουσάς μου· διὸ πρὸς ὑπακούσαντά φημι ∆ίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου. 1095 Ps 118,29 ̔Ο προαιρέσει ἀποστὰς τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς ἀδικίας καὶ τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ θεοῦ προσελθὼν τελειωθῆναι καὶ βεβαιωθῆναι ταῦτα βούλεται πρὸς θεοῦ τοῦ τὰ τέλη τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐπιφέροντος. ὡς γὰρ μισήσας η ν ει χεν α γνοιαν τῷ πόθον ἐσχηκέναι τῆς ἀντικειμένης ἐπιστήμης, οὐχ οι ός τε ω ν ἑαυτὸν τῆς ἀγνοίας ἀποστῆσαι καὶ τῇ πίστει προσερεῖσαι, τὸν διδάσκαλον παρακαλεῖ· Τὴν α γνοιαν ἀπόστησον ἀπ' ἐμοῦ καὶ τῇ ἐπιστήμῃ σου ἐλέησόν με. 1096 Ps 118,39 Οὐ συνειδότος ἐστὶν ἑαυτῷ ἁμαρτίαν ἡ φωνὴ ἀλλ' ὑποπτεύοντος, ω σπερ ου ν καὶ τὸ ̓Απὸ τῶν κρυφίων μου καθάρισόν με. θαρρῶ δὲ ο τι περιαιρήσεις ο ὑπώπτευσα ο νειδος, πεπεισμένος ο τι χρηστοφιλανθρωπίας γέμοντα τὰ κρίματά σού εἰσιν. 1097 Ps 118,41.42a Εἰ δὲ δυνατὸν πάντα περὶ τοῦ ἀποσταλέντος λόγου εἰρῆσθαι, ἐπίστησον· αὐτὸς γὰρ καὶ ε λεος καὶ σωτήριον κυρίου ἐστί. διὸ εὐκτέον η κειν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς τὸ ε λεος κυρίου, τὸ σωτήριον κατὰ τὸ ε λεος αὐτοῦ. ου τω γὰρ ἐλεηθέντες καὶ σωθέντες τοῖς ὀνειδίζουσι πρότερον ὡς λειπομένοις ἐλέου καὶ σωτηρίας θεοῦ ἀποκρινούμεθα. 1098 Ps 118,43.44 Νοήσεις δὲ καὶ ου τως· εἰ καί ποτε πρὸς ἐμπιπτούσας ἀπορίας περὶ προνοίας η ὁμοιοτρόπων ζητημάτων μὴ ε χοιμι λόγον ἀποδοῦναι λύοντα τὰς ἀντιρρήσεις τῶν ἐπαπορούντων, ἀλλὰ σὺ τῇ αὑτοῦ ἀγαθότητι ἀνοίξαντί μοι τὸ στόμα τῷ σῷ λόγῳ δὸς ἑρμηνευτικὸν τῆς ἀληθείας, ι να μὴ παντελῶς περιαίρεσις τοῦ λόγου τῆς ἀληθείας ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου γένηται ἀλλὰ δυνηθῶ περὶ τῶν δυσαποδότων ἀμωσγέπως λέγειν Οτι η λπισα ἐπὶ τὰ κρίματά σου, τοὺς κεκριμένους καὶ ἐξητασμένους σου λόγους η τὰ κρίματα καθ' α διοικεῖς καὶ προνοεῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Μὴ περιέλῃς ε ως σφόδρα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου ἀληθείας λόγον. ου τω γὰρ καὶ διὰ παντὸς φυλάξαι σου τὸν νόμον συμβήσεται τηρούμενον οὐκ ἐν τούτῳ μόνῳ τῷ αἰῶνι ἀλλὰ καὶ μέχρις αἰῶνος, τῶν λόγων ̓Ιησοῦ οὐ παρερχομένων. φυλάττομεν γοῦν τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ νόμον κατὰ τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων, πρότερον ὑπὸ ̓Ιουδαίων κατὰ σκιὰν φυλαχθέντα, φυλαχθησόμενον ἡμῖν κατὰ τὰ μέλλοντα ἀγαθὰ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος. 1099 Ps 118,51 Τῶν ἑτεροδόξων ἀλαζονευομένων κατὰ τοῦ νόμου τῷ διαβάλλειν αὐτόν, ἐγὼ σφόδρα τῆς φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ περιειχόμην καὶ κατὰ ποσὸν κλονῆσαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν συγκατάθεσιν μὴ ἀνεχόμενος. 1100 Ps 118,53 ̓Επεὶ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν οἱ μὲν ἀνόμως ἁμαρτάνουσι τῷ μηδὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν πεπειρᾶσθαι νόμων, οἱ δ' ἐν νόμῳ τῷ παραβαίνειν αὐτόν, ἀθυμία κατέσχε με ἀπὸ ἁμαρτωλῶν τῶν ἐγκαταλιμπανόντων τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ νόμον· Ει τι γὰρ πάσχει ε ν μέλος, συμπάσχει πάντα τὰ μέλη· καὶ ἐὰν δοξαζόμενον ῃ ε ν μέλος, συγχαίρει πάντα τὰ μέλη. καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ου ν ἡμῶν τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσι λυπεῖσθαι καθήκει, ο τι τοιοῦτοί εἰσι, καὶ ου τω διακεῖσθαι κατὰ τὸν α γιον τοῦτον. 1101 Ps 118,58 Πρόσωπον θεοῦ ὁ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, ὡς πολλάκις ἡμῖν ει ρηται. ὁ τοίνυν ο λῃ
About this text
Discover how early Christians interpreted the Psalms as divine messages and prophecies about salvation and judgment.
Original English Translation — new OET from PG Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.