The Discipline of Prayer and Scripture
The same said that the prophet David prayed at unseasonable times; he was rising at midnight, calling at dawn, standing at dawn, building at morning, and entreating at evening and noon. For this reason he said: Seven times in the day have you found me.
He said again that the acquisition of books is necessary for those Christians who possess them. For the very sight of books works us to be more sluggish toward sin, and is instead turned toward righteousness.
He said again that the reading of the Scriptures is a great security against sinning. He said again that ignorance of the Scriptures is a great cliff and a deep pit. He said again that not knowing any of the divine laws is a great betrayal of salvation.
The same said that the sins of the righteous are about the lips, but the sins of the impious are from the whole body. Therefore David sings: O Lord, keep watch over my mouth, and a door of restraint about my lips; and: I said, I will guard my ways, so that I may not sin in my tongue.
He was asked again: Why then are the legal commandments ten, but the...
Greek
στόμα καὶ ἀκούεται. ζʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι ∆αβὶδ ὁ προφήτης, ἐν ἀωρίᾳ ηὔχετο, μεσονύκτιον ἐξηγείρετο, πρὸ τοῦ ὄρθρου παρεκάλει, ὄρθρου παρίστατο, πρωΐας ἐδέετο, ἑσπέρας καὶ μεσημβρίας ἱκέτευε, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγεν· Ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ᾔνεσά σε. ηʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι ἀναγκαία τῶν Χριστιανῶν βιβλίων ἡ κτῆσις τοῖς ἔχουσι. Καὶ αὐτὴ γὰρ καθ' ἑαυτὴν τῶν βιβλίων ἡ ὄψις, ὀκνηροτέρους ἡμᾶς πρὸς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεται, καὶ πρὸς δικαιοσύνην μᾶλλον διανίστασθαι προτρέπεται. θʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μεγάλη ἀσφάλεια πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν, τῶν Γραφῶν ἡ ἀνάγνωσις. ιʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μέγας κρημνὸς καὶ βαθὺ βάραθρον, τῶν Γραφῶν ἡ ἄγνοια. ιαʹ. Εἶπε πάλιν, ὅτι μεγάλη προδοσία σωτηρίας, τὸ μηδένα τῶν θείων νόμων εἰδέναι. ιβʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι τὰ τῶν δικαίων ἁμαρτήματα περὶ τὰ χείλη ἐστὶ, τὰ δὲ τῶν ἀσεβῶν, ἐξ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος. Ὅθεν ψάλλει ∆αβίδ· Θοῦ, Κύριε, φυλακὴν τῷ στόματί μου, καὶ θύραν περιοχῆς περὶ τὰ χείλη μου· Καί· Εἶπα, Φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν με ἐν γλώσσῃ μου. ιγʹ. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἠρωτήθη, ∆ιατί δέκα μέν εἰσιν αἱ νομικαὶ ἐντολαὶ, ἐννέα δὲ οἱ
About this text
A collection of wise and mysterious sayings from a 4th-century bishop, offering insight into early Christian life and beliefs.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (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.