The Destructive Nature of Vainglory
When it reaches the top, it dries up the root, and vainglory clings to virtues and does not depart until it cuts off the power. A cluster of grapes being pulled toward the earth rots easily, and virtue is destroyed when leaning upon vainglory. A vainglorious monk is a useless worker; he has undergone the toil, but did not receive the reward. A shaken money-bag does not keep what was thrown into it, and vainglory destroys the rewards of virtues. The self-control of a vainglorious man is like the smoke of a furnace, and both shall be dissolved into the air. The wind makes the trace of a man vanish, and so does the almsgiving of a vainglorious man. A stone thrown does not reach heaven, and a prayer of one seeking human approval will not ascend to God.
Chapter 16. Vainglory is a treacherous rock; if you lean upon it, you have lost your load. A wise man hides a treasure, and a prudent monk hides the toil of virtue. Vainglory advises praying in the marketplaces, but he who fights this prays into his own treasury. A foolish man publishes his wealth, and moves many to plot against him. But you hide your own things, for on the road you may encounter robbers, until you reach the city of peace and use your things safely. The virtue of a vainglorious man is like a crushed incense burner, and it will certainly not be carried to the altar of God.
Acedia loosens the tension of the soul, but vainglory agitates the mind of one fallen from God; it has made the weak man shout, and the old man stronger than the young, only if many witnesses of the things happening are present; then fasting, wakefulness, and prayer are light, for the praise of the many stirs up the readiness. Do not sell your toils for human glories, nor betray the glory to come through favorable speech. For human glory dwells in dust, and its fame is extinguished upon the earth, but the glory of virtue remains for the age.
Chapter 17. Concerning pride. Pride is a hollow swelling of the soul.
Greek
ὅταν φθάσῃ ἄνω ξηραίνει τὴν ῥίζαν, κενοδοξία δὲ ταῖς ἀρεταῖς παραφύεται, καὶ οὐκ ἀφίσταται, ἕως ἂν ἐκκόψῃ τὴν δύναμιν. Βότρυς ἐπισυρόμενος τῇ γῇ σήπεται εὐχερῶς, καὶ ἀρετὴ ἀπόλλυται κενοδοξίᾳ ἐπερειδομένη. Μοναχὸς κενόδοξος, ἐργάτης ἄμισθος· τὸν πόνον ὑπέστη, καὶ τὸν μισθὸν οὐκ ἔλαβε. Βαλάντιον τετρημένον οὐ φυλάττει τὸ βληθὲν, καὶ κενοδοξία ἀπόλλυσι μισθοὺς ἀρετῶν. Κενοδόξου ἐγκράτεια, καπνὸς καμίνου, καὶ εἰς ἀέρα διαλυθήσεται ἀμφότερα. Ἄνεμος ἀφανίζει ἴχνος ἀνδρὸς, καὶ ἐλεημοσύνην κενόδοξος. Λίθου βολὴ 79.1161 οὐ φθάνει εἰς οὐρανὸν, καὶ προσευχὴ ἀνθρωπαρέσκου οὐκ ἀναβήσεται πρὸς Θεόν. ΚΕΦΑΛ. Ιϛʹ. Κενοδοξία πέτρα ἐστὶν ὕφαλος· ἐὰν προσρήξῃς, τὸν φόρτον ἀπώλεσας. Κρύπτει θησαυρὸν ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος, καὶ ἀρετῆς πόνους μοναχὸς συνετός. Ἐν πλατείαις προσεύχεσθαι συμβουλεύει κενοδοξία, ὁ δὲ πολεμῶν ταύτῃ προσεύχεται εἰς ταμεῖον αὑτοῦ. ∆ημοσιεύει πλοῦτον αὐτοῦ ἀνὴρ ἄφρων, κινεῖ δὲ πολλοὺς εἰς ἐπιβουλὴν καθ' ἑαυτοῦ. Σὺ δὲ κρύπτε τὰ σὰ, ἐν ὁδῷ γὰρ τυγχάνεις λῃστῶν, ἕως ἥξεις εἰς πόλιν εἰρήνης, καὶ ἀσφαλῶς χρήσῃ τοῖς σοῖς. Ἀρετὴ κενοδόξου συντετριμμένον ἱερεῖον, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀνενεχθῇ εἰς θυσιαστήριον Θεοῦ. Ἀκηδία ἐκλύει τόνον ψυχῆς, κενοδοξία δὲ νευροῖ νοῦν ἀποπεπτωκότα Θεοῦ, τὸν ἀσθενοῦντα ἐποίησεν ἐῤῥώμενον, καὶ τὸν γέροντα τοῦ νέου δυνατώτερον, μόνον ἐὰν παρῶσι μάρτυρες τῶν γινομένων πολλοί· κούφη νηστεία τότε, καὶ ἀγρυπνία, καὶ προσευχὴ, ὁ γὰρ ἔπαινος τῶν πολλῶν διεγείρει τὴν προθυμίαν. Μὴ πωλήσῃς τοὺς πόνους δόξαις ἀνθρωπίναις, μηδὲ τὴν μέλλουσαν δόξαν προδῷς δι' εὐφημίαν. ∆όξα γὰρ ἀνθρωπίνη εἰς χοῦν κατασκηνοῖ, καὶ κλέος αὐτῆς σβέννυται ἐπὶ γῆς, ἀρετῆς δὲ δόξα μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα 6 ΚΕΦΑΛ. ΙΖʹ. Περὶ ὑπερηφανίας. Ὑπερηφανία ἐστὶν οἴδημα ψυχῆς ἰχῶρος
About this text
The original eight evil thoughts that became the seven deadly sins, and how each one attacks.
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.