The Reward of Virginity
Do not despise your sister who is eating, and do not be proud because of your self-control. For you do not know what the Lord will decide or who will stand before him.
She who shows mercy, having closed her eyes and having disciplined her flesh, will not rejoice over the impassibility of the soul. Self-control is heavy and purity is difficult to direct, but nothing is sweeter than the heavenly bridegroom. Souls of virgins will be enlightened, but souls of the impure will see darkness.
I saw men envying virgins through doctrines and making their virginity in vain. But you listen, child, to the doctrines of the Lord's church, and let no stranger convert you. For the righteous will inherit light, but the ungodly will dwell in darkness.
Virgin eyes will see the Lord. Virgin ears will hear his words. A virgin mouth will kiss his bridegroom. A virgin sense of smell will run toward the scent of his myrrh. Virgin hands will touch the Lord, and the purity of the flesh will be well-received. A virgin soul will be crowned, and with her bridegroom she will live forever. A spiritual garment will be given to her, and she will celebrate in the heavens with the angels. She will light an inextinguishable lamp, and oil will not fail in her vessels. She will take eternal wealth, and will inherit the kingdom of God.
My words, child, are spoken to you; let your heart keep my sayings. Remember Christ who guards you, and let not the worshipful Trinity be forgotten.
Greek
50 Οὐκ ἐξουδενώσεις τὴν ἀδελφήν σου ἐσθίουσαν καὶ ἐπὶ ἐγκρατείᾳ σου μὴ ἐπαρθῇς. οὐ γὰρ οἶδας, τί βεβούλευται ὁ κύριος ἢ τίς στήσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ. 51 Ἡ οἰκτείρουσα πελιδνουμένους τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ τηκομένας τὰς σάρκας αὐτῆς, οὐκ εὐφρανθήσεται ἐπὶ ἀπαθείᾳ ψυχῆς. 52 Βαρεῖα ἐγκράτεια καὶ δυσκατόρθωτος ἁγνεία, ἀλλ' οὐδὲν γλυκύτερον τοῦ ἐπουρανίου νυμφίου. 53 Ψυχαὶ παρθένων φωτισθήσονται, ψυχαὶ δὲ ἀκαθάρτων ὄψονται σκότος. 2 54 Εἶδον ἄνδρας φθείροντας παρθένους ἐν δόγμασι καὶ ματαίαν ποιοῦντας τὴν παρθενείαν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ ἄκουε, τέκνον, δογμάτων ἐκκλησίας κυρίου, καὶ μηδεὶς ἀλλότριος μεταπείσῃ σε. δίκαιοι γὰρ κληρονομήσουσι φῶς, ἀσεβεῖς δὲ οἰκήσουσι σκότος. 55 Παρθένοι ὀφθαλμοὶ ὄψονται κύριον. ἀκοαὶ δὲ παρθένων ἀκούσονται λόγων αὐτοῦ. παρθένων στόμα φιλήσει νυμφίον αὐτοῦ. ὄσφρησις δὲ παρθένων ἐπ' ὀσμὴν μύρων αὐτοῦ δραμεῖται. χεῖρες παρθένοι ψηλαφήσουσι κύριον, καὶ ἁγνεία σαρκὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος ἔσται. παρθένος ψυχὴ στεφανωθήσεται, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ νυμφίου αὐτῆς βιώσεται διὰ παντός. ἔνδυμα πνευματικὸν δοθήσεται αὐτῇ, καὶ μετὰ ἀγγέλων ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἑορτάσει. ἄσβεστον ἀνάψει λαμπάδα, καὶ ἔλαιον οὐ λείψει ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις αὐτῆς. λήψεται πλοῦτον αἰώνιον, καὶ κληρονομήσει βασιλείαν τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ. 56 Οἱ ἐμοὶ λόγοι, τέκνον, εἴρηνται πρός σε, τὰ δὲ ἐμὰ ῥήματα τηρείτω σὴ καρδία. μέμνησο Χριστοῦ τοῦ φυλάσσοντός σε, καὶ μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ τῆς προσκυνητῆς τριάδος. 3
About this text
A spiritual guide for virgins offering practical advice on faith, humility, and avoiding worldly distractions.
Original English Translation of Evagrius Ponticus’s Sententiae ad virginem — new OET from PG 40 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 40 (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.