The Wicked's Welcome

Τῇ Γραφῇ ἐντυχόντες οὐκ ἂν ξενισθείημεν βλέποντές σε λίαν βδελυσσόμενον τοὺς δικαίους, καὶ μυκτηρίζοντά τε καὶ διαχλευάζοντα τὴν τούτων εὐσεβῆ κατήχησιν. Γέγραπται γὰρ, ὅτι, Τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ βδέλυγμα ἐστιν ἡ θεοσέβεια. Καὶ πάλιν φησὶν ὅτι Ἤκουσε θεῖον λόγον μωρὸς καὶ ἀκάρδιος, καὶ ἀπέῥῥιψεν αὐτὸν ὁπίσω τοῦ νώτου αὐτοῦ. Καὶ πάλιν εἴρηται ὅτι Πᾶν ζῶον τὸ ὅμοιον ἀγαπᾷ. Πονηρὸς γὰρ ἄνθρωπος, ἄλλον πονηρὸν στέργει καὶ ἀσπάζεται. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Δεύτερον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΡΠΔ´ Τευκρῳ Κανδιδατῳ Source: Migne PG 79.296d

Since we encounter it in Scripture, we should not be surprised when we see the righteous roundly abused and derided, and the piety of such men resoundingly mocked. For it is written that 'Holiness is an abomination to the sinful man,' 1 And again it says, 'The fool hears the Divine word and his heart is unmoved and he casts it behind his back.' 2 And again, 'Every animal loves what is like itself.' 3 For the wicked man naturally loves and welcomes another wicked fellow. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 2, Letter 184 to Teucer the Candidate 1 Sirach 1.25 2 Sirach 21.15 3 Sirach 13.15