Arrows And Words

Eπὶ τῷ Kυρίῳ πέποιθα πᾶς ἐρεῖτε τῇ ψυχῇ μου μεταναστεύου ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη ὡς στρουθίον, ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐνέτειναν τόξον ἡτοίμασαν βέλη εἰς φαρέτραν τοῦ κατατοξεῦσαι ἐν σκοτομήνῃ τοὺς εὐθεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ. Κατὰ θεωρίαν δὲ, πολλῶν σοφιστικῶς παρεσκευασμένων ὁρατῶν τε καὶ ἀοράτων ἐχθρῶν, ὡς ἤδη τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν ἔχειν τεταμένον, δι᾿ ἑτοιμασίαν τόξῳ ἐντεταμένῳ ἑοικός. Ἀλλὰ καὶ βέλη ἔτοιμα, λόγοι δὴ πιθανοί· ταῦτα πρὸς τὸ κατατοξεῦσαι σε. Ἔχεις διατριβὴν ἐν ὑψηλοῖς ὄρεσιν· ἐνταῦθα γενομένη οὐ τρωθήσῃ. Εἴρηται δὲ ὡς τὰ θειότερα τῶν Γραφῶν νοήματα τῇ τῶν ὀρῶν προσηγορίᾳ σημαίνεται. Πρὸς τούτοις καὶ οἱ σοφοὶ διδάσκαλοι ἀπόστολοι καὶ προφῆται , δυνατὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος εἰρημένον ἐκλαβεῖν τὸ, Μετανάστευε ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη ὡς στρουθίον, προτρεπομένου ἀναχωρεῖν, τὸν διαδράναι θέλοντα τὴν ἰοβόλον τρῶσιν τῶν τοξοτῶν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἀόρατοι δυνάμεις αἱ αὐταὶ οὖσαι, ἢ συγγενεῖς τοῖς τοξόταις, λέγοιεν τὸ, Μετανάστευε ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη ὡς στρουθίον, χλευαστικῶς αὐτὸ εἰρημένον ἐκληψόμεθα, ὑποδηλῶσαι θελόντων τοὺς ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ἐπὶ Θεὸν πεποιθότας. Εἴτ᾿ ἐπεὶ σκότους υἱοὶ καὶ νυκτός εἰσιν οἱ πρὸς τὸ οὕτως σοφιστεύειν παρεσκευασμένοι , τοξόται ἐν ἀφεγγεῖ νυκτὶ κατατοξεύειν προτέθεινται τοὺς εὐθεῖαν καρδίαν ἔχοντας. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος I’ Source: Migne PG 39.1208b-d

In The Lord I trust, how do you say to my soul, 'Fly off like a sparrow to the mountains,' For behold the sinners have bent their bows and prepared their arrows in their quivers, to shoot in darkness at the righteous in heart. 1 In a spiritual sense there are many clever foes who have prepared themselves, whether seen or unseen, and who are like those who have prepared to shoot with the bow. These arrows which have been prepared are persuasive words. These are the things which are near to striking you. You however, O soul, have your resting places in the mountains, and placed there you shall not be wounded. It has been said that the teachings of the Scriptures have been designated with the name of mountains, and these are even the wise apostolic teachers and prophets. We may think that this line, 'Fly off like a sparrow to the mountains,' was said by the Spirit with this meaning, that is it is an exhortation for the soul's withdrawal, which is wished so that the arrows of the hunters might be avoided. But if perhaps it is the unseen powers, those who are like those wielding bows, who say, 'Fly off like a sparrow into the mountains,' we must reckon that this is said in a mocking manner, and directed at those who trust in God with the whole heart. These are the sons of night and darkness, who make use of clever speech, and as archers in obscuring night they set themselves to shoot their shafts at those who are righteous in heart. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 10 1 Ps 10.2-3 2 Jn 8.51