A Firm Footing

Tοῦ θεμένου τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ζωὴν καὶ μὴ δόντος εἰς σάλον τοὺς πόδας μου Οὐ δίδονται εἰς σάλον οἱ πόδες τοῦ ἔσω ἀνθρώπου, ὅταν τις ίδρυνθῇ ἐπὶ τὸν ἀῤῥαγῆ καὶ ἰσχυρώτατον τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγον· ὡς χαριστηρίως εἰπεῖν· Ἔστησας ἐπὶ πέτραν τοὺς πόδας μου. Τίθεται δὲ εἰς ζωὴν ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ τέλος κομιζομένου τῆς πίστεως σωτηρίαν· ὡς εἰπεῖν πιστῇ προθέσει· Kal ἡ ψυχή μου αὐτῷ ζῇ. Ζῇ δὲ ψυχὴ ἀρετὴν ἔχουσα καὶ σοφίαν· ὡς, ψυχὴ ἡ ἁμαρτάνουσα ἀποθανεῖται. Ως εἰπεῖν τῷ Θεῷ· Ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ζῆσόν με. Οὐ σαλεύεται δὲ τοὺς πόδας ὁ τῷ ὀχυρωτάτῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγῳ ἐνιδρυθείς. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος ΞΕ’ Source: Migne PG 39.1439a-b

Who has set my soul to live and does not give my feet to stumbling. 1 The feet of a man are not given to stumbling when they have been fixed to the unbreakable and most firm word of God, so that the man gives thanks, saying, 'You placed my feet on a rock.' 2 And the soul is set to live which is directed to the end, the salvation of faith, and with faith he proclaims, 'And in Him my soul shall live.' 3 And the soul's life is the possession of virtue and wisdom, because the soul that sins dies. 4 Thus he says to God, 'With your righteousness revive me.' 5 So the feet are not shaken which are fixed fast on the most firm word of God. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 65 1 Ps 65.9 2 Ps 39.3 3 Ps 21.31 4 Ezek 18.20 5 Ps 118.40

Trials And Salvation

Kύριε τί ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ θλίβοντές, με πολλοὶ ἐπανίστανται ἐν ἐμέ, πολλοὶ λέγουσιν τῇ ψυχῇ μου οὐκ ἔστιν σωτηρία αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ θεῷ αὐτοῦ. ᾿Αφίησι δὲ Θεὸς πολλοὺς θλίβειν τὸν δίκαιον, διδοὺς ἀφορμὴν αὐτῷ βάρους δόξης, ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερβαλλουσῶν θλίψεων ὑφισταμένης· καὶ εἴ ποτε ὁ δίκαιος ἐπαπορῶν λέγοι τῷ Θεῷ· Κύριε, τί ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ θλίβοντές με; ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος, εἰπὼν, Ἰδοὺ πάρειμι, ἀποκρίνεται, ἵνα βάρος δόξης ἐργάσηταί σοι τὸ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως· καθ ' ὑπερβολήν. Διό· Πολλαὶ αἱ θλίψεις τῶν δικαίων. Εἰ δὲ ἐστι σωτηρία μὲν οὐκ ἐν τῷ Θεῷ, Δαυΐδ τοῖς τέως πρόσκειται τὸ· ἐν τῷ Θεῷ. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος Γ' Source: Migne PG 39.1161d-1164a

Lord, those who trouble me are multiplied, and many set themselves against me, and many say to my soul there is no salvation for him in God. 1 God allows many to afflict the righteous man in order to give an occasion for the acquisition of a great weight of glory, which is obtained from a mass of tribulations. And if sometimes the righteous man who is gravely oppressed says to God, 'Lord, why are those who trouble me multiplied?' He replies, 'Behold, I am here, 2 your great weight of glory will make this tribulation light,' which is hyperbolic. Hence it is said, 'Many are the tribulations of the righteous.' 3 And that there is no salvation but from God, therefore David adds 'in God' Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 3 1 Ps 3.2-3 2 Isaiah 52.6, 2 Cor 4.17 3 Ps 33.20

Words And Works

Ὅπως ἂν μὴ λαλήσῃ τὸ στόμα μου τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων διὰ τοὺς λόγους τῶν χειλέων σου ἐγὼ ἐφύλαξα ὁδοὺς σκληράς. Τὸ ἀπαγγέλλειν τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων πράξει καὶ διαθέσει, ἔτι μὴν καὶ λόγῳ, φαύλων. Τίνα δὲ τὰ ἔργα τούτων , ἢ ἐκεῖνα περὶ ὧν ὁ ᾿Απόστολος γράφει, Ὅπου γὰρ ἔρις καὶ ζῆλος ἐν ὑμῖν, οὐχὶ ἄνθρωποί ἐστε , καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε; Κωλυτικὸν τοῦ λαλεῖν τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων τυγχάνει καὶ τὸ μὴ εὐρέσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ ἀδικίαν, ὑπὸ Θεοῦ πυρωθέντι διὰ πειρασμῶν καὶ τῶν παραπλησίων. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος ΙϚ' Source: Migne PG 39.1237a

That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways. 1 To proclaim the works and deeds and lives of men, even with fair reason, is for wretched men. What are those works unless concerning which the Apostle writes, 'How is there strife and contention among you, but because you are men and you walk according to men?' 2 Let a man beware, then, of speaking of the works of men, lest wickedness is found in him, and he is proved by God through trials with neighbours. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 16 1 Ps 16.4 2 1 Cor 3.3

Different Visions

Ἑγένετο δὲ ἐπ' αὐτον ἔκστασις , καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεωγμένον... Οἱ γυναικῶν παραπαιουσῶν ἑλόμενοι εἶναι μαθηταὶ, οὗτοι δὲ εἰσιν οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Φρυγίας, φασὶ τοὺς προφήτας, κατεχομένους ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, μὴ παρακολουθεῖν ἑαυτοῖς παραφερομένοις κατὰ τὸν τῆς προφητείας καιρόν. Δοκοῦσι δὲ ἀπόδειξιν ἔχειν ταύτης τῆς κακοδοξίας, καὶ ἐκ τῆς προκειμένης γραφῆς, λεγούσης ἐξεστακέναι τὸν Πέτρον. Ἀλλ᾽ ἴστωσαν οἱ ἡλίθιοι, οἱ ἀληθῶς παραπαίοντες, ὡς πολλὰ σημαίνει ἡ λέξις αὕτη. Δηλοῖ γὰρ καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ θαυμασμῷ ἔκπληξιν, καὶ τὸ ἔξω τῶν αἰσθητῶν γενέσθαι , ποδηγούμενον ἐπὶ τὰ πνευματικά, καὶ τὸ παρακόπτειν, ὅπερ οὐ λεκτέον οὔτε ἐπὶ Πέτρου, οὔτε ἐπὶ προφητῶν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἄλλα ἐκ τῆς λέξεως σημαινόμενα. Ἀμέλει γοῦν ὁ ἐκστὰς Πέτρος παρηκολούθει, ὡς ἀπαγγέλλων, ἃ εἶδε καὶ ἤκουσε , καὶ τίνος σύμβολατὰ δειχθέντα ἦν. Ταῦτα καὶ περὶ τῶν προφητῶν πάντων ἐρεῖς παρακολουθούντων , οἷς ἔλεγον τὰ θεωρούμενα. Σοφοὶ γὰρ ἦσαν νοοῦντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου στόματος, ἃ προέφερον, τοῦ Κυρίου μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν φανερῶς ἐντειλαμένου μαθητεῦσαι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη. Ἢ πῶς οἱ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἀπόστολοι ἀκούσαντες τὰ κατὰ τὸν Κορνήλιον, διεκρίνοντο πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον; Πάνυ μὲν οὖν ἐδεῖτο τῆς περὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν θείας ἀποκαλύψεως ὁ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔξαρχος, Πέτρος, ὁ παν άγιος. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Ἐις Τάς Πράξεις Τῶν Ἀποστόλων, Ἐκλογή Source: Migne PG 39.1677a-c

And an ecstasy came on Peter, and he saw the heavens opened... 1 Those who delight to be disciples of maddened women, who are of the Phrygian sect, 2 say their prophetesses are carried off by the Holy Spirit when they are struck by the prophetic impulse and they do not understand what the say at the time, and in this passage in Scripture they think to find a demonstration of their error, for it says that Peter was struck by an ecstasy of the mind. But let it be known by these fools, who are truly despicable, that these words do not mean that, for what they do signify is an awe arising from wonder, and from being lifted up from sensible things to spiritual things. It is not fitting to say of Peter or the prophets that this is some sort of delirium, but rather this passage signifies something quite different. Certainly Peter, caught up in ecstasy, followed everything and took in all that he saw and heard, and knew what was taught there, which things were given to him to see. And you might say the same of all the things of the prophets, that is, because of which they were able to tell others what they saw. For they were wise, knowing what they said with their mouths, which the Lord after His resurrection was able to teach correctly, so that all the nations would be imbued with His teaching. Besides how would the other Apostles who were in Jerusalem, hearing what had happened with Cornelius, have been able to question Peter? This was the type of revelation concerning the Gentiles Peter had, the leader of the Apostles, a most holy man. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Acts of the Apostles, Fragment 1 Acts 10.10-11 2 Montanists

Feet And Paths

Kατάρτισαι τὰ διαβήματά μου ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις σου ἵνα μὴ σαλευθῶσιν τὰ διαβήματά μου Τρίβοι δὲ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ, αἱ τηρήσεις τῶν ἐντολῶν τυγχάνουσιν, μᾶλλον δὲ αἱ κατ᾿ ἀρετὴν ἐνέργειαι, λεῖαι καὶ ὁμαλαὶ ἀναδειχθεῖσαι, ἐκ τοῦ συνεχῶς πατεῖσθαι πρὸς τῶν σπευδόντων φθάσαι ἐπὶ τὸ τέλος αὐτῶν· τέλος δὲ αὐτῶν ἡ μακαριότης καὶ ἡ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν ἀπόδοσίς ἐστιν . Δράμωμεν τοίνυν κατ᾿ αὐτὰς, ἵνα σωτηρίας τύχωμεν· οὐ κλονουμένων τῶν διαβημάτων, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν οὐ σφαλλομένων, ὅτ᾽ ἂν ὁ Κύριος ἐν ταῖς τρίβοις αὐτοῦ καταρτίσῃ αὐτά· ὁ ταύτης τῆς αἰτήσεως τυχών, φησίν· ῎Ανευ ἀνομίας ἔδραμον καὶ κατηύθυνα· καὶ τὸ, Ὁδὸν ἐντολῶν σου ἔδραμον, ὅτ᾽ ἂν ἐπλάτυνας τὴνκαρδίαν μου. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος ΙϚ' Source: Migne PG 39.1237b

Perfect my feet in your paths, that my steps are not shaken. 1 The paths of the Lord and of his holy ones is holding to the commandments, or rather the doing of things virtuously, and then it is easily and openly shown that from this way of going they are hurried them to their end, which end is beatitude and the fulfillment of the promises. Therefore let us run on the paths, so that we may obtain salvation, and with feet that are not shaken, that is, they do not stumble, because the Lord is perfecting them in His paths. These things are also prayed for when he says, 'I ran without iniquity and I directed my steps,' and, 'I ran on the way of your commandments, when you expanded my heart.' 2 Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 16 1 Ps 16.5 2 Ps 58.5, Ps 118.32

Most High

Kαὶ γνώτωσαν ὅτι ὄνομά σοι Kύριος, σὺ μόνος ὕψιστος ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν. Εἰ καὶ ἄλλοι ὑψηλοὶ καὶ ὑψίστου ἐκ Θεοῦ γεγένηνται, ἀρετῇ μετεωριζόμενοι καὶ ὑψούμενοι. ᾿Αλλ' οὐδεὶς ἐξ ἐκείνων ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ κατ᾿ οὐσίαν ἐστὶν τοιοῦτος· μόνος γὰρ Θεὸς ὕψιστος, ποιῶν ἀλλ᾿ οὐ γινόμενος, ὡς μόνος σοφός ἐστιν καὶ μόνος ἀληθινὸς παρέχων σοφίαν καὶ ἀλήθειαν. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος ΠΒ' Source: Migne PG 39.1480b

And let them know that your name is the Lord, you who alone are most high over all the earth. 1 Even if others have been raised on high by God, and lifted up with virtue and exalted, yet there is not one among them who by his own nature is such a thing, for God alone is most high, the Creator and not the created, so that only He is wise, and only He is true, and only He gifts wisdom and truth. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 82 1 Ps 82.19

Wisdom And Wealth

Διὰ τοῦτο ἠγάπησα τὰς ἐντολάς σου ὑπὲρ χρυσίον καὶ τοπάζιον Τελειοτέρου ἐστὶν τὸ ποιεῖν μετὰ τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν· ἀτελεστέρου δὲ ποιεῖν μὲν, οὐ μετὰ τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν δέ. Τῶν δὲ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τιμιώτατον δoκεῖ εἶναι χρυσός. Παρακειμένου γοῦν πλούτου παντὸς καὶ ἐντολῆς σου, οὐχ οὕτως ἐνορῶ τῷ πλούτῳ, ὡς τῇ ἐντολῇ σου. Ταῦτα συνάδει τῷ· ᾿Αγαθόν μοι ὁ νόμος τοῦ στόματός σου ὑπὲρ χιλιάδας χρυσίου καὶ ἀργυρίου· καὶ τῷ· Λάβετε παιδείαν καὶ μὴ ἀργύριον· καὶ γνῶσιν ὑπὲρ χρυσίου δεδοκιμασμένου· κρεῖσσον γὰρ σοφία λίθων πολυτελῶν· πᾶν δὲ τίμιον οὐκ ἄξιόν ἐστιν. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμός ΡΙΗ' Source: Migne PG 39.1577a

Because of this I love your commandments above all gold and jewels. 1 It is of the more perfect to act and love, and of the less perfect to act and not love. Of the things in the world nothing seems more honoured than gold, but set all wealth before me and your commandments, I would not look to riches but to your commandments. This agrees with the previous line, 'Good to me is the law of your mouth, over thousands of gold and silver,' and also with, 'Receive instruction and not silver, and knowledge over proven gold, for wisdom is better than precious stones and nothing that is valuable can match it.' 2 Didymus the Blind, Commentary on the Psalms, from Psalm 118 1 Ps 118.127 2 Ps 118.72, Prov 8.10

Like A Tree

Kαὶ ἔσται ὡς τὸ ξύλον τὸ πεφυτευμένον παρὰ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὑδάτων ὃ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ δώσει ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ φύλλον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπορρυήσεται Ὁμοιωθεὶς τῃ σοφιᾳ, ὅμοιος γίνεται Θεῷ τῷ ποιότητα τοιάνδε χαριζομένῳ· δικαιοσύνῃ γὰρ ὁμοιοῦται αὐτῷ ὁ δίκαιος, καὶ ἁγιότητι ἅγιος, καὶ τῇ σοφίᾳ σοφὸς, σπάσας ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς τὸ εἶναι σοφὸς, κατὰ τὸ λεχθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Σωτῆρος· Ἀρκετὸν τῷ μαθητῇ , ἵνα γένηται ὡς ὁ διδάσκαλος αὐτοῦ. Ο δὲ ὁμοιούμενος τῷ τῆς ζωῆς ξύλῳ, γίνεται μὲν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ ἵνα σὺν αὐτῷ φυτευθῇ , ὡς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ φησιν Ἡσαΐας· Κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ἑσονται αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ λαοῦ μου. Οὐκοῦν συνδιαιωνίζει ὁ δίκαιος τῷ ξύλῳ , γινόμενος συμφυὴς κλάδος αὐτοῦ , καὶ κλῆμα γινόμενος ἐπὶ τῷ θεῖον καρπὸν ἀγαγεῖν· ἄμπελος γὰρ ἀληθινὴ, τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς τυγχάνον , φησὶ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητάς· Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινὴ, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα, ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ γεωργός · πᾶν κλῆμα ἐν ἐμοὶ μένον καθαίρει αὐτὸ ὁ Πατὴρ , ἵνα καρπὸν πλείονα φέρῃ. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος A’ Source: Migne PG 39.1157c-d

And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of flowing waters which gives forth its fruit in its season and its leaves shall not wither... 1 Being likened to wisdom is to be likened to God who bestows that wisdom. For the righteous man is likened to the righteousness that is from Him, and the holy man to the holiness that is from Him, and the wise man to the wisdom that is from Him, according to what the Saviour said, 'It is enough for a disciple to be like his master.' He who is likened to the tree of life is planted in paradise with it. As Isaiah the prophet says in the person of God, 'As many as the days of life, so shall be all the days of my people,' 2 Therefore the righteous man lives always planted together with the tree of life, whose branches and leaves yield the Divine fruit. For the true vine, which is the tree of life, said to His disciples, 'I am the true vine, you are the branches, my Father is the farmer, every branch that remains with me, the Father prunes, so that it may bring forth more fruit.' 3 Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 1 1 Ps 1.3 2 Isaiah 65.22 3 Jn 15.1-2

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

Blessings And Trials

Μακάριον εἶναι λέγει, τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑπομένοντα. Γενήσεται γὰρ, φησὶν ὁ οὕτως ἀθλητικῶς ἀγαγὼν τὸν ἀγῶνα δόκιμος ἀνὴρ, διὰ πάντων γεγυμνασμενος· οὕτω δὲ ἀναφανέντι ἐκ τν σκυθρωπῶν δοθήσεται στέφανος ζωῆς, εὐτρεπισθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῖς αὐτὸν ἀγαπῶσιν. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Την Ἰάκωβου Ἐπιστολὴ Source: Migne PG 39.1749b-1751a

He says that he is blessed who suffers trials. 1 For let it be, he says, that he is proved a man of trial by struggling bravely and exercising himself in everything, and he will then appear from sorrows and receive a crown of life, prepared by God for those who love Him. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Letter of James, fragment 1 Jam 1.12

Removing Mountains

Ὁ παλαιῶν ὄρη καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν ὁ καταστρέφων αὐτὰ ὀργῇ Οἶδα καὶ ἄλλα ὅρη, Μωϋσέα καὶ τοὺς προφήτας, Ἥρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου εἰς τὰ ὅρη. Χριστὸς παλαιοῖ τὴν πρώτην Διαθήκην, καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν Ἰουδαῐοι, πρὸς οὔς εἴρηται· Εἰ ἐπιστεύετε Μωϋσῇ ἐπιστεύετε ἄν ἐμοί. Ὁ αὐτὸς δὲ καὶ κατέστρεψε τὰ μέχρι γράμματος ὅρη τῆς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ τὸ ἁγίασμα· ὁ αὐτὸς δὲ καὶ τὸν ἥλιον ἀμαυροῐ τῇ ἐαυτοῦ λαμπρότητι, καὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας. Βαβαί! Οἴα λέγει ἄνθρωπος νοῶν καὶ ἐλκωμενος, ὂστρακον ἔχων, καὶ τὸν ἰχῶρα ξέων, ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ κοπρίας καθεζόμενος. Ὁ παλαιῶν ὄρη καὶ οὐκ οἴδασι. Τίνες οὔν εἰσιν οἱ λόγοι, ἴδωεμν· καὶ περὶ ποίων ὁρεων παλαιουμένων, καὶ ὑπὸ τίνων, Καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν. ᾜλθε Ἰησοῦς ὁ καταστρέφων τὴν κατὰ τὸ γράμμα ἐκδοχὴν, καὶ τοὺς ταύτῃ μετὰ τὴν χάριν ἐμμένοντας, περὶ ὦν φησιν ὁ Ἀπόστολος· Ἔφθασε δὲ ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἡ ὀργή· τὰ πεπαλαιωμένα κατεστράφη, πεπαλαίωται τὰ τοῦ γράμματος, ἀνακεκαίνωται τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος, ὥστε δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς ἐν καινότητι πνεύματος, καὶ οὐ παλαιότητι γράμματος. Παράδοξον ὁ Ἰησοῦς πεποίηκεν ελθὼν, τοὺς αὐτοὺς προφήτας καὶ πεπαλαίωκε, καὶ ἀνεκαίνισεν. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Ἐκλογαὶ Εἰς Τον Ιὠβ Source: Migne PG 39.1141d-1444a

He who in anger removes the mountains, and they do not know it. 1 Know that there are other mountains, Moses and the prophets, 'I lifted up my eyes to the mountains,' 1 Christ set aside the previous Testament and the Jews did not notice, to whom it was said, 'If you believed in Moses, you would believe in me.' 3 According to the letter He overturns the mount of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, He who obscures the sun and the stars with his own splendour. Behold, a man who is sick and covered in ulcers and scraping his skin with a potsherd while sitting on a dung heap says such things. 'He who removes the mountains and they do not know it.' Let us see, then, what these words might mean about the removal of the mountains, concerning which it is said, 'And they did not know.' Jesus came who was expected according to the letter, and He cast down those who after grace preserved in the letter, concerning whom the Apostle says, 'But anger came upon them.' 4 for old things are set aside, which to the letter pertains to being removed, with a renewal of the things of the spirit, so that we may serve in a renewed spirit, and not in the old letter. With His coming Christ admirably and against all expectation did this, and by His renewal He made the prophets old. Didymus the Blind, On Job, Fragment 1 Job 9.5 2 Ps 120.1 3 Jn 5.46 4 1 Thes 2.16

Giving Drink

Δίδοτε μέθην τοῖς ἐν λύπαις καὶ οἶνον πίνειν τοῖς ἐν ὀδύναις Νῦν λύπην εἶπε τὸν πόνον. Οἱ οὖν διὰ Θεὸν κοπιῶντες καὶ ὀδυνώμενοι, ἐπ᾽ ἂν μεθυσθῶσι τῆς πρὸς τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου πιότητος, τῶν ὀδυνῶν ἐπιλανθάνονται. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Παροιμιας, Κεφ' ΛA’ Source: Migne PG 39.1635a

Give strong drink to those who grieve and wine to those who groan. 1 Now he speaks of grief for toil. Those, then, who labour and groan for God, they shall be inebriated by the abundance of the house of God and they shall forget all their groaning. 2 Didymus the Blind, Commentary On Proverbs, Chapter 31 1 Prov 31.6 2 Ps 35.9, Apoc 21.4

The More Honourable

Kρείσσων ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ ἢ τιμὴν ἑαυτῷ περιτιθεὶς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἄρτου Ὁ πρακτικὸς καὶ ἰδιώτης, τοῦ ἐν λόγῳ καὶ κομψοῦ καὶ ἀπράκτου, τιμιώτερος. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Παροιμιας, Κεφ' IB’ Source: Migne PG 39.1635a

Better the man in base servitude than he who bears himself with honour and lacks bread. 1 He who is active, even if a simpleton, is more honourable than he who adorns himself with mere words. Didymus the Blind, Commentary On Proverbs, Chapter 12 1 Prov 12.9

Desire, Hope And Ruin

Tελευτήσαντος ἀνδρὸς δικαίου οὐκ ὄλλυται ἐλπίς τὸ δὲ καύχημα τῶν ἀσεβῶν ὄλλυται. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι οὐ τὸ ἐπιθυμεῖν πονηρὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸ τοιῶσδε ἐπιθυμεῖν, πονηρόν; Τῶν δὲ ἀσεδῶν kαὶ ἐλπίδες πονηραί’ πᾶν γὰρ ὃ ἐλπίσει, ἀπὠλεια. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Παροιμιας, Κεφ' IA’ Source: Migne PG 39.1633b

The death of the righteous man does not destroy hope, but the pride of the godless is ruined. 1 Do you see that it is not desire that is wicked, but the type of desire? And the hope of the godless is wicked, for everything they hope for is ruinous. Didymus the Blind, Commentary On Proverbs, Chapter 11 1 Prov 11.7 LXX

Heat and Blows

Διεσώθη ἀπὸ καύματος υἱὸς νοήμων ἀνεμόφθορος δὲ γίνεται ἐν ἀμήτῳ υἱὸς παράνομος. Ἀκούει ὁ φυσικὸς νοήμων, Ἡμέρας ὁ ἥλιος οὐ συγκαύσει σε, οὐδὲ ἡ σελήνη τὴν νύκτα. Τὰς βιωτικὰς φροντίδας καῦμα καλεῖ· τοὺς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ δὲ ξηραινομένους καλεῖ χόρτον· ὁ δὲ Σωτὴρ διὰ τῆς παραβολῆς τὰς θλίψεις δηλοῖ· τὰς κατὰ τοῦ λόγου δὲ καὶ τοὺς διωγμοὺς ἐκάλεσε καῦμα. Ὃς ἐκ χειλέων προφέρει σοφίαν ῥάβδῳ τύπτει ἄνδρα ἀκάρδιον Ὁ σοφὸς ἐπιτιμητικῷ λόγῳ εἰς αἴσθησιν ἄγει τὸν βαρυκάρδιον. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Παροιμιας, Κεφ' I’ Source: Migne PG 39.1633b

It is a son of ruinous thoughts who keeps himself from the heat, and in the harvest he is worthless. 1 Hear what the physician of the soul says, 'During the day the sun shall not scorch you, nor shall the moon at night.' 2 He calls worldly cares 'heat', and he who burns up in them 'grass'. And the Saviour in the parable speaks of tribulations, and He calls 'heat' those who are persecutors opposed to the sacred teaching. 3 He who sends forth wisdom from his lips strikes the thoughtless man with a rod. 4 With a word of rebuke the wise man drives a dull hearted man to sense. Didymus the Blind, Commentary On Proverbs, Chapter 10 1 Prov 10.5 LXX 2 Ps 120.6 3 Mt 13.5-6, 20-21 4 Prov 10.13 LXX

Death And Memory

...ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ ὁ μνημονεύων σου... Οἱ περὶ τοῦ κοινοῦ θανάτου ὑπονοοῦτες εἰρῆσθαι τὰ προκείμενα, σφάλλονται, μᾶλλον δὲ ἀσεβοῦσιν· οἱ γὰρ ἅγιοι ἄνδρες οὐ τότε μόνον μνήμην ἔχουσι Θεοῦ, ὅτε τὴν κοινὴν ζωὴν ἔχουσιν, ἀλλὰ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὅτε χωρίζονται τοῦ φθαρτοῦ σώατος. Τί οὖν φησίν; Ἐπεὶ οὐδεὶς μεμνημένους σου ἐν θανάτῳ γίνεται, ὄν ἡ ἁμαρτία ἀποτίκτει· οὗτος δέ ἐστιν ὁ χωρίζων ἐναρέτου ζωῆς τὴν ἁμαρτάνουσαν ψυχήν· ποθῶ δὲ μνήμην σου ἔχειν, εἰς τοῦτ' αὐτὸ ῥέψας τὴν ἀγαθότητά σου, σῶσόν με, ἵνα μὴ ἰσχυσάσης κατ' ἐμου τῆς προσούσης ἀσθενείας καὶ ταραχῆς, καταποθῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ θανάτου. Οὐ γὰρ εἴρηται, Οὐ μέμνηται Θεοῦ ὁ ἐν θανάτῳ, ἀλλ' Ὁ μνημονεύων αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν θανάτῳ, περὶ οὗ φησιν ὁ Σωτήρ· Ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων, θάνατον οὐ θεωρεῖ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος Ϛ’ Source: Migne PG 39.1177b-c

...for in death there is no memory of you... 1 They lie who say this speaks of the common death, or rather they think impiously. For holy men are not only mindful of God while they are in possession of this common life, but much more when they are separated from this corruptible body. What, then, does this say? That no one who is mindful of God falls into that death which sin fashions, for that is the death which separates the sinning soul from the virtuous life. I, however, am mindful of you, and immediately turning to your benevolence, you save me, lest I am overcome amid my weakness and confusion and devoured by death. Therefore he does not say here, 'There is no one who is mindful of you in death,' but 'he who is mindful of you does not fall into that death,' concerning which the Saviour said, 'He who hears my word shall not see eternal death.' 2 Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 6 1 Ps 6.6 2 Jn 8.51

Withering And Flowering

...ἐπαλαιώθην ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου ... Ὅρα εἰ δύναται τὸ, Ἐπαλαιώθν ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου, καὶ ἑτέραν νόησιν ἔχειν. Ὅτε σὺν δικαιοσύνῃ ἔζων, ἐνέαζον ἀεὶ ζῶν κατὰ τὴν καινότητα τοῦ πνεύματος καὶ τὴν καινὴν διαθήκην· ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐξ ἀποροσεξίας ἡμετέρας μετέστην τοῦ ἐπαινετῶς ζῇν παρὰ τοῖς ἑχθροῖς γενάμενος, πεπαλαίωμαι, κατὰ τὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου παλαιότητα, ὄν ἐνδυσώμεθα τὸν νέον ἄνθρωπον, τὸν κατὰ Θεὸν κτισθέντα ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ γνώσει τῆς ἀληθείας· οὗτος δὲ ἐστιν ὁ βίος ὁ ἀκηλίδωτος. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος Ϛ’ Source: Migne PG 39.11177c-d

...I withered amid all my enemies... 1 Note that 'I have withered amid all my enemies' can have another meaning. 'When I was living righteously, I was always being renewed in my life according to the newness of the spirit and new faith. But after, because of fault, cut off from the midst of that glorious life, I withered among enemies, as if with old age, like that old man whom Paul exhorts us to slough off, so that we may put on the new man, who is created according to God in holiness and the knowledge of the truth, 2 and this is the immaculate life. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 6 1 Ps 6.8 2 Ephes 4.24

Ruling The Waters

Σὺ δεσπόζεις τοῦ κράτους τῆς θαλάσσης τὸν δὲ σάλον τῶν κυμάτων αὐτῆς σὺ καταπραΰνεις... Τοῦ δεσπόζειν σὺν τῇ λοιπῇ κτίσει καὶ τῆς θαλάττης, πίστις τὸ λέγεσθαι ἐν Ἰωνᾷ· Ἐξήγεισε Κύριος κλύδωνα ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ· καὶ πάλιν· Θελήσει αὐτοῦ ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ἐκ τοῦ σάλου αὐτῆς. Ταύτῃ δὲ καὶ Ἰησοῦς ἐπετίμησεν, δεικνὺς ὡς ἔστιν Υἱος τοῦ, Δεσπότου τοῦ κράτους αὐτῆς. Εἰ δὲ τὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίον ἡ θάλασσα δηλοῖ, κράτος αὐτῆς ὁ Πονηρὸς, ἐν ᾧ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος κεῖται, τουτέστιν ἡ θνητὴ καὶ ἐπίκαιρος πολιτεία. Ὤν ἐκνευρίσας ὁ Κύριος, δέδωκε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίω, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ, καταπραῦων τὰς ἀστάτους ὁρμὰς, κύματα καλουμένας αὐτῆς. Ὡς ἂν καὶ βάσιμος τοῖς ἐπιβαίνουσι γένηται· ὦν ὁ Πέτρος εἰκών. Οὑδεὶς γὰρ χωρὶς Ἰησοῦ πατεῖν δύναται τοῦ βίου τὴν θάλατταν, τὰς τούτου νικῶν ἡδυπαθείας τε καὶ μερίμνας, ἀλλ' οὖν συμβαδίζοντος. Αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ Περιπατῶν ὡς ἐπ' ἐδάφους ἐπὶ θαλάσσης, πρὸς ὄν εἴρηται· Ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ ἡ ὁδός σου, καὶ αἱ τρίβοι σου ἐν ὕδασι πολλοῖς. Τρίψαντος ἐν τῷ βίῷ τά τε πάθη καὶ τὰς μερίμνας, ὦν ἐπιβαίνειν ἔνεστι τοῖς ἴχνεσιν ἐπακολουθοῦντας αὐτοῦ. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος ΠΕ’ Source: Migne PG 39.1488d-1489b

You have power over the might of the waters, and you calm the tumult of its waves... 1 That He rules over the sea just as He does the rest of creation, the faith of Jonah tells, saying, 'The Lord raised a storm in the sea,' and again, 'He willed that the sea become still from its raging.' 2 And Jesus commanded it, showing Himself to be the Son, He who has power over the sea. 3 Which if the sea stands for the life of men, yet His power is not something like the devil's, 4 to whom all the world is captive, that is, to the domination of mortality and transience, but opposing him the Lord gave power to His disciples to tread down serpents and scorpions, and over all his power, 5 restraining the assailing surging ones of his flood, who are called the waves of the sea. For which reason one can find a way through their assaults, of which an image is Peter, for it was not by his own strength apart from Jesus that he was able to tread on the sea of life, triumphing over the pleasurable passions and the troubles of the world, but it was possible because he was an associate of Jesus. 6 For He Himself walked on the sea as if on the earth, of whom it was said: 'In the sea is your way, and your path in the many waters.' 7 He trod down all the passions and cares in life, and so may you by following in His footsteps. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 88 1 Ps 88.10 2 Jonah 1.4, 1.15 3 Mt 8.24-27 4 1 Jn 5.19 5 Lk 10.19 6 Mt 14.24-31 7 Ps 76.20

Forewarning and Improvement

Ἐτοίμασεν ἐν κρίσει τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς κρινεῖ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐν διακαιοσύνῃ· κρινεῖ λαοὺς εν εὐθύτητι. Προτρέπει τὰ προκείμενα ἀναχωρῆσαι μὲν κακίας καὶ δυσσεβείας, προσελθεῖν δὲ ἀρετῇ καὶ εὐσεβείᾳ. Τίς γὰρ νοῦν ἔχων, πιστεύσας τοῖς οὕτως εἰρημένοις, οὐ φοβηθήσεται μὴ ὑποπέσῃ τῷ κρίνοντι ἐν δυκαιοσύνῃ καὶ εὐθύττι, διὰ πράξεις ψεκτὰς καὶ φρόνημα ἀσεβές; Οὕτω γὰρ κρίνοντος αὐτοῦ, ἀναπόδραστον τὸ κρῖμα ἔσται. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Ψαλμούς, Ψαλμος Θ’ Source: Migne PG 39.1192c

He has prepared His throne for judgement, and He shall judge the orb of the earth fairly, He shall judge the people rightly. 1 He gives warning of these things so that we might turn from wickedness and impiety and seek the virtues. For he who is reasonable, if he believes in these things, shall he not fear that he might fall into a just and righteous hand for judgement of his vile deeds and wicked thoughts? For when He judges, the judgement will be inescapable. Didymus the Blind, Commentary on The Psalms, from Psalm 9 1 Ps 9.8

The Saving Of The Righteous

Eἰ ὁ μὲν δίκαιος μόλις σῴζεται ὁ ἀσεβὴς καὶ ἁμαρτωλὸς ποῦ φανεῖται Ἀσεβὴς τοίνυν, φησὶν, ὁ τὸν Θεὸν μισῶν· ἁμαρτωλὸς δὲ, ὁ περὶ τὰς πράξεις πονηρός· δίκαιον δὲ ἐνταῦθα τὸν πρακτικὸν μετὰ λόγου καὶ ἐπιστήμης λέγει· πολλὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἀκρίβεια. Δίδυμος Αλεξανδρεύς, Εἰς Παροιμιας, Κεφ' Δ’ Source: Migne PG 39.1633d

If the righteous man can scarcely be saved, how does it appear for the godless man and the sinner? 1 The godless man he speaks of is he who scorns God, but the sinner is he who is wicked in his acts. And the righteous man here is the one whose conduct is in accordance with reason and knowledge, for the rigour of righteousness is great. Didymus the Blind, On Proverbs, Chapter 11 1 Prov 11.31 LXX, 1 Peter 4.18