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Psalm 78A: Hebrew English     Then BACK

שׁוּבוּ אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם — כִּי־חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם הוּא

Even Years: Exodus 2:1-22 וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֵוִי וַיִּקַּח אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִי׃ וַתַּהַר הָאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתֵּרֶא אֹתוֹ כִּי־טוֹב הוּא וַתִּצְפְּנֵהוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה יְרָחִים׃ וְלֹא־יָכְלָה עוֹד הַצְּפִינוֹ וַתִּקַּח־לוֹ תֵּבַת גֹּמֶא וַתַּחְמְרָה בַחֵמָר וּבַזָּפֶת וַתָּשֶׂם בָּהּ אֶת־הַיֶּלֶד וַתָּשֶׂם בַּסּוּף עַל־שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר׃ וַתֵּתַצַּב אֲחֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק לְדֵעָה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂה לוֹ׃ וַתֵּרֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה לִרְחֹץ עַל־הַיְאֹר וְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ הֹלְכֹת עַל־יַד הַיְאֹר וַתֵּרֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה בְּתוֹךְ הַסּוּף וַתִּשְׁלַח אֶת־אֲמָתָהּ וַתִּקָּחֶהָ׃ וַתִּפְתַּח וַתִּרְאֵהוּ אֶת־הַיֶּלֶד וְהִנֵּה־נַעַר בֹּכֶה וַתַּחְמֹל עָלָיו וַתֹּאמֶר מִיַּלְדֵי הָעִבְרִים זֶה׃ וַתֹּאמֶר אֲחֹתוֹ אֶל־בַּת־פַּרְעֹה הַאֵלֵךְ וְקָרָאתִי לָךְ אִשָּׁה מֵינֶקֶת מִן הָעִבְרִיֹּת וְתֵינִק לָךְ אֶת־הַיָּלֶד׃ וַתֹּאמֶר־לָהּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹה לֵכִי וַתֵּלֶךְ הָעַלְמָה וַתִּקְרָא אֶת־אֵם הַיָּלֶד׃ וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹה הֵילִיכִי אֶת־הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְהֵינִקִהוּ לִי וַאֲנִי אֶתֵּן אֶת־שְׂכָרֵךְ וַתִּקַּח הָאִשָּׁה הַיֶּלֶד וַתְּנִיקֵהוּ׃ וַיִגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַתְּבִאֵהוּ לְבַת־פַּרְעֹה וַיְהִי־לָהּ לְבֵן וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מֹשֶׁה וַתֹּאמֶר כִּי מִן־הַמַּיִם מְשִׁיתִהוּ׃ וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַיִּגְדַּל מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּצֵא אֶל־אֶחָיו וַיַּרְא בְּסִבְלֹתָם וַיַּרְא אִישׁ מִצְרִי מַכֶּה אִישׁ־עִבְרִי מֵאֶחָיו׃ וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ בַּחוֹל׃ וַיֵּצֵא בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי וְהִנֵּה שְׁנֵי־אֲנָשִׁים עִבְרִים נִצִּים וַיֹּאמֶר לָרָשָׁע לָמָּה תַכֶּה רֵעֶךָ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר מִי שָׂמְךָ לְאִישׁ שַׂר וְשֹׁפֵט עָלֵינוּ הַלְהָרְגֵנִי אַתָּה אֹמֵר כַּאֲשֶׁר הָרַגְתָּ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּירָא מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמַר אָכֵן נוֹדַע הַדָּבָר׃ וַיִּשְׁמַע פַּרְעֹה אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲרֹג אֶת־מֹשֶׁה וַיִּבְרַח מֹשֶׁה מִפְּנֵי פַרְעֹה וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֶרֶץ־מִדְיָן וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל־הַבְּאֵר׃ וּלְכֹהֵן מִדְיָן שֶׁבַע בָּנוֹת וַתָּבֹאנָה וַתִּדְלֶנָה וַתְּמַלֶּאנָה אֶת־הָרְהָטִים לְהַשְׁקוֹת צֹאן אֲבִיהֶן׃ וַיָּבֹאוּ הָרֹעִים וַיְגָרְשׁוּם וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיּוֹשִׁעָן וַיַּשְׁקְ אֶת־צֹאנָם׃ וַתָּבֹאנָה אֶל־רְעוּאֵל אֲבִיהֶן וַיֹּאמֶר מַדּוּעַ מִהַרְתֶּן בֹּא הַיּוֹם׃ וַתֹּאמַרְןָ אִישׁ מִצְרִי הִצִּילָנוּ מִיַּד הָרֹעִים וְגַם־דָּלֹה דָלָה לָנוּ וַיַּשְׁקְ אֶת־הַצֹּאן׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בְּנֹתָיו וְאַיּוֹ לָמָּה זֶּה עֲזַבְתֶּן אֶת־הָאִישׁ קִרְאֶן לוֹ וְיֹאכַל לָחֶם׃ וַיּוֹאֶל מֹשֶׁה לָשֶׁבֶת אֶת־הָאִישׁ וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־צִפֹּרָה בִתּוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה׃ וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ גֵּרְשֹׁם כִּי אָמַר גֵּר הָיִיתִי בְּאֶרֶץ נָכְרִיָּה׃

1 There was a man descended from Levi who had taken a woman of Levi as his wife. 2 She conceived and gave birth to a son and, seeing what a fine child he was, she kept him hidden for three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him; coating it with bitumen and pitch, she put the child inside and laid it among the reeds at the River's edge. 4 His sister took up position some distance away to see what would happen to him. 5 Now Pharaoh's daughter went down to bathe in the river, while her maids walked along the riverside. Among the reeds she noticed the basket, and she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 She opened it and saw the child: the baby was crying. Feeling sorry for it, she said, 'This is one of the little Hebrews.' 7 The child's sister then said to Pharaoh's daughter, 'Shall I go and find you a nurse among the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?' 8 'Yes,' said Pharaoh's daughter, and the girl went and called the child's own mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, 'Take this child away and nurse it for me. I shall pay you myself for doing so.' So the woman took the child away and nursed it. 10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter who treated him like a son; she named him Moses 'because', she said, 'I drew him out of the water.' 11 It happened one day, when Moses was grown up, that he went to see his kinsmen. While he was watching their forced labour he also saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one in sight, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 On the following day he came back, and there were two Hebrews, fighting. He said to the man who was in the wrong, 'What do you mean by hitting your kinsman?' 14 'And who appointed you', the man retorted, 'to be prince over us and judge? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?' Moses was frightened. 'Clearly that business has come to light,' he thought. 15 When Pharaoh heard of the matter, he tried to put Moses to death, but Moses fled from Pharaoh. He went into Midianite territory and sat down beside a well. 16 Now there was a priest of Midian with seven daughters. They used to come to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 Some shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses sprang to their help and watered their flock. 18 When they returned to their father Reuel, he said to them, 'Why are you back so early today?' 19 'An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds,' they said, 'and he even drew water for us and watered the flock.' 20 'And where is he?' he asked his daughters. 'Why did you leave the man there? Ask him to eat with us.' 21 Moses agreed to stay on there with the man, who gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. 22 She gave birth to a son, whom he named Gershom 'because', he said, 'I am an alien in a foreign land.'

Odd Years: Deuteronomy 4:1-8,32-40 1 וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמַע אֶל־הַחֻקִּים וְאֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּ וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם נֹתֵן לָכֶם׃ 2 לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת־מִצְוֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם׃ 3 עֵינֵיכֶם הָרֹאֹת אֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה יְהוָה בְּבַעַל פְּעוֹר כִּי כָל־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי בַעַל־פְּעוֹר הִשְׁמִידוֹ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִקִּרְבֶּךָ׃ 4 וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם׃ 5 רְאֵה לִמַּדְתִּי אֶתְכֶם חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם בָּאִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃ 6 וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן אֵת כָּל־הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה וְאָמְרוּ רַק עַם־חָכָם וְנָבוֹן הַגּוֹי הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה׃ 7 כִּי מִי־גוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרֹבִים אֵלָיו כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל־קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו׃ 8 וּמִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים צַדִּיקִם כְּכֹל הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם׃... 32 כִּי שְׁאַל־נָא לְיָמִים רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר־הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ לְמִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם עַל־הָאָרֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעַד־קְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם הֲנִהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה אוֹ הֲנִשְׁמַע כָּמֹהוּ׃ 33 הֲשָׁמַע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ־הָאֵשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַיֶּחִי׃ 34 אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים לָבוֹא לָקַחַת לוֹ גוֹי מִקֶּרֶב גּוֹי בְּמַסֹּת בְּאֹתֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִים וּבְמִלְחָמָה וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְמוֹרָאִים גְּדֹלִים כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה לָכֶם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֶיךָ׃ 35 אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד מִלְבַדּוֹ׃ 36 מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת־קֹלוֹ לְיַסְּרֶךָּ וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ אֶת־אִשּׁוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה וּדְבָרָיו שָׁמַעְתָּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ׃ 37 וְתַחַת כִּי אָהַב אֶת־אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעוֹ אַחֲרָיו וַיּוֹצִאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדֹל מִמִּצְרָיִם׃ 38 לְהוֹרִישׁ גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִמְּךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ לַהֲבִיאֲךָ לָתֶת־לְךָ אֶת־אַרְצָם נַחֲלָה כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃ 39 וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל־לְבָבֶךָ כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת אֵין עוֹד׃ 40 וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת־חֻקָּיו וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ וּלְמַעַן תַּאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִים׃

1 'And now, Israel, listen to the laws and customs which I am teaching you today, so that, by observing them, you may survive to enter and take possession of the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of Yahweh your God just as I lay them down for you. 3 You can see for yourselves what Yahweh has done about the Baal of Peor; Yahweh your God has destroyed all those of you who followed the Baal of Peor; 4 but those of you who stayed faithful to Yahweh your God are all alive today. 5 Look: as Yahweh my God commanded me, I have taught you laws and customs, for you to observe in the country of which you are going to take possession. 6 Keep them, put them into practice, and other peoples will admire your wisdom and prudence. Once they know what all these laws are, they will exclaim, "No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation!" 7 And indeed, what great nation has its gods as near as Yahweh our God is to us whenever we call to him? 8 And what great nation has laws and customs as upright as the entirety of this Law which I am laying down for you today? 32 'Put this question, then, to the ages that are past, that have gone before you, from when God created the human race on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything like it ever heard? 33 Did ever a people hear the voice of the living God speaking from the heart of the fire, as you have heard it, and remain alive? 34 Has it ever been known before that any god took action himself to bring one nation out of another one, by ordeals, signs, wonders, war with mighty hand and outstretched arm, by fearsome terrors -- all of which things Yahweh your God has done for you before your eyes in Egypt? 35 'This he showed you, so that you might know that Yahweh is the true God and that there is no other. 36 To instruct you, he made you hear his voice from heaven, and on earth he let you see his great fire, and from the heart of the fire you heard his words. 37 Because he loved your ancestors and, after them, chose their descendants, he has brought you out of Egypt, displaying his presence and mighty power, 38 dispossessing for you nations who were larger and stronger than you, to make way for you and to give you their country as your heritage, as it still is today. 39 'Hence, grasp this today and meditate on it carefully: Yahweh is the true God, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. 40 Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and live long in the country that Yahweh your God is giving you for ever.'

Even Years: (Pseudo-)St. John Chrysostom, Homily 6 on prayer (PG 64, 462-466) Κορυφαιότατον ἀγαθὸν εὐχὴ καὶ ὁμιλία Θεοῦ· κοινωνία γάρ ἐστι καὶ ἕνωσις πρὸς Θεόν· καὶ ὥσπερ οἱ τοῦ σώματος ὀφθαλμοὶ φῶς καθορῶντες φωτίζονται, οὕτως καὶ ψυχὴ πρὸς Θεὸν ἐκτεινομένη τῷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ αὐτοῦ φωτὶ καταλαμπομένη φωτίζεται. Εὐχὴ οὖν οὐκ ἐν σχήματι γινομένη, ἀλλ' ἐκ καρδίας ἐπιτελουμένη· οὐ καιροῖς καὶ διαστήμασιν ὡρῶν περικλειομένη, ἀλλὰ νύκτωρ καὶ μεθ' ἡμέραν ἄπαυστον τὴν ἐργασίαν ἔχουσα. Prayer is the height of our blessings and communion with God; for it is both companionship and unity with God. Just as the eyes of the body are enlightened when they look upon light, so a soul intent on God is illumined and enlightened by his inexpressible light. It is not indeed formal prayer that I refer to, but prayer offered from the heart, and so not confined to suitable times and fixed intervals, but continuing in action without cease day and night. Οὐ γὰρ χρὴ μόνον ἐπὶ τὴν εὐχὴν ἀπιόντα ὀξέως ἀπάγειν τὸν λογισμὸν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· ἀλλὰ δεῖ καὶ ἐπί τινας ἀσχολούμενον χρείας, ἢ περὶ κηδεμονίαν πτωχῶν, ἢ περὶ φροντίδας ἑτέρας, ἢ ἐπωφελεῖς εὐποιΐας, τὸν πόθον καὶ τὴν μνήμην τοῦ Θεοῦ καταμίσγειν, ἵνα καθάπερ ἅλατι τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀρτυομένη ἀγάπῃ, βρῶμα ἡδύτατον τῷ πάντων Δεσπότῃ γίνωνται. Δυνάμεθα δὲ τὴν ἐκ ταύτης ὄνησιν παρὰ πάντα τὸν βίον ἀναφαίρετον κτήσασθαι, ταύτῃ τὸ πλεῖστον ἀπονέμοντες τοῦ καιροῦ. For we do not only have to withdraw to pray, and suddenly turn our minds towards God. No, even while we are busy among the needy, either with the care of the poor or with other concerns, or useful good works—into their very midst we should also bring our desire for and remembrance of God, so that seasoned, as it were, with the love of God they may provide a most acceptable offering for the Lord of all men. If we devote most of our time to prayer, the delight we can gain from it will last us the whole of our lives. Εὐχὴ φωτισμὸς ψυχῆς, ἀληθὴς Θεοῦ ἐπίγνωσις, Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων μεσίτης Δι' αὐτῆς ἡ ψυχὴ μετέωρος ἀρθεῖσα εἰς οὐρανοὺς, περιπλέκεται τῷ Κυρίῳ περιπλοκαῖς ἀῤῥήτοις, ὥσπερ νήπιον πρὸς ἰδίαν μητέρα μετὰ δακρύων βοᾷ τοῦ θείου γλιχομένη γάλακτος· αἰτεῖ δὲ τὰ οἰκεῖα θελήματα, καὶ λαμβάνει δωρεὰς κρείττονας πάσης ὁρατῆς φύσεως. Prayer is illumination of the soul and true knowledge of God. It mediates between God and men;... The soul, raised by it high into heaven, embraces the Lord in an ineffable embrace, and cries out tearfully like a child to its mother, begging for the heavenly milk. It seeks its own desires, and receives gifts surpassing all that belongs to the world of nature. Πρέσβις γὰρ αἰδέσιμος ὑπάρχει εὐχὴ, χαροποιεῖ τὴν καρδίαν, ἀναπαύει τὴν ψυχὴνΕὐχὴν ὅταν εἴπω, μὴ νομίσῃς λόγους εἶναι. Πόθος ἐστὶ πρὸς Θεὸν, ἀγάπη ἀνεκλάλητος, οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἐπιτελουμένη, ἀλλ' ἐκ θείας ἐνεργουμένη χάριτος περὶ ἦς καὶ ὁ Ἀπόστολος λέγει· Τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώμεθα καθὸ δεῖ, οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἀλλ' αὐτὸ τὸ Πνεῦμα ὑπερεντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις. Prayer is a precious way of communicating with God, it gladdens the soul and gives repose to its affections. Now in speaking of prayer, you must not imagine that I mean words. I mean desire for God, unutterable love, which men cannot offer of themselves but by the inspiration of divine grace. Of this the Apostle says: We do not know how we ought to pray, but in our wordless sighs the Spirit himself intercedes for us. Τὴν τοιαύτην εὐχὴν ἐάν τινι χαρίσηται ὁ Κύριος, πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἀναφαίρετος, καὶ σίτισις οὐρανία κορεννύουσα τὴν ψυχήν· ἧς ὁ γευσάμενος τὸν πρὸς Κύριον πόθον ἀΐδιον κέκτηται, ὥσπερ πῦρ τι λάβρον τὴν αὐτοῦ καρδίαν ἐκκαῖον. If the Lord grants to anyone prayer of this kind; it is wealth that will never be taken away, and heavenly food that satisfies the soul; he who tastes it is possessed with an eternal longing for the Lord, which sets his heart ablaze as with a mighty fire. Ταύτην δὲ πρωτοτύπως ἐπιτελῶν, ἐπιεικείᾳ καὶ καρδίᾳ ταπεινῇ, ζωγράφει τὸν οἶκόν σου, καταφαίδρυνε τῷ τῆς δικαιοσύνης φωτὶ, ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, ὥσπερ τινὶ δοκίμῃ πλακὶ, τὸν σεαυτοῦ διακόσμησον οἶκον, καὶ ἀντὶ τειχέων καὶ ψηφίδος πίστει καὶ μακροθυμίᾳ καλλώπισον· ἐπὶ πᾶσι τὴν εὐχὴν ὥσπερ ὄροφον εἰς ἀπαρτισμὸν ἐπιτιθεὶς τοῦ οἴκου, ἵνα τέλειον τὸν σαυτοῦ οἶκον παρασκευάσῃ τῷ Δεσπότῃ, καὶ ὥσπερ ἐν οἴκῳ βασιλικῷ καὶ περιφανεῖ τὸν Κύριον ὑποδέξῃ, καθάπερ ἄγαλμα λοιπὸν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τῆς ψυχῆς ναῷ καθιδρυμένον ἔχων διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ὅτι αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. To set about this prayer, paint the house of your soul with modesty and lowliness and make it splendid with the light of justice. Adorn it with the beaten gold of good works and, for walls and stones, embellish it assiduously with faith and generosity. Above all, place prayer on top of this house as its roof so that the complete building may be ready for the Lord. Thus he will be received in a splendid royal house and by grace his image will already be settled in your soul. Glory and power to him for ever and ever. Amen.

Odd Years: John Chrysostom, Homily on the the Devil the Temptor 2:6 (PG 49, 263-264) Βούλεσθε εἴπω καὶ μετανοίας ὁδούς; Πολλαί τινές εἰσι καὶ ποικίλαι καὶ διάφοροι, καὶ πᾶσαι πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν φέρουσιν. There are many different ways of showing repentance, all of which lead to heaven. Let us consider them. Ἔστι πρώτη μετανοίας ὁδὸς ἁμαρτημάτων κατάγνωσις· Λέγε γὰρ σὺ πρῶτος τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου, ἵνα δικαιωθῇς· διὸ καὶ ὁ προφήτης ἔφη· Εἶπα· Ἐξαγορεύσω κατ' ἐμοῦ τὴν ἀνομίαν μου τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ σὺ ἀφῆκας τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῆς καρδίας μου. Κατάγνωθι τοίνυν καὶ σὺ τῶν ἡμαρτημένων· ἀρκεῖ τοῦτο τῷ Δεσπότῃ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν· ὁ γὰρ καταγνοὺς τῶν ἡμαρτημένων, ὀκνηρότερός ἐστι πρὸς τὸ τοῖς αὐτοῖς πάλιν περιπεσεῖν. Κίνησον τὸν κατήγορον ἔνδον τὸ σὸν συνειδὸς, ἵνα μὴ ἐκεῖ κατήγορον ἔχῃς ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος τοῦ Κυρίου. The first is condemnation of our own sins. Begin by confessing your sins, Scripture says, if you wish to be justified. This is what prompted the prophet's words: I said, I will confess my sins to the Lord, and you, Lord, have forgiven the wickedness of my heart. If we condemn our own sins, therefore, we already have a sufficient claim to forgiveness. By doing so we shall less easily fall into them again. We must make our own conscience our accuser if we wish to avoid being accused before the Lord's tribunal. Μία μὲν οὖν μετανοίας ὁδὸς, ἀρίστη αὕτη· ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἑτέρα ταύτης οὐκ ἐλάττων, τὸ μὴ μνησικακεῖν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, τὸ κρατεῖν ὀργῆς, τὸ ἀφιέναι τὰ συνδουλικὰ ἁμαρτήματα· οὕτω γὰρ ἡμῖν ἀφεθήσεται καὶ τὰ εἰς τὸν Δεσπότην γεγενημένα· ἰδοὺ καὶ δεύτερον ἁμαρτημάτων καθάρσιον· Ἐὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε, φησὶ, τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ὑμῶν, καὶ ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ἀφήσει ὑμῖν. This first way of showing repentance is an excellent one, but there is a second, in no way inferior to it, and that is to dismiss from our minds any injuries our enemies may have done us, to overcome anger, to forgive the sins of our neighbours. Thus we shall be forgiven our own offences against the Lord. This, then, is the second way of making amends for our sins. If you forgive others their sins, our Lord said, your heavenly Father will also forgive yours. Βούλει καὶ τρίτην μαθεῖν μετανοίας ὁδόν; Εὐχὴ ζέουσα καὶ ἀκριβὴς, καὶ ἀπὸ βαθυτάτης καρδίας τοῦτο ποιεῖν A third way of showing repentance is open to you if you are willing to take it: it is to pray fervently and attentively from your inmost heart. Εἰ δὲ καὶ τετάρτην θέλεις μαθεῖν, τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην ἐρῶ· πολλὴν γὰρ δύναμιν αὕτη ἔχει, καὶ ἄφατον And if you are interested in a fourth, I suggest you will find an extremely powerful one in the practice of giving generously to those in need. Καὶ τὸ μετριάζειν δὲ καὶ ταπεινοφρονεῖν τῶν εἰρημένων ἁπάντων οὐχ ἧττον δαπανᾷ ἁμαρτημάτων φύσιν· καὶ μάρτυς ὁ τελώνης, κατορθώματα μὲν οὐκ ἔχων εἰπεῖν, ἀντὶ δὲ πάντων τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην προσφέρων, καὶ τὸ βαρὺ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἀποτιθέμενος φορτίον. It is also true, however, that if we live a life of simplicity and humility it will wear down our inclination to sin just as effectively as any of the four ways I have already mentioned. Remember that tax collector who had nothing to offer but his humility; it was enough to free him of his heavy burden of guilt. Ἰδοὺ πέντε μετανοίας ὁδοὺς ἐδείξαμεν, πρώτην τὴν κατάγνωσιν τῶν ἡμαρτημένων, δευτέραν τὸ ἀφεῖναι τοῖς πλησίον τὰ ἁμαρτήματα, τρίτην τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς εὐχῆς γιγνομένην, τετάρτην τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης, πέμπτην τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης. We have now described five ways of showing repentance. The first lies in condemnation of sins, the second in forgiving the offences of others, the third in prayer, the fourth in giving to the poor, the fifth in humility. Μὴ τοίνυν ἄργει, ἀλλὰ πάσας ταύτας καθ' ἑκάστην ὅδευε τὴν ἡμέραν· καὶ γὰρ εὔκολοι αἱ ὁδοὶ, καὶ οὐκ ἔχεις προβαλέσθαι πενίαν· ἀλλὰ κἂν ἁπάντων πτωχότερον βιοῖς, καὶ ὀργὴν ἀφεῖναι καὶ ταπεινοφρονῆσαι δυνήσῃ, καὶ εὔξασθαι ἐκτενῶς, καὶ καταγνῶναι τῶν ἡμαρτημένων, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ κώλυμα ἡ πενία γίνεται. Καὶ τί λέγω ἐνταῦθα, ὅπου οὐδὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὁδῷ τῆς μετανοίας, ἐν ᾗ χρήματα καταβαλεῖν ἔστι τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην λέγω, οὐδὲ ἐκεῖ κωλύει τι πρὸς ἐντολὴν ἡμᾶς ἡ πενία; Καὶ ἐδήλωσεν ἡ τὰ δύο λεπτὰ καταβαλοῦσα χήρα. There is therefore no room for idleness; we must follow these ways day after day. They are easy enough; poverty is no excuse. Even if we live a life of the utmost destitution, we shall still be able to restrain our anger, to be humble, to pray unceasingly, and to condemn our own sins, and in no way does our empty purse cause any difficulty. Even when we follow the way that involves giving to the poor, poverty is no obstacle to carrying out the command. Remember the widow who could give only two small coins. Μαθόντες οὖν τὴν θεραπείαν τῶν ἡμετέρων τραυμάτων, συνεχῆ ταῦτα ἐπιθῶμεν τὰ φάρμακα, ἵνα πρὸς ὑγίειαν ἐπανελθόντες τὴν ἀληθῆ, καὶ τῆς ἱερᾶς τραπέζης μετὰ παῤῥησίας ἀπολαύσωμεν, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς δόξης ἀπαντήσωμεν τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς δόξης Χριστῷ, καὶ τῶν αἰωνίων ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν, χάριτι καὶ οἰκτιρμοῖς καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ καὶ μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, ἅμα τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ἀγαθῷ καὶ ζωοποιῷ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. Now that we have learnt the remedies for our ills, let us continually put them to good use. Then, when we are fully restored to spiritual health, we shall be ready to take part in the heavenly banquet with complete confidence. In great happiness we shall come face to face with the king of glory and gain everlasting blessings through the grace and merciful love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer