§1Ἡσυχίαν μὲν λόγοις ἐπιτήδευε, ἡσυχίαν δὲ ἔργοις, ὡσαύτως δὲ ἐν γλώττῃ καὶ βαδίσματι· σφοδρότητα δὲ ἀπόφευγε προπετῆ· οὕτως γὰρ ὁ νοῦς διαμενεῖ βέβαιος, καὶ οὐχ ὑπὸ τῆς σφοδρότητος ταραχώδης γενόμενος ἀσθενὴς ἔσται καὶ βραχὺς περὶ φρόνησιν καὶ σκοτεινὸν ὁρῶν οὐδὲ ἡττηθήσεται μὲν γαστριμαργίας, ἡττηθήσεται δὲ ἐπιζέοντος θυμοῦ, ἡττηθήσεται δὲ τῶν ἄλλων παθῶν, ἕτοιμον αὐτοῖς ἅρπαγμα προκείμενος.
Practice quietness in words, and quietness in deeds, likewise in tongue and gait; and avoid rash violence; for thus the mind will remain firm, and will not, by being disturbed by violence, become weak and deficient in wisdom and see in darkness, nor will it be conquered by gluttony, nor by boiling anger, nor by other passions, lying before them as an easy prey.
τὸν γὰρ νοῦν δεῖ τῶν παθῶν ἐπικρατεῖν ὑψηλὸν ἐπὶ ἡσύχου θρόνου καθήμενον ἀφορῶντα πρὸς θεόν.
For the mind must conquer the passions, sitting high upon a quiet throne and looking away toward God.
μηδὲν ὀξυχολίας ἀνάπλεος ἔσο περὶ ὀργάς, μηδὲ νωθρὸς ἐν λόγοις, μηδὲ ἐν βαδίσμασιν ὄκνου πεπληρωμένος, ἵνα σοι ῥυθμὸς ἀγαθὸς τὴν ἡσυχίαν κοσμῇ καὶ θειῶδές τι καὶ ἱερὸν τὸ σχῆμα φαίνηται.
Be in no way filled with short-temperedness regarding anger, nor sluggish in words, nor full of hesitation in your steps, so that a good order may adorn your quietness and your appearance may seem divine and sacred.
φυλάττου δὲ καὶ τῆς ὑπερηφανίας τὰ σύμβολα, σχῆμα ὑψαυχενοῦν καὶ κεφαλὴν ἐξηρμένην καὶ βῆμα ποδῶν ἁβρὸν καὶ μετέωρον.
Watch out also for the signs of pride: a neck-lofty posture, a lifted head, and a luxurious and haughty step of the feet.
§2Ἤπιά σοι πρὸς τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας ἔστω τὰ ῥήματα, καὶ προσηγορίαι γλυκεῖαι· αἰδὼς δὲ πρὸς γυναῖκας καὶ βλέμμα τετραμμένον εἰς γῆν.
Let your words to those you meet be mild, and your greetings sweet; and let there be respect toward women and your gaze turned to the ground.
λάλει δὲ περιεσκεμμένως ἅπαντα, καὶ τῇ φωνῇ τὸ χρήσιμον ἀποδίδου, τῇ χρείᾳ τῶν ἀκουόντων τὸ φθέγμα μετρῶν, ἄχρι ἂν καὶ ἐξάκουστον ᾖ, καὶ μήτε διαφεῦγον τὴν ἀκοὴν τῶν παρόντων ὑπὸ σμικρότητος, μήτε ὑπερβάλλον μείζονι τῇ κραυγῇ.
Speak all things after consideration, and give what is useful in your voice, measuring your speech by the need of the listeners, so that it may be just audible, neither escaping the hearing of those present through smallness, nor exceeding it with a greater shout.
φυλάττου δὲ ὅπως μηδέν ποτε λαλήσῃς ὃ μὴ προεσκέψω καὶ προενόησας· μηδὲ προχείρως καὶ μεταξὺ τῶν τοῦ ἑτέρου λόγων ὑπόβαλλε τοὺς σαυτοῦ δεῖ γὰρ ἀνὰ μέρος ἀκούειν καὶ διαλέγεσθαι, χρόνῳ μερίζοντα λόγον καὶ σιωπήν· μάνθανε δὲ ἀσμένως, καὶ ἀφθόνως δίδασκε, μηδὲ ὑπὸ φθόνου ποτὲ σοφίαν ἀποκρύπτου πρὸς τοὺς ἑτέρους, μηδὲ μαθήσεως ἀφίστασο δι’ αἰδῶ.
Watch out that you never speak anything which you did not first consider and foresee; nor cast in your own words rashly and in the midst of another’s words; for it is necessary to listen and converse in turn, dividing speech and silence by time; learn gladly, and teach generously, and never hide wisdom from others out of envy, nor turn away from learning through shame.
ὕπεικε πρεσβυτέροις ἴσα πατράσιν· τίμα θεράποντας θεοῦ· κάταρχε σοφίας καὶ ἀρετῆς.
Submit to elders as to fathers; honor the servants of God; take the lead in wisdom and virtue.
μηδὲ ἐριστικὸς ἔσο πρὸς τοὺς φίλους, μηδὲ χλευαστὴς κατ’ αὐτῶν καὶ γελωτοποιός· ψεῦδος δὲ καὶ δόλον καὶ ὕβριν ἰσχυρῶς παραίτου· σὺν εὐφημίᾳ δὲ φέρε καὶ τὸν ὑπερήφανον καὶ ὑβριστὴν ὡς πρᾷός τε καὶ μεγαλόψυχος ἀνήρ.
Do not be contentious toward friends, nor a mocker and jester against them; strongly reject falsehood, deceit, and insolence; and with good words bear even the proud and insolent man as a gentle and magnanimous man.
§3Κείσθω δέ σοι πάντα εἰς θεὸν καὶ ἔργα καὶ λόγοι, καὶ πάντα ἀνάφερε Χριστῷ τὰ σαυτοῦ, καὶ πυκνῶς ἐπὶ θεὸν τρέπε τὴν ψυχήν, καὶ τὸ νόημα ἐπέρειδε τῇ Χριστοῦ δυνάμει ὥσπερ ἐν λιμένι τινὶ τῷ θείῳ φωτὶ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἀναπαυόμενον ἀπὸ πάσης λαλιᾶς τε καὶ πράξεως.
Let everything, both deeds and words, be established for you in God, and refer all your things to Christ, and frequently turn your soul to God, and lean your intellect on the power of Christ, resting, as if in some harbor, in the divine light of the Savior from all talk and action.
καὶ μεθ’ ἡμέραν πολλάκις μὲν ἀνθρώποις κοίνου τὴν σεαυτοῦ φρόνησιν, θεῷ δὲ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἐν νυκτὶ ὁμοίως καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ· μὴ γὰρ ὕπνος σε ἐπικρατείτω πολὺς τῶν πρὸς θεὸν εὐχῶν τε καὶ ὕμνων· θανάτῳ γὰρ ὁ μακρὸς ὕπνος ἐφάμιλλος.
And during the day, often share your wisdom with men, but to God, give the most time both in the night and in the day; for let not much sleep conquer you from prayers and hymns to God; for long sleep is rival to death.
μέτοχος Χριστοῦ ἀεὶ καθίστασο τοῦ τὴν θείαν αὐγὴν καταλάμποντος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ· εὐφροσύνη γὰρ ἔστω σοι διηνεκὴς καὶ ἄπαυστος ὁ Χριστός.
Constantly make yourself a partaker of Christ, who shines with divine radiance from heaven; for let Christ be your continuous and unceasing joy.
§4Μηδὲ λῦε τὸν τῆς ψυχῆς τόνον ἐν εὐωχίᾳ καὶ ποτῶν ἀνέσει, ἱκανὸν δὲ ἡγοῦ τῷ σώματι τὸ χρειῶδες.
Do not loosen the tension of your soul in feasting and relaxation of drinking, but consider what is necessary sufficient for the body.
καὶ μὴ πρόσθεν ἐπείγου πρὸς τροφὰς πρὶν ἢ καὶ δείπνου παρῇ καιρός· ἄρτος δὲ ἔστω σοι τὸ δεῖπνον, καὶ πόαι γῆς προσέστωσαν καὶ τὰ ἐκ δένδρων ὡραῖα· ἴθι δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν τροφὴν εὐσταθῶς καὶ μὴ λυσσώδη γαστριμαργίαν ἐπιφαίνων· μηδὲ σαρκοβόρος μηδὲ φίλοινος ἔσο, ὁπότε μὴ νόσος τις ἴασιν ἐπὶ ταύτην ἄγοι.
And do not hasten to food before the time of dinner is present; and let your dinner be bread, and let the herbs of the earth be added, and the seasonal fruits from trees; and go to your food quietly and not showing a raging gluttony; neither be a meat-eater nor wine-loving, unless some sickness should lead to this as a cure.
ἀλλ’ ἀντὶ τῶν ἐν τούτοις ἡδονῶν τὰς ἐν λόγοις θείοις καὶ ὕμνοις εὐφροσύνας αἱροῦ τῇ παρὰ θεοῦ σοι χορηγουμένας σοφίᾳ, οὐράνιός τε ἀεί σε φροντὶς ἀναγέτω πρὸς οὐρανόν.
But instead of the pleasures in these things, choose the joys in divine words and hymns, supplied to you by the wisdom of God, and let heavenly care always lead you up to heaven.
§5Καὶ τὰς πολλὰς περὶ σώματος ἀνίει μερίμνας τεθαρσηκὼς ἐλπίσι ταῖς πρὸς θεόν, ὅτι σοί γε τὰ ἀναγκαῖα παρέξει διαρκῆ τροφήν τε τὴν εἰς ζωὴν καὶ κάλυμμα σώματος καὶ χειμερινοῦ ψύχους ἀλεξητήρια.
And release your many cares about the body, having trusted with hopes toward God, that He will provide you with necessary things: sufficient food for life, clothing for the body, and defense against the winter cold.
τοῦ γὰρ δὴ σοῦ βασιλέως γῆ τε ἅπασα καὶ ὅσα ἐκφύεται· ὡς μέλη δὲ αὑτοῦ τῶν αὑτοῦ θεραπόντων ὑπερβαλλόντως περιέπει καθάπερ ἱερὰ καὶ ναοὺς αὑτοῦ.
For indeed, all the earth and whatever grows from it belong to your King; and He cherishes His servants exceedingly as His own limbs, just like His own sacred places and temples.
διὰ δὴ τοῦτο μηδὲ νόσους ὑπερβαλλούσας δέδιθι μηδὲ γήρως ἔφοδον χρόνῳ προσδοκωμένου· παύσεται γὰρ καὶ νόσος, ὅταν ὁλοψύχῳ προθέσει ποιῶμεν τὰς αὐτοῦ ἐντολάς.
Because of this, fear neither excessive diseases nor the approach of old age expected in time; for disease too will cease when we perform His commandments with a wholehearted purpose.
§6Ταῦτα εἰδὼς καὶ πρὸς νόσους ἰσχυρὰν κατασκεύαζε τὴν ψυχήν, εὐθάρσησον ὥσπερ τις ἀνὴρ ἐν σταδίοις ἄριστος ἀτρέπτῳ τῇ δυνάμει τοὺς πόνους ὑφίστασθαι.
Knowing these things, prepare your soul to be strong against diseases, and take courage like some excellent man in the stadiums to undergo labors with unswerving strength.
μηδὲ ὑπὸ λύπης πάνυ πιέζου τὴν ψυχήν, εἴτε νόσος ἐπικειμένη βαρύνει εἴτε ἄλλο τι συμπίπτει δυσχερές, ἀλλὰ γενναίως ἀνθίστα τοῖς πόνοις τὸ νόημα, χάριτας ἀνάγων θεῷ καὶ ἐν μέσοις τοῖς ἐπιπόνοις πράγμασι ἅτε δὴ σοφώτερά τε ἀνθρώπων φρονοῦντι καὶ ἅπερ οὐ δυνατὸν οὐδὲ ῥᾴδιον ἀνθρώποις εὑρεῖν.
Nor be crushed deeply in your soul by grief, whether an impending disease weighs you down or some other difficult thing happens, but with your mind resist the labors nobly, rendering thanks to God even in the midst of troublesome matters, as thinking things wiser than those of men, and which it is not possible nor easy for men to find.
ἐλέει δὲ κακουμένους, καὶ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ βοήθειαν ἐπ’ ἀνθρώποις αἰτοῦ· ἐπινεύσει γὰρ αἰτοῦντι τῷ φίλῳ τὴν χάριν, καὶ τοῖς κακουμένοις ἐπικουρίαν παρέξει, τὴν αὑτοῦ δύναμιν γνώριμον ἀνθρώποις καθιστάναι βουλόμενος, ὡς ἂν εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ θεὸν ἀνίωσιν καὶ τῆς αἰωνίου μακαριότητος ἀπολαύσωσιν, ἐπειδὰν ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ υἱὸς παραγένηται ἀγαθὰ τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀποκαθιστῶν.
And pity those who suffer, and ask help from God for men; for He will nod assent to His friend who asks, and will provide aid to those who suffer, wishing to make His power known to men, so that having come to knowledge they may ascend to God and enjoy eternal blessedness, when the Son of God arrives, restoring good things to His own.