§40## ΚΕΦ. Μ΄. Μὴ, ἀλλὰ ζῶσαι ὥσπερ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀσφύν σου. Τὰ μὲν τέλεια τῶν ἀγωνισμάτων τοῖς καλῶς ἀθλήσασι μετὰ τὸν βίον ἀπόκειται τοῦτον·
## Chapter 40 "No, but gird up your loins like a man." The perfect prizes of the contests are reserved for those who have competed well after this life; nevertheless, even now the grace of God gives a pledge to the competitors.
οὐδὲν δὲ ἧττον καὶ ἤδη ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀῤῥαβωνίζεται τοὺς ἀθλητάς. Διὰ τοῦτο, ὅτε ἠγωνίσατο τὰ μέγιστα ὁ Ἰώβ ὅτε, ἀποβαλὼν τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, ἐδόξασε τὸν δεδωκότα· ὅτε, ἀποθέμενος τὰ τέκνα, εὐχαρίστησε τῷ παρειληφότι· ὅτε, νοσήσας ὡς σκώληκας ἀνομβρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος, οὐ νενίκηται ἀπὸ τῶν πόνων· προοίμια καὶ ἀῤῥαβῶνα τῶν ἄθλων δίδωσιν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, χρηματίσας αὐτῷ διὰ νέφους καὶ λαίλαπος.
For this reason, when Job fought the greatest contests, when, having lost his possessions, he glorified the Giver; when, having laid aside his children, he gave thanks to the One who took them; when, having fallen ill so that worms poured out from his body, he was not conquered by his pains; God gave him the prelude and pledge of the prizes, having spoken to him through a cloud and a whirlwind.
Ἀκούσας οὖν τῶν προτέρων λόγων, δέον ἀποκρίνασθαι πρὸς Θεὸν, σιωπᾷ, ὡς οὐκ ἔχων παῤῥησίαν· οὕπω γὰρ ᾔδει τὸ, « Μωσῆς ἐλάλει, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς ἀπεκρίνατο αὐτῷ φωνῇ. » Ὁ μέντοι Θεὸς δίδωσιν αὐτῷ παῤῥησίαν τοῦ λέγειν· καὶ τοσαύτη ἐστὶν αὐτοῦ ἡ χρηστότης, ὥστε ἀναλαβεῖν αὐτὸν πρόσωπον οὐ κρίνοντος, ἀλλὰ κρινομένου μετὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
Having heard the former words, therefore, although he ought to have answered God, he remains silent, as having no confidence; for he did not yet know the saying, "Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice." However, God gives him confidence of speaking; and so great is His goodness, that He assumed the role not of a judge, but of one who is judged together with man.
Καὶ ἄλλαι τοῦτο ἐδίδαξαν Γραφαί· ὡς τὸ, « Δεῦτε, καὶ διαλεχθῶμεν· » καὶ, « Λαός μου, τί ἐποίησά σοι; » Ἥδη ἆθλον δίδωσιν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι ἅνθρωπον ἐρωτᾷ, ὅτι πυνθάνεται αὐτοῦ, ὅτι δίδωσιν ἐξουσίαν τῆς ἀποκρίσεως.
And other Scriptures have taught this, such as, "Come, let us reason together," and, "My people, what have I done to you?" God already gives him a prize, because He questions a man, because He inquires of him, because He gives him the authority to answer.
Εἰ μὴ ἦν νενικηκὼς, οὐκ ἐλάμβανεν· εἰ μὴ ἦν ὑπομείνας, οὐκ ἂν ἦκουσε· « Ζῶσαι ὥσπερ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀσφύν σου, » καὶ μὴ σιώπα· ἀλλʼ ἀνδρίζου πρὸς τὰς ἐρωτήσεις· ὅσῳ γὰρ ὀσφύς τινος οὐκ ἔζωσται, οὐδὲ συνέσφιγκται, ἀλλὰ λέλυται, οὐ δύναται εὐλόγως ἀποκρίνασθαι τῷ Θεῷ.
If he had not conquered, he would not have received; if he had not endured, he would not have heard: "Gird up your loins like a man," and do not be silent; but act like a man against the questions; for as long as someone's loins are not girded, nor tightened, but are loose, he cannot answer God in a reasonable manner.
Μὴ πρότερον οὖν ἀποκρινάσθω τις τῷ Θεῷ, ἐὰν μὴ ἀνὴρ γένηται τέλειος τὴν πνευματικὴν ἡλικίαν καὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν ζώσηται.
Therefore, let no one answer God before he becomes a perfect man in spiritual age and girds his loins.
Μὴ ἀποποιοῦ μου τὸ κρῖμα. Μὴ οἴου ἀλόγως κεκρίσθαι μοι ταῦτα ἅπερ ὑπέμεινας, μηδὲ ἀποποιοῦ μου τὸ κρῖμα.
"Do not reject My judgment." Do not think that these things which you endured have been judged by Me unreasonably, nor reject My judgment.
Τούτου τοῦ ῥητοῦ, ὡς χρησίμου μνημονεύωμεν, ὅταν ὁ Θεὸς παθεῖν τι ἡμᾶς κρίνῃ, τέκνον ἀποβαλεῖν. ἀρχὴν ἀπολέσαι, νοσῆσαι κατὰ τὸ σῶμα. ὅ τι δήποτε τούτων ὑποστῆναι· οὐδὲν ταύτων οἷόν τε παθεῖν ἡμᾶς, μὴ κρίνοντος τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Let us remember this saying as useful whenever God judges that we should suffer something, such as to lose a child, to lose power, to fall ill in body, or to endure any of these things; for it is not possible for us to suffer any of these things unless God judges so.
Ἐπεὶ οὖν οὐδὲν τούτων γίνεται χωρὶς κρίματος τοῦ Θεοῦ, λέγεται πρὸς τὸν παθόντα· « Μὴ ἀποποιοῦ μου τὸ κρῖμα· » τουτέστι, Μὴ ἀπαρνοῦ ὅπερ ἔκρινα περὶ σοῦ· τὸν παρόντα λέγει χρηματισμόν.
Since, therefore, none of these things happens without the judgment of God, it is said to the sufferer: "Do not reject My judgment"; that is, "Do not deny what I have judged concerning you"; He is speaking of the present revelation.
Οἴει δέ με ἄλλως σοι κεχρημστικέναι, ἢ ἵνα ἀναφανῇς δίκαιος; Ἀπολογοῦμαί σοι· δίκαιος ἦς, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἦς φανερός· ὑπομονὴν εἶχες· ἔδει με ἀφορμὴν παρασχεῖν τοῦ λάμψαι σου τὴν ὑπομονήν· εἷχες ἀνδρείαν· ἀλλʼ ἐκρύπτετο ἐν σοί· οἱ συμβεβηκότες πόνοι ἔδειξάν σου τὴν ἀνδρείαν.
"Or do you think that I have spoken to you for any other reason, than that you might appear righteous?" I make My defense to you: you were righteous, but you were not manifest; you had endurance; I had to provide an opportunity for your endurance to shine; you had courage, but it was hidden in you; the pains that befell you showed your courage.
Τούτων μνημονεύωμεν ἐν τοῖς τῶν περιστάσεων καιροῖς, καὶ δόξωμεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀκούειν παρόντος καὶ λέγοντος ἡμῖν· « Οἴει δέ με ἄλλως σοι κεχρηματικέναι, » τουτέστι τὸν πειρασμὸν συγχωρῆσαι, ἢ ἵνα τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι δήλη ἡ σὴ δικαιοσύνη ᾖ;
Let us remember these things in times of adversity, and let us seem to hear God being present and saying to us: "Or do you think that I have spoken to you for any other reason," that is, allowed the temptation, than that your righteousness might be manifest to those who do not know?
Ἀνάλαβε δὴ ὕψος. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ οὕτω νοῆσαι τοὺς στίχους· Νενίκηκας τὸν πειραστήν· ἀνάλαβέ σου τὸ ὕψος· ἀνάλαβέ σου τὴν δύναμιν· στεφάνωσαι· ἔνδυσαι εὐπρέπειαν.
"Take up height indeed." And it is possible to understand the verses in this way: You have conquered the tempter; take up your height; take up your strength; be crowned; put on beauty.
Ὁ ὑβριστὴς ἐστρατεύσατο κατὰ σοῦ· σὺ δὲ τὸν ὑπερήφανον ἐταπείνωσας, καὶ μακρὰν μετʼ αἰσχύνης ἀπέστρεψας μετὰ τῆς αὐτοῦ φάλαγγος.
The abusive one waged war against you; but you humbled the proud one, and turned him away far with shame along with his phalanx.