Acedia - sel. texts

THE SIXTH DISCOURSE: AGAINST THE DEMON of ACEDIA	^{[p 521]} Εκτος λογος· προς λογισμους του δαιμονος της ακηδιας.

6.1. For the demonic [tempting-] thought of acedia that hates the manual labor lying before it, resolving to learn a more profitable and easier trade:	γενες. 1. προς λοφισμος δαιμονος ακηδιας μισουντα χειρεργασιαν ην οιδε, βουλομενον δε αλλην ^64αβ τεχνην μαθειν μαλλον προχωρουσαν και ευκοπωτερον
+ Gen 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat your bread until you return to the earth out of which you have been taken; for you are earth, and to earth you shall return	+ Γεν 3·19 [π 523] ἐν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φάγῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου ἕως τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι σε εἰς τὴν γῆν͵ ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθης· ὅτι γῆ εἶ καὶ εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσῃ.

6.2. For the [tempting-] thought that is moved by demonic acedia to slander the Abba, claiming he does not console the brothers, that he is harsh in his relations with them, and that he has no sympathy with them in their distress	εξοδ. 2. προς λογισμον δι' ακηδιας κινουμενον εν διαβοληι αββα προφασει ως δη τους αδελφους ου παρακαλει και σκληρος εστιν αυτοις και ουκ οικτειρει αυτους εν ταις θλιψεσιν αυτων
+ Ex 22:28. You shall not revile God, nor speak ill of the ruler of your people.	+ Εχ 22·28 θεοὺς οὐ κακολογήσεις καὶ ἄρχοντας τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς.

6.3. For the soul that yields to the thought of acedia and imagines that without perseverance it can be filled with the fruits of true knowledge:	αριθμ. 3. προς ψυχην λογισμωι ακηδιας ενδιδουσαν και χωρις υπομονης καρπων της αληθειας επιγνωσεως εμπλησθησεσθαι προσδοκουσαν
+ Num 13 Through your continuous dedication you will obtain the fruits of the land.	+ Νυμ 13·21 καὶ προσκαρτερήσαντες λήμψεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς.

6.4. For the mind that on account of the [tempting-] thought of acedia inclines again towards the world and loves the things (of the world):	δευτερον. 4. προς διανοιαν απο λογισμων ακηδιας παλιν προς τον κοσμον κλινομενην αυτον τε και τα πραγματα αυτου αγαπωσαν ͅ^64βα
+ Deu 6:4 f. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.	+ Δευ 6·4 ῎ακουε͵ Ισραηλ· κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κύριος εἷς ἐστιν· καὶ ἀγα πήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάμεώς σου.

6.5. For the [tempting-]thought of acedia that draws us away from reading and teaching Sacred Texts, saying that a certain holy Elder knew only twelve psalms, but was (nevertheless) pleasing to God -	5. προς λογισμον ακηδιας αναγνωσεως ημας και διδασκαλιας λογων πνευματικων αποσπωντα και λεγοντα· οτι δη ο δεινα γερων αγιος δωδεκα μονον ψαλμους ηιδει και ευηρεστει τωι θεωι +
+ Deu 6:6 f And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.	+ Δευ 6·6 φ. καὶ ἔσται τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου [καὶ ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σου· 6.7] καὶ προβιβάσεις αὐτὰ τοὺς υἱούς σου καὶ λαλήσεις ἐν αὐτοῖς καθήμενος ἐν οἴκῳ καὶ πορευόμενος ἐν ὁδῷ καὶ κοιταζόμενος καὶ διανιστάμενος·

6.6. For the soul that takes in thoughts of acedia if the body is afflicted with a mild illness:	6. προς ψυχην λογισμους ακηδιας υποδεχομενην οταν μικρα νοσος τωι σωματι επιτυχηι
+ Deu 7:15 15 The Lord shall remove from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt which you have seen, and all that you have known, will he lay upon you but he will lay them upon all who hate you.	+ Δευτ 7·15 περιελεῖ κύριος ἀπὸ σοῦ πᾶσαν μα λακίαν· καὶ πάσας νόσους Αἰγύπτου τὰς πονηράς͵ ἃς ἑώρακας καὶ ὅσα ἔγνως͵ οὐκ ἐπιθήσει ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἐπιθήσει αὐτὰ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς μισοῦντάς σε.

6.7. For the [tempting-]thought arising from acedia that yearns for its relatives and the sons of its house, and that thinks: “The demon of acedia is much too strong, and I do not have the power to escape the thoughts emanating from him and to defeat my attackers”:	ͅ^64ββ 7. προς λογισμον απο ακηδιας την τε συγγενειαν αυτου και τους υιους του οικου επιζητουντα και λογιζομενον οτι ο ακηδιας δαιμων πολυ ισχυρος και οτι δη αδυναμω των λογισμων αυτου εκπορευομενων και εμοι αντικειμενων περιγινεσθαι
+ Deu 28:7 The Lord deliver your enemies that withstand you utterly broken before your face: they shall come out against you one way, and they shall flee seven ways from before you.	+ Δευ 28·7. παραδῷ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου τοὺς ἀνθεστηκότας σοι συντετριμμέ νους πρὸ προσώπου σου· ὁδῷ μιᾷ ἐξελεύσονται πρὸς σὲ καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ ὁδοῖς φεύξονται ἀπὸ προσώπου σου.

6.8. For the [tempting] thought of acedia that flees from reading and rumination on spiritual Scripture, and advises that we move the Lord to teach us the Scriptures directly through His Spirit	ιησου. 8. προς ακηδιας λογισμον την τε αναγνωσιν και την εν λογοις πνευματικοις μελετην φευγοντα συμβουλευοντα δε μοι αναπειθειν τον κυριον ινα δια του πνευματος αυτου ημας τας γραφας διδασκηι +
+ Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.	+ ϑοσ 1·8 καὶ οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ἡ βίβλος τοῦ νόμου τούτου ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου, καὶ μελετήσεις ἐν αὐτῷ ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός, ἵνα συνῇς ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα· τότε εὐοδωθήσῃ καὶ εὐοδώσεις τὰς ὁδούς σου καὶ τότε συνήσεις.

6.9. For the soul that during the time of acedia thinks and says: Why has the Lord abandoned me, so that I am tempted by the demons? Soon they arouse our wrath against the brethren near to us; soon they cast us into sadness by urging us off to the brethren who are far from us. But these are the tricks of the thoughts of acedia.	κριτ. 9. προς ψυχην καιρωι ακηδιας λογιζομενην και λεγουσαν· ινα τι ουτως αφιησι με κυριος υπο των δαιμονων πειρασθηναι, οιτινες τοτε μεν τον ημων θυμον ^[65] επεγειρουσι κατ´ αδελφων εγγυς οντων ημιν, τοτε δε εις λυπην ημας ριπτουσι εν τωι βιαζειν ημας και προς αδελφους μακραν αφ´ ημων· εστι δε ποροι ῾τεχνασματἀ των ακηδισς λογισμων +
+ Jud 2:20-3:2 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and said, Since as this nation has forsaken my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not hearkened to my voice, therefore I will not any more cast out a man of the nations before their face, which Joshua the son of Nun left in the land. And the Lord left them, to prove Israel with them, whether they would keep the way of the Lord, to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not. So the Lord will leave these nations, so as not to cast them out suddenly; and he delivered them not into the hand of Joshua. And these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel with them, all that had not known the wars of Caanan. Only for the sake of the generations of Israel, to teach them war, only the men before them knew them not.	+ ϑυδ 2·20-3·2 καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ κύριος ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν Ἀνθ΄ ὧν ὅσα ἐγκατέλιπαν τὸ ἔθνος τοῦτο τὴν διαθήκην μου͵ ἣν ἐνετειλάμην τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν͵ καὶ οὐχ ὑπήκουσαν τῆς φωνῆς μου͵ καὶ ἐγὼ οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ ἐξᾶραι ἄνδρα ἐκ προσώπου αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν͵ ὧν κατέλιπεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἀφῆκεν͵ τοῦ πειράσαι ἐν αὐ τοῖς τὸν Ισραηλ εἰ φυλάσσονται τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ͵ ὃν τρόπον ἐφυλάξαντο οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν͵ ἢ οὔ. καὶ ἀφῆ κεν κύριος τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα τοῦ μὴ ἐξᾶραι αὐτὰ τὸ τάχος καὶ οὐ παρέδωκεν αὐτὰ ἐν χειρὶ Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ἀφῆκεν Ἰησοῦς ὥστε πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν Ισραηλ͵ πάντας τοὺς μὴ ἐγνωκότας πάντας τοὺς πολέμους Χανααν͵ πλὴν διὰ τὰς γενεὰς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ τοῦ διδάξαι αὐ τοὺς πόλεμον͵ πλὴν οἱ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτά·

6.10. For the hardened soul, that on account of the [tempting-] thoughts of acedia wishes to shed no tears at night: for the shedding of tears is a great healing remedy against the nocturnal manifestations coming from acedia. The prophet David wisely employed this healing remedy against his passions when he said	ͅ^65αβ Δαυιδ. 10. προς ψυχην σκληραν ου θελουσαν δακρυα χεειν εν νυκτι δια λογισμους ακηδιας· δακρυων γαρ χυσις φαρμακον μεγα των νυκτερινων οραματων των εξ ακηδιας γεννωμενων· τουτο δε το φαρμακον και Δαυιδ ο προφητης σοφως τοις αυτου παθεσι προσηγαγε λεγων
+ Ps. 6:7 I am wearied with my groaning; I shall bathe my bed every night; I shall water my couch with my tears.	+ ψ 6,7.ἐκοπίασα ἐν τῷ στεναγμῷ μου, λούσω καθ' ἑκάστην νύκτα τὴν κλίνην μου, ἐν δάκρυσίν μου τὴν στρωμνήν μου βρέξω.

6.11. For the Lord, concerning the [tempting-] thoughts of acedia that persist within me	11. εις κυριον περι λογισμων ακηδιας εν εμοι εμμειναντων
+ Ps. 24:18 Look at my humiliation and my hardship; and take away all my sins.	+ ψ 24,18. ἰδὲ τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου καὶ τὸν κόπον μου καὶ ἄφες πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου.

6.12. Against the thoughts of acedia that tear down my hope:	12 προς ακηδιας λογισμους την ελπιδα μου καθαιρουντας
+ Ps. 26:13 I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.	+ ψ 26,13 πιστεύω τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὰ ἀγαθὰ κυρίου ἐν γῇ ζώντων.

6.13. For the [tempting-] thought of murmuring, arising out of acedia, that dares to remain silent even during the praise of God:	[p 525] 13. προς λογισμον γογγυσμου απο ακηδιας γενομενον, ος και της αινεσεως κατασιωπαν τολμαι
+ Ps 33:2 My soul shall, herself, boast in the Lord: let the meek hear, and rejoice.	+ Πσ 33·2 ἐν τῷ κυρίῳ ἐπαινεσθήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου· ἀκουσάτωσαν πραεῖς καὶ εὐφρανθήτωσαν.

6.14. For the soul that through acedia takes in [tempting-] thoughts that negate its hope by laying before it [both] how generally burdensome monastic life is, and how few there are who persevere in its practices.	^65βα 14. προς ψυχην εν ακηδιαι υποδεχομενην λογισμους της ελπιδος αυτης καταργητικους εν τωι αυτηι αποδειξαι οτι καλεπωτερα η τις μοναστικης αναστροφη και μολις τις την αυτης πολιτειαν υπομενει
+ Ps 36:3 Hope in the Lord and do good; and dwell on the land and you shall be fed with the wealth of it.	+ ψ 36,3 ἔλπισον ἐπὶ κύριον καὶ ποίει χρηστότητα καὶ κατασκήνου τὴν γῆν, καὶ ποιμανθήσῃ ἐπὶ τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῆς·

6.15. For the unhappy soul that suffers from acedia and seeks out other places to live:	15 προς αθλιαν ψυχην ακηδιωσαν και αλλους τοπους αυτηι εκλεγουσαν του κατοικειν ακει
+ Ps 36:34 Wait on the Lord and keep to His way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed you shall see it.	+ ψ 36,34. ὑπόμεινον τὸν κύριον καὶ φύλαξον τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑψώσει σε τοῦ κατακληρονομῆσαι γῆν· ἐν τῷ ἐξολεθρεύεσθαι ἁμαρτωλοὺς ὄψῃ.

6.16. For the mind that does not believe that the [tempting-] thoughts of acedia remaining in him can disturb his state and at the time of prayer darken the holy light in his eyes.	16. προς διανοιαν ουκ επισταμενην οτι χρονιζοντες εν αυτηι οι ακηδιας λογισμοι την αυτης καταστασιν θορυβουσι και προσευχης καιρωι το αγιον φως εν τοις αυτης οφθαλμοις αμαυρουσιν.
It was about this very light that we, I and the servant of God Ammonius, wished to know whence it comes: and so we asked the holy John of the Thebaid whether the nature of the intellect is [itself] luminous and thus of itself gives off this light, or whether some other [light] from without shines upon and illuminates it.	περι δε αυτου τουτου φωτος εβουλομεθα μαθειν το ποθεν εστιν εγω και δουλος του θεου Αμμωνιος και ηρωτησαμεν τον αγιον Ιωαννην της Θηβαιδος ει δη ͅ η νοος φυσις φωτεινη εστιν τε και το φως εξ αυτου εκδιδωσιν η τι αλλο εκτοσθεν φαινεται αυτον φωτιζον· αυτος
He answered: “Human beings are not in a position to judge this; and the nous also cannot be illuminated while praying without the grace of God, once it is freed from the numerous and fearful enemies trying hard to destroy it.”	δε απεκριθη λεγων ουκ εστιν ανθρωπος δυνατος τουτο διακριναι ουδε παλιν χωρις θεου χαριτος ο νους εν τηι προσευχηι φωτισθηναι δυναται πολλων και δεινων εχθρων εις την απωλειαν αυτου σπευδοντων απελευθερωθεις
+ Ps 37:11 My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me, and the light of my eyes is not with me	+ ψ 37,11 ἡ καρδία μου ἐταράχθη, ἐγκατέλιπέν με ἡ ἰσχύς μου, καὶ τὸ φῶς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου καὶ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν μετ' ἐμοῦ.

6.17. For the soul that wants to learn whether the the soul is given over to demonic assaults if it is abandoned a little by by the holy angels	17. προς ψυχην θελουσαν μαθειν ει αληθως τοτε η ψυχη τοις δια δαιμονων πειρασμοις παραδιδοται οταν ολιγον υπο των αγιων αγγελων εγκαταλειπηται
+ Ps 37:12 My friends and my neighbors drew up before me and stood by; and my nearest relatives stood afar off.	+ ψ 37,12. οἱ φίλοι μου καὶ οἱ πλησίον μου ἐξ ἐναντίας μου ἤγγισαν καὶ ἔστησαν, καὶ οἱ ἔγγιστά μου ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἔστησαν·

6.18. For the [tempting-]thought of acedia that destroys our hope of persevering, [claiming] that the Lord will never deal mercifully with us throughout the whole couse [of our lives]	18. προς ^66αα ακηδις λογισμον την ελπιδα της υπομονης ημων καταργουντα ως ου δυναμενης δια του δρομου αυτης τον κυριον αναπειθειν ωστε μεθ' ημων ελεος ποιειν
+ Ps 39.2 I persevered in persevering [waiting] for the Lord, and he has given his attention to me and listened to my petition	+ Πσ 39·2 Υπομένων ὑπέμεινα τὸν κύριον͵ καὶ προσέσχεν μοι καὶ εἰσήκουσεν τῆς δεήσεώς μου

6.19. For the soul that imagines that tears at the time of the struggle against acedia achieve nothing, and thus does not remember that David did exactly this, saying:	19. προς ψυχην οτι ουδεν ωφελει δακρυα καιρωι της κατα της ακηδιας μαχης οιομενην και ου μνημονευουσαν Δαυιδ αυτο τουτο ποιουντα και λεγοντα
+ Ps 41:3 My tears have become my bread by day and night, as they daily said to me, “where is your God?”	+ ψ 41.4. ἐγενήθη μοι τὰ δάκρυά μου ἄρτος ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς ἐν τῷ λέγεσθαί μοι καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ θεός σου;

6.20. Against the soul that on account of acedia is downcast and filled with thoughts of sadness -	20. προς ψυχην απο ακηδιας πεσουσαν και λογισμων λυπης πεπλησμενην
+ Ps 41:6 Why are you saddened, O my soul? and for what reason do you trouble me? Hope in God; for I will give thanks to him; he is the salvation of my countenance.	+ Πσ 41·6 ἵνα τί περίλυπος εἶ͵ ψυχή͵ καὶ ἵνα τί συνταράσσεις με; ἔλπισον ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν͵ ὅτι ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ· σωτήριον τοῦ προσώπου μου ὁ θεός μου.

6.21. For the Lord on account of the demons of acedia, that fight against me all day long	21. εις κυριον περι ακηδιας δαιμονος ολην την ημεραν κατ´ εμου μαχεσαμενου
+ Ps 55:2 Have mercy on me, O God, for man has trodden me down; all the day long he warring has afflicted me.	+ {ψ 55,2 Ἐλέησόν με, κύριε, ὅτι κατεπάτησέν με ἄνθρωπος, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν πολεμῶν ἔθλιψέν με. .

6.24. Against the [tempting-]thought that provokes us at the time of acedia to go to the brothers, ostensibly to be consoled by them.


12. THE demon of acedia, which is also called the noonday demon, is the most burdensome of all the demons. It besets the monk at about the fourth hour (10 am) of the morning, encircling his soul until about the eighth hour (2 pm).	ιβʹ (12) Ὁ τῆς ἀκηδίας δαίμων͵ ὃς καὶ μεσημβρινὸς καλεῖται͵ πάντων τῶν δαιμόνων ἐστὶ βαρύτατος· καὶ ἐφίσταται μὲν τῷ μοναχῷ περὶ ὥραν τετάρτην͵ κυκλοῖ δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ μέχρις ὥρας ὀγδόης.
[1] First it makes the sun seem to slow down or stop moving , so that the day appears to be fifty hours long.	Καὶ πρῶτον μὲν τὸν ἥλιον καθορᾶσθαι ποιεῖ δυσκίνητον ἢ ἀκίνητον͵ πεντηκοντάωρον τὴν ἡμέραν δεικνύς.
[2] Then it makes the monk keep looking out of his window and forces him to go bounding out of his cell to examine the sun to see how much longer it is to 3 o’clock, and to look round in all directions in case any of the brethren is there.	Ἔπειτα δὲ συνεχῶς ἀφορᾶν πρὸς τὰς θυρίδας καὶ τῆς κέλλης ἐκπηδᾶν ἐκβιάζεται͵ τῷ τε ἡλίῳ ἐνατενίζειν πόσον τῆς ἐνάτης ἀφέστηκε͵ καὶ περιβλέπεσθαι τῇδε κἀκεῖσε μή τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν.
[3] Then it makes him hate the place and his way of life and his manual work It makes him think that there is no charity left among the brethren; no one is going to come and visit him.	Ἔτι δὲ μῖσος πρὸς τὸν τόπον ἐμβάλλει καὶ πρὸς τὸν βίον αὐτόν͵ καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἔργον τὸ τῶν χειρῶν· καὶ ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπε παρὰ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡ ἀγάπη καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ παρακαλῶν·
[4] If anyone has upset the monk recently, the demon throws this in too to increase his hatred	εἰ δὲ καί τις κατ΄ ἐκείνας τὰς ἡμέρας εἴη λυπήσας τὸν μοναχόν͵ καὶ τοῦτο εἰς αὔξησιν τοῦ μίσους ὁ δαίμων προστίθησιν.
[5] It makes him desire other places where he can easily find all that he needs and practice an easier, more convenient craft After all, pleasing the Lord is not dependent on geography, the demon adds; God is to be worshipped everywhere.	Ἄγει δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν τόπων ἑτέρων ἐν οἷς ῥᾳδίως τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν ἔστιν εὑρεῖν καὶ τέχνην μετελθεῖν εὐκοπωτέραν μᾶλλον καὶ προχωροῦσαν· καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τόπῳ τὸ εὐαρεστεῖν τῷ Κυρίῳ προστίθησιν· πανταχοῦ γάρ͵ φησί͵ τὸ θεῖον προσκυνητόν.
[6] It joins to this the remembrance of the monk’s family and his previous way of life, and suggests to him that he still has a long time to live, raising up before his eyes a vision of how burdensome the ascetic life is.	Συνάπτει δὲ τούτοις καὶ μνήμην τῶν οἰκείων καὶ τῆς προτέρας διαγωγῆς· καὶ χρόνον τῆς ζωῆς ὑπογράφει μακρόν͵ τοὺς τῆς ἀσκήσεως πόνους φέρων πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν·
So, it employs, as they say, every [possible] means to move the monk to abandon his cell and give up the race.	καὶ πᾶσαν τὸ δὴ λεγόμενον κινεῖ μηχανὴν ἵνα καταλελοιπὼς ὁ μοναχὸς τὴν κέλλαν φύγῃ τὸ στάδιον.
NO other demon follows on immediately after this one but after its struggle the soul bs taken over by a peaceful condition and by unspeakable joy	Τούτῳ τῷ δαίμονι ἄλλος μὲν εὐθὺς δαί μων οὐχ ἕπεται· εἰρηνικὴ δέ τις κατάστασις καὶ χαρὰ ἀνεκλάλητος μετὰ τὸν ἀγῶνα τὴν ψυχὴν διαδέχεται.

AND if, weary from our toil, a certain acedia overtakes us we should climb up a little onto the rock of knowledge and converse with the Psalter, (cf. Ps 48:5) plucking with the virtues the strings of knowledge:	Εἰ δέ τις ἐκ τοῦ καμάτου καὶ ἀκηδία ἡμῖν προσγένηται͵ μικρὸν ἀναδραμόντες ἐπὶ τὴν τῆς γνώσεως πέτραν τῷ ψαλτηρίῳ προσομιλήσωμεν͵ πλήσσοντες διὰ τῶν ἀρετῶν τῆς γνώσεως τὰς χορδὰς͵
let us again tend our sheep as they pasture below Mount Sinai, so that the God of our fathers may also call to us out of the bush (cf. Exod. 3:1-6) and grant us the logoi of the signs and the wonders. (cf. Exod. 7:9, 11:9-10)	βοσκήσωμεν δὲ πάλιν ὑπὸ τὸ Σιναῖον ὄρος τὰ πρόβατα͵ ἵνα ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν͵ καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς βάτου καλέσῃ͵ καὶ τοὺς λόγους τῶν σημείων͵ καὶ τῶν τεράτων καὶ ἡμῖν χαρίσηται. [S.C. p.212.17:32/P.G. 79.1221.11 ]