PSALM 1__

1(1). BLESSED the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, 

1(1) μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν βουλῇ ἀσεβῶν

 1. The counsel of the ungodly is the [tempting-] thought that chains the intellect to sensual concerns.  It does not say “human being” but man, for it summons to struggle and fighting and battle for virtue; and it counsels that both men and women be more virile [in this].

 1. βουλὴ ἀσεβῶν ἐστι λογισμὸς ἐμπαθὴς αἰσθητοῖς πράγμασι τὸν νοῦν προσδεσμῶν. Οὐκ εἶπε δὲ, « ἄνθρωπος », ἀλλ' « ἀνὴρ », ὅτι πρὸς ἀγῶνας καὶ πάλας καὶ μάχας τὰς ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς καλεῖ· καὶ βούλεται καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας ἀῤῥενώπους καὶ ἀνδρείας εἶναι.  [cf PG 12.1085.]

 2. But blessedness is apatheia of the soul together with true knowledge of things that exist.

 2. μακαριότης δὲ, ψυχῆς ἀπάθεια μετὰ γνώσεως τῶν ὄντων ἀληθοῦς [cf. PG 12.1085 mod.]

1(3). and in the way of sinners he has not stood,

1(3)  καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἔστη

 3. The seat of the pestilential is the worst habit of the reasoning soul by which it also teaches others to disobey the law.

 3. καθέδρα λοιμῶν ἐστι λογικῆς ψυχῆς ἕξις χειρίστη, καθ' ἣν καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους διδάσκει παρανομεῖν.  [= PG 12.1085.]

2(2). and on his law he will meditate day and night.

2(2)  καὶ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ μελετήσει ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός.

 4. He meditates constantly on the law of God who is accomplishing good works.

 4. οὗτος διὰ παντὸς μελετήσει τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ τὰ καλὰ ἔργα διαπραττόμενος.

3. And he will be like the tree that is planted near the running waters, which will bring forth its fruit in its season and its leaf shall not drop.

3 καὶ 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

 5.  ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace,’ (Gal 5:22) and so on. See how vividly it offers the reading, will bring forth; but not, will bear.  For the just one, in the season of indignation and desire, can bring forth patient endurance, courage, and temperance: in abuse and slander - blessing, silence, and praise;

 5. ὁ̔ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χάρα, εἰρήνη καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. ὅρα πῶς ἐμψύχως εἴρηται δώσει, ἀλλ' οὐκ οἰσει. δίδωσι δὲ ὁ δίκαιος ἐν καιρῷ θυμοῦ καὶ ἐπιθυμίας μακροθυμίαν, ἀνδρείαν, σωφροσύνην, ἐν λοιδορίᾳ καὶ καταλαλιᾷ τὴν εὐλογίαν, τὴν σιωπήν, τοὺς ἐπαινούς,

these being the harvest-revenue he will receive back as his future reward. And he blooms exceedingly in hope; as if decked with leaves, [hope thus] accompanying the heaviest toil: or else he humbles himself, [thus] guarding and sheltering the unfailing fruit.

ὧν τὰς ἐπικαρπίας κομίσεται ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι, θάλλει δὲ καὶ ὧδε κομῶν ὡς φύλλοις τῷ ἐλπίδι ψυχαγωγούσῃ τὴν τῶν κόπων βαρύτητα ἢ τῇ ταπεινώσει τηρούσῃ καὶ σκεπούσῃ τοὺς καρποὺς ἀδιαπτώτους.

 6.  The trees brings forth leaves, and the just one his daily tasks.  And the leaves are tokens of a good soul achieved by means of the body, like the appearance of clothes,  a foot’s stride (Deut 2:5; Acts 7:5), a smiling face.

6. τὰ φύλλα δεικνύουσι τὰ δένδρα καὶ τὸν δίκαιον τὰ καθήκοντα.  ἔστι δὲ φύλλα γνωρίσματα ψυχῆς ἀγαθῆς διὰ σώματος ἐκτελούμενα, οἷον εἶδος ἐσθῆτος, βῆμα ποδός, προσώπου μειδίαμα.

4 (1)  Not so are the impious, not so

4(1) οὐχ οὕτως οἱ ἀσεβεῖς, οὐχ οὕ τως,

 7. The unbelievers make a great show of having acquired virtue

 7. ἐσχηματισμένην οἱ ἄπιστοι κέκτηνται τὴν ἀρετήν.

5(1). Therefore the ungodly shall not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the just.

5(1) διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀναστήσονται ἀσεβεῖς ἐν κρίσει  [οὐδὲ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐν βουλῇ δικαίων·]

 8. Judgement is for the just the passage from a body for asceticism to an angelic one: but for the ungodly it is the change from a body for asceticism to a darkened and gloomy one.  For the ungodly will not be raised in the first judgment, but rather in the second.

  8. Κρίσις ἐστὶ δικαίων μὲν ἡ ἀπὸ πρακτικοῦ σώματος ἐπὶ ἀγγελικὰ μετάβασις· ἀσεβῶν δὲ ἀπὸ πρακτικοῦ σώματος ἐπὶ σκοτεινὰ καὶ ζοφερὰ μετάθεσις σώματα.  ̓Εγερθήσονται γὰρ οἱ  ^[12.1100] ἀσεβεῖς οὐκ ἐν τῇ προτέρᾳ κρίσει, ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ. [cf. PG 12.1097-1100.]

6(1).  For the Lord knows the way of the just

6(1) οτι γινώσκει κύριος οδὸν δικαίων,

 9. God looks only on the good, never on the wicked: for they are unworthy of his knowledge.

   9. μόνον τὸ καλὸν οἶδεν ὁ θεὸς, φαῦλον δὲ οὐδέν· ἀνάξια γὰρ τῆς γνώσεως αὐτοῦ.

PSALM 2__

5 (1). THIS he said to them in his anger

5(1) τότε λαλήσει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐν ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ

 1. Anger is God’s painful punishment for the benefit of the one who has sinned.

 1. .Ὀργή ἐστι Θεοῦ κόλασις ἐπίπονος ἐπὶ τῷ συμφέροντι τοῦ ἡμαρτηκότος. [Π]

v.7  The Lord said to me you are my son,
today I have begotten you.

 2. Unto today he adresses [him thus].

7. κύριος εἶπεν πρός με υἱός μου εἶ σύ,
 ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε·

 2. ἄχρι τὸ σήμερον καλεῖται. [ξφ Πιτρα 2.7.2]

8 (1).  Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance

 3.  Here inheritance means the reasoning nature inheriting him as knowledge and truth and justice.  But inheritance of reasoning nature is contemplation of corporeal and incorporeal [beings] and the origin of these [beings] in God.

8̔1̓  αἴτησαι παρ' ἐμοῦ, καὶ δώσω σοι ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν σου

 3. κληρονομίαν ἐνταῦθα ὠνόμασεν τὴν φύσιν τὴν λογικὴν κληρονομοῦσαν αὐτὸν ὡς σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν καὶ ἀλήθειαν καὶ δικαιοσύνην. κληρονομία δὲ ἐστι φύσεως λογικῆς θεωρία σωματῶν καὶ ἀσωμάτων καὶ τοῦ αἰτίου τούτων Θεοῦ. [ξφ ΠΓ 12.1108.38]

v. 12.  Lay hold of instruction so the Lord is not angered

 4. Instruction is moderation of the passions, which tends naturally to result from the praktike.  For the praktike is spiritual teaching purifying the portion of the soul subject to passion.

12̔1̓.  δράξασθε παιδείας μήποτε ὀργισθῇ κύριος

 4. παιδεία ἐστὶ μετριοπαθεία παθῶν· ὅπερ συμβαίνειν πέφυκεν ἐκ τῆς πρακτικῆς, εἴγε πρακτική ἐστι διδασκαλία πνευματικὴ τὸ παθητικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς ἐκκαθαίρουσα. [ξφ Πιτρα 2.12.1 ]

PSALM 3__

v. 2. LORD, why are they multiplied who afflict me?

 1. Those making progress have many who afflict them.

2α.  Κύριε, τί ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ θλίβοντές με;

 α´. Οἱ προκόπτοντες πολλοὺς τοὺς θλίβοντας ἔχουσι.

v. 7.  Arise, O Lord, deliver me, my God; for you have struck all who were in vain my enemies; you have broken the teeth of sinners.

 4. The teeth of sinners are irrational [tempting-] thoughts occuring to us contrary to nature; making use of these many teeth the enemies draw near to us in order to eat our flesh (Ps 26:2) that is, those [things] that sprout forth from the flesh: “For the works of the flesh are manifest,” (Gal. 5:19) as the divine apostle says.

7. Ἀνάστα, Κύριε, σῶσόν με, ὁ Θεός μου,ὅτι σὺ ἐπάταξας πάντας τοὺς ἐχθραίνοντάς μοι ματαίως, ὀδόντας ἁμαρτωλῶν συνέτριψας,

 δ´.  Ὀδόντες ἁμαρτωλῶν εἰσι λογισμοὶ ἄλογοι, παρὰ φύσιν ἡμῖν ἐπισυμβαίνοντες, οἷς ὀδοῦσι χρώμενοι πολλάκις οἱ ἀντικείμενοι προσεγγίζουσιν ἡμῖν τοῦ φαγεῖν τὰς σάρκας ἡμῶν, τουτέστι τὰ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς φυόμενα· ̧Φανερὰ δέ ἐστι τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκὸς,ς φησὶν ὁ θεῖος Ἀπόστολος.

PSALM 4__

 1. HE did not hear me after I called, but rather when I called.

 2. Ἐν τῷ ἐπικαλεῖσθαί με εἰσήκουσέν μου ὁ Θεὸς τῆς δικαιοσύνης μου, ἐν θλίψει ἐπλάτυνας μοι.

 α´.  Οὐ μετὰ τὸ ἐπικαλεῖσθαι εἰσήκουσέν με, ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ ἐπικαλεῖσθαι.

 2,  The more we understand of distress and temptation, the more we are widened.

 β´. Ὅταν θλίψεων καὶ τῶν πειρασμῶν τοὺς λόγους ἐπιγινώσκωμεν, τότε μάλιστα πλατυνόμεθα.

v. 3. O sons of men, how long will you be heavy “hard”] - hearted?

 3.  Thus we know that vice is naturally heavy: from the fact that the Lord coming into Egypt is said to be {lightly} seated upon a cloud. ()  So a light cloud is the reasoning nature filled with all virtue and knowledge.   ( )

3.   ,Υἱοὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἕως πότε βαρυκάρδιοι;

 γ´. Ἐνταῦθα γινώσκομεν ὅτι βαρείας φύσεώς ἐστιν ἡ κακία, διόπερ ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον Κύριος, ἐπὶ νεφέλης λέγεται καθέζεσθαι κούφης. Νεφέλη δὲ κούφη ἐστὶ φύσις λογικὴ, πάσης ἀρετῆς πληρωμένη καὶ γνώσεως.

v. 5. Be angry and do not sin.

 4. It urges: do not {do battle? engage [your enemy]} in your imagination, nor bring about the deed that causes anger.

5[1].  Ὀργίζεσθε, καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε.

 δ´.  Παραινεῖ μὴ συγκατατίθεσθαι τῇ φαντασίᾳ, μηδὲ τὸ ἔργον ἐπάγειν κυροῦν τὴν ὀργήν.

v.6 Sacrifice the sacrifie of justice and hope in the Lord

 5. The sacrifice of justice is the reasoning soul’s apatheia, which it offers up to God; while hope is eager expectation of true knowledge.

6.  Θύσατε θυσίαν δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ἐλπίσατε ἐπὶ Κύριον.

 ε´.  Θυσία δικαιοσύνης ἐστὶν ἀπάθεια ψυχῆς λογικῆς, προσφερομένη Θεῷ· ἐλπὶς δέ ἐστιν ἀγαθὴ προσδοκία γνώσεως ἀληθοῦς.

v.7 The light of your face has been manifested to us.

 6. Now the angels continually see the face of God, while human beings [see] the light of his face.  For the face of the Lord  is spiritual contemplation of everything that has come to be on the earth, while the light of His face is partial knowledge of these things; since according to the wise Tekowitha David was like an angel of God, seeing everything upon the earth.

7.  Ἐσημειώθη ἐφ' ἡμᾶς τὸ φῶς τοῦ προσώπου σου, Κύριε.

 ϛ.  Οἱ μὲν ἄγγελοι διὰ παντὸς βλέπουσι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ· οἱ δὲ ἄνθρωποι, τὸ φῶς τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ. Πρόσωπον γὰρ Κυρίου ἐστὶ θεωρία πνευματικὴ πάντων τῶν ἐπὶ γῆς γεγονότων. Φῶς δὲ προσώπου ἐστὶν ἡ μερικὴ γνῶσις τούτων αὐτῶν, εἴπερ κατὰ τὴν σοφὴν Θηκωϊτίδα· Ὥσπερ ἄγγελος Θεοῦ ἦν ὁ Δαυὶδ, πάντα εἰδὼς τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

v. 8 You have put joy into my heart; with the fruit of their grain and wine and oil [they have been satisfied].

 7.  Grain and wine and oil satisfy sinners; but the joy of God rejoices the just.

8.  Ἔδωκας εὐφροσύνην εἰς τὴν καρδίαν μου, ἀπὸ καρποῦ σίτου καὶ οἴνου καὶ ἐλαίου.

 ζ´. Σῖτος καὶ οἶνος καὶ ἔλαιον πληθύνει ἁμαρτωλούς· εὐφροσύνη δὲ Θεοῦ εὐφραίνει δικαίους.

PSALM 5__

v. 1  FOR the end, concerning she who inherits.

 1. The inheritance of the Christ is the reasoning nature.

1.  Εἰς τὸ τέλος ὑπὲρ τῆς κληρονομούσης.

 α´.  Ἡ κληρονομία τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐστιν ἡ φύσις ἡ λογική.

v. 4 In the morning you will hear my voice.

 2. The one putting off the works of darkness and clothing himself in the armor of light () is to say these words.

4. Τὸ πρωῒ εἰσακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου,

 β´. Ὁ ἀποθέμενος τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενος τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτὸς, ταῦτα λεγέτω τὰ ῥήματα.

v. 7 You will destroy all who speak falsehood

 3. Not who spoke, but who speak  falsehood.  For if the Lord were to destroy these, inasmuch as all human beings have lied, God would destroy all [solely] on account of their being human.

7[1].  Ἀπολεῖς πάντας τοὺς λαλοῦντας τὸ ψεῦδος,

 γ´.  οὐ τοὺς λαλήσαντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς λαλοῦντας τὸ ψεῦδος. Εἰ δὲ τούτους ἀπόλλυσι Κύριος, πᾶς δὲ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης, πάντας ἀπόλλυσιν ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα, τὸ εἶναι ἄνθρωποι

v. 8  I will worship toward your holy temple in your fear.

 4-5.  Holy temple is the Christ of God, for God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself ().  In the fear of God all turn away from vice  (): so, in the fear of the Lord [all] worship the temple which is Christ; for he says, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. ()

8.  Προσκυνήσω πρὸς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου ἐν φόβῳ σου.

 δ´ & ε´. Ναὸς ἅγιός ἐστι τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ Χριστὸς, διότι ὁ Θεὸς ἦν ἐν Χριστῷ κόσμον καταλλάσσων ἑαυτῷ. Ἐν τῷ φόβῳ Θεοῦ ἐκκλίνει πᾶς ἀπὸ κακοῦ· ἐν φόβῳ δὲ Κυρίου προσκυνεῖ τὸν ναὸν, ὅς ἐστι Χριστός· Λύσατε γὰρ, φησὶν, τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον, καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις ἐγερῶ αὐτόν.

v. 9 Lead me, O Lord in your justice because of my enemies.

 6. In the justice which accords with [ascetical] practice in the Christ.  Of enemies denotes “of concepts”.

9.  Κύριε, ὁδήγησόν με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου, ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου.

 ϛ´. Ἐν τῇ κατὰ πρακτικὴν δικαιοσύνῃ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ. Τῶν ἐχθρῶν. Τῶν νοητῶν δηλονότι·

v. 10 For there is no truth in their mouths; their heart is vain.

 7. First: neither truth nor the Christ; and perhaps second, the ones {anyone?} bearing their plot.

10.  Ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν ἀλήθεια, ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ματαία.

 ζ´. Πρότερον, οὐδεμία ἀλήθεια, ἢ ὁ Χριστός· καὶ τάχα τὸ δεύτερον, ἠνέγκατο αὐτῶν ἐπιβουλήν.

 8. Filled with dead works.

 η´. Νεκρῶν ἔργων πεπληρωμένος.

v. 11. Judge them, O God, may they fail in their counsels (“plans”) : according to the multitude of their impieties cast them out, for they have provoked you, O Lord.

 9.   [To] Cast them out from the[ir] impieties [is] to effect pieties for them.  Blessedness is to expell every plan.

11.  Κρῖνον αὐτοὺς, ὁ Θεός· ἀποπεσάτωσαν ἀπὸ τῶν διαβουλιῶν αὐτῶν· κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀσεβειῶν αὐτῶν ἔξωσον αὐτοὺς, ὅτι παρεπίκρανάν σε, Κύριε.

 θ´. Ἔξωσον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς ἀσεβείας, εὐσεβεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐργασάμενος. Μακαριότης ἐστὶ, βουλῆς πάσης ἐκπεσεῖν.

 10.  For, it says, all of these counsels they have taken against me - those hostile and advancing against God.  For those persecuting the soul that is practicing friendship with God are provoking God, [?      ] fighting God.

 ι´. Ταῦτα γὰρ, φησὶ, πάντα τὰ διαβούλια κατ' ἐμοῦ ἐποιοῦντο, τῇ κατὰ Θεόν μου προκοπῇ ἐναντιούμενοι· οἱ γὰρ διώκοντες τὴν φίλα τῷ Θεῷ πράττουσαν ψυχὴν, Θεὸν παραπικραίνουσι, θεομαχοῦντες σαφῶς.

12. Unto the ages shall they rejoice; and you shall dwell among them.

 11. An age is a natural system [made up] of differing bodies, encompasing different logikoi for the [sake of the] knowledge of God,