But I know well that neither those who seem to be the fastest will successfully accomplish that great current, nor those who are famous among men as strong and terrible, will emerge victorious in a terrible battle. But also prudence is not known in the abundance of food, and understanding is not necessarily in union with riches. Nor do I rejoice with those who think that the fate of all is the same. It seems to me that those who are in a deep sleep are those who think in this way, and do not consider that, being caught like fish and birds, they will be exhausted in misfortune, having unexpectedly received the punishment they deserve. But I so esteem wisdom to be something great, that even a small city, inhabited by a few, but besieged by the hand of a great king, I esteem as populous and great, if it has as a citizen even one poor man of wisdom. For he would have been able to save his city both from enemies and from the fortifications [built against it]. And though others do not notice that wise poor man, yet I wholly prefer power in wisdom to that power in the ordinary sense. But here on earth wisdom combined with poverty is not revered; however, later it will be heard, since it surpasses the nobles and tyrants who rush to evil by the power of its voice. For wisdom is mightier even than weapons; but the foolishness of one causes danger to many, even though he be contemptible to many.

X. For even flies that have fallen into fragrant oil and suffocated in it make both the sight and the anointing of that pleasant anointing unseemly: wisdom and foolishness should not be remembered at the same time. The wise man himself conducts himself in the affairs of the right side; but the fool inclines to the left, and there will not come a time when his foolishness can guide him to beautiful things. And his thoughts are vain, full of foolishness. If, my friend, even a hostile spirit ever attacks you, then courageously resist it, knowing that God can cover with His mercy even a great multitude of sins. That a fool rises on high, and a rich man in wisdom humbles himself, that, as I have seen, the slaves of sin ride on horseback, and holy men walk on foot without honor, while the wicked are proud, these are the works of the tyrant and the father of all wickedness. But if someone plots against another, he forgets that he is intriguing himself first, and only himself. Whoever destroys the fence of another will be bitten by the serpent. But if anyone takes away stones, he will endure no small labor. But even the one who cuts the wood can be in danger from his own weapon. If by chance the axe falls from the handle, then the one who is engaged in this work will be confused, since it does not benefit and multiplies its unrighteous and soon perishing power. But the bite of the serpent is hidden, and the exorcists will not bring any relief, for they are vain. But a good man does good both to himself and to his neighbors. On the contrary, a fool is plunged into destruction because of his chatter. Once he has opened his mouth, he foolishly begins and soon ceases, constantly revealing his foolishness. It is impossible for a person to know anything and to receive information from a person about what has been, or about what will follow. For who will reveal it to him? A person who did not know how to make the way to a good city bears in his eyes and in his whole face the expression of the calamity he endured. But I prophesy misfortunes for that city, whose king is young and whose princes are gluttonous. On the contrary, I consider blessed that good land of which the king is the son of a free man, where those who are worthy to rule there enjoy good things in due time. But the lazy and the idle do damage to the house by becoming idle, and for their gluttony they make use of everything, easily carried away by silver, for a small fee they shamefully and faint-heartedly decide to do whatever they please. But the king, and the princes, and the nobles, are to obey, and not to incur their wrath, and not to utter any insulting word against them. For it is to be feared that what has been said, even in private, will somehow become manifest. For to the one, rich, and great King, swift and winged angels endure all things, performing spiritual and intelligent service.

XI. It is just to share bread and all that is necessary for the maintenance of life. For even if you think that at the present time [what you give] is perishing with someone, as if you were putting bread to water, yet after the passage of time, it will turn out that [your] love for mankind is not useless for you. Give generously and divide your possessions among many, for you do not know what the next day will bring. Even the clouds do not hold back their abundant rain, but pour moisture on the earth, and the tree does not always stand, but if men spare it, it will be overturned by the wind. But many want to foresee what will come from heaven, and he who looks at the clouds and waits for the wind refrains from harvesting and winnowing bread, trusting in things that do not matter, and not knowing anything of what will come from God, just as he does not even know that a pregnant woman will give birth. And having sown in season, gather the fruit, as soon as the time comes, for it is not known which of the things that grow will be the best. Oh, if only everything worked out well! He who thinks that the sun is beautiful, that this life is pleasant, and that it is good to be long, rejoicing incessantly, and that death is a terrible thing and an eternal evil and leads to insignificance, thinks that he should enjoy everything that is present and that which is considered pleasant. He also advises young men to make use of their age, giving their souls over to every pleasure, and to satisfy every desire, and to do what pleases them, to look at what delights, and to turn away from what is not. To such I will say this: you are mad if you do not expect that God will judge you for all this. Depravity and debauchery are evil, and the impure unbridled disorder of our bodies is pernicious. but madness leads to destruction.

XII. Then, while still young, we must fear God before we give ourselves over to iniquity, before the great and dreadful day of God comes, when the sun will no longer shine, nor the moon, nor the other stars, when in that time of general calamity and confusion the higher powers will be shaken, [i.e., the Lord.

A good husband will gladly go to his eternal home; but the wicked will fill all their things with weeping, and neither the silver gathered up in the treasury, nor the gold that has been tested, will profit them any more. For a great blow shall come upon all things, even to the pitcher that stands by the fountain, and to the wheel of the chariot, which is accidentally left in the well, when the flow of time is put to an end, and the life of the age, which is prepared by water, which brings ablution, passes by. For people on earth, there is only salvation, if their souls recognize them and fly to Him by Whom they were created. And so I say again what I said at the beginning: Men are very vainly disposed, and the vanity of the things they plan is such that it is impossible to surpass it. But I, preaching wisely, undertake too much work, because I intend to teach this people, whom can neither be taught nor cured. In order to be able to understand the words of wisdom, a noble man is needed. I am already an old man, and I have passed a long time of my life, and I have worked to find what is pleasing to God through the investigation of the mysteries of truth. I know that souls are stirred and pierced by the teachings of the wise no less than bodies are when they are struck with oxen or nailed with a nail. Some, having received these wise lessons from one good pastor and teacher, will teach them as if from one mouth in agreement with one another, expounding very abundantly what is entrusted to them. and I do not advise you, O friend, to write down what is useless in relation to duties, in which there is nothing more than vain labor.

But at last I am left with a conclusion which will be of the following kind: Men, here I am clearly and concisely declaring to you that, on the one hand, you must fear God, who is the Lord of all things, and sees all things, and keep His commandments, and on the other hand, convince yourself that everything will then be judged, and that everyone will receive the reward for his deeds as good, and bad ones.

Notes

1. That is, those who are familiar with the nature of the old tsar's government.