Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.2 Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand: learn, ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.3 Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:4 For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts:5 Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.6 Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.7 For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.8 For God will not except any man’s person, neither will he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.9 But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.10 To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.11 For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.
The rich person does not easily attain riches of the soul, that is, the virtues of this world. He who says, "It is more difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven" is clearly saying that it is easier for a poor person to do so. So that the poor person does not imagine that he has been excluded from God's care because of his poverty, the prophet testifies, saying, "I created the poor and the rich, and I care for all alike." "God does not make distinctions between persons." And it does not say that he cares only for the rich with respect to worldly goods but for everyone. He cares for the poor as well, and he will reward anyone who has been humble in riches or patient in poverty.
Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and the poor.4 Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the sinner.6 I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High.7 But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the princes.
Look, I ask you, and see with how great a dignity Jesus favors you. You were called a catechumen, which means one into whom something is drummed from without. You heard of some hope, but you did not know what. You heard mysteries without understanding anything. You heard Scriptures without plumbing their depth. It is not drummed in, any more, but whispered. For the indwelling Spirit is fashioning your mind into mansions for God. When you hear, in the future, Scriptures concerning mysteries, you will understand things you knew nothing of. And do not esteem as if a trifle what you are receiving. Being but a wretched person, you are recipient of a divine title. For listen to Paul, "God is faithful," or to another text in Scripture, "God is faithful and just." It was as foreseeing that a divine title would come to be applied to human beings that the psalmist, speaking in the person of God, said, "I have said, you are gods and are all the children of the most High." But see that when the title is faithful, the purpose is not faithless. You have entered the contest; run your course steadfastly. No other chance like this will come your way. If it was your wedding day ahead of you, would you not make light of all else, in preparing the banquet? When, then, you are going to consecrate your soul to the heavenly Bridegroom, will you not leave your physical concerns to chance, so that you may take a firm hold on the things of the spirit?
And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off;13 And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us.14 Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.15 And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.16 And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan.17 And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine?18 There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.19 And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.†
saying, And it came to pass, shewing that the Samaritans were indeed well disposed towards the mercies above mentioned, but the Jews not so. For there was enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, and He to allay this, passed into the midst of both nations, that he might cement both into one new man.
They pronounce the name of Jesus, and gain to themselves the reality. For Jesus is by interpretation Saviour. They say, Have mercy upon us, because they were sensible of His power, and sought neither for gold and silver, but that their bodies might put on again a healthful appearance.
They associated together from the sympathy they felt as partakers of the same calamity, and were waiting till Jesus passed, anxiously looking out to see Him approach. As it is said, Which stood afar off, for the Jewish law esteems leprosy unclean, whereas the law of the Gospel calls unclean not the outward, but the inward leprosy.
When he found that he was cleansed, he had boldness to draw near, as it follows, And fell down on his face at his feet giving him thanks. Thus by his prostration and prayers shewing at once both his faith and his gratitude.
Wherein it is shewn, that strangers were more ready to receive the faith, but Israel was slow to believe; and so it follows, And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)