From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members?2 You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not.†3 You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences.4 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God.5 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?6 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.†7 Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you.8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sorrow.10 Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy." And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, "With a harmless man thou shalt prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show thyself perverse." Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? [Ephesians 4:4-6] Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?" [Romans 12:5] Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, "Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.
Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. "For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words. For [the Scripture] saith, "He that speaketh much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who liveth but a short time: be not given to much speaking." Let our praise be in God, and not of ourselves; for God hateth those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, and arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.
"For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Let us cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God.
And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?8 Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.9 I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm.10 Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.10 Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city.11 Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour,23 Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever.
One of old used to say that those only descend alive into Hades who are instructed in the knowledge of things divine; for he who has not tasted of the words of life is dead.
And he taught his disciple, and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.†31 But they understood not the word, and they were afraid to ask him.†32 And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way?33 But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest.34 And sitting down, he called the twelve, and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all.35 And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he saith to them:†36 Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name, receiveth me. And whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.37 John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him.
(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc. Sed v. Chrys. Hom. in Matt. 58) By the very sight, persuading them to humility and simplicity; for this little one was pure from envy and vain glory, and from a desire of superiority. But He does not only say, If ye become such, ye shall receive a great reward, but also, if ye will honour others, who are such for my sake. Wherefore there follows: And when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me.
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.)