For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.14 For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.15 For justice is perpetual and immortal.23 For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him.24 But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world:
Therefore death does not come from God. In fact, "God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living." In fact, the supreme essence makes all that is to exist, and consequently he is called essence. Death forces what dies into non-being, to the degree that it dies. If in fact something that dies were to die completely, it would certainly arrive at nonexistence. But it dies only to the extent that it does not participate in the essence. In short, the less it exists, the more it dies. The body is less than any kind of life, because to the extent that it remains in its species, it does so thanks to life, whether this regards an animated being or the entire nature of the world. For this reason the body is more subject to death and closer to nonexistence. Thus the life that neglects God, delighting in the fruits of the body, tends toward nonexistence. And this is wickedness.
I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me.4 Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell: thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit.5 Sing to the Lord, O ye his saints: and give praise to the memory of his holiness.6 For wrath is in his indignation; and life in his good will. In the evening weeping shall have place, and in the morning gladness.11 The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper.12 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy: thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness:13 To the end that my glory may sing to thee, and I may not regret: O Lord my God, I will give praise to thee for ever.
In God's wrath is anger, but in his will is life, because his will is life.… He is led to anger because of our sin. And although mourning will continue all night, in the morning he makes for us a rejoicing, when through repentance we strip off the burden of evil.
The Lord's descent to earth was not useless, for it gained the whole world! Nevertheless, even after his coming in the flesh, sinners would rather be without his flesh than profit by it. You see, he took pleasure in our salvation and thought of it as a distinctive victory for himself. [By contrast], he considered our destruction a sad loss.… He praised those who doubled the grace he gave, both the one who made ten talents from five and the one who made four talents from two. Both of them had done the right thing and had profited from it. But he threw out the one who hid the talent.
That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.13 For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened, but by an equality.14 In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,15 As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over; and he that had little, had no want.
"But if there be present readiness of mind, according to what a man hath it is acceptable, and not according to what he hath not: for it is not that there be ease to others, but tribulation to you, but of equality at the present time "and so forth.
Those, who have entertained the wish whose purpose is equal, share in the same honour with those who have the ability, although others have the advantage in point of resources.
And when Jesus had passed again in the ship over the strait, a great multitude assembled together unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea.22 And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus: and seeing him, falleth down at his feet.23 And he besought him much, saying: My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live.24 And he went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.25 And a woman who was under an issue of blood twelve years,†26 And had suffered many things from many physicians; and had spent all that she had, and was nothing the better, but rather worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the crowd behind him, and touched his garment.28 For she said: If I shall touch but his garment, I shall be whole.†29 And forthwith the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the evil.†30 And immediately Jesus knowing in himself the virtue that had proceeded from him, turning to the multitude, said: Who hath touched my garments?31 And his disciples said to him: Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou who hath touched me?32 And he looked about to see her who had done this.33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.34 And he said to her: Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace, and be thou whole of thy disease.35 While he was yet speaking, some come from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying: Thy daughter is dead: why dost thou trouble the master any further?36 But Jesus having heard the word that was spoken, saith to the ruler of the synagogue: Fear not, only believe.37 And he admitted not any man to follow him, but Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.38 And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he seeth a tumult, and people weeping and wailing much.39 And going in, he saith to them: Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.40 And they laughed him to scorn. But he having put them all out, taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.41 And taking the damsel by the hand, he saith to her: Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted: Damsel (I say to thee) arise.†42 And immediately the damsel rose up, and walked: and she was twelve years old: and they were astonished with a great astonishment.†43 And he charged them strictly that no man should know it: and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
(Hom. in Mat. 31) This woman, who was celebrated and known to all, did not dare to approach the Saviour openly, nor to come to Him, because, according to the law, she was unclean; for this reason she touched Him behind, and not in front, for that she durst not do, but only ventured to touch the hem of His garment. It was not however the hem of the garment, but her frame of mind that made her whole. There follows, For she said, If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole.
(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Macr. v. Chrys. Hom. in Mat. 31.) He calls her daughter because she was saved by her faith; for faith in Christ makes us His children.
(non occ.) Or else, to take away all display, He suffered not all to be with Him; that, however, He might leave behind Him witnesses of His divine power, He chose His three chief disciples and the father and mother of the damsel, as being necessary above all. And He restores life to the damsel both by His hand, and by word of mouth. Wherefore it says, And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise. For the hand of Jesus, having a quickening power, quickens the dead body, and His voice raises her as she is lying; wherefore it follows, And straightway the damsel arose and walked.
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.)