Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.6 For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited.7 Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.8 And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit.
For as it says in the psalm, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy," so also in the gospel, those who sow in laughter, that is, because of joy, shall reap in tears. Long ago did the Creator set these things side by side: Christ, by not changing them but only giving them emphasis, has made them new. "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you." That is what their ancestors used to do to the false prophets. No less does the Creator, by Isaiah, censure those who seek after the blessing and praise of people: "My people, those who call you blessed, lead you astray and upset the paths of your feet." And in other terms he even forbids them to have any confidence in a person, and consequently not in human praise, as by Jeremiah, "Cursed is the one who trusts in humankind."
Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
And "the chair of pestilences" will be the theaters and tribunals, or rather the compliance with wicked and deadly powers and complicity with their deeds.
Now if Christ be preached, that he arose again from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead?16 For if the dead rise not again, neither is Christ risen again.17 And if Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain, for you are yet in your sins.18 Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ, are perished.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep:
Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower [Luke 8:5] goes forth, and casts it into the ground, and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.
And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.†21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.24 But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation.25 Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.26 Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.
But when the celestial kingdom is considered in the many gradations of its blessings, the first step in the scale belongs to those who by divine instinct embrace poverty. Such did He make those who first became His disciples; therefore He says in their person, For yours is the kingdom of heaven, as pointedly addressing Himself to those present, upon whom also He lifted up His eyes.
He then fortifies His disciples against the attacks of their adversaries, which they were about to suffer as they preached through the whole world; adding, For in like manner did their fathers to the prophets.
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.)