And Amalec came, and fought against Israel in Raphidim.9 And Moses said to Josue: Choose out men: and go out and fight against Amalec: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill having the rod of God in my hand.10 Josue did as Moses had spoken, and he fought against Amalec; but Moses, and Aaron, and Hur went up upon the top of the hill.11 And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame: but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame.12 And Moses’ hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on both sides. And it came to pass that his hands were not weary until sunset.13 And Josue put Amalec and his people to flight, by the edge of the sword.
LXVI. And the war between these things is manifest. At all events, according to the superiority of the mind when it applies itself to incorporeal objects, which are perceptible only to the intellect, passion is put to flight. And, on the other hand, when this latter gains a shameful victory, the Philo here supposed that vttvoq, sleep, is derived from vipiaiq, relaxation, or from v$ir]fii, to relax. mind yields, being hindered from giving its attention to itself and to all its actions. At all events, he says in another place, " When Moses lifted up his hands Israel prevailed, and when he let them down Amalek prevailed." And this statement implies, that when the mind raises itself up from mortal affairs and is elevated on high, it is very vigorous because it beholds God ; and the mind here means Israel. But when it relaxes its vigour and becomes powerless, then immediately the passions will prevail, that is to say, Amalek ; which name, being interpreted, means, the people licking. For he does, of a verity, devour the whole soul, and licks it up, leaving no seed behind, nor anything which can excite virtue ; in reference to which it is said, "Amalek is the beginning of nations ; 't because passion governs, and is the absolute lord of nations, all mingled and confused and jumbled in disorder, without any settled plan ; and, through passion, all the war of the soul is fanned and kept alive. For God makes a promise to the same minds to which he grants peace, that he will efface the memorial of Amalek from all the lands beneath the heaven.
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me.2 My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.3 May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee.4 Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel.5 The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand.6 The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night.7 The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul.8 May the Lord keep thy going in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
We attribute to God, as it were, every state that corresponds to our circumstances. For this reason, when we are half asleep and behaving slothfully, God, since he judges us unworthy of his observant watchfulness over us, is said to be asleep. But, when, after noticing at some time the harm that comes from his sleeping, we shall say, "Arise, why do you sleep, O Lord?" "Behold, he shall neither slumber nor sleep at that time, that keeps Israel." Some others, as it were, turn their eyes away from God because of their shameful deeds and their acts unworthy of the eyes of God. These, on repenting, say, "Why do you turn your face away?" Besides these, there are others who have cast out the memory of God and, as it were, are producing in him forgetfulness of themselves, and these say, "Why do you forget our want and our trouble?" In a word, people do the very things that are humanly spoken about God, making God behave in ways appropriate to the manner in which they have been made. Therefore, "I will extol you, O Lord, for you have upheld me; and you have not made my enemies to rejoice over me." And I will suffer nothing low or abject in my life.
But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice,17 That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.1 I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming, and his kingdom:2 Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine.
...the victory over death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of perdition, the enemies of the Saviour, deny, "whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things," who are "lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." These make merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men's possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there do ye as sheep follow. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.
And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray, and not to faint,2 Saying: There was a judge in a certain city, who feared not God, nor regarded man.3 And there was a certain widow in that city, and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of my adversary.†4 And he would not for a long time. But afterwards he said within himself: Although I fear not God, nor regard man,5 Yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me.†6 And the Lord said: Hear what the unjust judge saith.7 And will not God revenge his elect who cry to him day and night: and will he have patience in their regard?8 I say to you, that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?
He who hath redeemed thee, hath shewn thee what He would have thee do. He would have thee be instant in prayer, He would have thee ponder in thy heart the blessings thou art praying for, He would have thee ask and receive what His goodness is longing to impart. He never refuses His blessings to them that pray, but rather stirs men up by His mercy not to faint in praying. Gladly accept the Lord’s encouragement: be willing to do what He commands, not to do what He forbids. Lastly, consider what a blessed privilege is granted thee, to talk with God in thy prayers, and make known to Him all thy wants, while He though not in words, yet by His mercy, answers thee, for He despiseth not petitions, He tires not but when thou art silent.
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.)