But call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions.33 And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort.34 For you both had compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance.35 Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward.36 For patience is necessary for you; that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.37 For yet a little and a very little while, and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay.38 But my just man liveth by faith; but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul.39 But we are not the children of withdrawing unto perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul.
The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favours upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, "Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us." Ye foolish ones! compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Ye perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, "Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;" [Hebrews 10:37] and, "The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look." [Malachi 3:1]
Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches.4 Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.5 Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.6 And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.23 With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.24 When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth his hand under him.39 But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in the time of trouble.40 And the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them, because they have hoped in him.
Therefore it is right and proper, brothers, that we should be obedient to God rather than follow those who in arrogance and unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy. For we shall bring on us no common harm, but rather great peril, if we surrender ourselves recklessly to the purposes of people who launch out into strife and seditions, so as to estrange us from that which is right. Let us be good one toward another according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us.
It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, "The kind-hearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it." [Proverbs 2:21-22] And again [the Scripture] saith, "I saw the ungodly highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and, behold, he was not; and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it. Preserve innocence, and look on equity: for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful man." [Psalm 37:35-37]
And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth,27 And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not.28 For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear.†29 And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.30 And he said: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we compare it?31 It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:32 And when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof.†33 And with many such parables, he spoke to them the word, according as they were able to hear.34 And without parable he did not speak unto them; but apart, he explained all things to his disciples.
(non occ. leg. ap. Possin. Cyril.) And also because the wisdom spoken amongst the perfect expands, to an extent greater than all other sayings, that which was told to men in short discourses, for there is nothing greater than this truth.
(non occ. sed v. Cat. in Marc.) Then after this, Mark, who delights in brevity, to shew the nature of the parables, subjoins, And with many such parables spake he the word unto them as they could hear him.
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.)