Thirty-four chapters in sequence
The whole work on one page. Select a passage number to open that passage with its notes, Scripture references, and citation.
Chapter 1
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ἔστιν ἕξις χειρίστη Ψυχῆς λογικῆς, καθ᾽ ἣν ἐσφαλμένως Θεόν τε καὶ τὸν τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίαν ὁρᾷ, εἰν μη, εν εἶν εν Β΄.
estin hexis cheiristē Psychēs logikēs, kath᾽ hēn esphalmenōs Theon te kai ton tōn gegonotōn theōrian horą, ein mē, en ein en B΄.
… is the worst state of a rational soul, in which it sees God and the contemplation of created things wrongly.
Chapter 2
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Οπισθότονος, ἔστι κακία φύσεως λογικῆς, καθ ἣν δυσκαμπής γίνεται πρὸς ἀρετὴν καὶ γνῶσιν τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Γ
Opisthotonos, esti kakia physeōs logikēs, kath hēn dyskampēs ginetai pros aretēn kai gnōsin tēn tou Theou. G
Opisthotonos (being bent backwards) is a vice of the rational nature, by which it becomes hard to bend towards virtue and the knowledge of God.
Chapter 3
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Σφακελλισμός, ἔστι ζέσις καὶ κίνησις θυμοῦ τὸ λογιστικὸν μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς ἐκταράττουσα. Δ΄.
Sphakellismos, esti zesis kai kinēsis thymou to logistikon meros tēs psychēs ektarattousa. D΄.
Gangrene is a boiling and movement of anger that throws the rational part of the soul into turmoil.
Chapter 4
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Τυφλότης, ἔστιν ἄγνοια τοῦ νοῦ, ταῖς πρακτικαῖς ἀρεταῖς καὶ τῇ τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίᾳ μὴ ἐπιβάλλουσα. Ε΄.
Typhlotēs, estin agnoia tou nou, tais praktikais aretais kai tę̄ tōn gegonotōn theōrią mē epiballousa. E΄.
Blindness is ignorance of the mind that does not apply itself to the practical virtues and the contemplation of created things.
Chapter 5
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Παράλυσις, ἔστι δυσκινησία λογιστικῆς ψυχῆς πρὸς τὰς πρακτικὰς ἀρετάς. Γ΄.
Paralysis, esti dyskinēsia logistikēs psychēs pros tas praktikas aretas. G΄.
Paralysis is the sluggishness of the rational soul towards the practical virtues.
Chapter 6
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Γονόρροια, ἔστι ῥαθυμία λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ ἣν ἀποβάλλειν τοὺς τῆς πνευματικῆς διδασκαλίας εἴωθε λόγους. Ζ
Gonorroia, esti rhathymia logikēs psychēs, kath hēn apoballein tous tēs pneumatikēs didaskalias eiōthe logous. Z
A discharge is the laziness of the rational soul, by which it is wont to cast away the words of spiritual teaching.
Chapter 7
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᾿Αποκάθισις, ἔστιν ἀδυναμία λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ᾽ ἣν τὰς συντελούσας ἀρετὰς πρὸς τὴν μόρφωσιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἴωθεν ἀποβάλλειν. Η
᾿Apokathisis, estin adynamia logikēs psychēs, kath᾽ hēn tas syntelousas aretas pros tēn morphōsin tou Christou eiōthen apoballein. Ē
Apokathisis (a sinking down) is the weakness of the rational soul, by which it is wont to cast away the virtues that contribute to the formation of Christ.
Chapter 8
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Λέπρα ἀπιστία ἐστὶν λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ᾿ ἣν οὐ πληροφορεῖται ψηλαφῶσα τοὺς λόγους. Θ
Lepra apistia estin logikēs psychēs, kath᾿ hēn ou plērophoreitai psēlaphōsa tous logous. Th
Leprosy is the unbelief of the rational soul, by which it is not fully convinced even when it handles the words.
Chapter 9
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Ἔκστασίς, ἔστι νεῦσις πάλιν πρὸς κακίαν λογικῆς ψυχῆς μετὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ γνῶσιν τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ι
Ekstasis, esti neusis palin pros kakian logikēs psychēs meta tēn aretēn kai gnōsin tēn tou Theou. I
Derangement is the turning back of the rational soul to vice after virtue and the knowledge of God.
Chapter 10
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Θλάσις, ἔστιν ἕξις χειρίστη λογικῆς ψυχῆς, καθ ἣν μετέρχεται τὰς ἀρετὰς οὐ δι αὐτὸ τὸ καλόν. ΙΑ΄.
Thlasis, estin hexis cheiristē logikēs psychēs, kath hēn meterchetai tas aretas ou di auto to kalon. IA΄.
Crushing is the worst state of the rational soul, by which it pursues the virtues not for the sake of the good itself.
Chapter 11
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Κολόβωσις ῥινὸς, ἔστι στέρησις ἀρετῆς ἀντιλαμβανομένης εὐωδίας τῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. ΙΒ΄.
Kolobōsis rhinos, esti sterēsis aretēs antilambanomenēs euōdias tēs tou Christou. IB΄.
A mutilated nose is the lack of the virtue that perceives the fragrance of Christ.
Chapter 12
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Ὠτότμησις, ἔστι σκληρία λογικῆς ψυχῆς πρὸς τὴν πνευματικὴν διδασκαλίαν ἀνθέλκουσα. ΊΓ Ἐφηλὶς, ἔστι πνευματικῆς θεωρίας ἔκπτωσις, ἢ τῆς τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίας οὐκ ἀληθῆς κατανόησις. ΙΔ΄.
Ōtotmēsis, esti sklēria logikēs psychēs pros tēn pneumatikēn didaskalian anthelkousa. IG Ephēlis, esti pneumatikēs theōrias ekptōsis, ē tēs tōn gegonotōn theōrias ouk alēthēs katanoēsis. ID΄.
A cut-off ear is the hardness of the rational soul that pulls against spiritual teaching. [13] Ephēlis (a spot) is a falling away from spiritual contemplation, or an untrue understanding of the contemplation of created things.
Chapter 14
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Μογιλαλία, ἔστι πάθος τοῦ λογιστικοῦ μέρους τῆς ψυχῆς, καθ ὁ σκανδαλιζόμενος ἐπὶ τοῖς γινομένοις ἐν παντὶ εὐχαριστεῖν ἀδυνατεῖ τῷ Θεῷ. ΙΕ΄.
Mogilalia, esti pathos tou logistikou merous tēs psychēs, kath ho skandalizomenos epi tois ginomenois en panti eucharistein adynatei tǭ Theǭ. IE΄.
Stammering is a passion of the rational part of the soul, by which, scandalized at what happens, it is unable to give thanks to God in everything.
Chapter 15
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Χωλότης, ἔστιν ἀδυναμία φύσεως λογικῆς πρὸς τὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐργασίαν. ΙΓ΄.
Chōlotēs, estin adynamia physeōs logikēs pros tēn tēs aretēs ergasian. IG΄.
Lameness is the weakness of the rational nature for the work of virtue.
Chapter 16
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Ὕδρωψ, ἔστιν ἔκκλισις ἄλογος ψυχῆς, καθ ἣν σβεσθεισῶν τῶν ἀρετῶν ἐπικρατεῖ κακία καὶ ἀγνωσία. ΙΖ
Hydrōps, estin ekklisis alogos psychēs, kath hēn sbestheisōn tōn aretōn epikratei kakia kai agnōsia. IZ
Dropsy is an irrational turning aside of the soul, by which, when the virtues have been quenched, vice and ignorance prevail.
Chapter 17
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Μύρμηξ, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος πρακτικὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τροφὴν ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ παρασκευάζων. ΙΗ
Myrmēx, estin anthrōpos praktikos tēn heautou trophēn en tǭ aiōni toutǭ paraskeuazōn. IĒ
The ant is a man of the practical life who prepares his food in this age.
Chapter 18
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Χοιρογρύλλιοι, εἰσὶν ἔθνη ἀκάθαρτα τὰς ἐντολὰς δεξάμενα τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χριστοῦ. ΙΘ
Choirogryllioi, eisin ethnē akatharta tas entolas dexamena tou Sōtēros hēmōn Christou. ITh
The rock badgers are the unclean nations who have received the commandments of our Saviour Christ.
Chapter 19
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Αβασίλευτοι ἀκρίδες, ψυχαὶ λογικαὶ μὴ σαλευόμεναι ὑπὸ τοῦ θανάτου καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν σπερμάτων διατρεφόμεναι. Κ΄.
Abasileutoi akrides, psychai logikai mē saleuomenai hypo tou thanatou kai hypo tōn spermatōn diatrephomenai. K΄.
Locusts without a king are rational souls that are not shaken by death and are nourished by the seeds.
Chapter 20
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Ασκαλαβότης, ἔστι νοῦς πρακτικὸς, ἐπερειδόμενος ἀρεταῖς καὶ κατοικῶν ἐν ταῖς γνώσεσι τῶν οὐρανίων δυνάμεων. ΚΑ΄.
Askalabotēs, esti nous praktikos, epereidomenos aretais kai katoikōn en tais gnōsesi tōn ouraniōn dynameōn. KA΄.
The lizard is a practical mind, leaning on the virtues and dwelling in the knowledge of the heavenly powers.
Chapter 21
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Σκύμνος λέοντος, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ἀπαθής τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ γενομένων βασιλεύσας θηρίων. ΚΒ΄.
Skymnos leontos, estin anthrōpos apathēs tōn en autǭ genomenōn basileusas thēriōn. KB΄.
The lion's whelp is a dispassionate man who has become king over the wild beasts within him.
Chapter 22
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᾿Αλεκτρυών, ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος πνευματικὸς πληρούμενος γνώσεως καὶ ἑτέραις εὐαγγελιζόμενος ψυχαῖς τὴν παρὰ τοῦ νοητοῦ ἡλίου γενομένην ἡμέραν. ΚΓ΄.
᾿Alektryōn, estin anthrōpos pneumatikos plēroumenos gnōseōs kai heterais euangelizomenos psychais tēn para tou noētou hēliou genomenēn hēmeran. KG΄.
The rooster is a spiritual man, filled with knowledge, who announces to other souls the day that comes from the intelligible sun.
Chapter 23
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Τράγος, ἔστιν ἀνὴρ πρακτικὸς τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ ἀτάκτων λογισμῶν ὀρθῶς καθηγούμενος. ΚΔ΄.
Tragos, estin anēr praktikos tōn en autǭ ataktōn logismōn orthōs kathēgoumenos. KD΄.
The he-goat is a man of the practical life who rightly leads the disorderly thoughts within him.
Chapter 24
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Βδέλλα, ἔστι φύσις ἀκάθαρτος τὸ δίκαιον αἶμα ἐκ τῶν λογικῶν ψυχῶν ἐκμυζῶσα. ΚΕ΄.
Bdella, esti physis akathartos to dikaion aima ek tōn logikōn psychōn ekmyzōsa. KE΄.
The leech is an unclean nature that sucks the righteous blood out of rational souls.
Chapter 25
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Αδης, ἔστιν ἄγνοια φύσεως λογικῆς κατὰ στέρησιν τοῦ Θεοῦ θεωρίας ἐπισυμβαίνουσα. ΚΓ΄.
Adēs, estin agnoia physeōs logikēs kata sterēsin tou Theou theōrias episymbainousa. KG΄.
Hades is ignorance of the rational nature, which comes about through the lack of the contemplation of God.
Chapter 26
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Γυνὴ, ἔστιν ἀφροσύνη λογικὰς ψυχὰς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίαν προσκαλουμένη. ΚΖ
Gynē, estin aphrosynē logikas psychas epi akatharsian proskaloumenē. KZ
Woman is folly calling rational souls to impurity.
Chapter 27
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Γῆ, ἔστιν ἕξις χειρίστη ἐξ ἀσεβείας καὶ παρανομίας συλλεγομένη. ΚΗ
Gē, estin hexis cheiristē ex asebeias kai paranomias syllegomenē. KĒ
Earth is the worst state, gathered from impiety and lawlessness.
Chapter 28
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Πῦρ, ἔστι κακία φύσεως λογικῆς φθαρτικὴ τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀρετῶν. ΚΘ
Pyr, esti kakia physeōs logikēs phthartikē tōn tou Theou aretōn. KTh
Fire is a vice of the rational nature that destroys the virtues of God.
Chapter 29
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Ὕδωρ, ἔστι γνῶσις ψευδὴς σβεστικὴ γνώσεως ἀληθοῦς. Λ
Hydōr, esti gnōsis pseudēs sbestikē gnōseōs alēthous. L
Water is false knowledge that quenches true knowledge.
Chapter 30
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Οφθαλμὸς καταγελῶν, ἔστι φύσις ἀκάθαρτος τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ καταγελῶσα γνώσεως καὶ ἀτιμάζουσα τὴν ἐν τοῖς γεγονόσι σοφίαν. ΛΑ΄.
Ophthalmos katagelōn, esti physis akathartos tēs tou Theou katagelōsa gnōseōs kai atimazousa tēn en tois gegonosi sophian. LA΄.
The eye that mocks is an unclean nature that mocks the knowledge of God and dishonours the wisdom in created things.
Chapter 31
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Κόρακες, εἰσὶ δυνάμεις ἅγιαι, φθαρτικαὶ τῶν κακιῶν. ΛΒ΄.
Korakes, eisi dynameis hagiai, phthartikai tōn kakiōn. LB΄.
The ravens are holy powers that destroy the vices.
Chapter 32
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Φάραγγες, εἰσὶ ψυχαὶ λογικαὶ κοιλανθεῖσαι ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας. ΛΓ΄.
Pharanges, eisi psychai logikai koilantheisai apo kakias kai agnōsias. LG΄.
The valleys are rational souls hollowed out by vice and ignorance.
Chapter 33
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Νεοσσοὶ ἀετῶν, εἰσὶ δυνάμεις ἅγιαι τοὺς ἀκαθάρτους καταβάλλειν πεπιστευμέναι.
Neossoi aetōn, eisi dynameis hagiai tous akathartous kataballein pepisteumenai.
The young eagles are holy powers entrusted with casting down the unclean.