Psalm 57, A Spiritual Psalter
St Ephraim the
Syrian
If you have not yet become mightily inflamed with the Holy Spirit, avoid listening to the thoughts of others, that what you hear might not arouse passions not yet dead and pervert your soul.
If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise
the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a wise bee that gathers
honey from flowers, through your reading obtain also
healing for your soul.
Blessed is he who preaches virtue by means of his deeds. But
if you say something that pertains to virtue, but do the opposite, this will
not save you.
When you see people dissipated in acts of unclean love, look not at them in amazement, that you might not be seduced by rosy skin which will soon turn to dust.
Rather sigh to yourself and cry out: Remember, O Lord, that we are dust -- and God's grace will prevent you
from becoming a prisoner of the Evil One.
Pray diligently to the Lord, that He might grant you the
spirit of perfect chastity, that even as you dream at night you might evade the
wiles of the Evil One as a person runs when he sees a wild beast chasing after
him; or as a man whose pursuer carries a burning torch runs from room to room,
that the fire might not burn him.
Just as one cannot buy education or artistic skills for any
price without working at it, so one cannot attain the habit of exercising the
virtues without zeal and diligence.
Just as your head takes priority over all other members of
your body, and if a stone, stick or sword is aimed at you, you raise other
members of your body to deflect the blow from your head, knowing that you
cannot live in this life without your head -- so may you give priority overall
things to faith in the Holy Trinity Which is One in essence, for without this
faith no one can live the true life.
With all your heart hope on the Lord,
and you will easily evade the wiles of the wicked one, for the Lord does not
forsake those who work for Him.
From A Spiritual Psalter by our Holy Father St Ephraim
of