Do Not Boast about Tomorrow 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring forth.
Apostolic Constitutions · AD 380 He that says, "When I am dying I will be baptized, lest I should sin and defile my baptism," is ignorant of God and forgetful of his own nature. For "do not delay to turn to the Lord, for you do not know what the next day will bring forth." Baptize also your infants, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of God.
Nilus of Sinai · AD 451 He that says, "When I am dying I will be baptized, lest I should sin and defile my baptism," is ignorant of God and forgetful of his own nature. For "do not delay to turn to the Lord, for you do not know what the next day will bring forth." Baptize also your infants, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of God.
Bede · AD 735 Do not boast about tomorrow, etc. Do not ever be secure about the future, because even if you see yourself serving the Lord today, you cannot at all foresee what you might become in the future or how you may end your life. For blessed is the man who is always fearful (Prov. XXVIII).
2 Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth; a foreigner, and not your own lips.
Gregory of Nyssa · AD 395 Amidst the details of that melancholy history we should be forced to make mention of ourselves; and if we did anything in those struggles for our religion that redounds to our honour in the telling, Wisdom commands us to leave it to others to tell.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 If I seem arrogant to you, it is for this reason, that I bear testimony to myself. For every person, when he wishes to bear praiseworthy testimony to himself, seems arrogant and proud. So it has been written, "Let not your own mouth praise you, but let the mouth of your neighbor praise you."
Cyril of Alexandria · AD 444 No one crowns himself, and that person is justly ridiculed who devises praises for himself, for it is written, "Let your neighbor praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." Though hypocrites may be able possibly to remain undetected and thus to seize the honors that people bestow, yet God knows your hearts.
3 The weight of a stone and the burden of sand — but the vexation of a stubborn fool is heavier than both.
Bede · AD 735 The stone is heavy, etc. It is indeed quite grievous for anyone to be weighed down by even a single capital crime, as if by the weight of a stone, or to be burdened by countless lighter sins, like pebbles or sand; but the anger of a fool is heavier than both, because these sins, once revealed as certainly evil as they are, more sharply prick the soul to chastise.
4 Rage is cruel and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?
Bede · AD 735 Anger holds no mercy, etc. This is not said of all anger, for of a most mild and modest man it is written that he went out from Pharaoh in great anger (Exod. X). But he speaks of the anger of a fool, which he mentioned in the preceding verse, which loses the bowels of compassion once it has flared up, only knowing to loosen its reins in its own fury.
5 Better an uncovered rebuke than love that is hidden.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 It is surely clear that concealing sin contributes to the death of the sick person, "for the sting of death is sin," says the Scripture, and also, "Open rebukes are better than hidden love." Let no one, therefore, conceal a sin in behalf of another, lest fratricide take the place of fraternal charity.
Bede · AD 735 Better is open rebuke, etc. Hidden love in this place is called improper love, such as adulterous love, which due to its shamefulness is rightfully hidden from the wise to avoid reproach; to which rightfully open rebuke is preferred, as it is undoubtedly better to rebuke someone openly with the intent of correction than to sin secretly out of a shared intent.
6 Faithful are the wounds of one who loves, but the kisses of one who hates are excessive.
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 The wounds of love are good too, better than kisses. For "useful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." Peter wounds, and Judas kisses. But the kiss condemned Judas because it carried a traitorous venom; the wound inflicted by Peter also cured him because he washed away his fault with tears.
Maximus of Turin · AD 465 When one who is loved is chastised, a pious act is exercised in his regard, for love has its wounds as well, which are all the sweeter for the harshness of their infliction. For a religious chastisement is sweeter than easy forgiveness, which is why the prophet says, "Sweeter are the wounds of a friend than the freely offered kisses of an enemy."
Bede · AD 735 Better are the wounds of a friend, etc. It is better to endure wounds and affliction from the Lord, who as a father instructs us as children, than to be deceived by the flattery of the devil, who, to deprive us of our heavenly inheritance, is accustomed to favor our errors, as if what we do is a light evil, and the tribulation we endure beyond the measure of our sins is inflict…
7 A satisfied soul tramples a honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Bede · AD 735 The soul sated will trample upon the honeycomb, etc. The soul of the rich, who have their consolation and are told by the Lord, Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger (Luke VI), spurns the sweetness of the heavenly kingdom when preached; but the soul of those who hunger and thirst for justice finds it sweet to endure even the adversities of the world for the Lord, indeed…
8 Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a man wandering from his place.
Bede · AD 735 Like a bird flying away from its nest, etc. Just as a bird that neglects the eggs or chicks it was fostering and leaves them to be taken by other birds or animals, so indeed he who abandons the protection of the virtues in which he was progressing becomes a betrayer to the same virtues he seemed to possess, surrendering them to unclean spirits.
9 Oil and incense make the heart glad, and the sweetness of one’s friend comes from counsel of the soul.
10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better a near neighbor than a far brother.
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 Solomon says, "Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off." For this reason a person generally trusts himself to the good will of a friend rather than to the ties of relationship to his brother. So far does good will prevail that it often goes beyond the pledges given by nature.
Bede · AD 735 Better is a neighbor close by, etc. It is better for you to have a neighbor who binds your soul with fraternal association than a brother who neglects to share common rights of faith and piety with you. The Lord clearly proved this in the parable of the wounded man by robbers, who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and of the Samaritan, who took care of him.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so I may return a word to the one who reproaches me.
12 A shrewd man sees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
13 Take his garment, for he has gone surety for a stranger; and for a foreign woman, hold him in pledge.
14 One who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning — it will be reckoned to him as a curse.
Bede · AD 735 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, etc. He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice extols him with the favor of excessive praise; either by favoring his evil deeds against justice, or by praising his good deeds more than is just.
15 A continual dripping on a day of steady rain and a woman of discords are alike.
John Cassian · AD 435 Just as no house ever falls to the ground by a sudden collapse, but only when there is some flaw of long standing in the foundation, or when by long continued neglect of its inmates, what was at first only a little drip finds its way through, and so the protecting walls are by degrees ruined, and in consequence of long standing neglect the gap becomes larger, and breaks away, a…
16 Whoever hides her hides the wind, and his right hand meets oil.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the face of his friend.
Bede · AD 735 Iron sharpens iron, etc. The consultation and advice of the wise is quite good, where they instruct each other by consulting, iron sharpens iron.
18 One who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and one who keeps his master will be honored.
19 As water reflects face to face, so the heart of a man to a man.
Desert Fathers · AD 500 This story was told: There were three friends, serious men, who became monks. One of them chose to make peace between men who were at odds, as it is written, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matt. 5:9). The second chose to visit the sick. The third chose to go away to be quiet in solitude.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are not satisfied, and the eyes of a man are not satisfied.
Bede · AD 735 Hell and destruction will not be full, etc. The torments of hell will not be filled, by receiving an end; similarly, the intentions of those who are wise in human matters are insatiable in the desire to sin. And hence they pay the penalties without end because they had the will to sin without end, if they had the nature to live without end.
21 A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold, and a man according to his praise.
22 Though you pound a stubborn fool in a mortar with a pestle among the grain, his folly will not turn from him.
23 Know well the face of your flock; set your heart to the herds,
Cyril of Alexandria · AD 444 It is not fitting to address simply to all who have believed in Christ instruction upon all points, for it is written, "With knowledge learn the souls of your flock." For the way is very different by which we establish in the paths of truth one who has but just now become a disciple, from one more confirmed in mind and able to understand what is the height and depth, and what t…
Bede · AD 735 Diligently know the countenance of your flock, etc. It is said to the pastor of the Church: Diligently care for those who it happens to you to be in charge of. Know the minds and actions of each one, and if you find anything in them of defiling vice, remember to correct it swiftly.
24 for wealth is not forever, nor a crown for generation and generation.
25 The grass is uncovered and the new growth appears, and the plants of the mountains are gathered.
Bede · AD 735 The meadows are open, etc. The pastures of the heavenly sacraments, which were long closed by legal types, are now open. The novelty of evangelical truth and grace has appeared; the writings of the old fathers are gathered into the pasture of the Lord's flock; indeed taken from the proud Jews by the sickle of divine retribution, and given to the humble people of the Church for…
26 Lambs are for your clothing, and goats for the price of a field.
Bede · AD 735 Lambs for your clothing, etc. He calls the innocent lambs, the penitent kids. You will be clothed with the fleece of the lambs, while you, the pastor, improve by the good manners of obedient disciples, and seeing their laudable deeds, you yourself will be more glorious both in the adornment of virtues and in the warmth of love.
27 And there is enough milk of goats for your bread, for the bread of your house, and life for your young women.
Bede · AD 735 Let the milk of the goats suffice you for your food, etc. Feed the flock entrusted to you with such diligence, that neither new milk in summer nor in cold will be lacking to you, but always it will suffice for you and yours; that is, insist so diligently on doctrine, that you also promote former penitents to the office of teaching; so that through them, who formerly seemed to b…