Letter 514

To Theophilus the Registrar [ab actis, a clerk who kept the official records of legal proceedings]. That those who speak well of the righteous man are blessed by God, and on this account obtain countless good things, while those who dare to revile him fall into incurable evils—hear what God says to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you shall be accursed" [Genesis 12:3]. And David says: "Let the deceitful lips be struck dumb, which speak iniquity against the righteous in pride and contempt" [Psalm 30:19 LXX]. You, therefore, I commend, since you always conduct yourself well and give honor to the righteous.

Ὅτι οἱ τὸν δίκαιον ἄνδρα εὐφημοῦντες εὐλογοῦν- ται παρὰ θεοῦ, καὶ μυρίων διὰ τοῦτο τυγχάνουσιν ἀγαθῶν, οἳ δὲ λοιδορεῖν τολμῶντες ἀνηκέστοις περι- πεσοῦνται κακοῖς, ἄκουον τί λέγει ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἀβραάμ· « Τροὺς εὐλογοῦντάς σε εὐλογήσω, καὶ κατάρατοι ἔσονται οἱ καταρώμενοί σε. » Καὶ ὁ Δαυΐδ φησιν· « Ἄλαλα γενηθήτω τὰ χείλη τὰ δόλια τὰ λαλοῦντα κατὰ τοῦ δικαίου ἀνομίαν ἐν ὑπερηφα- νείᾳ, καὶ ἐξουδενώσει. » Σὲ οὖν ἀποδέχομαι καλῶς πολιτευόμενον πάντοτε, καὶ τοὺς δικαίους δοξά- ζοντα.