Letter 893

To Adrian. Though you have prayed many times and met with no success, do not grow weary. Do not despair either, but renew your petitions [libelloi, written supplications] to God and approach the Master with shameless persistence; for in times of necessity persistence is preferred over modesty. For on account of his persistence there will be given to him as much as he wants, just as the Lord said [an allusion to Luke 11:8, the parable of the importunate friend].

Πλειστάκις δεηθείς, καὶ ἀποτυχὼν, μὴ ἀποκάμῃς. μηδὲ ἀπελπίσης, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνακαινίσας τοὺς πρὸς Θεὸν λιβέλλους, πρόσελθε ἀναιδῶς τῷ Δεσπότῃ· προτιμᾶται γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ἀνάγκαις τῆς αἰδοῦς ἡ ἀναίδεια. Διὰ γὰρ τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ ὅσον θέλει, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος.