Зависть

Dead and rotten flies spoil the oil (Eccl. 10:1), says someone, but envy cannot harm good, even if it wants, for the truth, as I reason with Ezra, is stronger than anything (2Ezra 4:35) (1). Oh, if only envy would be destroyed among people, this ulcer for those possessed by it, this poison for those suffering from it, this one of the most unjust and at the same time just passions - an unjust passion because it disturbs the peace of all the good, and a fair passion because it dries out those who feed it! For I will not wish harm upon those who at first praised me. They did not know what the end of these praises would be; otherwise, perhaps, they would have added censure to praise in order to put a barrier to envy. Envy also darkened the Angel, who fell from arrogance. Being divine, he could not resist recognizing himself as a god and expelled Adam from paradise, taking possession of him through voluptuousness and his wife (see Gen. 3:23), for he assured him that the tree of knowledge was forbidden to him for a time out of envy, so that he would not become a god. Envy also made Cain a fratricide, who could not tolerate the fact that another victim was holier than his. Envy covered the evil world with waters and drowned the Sodomites with fire. Envy swallowed up the earth Dathan and Abiron, who rebelled against Moses (see Numbers 16:32), and struck Miriam with leprosy, who grumbled only against her brother (see Numbers 12:10). Envy stained the earth with the blood of the prophets and, through its wives, shook the wise Solomon. Envy also made Judas a traitor, who was seduced by a few pieces of silver and deserved to be strangled; she produced both Herod, the child killer, and Pilate, the Christ killer. Envy humiliated and scattered Israel, who to this day has not risen from this sin. Envy has also brought back to us this apostate tormentor, 94 from which coals still remain now, although we have escaped the flame. Envy also split the beautiful body of the Church, dividing it into different and opposing groups. Envy has also raised up among us Jeroboam, that servant of sin, 95 and puts bonds on the tongue. He does not tolerate the shining Trinity, which illuminates us with the entire Divinity and makes His true preachers worthy for you (1). Do not envy the prosperous one, who himself aroused envy towards himself, believed that you were envied, and through this was deposed (1). They say about one Samian king 96, who was successful in everything, that, to please his envy, he caused grief to himself and threw his father’s beloved ring into the sea. But the fish that swallowed him was caught in the net; the fisherman brought the fish to the king, the king gave it to the servant with a ring that was in its interior; and the belly received the fish, and the hand received the ring. Amazing thing! The king wanted grief, but did not find it. So it is with me. Envy always looks at my word with wild eyes; That’s why I chose the depth of silence for myself and until now I imitate the Sam. But I don’t know clearly what will happen tomorrow: a good or bad end will meet me. You, healer of men, stop envy and, having freed me from cruel tongues, bring me into Your lordship, where I, magnifying You with ever-living lights, could proclaim with my lips a harmonious song (2). It’s good to protect something from moths and envy. It is better to have Christ as a debtor than to possess everything. Christ gives the kingdom for one piece of bread, and by feeding the poor, you feed and clothe Christ (2). It is pleasant to arouse envy, but it is very shameful to envy yourself (2). Envy is contrition about the success of your neighbors, and slander, moreover, harms out of envy. But reproaching vicious people is a commendable passion (2). Our eyes are so darkened by this passion either for vain glory or for wealth and this terrible malicious envy that withers a person and rightly consumes itself with sorrow (2)! According to the remark of Ilia and Maxim Kinik You might be interested in: