FIRST BOOK Against the Thoughts of Gluttony

Against the thoughts that seek without the labor of fasting to cultivate the rational land

Issachar has desired that which is good, resting between the inheritances. And because he saw that the resting place is good and the land is fertile, he subjected his shoulder to labor and became a farmer.

Against the thought that says to me, “Do not torment your soul with a lot of fasting that gains you nothing and does not purify your intellect”

He made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who fasted, who fasted by the doors of the tabernacle of witness, in the day in which he set it up.

Against the thoughts that stir up in us the desire to eat meat on a feast day and that advise us also to eat on account of the body’s illness

And to the people say, “Purify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat.... You shall not eat one day, not two, not five days, not ten days, and not twenty days. For a month of days you shall eat, until it [the meat] comes out of your nostrils. And it shall be nausea to you because you disobeyed the Lord, who is among you.”

Against the thought that seeks to be filled with food and drink and gives no heed to the harm that springs from filling the belly

Having eaten and been filled, pay attention to yourself, lest you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Against the thought that says to me, “The command to fast is burdensome”

The command that I give you this day is not burdensome, nor is it far from you.

Against the thought that desires to be filled with food and drink and supposes that nothing evil for the soul comes from them

And Jacob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked; he grew fat and became thick and broad, and he abandoned the God who made him and departed from God his Savior.

Against the thought of gluttony that compels me to eat at the ninth hour

God do so to me and more besides if I eat bread or anything else before the sun goes down.

Against the thought that suggests to me the loss of bread, oil, and other things that we need

Thus says the Lord, “The jar of meal will not run out, and the jug of oil will not be diminished, until the day when the Lord gives rain upon the earth.”

Against the soul that wants to follow the path of the saints while being full of bread and water

And the king of Israel said, “Take Michaias and send him to Semer the ruler of the city, and tell Joas the ruler’s son to put him in prison and to have him eat bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace.”

Against the thought that says to us, “Look, the provisions that we have gathered are not sufficient both for us and for the brothers who come to us”

For thus says the Lord, “They will eat and leave [some remaining].” And they ate and left [some remaining], according to the word of the Lord.

Against the thought that embitters me in the life of harsh poverty

The Lord shepherds me, and I will lack nothing.

Against the thought that, even when there is no scarcity, gathers more bread than it needs, on the pretext of hospitality

I was young, and I have indeed grown old. I have not seen a righteous person abandoned or his progeny seeking bread.

Against the thought that is attentive to food and clothing, but rejects attention to the truth

I will declare my iniquity and I will attend to my sin.

Against the thoughts that advise us and say, “Do not live so severely; through fasting and constant labor you will wear out your weak body”

And he labored forever, and he will live to the end, so that he will not see corruption when he sees sages dying.

Against the thought that says to me, “Do not wear yourself out so unsparingly and afflict your soul by keeping vigil”

A broken and contrite heart God will not despise.

Against the thought that is anxious about food and drink and diligent about where it can get them

Cast your anxiety upon the Lord, and he will sustain you.

Against the thought that suggests to me, “Keeping vigil does not benefit you at all; rather, it gathers many thoughts against you”

I have watched and have become like a sparrow dwelling alone on a roof.

Against the thought that rebukes us because we abstain from oil and that does not remember that David did this and said

My knees have become weak from fasting, and my flesh has been altered by [the lack of] oil.

Against the thoughts that hinder us from our way of life by instilling fear in us and saying, “A miserable death results from austere fasting”

I will not die, but live, and I will recount the Lord’s works.

Against the thoughts that persuade me to desist a little from keeping frequent vigils and to give a little rest to the weak and miserable body

I will not go into the tabernacle of my house; I will not get up upon the couch of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes nor drowsiness to my eyelids nor rest to my temples, until I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

Against the thought that predicts to us that famine or great affliction is coming soon

The Lord will not famish a righteous soul, but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.

Against the thought that suggests to me desire for wine on the pretext that the liver and spleen are harmed by water

He who takes pleasure in banquets of wine will leave dishonor in his strongholds.

Against the thought that is bound by concern about the desire for foods and rejects concern about achievements in virtue

With everyone who is careful there is abundance, but the pleasure-taking and the indolent will be in want.

Against the thought that weeps over simple foods and dry bread

A morsel with pleasure in peace is better than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices with strife.

Against the thoughts that persuade us on a feast day to show a little mercy to our body by offering it a few delicacies

Delight does not suit a fool, [nor is it proper] if a servant begins to rule with arrogance.

Against the thought that, in the absence of serious illness, coaxes us to drink wine and prophesies to us about pain in the stomach and the entire digestive system

Wine is an intemperate thing, and drunkenness leads to insolence, and anyone who is tangled up in it is no sage.

Against the thought that seizes our intellect so that we bind ourselves to our fast and our ascetic practice by our oaths, something that is foreign to the monastic way of life

It is a trap for a man hastily to consecrate some of his possessions, for regret comes after the making of the vow.

Against the thought that hinders us by suggesting that we not give from our bread to those in need and by saying to me, “That person can [find mercy] anywhere, but we cannot approach any stranger’s door”

The one who shows mercy will himself be supported, for he gave to the poor from his own bread.

Against the thoughts that on a feast day gently approach us and say to us that we might just once in a long stretch of time taste meat and wine

Do not be a wine-drinker, and do not stay long at feasts and sales of meat, for every drunkard and customer of prostitutes will be poor, and every sluggard will clothe himself in tattered and ragged garments.

Against the thought that recalls delicacies of the past and remembers pleasant wines and the cups that we used to hold in our hands when we would recline at table and drink

For if you set your eyes on bowls and cups, you later will go more naked than a pestle. At the end he stretches himself out like someone struck by a snake and through whom venom is diffused as by a horned serpent.

Against the thoughts that entice us to fill our belly with bread and water

Do not give the bed of a righteous man to a sinner, and do not go astray in satiety of the couch.

Against the thoughts that we have in opposition to the shame in which we respect the fathers when they persuade us to relax the fast and to eat vegetables during a feast

For there is a shame that brings sin, and a shame that is glory and grace.

Against the demon that persuades me through its flattery and says to me with promises, “You will no longer suffer any harm from food and drink because your body is weak and dry from prolonged fasting”

A weeping enemy promises everything with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceits.

Against the thought that shows me God’s commandments as if they were difficult and tells me that they bring many difficulties and miseries upon the body and soul

The wounds of a friend are more trustworthy than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.

Against the thought that asks for a little wine in the absence of illness and says to me, “Look, it was for the sake of human beings that wine was created”

He has made all things beautiful in his season.

Against the thought that reminds me of past feasting and drinking and wants [to return to] this custom

It is better to go into a house of mourning than to go into a house of drinking.

Against the vain thought that persuades us to extend our discipline beyond what is appropriate by putting sackcloth on our loins, setting out for the desert, living continuously under the sky, and tending wild plants; and that advises us as well to flee from the sight of human beings who comfort us and who are comforted by us

Do not be very righteous or especially wise, lest you be deceived.

Against the thoughts that remind us of past feasts and show us the difficulty that has occurred

If we have received good things from the Lord’s hand, shall we not endure evil things?

Against the soul’s thought that travels to its corporeal kinfolk and finds a table filled with all kinds of foods

Get up and leave, for this is not your place of rest because of uncleanness.

Against the thought of gluttony that on feast days enumerates for me many people reclining at the finest table, exulting and rejoicing

But I will exult in the Lord and rejoice in God my Savior.

Against the thoughts that remind us of pleasures and of a table that has been filled with all good things and praise these things as better than the monastic life

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who make darkness light and light darkness, who make bitter sweet and sweet bitter.

Against the soul’s thought that has become tired and weary of the hunger that comes with little bread and scant water

And the Lord will give you bread of affliction and scant water, and yet those who deceive you will no longer come near you; for your eyes will see those who deceive you, and your ears will hear the words of those who went after you to lead you astray.

To the Lord concerning the infirmity of my body, which has been weakened by much fasting and diminished by an austere discipline, and concerning my soul, which is filled with evil thoughts of fornication

Lord, remember me and visit me, and vindicate me from before those who persecute me without delay. Know how I have received reproach for your sake from those who set at naught your words.

To the Lord concerning the demon that chills the stomach and all the sinews of the body, and casts great weakness into the body as if from hunger and prolonged illness

See, Lord, that I am afflicted, that my belly is troubled and my heart is turned within me.

Against the soul that is not satisfied with bread for food and water for drink, but wants vegetables along with these, and does not remember the affliction of the seeds that Daniel and his companions ate

Then Daniel said to Amelsad, whom the chief eunuch had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your children for ten days, and give us seeds, and let us eat, and let us drink water. And let our appearance be seen by you and the appearance of the children that eat at the king’s table, and deal with your servants as you see.” And he listened to them and tested them for ten days. And at the end of the ten days, their appearance looked better and stronger in flesh than the children who ate at the king’s table. And Amelsad took away their supper and the wine of their drink, and he gave them seeds.

Against the soul that at the time of attack wants to find strong armor

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Against the thoughts that are anxious about food and clothing on the pretexts of hospitality, illnesses, and prolonged miseries of the body

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Against the soul that is bound by gluttony and supposes that by refreshing the body with delicacies it travels the road of life

For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who take it.

Against the thought that hinders us from giving to the needy from our food and clothing on the pretexts, “The provisions are not enough for both us and them” or “There is someone weaker or in greater need than this person, and we should give to that person rather than this one, for this one is lazy and wants to eat and be clothed without working”

Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.

Against the soul that loves the desires and collects food and clothing for itself alone

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Against the soul that grows weary in the affliction that comes upon it from restriction of bread and water

It is through many afflictions that we must enter the kingdom of God.

Against the thoughts that persuade us to show a little care for our body by eating and drinking

Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Against the thoughts that entice us to be comforted with a little treat of vegetables

The weak eat vegetables.

Against the thought that at harvest time casts into us the desire for fruits

Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.

Against the thoughts that arise in us because of great need and that gradually relax the soul’s vigor

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.

Against the thought that depicts before our eyes a disease of the stomach, liver, and spleen, and a blowing that exceeds [the capacity of ] the navel

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

Against the thoughts that arise in us as our entire body becomes gradually corrupted

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Against the thought that arouses compassion in us, persuades us to give to the poor, and afterward makes us sad and annoyed about what we gave

Not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver, and the one who has compassion on the poor will be supported.

Against the thought that depicts in us severe weakness from diseases that are about to arise in us from fasting, and that persuades us to eat a little cooked food

For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Against the thought that wants to be filled with wine on a feast day

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.

Against the thoughts that make our soul neither want to gather provisions through manual labor nor be persuaded to receive something from its family because they are poor and reside at a great distance, but rather advise it to fill its need from others

The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Against the thought that predicts to me hunger and loss of bread and suggests to me the disgrace of receiving a favor from others

In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Against the thought that hinders us from working with our hands and persuades us to expect to receive what we need from others

But we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Against the thinking that hinders us from working with our hands and compels us to eat bread and to fill ourselves

Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.

Against the thought that says that the monastic discipline is difficult and extremely burdensome, that through affliction it cruelly lays waste to our body, and that it does not profit the soul

Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Against the thinking that is diligent about food and neglects compassion for the needy

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Against the thought that, in the absence of pain in the stomach and severe illnesses, advises us to drink wine by suggesting to us the blessed Apostle’s direction when in his letter he commanded Timothy on this point

Keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Against the thoughts that turn us back toward the world and its commandments

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Against the thought that supposes that the commandment to fast is burdensome

And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.