EIGHTH BOOK Against the Cursed Thoughts of Pride

Against the thought of pride that said to me, “I am the Lord’s holy one”

You are cursed above all cattle and all the beasts upon the earth. You will go on your breast and on your belly, and you will eat dirt all the days of your life.

Against the thought of pride that glorifies me and exalts me on the pretext that I am pure and no longer receive filthy thoughts

Now I have begun to speak to my Lord, but I am earth and ashes.

Against the blasphemous thought that denied that God feeds me and that rejects the angel that assists me

God, who continues to feed me from my youth until this day; the angel, who rescues me from all evils.

Against the soul that wants to learn what the proud demons say when they see us investigating spiritual matters

Let the tasks of these people be burdensome, and let them care about these things and not care about empty words.

Against the proud thought that rejected the salvation of God, by whose help we defeat the seven other demons, the companions of the demon of pride

Let us sing to the Lord, for he is greatly glorified: horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. He was to me a helper and protector for salvation.

To the Lord concerning the thought of pride that glorifies me on the pretext that by my great strength I have cast down the demons of sadness

Your right hand, Lord, has been glorified in strength; your right hand, Lord, has broken the enemies. And in the abundance of your glory you have broken the adversaries to pieces.

Against the thoughts of pride that compel the soul to scorn the holy angels on the pretext that they cannot instruct it about the mistakes that it makes, so that it abandons them because it thinks these things and it succumbs again to the filthy demons, that is, the thoughts of pride

Look, I am sending my angel before you, so that he may keep you on the way and lead you into the land that I have prepared for you. Pay attention to him and listen to him, and do not disobey him, for he will not give way to you, for my name is upon him.

Against the thought of pride that advised us to scorn our holy fathers on the pretext that they have not labored in their way of life any more than we have

You shall rise before a venerable face, and you shall honor the face of an elder, and you shall fear your God.

Against the blasphemous thought that sends the intellect into utter ruin

Whichever human being curses God shall bear his sin. Whoever names the name of the Lord, let him perish utterly; let the entire congregation of Israel stone him with stones.

To the Lord because blasphemous thoughts persist in us and destroy the frankness of prayer

Arise, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered; let all that hate you flee.

Against the soul that does not know the beauty of knowledge and is convinced by the demon that has advised it to shun the knowledge of Christ and the holy commandments, which it [the demon] belittles before our eyes

But from among those who spied out the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh tore their garments and said to the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, “The land that we surveyed is very good. If the Lord chose us, he will lead us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not depart from the Lord.”

Against the blasphemous thought that made us consider whether God is in us or not

You shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Against the soul that proudly supposes that by its own strength it has conquered the demons that oppose our doing the commandments

Do not say in your heart, “My strength and the might of my hand have made for me this great power.” But you shall remember the Lord your God, who gives you the strength.

Against the intellect that has supposed that because of its righteousness and justice it has defeated its enemies and has entered and inherited the knowledge of Christ

When the Lord your God has destroyed these enemies from before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to inherit this good land.” Not because of your righteousness and not because of your heart’s holiness do you go in to inherit their land; rather, because of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord will destroy them from before you.

Against the demon that said to me that all people bless me and that I am the progenitor of sages

You are cursed in the city, and you are cursed in the field. Cursed are your barns and your storehouses. Cursed are the offspring of your belly and the fruits of your land.

Against the blasphemous thought that denied the free will that is in us and said that we sin and are justified not by our own will and therefore condemnation is not decreed justly

Look, I have set before you this day life and death, good and evil.

Against the thoughts of the soul that is not aware that it should not suppose that every angel that suddenly appears to it belongs to the Lord, rather only if, when it speaks, it gives joy and perfect peace to the soul, after its appearance had brought trembling and fear—but the demons in their appearance do not impart this peace; rather, they cast great fear and trembling into the soul and body, and through their hollow voice they bring agitation and disorder upon the heart

And it happened that when Joshua was in Jericho, he looked up and saw with his eyes a person standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua approached him and said, “Do you belong to us or our enemies?” And he said to him, “It is I, the general of the Lord’s hosts, who has now come.” And Joshua fell on his face on the earth and said to him, “Lord, what do you command your servant?.”

Against the thought of pride that denied God’s grace

If a man should sin greatly against a man, still they will pray for him to the Lord. But if he sins against the Lord, who will pray for him?

Against the soul that wants and is pleased to kneel, and works to humiliate the blasphemous demon that stops our ceaseless prayers

And Elijah went up to Carmel and stooped to the ground and put his face between his knees.

Against the soul that is shaken by the frightening thoughts of blasphemy and falls away from the frankness of prayer

Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, by which the Assyrian king’s slaves have blasphemed. Look, I am putting a spirit in him, and he will hear a report, and he will return to his own land, and I will overthrow him with the sword in his own land.

To the Lord concerning the words by which the demon spoke in us unspeakable blasphemies against the Lord, things that I cannot write, lest I shake heaven and earth; for in anger this demon stands without fear and speaks great blasphemy against God and the holy angels—those who have been tempted by it understand what I am saying—and at the time of this temptation what is excellent is fasting, reading of the Scriptures, and unceasing prayers offered with tears

Lord God of Israel, who dwells over the cherubim, you are the only God in all the kingdoms of the earth; you made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; and hear the words of Semmacherim, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

To the Lord concerning the thought of pride that denied that the victory comes from God

From you comes victory, and from you comes wisdom, and yours is the glory, and I am your servant. Blessed are you, who gave me wisdom, and I confess you, ruler of our fathers.

To the Lord concerning blasphemous thoughts that have persisted in me

Lord my God, in you I have hoped: save me from all those who persecute me, and rescue me, lest he ever seize my soul like a lion, without anyone to ransom or to save.

To the Lord concerning the demon of pride that has approached us and that often appears like an angel of light (cf. 2 Cor 11:14), leading a great army of demons with it

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of sinners shake me.

To the Lord concerning the thought of pride that denied God’s help and attributed victory to its own strength

For I will not hope in my bow, and my sword will not save me. For you saved us from those who afflict us, and you have put to shame those who hate us.

Against the demon that promises to interpret the Scriptures for us—we should say as our holy father Macarius said

To the sinner God has said, “Why do you declare my ordinances and take my covenant with your mouth? You hated my instruction and cast my words behind you.”

Against the proud thoughts that surround the intellect and cast it into great ruin

How long will you besiege a human being? You are all slaughtering by means of a bent wall and a broken fence.

To the Lord concerning proud thoughts that have persisted in us and have caused the intellect to lack frankness at the time of prayer

The words of lawless persons have overpowered me, but as for you, pardon our sins.

Against the thoughts of blasphemy that said unspeakable things concerning the Lord

Do not lift high your horn, and do not speak unrighteousness against God.

Against the thought of pride that glorifies me on the pretext that I edify souls with a stable way of life and knowledge of God

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless the Lord guards the city, the guards keep watch in vain.

Against the proud thought that derides the brothers on the pretext, “Look, they are neglecting the service of the commandments”

The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Against the soul that wants to learn what the cruel demons’ food is

For they live on the bread of impiety and get drunk on the wine of transgression.

Against the proud thought that has prevented me from seeing the brothers on the pretext that they are no better than I am in knowledge

A person who travels with the wise will be wise, but the one who travels with fools will be recognized.

Against the proud thought that at a time of severe and prolonged temptation prevents me from entreating the Lord through the brothers

A brother who is helped by a brother is like a strong and high city.

Against the proud thought that considered me pure and victorious

Who will boast that he has a pure heart? Or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?

Against the proud thought that called success fear

Blessed is the man who cowers before all things because of piety, but the hard-hearted one will fall into evils.

Against the proud thoughts that are puffed up against the brothers because of our fleshly birth and suppose that it is glorious

Everything goes to one place: everything came from the dust, and everything will return to the dust.

Against the proud thought that shows me the brothers’ sins

For there is not a righteous person on earth who will do good and not sin.

Against the demon that said to me, “Look, you have become a perfect monk”

There is hope because a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Against the demons that “heal” the mature person of humility [and bring him] to the pride of the sick

But you are all unjust physicians and healers of diseases.

Against the thoughts that seize the intellect into blasphemy against God

Do you not speak before the Lord and utter deceit before him?

Against the proud thought that recounted for me the brothers’ sins

For who will be pure from uncleanness? Not even one, even if his life were one day upon the earth and he can count its months.

Against the soul that, due to the pride that has seized it, supposes that its way of life is like an acceptable offering before God

For what does it concern the Lord if you were blameless in your works?

Against the thought of the demon that compelled the intellect to commit impiety in heaven

The Lord rebuke you, devil, and the Lord rebuke you, he who has chosen Jerusalem.

Against the proud thought that exalts me as if I were a wise man

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and knowing in their own estimation.

Against the soul that is not convinced that nothing alarms the demons and casts them into fear except the knowledge of Christ, which unmasks all their strategies and uncovers the cruelty of their secret thoughts

And the land of the Jews will serve as a terror to the Egyptians: whoever will name it to them they will fear because of the counsel that the Lord of hosts has desired concerning it.

Against the proud and blasphemous thoughts that make the demons gods

So speak to them: “Let the gods that did not make heaven and earth perish from the earth and from under this heaven.”

To the Lord concerning the thought of pride that glorifies me and has said, “Look, you have been victorious over your enemies”

I know, Lord, that the way of the human being is not his own: a man will not go and direct his own travel.

Against the soul that is saddened by a blasphemous thought

For the Lord will not reject forever. For he that brought down will have pity, even according to the abundance of his mercy. He has not answered from his heart, and he has brought low the sons of a man.

To the Lord concerning the blasphemous thoughts that cover the intellect at the time of prayer

You have visited in wrath and have driven us away. You have killed and have not shown pity. You have veiled yourself with a cloud because of prayer, so that I will be blind and cast off. You have placed us among the nations.

Against the proud demon that names itself God

Will you actually say, “It is I who am God,” before those who kill you? But you are a human being and not God. You will perish at the hands of foreigners among the multitude of the uncircumcised, for I have spoken, says the Lord.

Against the soul that despises a brother on the pretext that he is negligent and not diligent and, because it is bound by the fetters of pride, does not recognize the magnitude of this sin

Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

Against the blasphemous demon that has spoken lies—the unclean foods are thoughts

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.

Against the soul that is oppressed by thoughts of pride and does not know how to drive them out from it

This kind can come out only through prayer and fasting.

For the proud intellect that desires to be first among the brothers

Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.

Against the proud thought that supposed that it need do nothing more than God’s commandments

We are worthless slaves; we have only done what we ought to have done.

Against the proud thought that justifies itself and is not pleased by what is accomplished by the brothers in weakness

For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Against the proud thought that despises a brother who does not eat and considers him to be weak on the pretext, “He is not able to stand in the battle when eating, and therefore he has given himself to fasting”

Those who eat must not despise those who abstain.

Against the proud thought that passed judgment on the one who eats on the pretext, “It is because he cannot control himself ”

And those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat.

Against the proud thought that glorifies me on the pretext, “I am able not only not to be enslaved to the belly, but also to conquer anger”

It was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Against the soul that is not convinced that even Satan himself imitates an angel of truth and becomes a teacher of false knowledge

Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.

Against the proud thoughts that despise the brothers who stumble because of their faults

My brothers, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.

Against the proud thought that exalts me on the pretext that I have attained perfection in the service of the commandments

Not that I have already attained this or have already been made perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Against the proud thought that exalts me on the pretext that there is no image of sin in my thinking

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Against the soul’s thoughts that request from the Lord the soul’s health until the end

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.