Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

O Lord, who will dwell in Your tabernacle?
And who will dwell on Your holy mountain?
The one who walks blamelessly and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart,
Who does not deceive with his tongue,
Neither does evil to his neighbor;
And does not find fault with those nearest him.
He disdains those who do evil in his presence,
But he holds in honor those who fear the Lord;
He swears an oath to his neighbor and does not set it aside.
He does not lend his money at interest,
And he does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. (Ps 14:1–5 LXX [Ps 15:1–5])

David sees fit to ask God who are those ever freed from the enemy and from every recurring difficulty, and who will enjoy uninterrupted possession of Jerusalem. Having asked this in his own person, he presents God replying on His own account that only those people devoted to virtue and piety like Hezekiah and all of his company.… Who else if not a person like this: whoever is interested in the way of life of the faultless and attends to righteousness as far as possible. Then by way of commentary on what truth is: whoever did harm neither to foreigner nor to family so as to be reproached for not even sparing kith or kin.

Whoever abhors the wicked, even if they are very rich, will live in honor and respect. There is therefore need to consider how in the apparent reply of God complete instruction in virtue emerges, the intention being for a person firstly to attend to piety and righteousness, then to keep one’s distance from all wicked behavior, and after this not to admire the deportment of the rich if piety does not accompany wealth. On the other hand, one should have especial regard for the poor provided they did not have a change of heart for the worse as a result of poverty and instead continued to be devoted to a godly way of life. He wants such a person to not to have recourse to oaths, but if at some time forced to take one, not to swear falsely; he goes on, in fact He swears an oath to his neighbor and does not set it aside. He next teaches that such a person should not be greedy or given to usury. His further wish is that such a person should also be careful about upright behavior in giving judgment and should not be partial to bribes: he did not accept bribes to give an adverse verdict against the innocent and condemn him. His comment on all this as though coming equally from God: He who does these things will never be shaken.

Diodore of Tarsus, Commentary on Psalms