Homilies on Genesis, Homilia IV
Three men at the oak of Mamre§1
1The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre; three men stand by him. Abraham’s hospitality — feet washed, bread brought. One speaks as the Lord; two go on toward Sodom.
Latin · §1
Apparuerunt Domino Abrahae ad ilicem Mambre tres viri. Hospitalitas Abrahae — lavant pedes, panem afferunt. Unus loquitur ut Dominus; duo pergunt ad Sodomam.
Sarah laughs; is anything too hard for the Lord?§2
2Sarah laughed in her heart. Is anything too hard for the Lord? Isaac is announced — laughter of faith and the trial of unbelief.
Latin · §2
Sara risit in corde. Numquid Domino est difficile? Annuntiatur Isaac — risus fidei et temptationis incredulitatis.
Abraham intercedes for Sodom§3
3Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? The count of the just — fifty down to ten — upholds the city. The just one’s intercession.
Latin · §3
Non abscondam ab Abraham quae facturus sum. Numerus iustorum — quinquaginta usque ad decem — sustentat civitatem. Intercessio iusti.
Lot receives the angels in Sodom§4
4Two angels come to Sodom; Lot sits in the gate and receives them. The city’s men surround the house. Lot’s offer of his daughters is the law’s shadow; the angels snatch him out.
Latin · §4
Duo angeli Sodomae; Lot in porta sedet, hospitio recipit. Circumdant viri civitatis domum. Lot offert filias — umbra legis; angeli eripiunt.
Escape to the mountain; do not look back§5
5Save your soul; do not look back. The wife becomes a pillar of salt — love of what is past. Zoar is small — modest progress still saves.
Latin · §5
Salvare animam tuam; noli respicere. Uxor in statuam salis — amor praeteritorum. Segor parva — modicus profectus salvus.
Fire on the cities — Homilia IV CLOSEOUT§6
6The Lord rained sulfur and fire. Having remembered Abraham, he frees Lot. This is Homily IV’s end on visitation and judgment. Amen.
Latin · §6
Dominus pluit sulphur et ignem. Recordatus Abraham liberat Lot. Haec Homiliae IV finis de visitatione et iudicio. Amen.