Fragments on Lamentations · §103

Nazirites darkened; dry wood without water

They fell out of the spiritual illumination and were melted by the intelligible famine, so as to resemble dry woods, those not planted beside the exits of the waters—such as now are the priests among them, not having spiritual good-nourishment. And according to the wording also, their faces were being blackened of extreme shame because sinning like the others they were being led away; since even now upon those being shamed custom has used the name.

Greek

Klagel. Jerem. 4, 8. Τῆς πνευματικῆς ἐξέπεσαν ἐλλάμψεως καὶ λιμῷ τῷ νοητῷ δι- ετάκησαν, ὡς ἐοικέναι ξύλοις ξηροῖς, τοῖς μὴ πεφυτευμένοις παρὰ ταῖς διεξόδοις τῶν ὑδάτων<· ὁποῖοι νῦν οἱ παρ’ αὐτοῖς ἱερεῖς ἒχοντες εὐτροφίαν εὐτροφίαν πνευματικήν. καὶ κατὰ τὸ ῥητὸν δέ, αἰσχύνης ἄκρας τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ἐμελαίνετο ὄτι τοῖς τοῖς ἄλλοις ὸμοίως ἁμαρτάνοντες ἀ.πήγοντο· ἐπεὶ καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ τῶν καταισχυνομένων ἡ συνήθεια τῷ ὀνόματι κέχρηται.

About this text

Origen, Fragments on Lamentations. Original English Translation from the Greek (Klostermann).

English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.