Letter 12

To the same. Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope in his mercy [Psalm 32:18 LXX / 33:18]. He who does not expect to be justified by works has as his only hope of salvation the compassions of God; for when he hears that God will render to each according to his works [cf. Romans 2:6; Psalm 61:13 LXX / 62:12], and reckons up his own works of sin, he indeed fears the punishment and cowers at the things threatened. But, so as not to be swallowed up by grief [cf. 2 Corinthians 2:7], he is of good hope toward the compassions of God, looking to him who loves mankind.

Ἰδοὺ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν, τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ. Ὁ μὴ προσδοκῶν ἐξ ἔργων δικαιωθῆναι, μόνην ἔχει ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας τοὺς οἰκτιρμοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ ἀκούσῃ ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ λογίσηται ἑαυτοῦ τὰ ἔργα τῆς ἁμαρτίας, φοβεῖται μὲν τὴν κόλασιν, καὶ ὑποπτήσσει τοῖς ἀπειλουμένοις. Πρὸς δὲ τὸ μὴ καταποθῆναι ὑπὸ τῆς λύπης, εὐελπὶς ἐστὶ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκτιρμοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ ἀποβλέπων.