Letter 310

To Socrates the Presbyter. God, having constituted all things by his own goodness, provides for all, looking not to the merit of those for whom he provides, but to that which in himself is elective and bestows every good. For this reason he also gives nourishment, in mercy and compassion, to those who look up to him. And this would be what is said by the Psalm: "Merciful and compassionate is the Lord; he gives food to those who fear him." [Psalm 110:4-5 LXX, that is Psalm 111 in the Hebrew numbering]

Τῇ οἰκείᾳ ὁ θεὸς ἀγαθότητι τὰ πάντα συστησά- μενος, προνοεῖ πάντων, οὐκ εἰς τὸ κατ’ ἀξίαν τῶν ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ προνοουμένων βλέπων, ἀλλ’ εἰς τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἐκλεκτικόν τε καὶ παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ παρεκτικόν. Διὰ καὶ τροφὴν ἐλέῳ καὶ οἰκτιρμῷ δίδωσι τοῖς εἰς αὐτὸν ἀναβλέπουσιν. Καὶ τοῦτο ἂν εἴη τὸ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ψαλμοῦ λεγόμενον, ὅτι «Ἐλεήμων, καὶ οἰκτίρμων ὁ Κύριος τροφὴν δίδωσι τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν.»