Letter 949

To Dagalaiphus. It is profitable not to defer from day to day turning back to the Lord, nor to be negligent and slothful and hesitant, but to confess one's faults. For our Master says through Isaiah: "Declare your sins first, that you may be justified." [Isaiah 43:26, Septuagint] For if you too dispose yourself in this manner, in confession and prayer and more frequent supplications, you will not be slow to hear the Lord answering you: "I am he who blots out your sins and your transgressions." [Isaiah 43:25, Septuagint]

Χρήσιμον τὸ μὴ ἀναβάλλεσθαι ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς Κύριον, μηδὲ ἀμελεῖν, καὶ ῥᾳθυμεῖν, καὶ ὀκνεῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐξομολογεῖσθαι τὰ πταίσματα. Λέγει γὰρ διὰ τοῦ Ἠσαΐου ὁ Δεσπότης ἡμῶν· « Λέγε σὺ πρῶτος τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἵνα δικαιωθῇς. » Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ σὺ τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον διατεθῇς ἐν ἐξομολογήσει, καὶ δεήσει, καὶ λιταῖς πυκνοτέραις, οὐ βραδύνεις ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ Κυρίου ἀποκρινομένου σοι· « Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐξαλείφων τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου καὶ τὰς ἀνομίας σου. »