A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Read Chapter 29
Aphrahat the Persian Sage
AD 345
Pride and arrogance have subverted many. Through pride Adam went forth from paradise, and dust became the serpent’s meat. Through pride Cain killed his brother and became a trembler and a straggler on the earth. And Ham, because he was uplifted and mocked his father, became accursed and a servant of servants to his brothers. Because of his pride Esau lost the birthright of his primogeniture; and Pharaoh, because he was hardened and uplifted, was drowned in the Red Sea, he and his host. And the sons of Eli the priest, because they were lifted up against the people, were deposed from the priesthood of the Holy One. Goliath the Philistine, because of his arrogance against David, was humbled and put to shame, and fell by his pride. And upon Abimelech the son of Gideon, who was lifted up against his brothers and slew them, came the curse of Jotham his brother. Absalom, who was uplifted and seized the kingdom, fell and was humbled before the servants of David; and Adonijah the son of Haggith...
Give me someone professing perpetual continence, and free from these and all similar vices and blemishes of conduct. For her I fear pride; for her I dread the swelling of selfconceit from so great a blessing. The more there is in her from which she finds selfcomplacence, the more I fear lest by pleasing herself she will displease him who “resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
That we ourselves may become worthy of following in his footsteps and ascending to heaven, let us in the meantime become humble on earth for our own good, always mindful that, as Solomon says, “Humiliation follows the proud, and honor follows the humble in spirit.”
