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Chapter 7Domostroi.1.7

Како царя и князя чтити и повиноватися во всем и всякому властелю покарятися и правдою служити им во всем, к большим и к меншим, и скорбным и маломощным ко всякому человеку какову быти, и себе о сем внимати

Faithful Service and Christian Conduct

This passage outlines the Christian duty to honor earthly authorities as a reflection of serving God, while maintaining a life of humility, charity, and patient endurance toward all people.

Fear the tsar and serve him faithfully; always pray to God for him; never speak a lie in his presence, but answer him truthfully and with submission, just as you would God Himself, and obey him in everything. If you serve the earthly tsar in truth and fear him, you will also learn to fear the Heavenly King: the earthly ruler is only for a time, but the Heavenly King is eternal, and He is an impartial Judge who will repay everyone according to their deeds. In the same way, submit to princes and give them the honor they are due, as men sent by Him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. Be devoted to your prince with all your heart, and never even think evil against your rulers. For the apostle Paul says that every authority is established by God; so if anyone resists the authorities, they resist God's command. As for the tsar, the prince, and every great lord, do not serve them with slander and cunning: the Lord will destroy all who speak lies, and whisperers and slanderers are cursed by the people. Give honor and bow to those older than you; honor those of equal rank as brothers; welcome the weak and the sorrowful with love; love the younger as children. Do no harm to any of God's creatures. Do not desire earthly glory; ask God for eternal goods. Endure every sorrow and hardship with thanksgiving. When you are wronged, do not take revenge; when you are reviled, pray; do not repay evil with evil. Do not condemn those who sin—remember your own sins and tend to them with care. Turn away from the counsel of wicked men. Be a zealot for those who live uprightly: write their deeds in your heart, and do the same yourself.✦✦✦✦1

Read the original Latin

Царя боися и служи ему верою и всегда о нем Бога моли и ложно отнюд не глаголи пред ним но с покорением истину отвещаи ему яко самому Богу, и во всем повинуися ему аще земному царю правдою служиши и боишися его тако научишися и Небеснаго Царя боятися сеи временен а Небесныи вечен, и Судия нелицемерен, воздаст комуждо по делом его, тако же и князем покаряитеся и должную ему честь воздаваи яко от Него посланом во отмщение, злодеем, в похвалу же добродеем князю своему прияите всем сердцем и властелем своим ни помыслите на ня зла глаголет бо Павел апостол вся владычество от Бога учинена суть, да аще кто противится властелем, то Божию повелению противитца а царю и князю и всякому велможе и клеветою и лукавеством погубит Господь вся глаголющая лжу а шепотники и клеветники от народа прокляти суть стареишим себе честь воздаваи и поклонение твори средних яко братию почитаи, маломожных и скорбных любовию привечаи юнеиших яко чада люби, всякому созданию Божию не лих буди славы земныя ни в чем не желаи вечных благ проси у Бога всякую скорбь и тесноту з благодарением терпи обидим не мсти хулим моли зла за зло не воздаваи согрешающая не ссужаи воспомяни своя грехи о тех крепко пекися злых мужеи совету отвращаися буди ревнитель правожительствующим и тех делания написуи, в сердцы своем и сам тако ж твори.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Rom.13.1-Rom.13.2 — Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God, and the authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Rom.13.2 — Therefore the one who resists the authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those who have opposed will receive judgment on themselves.
  2. ↩1Pet.2.14;Rom.13.3-Rom.13.4 — or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. Rom.13.3 — For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it. Rom.13.4 — For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God's servant, an avenger for wrath against the one who practices evil.
  3. ↩Rom.2.6;Ps.62.12;Rev.22.12 — who will render to each one according to that person's works Ps.62.12 — One thing God has spoken; two things I have heard: strength belongs to God. Rev.22.12 — Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay each one according to their work.
  4. ↩Ps.5.6 — The boasters will not stand before your eyes; you hate all who work iniquity.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The supplied clause is compressed and likely missing a negative verb of service (traditional Domostroi sense: do not serve the ruler with lies, slander, and cunning). Rendered as the most plausible intended sense; the surface string alone is awkward.

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