Зависть
What is Envy?
Envy is sorrow over a neighbor's well-being and joy over their misfortune, often arising from comparisons of wealth, honor, or talent, and is condemned in Scripture.
Question 30. What is envy? Answer. Envy is sorrow and anguish of heart over a neighbor's well-being, and conversely, joy and pleasure at their misfortune. It arises when our neighbor is wealthier than we are, or has wealth equal to ours; it's also fed by honor, status, knowledge, arts, and other advantages. Scripture speaks of this sin: “Put away all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Pet. 2:1–2).
Sins Born of Envy
Envy gives rise to hatred, slander, contempt, deceit, and even murder, and one should remember that all blessings come from God's grace, not personal merit.
Question 31. What sins are born from envy? Answer. Hatred, slander, contempt, treachery, deceit, murder, and the like. One who wishes to turn away from this sin must consider that all good that a person receives comes from God's grace, as it is said: “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you have received it, why do you boast as if you hadn't? (1 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, whoever envies the well-being granted by God insults God and becomes like the person to whom it was said: ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own things? Or is your eye envious because I am good?’ (Matt. 20:15).
The Antidote to Envy
The opposite of envy is goodwill and benevolence.
Kindness and goodwill are the opposite of envy.
Read the original Russian
Вопрос 30. Что есть зависть?
Ответ. Зависть есть печаль и скорбь сердца о благополучии ближнего, напротив – радость и удовольствие при его злополучии. Она рождается в том случае, когда ближний наш богатее нас, или имеет равное с нами богатство; также пищею для нее служат честь, достоинства, науки и искусства и другие преимущества. О сем грехе Писание говорит: «Отложше убо всяку злобу и всяку лесть и лицемерие и зависть и вся клеветы, яко новорождени младенцы словесное и нелестное млеко возлюбите, яко да о нем возрастете» (1Пет. 2, 1–2).
Вопрос 31. Какие грехи рождаются от зависти?
Ответ. Ненависть, злоречие, презрение, коварства, обманы, убийства и подобные. Желающий удалиться от сего греха должен представлять себе, что всякое благо, какое только получает человек, исходит от благодати Божией, как сказано: «Что же имаши, егоже неси приял? Аще же и приял еси, что хвалишися яко не прием?» (1Кор. 4, 7). Итак, всякий, кто завидует благополучию, даруемому от Бога, хулит Бога и уподобляется тому человеку, к которому сказано: «аще око твое лукаво есть, яко Аз благ есмь; или несть Ми лет сотворити, еже хощу, во Своих Ми» (Мф. 20, 15).
Зависти противополагается благорасположение и доброжелательство.
Orthodox Confession (Pravoslavnoe Ispovedanie) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit