a mans character

¹⁶Six things there are that the Lord hates, and the seventh, his soul detests: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises the most wicked thoughts, feet running swiftly unto evil, ¹⁹a deceitful witness bringing forth lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

¹A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance, ²³meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things.

⁴and patience leads to proving, yet truly proving leads to hope,

¹Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the impious, and has not remained in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the chair of pestilence.

²Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher, ³not a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴but a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastity. ⁵For if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God? ⁶He must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devil. ⁷And it is necessary for him also to have good testimony from those who are outside, so that he may not fall into disrepute and the snare of the devil.

⁹He who walks in simplicity walks in confidence. But he who corrupts his ways shall be discovered.

⁵But as for you, taking up every concern, minister virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge; ⁶and in knowledge, moderation; and in moderation, patience; and in patience, piety; ⁷and in piety, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity. ⁸For if these things are with you, and if they abound, they will cause you to be neither empty, nor without fruit, within the plan of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷And the Lord said to Samuel: “You should not look with favor on his face, nor on the height of his stature. For I have rejected him. Neither do I judge by the appearance of a man. For man sees those things that are apparent, but the Lord beholds the heart.”

⁸Concerning the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is worthy to be loved, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praiseworthy discipline: meditate on these.

¹⁶You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. ¹⁸A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. ²⁰Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

¹⁹In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.

¹⁴Be like sons of obedience, not conforming to the desires of your former ignorance,