Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine: ²That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. ³The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well: ⁴That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. ⁶Young men, in like manner, exhort that they be sober. ⁷In all things shew thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity, ⁸The sound word that can not be blamed: that he, who is on the contrary part, may be afraid, having no evil to say of us. ¹¹For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; ¹²Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, ¹³Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, ¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.

³Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches. ⁴Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart. ¹⁸The Lord knoweth the days of undefiled; and their inheritance shall be for ever. ²³With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way. ²⁷Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever. ²⁹But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore.

℟ The salvation of the just is from the Lord.

But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat: ⁸And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink? ⁹Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? ¹⁰I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.