Nilus of Sinai on Swearing

Nilus of Sinai on Swearing

Fragment on Oaths, as recorded in John of Damascus, Sacra Parallela, O.11

Source: PG 96: 221 [Translation mine, first draft]

To swear is not useful, but very pernicious; a detestable thing to be abhorred. From now on cease to swear, nor even will that your tongue become accustomed to oaths.

Οὐκ ἔστιν ὠφέλιμον τὸ ὀμνύειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα βλαβερὸν, καὶ ἐπάρατον, καὶ ἐβδελυγμένον. Πέπαυσο λοιπὸν τοῦ ὀμνύειν· μὴ βούλου τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γλῶσσαν πρὸς τοὺς ὅρκους ἐθίζειν.

Epistle 212, To Plutarcho Bursae

Letter is minimal, like many in the collection of Nilus' letters it is probably taken from a longer letter and set as a standalone by a later redactor in an attempt to give Nilus a more extensive corpus. For a discussion of the authenticity of Nilus' corpus of letters see: Cameron, Alan. "The Authenticity of the Letters of St Nilus of Ancyra."Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 17, no. 2 (1976): 181.

Source: PG 79:311 [Translation mine, first draft. First translation directly from Greek; second translation influenced by Latin translation in Migne.]

Translation 1: Divine Laws command absolutely no swearing. For true oaths as well as false oaths you will fall down in punishment. Therefore flee from just and unjust swearing.

Translation 2: Divine laws command that all oaths are to be abstained from. Whether an oath is sworn truly or falsely, you are liable to punishment. Abstain therefore from oaths, whether just or unjust.

Greek	Latin
ΣΙΒʹ. - ΠΑΟΥΤΑΡΧῼ ΒΥΡΣῌ. Οἱ θεῖοι νόμοι προστάττουσι, παντελώς μὴ ὀμνύειν· κἄν γὰρ εὐορκεῖ τις, κἄν έπιορκήσῃ, κολάσει ὑποπίπτει. Φεῦγε τοίνυν καί τὸ ἀδίκως, καί τὸ δικαίως ὀμνύειν.	CCXII. – PLUTARCHO BURSAE. Divinae leges imperant, omnino a jurejurando abstinendum esse. Sive enim quis vera juraverit, sive pejeraverit, punitioni obnoxious fit. Abstine igitur a jurejurando sive illud justum sive injustum sit.