Letter 67

To Aphthonius. Do not suppose that the prophet Isaiah is directing his words against the Sodomites when he says, "Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom" [Isaiah 1:10]. For these words are addressed to the rulers of the Jews, who imitate in their conduct the shameful deeds of the Sodomites, along with their subjects. For he immediately adds, "Give heed to the law of God, you people of Gomorrah. What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord" [Isaiah 1:10-11]. And it is clear that it was not the Sodomites, nor indeed ever the people of Gomorrah, but rather the Israelites, who offered the sacrifices to God.

Μὴ νόμιζε, ὅτι πρὸς τοὺς Σοδομίτας ἀποτείνεται ὁ προφήτης Ἠσαΐας λέγων· «Ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου, ἄρχοντες Σοδόμων.» Πρὸς γὰρ τοὺς ἄρχοντας τῶν Ἰουδαίων ὁ λόγος αὐτός, μιμουμένους τῇ πράξει τὰς τῶν Σοδομιτῶν αἰσχροπραγίας· σὺν τοῖς ὑποτεταγμένοις· εὐθὺς γὰρ ἐπιφέρει· «Προσέχετε νόμον Θεοῦ λαὸς Γομόῤῥας. Τί μοι πλῆθος τῶν θυσιῶν ὑμῶν; λέγει Κύριος.» Δῆλον δὲ, ὅτι οὐχὶ Σοδομῖται, οὐδὲ μὴν Γομοῤῥηνοὶ πώποτε, Ἰσραλῖται δὲ μᾶλλον τῷ Θεῷ τὰς θυσίας προσέφερον.