167: Diverse Paths of Destruction: They Hymn of Cleanthes

This week we'll look at one of the few pieces of writing from Cleanthes (the second head of the Stoic school). We will examine his Hymn To Zeus and see what an early Stoic thought of God, the cosmos and humanities relationship with them.
Sources: http://elfinspell.com/ClassicalTexts/Rolleston-Epictetus/TeachingsOfEpictetus-HymnToZeus.html
https://department.monm.edu/classics/courses/clas230/MythDocuments/cleanthes.htm
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Hymn_to_Zeus

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A paraphrase of the Hymn to Zeus
Most glorious of immortals, called by many names, oh sovereign king
Zeus, ruler of nature, you govern all things with universal law
Hail! For it is right that mortals should address you
For we are your offspring, we are the only creatures on earth to speak
Therefore, I will sing hymns to you forever
The whole cosmos, which circles the earth, obeys you
For such power is contained in your hands, the two-edge thunderbolt
Under its blow all nature shudders
You are the guide of universal reason which mingles with the greater and lesser lights which has grown to become ruler over all
Nothing occurs apart from you oh Lord, not on earth, or in the cosmos nor beneath the ocean except that which is done through lack of wisdom
You can make the rough smooth and bring order from chaos
To you the ugly seems beautiful. You have fitted things together good and evil into one world guided by reason
This reason mortal men ignore at their own peril, while they long to obtain something good
They do not know God’s universal law, but if they would only listen and obey, they would live well, in harmony with reason
Instead they rush past each other on diverse paths, some seeking fame, others strife, some wealth others seek pleasures of the body
Each self-deceived, working on their own destruction.
But you great Zeus, giver of all who lives in the clouds, lord of thunder, save men from their unhappy ignorance
Scatter it from our souls and give us the same wisdom that you yourself rely upon
And we in return we will praise your works unceasingly as there is no higher office for man or god than to praise Universal Reason