"I have suffered this without committing iniquity." You have a good reason to be upset, because there was no cause for such a torment. "I have suffered this." Job is knowingly in pain against his merits. Therefore, he does not want the fact that he has been given to torments to remain hidden, but he desires what he suffers to be under the light. Job has…

Since holy Job was dejected because of the misfortunes that befell him against his hope, Eliphaz now says that after his calamity Job must not despair about God being propitious again. Indeed, the restraint of sin's dissoluteness through scourging testifies to the divine love. "How happy is the one whom God reproves." Because he had enumerated different…

May this night or day of detestation become what the horrible and cruel dragon that is led from the sea to the earth deserves. Indeed the Hebrew and Syrian tradition interpret Leviathan to be the one about which David says, "There is that dragon that you have made to delude him." Even though the dragon seems to represent, above all, a figure of spiritual…

When the naturally beautiful neck is endowed with the adornment of jewels, such industry undoubtedly increases happiness and, as though they were worthy, the honor of necklaces and the loveliness of necks as well. This is also true with you, therefore, whose generosity is constituted by doctrine, so that discipline would perfect the virtues which nature…

These words are not spoken with an offended mind but with zealous affection, so that they may be useful in consoling and instructing him and that he may understand that to perform such a great judgment is beyond human strength. "Then I will also acknowledge you that your own right hand can give you victory." If you could play the role of such a judge, as…

Since the devil had seen that at the first attack of temptation the stability of the holy man had not tumbled down, the devil came again before God, and by claiming that the temptation was not serious enough, he asserted that Job had now to be tested. The test would focus on Job's own person, rather than his external circumstances. In fact, Satan supposed…

"And his eye has seen every precious thing." That is, not only those things that were useful but also those that were convenient as an ornament, such as clothes from wool, fabrics for the rich from the threads of the Persian worms, wine from some creeping plants, ointments and other remedies from herbs. "The sources of the rivers he has probed," while his…

"The earth is given into the hand of the wicked." With regard to the context of the passage, Job seems to state that his earthly part, that is, his body, is given to torments and vexations. The permission to afflict it is granted to the impious. Therefore, it certainly happens that those who see cannot express a fair judgment on the merits of the one who…

"He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches." I was not involved, as you know, in his debate, nor did he provoke me to bitterness after assuming the intention to speak against me. Therefore, the words that I speak are not suggested by indignation but by reason.

"From Aquilon comes gold." "From Aquilon the golden-colored clouds [come], the great glory and honor of God is in them." "From Aquilon gold comes." He said "Aquilon" for the east and "gold" for dawn, which imitates the appearance of the shining metal with its glowing color. "And the timorous praise of God"; certainly the service of praising him is not…

We desire what we have said with a troubled mind not be confusedly relegated to oblivion as a cause of shame. On the contrary we want what we have said seriously and carefully to be fixed in the memory and remain in the mouth of many people. Therefore also holy Job, intending to show that he had not poured out what he had said with a troubled mind but…

Holy Job had not only shown that Zophar's words were ridiculous but also had reproved all his friends in common. They all thought that wisdom had to be judged according to the limits of their age. Since he had also discussed many issues concerning both human and divine nature, Eliphaz gets offended. He tries to accuse [Job] openly of different iniquities;…