Fathers

Job 23

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Job 23:6

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

I would not that He should contend with me with great power, nor oppress me with the weight of His mightiness. For the soul of one however righteous, if he be judged with strictness by Almighty God, is borne down by the weight of His mightiness. In which same words this is likewise to be understood, that whereas the holy man shews the might of God, what else of Him does he desire, but His weakness? And it is written, the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

In the previous chapter Job's friends had frequently referred to divine power and grace as if to sustain divine judgment. As Sophar said in Chapter Eleven, "He is higher than the heavens and what will you do?" (v.8) and the other things which follow there. So he excludes this objection when he says, "I do not want him to argue with me with his great strength, nor crush me with the greatness of his power," as if to say: Your answer in which the power and greatness of God are proposed against me alone does not satisfy me. …

Commentary on Job ↗