Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 23:16

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me. By divine gift the heart of the righteous man is said to be made soft, in that it is penetrated with the fear of the judgment from Above. For that it is soft, which is capable of being penetrated, but that is hard, which cannot be penetrated. Whence it is said by Solomon, Happy is the man that feareth always, but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He expresses the cause of this anxious fear in the blow of God he has experienced against himself, and so he says, "God softened my heart," as though dissolving it in liquid, by taking away the strength of security. "And the Almighty threw me into confusion," for by his omnipotence he has brought in anguish of sadness about my present evils and fear of future ones.

Commentary on Job ↗