Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Job 17:11

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

Ver. 11. My days are past away, my thoughts are scattered, racking my heart. [ALLEGORICAL / MORAL INTERPRETATION] The Holy Church of the Elect sees that the spaces of her life pass in periods of day and night, in that it is hers in adversity to have 'a night,' and in prosperity, 'a day.' For there riseth as it were light unto her from the tranquillity of peace, and night from the grief of persecution. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIII ↗

Thomas Aquinas

In this he really intends to show their stupidity when they promised the consolation of temporal prosperity to him. (5:15, 8:6, 11:17) He first proposes against their promises that the time of his life has already in great part elapsed, and he therefore says, "my days have passed away." Then he shows the evils which he suffers when he continues, "my thoughts have been utterly scattered," for they are impeded from the quiet contemplation of wisdom because of the bitterness of my bodily pain. …

Commentary on Job ↗