Fathers

Job 35

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

Moreover Elihu answered, “Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’ that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’ I will answer you, and your companions with you. Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man. “By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’ There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him! But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance. Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Job 35:9

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

They will cry out, by reason of the multitude of oppressors, and will wail on account of the force of the arm of tyrants. We can rightly term all the ungodly 'oppressors,' not those only, who spoil our outward goods, but those, also, who endeavour by their wicked habits, and by the example of their reprobate life, to scatter our inward treasures. For those go about to attack the things, which are without us, but these seek to prey on us within. The one cease not to rage with love for our goods, the other with hatred of our virtues. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Oppressed men cry to God against their oppressors from this fact. Some crush them deceitfully by calumny, and he speaks about these, "They will cry out because of the great number of their calumniators," those who have been crushed so will cry to God. Some crush others by violence, and he speaks about these saying, "and they will wail because of the strong arm of the tyrants," for they will weep to God because of the violent power of tyrants. …

Commentary on Job ↗