71. The just are scourged, that they may be trained to greater vigilance.—The cause of the good is justice. On whose account they are judged, as it were, impious, because their justice here is wearied by the paternal scourge, that they may be taught to fuller vigilance not only by the enjoining of commands, but also by the striking of stripes. But they receive both cause and judgment, because from that justice by which they now live, they then shine forth on the summit of judiciary power, so that they may then judge all things the more powerfully, in proportion as now all things are the more subtly judged in them. These things Elihu brought forth as though pledging something new, which blessed Job always held steadfastly by believing.
All the arrogant have these things as their own peculiar traits, that they both exaggerate evil by lying, and, if perchance they say anything good, they bring it forth as though unknown. Whence it comes to pass that they dare to teach even those more learned than themselves, because forsooth they suppose themselves alone to know such things. But when they descend to some words of consolation, they straightway reckon themselves to have become cheap, and through the harshness of swollen rebuke they refashion for themselves as it were a certain genius, so that those who seemed by their flattering to be witnesses that they had condescended, may, by a rebuke suddenly arising, be feared. Whence also presently Elihu subjoined, saying: