Verse 3.—And dost Thou think it worthy to open Thine eyes upon such a one, and to bring him with Thee into judgment? 69. The two extremes: man and Creator, dust and God. For he considered above both the power of Almighty God and his own infirmity; he set before his eyes himself and God, and weighed who it is that comes with whom to judgment. He saw on the one side man, on the other the Creator, that is, dust and God; and he rightly said: And dost Thou think it worthy to open Thine eyes upon such a one? For Almighty God to open His eyes is to exercise His judgments, to see whom He may strike. For as with closed eyes He is unwilling to look upon him whom He is unwilling to strike. Whence presently concerning that very judgment it is added: And to bring him with Thee into judgment?
But because he contemplated God coming to judgment, he again considers his own infirmity. He sees that he cannot exist of himself as clean, who in order that he might exist proceeded from uncleanness, and he adds: