Ibid.—'And I shall not find among you any wise man.' 45. Those who are wise in their own eyes cannot attain to true wisdom.—For what is it that he calls them to wisdom, and yet wishes not to find them wise, unless it be that they cannot come to true wisdom who are deceived by confidence in their own false wisdom? Of whom it is written: 'Woe to you that are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight' (Isa. v. 21). And to whom again it is said: 'Be not wise in your own conceits' (Rom. xii. 16). Wherefore that same excellent preacher, that those whom he had found carnally wise might receive true wisdom, sought first that they should become fools, saying:
'If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise' (1 Cor. iii. 18). And Truth Himself says: 'I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones' (Matt. xi. 25). Because, therefore, those who are wise in their own eyes cannot attain to true wisdom, rightly blessed Job, desiring the conversion of his hearers, wishes that he may find no wise man among them. As if he plainly said to them: Learn to be fools in your own eyes, that in God ye may be able to be truly wise. There follows: