Moralia in Job 1137

Chapter 36, Verse 18. — 'Let not anger therefore overcome you, so that you oppress anyone.' 78. The moral sense. — In carrying out correction, anger ought to be beneath, not above. — Everyone through whom it is necessary that the vices of others be corrected ought first to gaze carefully upon himself, lest, while he avenges the faults of others, he himself be overcome by the fury of avenging. For very often the immensity of anger lays waste the mind under the guise of justice, and while it rages as it were with zeal for rectitude, it sates the frenzy of fury, and reckons that it acts justly in whatever anger wickedly dictates. Whence also it often transgresses the measure of avenging, because it is not curbed by the measure of justice.

It is indeed fitting that when we correct the faults of others, we first measure our own; that the mind first cool from its own kindling, first within itself compose the impetus of its zeal with tranquil equity, lest, if we are dragged by abrupt fury to punish vices, we sin in correcting sin, and we who pursue a fault by judging it may make it worse by immoderate striking. For not the correction of the offender, but rather oppression follows, if in vengeance anger is extended beyond what the fault deserves. In the correction of vices, then, anger ought to be beneath the mind, not above it, so that it may not, by domineering, forerun the execution of justice, but by serving may follow after; and may fulfill a well-known judgment as a thing possessed, not run ahead as one possessing.

Well therefore is it said: 'Let not anger therefore overcome you, so that you oppress anyone.' For clearly, if he who strives to correct is overcome by anger, he oppresses before he corrects. For while he is kindled more than he ought, under the guise of just vengeance he is let loose into the immensity of cruelty. Which very often for this reason happens, because the hearts of rulers are less intent upon the love of the Creator alone. For while they crave many things in this life, they are scattered by innumerable thoughts; and when they suddenly discover the faults of their subjects, they cannot judge them worthily with God, because they cannot suddenly gather up their hearts, scattered among transitory cares, to the summit of strictness.

Being troubled, therefore, they find the balance of equity for punishing sins so much the less, the more they do not seek it in the time of their tranquility. Whence, when Elihu had said, 'Let not anger overcome you, so that you oppress anyone,' in order that he might express the same causes of injustice and of the overcoming anger, he immediately added: