Moralia in Job 735

Verse 27.—The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. 37. The wicked in the judgment shall find both the just and the unjust as accusers.—What do we understand by the heavens but the just, and what by the earth but sinners? Whence also in the Lord's Prayer we ask: «Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also in earth» (Matt. 6:10), namely that the will of our Creator, as it is fulfilled in all the just, so may be fulfilled also in all sinners. Of the just too it is written: «The heavens declare the glory of God» (Ps. 18:1). And upon sinning man the sentence is pronounced whereby it is said: «Earth thou art, and into earth thou shalt go» (Gen. 3:19).

Of this impious man therefore, led to that terrible judgment, the heavens reveal his iniquity, and the earth rises up against him, so that he who here spared neither the good nor the wicked at any time, in that dread examination the life both of the just and of sinners alike may accuse him. And it is indeed a graver thing if anyone harms the just rather than sinners. Whence also it is said through the prophet: «Her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the most clear rock; she poured it not upon the ground, that it might be covered with dust» (Ezek. 24:7). By the earth namely and the dust signifying sinners, but by the most clear rock the just man, who is not roughened by the grievous contagions of sins. Blood therefore

is poured upon the most clear rock, when the malice of a bloody mind rages in the affliction of a just soul. Since therefore it is a graver thing to afflict the just than the unjust unjustly, yet it is much graver to harm both the just and the unjust alike. Because therefore this wicked man harmed both the just alike and the unjust, in the accusation of his condemnation the heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him, because he both withstood those who savored heavenly things, and pressed down those who savored earthly things.

But by the earth may be designated not sinners and reprobate, but those who, occupied in earthly deeds, come by the help of almsgiving and of tears to eternal life; of whom it is said through the Psalmist, when the Lord is announced as coming to judgment: «He shall call the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people» (Ps. 49:4). He calls the heavens above indeed when those who, forsaking all their own, have held to the conversation of the heavenly life are called to sit together in judgment, and come as judges with Him. The earth too is called above when those who had been bound to earthly deeds, yet in them sought heavenly gains rather than earthly, to whom it is said: «I was a stranger, and you took me in;

I was naked, and you covered me» (Matt. 25:43). Of this hypocrite therefore the heavens reveal the iniquity, and against him the earth rises up, while both those who come as judges with God, and those who are set free through judgment, stand forth as witnesses of his depravity. Nothing therefore of the things he did is hidden in the time of his condemnation; and although his deeds are now for the most part concealed from men through duplicity, yet in the day of condemnation whatever lay hidden within him is shown. Whence it is fitly subjoined: