Ibid. — For thou hast begun to speak, and not I. 4. Those judge themselves innocent in vain who make harsh replies to one who provokes them. — He deemed himself the more innocent in that, being provoked, he burst forth; not knowing, of course, that innocence is defended not by timing but by reason. For what avails his defenses that, even if he inflicted nothing on one who was silent, yet he answered wrongly to one who began rightly? But after he is shown to be in the words of pride, behold, again he is cloaked under the veil of inquiry, and adds, saying: Ibid. — But if thou knowest anything better, speak. Although in that he does not say, 'Because thou knowest something better,' but 'If thou knowest anything better, speak,' this very thing was to have been too proud: to have doubted of another's better knowledge.
Yet in this, that he granted blessed Job a place to speak, he showed that he had displayed humility. But, as was said above, because in the conduct of the arrogant everything that is covered by an added discourse is again laid bare when the intention of pride breaks forth, Elihu the more quickly betrayed with what mind he had asked blessed Job to speak. For there follows: