約伯倫理 第 1142 章

i. From the rightly-spoken words of the proud, that which profits is to be taken, that which harms is to be rejected. — Whosoever strives to take knowledge from the great sayings of the arrogant ought carefully to provide that he imitate not this, that their knowledge swells on high, lest along with the words of virtues he gather the vices of character, and in that he attains the knowledge of speaking he transfix himself with the inexperience of living. For when we hear these men speak strong things, but yet behold them swell from their strong sayings, we, as it were having entered the garden of doctrine, pluck roses from among thorns. We have need therefore of a discerning solicitude, both to gather what smells sweet and to beware what pricks, lest, if perchance the words of these men be read imprudently, the incautious hand of the reader be torn by the thorn of character.

Elihu, therefore, learned yet arrogant, brings forth at times what has a sweet fragrance, at times what wounds. Thus we must take from his teaching whatever is fragrant, while carefully guarding against the pride in it that wounds. Earlier indeed he has advanced many things in a moral sense, but in the words that follow he raises himself to the hidden secrets of prophecy alone. For he abandons the lowlands of morality and ascends to the heights of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy sometimes fills the proud. — Nor is it to be wondered at that an arrogant man could be filled with the prophetic spirit, since even Saul was numbered among the prophets (1 Sam. 10:6). But why do we say this of Saul, when we know that even a she-ass, having received in a vision from an angel, uttered reasonable words (Num. 22:28)?

But just as an irrational animal uttered words of reason, yet did not thereby cross over into the nature of a rational being, so often anyone unworthy receives holy words through the spirit of prophecy, yet does not attain to the glory of holiness that would merit it, so that he stands eminent above himself in speaking, yet grows torpid beneath himself in living. Hence now Elihu, himself not humble, beholds the humble coming of our Redeemer, and by prophesying he proclaims him whom by his haughty conduct he assails, saying: