56. We escape the hand of the smiter by amendment alone. For he flees from the hand of the smiter who corrects the perversity of his own action. Or indeed, since in Sacred Scripture the hand is wont to signify action, he flees from the hand of the one smitten who, while he beholds the ruin of the wicked man, forsakes the ways of perversity. Whence there is further added: 37. In another's punishment we behold what we ourselves must fear. — For to clasp the hand is to establish the works of one's life in uprightness. Whence also Paul says: 'Lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees' (Hebrews XII, 12). Therefore, while they behold another's ruin, they are called back to their heart, that they may reconsider their own; and whence one is led to torments, from that same source another is delivered from torment.
Therefore he clasps his hands over him, because he beholds in another's punishment what he himself should fear; and while he beholds the offender thus smitten, he binds fast his own dissolute works with the vigour of righteousness. And so it comes to pass that he who while living wickedly had drawn many to fault by the delight of sin, while dying may recall some from fault by the terror of torment. That this also comes to pass for the good, the Psalmist testifies, saying: 'The just shall rejoice when he shall see the vengeance; he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner' (Psalm LVII, 11). The just wash their hands in the blood of dying sinners, because while their punishment is beheld, the life of the beholder is cleansed. There follows: