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21:1 [Sicut divisiones aquarum, ita cor regis in manu Domini : quocumque voluerit, inclinabit illud.
*H As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it.


Ver. 1. It. Though it be free, and may resist grace or embrace virtue. Is. xlv. 22. Jer. iii. 14. and vii. 3. Jos. xxiv. 23. C. — Yet God knows how to turn the heart even of a king, so as to preserve his liberty, with the same ease as a gardener brings the streams of water to his plants. M.

Ὥσπερ ὁρμὴ ὕδατος, οὕτως καρδία βασιλέως ἐν χειρὶ Θεοῦ, οὗ ἐὰν θέλων νεῦσαι ἐκεῖ ἔκλινεν αὐτήν.
פַּלְגֵי מַ֣יִם לֶב מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּ/יַד יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל כָּל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽ/נּוּ
* Summa
*S Part 1, Ques 83, Article 1

[I, Q. 83, Art. 1]

Whether Man Has Free-Will?

Objection 1: It would seem that man has not free-will. For whoever has free-will does what he wills. But man does not what he wills; for it is written (Rom. 7:19): "For the good which I will I do not, but the evil which I will not, that I do." Therefore man has not free-will.

Obj. 2: Further, whoever has free-will has in his power to will or not to will, to do or not to do. But this is not in man's power: for it is written (Rom. 9:16): "It is not of him that willeth"--namely, to will--"nor of him that runneth"--namely, to run. Therefore man has not free-will.

Obj. 3: Further, what is "free is cause of itself," as the Philosopher says (Metaph. i, 2). Therefore what is moved by another is not free. But God moves the will, for it is written (Prov. 21:1): "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord; whithersoever He will He shall turn it" and (Phil. 2:13): "It is God Who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish." Therefore man has not free-will.

Obj. 4: Further, whoever has free-will is master of his own actions. But man is not master of his own actions: for it is written (Jer. 10:23): "The way of a man is not his: neither is it in a man to walk." Therefore man has not free-will.

Obj. 5: Further, the Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 5): "According as each one is, such does the end seem to him." But it is not in our power to be of one quality or another; for this comes to us from nature. Therefore it is natural to us to follow some particular end, and therefore we are not free in so doing.

_On the contrary,_ It is written (Ecclus. 15:14): "God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel"; and the gloss adds: "That is of his free-will."

_I answer that,_ Man has free-will: otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards, and punishments would be in vain. In order to make this evident, we must observe that some things act without judgment; as a stone moves downwards; and in like manner all things which lack knowledge. And some act from judgment, but not a free judgment; as brute animals. For the sheep, seeing the wolf, judges it a thing to be shunned, from a natural and not a free judgment, because it judges, not from reason, but from natural instinct. And the same thing is to be said of any judgment of brute animals. But man acts from judgment, because by his apprehensive power he judges that something should be avoided or sought. But because this judgment, in the case of some particular act, is not from a natural instinct, but from some act of comparison in the reason, therefore he acts from free judgment and retains the power of being inclined to various things. For reason in contingent matters may follow opposite courses, as we see in dialectic syllogisms and rhetorical arguments. Now particular operations are contingent, and therefore in such matters the judgment of reason may follow opposite courses, and is not determinate to one. And forasmuch as man is rational is it necessary that man have a free-will.

Reply Obj. 1: As we have said above (Q. 81, A. 3, ad 2), the sensitive appetite, though it obeys the reason, yet in a given case can resist by desiring what the reason forbids. This is therefore the good which man does not when he wishes--namely, "not to desire against reason," as Augustine says.

Reply Obj. 2: Those words of the Apostle are not to be taken as though man does not wish or does not run of his free-will, but because the free-will is not sufficient thereto unless it be moved and helped by God.

Reply Obj. 3: Free-will is the cause of its own movement, because by his free-will man moves himself to act. But it does not of necessity belong to liberty that what is free should be the first cause of itself, as neither for one thing to be cause of another need it be the first cause. God, therefore, is the first cause, Who moves causes both natural and voluntary. And just as by moving natural causes He does not prevent their acts being natural, so by moving voluntary causes He does not deprive their actions of being voluntary: but rather is He the cause of this very thing in them; for He operates in each thing according to its own nature.

Reply Obj. 4: "Man's way" is said "not to be his" in the execution of his choice, wherein he may be impeded, whether he will or not. The choice itself, however, is in us, but presupposes the help of God.

Reply Obj. 5: Quality in man is of two kinds: natural and adventitious. Now the natural quality may be in the intellectual part, or in the body and its powers. From the very fact, therefore, that man is such by virtue of a natural quality which is in the intellectual part, he naturally desires his last end, which is happiness. Which desire, indeed, is a natural desire, and is not subject to free-will, as is clear from what we have said above (Q. 82, AA. 1, 2). But on the part of the body and its powers man may be such by virtue of a natural quality, inasmuch as he is of such a temperament or disposition due to any impression whatever produced by corporeal causes, which cannot affect the intellectual part, since it is not the act of a corporeal organ. And such as a man is by virtue of a corporeal quality, such also does his end seem to him, because from such a disposition a man is inclined to choose or reject something. But these inclinations are subject to the judgment of reason, which the lower appetite obeys, as we have said (Q. 81, A. 3). Wherefore this is in no way prejudicial to free-will.

The adventitious qualities are habits and passions, by virtue of which a man is inclined to one thing rather than to another. And yet even these inclinations are subject to the judgment of reason. Such qualities, too, are subject to reason, as it is in our power either to acquire them, whether by causing them or disposing ourselves to them, or to reject them. And so there is nothing in this that is repugnant to free-will. _______________________

SECOND

*S Part 1, Ques 111, Article 2

[I, Q. 111, Art. 3]

Whether the Angels Can Change the Will of Man?

Objection 1: It would seem that the angels can change the will of man. For, upon the text, "Who maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire" (Heb. 1:7), the gloss notes that "they are fire, as being spiritually fervent, and as burning away our vices." This could not be, however, unless they changed the will. Therefore the angels can change the will.

Obj. 2: Further, Bede says (Super Matth. xv, 11), that, "the devil does not send wicked thoughts, but kindles them." Damascene, however, says that he also sends them; for he remarks that "every malicious act and unclean passion is contrived by the demons and put into men" (De Fide Orth. ii, 4); in like manner also the good angels introduce and kindle good thoughts. But this could only be if they changed the will. Therefore the will is changed by them.

Obj. 3: Further, the angel, as above explained, enlightens the human intellect by means of the phantasms. But as the imagination which serves the intellect can be changed by an angel, so can the sensitive appetite which serves the will, because it also is a faculty using a corporeal organ. Therefore as the angel enlightens the mind, so can he change the will.

_On the contrary,_ To change the will belongs to God alone, according to Prov. 21:1: "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, whithersoever He will He shall turn it."

_I answer that,_ The will can be changed in two ways. First, from within; in which way, since the movement of the will is nothing but the inclination of the will to the thing willed, God alone can thus change the will, because He gives the power of such an inclination to the intellectual nature. For as the natural inclination is from God alone Who gives the nature, so the inclination of the will is from God alone, Who causes the will.

Secondly, the will is moved from without. As regards an angel, this can be only in one way--by the good apprehended by the intellect. Hence in as far as anyone may be the cause why anything be apprehended as an appetible good, so far does he move the will. In this way also God alone can move the will efficaciously; but an angel and man move the will by way of persuasion, as above explained (Q. 106, A. 2).

In addition to this mode the human will can be moved from without in another way; namely, by the passion residing in the sensitive appetite: thus by concupiscence or anger the will is inclined to will something. In this manner the angels, as being able to rouse these passions, can move the will, not however by necessity, for the will ever remains free to consent to, or to resist, the passion.

Reply Obj. 1: Those who act as God's ministers, either men or angels, are said to burn away vices, and to incite to virtue by way of persuasion.

Reply Obj. 2: The demon cannot put thoughts in our minds by causing them from within, since the act of the cogitative faculty is subject to the will; nevertheless the devil is called the kindler of thoughts, inasmuch as he incites to thought, by the desire of the things thought of, by way of persuasion, or by rousing the passions. Damascene calls this kindling "a putting in" because such a work is accomplished within. But good thoughts are attributed to a higher principle, namely, God, though they may be procured by the ministry of the angels.

Reply Obj. 3: The human intellect in its present state can understand only by turning to the phantasms; but the human will can will something following the judgment of reason rather than the passion of the sensitive appetite. Hence the comparison does not hold. _______________________

THIRD

*S Part 2, Ques 6, Article 4

[I-II, Q. 6, Art. 4]

Whether Violence Can Be Done to the Will?

Objection 1: It would seem that violence can be done to the will. For everything can be compelled by that which is more powerful. But there is something, namely, God, that is more powerful than the human will. Therefore it can be compelled, at least by Him.

Obj. 2: Further, every passive subject is compelled by its active principle, when it is changed by it. But the will is a passive force: for it is a "mover moved" (De Anima iii, 10). Therefore, since it is sometimes moved by its active principle, it seems that sometimes it is compelled.

Obj. 3: Further, violent movement is that which is contrary to nature. But the movement of the will is sometimes contrary to nature; as is clear of the will's movement to sin, which is contrary to nature, as Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv, 20). Therefore the movement of the will can be compelled.

_On the contrary,_ Augustine says (De Civ. Dei v, 10) that what is done by the will is not done of necessity. Now, whatever is done under compulsion is done of necessity: consequently what is done by the will, cannot be compelled. Therefore the will cannot be compelled to act.

_I answer that,_ The act of the will is twofold: one is its immediate act, as it were, elicited by it, namely, "to wish"; the other is an act of the will commanded by it, and put into execution by means of some other power, such as "to walk" and "to speak," which are commanded by the will to be executed by means of the motive power.

As regards the commanded acts of the will, then, the will can suffer violence, in so far as violence can prevent the exterior members from executing the will's command. But as to the will's own proper act, violence cannot be done to the will.

The reason of this is that the act of the will is nothing else than an inclination proceeding from the interior principle of knowledge: just as the natural appetite is an inclination proceeding from an interior principle without knowledge. Now what is compelled or violent is from an exterior principle. Consequently it is contrary to the nature of the will's own act, that it should be subject to compulsion and violence: just as it is also contrary to the nature of a natural inclination or movement. For a stone may have an upward movement from violence, but that this violent movement be from its natural inclination is impossible. In like manner a man may be dragged by force: but it is contrary to the very notion of violence, that he be dragged of his own will.

Reply Obj. 1: God Who is more powerful than the human will, can move the will of man, according to Prov. 21:1: "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord; whithersoever He will He shall turn it." But if this were by compulsion, it would no longer be by an act of the will, nor would the will itself be moved, but something else against the will.

Reply Obj. 2: It is not always a violent movement, when a passive subject is moved by its active principle; but only when this is done against the interior inclination of the passive subject. Otherwise every alteration and generation of simple bodies would be unnatural and violent: whereas they are natural by reason of the natural interior aptitude of the matter or subject to such a disposition. In like manner when the will is moved, according to its own inclination, by the appetible object, this movement is not violent but voluntary.

Reply Obj. 3: That to which the will tends by sinning, although in reality it is evil and contrary to the rational nature, nevertheless is apprehended as something good and suitable to nature, in so far as it is suitable to man by reason of some pleasurable sensation or some vicious habit. ________________________

FIFTH

*S Part 4, Ques 86, Article 1

[III, Q. 86, Art. 1]

Whether All Sins Are Taken Away by Penance?

Objection 1: It would seem that not all sins are taken away by Penance. For the Apostle says (Heb. 12:17) that Esau "found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it," which a gloss explains as meaning that "he found no place of pardon and blessing through Penance": and it is related (2 Macc. 9:13) of Antiochus, that "this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of Whom he was not to obtain mercy." Therefore it does not seem that all sins are taken away by Penance.

Obj. 2: Further, Augustine says (De Serm. Dom. in Monte i) that "so great is the stain of that sin (namely, when a man, after coming to the knowledge of God through the grace of Christ, resists fraternal charity, and by the brands of envy combats grace itself) that he is unable to humble himself in prayer, although he is forced by his wicked conscience to acknowledge and confess his sin." Therefore not every sin can be taken away by Penance.

Obj. 3: Further, our Lord said (Matt. 12:32): "He that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come." Therefore not every sin can be pardoned through Penance.

_On the contrary,_ It is written (Ezech. 18:22): "I will not remember" any more "all his iniquities that he hath done."

_I answer that,_ The fact that a sin cannot be taken away by Penance may happen in two ways: first, because of the impossibility of repenting of sin; secondly, because of Penance being unable to blot out a sin. In the first way the sins of the demons and of men who are lost, cannot be blotted out by Penance, because their will is confirmed in evil, so that sin cannot displease them as to its guilt, but only as to the punishment which they suffer, by reason of which they have a kind of repentance, which yet is fruitless, according to Wis. 5:3: "Repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit." Consequently such Penance brings no hope of pardon, but only despair. Nevertheless no sin of a wayfarer can be such as that, because his will is flexible to good and evil. Wherefore to say that in this life there is any sin of which one cannot repent, is erroneous, first, because this would destroy free-will, secondly, because this would be derogatory to the power of grace, whereby the heart of any sinner whatsoever can be moved to repent, according to Prov. 21:1: "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever He will He shall turn it."

It is also erroneous to say that any sin cannot be pardoned through true Penance. First, because this is contrary to Divine mercy, of which it is written (Joel 2:13) that God is "gracious and merciful, patient, and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil"; for, in a manner, God would be overcome by man, if man wished a sin to be blotted out, which God were unwilling to blot out. Secondly, because this would be derogatory to the power of Christ's Passion, through which Penance produces its effect, as do the other sacraments, since it is written (1 John 2:2): "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

Therefore we must say simply that, in this life, every sin can be blotted out by true Penance.

Reply Obj. 1: Esau did not truly repent. This is evident from his saying (Gen. 27:41): "The days will come of the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob." Likewise neither did Antiochus repent truly; since he grieved for his past sin, not because he had offended God thereby, but on account of the sickness which he suffered in his body.

Reply Obj. 2: These words of Augustine should be understood thus: "So great is the stain of that sin, that man is unable to humble himself in prayer," i.e. it is not easy for him to do so; in which sense we say that a man cannot be healed, when it is difficult to heal him. Yet this is possible by the power of God's grace, which sometimes turns men even "into the depths of the sea" (Ps. 67:23).

Reply Obj. 3: The word or blasphemy spoken against the Holy Ghost is final impenitence, as Augustine states (De Verb. Dom. xi), which is altogether unpardonable, because after this life is ended, there is no pardon of sins. Or, if by the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, we understand sin committed through certain malice, this means either that the blasphemy itself against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable, i.e. not easily pardonable, or that such a sin does not contain in itself any motive for pardon, or that for such a sin a man is punished both in this and in the next world, as we explained in the Second Part (III, Q. 14, A. 3). _______________________

SECOND

21:2 Omnis via viri recta sibi videtur : appendit autem corda Dominus.
Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
Πᾶς ἀνὴρ φαίνεται ἑαυτῷ δίκαιος, κατευθύνει δὲ καρδίας Κύριος.
כָּֽל דֶּרֶךְ אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּ/עֵינָ֑י/ו וְ/תֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה
21:3 Facere misericordiam et judicium magis placet Domino quam victimae.
*H To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.


Ver. 3. Mercy. Sept. "justice and truth." H. See Os. vi. 6. M.

Ποιεῖν δίκαια καὶ ἀληθεύειν, ἀρεστὰ παρὰ Θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυσιῶν αἷμα.
עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּ/מִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַ/יהוָ֣ה מִ/זָּֽבַח
21:4 Exaltatio oculorum est dilatatio cordis ; lucerna impiorum peccatum.
*H Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.


Ver. 4. Heart. Or when it is proud, it causes the eyes to appear so too. C. — Lamp. Prot. "ploughing of the wicked is sin." When it is done with a bad motive, out of pride. Heb. "the haughtiness of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart, are the labour ("tillage." Mont. "thought." Pagn.) of the wicked; yea, sin." H. — Those things are their employment, and their sin. C. — Sept. and Vulg. may also mean, "sin is the lamp and exultation of the wicked." H.

Μεγαλόφρων ἐν ὕβρει θρασυκάρδιος, λαμπτὴρ δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἁμαρτία.
רוּם עֵ֭ינַיִם וּ/רְחַב לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת
21:5 Cogitationes robusti semper in abundantia ; omnis autem piger semper in egestate est.]
*H The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.


Ver. 5. Sluggard. Heb. "hasty man," as the slothful is ironically styled. He would see his desires accomplished without labouring; and will never stick to work. This levity is most injurious to his advancement.

מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ לְ/מוֹתָ֑ר וְ/כָל אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ לְ/מַחְסֽוֹר
21:6 [Qui congregat thesauros lingua mendacii vanus et excors est, et impingetur ad laqueos mortis.
*H He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.


Ver. 6. Death. Their injustice shall be punished.

Ὁ ἐνεργῶν θησαυρίσματα γλώσσῃ ψευδεῖ, μάταια διώκει ἐπὶ παγίδας θανάτου.
פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּ/לְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת
21:7 Rapinae impiorum detrahent eos, quia noluerunt facere judicium.
The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.
Ὄλεθρος ἀσεβέσιν ἐπιξενωθήσεται, οὐ γὰρ βούλονται πράσσειν τὰ δίκαια.
שֹׁד רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑/ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַ/עֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט
21:8 Perversa via viri aliena est ; qui autem mundus est, rectum opus ejus.
*H The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.


Ver. 8. Strange. Unknown, impure way. Lev. x. 1. Deut. xvii. 15. C.

Πρὸς τοὺς σκολιοὺς σκολιὰς ὁδοὺς ἀποστέλλει ὁ Θεὸς, ἁγνὰ γὰρ καὶ ὀρθὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝/זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽ/וֹ
21:9 Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.
*H It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.


Ver. 9. Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. S. Jer. ad Sun. — Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. M.

Κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας ὑπαίθρου, ἢ ἐν κεκονιαμένοις μετὰ ἀδικίας καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ κοινῷ.
ט֗וֹב לָ/שֶׁ֥בֶת עַל פִּנַּת גָּ֑ג מֵ/אֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּ/בֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר
21:10 Anima impii desiderat malum : non miserebitur proximo suo.
*H The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.


Ver. 10. Neighbour. Sym. "he has no idea of friendship." Sept. "he shall not be treated with mercy by any man." H.

Ψυχὴ ἀσεβοῦς οὐκ ἐλεηθήσεται ὑπʼ οὐδενὸς τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה רָ֑ע לֹא יֻחַ֖ן בְּ/עֵינָ֣י/ו רֵעֵֽ/הוּ
21:11 Mulctato pestilente, sapientior erit parvulus, et si sectetur sapientem, sumet scientiam.
*H When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.


Ver. 11. Knowledge. These are the effects of chastisements and good company.

Ζημιουμένου ἀκολάστου πανουργότερος γίνεται ὁ ἄκακος, συνιῶν δὲ σοφὸς δέξεται γνῶσιν.
בַּ/עְנָשׁ לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם פֶּ֑תִי וּ/בְ/הַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝/חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח דָּֽעַת
21:12 Excogitat justus de domo impii, ut detrahat impios a malo.]
*H The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.


Ver. 12. Evil. He tries every expedient to save him. — That. Sept. "he despises." Sym. "throws down."

Συνιεῖ δίκαιος καρδίας ἀσεβῶν, καὶ φαυλίζει ἀσεβεῖς ἐν κακοῖς.
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְ/בֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָ/רָֽע
21:13 [Qui obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, et ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur.
He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.
Ὃς φράσσει τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ ἐπακοῦσαι ἀσθενοῦς, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπικαλέσεται καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ εἰσακούων.
אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנ/וֹ מִ/זַּעֲקַת דָּ֑ל גַּֽם ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְ/לֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה
21:14 Munus absconditum extinguit iras, et donum in sinu indignationem maximam.
*H A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the greatest wrath.


Ver. 14. Bosom. In private. C. — They put all valuable things in the bosom. H.

Δόσις λάθριος ἀνατρέπει ὀργάς, δώρων δὲ ὁ φειδόμενος θυμὸν ἐγείρει ἰσχυρόν.
מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭/סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה אָ֑ף וְ/שֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝/חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה
21:15 Gaudium justo est facere judicium, et pavor operantibus iniquitatem.
*H It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.


Ver. 15. To do judgment. Or to see it done, while the wicked depend only on the corruption of their judges.

Εὐφροσύνη δικαίων ποιεῖν κρίμα, ὅσιος δὲ ἀκάθαρτος παρὰ κακούργοις.
שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭/צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝/מְחִתָּ֗ה לְ/פֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן
21:16 Vir qui erraverit a via doctrinae in coetu gigantum commorabitur.
*H A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.


Ver. 16. Giants, in hell. C. xv. 11. Job xxvi. 5. Ezec. xxii. 21.

Ἀνὴρ πλανώμενος ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαιοσύνης, ἐν συναγωγῇ γιγάντων ἀναπαύσεται.
אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִ/דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּ/קְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ
21:17 Qui diligit epulas in egestate erit ; qui amat vinum et pinguia non ditabitur.
*H He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.


Ver. 17. Rich. Economy is constantly recommended. C. — Those who squandered away their goods, were fined by the Areopagites. Athen. iv. 19.

Ἀνὴρ ἐνδεὴς ἀγαπᾷ εὐφροσύνην, φιλῶν οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον εἰς πλοῦτον·
אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן וָ֝/שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר
21:18 Pro justo datur impius, et pro rectis iniquus.
*H The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.


Ver. 18. Righteous. Many are deterred from wickedness by the punishment of malefactors, whose injuries are frequently irreparable. God abandoned Pharao and Aman to save his people. He treated them as victims of wrath. Is. xliii. 3.

Περικάθαρμα δὲ δικαίου ἄνομος.
כֹּ֣פֶר לַ/צַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְ/תַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד
21:19 Melius est habitare in terra deserta quam cum muliere rixosa et iracunda.
It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.
Κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἢ μετὰ γυναικὸς μαχίμου καὶ γλωσσώδους καὶ καὶ ὀργίλου.
ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּ/אֶֽרֶץ מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵ/אֵ֖שֶׁת מדונים מִדְיָנִ֣ים וָ/כָֽעַס
21:20 Thesaurus desiderabilis, et oleum in habitaculo justi : et imprudens homo dissipabit illud.
*H There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.


Ver. 20. Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.

Θησαυρὸς ἐπιθυμητὸς ἀναπαύσεται ἐπὶ στόματος σοφοῦ, ἄφρονες δὲ ἄνδρες καταπίονται αὐτόν.
אוֹצָ֤ר נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭/שֶׁמֶן בִּ/נְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּ/כְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽ/נּוּ
* Summa
*S Part 3, Ques 53, Article 1

[II-II, Q. 53, Art. 1]

Whether Imprudence Is a Sin?

Objection 1: It would seem that imprudence is not a sin. For every sin is voluntary, according to Augustine [*De Vera Relig. xiv]; whereas imprudence is not voluntary, since no man wishes to be imprudent. Therefore imprudence is not a sin.

Obj. 2: Further, none but original sin comes to man with his birth. But imprudence comes to man with his birth, wherefore the young are imprudent; and yet it is not original sin which is opposed to original justice. Therefore imprudence is not a sin.

Obj. 3: Further, every sin is taken away by repentance. But imprudence is not taken away by repentance. Therefore imprudence is not a sin.

_On the contrary,_ The spiritual treasure of grace is not taken away save by sin. But it is taken away by imprudence, according to Prov. 21:20, "There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just, and the imprudent [Douay: 'foolish'] man shall spend it." Therefore imprudence is a sin.

_I answer that,_ Imprudence may be taken in two ways, first, as a privation, secondly, as a contrary. Properly speaking it is not taken as a negation, so as merely to signify the absence of prudence, for this can be without any sin. Taken as a privation, imprudence denotes lack of that prudence which a man can and ought to have, and in this sense imprudence is a sin by reason of a man's negligence in striving to have prudence.

Imprudence is taken as a contrary, in so far as the movement or act of reason is in opposition to prudence: for instance, whereas the right reason of prudence acts by taking counsel, the imprudent man despises counsel, and the same applies to the other conditions which require consideration in the act of prudence. In this way imprudence is a sin in respect of prudence considered under its proper aspect, since it is not possible for a man to act against prudence, except by infringing the rules on which the right reason of prudence depends. Wherefore, if this should happen through aversion from the Divine Law, it will be a mortal sin, as when a man acts precipitately through contempt and rejection of the Divine teaching: whereas if he act beside the Law and without contempt, and without detriment to things necessary for salvation, it will be a venial sin.

Reply Obj. 1: No man desires the deformity of imprudence, but the rash man wills the act of imprudence, because he wishes to act precipitately. Hence the Philosopher says (Ethic. vi, 5) that "he who sins willingly against prudence is less to be commended."

Reply Obj. 2: This argument takes imprudence in the negative sense. It must be observed however that lack of prudence or of any other virtue is included in the lack of original justice which perfected the entire soul. Accordingly all such lack of virtue may be ascribed to original sin.

Reply Obj. 3: Repentance restores infused prudence, and thus the lack of this prudence ceases; but acquired prudence is not restored as to the habit, although the contrary act is taken away, wherein properly speaking the sin of imprudence consists. _______________________

SECOND

*S Part 3, Ques 119, Article 3

[II-II, Q. 119, Art. 3]

Whether Prodigality Is a More Grievous Sin Than Covetousness?

Objection 1: It seems that prodigality is a more grievous sin than covetousness. For by covetousness a man injures his neighbor by not communicating his goods to him, whereas by prodigality a man injures himself, because the Philosopher says (Ethic. iv, 1) that "the wasting of riches, which are the means whereby a man lives, is an undoing of his very being." Now he that injures himself sins more grievously, according to Ecclus. 14:5, "He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good?" Therefore prodigality is a more grievous sin than covetousness.

Obj. 2: Further, a disorder that is accompanied by a laudable circumstance is less sinful. Now the disorder of covetousness is sometimes accompanied by a laudable circumstance, as in the case of those who are unwilling to spend their own, lest they be driven to accept from others: whereas the disorder of prodigality is accompanied by a circumstance that calls for blame, inasmuch as we ascribe prodigality to those who are intemperate, as the Philosopher observes (Ethic. iv, 1). Therefore prodigality is a more grievous sin than covetousness.

Obj. 3: Further, prudence is chief among the moral virtues, as stated above (Q. 56, A. 1, ad 1; I-II, Q. 61, A. 2, ad 1). Now prodigality is more opposed to prudence than covetousness is: for it is written (Prov. 21:20): "There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just; and the foolish man shall spend it": and the Philosopher says (Ethic. iv, 6) that "it is the mark of a fool to give too much and receive nothing." Therefore prodigality is a more grievous sin than covetousness.

_On the contrary,_ The Philosopher says (Ethic. iv, 6) that "the prodigal seems to be much better than the illiberal man."

_I answer that,_ Prodigality considered in itself is a less grievous sin than covetousness, and this for three reasons. First, because covetousness differs more from the opposite virtue: since giving, wherein the prodigal exceeds, belongs to liberality more than receiving or retaining, wherein the covetous man exceeds. Secondly, because the prodigal man is of use to the many to whom he gives, while the covetous man is of use to no one, not even to himself, as stated in _Ethic._ iv, 6. Thirdly, because prodigality is easily cured. For not only is the prodigal on the way to old age, which is opposed to prodigality, but he is easily reduced to a state of want, since much useless spending impoverishes him and makes him unable to exceed in giving. Moreover, prodigality is easily turned into virtue on account of its likeness thereto. On the other hand, the covetous man is not easily cured, for the reason given above (Q. 118, A. 5, ad 3).

Reply Obj. 1: The difference between the prodigal and the covetous man is not that the former sins against himself and the latter against another. For the prodigal sins against himself by spending that which is his, and his means of support, and against others by spending the wherewithal to help others. This applies chiefly to the clergy, who are the dispensers of the Church's goods, that belong to the poor whom they defraud by their prodigal expenditure. In like manner the covetous man sins against others, by being deficient in giving; and he sins against himself, through deficiency in spending: wherefore it is written (Eccles. 6:2): "A man to whom God hath given riches . . . yet doth not give him the power to eat thereof." Nevertheless the prodigal man exceeds in this, that he injures both himself and others yet so as to profit some; whereas the covetous man profits neither others nor himself, since he does not even use his own goods for his own profit.

Reply Obj. 2: In speaking of vices in general, we judge of them according to their respective natures: thus, with regard to prodigality we note that it consumes riches to excess, and with regard to covetousness that it retains them to excess. That one spend too much for the sake of intemperance points already to several additional sins, wherefore the prodigal of this kind is worse, as stated in _Ethic._ iv, 1. That an illiberal or covetous man refrain from taking what belongs to others, although this appears in itself to call for praise, yet on account of the motive for which he does so it calls for blame, since he is unwilling to accept from others lest he be forced to give to others.

Reply Obj. 3: All vices are opposed to prudence, even as all virtues are directed by prudence: wherefore if a vice be opposed to prudence alone, for this very reason it is deemed less grievous. _______________________

21:21 Qui sequitur justitiam et misericordiam inveniet vitam, justitiam, et gloriam.
He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.
Ὁδὸς δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐλεημοσύνης εὑρήσει ζωὴν καὶ δόξαν.
רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָ/חָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְ/כָבֽוֹד
21:22 Civitatem fortium ascendit sapiens, et destruxit robur fiduciae ejus.
*H The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.


Ver. 22. Thereof. Nothing can resist. Matt. xii. 29. Eccle. ix. 16. C.

Πόλεις ὀχυρὰς ἐπέβη σοφὸς, καὶ καθεῖλε τὸ ὀχύρωμα ἐφʼ ᾧ ἐπεποίθεισαν οἱ ἀσεβεῖς.
עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝/יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽ/ה
21:23 Qui custodit os suum et linguam suam custodit ab angustiis animam suam.
*H He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.


Ver. 23. Mouth, from eating too much. Lyran.

Ὃς φυλάσσει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν, διατηρεῖ ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.
שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭י/ו וּ/לְשׁוֹנ֑/וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִ/צָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ
21:24 Superbus et arrogans vocatur indoctus, qui in ira operatur superbiam.
*H The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.


Ver. 24. Ignorant. Heb. "a scoffer." Sept. "pestilent." H. — Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.

Θρασὺς καὶ αὐθάδης καὶ ἀλαζὼν λοιμὸς καλεῖται, ὃς δὲ μνησικακεῖ παράνομος.
זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑/וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּ/עֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן
21:25 Desideria occidunt pigrum : noluerunt enim quidquam manus ejus operari.
*H Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.


Ver. 25. At all. Hence his desires of riches and wisdom prove fruitless. C. xiii. 4.

Ἐπιθυμίαι ὀκνηρὸν ἀποκτείνουσιν, οὐ γὰρ προαιροῦνται αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ποιεῖν τι.
תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑/נּוּ כִּֽי מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣י/ו לַ/עֲשֽׂוֹת
21:26 Tota die concupiscit et desiderat ; qui autem justus est, tribuet, et non cessabit.
He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.
Ἀσεβὴς ἐπιθυμεῖ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐπιθυμίας κακὰς, ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐλεᾷ καὶ οἰκτείρει ἀφειδῶς.
כָּל הַ֭/יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְ/צַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְ/לֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ
21:27 Hostiae impiorum abominabiles, quia offeruntur ex scelere.
*H The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.


Ver. 27. Wickedness. Heb. "with an evil thought." Mont. Eccli. xxxiv. 24. H.

Θυσίαι ἀσεβῶν βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ, καὶ γὰρ παρανόμως προσφέρουσιν αὐτάς.
זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי בְ/זִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽ/נּוּ
21:28 Testis mendax peribit ; vir obediens loquetur victoriam.
*H A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.


Ver. 28. Obedient. Attentive, faithful witness, shall speak with triumph, or he who obeys the law, shall gain the victory over the devil, &c. Phil. ii. 8.

Μάρτυς ψευδὴς ἀπολεῖται, ἀνὴρ δὲ ὑπήκοος φυλασσόμενος λαλήσει.
עֵד כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְ/אִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָ/נֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר
* Summa
*S Part 4, Ques 47, Article 2

[III, Q. 47, Art. 2]

Whether Christ Died Out of Obedience?

Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did not die out of obedience. For obedience is referred to a command. But we do not read that Christ was commanded to suffer. Therefore He did not suffer out of obedience.

Obj. 2: Further, a man is said to do from obedience what he does from necessity of precept. But Christ did not suffer necessarily, but voluntarily. Therefore He did not suffer out of obedience.

Obj. 3: Further, charity is a more excellent virtue than obedience. But we read that Christ suffered out of charity, according to Eph. 5:2: "Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and delivered Himself up for us." Therefore Christ's Passion ought to be ascribed rather to charity than to obedience.

_On the contrary,_ It is written (Phil. 2:8): "He became obedient" to the Father "unto death."

_I answer that,_ It was befitting that Christ should suffer out of obedience. First of all, because it was in keeping with human justification, that "as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners: so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just," as is written Rom. 5:19. Secondly, it was suitable for reconciling man with God: hence it is written (Rom. 5:10): "We are reconciled to God by the death of His Son," in so far as Christ's death was a most acceptable sacrifice to God, according to Eph. 5:2: "He delivered Himself for us an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness." Now obedience is preferred to all sacrifices. according to 1 Kings 15:22: "Obedience is better than sacrifices." Therefore it was fitting that the sacrifice of Christ's Passion and death should proceed from obedience. Thirdly, it was in keeping with His victory whereby He triumphed over death and its author; because a soldier cannot conquer unless he obey his captain. And so the Man-Christ secured the victory through being obedient to God, according to Prov. 21:28: "An obedient man shall speak of victory."

Reply Obj. 1: Christ received a command from the Father to suffer. For it is written (John 10:18): "I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it up again: (and) this commandment have I received of My Father"--namely, of laying down His life and of resuming it again. "From which," as Chrysostom says (Hom. lix in Joan.), it is not to be understood "that at first He awaited the command, and that He had need to be told, but He showed the proceeding to be a voluntary one, and destroyed suspicion of opposition" to the Father. Yet because the Old Law was ended by Christ's death, according to His dying words, "It is consummated" (John 19:30), it may be understood that by His suffering He fulfilled all the precepts of the Old Law. He fulfilled those of the moral order which are founded on the precepts of charity, inasmuch as He suffered both out of love of the Father, according to John 14:31: "That the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given Me commandment, so do I: arise, let us go hence"--namely, to the place of His Passion: and out of love of His neighbor, according to Gal. 2:20: "He loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." Christ likewise by His Passion fulfilled the ceremonial precepts of the Law, which are chiefly ordained for sacrifices and oblations, in so far as all the ancient sacrifices were figures of that true sacrifice which the dying Christ offered for us. Hence it is written (Col. 2:16, 17): "Let no man judge you in meat or drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is Christ's," for the reason that Christ is compared to them as a body is to a shadow. Christ also by His Passion fulfilled the judicial precepts of the Law, which are chiefly ordained for making compensation to them who have suffered wrong, since, as is written Ps. 68:5: He "paid that which" He "took not away," suffering Himself to be fastened to a tree on account of the apple which man had plucked from the tree against God's command.

Reply Obj. 2: Although obedience implies necessity with regard to the thing commanded, nevertheless it implies free-will with regard to the fulfilling of the precept. And, indeed, such was Christ's obedience, for, although His Passion and death, considered in themselves, were repugnant to the natural will, yet Christ resolved to fulfill God's will with respect to the same, according to Ps. 39:9: "That I should do Thy will: O my God, I have desired it." Hence He said (Matt. 26:42): "If this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done."

Reply Obj. 3: For the same reason Christ suffered out of charity and out of obedience; because He fulfilled even the precepts of charity out of obedience only; and was obedient, out of love, to the Father's command. _______________________

THIRD

21:29 Vir impius procaciter obfirmat vultum suum ; qui autem rectus est corrigit viam suam.
*H The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.


Ver. 29. Face. Never blushing, or yielding to good advice.

Ἀσεβὴς ἀνὴρ ἀναιδῶς ὑφίσταται προσώπῳ, ὁ δὲ εὐθὺς αὐτὸς συνιεῖ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ.
הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּ/פָנָ֑י/ו וְ֝/יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא יכין יָבִ֬ין דרכי/ו דַּרְכּֽ/וֹ
21:30 Non est sapientia, non est prudentia, non est consilium contra Dominum.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.
Οὐκ ἔστι σοφία, οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνδρεία, οὐκ ἔστι βουλὴ πρὸς τὸν ἀσεβῆ.
אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְ/אֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְ/אֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְ/נֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה
21:31 Equus paratur ad diem belli ; Dominus autem salutem tribuit.]
*H The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.


Ver. 31. Battle. It was kept for no other purpose by the eastern nations, who used oxen to till the land; asses and camels to carry burdens. Job xxxix. 18. Ps. xix. 8. and xxxii. 17. C.

Ἵππος ἑτοιμάζεται εἰς ἡμέραν πολέμου, παρὰ δὲ Κυρίου ἡ βοήθεια.
ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְ/י֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝/לַֽ/יהוָ֗ה הַ/תְּשׁוּעָֽה
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