Chapter II.
Job's weakness proved to be stronger for his healthy friends and even himself. How did he rebuke his accusers? Especially when his silence, as well as that of David and the Apostle, is presented to us for imitation.
Holy Job heard these things, and like a strong athlete sat in the dung, covered in sores and painful wounds, the whole body covered in dreadful ulcers, he spoke of mysteries, not seeking his own remedies for sickness, but occupied with sacred discourses. Therefore, the words of a sick man are stronger than those who are not sick. For they spoke of injustices, but not according to knowledge: they preached divine judgments, the punishments of criminals, the rewards of the saints; but they did not know how to discern the guilty from the righteous: in short, whom the Lord God pronounced righteous, they condemned as unjust, they summoned him to wickedness. Therefore, they did not know what was suitable for each person. But truly, the holy Job could discern by the spirit how he ought to speak to each one; therefore, he was stronger than those who appeared to be healthy and whole. And what shall I say? Was he found stronger than the others? He was found stronger than himself. For Job, when he was sick, was stronger than when he was healthy, according to what is written, 'For my strength is made perfect in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, even when Job was weakened, he was then stronger. For his soul was not sick, although his body was in pain: because his soul was not in the flesh, to which it did not adhere to its passions; but in the spirit, by whose power it was clothed.
Therefore, it was not the groaning of the flesh and the weaknesses of the body that spoke, but the voices of the spirit by which it was oppressed, not by which it yielded. And at first, more gently, to instill shame in them; because they unjustly accused the just man of enduring lesser punishments for his sins, and they themselves, sinners, did not blush to falsely accuse the innocent one. ‘Let it be,’ he said, ‘that I have erred, and that he who pours errors into the minds of men dwells with me deviatingly; so that I may speak words that I ought not, as you say, and my words may err, and my speech may not be timely. Why do you leap upon me and revile me, not considering that this temptation has come upon me from the Lord, who has thought it fitting to enclose me with a certain rampart of perturbations.’ (Job 19:4ff) I am exercised by adversity, surrounded on all sides by labors and dangers; and yet, you insult me, wanting to oppress whom you should help. Behold, I laugh at your reproaches, and I will not speak, nor will I respond to your insults. For it is not you who judge: but He who judges me is the Lord, and the time of His judgment has not yet come. Why shout before the judgment? It is good to be silent while awaiting the judge. It is good not to return insult for insult, lest we ourselves be counted among the detractors.
5. Let us therefore imitate this man, who with his silence refuted his accusers. He showed the strength of his character, which was not moved by insults; and he displayed the innocence of his conscience, as he did not acknowledge the accusations and instead laughed at them as if they were from someone else. But we, on the other hand, when something is being accused against us, we become bitter when we want to defend ourselves, and we admit our desire for revenge; whereas the Scripture says to turn away from disgraceful speech (Prov. XXVII, 11), and to take off your garment (Ibid. 13); for the one who insults will pass by. Let us be silent, so that it passes by, lest our provoked garment be burned. For it is written: Do not kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned by the fire of his flame (Eccl. VIII, 13). Therefore, the holy man is silent; and if a servant acts insolently, and if a poor man is reviled, the righteous man is silent; and if a sinner hurls insults, the righteous man laughs; and if an infirm person curses, the righteous man blesses.
David remained silent when Shimei, son of Gera, cursed him; Job laughed; Paul blessed, as he himself says: We are cursed, and we bless (1 Corinthians 4:2). For by divine teaching, the progress of human virtue has grown; for the one had already come who would make the weaker stronger, and he had heard him say: Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:28). What he said in words, he proved by example. Finally, even while placed on the cross, with his persecutors reviling him, he said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34); so that he might pray for those who falsely accused him, whom he himself could forgive. Therefore, Job laughed, because Christ had not yet come, to whom alone the prerogative of great virtues was reserved; for he is the beginning of virtues, as it is written: The Lord created me as the beginning of his ways (Proverbs 8:22).