^42:1 But Job, answering the Lord, said:
^42:2 I know that you can do all things, and no thought is hidden from you.
^42:3 Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have spoken foolishly, and of things that exceed my knowledge beyond measure.
^42:4 Hear, and I will speak; I will question, and answer me.
^42:5 By the hearing of the ear I have heard you, but now my eye sees you.
^42:6 For this reason I reprove myself and do penance in dust and ashes.

567. But Job, answering the Lord, said, etc. After the Lord reproved Job for incautious speech that seemed to savor of pride, because, namely, he asserted himself to be just to such a degree that this seemed to some to tend to a derogation from divine judgment, Job, humbly considering himself convicted, answers:

first indeed by confessing the divine excellence with respect to power, whence he says: But Job, answering the Lord, said: I know that you can do all things, and also with respect to knowledge, whence he adds: and no thought is hidden from you.

By the first of these he confessed that God was able to remove the adversity brought in by the devil, whom the Lord had described under the figure of Behemoth and Leviathan;

but by the second he acknowledges that he had been struck inwardly by some proud thought, which he recognizes had not been hidden from God,

and therefore he consequently inveighs against those who deny divine providence, saying: Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? That is, who is so presumptuous and foolish as to say that human counsel can be hidden from God without God knowing it?

568. But from the consideration of the divine excellence he proceeds to the consideration of his own fault when he adds: Therefore I have spoken foolishly, namely, by not showing due reverence to the divine excellence in my words, and of things that exceed my knowledge beyond measure, namely, by discussing the divine judgments. And because I have spoken foolishly, hereafter I will speak wisely, whence he adds: Hear, and I will speak, namely, by confessing my fault; and because I have spoken of things that exceed my knowledge, hereafter I do not dare to speak of it, but only to question you concerning these things, whence he adds: I will question you, namely, by seeking, praying, knocking, and answer me, namely, by instructing me inwardly. But why he was thus changed he shows, adding: By the hearing of the ear I have heard you, namely, formerly, when I spoke foolishly, but now my eye sees you, that is, I know you more fully than before, just as what is seen by the eyes is known more certainly than what is heard by the ear: for he had advanced both from the blow and from the divine revelation. But the more someone considers the justice of God, the more fully he recognizes his own fault, whence he adds: For this reason I reprove myself, namely, by considering my own fault. And because it is not enough to confess fault unless satisfaction follows, he therefore adds: and I do penance in dust and ashes, namely, as a sign of the frailty of bodily nature; for humble satisfaction is fitting to expiate pride of thought.