Section 35

35. Moreover what is written “Thou wilt destroy all that speak leasing:” ²³⁶⁰ one saith that no lie is here excepted, but all condemned. Another saith: Yea verily: but they who speak leasing from the heart, as we disputed above; for that man speaketh truth in his heart, who hateth the necessity of lying, which he understands as a penalty of the moral life. Another saith: All indeed will God destroy who speak leasing, but not all leasing: for there is some leasing which the Prophet was at that time insinuating, in which none is spared; that is, if refusing to confess each one his sins, he defend them rather, and will not do penance, ²³⁶¹ so that not content to work iniquity, he must needs wish to be thought just, and succumb not to the medicine of confession: as the very distinction of the words may seem to intimate no other, “Thou hatest all that work iniquity;” ²³⁶² but wilt not destroy them if upon repenting they speak the truth in confession, that by doing that truth they may come to the light; as is said in the Gospel according to John, “But be that doeth truth cometh unto the light. ²³⁶³ Thou wilt destroy all who” not only work what Thou hatest, but also “speak leasing;” ²³⁶⁴ in holding out before them false righteousness, and not confessing their sins in penitence.

Footnotes

473:2360

Ps. 5.6Ps. v. 6

473:2361

Agere pœnitentiam

473:2362

Ps. 5.5Ps. v. 5

473:2363

John 3.21John iii. 21

473:2364

Ps. 5:6, 7Ps. 5:6, 7