The Desire for Righteousness and the Praise of God

But facing the sun. Thus it is also said in Job: 'the stars are not pure before him'. Therefore, this 'according to your righteousness' does not at all mean: not according to your unapproachable righteousness, but according to your righteousness, in which you judge human things. Do not judge me according to their enmity, but according to your righteousness; for your righteousness hates the unrighteous.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, 'Well done, well done to our soul.' Even if they do not say it with words, let them not even say to our soul in their hearts, 'Well done, well done.' 25 Let them not say, 'We have overcome him.' Let them not say that we have surrounded him and conquered him; for often this too has been made clear, that according to the Scripture, downfall signifies victory.

26 May those rejoicing in my evils be shamed and put to shame. It brings salvation to those being shamed and being put to shame because of what they are doing badly; for since they want to surround me with evils and rejoice having seen what they strive to complete, let them be shamed; for having been shamed, they will no longer lie in wait for me, having been put to shame, they will no longer do these things bearing mockery and accusation. Moreover: he says 'evil things', not 'wickednesses'? For he who says, 'Judge me, Lord, according to your righteousness,' truly had no wickednesses; he who says, 'those rejoicing in me unjustly.'

26 Let those boasting against me be clothed in shame and confusion. The great ones speaking against me arrogantly and rejoicing, may they be shamed and put to shame, and may they know themselves. But this happens as a call to them, and I no longer have them lying in wait like that. Previously he prays for them, but secondly also for himself. Moreover: the 'to clothe oneself'? As we say to clothe oneself in a virtue, or to clothe oneself in a wickedness, or to clothe oneself in a 'garment of salvation': 'Let my soul rejoice in the Lord; for he has clothed me with a garment of salvation and a robe of gladness' (Psalm 31:11). The quality becomes like a garment of the thing.

27 May those desiring my righteousness rejoice and be glad. 230 When 'those boasting' are said to 'clothe themselves in confusion and shame', 'those desiring my righteousness and my peace' rejoice and are glad. When the enemies are shamed and put to shame, the friends rejoice and are glad.

They are those who desire my salvation, my virtue, and my righteousness. And let them say continually, 'Magnified be the Lord.' Then they magnify the Lord continually, when I remain continually in righteousness, in not falling to the evil ones.

They are those who desire the peace of his servant—me, his servant. 'Let them say continually, Magnified be the Lord,' seeing me making peace, seeing me not having fallen to trouble or confusion or uprising or war. We have said many times that sometimes the whole is shown through the individual parts, and we used to employ this witness by saying: 'Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place? He who is innocent of hands' (Ps 24:3). Then he says: 'This one shall receive a blessing from the Lord.' He does not say something explicit, but if anyone is such a person, if anyone has ascended the mountain and stood upon the mountain of the Lord and is innocent of hands, everyone, if anyone is such a person, 'shall receive a blessing from the Lord.' Similarly in Psalm 119, it is said: 'The law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls; the testimony of the Lord is faithful' (Ps 119:29, 138). And he says many things: 'For indeed your servant keeps them' (Ps 119:138). He does not say only himself, but if anyone is such a servant of God.

Being therefore inferior, when he speaks of achievements, he says 'to the servants of God,' but when of failings, 'to himself.' Some say that those approaching God are sons of God, but those who have reached them are these servants; for from servants they become friends and sons. The greater, then, are 'those who desire,' those who are like sons, those 'perfect as their father' who is the 'perfect one in heaven'; they desire to be the peace of also those who are lower. Or thus, that all desire the peace of each individual servant.

And my tongue shall meditate on your righteousness, all the day your praise. It shall meditate thankfully. When that which I requested exists, my tongue meditates on your righteousness. This I always recount, in hymns I bring it forth, in narrative words I name it. 'Day' here he says, the whole time of human life, just as in others he says: 'Because of you we are being killed all the day' (Rom 8:36), that is, because of strife. And the praise of God he does not say 'lordly'; rather, it is called a hymn and a song upon God, but upon men...