Thomas Aquinas

Here he convicts them of guilt against the neighbor: and first he proves the guilt; second he threatens the punishment of confusion, there, "and you shall be confounded by Egypt." Concerning the first, three things. First he sets forth the slaying of the neighbors, marveling at the excuse: "to seek love"; as though by these things you could appease me. Setting forth the spiritual slaying: "which, moreover, you have taught" — by evil examples. Below, 13: "you have taught them against you, and instructed them to your own head." And setting forth the bodily slaying, "in the wings," that is, in the birds: he speaks in the likeness of a bird of prey. "Of the poor," whom you have sacrificed to idols. Zach. 5: "I saw, and behold, two women coming forth, and wind was in their wings, and they had wings like the wings of a kite." Second, the manifestation of the guilt: "I did not find them in the ditches," as though secretly slain by robbers: "in all," namely, the hills, and the pleasant places. Isai. 59: "Truth has fallen in the street, and equity could not enter in. And truth has come into oblivion, and he who departed from evil lay open to plunder." And he marvels at the excuse. "And you said." Job 11: "You said: my speech is pure, and I am clean in your sight." Third, he shows the repetition of the guilt, premising a marveling at the excuse, "behold, I." "How exceedingly vile you have become, repeating your ways." "Sins." Threni 1: "See, Lord, and consider, for I have become vile."