Thomas Aquinas, on Isa 5:19

“That say: Let him make haste, and let his work come quickly, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it.”

“186. That say. Here he shows those vanities in particular, from which they drew sin upon themselves. And this as to three things: first, as to their contempt of the judge; second, as to their excusing of sin, where it says, woe to you that call evil good (Isa 5:20); third, as to the presumption of their sinning, where it says, woe to you that are wise (Isa 5:21). And this is the threefold cord, which is not easily broken (Eccl 4:12). 187. They have contempt for the threat of the judge because of two things, namely because of the delay of the sentence; hence he says: let him make haste, and let his work, of captivity, which you threaten, come quickly: for because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear (Eccl 8:11). Second, because of the distance of the judge; hence he says, let him come near, as if to say: he is in heaven and cannot see, but let him be near: for they have said: the Lord has forsaken the earth, and the Lord sees not (Ezek 9:9).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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