(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided him from my mother's womb;)
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Womb. I was of a compassionate disposition, with which I always corresponded. (St. Gregory)
Hebrew, "from my youth, pity (ceab, which Protestants translate "as with a father. "Haydock) grew up with me; and from my birth I have preserved it! "(Calmet)
Protestants, "From my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her (the widow, margin) from my mother's womb. "Septuagint, "I fed him as a father, Theodotion adds, and was his leader from "It was my earliest delight to assist the afflicted orphan and widow. (Haydock)
28. For though commiseration was a thing at his own command, that it should gain growth with himself, yet it is plain that it was not a thing at his own command that it should ‘come forth from the womb along with himself.’ Therefore it is plain that he attributes nothing to his own goodness, in that surely he bears witness that he received this same by the gift of his creation. The good then which he implies that he had derived from his creation, it is assuredly plain that he tells to the praise of the Creator, shewing that it was from Him and no other that he had obtained that he should he pitiful, from Whom he obtained that he should be; because as by his own act he was not created in the womb, so neither by his own goodness was he full of pity from the womb. But it is to be taken thought of by us that he declares; it grew up with me. For there are some who as they grow to years, go off from innocency. But whilst to the Elect the age of the body increases without, within, if it may b...
“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired.” In order that it might not appear that by humanely treating his servants, he did not practice a real liberality but only took care of his property, he says that he tended the hand of mercy and benevolence to strangers as well. In a different sense, one who does not wait to satisfy the desire of the needy donates without the slightest hesitation. “Or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to fail.” The caring affection of the merciful offers everything, because he thinks that everything must be asked of him. - "Exposition on the Book of Job 31.16"
