Therefore thus says the LORD,
If you return, then will I bring you again, and you shall stand before me: and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: let them return unto you; but return not you unto them.
Read Chapter 15
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Converted, and cease to fear the people; (Calmet) and confide in my precious words, (Haydock) despising the vile threats of the people. (Menochius)
Mouth; interpreter, Exodus iv. 16. Chaldean, "If thou wilt recall the wicked into the way of justice, though shalt fulfill my will. "See St. Jerome in Psalm cv. 32.
To thee. Thus Sedecias and the people acted, chap. xxi. 1., and xlii. 2. (Calmet)
The prophet must not give way to sinners, but they must be reclaimed. (Worthington)
It is obvious that the text above was said not by Jerusalem but by a prophet. To him the Lord responds, “If you turn from the sins of the people, I likewise will turn you from tribulation toward joyfulness, and you will stand before my face like the angels stand in the presence of God daily, beholding his face.” Also, if you separate the precious from the vile, you will become like my mouth. “Now should you think,” he adds, “that there is no reward for good works, if you distinguish my saints from the crowd of sinners in your speech, you will be as my mouth, and you will be united to my precepts. For sinners need to be imitators of you, not you of them. Nor should you fear and ask: ‘Why has my pain become perpetual and my wound worse (or incurable),’ such that I lose all hope of being healed? For I have made you like a bronze and impregnable wall, so that you can withstand all the strength of your adversaries. Moreover, you have me as a helper, and I will liberate you from the hand of ...
Words full of gentleness and meekness, even as Jesus also used to speak, saying to those who were insulting him, “I have not a devil,” and again, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong.” If you also speak in this way, if you speak for your neighbor’s betterment, you will obtain a tongue like that tongue. And these things God says: “For he that brings out the precious from the vile shall be like my mouth”; such are his words. - "Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 78.2"
Let us catch them, then, by our mode of life; and by these souls let us build up the church, and of these let us amass our wealth. There is nothing to weigh against a soul, not even the whole world. Thus, although one may give countless treasure to the poor, in so doing he will not do such work as one who converts one soul. “For he who takes forth the precious from the vile shall be as my mouth,” so God speaks. A great good it is, I grant, to have pity on the poor, but it is nothing equal to removing them from error. - "Homilies on 1 Corinthians 3.9"
Consider to what a dignity one exalts himself who esteems others’ salvation to be of great importance. Such a person is imitating God as far as lies within the power of humankind. Hear what God says speaking through his prophet: “He who separates the worthy from the vile shall be as my mouth.” What God says is that one who is eager to save a brother who has fallen into careless ways, one who hastens to snatch his brother from the jaws of the devil, that person imitates me as far as lies within human power. What could equal that? This is greater than all good deeds. This is the peak of all virtue. - "Baptismal Instructions 6.19"
