My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God?
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
6. "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they daily say unto me, Where is thy God?" (ver. 3). My tears (he saith) have been not bitterness, but "my bread." Those very tears were sweet unto me: being athirst for that fountain, inasmuch as I was not as yet able to drink of it, I have eagerly made my tears my meat. For he said not, "My tears became my drink," lest he should seem to have longed for them, as for "the water-brooks:" but, still retaining that thirst wherewith I burn, and by which I am hurried away towards the water-brooks, "My tears became my meat," whilst I am not yet there. And assuredly he does but the more thirst for the water-brooks from making his tears his meat. ..."And they daily say unto me, Where is thy God?" For if a Pagan should say this to me, I cannot retort it upon him, saying, "Where is thine?" inasmuch as he points with his finger to some stone, and says, "Lo, there is my God!" When I have laughed at the stone, and he who pointed to it has been put...
Bread. Ovid imitates this: Cura dolorque animi lachrymæque alimenta fuere. (Met. x.)
The tears of compunction obtain the remission of sin. (St. Jerome)
God. Thus the idolaters derided those who could not point at their God. (Haydock)
The Babylonians had conquered all the surrounding nations, and despised their deities. (Calmet)
The wicked laugh at the just, who are for a time in distress, comforting themselves with weeping. (Worthington)
Those who saw David wandering (Haydock) in the mountains, at a distance from the tabernacle, might ask him what religion or God he followed. (Menochius)
