If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy:)
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
3. And that it might be clear that the already perfect soul, which is to be on her guard against the most insidious snares of the devil only, says this, see what follows. "O Lord my God, if I have done this" (ver. 3). What is it that he calls "this"? Since he does not mention the sin by name, are we to understand sin generally? If this sense displease us, we may take that to be meant which follows: as if we had asked,what is this that you say, "this"? He answers, "If there be iniquity in my hands." Now then it is clear that it is said of all sin, "If I have repaid them that recompense me evil" (ver. 4). Which none can say with truth, but the perfect. For so the Lord says, "Be ye perfect, as your Father which is in heaven; who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and the evil, and raineth on the just and the unjust." He then who repayeth not them that recompense evil, is perfect. When therefore the perfect soul prays "for the words of Chusi, the son of Jemini," that is, for the knowledg...
That repaid. This seems better than "my peaceable one "as some translate the Hebrew, for it would be but a small commendation not to injure a friend: the pagans do as much. Duport therefore agrees with the Vulgate, and St. Jerome has, "If I have rendered evil to those who did me any, and sent my enemies empty away "or, as the Hebrew is in the future, "I will let my enemies depart without fighting "which is equivalent to, I will gain no advantage over them. (Berthier)
The man who takes revenge, injures himself, and becomes the devil's slave. (St. Augustine)
David had been so far from giving way to ingratitude, that he would not even hurt his enemy. (Haydock)
He let Saul escape, when he might easily have slain him. (Calmet)
