Cytowanie Komentarza do Psalmów 145:17

• Elihu was also angered by the three companions to the debate. For even though sophistry can prove the opposite, a philosopher should not dismiss the evidence of the senses off-hand. He should seek a middle path by which reasoning can be reconciled with the senses, and by which the truth latent in the nature of intellect corresponds with the truth revealed to the eyes. And, furthermore, they should not have condemned Job who was righteous in all his ways (Psalms 145:17) there being no fault in him. (Psalms 92:16).

In the third, he passes all his deeds under the rod of scrutiny (Leviticus 27:32) and brings evidence to prove that no iniquity shall be found in him; no sin (Hosea 12:9), in any of his deeds or acts. For he was blameless in all his ways (Ezekiel 28:15) and righteous in all his deeds (Psalms 145:17), and he is now stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4), though he is totally innocent (Job 16:17) and has said nothing wrong.

We have to understand this on the following basis. When G'd first assumed His seat of justice He placed justice on its appropriate place. When it came to executing justice, G'd allowed Himself to be influenced by considerations of mercy. David described this in Psalms 145,17: "whereas G'd is righteous (just) in all His paths, He is pious (flexible) in His actions." In other words, G'd first established what justice demanded under the given circumstances, but He made allowances before carrying out the demands of strict justice." When man entreats G'd He will show him mercy צדיק וישר הוא. "He is righteous and upright." He is righteous by judging justly. When the Talmud asks in Avodah Zarah 6 whether it it is not impossible that Noach could have been "treifah," seeing he is described in the Torah as "perfect," the Talmud retorts that the word תמים did not necessarily refer to his being unblemished physically (able to live for 12 months) but it could refer to his character being unblemished. Rashi comments on this that Noach was righteous in his דרכיו, "his attitude was guided by justice." All of this was only the original attitude. Afterwards G'd is ישר, more accomodating to man than required by the strict rules of justice as our sages in Baba Metzia 16 explain based on Deut. 6,18.