4 Panic and insolence will waste away riches; thus the house of the proud will be laid waste. 5 The prayer of the poor goes from their lips to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily. 6 Those who hate reproof walk in the sinner's steps, but those who fear the Lord repent in their heart. 7 The mighty in speech are widely known; when they slip, the sensible person knows it. 8 Whoever builds his house with other people's money is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.

At this stage some rise up, saying that the Lord, by reason of the rod, and threatening, and fear, is not good; misapprehending, as appears, the Scripture which says, And he that fears the Lord will turn to his heart; and most of all, oblivious of His love, in that for us He became man. For more suitably to Him, the prophet prays in these words: Remember us, for we are dust; that is, Sympathize with us; for You know from personal experience of suffering the weakness of the flesh. In this respect, therefore, the Lord the Instructor is most good and unimpeachable, sympathizing as He does from the exceeding greatness of His love with the nature of each man. For there is nothing which the Lord hates. For assuredly He does not hate anything, and yet wish that which He hates to exist.