| Job 22:3
| What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?
| Profit. God rules all with justice or with mercy: since, therefore, he punishes, it must be for some guilt, and not for his own advantage. But he might still chastise for the good of man, or to manifest his own power, John 9:3. God also punishes the sinner for the wrong which he does to himself. (St. Augustine, Conf. 3:8.) Any one may discover the sophism of Eliphaz. If God were indifferent with regard to our virtue, who would be able to advance one step towards him? (Calmet) --- Man is unprofitable indeed to God, but he may reap great advantage from piety himself; and this is what God desires, as well as his own glory, Matthew 5:17. (Worthington)
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