Better Judgements

Non secundum visionem oculorum judicabit, neque secundum auditum aurium arguet: sed judicabit in justitia pauperes, et arguet in aequitate pro mansuetis terrae, et percutiet terram virga oris sui, et spiritu labiorum suorum interficiet impium. Et erit justitia cingulum lumborum ejus, et fides cinctorium renum ejus. Haec nos ad primum adventum referimus Salvatoris: Judaei in fine mundi contendunt futura. Porro LXX transtulerunt: Non secundum gloriam judicabit, neque juxta sermonem arguet: sed judicabit humili judicio, et arguet humiles terrae. Nullius enim personam accipit in judicio: sed Scribis et Pharisaeis ac principibus loquitur: Vae vobis, hypocritae: Et, Auferetur a vobis regnum Dei, et dabitur genti facienti fructus ejus. Nec secundum sermonem et auditum aurium corripuit. Illis enim dicentibus: Magister, scimus quia verax es, et viam Dei in veritate doces, et non ad te pertinet de aliquo: neque enim vides in faciem hominum: sciens malitiam eorum, respondebat: Quid me tentatis, hypocritae? et caetera his similia. Judicabat autem in justitia pauperes spiritu, quorum est regnum Dei: et arguebat in aequitate mansuetos et humiles terrae, dicens ad Apostolos: Adhuc et vos insipientes estis? Et iterum: Necdum scitis neque intelligitis? Et ad Petrum specialiter: Modicae fidei, quare dubitasti? Vel certe pro humilibus atque mansuetis alios arguebat, qui eos opprimere conabantur. Percussit quoque omnia terrena opera virga, sive ut LXX transtulerunt, verbo oris sui, loquens in Evangelio: Nolite putare, quia venerim mittere pacem super terram: non enim veni mittere pacem, sed gladium. Et spiritu labiorum suorum interficiet impium: de quo in nono Psalmo legimus: Increpasti gentes, et periit impius: nomen eorum delesti in saeculum et in saeculum saeculi. Et Paulus Apostolus scribit: Quem Dominus Jesus interficiet spiritu oris sui. Percusso autem impio, accinctus est Dominus justitia et veritate et fide. Ipse enim factus est nobis a Deo sapientia, et justitia, et sanctificatio et redemptio, qui et in Evangelio loquitur: Ego sum lux, et vita, et veritas. Et de Psalmis dicitur: Veritas de terra orta est: et justitia de coelo prospexit. Unde et Apostolus hortatur Ephesios: State ergo succincti lumbos vestros in veritate, et induti lorica justitiae. Quod si pro veritate, fides legitur, illud dicendum, quod cingulum Domini, quo cinctus est Jeremias, fides credentium sit. Sanctus Hieronymus, Commentariorum In Isaiam Prophetam, Lib IV Source Migne PL 24.146a-147a

He shall not judge according to the vision of the eyes, nor shall he determine according to the hearing of the ear, but He shall judge the poor justly and the shall determine fairly for the meek of the earth, and He shall strike the earth with the staff of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt about His waist, and faith the girdle of His loins. 1 We refer this to the first coming of the Saviour, the Jews argue that it is about the end of the world. The Septuagint translation runs: 'He shall not judge according to glory, not shall he determine according to speech, but He shall judge with a humble judgement and determine for the humble of the earth.' For He is no respecter of persons, but He says to the Scribes and Pharisees and elders: 'Woe to you hypocrites.' And: 'The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and it shall be given to a people to produce fruits from it.' 2 He shall not chastise according to the hearing of the ear. For when they said, 'Master, we know you are true, and you teach the way of God in truth, and you are not in awe of any man, nor are you are respecter of persons,' He was aware of their cunning, and answered: 'Why do you test me, hypocrites?' 3 And other things similar to this. But He shall judge justly the poor in spirit, of whom is the kingom of heaven, and he shall determine fairly among the meek and humble of the earth, saying to the Apostles: 'Are you yet so witless?' And again: 'Do you not know nor understand?' And to Peter specifically: 'O man of little faith, why did you doubt?' 4 Or certainly he will dispute with others for the humble and meek, against those who strive to oppress them. He also strikes all worldly works with a rod, or as the Septuagint translation has it: 'With the word of His own mouth,' saying in the Gospel: 'Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth, for I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.' 5 'And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.' Concerning which in the ninth Psalm we read: 'You cried out against the people and the wicked perished, you destroyed their name in the age and forever.' 6 And Paul the Apostle writes: 'Whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His own mouth.' 7 For when the Lord is girded with righteousness and truth and faith, the wicked are struck down. For He was made by God for us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, He who says in the Gospel: 'I am the light and life and truth.' 8 And in the Psalms it is said: 'Truth has arisen from the earth, and justice looks down from the skies.' Whence the Apostle exhorts in Ephesians: 'Therefore stand with your loins bound with truth, and wearing the breastplace of righteousness,' 9 Because if faith is read for truth, it must be said that the girdle of the Lord, with which Jeremiah was bound, is the faith of believers. 10 Saint Jerome, Commentary On The Prophet Isaiah, Book 4 1 Isaiah 11.3-4 2 Mt 23.13, 21.43 3 Mt 22.15-18 4 Mark 8.17 5 Mt 10.34 6 Ps 9.6 7 2 Thes 2.8 8 1 Cor 1.30, Jn 8.6 9 Ps 84.2, Ephes 6.14 10 Jerem 13