6.

Therefore "the Lord does strengthen the righteous." In what way does He strengthen them? "The Lord knoweth the ways ¹ of the spotless ones" (ver. 18). When they suffer ills, they are believed to be walking ill ways by those who are ignorant, by those who have not knowledge to discern "the ways of the spotless ones." He who "knoweth those ways," knoweth by what way to lead His own, "them that are gentle," in the right way. Whence in another Psalm he said, "The meek shall He guide in judgment; them that are gentle will He teach His way." ² How, think you, was that beggar, who lay covered with sores before the rich man's door, ³ spurned by the passers by! How did they, probably, close their nostrils and spit at him! The Lord, however, knew how to reserve ⁴ Paradise for him. How did they, on the other hand, desire for themselves the life of him who was "clad in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day!" ⁵ But the Lord, who foresaw that man's "day coming," knew the torments, the torments without end, that were in store for him. Therefore "The Lord knoweth the ways of the upright."