Provérbios 18
Ambrose of Milan · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Provérbios 18:17
The just man indeed notices his own frailty more than the unjust man; and the wise man recognizes, while the foolish man does not recognize. Finally, the wise man is remorseful for his own failings, while the foolish man takes pleasure in them: the just man accuses himself, the unjust man defends himself. The just man wants to preempt the accuser by confessing his sin, while the unjust man desires to conceal his sin: the former at the beginning of his speech reveals his error, the latter wraps the sound of accusation in the verbosity of his speech, so as not to reveal his error. — Interrogation of Job and David
Provérbios 18:17
Let us who are free from sin, purchased, as it were, by the price of Christ's blood, let us not be subject to the slavery of people or of passion. Let us not be ashamed to confess our sin. See how free is the one who could say, "I have not been afraid of a very great multitude, so that I would not confess my sin in the sight of all." One who confesses to the Lord is freed from his slavery: "The just is the accuser of himself in the beginning of his speech." He is not only free but just, for justice is in liberty, and liberty in confession, and as soon as one has confessed he is pardoned. — LETTER 54
Provérbios 18:17
Are not those who condemn their sin truer Christians than those who think to defend it? "The just accuses himself in the beginning of his words." He who accuses himself when he sins is just, not he who praises himself. — LETTER 51