Eliphaz returns to the charge against Job and describes the wretched state of the wicked.
“The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.” (Job 15:20)
Pride and self exaltation are traits of tyrants.
“The Elect also are apt to feel pride in some of their thoughts and actions. But because they are Elect persons, they cannot feel pride all their days, because before they end their lives, they turn their hearts from self-exaltation to the fearing of humility. But ‘the wicked man feels pride all his days,’ in that he so brings his life to an end, that he never departs from self-exalting. He looks round him on all that is flourishing in time, and he neglects to consider whither he is being carried for ever. He puts his trust in the life of the flesh, and thinks that those things continue for long, which he holds at the moment. His mind is set firm in self-exaltation, every one of his kin is brought into contempt, how suddenly death creeps upon him he never takes thought, how certain his happiness he never reflects; whereas if he did but turn his eyes to the uncertainty of fleeting life, he would never keep for a certainty things uncertain. And hence it is well added; And the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.” (4) -St. Gregory the Dialogist
The Lord who knows the hearts of men, considers those things which a person desires to do and not only what has been done.
“Nor does the Lord regard what amount of evil each person may be able to do, but what amount he may have the mind to do. And when the power is wanting without, he is, a tyrant within himself, whom iniquity lords it over within; for though he does not oppress his neighbours outwardly, yet inwardly he seeks to possess power, in order to oppress them; and because Almighty God considers the hearts of men, the wicked man has already done in his eyes the thing that he conceived. -St. Gregory the Dialogist
“He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own month.” (Job 15:30)
Seek righteousness and to join oneself with others who search after eternal life, producing good works.
“If this proud man had been minded to turn back from sin to righteousness, he might ‘depart out of darkness.’ But because he seeks not the light of righteousness, he does not depart out of darkness. After whose example, those likewise, who ‘attach themselves to him out breathe themselves in making earthly advancements, are kindled with the torches of avarice, and scorched with the fires of carnal desires. And hence it is added, The flame shall dry up his branches. For if he united to himself any that were searching after the Eternal Country, he would have green ‘branches’ in himself. But because they that are joined to him, are also heated with earthly passions, and the flame of passions kindles the hearts of his followers, it doth surely ‘dry up his branches,’ that they should not bear the fruit of good works, seeing that for the chase after the lowest objects they pant in wickedness. And it is well added, And by the breath of his mouth shall he be taken away.” (4) -St. Gregory The Dialogist
In the part where a man sins the most, there he will be the more fiercely burned.
“For the proud man, in proportion as he is more strong in this life, the more shamelessly lets loose for himself the reins of his tongue, so as to utter bad things of every sort, to apprehend no man for his words, to wound these with insults, to cast at those with curses. But sometimes he is carried away into blasphemy against his Creator, as it is said by the Psalmist of such persons, They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. [Ps. 73, 9] And hence the rich man, being set in the fire, implores to have water dropped for him on his tongue by the finger of Lazarus. By which circumstance it is perceived that in that part where a man has sinned most, there he was the more fiercely burned. Therefore it is rightly said now, ‘And by the breath of his mouth shall he go away’; in that he received sentence of smiting, in proportion as he did not restrain the breath of his mouth under the fear of God.” (4) -St. Gregory The Dialogist
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 