For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Ver. 8. For I the Lord love judgment, &c.] One rendereth it roundly thus, For I the Lord love right; I hate rapine by iniquity - q.d., therefore I will right and repay the wrongs and damages done to my people. Neither is it for any one to think to expiate his bad deeds by his good, to set off with God, and to make him amends. In the times of Popery, indeed, men were taught so to do; they were persuaded that God would accept rapinam in holocaustum, and they practised accordingly: as did the French fury Brunbildis, who founded many colleges; and our King Stephen, who built many monasteries: eo scilicet beneficio maleficia sun expiaverunt, saith mine author. How much better Selymus, the great Turk, who, being on his death bed moved by Pyrrhus, his favourite, to bestow the great wealth taken from the Persian merchants in various places of his empire upon some notable hospital for relief of the poor, refused so to do, and forthwith commanded restitution thereof to be made to the rightful owners. a
And I will direct their work in truth,] i.e., In sincerity: there shall be good actions and good aims; which two make a good Christian. Some render the words thus, And I will give them according to their work in truth; making "in truth" to be God's oath - q.d., truly and without all doubt, I will perform my promises: you have mine oath and my covenant both for your better assurance.
a Turkish History, fol. 567.