Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 10. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said; None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, they have caused thee to rebel; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else.

Vers. 10. For thou hast trusted in thy wickednesse: thou hast said; None seeth mee. Thy wisdome and thy knowledge, they haue caused thee to rebell; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else.

HE explains that which he said in the former verse, though we may extend it further; to wit, that he taxeth the Chaldeans for their fraud, oppression, outrages, and wicked practises, whereby they so highly magnified themselves. For all these great kingdoms lightly become great dens of thieves, as an archtheefe which once reigned among them said: because they can never enlarge their territories, but by plucking from others by force and violence; therefore they drive the lawful possessors out of their houses, that they may be Lords and Kings within themselves. Now he calls that wickedness; which he adorns afterwards with these goodly titles of wisdom and knowledge. For thus tyrants are wont to compass their devices: they forget all equity and right, that they may make the poor to fall in their nets. But the Lord detects and discovers their treacheries, so as every one may see they dance but in a net. After Job hath said, that God catcheth the wise in their wisdom: to show what this wisdom is, he calls it craftiness: Job 5.13.

HE explanes that which he said in the former verse, though we may extend it further; to wit, that he taxeth the Chaldeans for their fraud, oppression, outrages, and wicked practises, whereby they so highly magnified thēselues. For all these great kingdoms lightly become great dens of theeues, as an archtheefe which once raigned among them said: because they can neuer inlarge their territories, but by plucking from others by force and violence; therefore they driue the lawfull possessors out of their houses, that they may be Lords and Kings within themselues. Now he calles that vvickednesse; which hee adornes afterwards with these goodly titles of vvisdome and knowledge. For thus tyrants are wont to compasse their deuices: they forget all equitie and right, that they may make the poore to fall in their nets. But the Lord detects and discouers their trecheries, so as euery one may see they dance but in a net. After Iob hath said, that God catcheth the wise in their wisdome: to shew what this wisdome is, he calles it craftinesse: