On Hope/Expectation
LXXXV. On Hope/Expectation
1. O God, Who art the hope of the righteous and of <all> sinners!
I wish to await You with great fear and love,
as well as contrition, satisfaction, sighs and tears.
2. Whoever awaits God with goodness,
truth and humility,
attains happiness.
3. One should expect judgement from justice
as much as <one should expect> forgiveness from mercy,
for which reason one ought to be fearful of justice.
4. Whoever fails to expect forgiveness from God
lacks hope in His gift,
which is greater than his <own> fault.
5. He who commits evil yet thinks that he has done good,
is led by <his> ignorance to expect
justice without forgiveness.
6. Everyone who refuses to do any good
must expect Our Lord’s
judgment and forgiveness.
7. The fact that many men lose hope in (lit. “despair of”) God
at the point of death causes me very great wonder,
for He is unerring in His forgiveness.
8. He who acts wickedly yet trusts
that he shall receive forgiveness from God
holds neither God nor His judgment in esteem.
9. Since God was bound,
sold, beaten, slain and hanged by mankind,
who could <possibly> lose hope (lit. “fall into despair”)?[1]
10. Penitence and hope pertain to man
as do love and forgiveness to God,
for which reason we should greatly rejoice.