less precisely designated. And again: "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee." Does this allude to your constant occupations?
And still further: "Thou shalt eat the herb of the field." Is there in this an allusion to your occupations? No.
And, finally: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread: dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Well, the wise men find still a loophole; they say, all this applies to the pen as well as to the plough, and they give solid reasons for saying so.
76. But is it possible that God gave only to us the painful obligation of laboring in the ground, while he permits you to evade it by means of your money?
With me, says the rich man, money labors for bread.
It is false! Money has not sinned against God. Nor was the commandment set forth against money. Besides that, money does not eat bread; it is not, then, obliged to labor for it. How, then, can you say. With me, money labors for bread? Do you find yourself entirely just before God, and needing no commandment? But were you more holy than the Holy of Holies, you do not the less eat bread labored for by another.
In truth, you cannot escape alive out of the hands of an adversary like me.
Here is another excuse that you give. If all
