THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Every individual should be cautious regarding their neighbor and not place trust in every brother, for each brother is prone to falter, and each friend may act treacherously; husbands may mock their brothers, and honesty will be overlooked. Their tongues have become accustomed to uttering falsehoods, and they have grown fatigued from engaging in wrongdoing. Your habitation lies amidst deceit; they have chosen not to acknowledge Me, says the Lord.
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This space is to be recognized in times of persecution and trial, when faithfulness is scarce, when neither brother nor neighbor can be relied upon, and a man's own household becomes his adversary, as expressed in the Gospel, ‘A father will betray his son, and a son will betray his father, and they shall divide against one another.’ The phrase regarding their tongues being trained to speak lies indicates that the practice of deceit has become as natural to them as their very nature, leading them to fervently pursue wickedness. The declaration of dwelling amidst deceit highlights that the prophet exists among a deceptive populace; or, in the words of the LXX, ‘Deceit for deceit,’ indicating they multiply their offenses and feel no shame for past transgressions while compounding new ones. In doing so, they strive to disregard the Lord, who has commanded against such actions.