Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the Manichæans 11

St Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430) · De natura boni · PL 42, 551–572

11 God Cannot Suffer Harm, Nor Can Any Other Nature Except by His Permission PL 42, 555

Wherefore neither can God’s nature suffer harm, nor can any nature under God suffer harm unjustly: for when by sinning unjustly some do harm, an unjust will is imputed to them; but the power by which they are permitted to do harm is from God alone, who knows, while they themselves are ignorant, what they ought to suffer, whom He permits them to harm.

Noceri nec Deo potest, nec alii naturae nisi ipso permittente. Quapropter nec naturae Dei noceri omnino potest, nec alicui naturae sub Deo noceri injuste potest: quia et cum peccando injuste aliqui nocent, voluntas injusta eis imputatur; potestas autem qua nocere permittuntur, non est nisi a Deo, qui et ipsis nescientibus novit quid illi pati debeant, quibus eos nocere permittit.

Philip Schaff (ed.), Buffalo/New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886-1889. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).