Goliath. Hebrew has simply, "of David." (Haydock) --- St. Hilary thinks that the Septuagint added the rest by inspiration, (Calmet) because this was David's first exploit in war. (Worthington) --- But others pay no deference to this part of the title. The Chaldean, however, seems to allude to the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercy. "All the titles of God remind us of his benefits." (St. Jerome) --- My people. After the defeat of the rebels, (Calmet) and the death of Isboseth. (Berthier) --- Hebrew may also be "peoples," as Psalm xvii, (Syriac, &c.) including them, and the various nations that were subdued by David. (Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him. Hebrew, "thou dost acknowledge him." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- In the transport of gratitude, he reflects on his own weakness, Job vii. 17., and Romans viii. 31. (Calmet) --- Before Christ, all mankind were undeserving of revelation. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vanity. Hebrew hebel, "nothing, a vapour," &c., Ecclesiastes i. 1., and James iv. 15. (Haydock) --- Our lives resemble a shadow, which is the less distinct, the more it increases. (Berthier) --- As it cannot subsist of itself, so neither can man without God. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mountains. The proud, (Origen) spirits. (St. Hilary) --- Come to my assistance, as thou didst appear on Sinai, Exodus xix. 16., and Psalm xvii. 8. (Calmet) --- This is a poetical description of God's aid._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Waters. Of tribulation. (Worthington) --- Children. My rebellious subjects, (Haydock) who lead bad lives in the true Church. (Worthington) --- Foreign nations continued faithful, while Israel rose up against their sovereign._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity. Hebrew, "lying." The have sworn fidelity, and have prevaricated. (Calmet) --- They adhere not to their engagements of keeping God's law. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_New. More excellent. (Berthier) --- Psaltery. Hebrew, "on the Nebel of ten strings," (Haydock) the chief instrument, fit for a new canticle of thanksgiving. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings. Their power cannot protect them. (Haydock) --- Hast. Several read, "wilt redeem." --- Malicious. Hebrew, "his servant from the evil sword" (Montanus) of Goliath, (Chaldean) or of Saul, (Berthier) and all his other enemies. (Haydock) --- He represents himself in the midst of danger, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children. Both Jews and Christians who live ill, are like strangers, who frame to themselves a temporal felicity, making riches and pleasures their god. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM CXLIII. (BENEDICTUS DOMINUS.) The prophet praiseth God, and prayeth to be delivered from his enemies. No worldly happiness is to be compared with that of serving God. _ Whose. Hebrew, "our." This makes quite a different sense from the ancient versions, which refer what follows to the rebels,... [ Continue Reading ]
_That. The partitions are too small; or fresh fruit come before the old ones are consumed, Leviticus xxvi. 10. (Calmet) --- Fruitful. Hebrew, "our sheep (or small cattle, pecudes) producing a thousand, bringing forth ten thousand, in our streets." (Pagnin)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fat. Hebrew, "our bulls (oxen or cows) are burdened." &c. --- Of wall. Symmachus, "nor burying nor mourning in their places." The other interpreters cited by Theodoret, have also "their." (Calmet) --- Passage. Of the enemy. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_They. Hebrew, "happy the people, to which such things belong; happy," &c. (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- This text speaks all along of the temporal blessings attending the virtuous. (Calmet) --- But the Septuagint, being convinced that these were rather the sentiments of David's enemies, give it this t... [ Continue Reading ]