David. Hebrew and the most correct copies of the Septuagint, &c., have only "Of David." (Haydock) --- The Complutensian and Aldine editions add indeed A psalm. But these form no rule, as the Vatican Septuagint is allowed to be the best. (Berthier) --- The others may, however, be consulted, as in som... [ Continue Reading ]
_Burn, like gold in the furnace. (Berthier) --- Purify all my affections and thoughts with the fire of divine love. (St. Augustine; St. Jerome) --- Make my dispositions known to the world. I have done no one any harm. (Calmet) --- I take thee for the arbiter of my cause with respect to Saul, whom I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Truth. Before such a judge, I fear no calumny. I have always endeavoured to imitate these divine perfections. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "I have walked constantly in thy truth," which could not be without loving it. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Council. Hebrew, "men." --- Doers. Hebrew, "men of darkness;" which means the wicked, (Berthier) who love darkness. Protestants, "dissemblers." (Haydock) --- The sacred minister ought to avoid evil company. (Calmet) --- David had often people of this description, like Joab and Abner, in his train;... [ Continue Reading ]
Innocent. Hebrew, "in innocence," avoiding every thing which may defile and render me unfit to approach thy holy altar. Many things (Calmet) of themselves innocent, (Haydock) excluded the priests of the old law from officiating, and if they had partaken of any idolatrous sacrifices, they lost their... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear. Hebrew with points, "publish." (Berthier) --- St. Jerome agrees with the Septuagint. --- Thy praise. The former word is not expressed in the Vulgate or Hebrew, (Haydock) but is understood; and occurs in some editions of the Septuagint, as well as in the Syriac. (Houbigant, &c.) --- Worldlings... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beauty. The ark, 1 Kings iv. 22. Symmachus, "the palace." (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "the dwelling." The psalmist desires to imitate those fervent Levites, who chose always to attend the tabernacle, Deuteronomy xviii. 6. (Calmet) --- Mehon, when applied to the "dwelling" of God, may be properly rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take; literally, "destroy," (Haydock) or suffer me not to be contaminated or lost. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "gather." Protestants, or "take not away." (Marginal note; and St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- Hebrew may be more expressive, and agrees with the parable, where God orders the cockle to be gathere... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gifts, to bribe; or rather, which the judges have received. (Berthier) Shochad is always used in a bad sense for "a bribe." (Calmet) --- Est munus a lingua....a manu....et ab obsequio. (St. Jerome) --- The wicked use their worldly goods to corrupt others. (Worthington) --- Jugurtha leaving Rome, sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Innocence. He opposes the integrity of his proceedings to that of the wicked. (Calmet) --- Yet still calls for mercy. (Haydock) --- Every one should strive to be innocent, and to avoid the company of worldlings. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Direct, ( directo.) Protestants, "in an even place," (Haydock) in the court where the Levites sung. (Vatable) --- I have followed the paths of justice, and hope soon to be able to praise thee in thy temple. (Calmet) --- These seven last verses are daily recited at Mass. But do we reflect what innoc... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XV. (JUDICA ME DOMINE.) David's prayer to God in his distress, to be delivered, that he may come to worship him in his tabernacle.... [ Continue Reading ]