Himself. Hebrew has simply, "for David," (Calmet) as well as the Greek of the Vatican. "It is a mistake in Bellanger to say in general that the Greek adds "a psalm," since this is true only with respect to the edition of Aldus and Complutensian, says Berthier. But he is not quite accurate, as Erasmu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wither. Hebrew, "be cut down." (Calmet) --- Fall. Hebrew, "wither." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- This admirably describes the transient glory of sinners, Isaias xl. 6., and James i. 10. (Calmet) --- All life is short. (Worthington) (1 Peter i. 24.) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Riches. Septuagint and Houbigant read emune, "abundance." Hebrew begins with a. The sense is much the same. (Berthier) --- "Thou shalt feed on faith," (St. Jerome) or "incessantly." (Symmachus) --- The Jews entertained the greatest desire of the promised land. (Calmet) --- It may here denote our so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heart. Provided they be rational. (St. Augustine) --- He will enable thee to repose in peace, and to taste innocent pleasures in the Lord. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Commit. Literally, "lay open." Hebrew, "roll." (Haydock) --- This expresses the most unbounded confidence, Psalm liv. 23., and Proverbs xvi. 3. --- Do it. Whatever may be proper. He will display thy justice, (ver. 6.) and free the from anxiety, (Calmet) taking care of thee, 1 Peter v. 7. (Menochius... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day. This will appear at the last judgment. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be. Hebrew dom, begins only this verse with d. The other letters occupy two verses, (Berthier) the second of which may commence with any of the letters. (Haydock) --- "Be silent to the Lord; wait upon Him." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- If he should suffer thee to be afflicted, envy not those who are... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evil. Repining (Menochius) at the ways of Providence, &c. (Calmet) (ver. 1.) --- Reflect on God's will. (Haydock) --- Laboras; sed in via Dei. (St. Augustine) --- Hebrew, "be not angry nevertheless ( ac, a word which Houbigant deems useless) to do evil;" (Montanus) or "against the wicked," (Prin. d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land of the living. (Worthington) --- David knew that many truly pious people would never obtain riches in the land of Chanaan, even though they might have remained there, if the nation had been faithful. He therefore comforts them with the prospect of a better land. If this were not the meaning, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_While. Till the day of judgment. (Origen; St. Ambrose) --- And shalt. Hebrew, "and it shall not be. " (Protestants) "it, or he shall not subsist." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- The state of the wicked is not therefore so enviable. The captives witnessed the fall of the great Colossus, the empire of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Meek. Hebrew hanavim, also means "the afflicted." (Berthier) --- Captives, ye shall be reinstated in your dear country. Our Saviour alludes to this text, (Matthew v. 4.) and the Fathers beautifully explain it of heaven. (Eusebius; St. Augustine) (Calmet) --- What is now become of those who have her... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watch. Hebrew, "plot against." (Haydock) --- Teeth. In rage to destroy him, (Calmet) whose virtue is a continual censure of his impiety. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XXXVI. (NOLI \'c6MULARI.) An exhortation to despise this world; and the short prosperity of the wicked; and to trust in providence. _ Laugh. This expression is often used to denote the triumph of divine justice, whose day will set all right: that day (2 Timothy iv. 8.) which ought to be cons... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heart. Hebrew, "of way." Protestants, "such as be of upright conversation." Only those whose heart is pure, will observe the right path. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Broken. In the form of imprecation, he foretells the event. (Worthington) --- Hebrew is in the future, to imply as much. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wicked. Hebrew, "of many wicked," or "of the impious great ones." (Haydock) --- What the just man hath, is preferable to the immense riches of sinners, acquired by injustice. In this sense Hesiod and Psittacus said, "half is more than all." The wicked are never satisfied, Ecclesiastes iv. 6., and P... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arms of the body, brachia. All that they have admired perishes in death, (Calmet) while the just then possess true riches._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Days, or "ways," according to some copies of Septuagint. (St. Augustine, &c.) God approves the conduct of the just. He takes notice of the time of their sufferings, and comforts them during life, (Calmet) yea, for ever._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because. Only this verse begins with c, as the seventh does with d. (Haydock) --- Smoke. All their riches shall vanish, and their works be disregarded by God. But they will not be annihilated, as they would desire; otherwise the justice of God would not be executed on them. (Berthier) --- There is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give. Having both the will and the power to be liberal. (Haydock) --- "He shall lend without expecting any advantage, while the wicked falls into such misery as not to be able to pay his debts. This is not always the order of Providence. (Calmet) --- But the just is often enabled by economy to reli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bless him. The just, (ver. 21.; Prin. disc.) or rather the Lord, ver. 20. (Berthier) --- "Are blessed of him," &c. (St. Jerome) (Chaldean) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With. Or by the decrees of the Lord. The Hebrew and Septuagint have, "By," Greek: para. (Berthier) --- God gives grace to do all good, (Proverbs xvi. 9.; Calmet) and likes the way which He points out. The just also find the greatest consolation in virtue. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. To break the fall. Hebrew, "the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." (Protestants) (Haydock) --- The just man is like a courageous wrestler, who may slip, but yields not. (Origen; Eusebius) --- His fall is not mortal, (Calmet) though he may be guilty of venial sin, Proverbs xxiv. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeking, in vain. (Haydock) --- Roman and Gothic Ps.[Psalters?] read, "wanting." This does not condemn the mendicant orders. (Menochius) --- Nothing was more unusual under the old law than the extreme distress of the just: yet Job and Lazarus were reduced to it. They were not, however, discontent. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lendeth. "To receive interest," Greek: daneizei, from God, Proverbs xix. 17. (St. Augustine, &c.) (Calmet) --- He maketh know the divine word. (Origen)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dwell in the land of the living, rather than in that of promise, from which many just people were banished during the captivity. (Berthier) --- He who complies with these two conditions, will inherit heaven. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saints. Hebrew, "merciful ones." He will free them from captivity. (Calmet) --- Punished. This sentence seems to be improperly omitted in Hebrew, which otherwise neglects the letter a, as the Chaldean, Syriac, and St. Jerome do as well as a few copies of the Septuagint. The Roman edition with the A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Supplanted. The devil shall have no advantage over the just, (Calmet) who aim constantly at perfection. (Origen)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Death, mortificare. Some read perdere, or occidere. The wicked are constantly laying snares for destruction, (Calmet) and to draw others into mortal sin. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judged, "by him." Illi seems to be superfluous; (Berthier) or it implies that God will revise the sentence of wicked judges. (Haydock) --- The just have nothing to fear. God will pass an equitable sentence, and the condemnation of men shall do no harm. (Origen) --- The mistakes of human tribunals p... [ Continue Reading ]
_See the truth of these maxims. (Calmet) --- While the wicked enjoy power they often conceal their injustice, which appears as soon as the veil is removed by death, when people cease to fear them. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cedars, &c. Septuagint have read differently from the present Hebrew and present a more beautiful sense. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "and spreading himself like a green bay-tree, (marginal note: or "a green tree that groweth in his own soil,") yet he passed away, and lo," &c. (Haydock) --- Ezrach, de... [ Continue Reading ]
_I passed. This is better than the Hebrew, "it has passed," transivit, as a tree changes not its place, and all the ancient interpreters agree with us. (Berthier) --- His place, is not expressed in Hebrew. But it implies that every vestige of the proud is soon lost. This might serve to curb the viol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remnants, or rewards. (Worthington) --- Hebrew acharith, "the reward," (Pagnin) "the last end of man is peace," (Montanus; Haydock) or "the posterity (ver. 38.) of such a man shall be happy." (Calmet) --- "There are future things for the peaceful." (Symmachus) --- The expectations of the just are n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Together. At the last day, (Haydock) or all without exception shall perish; the wicked, with their posterity and riches. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salvation. This is an effect of God's grace. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]