_Asaph. See Psalm xlix. We shall not undertake to decide whether he composed or only sung this psalm; (Berthier) or whether he lived under David or Josaphat, or rather during the captivity. Those who attribute all the psalms to David, get rid of many such inquires: but they are involved in other dif... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slipt. I had almost yielded to temptation (Menochius) by denying Providence, (Haydock) and following the broad road. [Matthew vii. 13.] (Worthington) --- Upon more mature reflection, (Haydock) I am perfectly convinced that God is not indifferent about those who serve him, though he may have treated... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zeal. I was grieved, (Menochius) or even inclined to imitate the wicked; (see Matthew iii. 14., Psalm xxxvi., Jeremias xii., and xxi. 7.) though the whole book is intended to clear up this difficulty respecting the treatment of the good and bad in this life._... [ Continue Reading ]
Regard. They are not restrained by the thoughts of death, (Haydock) which they banish (Worthington) as much as possible. Protestants, "There are no bands ("of pain." Munster) in," &c. (Haydock) --- Stripes. They quickly remove their light afflictions. (Worthington) --- "And their halls are strong.... [ Continue Reading ]
Other _men, who follow a more virtuous course (Worthington) than themselves. Their prosperity encourages their pride, and they indulge in every excess. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fatness. Abundance, and temporal prosperity, which have encouraged them in their iniquity; and made them give themselves up to their irregular affections. (Challoner) --- This sense is better than the modern Hebrew affords. (Berthier) --- "Their eyes stand out with fatness." (Protestants) (Haydock)... [ Continue Reading ]
_High. With impudence; (Menochius) boldly despising others, (Worthington) from their exalted station. (Berthier) --- They even dare to contend with the Almighty. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Earth. Attacking men as well as God. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Return here; or hither. The weak among the servants of God will be apt often to return to this thought, and will be shocked when they consider the full days, that is, the long and prosperous life of the wicked; and will be tempted to make the reflections against Providence which are set down in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_They. The weak, (Worthington; Berthier) under this perplexity, or the wicked, said. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I said, is added by the Septuagint to connect the sentence. (Berthier) --- Hebrew, "truly in vain." --- Innocent. Keeping company with them, and avoiding evil, Psalm xxv. 6._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mornings. Every day, (Menochius) or it comes quickly upon me. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I said, &c. That is, if I should indulge such thoughts as these. (Challoner) --- I should. Hebrew, "the generation of thy children will say, that I have prevaricated." (Pagnin) --- Or, "I should offend against the," &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- I should not be in unison with Abraham. (St. Aug... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctuary. The Church, which teaches all truth; or heaven, (Menochius) or the holy Scriptures, (Lyranus) or rather the counsels of God, which were disclosed to him, (ver. 24.) when he was sensible that the question was not to be answered satisfactorily by human reason. (Calmet) --- The last judgmen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast put it to them. In punishment of their deceits, or for deceiving them, thou hast brought evils upon them in their last end, which in their prosperity they never apprehended. (Challoner) --- Septuagint, &c., add, "thou hast placed evils." St. Ambrose reads, "goods." (Calmet) --- Dolos, see... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM LXXII. (QUAM BONUS ISRAEL DEUS.) The temptation of the weak upon seeing the prosperity of the wicked, is overcome by the consideration of the justice of God, who will quickly render to every one according to his works. _ City. In heaven. (Calmet) --- Hebrew also, "when thou shalt awake," (Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Changed. St. Jerome, " are like a fire smoking." I was indignant, (ver. 3.; Haydock) and almost consumed with afflictions, and heavy laden. But I depend on my protector. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nothing. In point of knowledge. Hebrew Bahar means, "a foolish man." (Berthier) --- Knew not, the solution of this difficulty, which thou hast explained. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With thee. I endeavoured to fathom these things by my weak reason; but thou wast graciously pleased to bear with me, (Eusebius) as I was always convinced, indeed, that thy conduct could not be unjust. I am willing to be led like a beast. (Calmet) --- I still feared thee amid all my perplexities, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_By thy will. Hebrew and Septuagint, "into thy council." Thou hast hindered me from yielding to my doubts, and hast revealed thy truths to me. (Calmet) --- And. Hebrew, "afterwards." --- Glory. Syriac and Houbigant supply thy glory. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Earth? I no longer envy the prosperity of the wicked, (Calmet) seeing that it is all a dream, and a snare, ver. 18, 20. (Haydock) --- Nothing can now give me content, but thyself. (Calmet) --- This is all we should desire, both for soul and body, as our true inheritance. The wicked, on the contrary... [ Continue Reading ]
_Away. I am ready to die for love, and gratitude. (Haydock) --- I esteem not myself, if I am deprived of Thee. We must love God with a most chaste, and disinterested affection, if we desire to enjoy him, (Berthier) GOD ALONE. (Boudon.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Disloyal. The adherence to any creature is resented by God, as a fornication. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praises. Literally, "tidings." Predicationes. (Haydock) --- The ancient psalters read laudes, praises. --- In the gates, &c., was not in the most correct Septuagint, &c., being taken from Psalm ix. 15. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]