101:3. Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.
101:4. For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones are grown dry like fuel for the fire.
101:5. I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I forgot to eat my bread.
101:6. Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
101:7. I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a night raven in the house.
A pelican, etc… I am become through grief, like birds that affect solitude and darkness.
101:8. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.
101:9. All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised me did swear against me.
101:10. For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
101:11. Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down.
101:12. My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.
101:13. But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all generations.
101:14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.
101:15. For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.
101:16. All the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
101:17. For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.
101:18. He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.
101:19. Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:
101:20. Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.
101:21. That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that he might release the children of the slain:
101:22. That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem;
101:23. When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the Lord.
101:24. He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days.
He answered him in the way of his strength… That is, the people, mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that is, according to the best of his power and strength: or when he was in the flower of his age and strength: inquiring after the fewness of his days: to know if he should live long enough to see the happy restoration of Sion, etc.
101:25. Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.
101:26. In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.
101:27. They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed.
101:28. But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.
101:29. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be directed for ever.
Psalms Chapter 102
Benedic, anima.
Thanksgiving to God for his mercies.
102:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.
102:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee.
102:3. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
102:4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion.
102:5. Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be renewed like the eagle's.
102:6. The Lord doth mercies, and judgment for all that suffer wrong.
102:7. He hath made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children of Israel.
102:8. The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy. 102:9. He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
102:10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
102:11. For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
102:12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our iniquities from us.
102:13. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him:
102:14. For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust:
102:15. Man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.
102:16. For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.
102:17. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children's children,
102:18. To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his commandments to do them.
102:19. The lord hath prepared his throne in heaven: and his kingdom shall rule over all.
102:20. Bless the Lord, all ye his angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders.
102:21. Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts: you ministers of his that do his will.
102:22. Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion, O my soul, bless thou the Lord.
Psalms Chapter 103
Benedic, anima.
God is to be praised for his mighty works, and wonderful providence.
103:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty:
103:2. And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion:
103:3. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds.
103:4. Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.
103:5. Who hast founded the earth upon its own bases: it shall not be moved for ever and ever.
103:6. The deep like a garment is its clothing: above the mountains shall the waters stand.
103:7. At thy rebuke they shall flee: at the voice of thy thunder they shall fear.
103:8. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for them.
103:9. Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth.
103:10. Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.
103:11. All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall expect in their thirst.
103:12. Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of the rocks they shall give forth their voices.
103:13. Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of thy works:
103:14. Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth:
103:15. And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man's heart.
103:16. The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted:
103:17. There the sparrows shall make their nests. The highest of them is the house of the heron.
103:18. The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins.
103:19. He hath made the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
103:20. Thou hast appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all the beasts of the woods go about:
103:21. The young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their meat from God.
103:22. The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together: and they shall lie down in their dens.
103:23. Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening.
103:24. How great are thy works, O Lord? thou hast made all things in wisdom: the earth is filled with thy riches.
103:25. So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are creeping things without number: Creatures little and great.
103:26. There the ships shall go. This sea dragon which thou hast formed to play therein.
103:27. All expect of thee that thou give them food in season.
103:28. What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou openest thy hand, they shall all be filled with good.
103:29. But if thou turnest away thy face, they shall be troubled: thou shalt take away their breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to their dust.
103:30. Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
103:31. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
103:32. He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble: he troubleth the mountains, and they smoke.
103:33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
103:34. Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in the Lord.
103:35. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the unjust, so that they be no more: O my soul, bless thou the Lord.
Psalms Chapter 104
Confitemini Domino.
A thanksgiving to God for his benefits to his people Israel.
Alleluia.
104:1. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.
104:2. Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.
104:3. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
104:4. Seek ye the lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.
104:5. Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.
104:6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.
104:7. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
104:8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
104:9. Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:
104:10. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting testament:
104:11. Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan, the lot of your inheritance.
104:12. When they were but a small number: yea very few, and sojourners therein:
104:13. And they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.
104:14. He suffered no man to hurt them: and he reproved kings for their sakes.
104:15. Touch ye not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.
104:16. And he called a famine upon the land: and he broke in pieces all the support of bread.
104:17. He sent a man before them: Joseph, who was sold for a slave.
104:18. They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul,
104:19. Until his word came. The word of the Lord inflamed him.
104:20. The king sent, and he released him: the ruler of the people, and he set him at liberty.
104:21. He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his possession.
104:22. That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his ancients wisdom.
104:23. And Israel went into Egypt: and Jacob was a sojourner in the land of Cham.
104:24. And he increased his people exceedingly: and strengthened them over their enemies.
104:25. He turned their heart to hate his people: and to deal deceitfully with his servants.
He turned their heart, etc… Not that God (who is never the author of sin) moved the Egyptians to hate and persecute his people; but that the Egyptians took occasion of hating and envying them, from the sight of the benefits which God bestowed upon them.
104:26. He sent Moses his servant: Aaron the man whom he had chosen.
104:27. He gave them power to shew them signs, and his wonders in the land of Cham.
104:28. He sent darkness, and made it obscure: and grieved not his words.
Grieved not his words… That is, he was not wanting to fulfil his words: or he did not grieve Moses and Aaron, the carriers of his words: or he did not grieve his words, that is, his sons, the children of Israel, who enjoyed light whilst the Egyptians were oppressed with darkness.
104:29. He turned their waters into blood, and destroyed their fish.
104:30. Their land brought forth frogs, in the inner chambers of their kings.
104:31. He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in all their coasts.
Sciniphs… See the annotation, Ex.8.16.
104:32. He gave them hail for rain, a burning fire in the land.
104:33. And he destroyed their vineyards and their fig trees: and he broke in pieces the trees of their coasts.
104:34. He spoke, and the locust came, and the bruchus, of which there was no number.
Bruchus… An insect of the locust kind.
104:35. And they devoured all the grass in their land, and consumed all the fruit of their ground.
104:36. And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of all their labour.
104:37. And he brought them out with silver and gold: and there was not among their tribes one that was feeble.
104:38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them lay upon them.
104:39. He spread a cloud for their protection, and fire to give them light in the night.
104:40. They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
104:41. He opened the rock, and waters flowed: rivers ran down in the dry land.
104:42. Because he remembered his holy word, which he had spoken to his servant Abraham.
104:43. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness.
104:44. And he gave them the lands of the Gentiles: and they possessed the labours of the people:
104:45. That they might observe his justifications, and seek after his law.
His justifications… That is, his commandments; which here, and in many other places of the scripture, are called justifications, because the keeping of them makes man just. The Protestants render it by the word statutes, in favour of their doctrine, which does not allow good works to justify.
Psalms Chapter 105
Confitemini Domino.
A confession of the manifold sins and ingratitudes of the Israelites.
Alleluia.
105:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
105:2. Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth all his praises?
105:3. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times.
105:4. Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people: visit us with thy salvation.
105:5. That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in the joy of thy nation: that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance.
105:6. We have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly, we have wrought iniquity.
105:7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies: And they provoked to wrath going up to the sea, even the Red Sea.
105:8. And he saved them for his own name's sake: that he might make his power known.
105:9. And he rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up: and he led them through the depths, as in a wilderness.
105:10. And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
105:11. And the water covered them that afflicted them: there was not one of them left.
105:12. And they believed his words: and they sang his praises.
105:13. They had quickly done, they forgot his works: and they waited not for his counsel.
105:14. And they coveted their desire in the desert: and they tempted God in the place without water.
105:15. And he gave them their request: and sent fulness into their souls.
105:16. And they provoked Moses in the camp, Aaron the holy one of the Lord.
105:17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the congregation of Abiron.
105:18. And a fire was kindled in their congregation: the flame burned the wicked.
105:19. They made also a calf in Horeb: and they adored the graven thing.
105:20. And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that eateth grass.
105:21. They forgot God, who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
105:22. Wondrous works in the land of Cham: terrible things in the Red Sea.
105:23. And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
105:24. And they set at nought the desirable land. They believed not his word,
105:25. And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord.
105:26. And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the desert;
105:27. And to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the countries.
105:28. They also were initiated to Beelphegor: and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Initiated… That is, they dedicated, or consecrated themselves to the idol of the Moabites and Madianites, called Beelphegor, or Baal-Peor. Num. 25.3.-Ibid. The dead… Viz., idols without life.
105:29. And they provoked him with their inventions: and destruction was multiplied among them.
105:30. Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter ceased.
105:31. And it was reputed to him unto justice, to generation and generation for evermore.
105:32. They provoked him also at the waters of contradiction: and Moses was afflicted for their sakes:
105:33. Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with his lips.
He distinguished with his lips… Moses, by occasion of the people's rebellion and incredulity, was guilty of distinguishing with his lips; when, instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded, he said to the people, with a certain hesitation in his faith, Hear ye, rebellious and incredulous: Can we from this rock bring out water for you? Num. 20.10.
105:34. They did not destroy the nations of which the Lord spoke unto them.
105:35. And they were mingled among the heathens, and learned their works:
105:36. And served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them.
105:37. And they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters to devils.
105:38. And they shed innocent blood: the blood of their sons and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan. And the land was polluted with blood,
105:39. And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after their own inventions.
105:40. And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he abhorred his inheritance.
105:41. And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they that hated them had dominion over them.
105:42. And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under their hands:
105:43. Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities.
105:44. And he saw when they were in tribulation: and he heard their prayer.
105:45. And he was mindful of his covenant: and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
105:46. And he gave them unto mercies, in the sight of all those that had made them captives.
105:47. Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among the nations: That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise.
105:48. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say: So be it, so be it.
Psalms Chapter 106
Confitemini Domino.
All are invited to give thanks to God for his perpetual providence over men..
Alleluia.
106:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
106:2. Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the countries.
106:3. From the rising and from the setting of the sun, from the north and from the sea.
106:4. They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they found not the way of a city for their habitation.
106:5. They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them.
106:6. And they cried to the Lord in their tribulation: and he delivered them out of their distresses.
106:7. And he led them into the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
106:8. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.
106:9. For he hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry soul with good things.
106:10. Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death: bound in want and in iron.
106:11. Because they had exasperated the words of God: and provoked the counsel of the most High:
106:12. And their heart was humbled with labours: they were weakened, and there was none to help them.
106:13. Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he delivered them out of their distresses.
106:14. And he brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death; and broke their bonds in sunder.
106:15. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
106:16. Because he hath broken gates of brass, and burst iron bars.
106:17. He took them out of the way of their iniquity: for they were brought low for their injustices.
106:18. Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they drew nigh even to the gates of death.
106:19. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he delivered them out of their distresses.
106:20. He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.
106:21. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.
106:22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of praise: and declare his works with joy.
106:23. They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in the great waters:
106:24. These have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
106:25. He said the word, and there arose a storm of wind: and the waves thereof were lifted up.
106:26. They mount up to the heavens, and they go down to the depths: their soul pined away with evils.
106:27. They were troubled, and reeled like a drunken man; and all their wisdom was swallowed up.
106:28. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he brought them out of their distresses.
106:29. And he turned the storm into a breeze: and its waves were still.
106:30. And they rejoiced because they were still: and he brought them to the haven which they wished for.
106:31. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
106:32. And let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients.
106:33. He hath turned rivers into a wilderness: and the sources of waters into dry ground:
106:34. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
106:35. He hath turned a wilderness into pools of waters, and a dry land into water springs.
106:36. And hath placed there the hungry; and they made a city for their habitation.
106:37. Anti they sowed fields, and planted vineyards: and they yielded fruit of birth.
106:38. And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly: and their cattle he suffered not to decrease.
106:39. Then they were brought to be few: and they were afflicted through the trouble of evils and sorrow.
106:40. Contempt was poured forth upon their princes: and he caused them to wander where there was no passing, and out of the way.
106:41. And he helped the poor out of poverty: and made him families like a flock of sheep.
106:42. The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
106:43. Who is wise, and will keep these things; and will understand the mercies of the Lord?
Psalms Chapter 107
Paratum cor meum.
The prophet praiseth God for benefits received.
107:1. A canticle of a psalm for David himself.
107:2. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and will give praise, with my glory.
107:3. Arise, my glory; arise, psaltery and harp: I will arise in the morning early.
107:4. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
107:5. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth even unto the clouds.
107:6. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory over all the earth:
107:7. That thy beloved may be delivered. Save with thy right hand and hear me.
107:8. God hath spoken in his holiness. I will rejoice, and I will divide Sichem and I will mete out the vale of tabernacles.
107:9. Galaad is mine: and Manasses is mine and Ephraim the protection of my head. Juda is my king:
107:10. Moab the pot of my hope. Over Edom I will stretch out my shoe: the aliens are become my friends.
107:11. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
107:12. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our armies?
107:13. O grant us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
107:14. Through God we shall do mightily: and he will bring our enemies to nothing.
Psalms Chapter 108
Deus, laudem meam.
David in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors; more especially the traitor Judas: foretelling and approving his just punishment for his obstinacy in sin and final impenitence.
108:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David.
108:2. O God, be not thou silent in my praise: for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful man is opened against me.
108:3. They have spoken against me with deceitful tongues; and they have compassed me about with words of hatred; and have fought against me without cause.
108:4. Instead of making me a return of love, they detracted me: but I gave myself to prayer.
108:5. And they repaid me evil for good: and hatred for my love.
108:6. Set thou the sinner over him: and may the devil stand at his right hand.
Set thou the sinner over him, etc… Give to the devil, that arch- sinner, power over him: let him enter into him, and possess him. The imprecations, contained in the thirty verses of this psalm, are opposed to the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed our Lord; and are to be taken as prophetic denunciations of the evils that should befall the traitor and his accomplices the Jews; and not properly as curses.
108:7. When he is judged, may he go out condemned; and may his prayer be turned to sin.
108:8. May his days be few: and his bishopric let another take.
108:9. May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
108:10. Let his children be carried about vagabonds, and beg; and let them be cast out of their dwellings.
108:11. May the usurer search all his substance: and let strangers plunder his labours.
108:12. May there be none to help him: nor none to pity his fatherless offspring.
108:13. May his posterity be cut off; in one generation may his name be blotted out.
108:14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered in the sight of the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
108:15. May they be before the Lord continually, and let the memory of them perish from the earth: 16 because he remembered not to shew mercy,
108:17. But persecuted the poor man and the beggar; and the broken in heart, to put him to death.
108:18. And he loved cursing, and it shall come unto him: and he would not have blessing, and it shall be far from him. And he put on cursing, like a garment: and it went in like water into his entrails, and like oil in his bones.
108:19. May it be unto him like a garment which covereth him; and like a girdle with which he is girded continually.
108:20. This is the work of them who detract me before the Lord; and who speak evils against my soul.
108:21. But thou, O Lord, do with me for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is sweet. Do thou deliver me,
108:22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me.
108:23. I am taken away like the shadow when it declineth: and I am shaken off as locusts.
108:24. My knees are weakened through fasting: and my flesh is changed for oil.
For oil… Propter oleum. The meaning is, my flesh is changed, being perfectly emaciated and dried up, as having lost all its oil or fatness.
108:25. And I am become a reproach to them: they saw me and they shaked their heads.
108:26. Help me, O Lord my God; save me; according to thy mercy.
108:27. And let them know that this is thy hand: and that thou, O Lord, hast done it.
108:28. They will curse and thou wilt bless: let them that rise up against me be confounded: but thy servant shall rejoice.
108:29. Let them that detract me be clothed with shame: and let them be covered with their confusion as with a double cloak.
108:30. I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth: and in the midst of many I will praise him.
108:31. Because he hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from persecutors.
Psalms Chapter 109
Dixit Dominus.
Christ's exaltation and everlasting priesthood.
109:1. A psalm for David. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.
109:2. The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.
109:3. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee.
109:4. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
109:5. The Lord at thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.
109:6. He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: he shall crush the heads in the land of many.
109:7. He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalms Chapter 110
Confitebor tibi, Domine.
God is to be praised for his graces, and benefits to his church.
Alleluia.
110:1. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; in the council of the just, and in the congregation.
110:2. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills.
110:3. His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and ever.
110:4. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord:
110:5. He hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for ever of his covenant:
110:6. He will shew forth to his people the power of his works.
110:7. That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment.
110:8. All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity.
110:9. He hath sent redemption to his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name:
110:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.
Psalms Chapter 111
Beatus vir.
The good man is happy.
Alleluia, of the returning of Aggeus and Zacharias.
Of the returning, etc… This is in the Greek and Latin, but not in the Hebrew. It signifies that this psalm was proper to be sung at the time of the return of the people from their captivity; to inculcate to them, how happy they might be, if they would be constant in the service of God.
111:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.
111:2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
111:3. Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
111:4. To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.
111:5. Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment:
111:6. Because he shall not be moved for ever.
111:7. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:
111:8. His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.
111:9. He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.
111:10. The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalms Chapter 112
Laudate, pueri.
God is to be praised for his regard to the poor and humble.
Alleluia.
112:1. Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
112:2. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever. 112:3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
112:4. The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the heavens.
112:5. Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: 6 and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?
112:7. Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:
112:8. That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his people.
112:9. Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.
Psalms Chapter 113
In exitu Israel.
God hath shewn his power in delivering his people: idols are vain. TheHebrews divide this into two psalms.
Alleluia.
113:1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people:
113:2. Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
113:3. The sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back.
113:4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like the lambs of the flock. 113:5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee: and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back?
113:6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills, like lambs of the flock?
113:7. At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob:
113:8. Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hill into fountains of waters.
113:1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory.
113:2. For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake: lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God?
113:3. But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he would.
113:4. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.
113:5. They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not.
113:6. They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not.
113:7. They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.
113:8. Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them.
113:9. The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
113:10. The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
113:11. They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
113:12. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron.
113:13. He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.
113:14. May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.
113:15. Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
113:16. The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men.
113:17. The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.
113:18. But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever.
Psalms Chapter 114
Dilexi.
The prayer of a just man in affliction, with a lively confidence in God.
Alleluia.
114:1. I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.
114:2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will call upon him.
114:3. The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow:
114:4. And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul.
114:5. The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy.
114:6. The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he delivered me.
114:7. Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee.
114:8. For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling.
114:9. I will please the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalms Chapter 115
Credidi.
This in the Hebrew is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist.
Alleluia. 115:10. I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been humbled exceedingly.
115:11. I said in my excess: Every man is a liar.
115:12. What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things that he hath rendered to me?
115:13. I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
115:14. I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people:
115:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
115:16. O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds:
115:17. I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
115:18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people:
115:19. In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Psalms Chapter 116
Laudate Dominum.
All nations are called upon to praise God for his mercy and truth.
Alleluia.
116:1. O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
116:2. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Psalms Chapter 117
Confitemini Domino.
The psalmist praiseth God for his delivery from evils: putteth his whole trust in him; and foretelleth the coming of Christ.
Alleluia.
117:1. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
117:2. Let Israel now say, that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever.
117:3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
117:4. Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
117:5. In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and enlarged me.
117:6. The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man can do unto me.
117:7. The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies.
117:8. It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man.
117:9. It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in princes.
117:10. All nations compassed me about; and, in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.
117:11. Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the Lord I have been revenged on them.
117:12. They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them.
117:13. Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord supported me.
117:14. The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my salvation.
117:15. The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.
117:16. The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: the right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength.
117:17. I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the Lord.
117:18. The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not delivered me over to death.
117:19. Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and give praise to the Lord.
117:20. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it.
117:21. I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation.
117:22. The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.
117:23. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
117:24. This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.
117:25. O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.
117:26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
117:27. The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar.
117:28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, and I will exalt thee. I will praise thee, because thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
117:29. O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms Chapter 118
Beati immaculati.
Of the excellence of virtue consisting in the love and observance of the commandments of God.
Alleluia.
Aleph… The first eight verses of this psalm in the original begin with Aleph, which is the name of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second eight verses begin with Beth, the name of the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet; and so to the end of the whole alphabet, in all twenty-two letters, each letter having eight verses. This order is variously expounded by the holy fathers; which shews the difficulty of understanding the holy scriptures, and consequently with what humility, and submission to the Church they are to be read.
118:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
118:2. Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.
His testimonies… The commandments of God are called his testimonies, because they testify his holy will unto us. Note here, that in almost every verse of this psalm (which in number are 176) the word and law of God, and the love and observance of it, is perpetually inculcated, under a variety of denominations, all signifying the same thing.
118:3. For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.
118:4. Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
118:5. O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
118:6. Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.
118:7. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
118:8. I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
118:9. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
118:10. With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.
118:11. Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
118:12. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
118:13. With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
118:14. I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
118:15. I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
118:16. I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.
118:17. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.
118:18. Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.
118:19. I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
118:20. My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.
118:21. Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.
118:22. Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.
118:23. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
118:24. For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.
118:25. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.
118:26. I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.
118:27. Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.
118:28. My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.
118:29. Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.
118:30. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.
118:31. I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.
118:32. I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.
118:33. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.
118:34. Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.
118:35. Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.
118:36. Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.
118:37. Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.
118:38. Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.
118:39. Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.
118:40. Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice.
118: 41. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.
118:42. So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.
118:43. And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly.
118:44. So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.
118:45. And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.
118:46. And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
118:47. I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.
118:48. And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications.
118:49. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.
118:50. This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.
118:51. The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from thy law.
118:52. I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was comforted.
118:53. A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
118:54. Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of my pilgrimage.
118:55. In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept thy law.
118:56. This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications.
118:57. O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep thy law.
118:58. I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to thy word.
118:59. I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
118:60. I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy commandments.
118:61. The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
118:62. I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of thy justification.
118:63. I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments.
118:64. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy justifications.
118:65. Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.
118:66. Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments.
118:67. Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word.
118:68. Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.
118:69. The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart.
118:70. Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy law.
118:71. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications.
118:72. The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver.
118:73. Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.
118:74. They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in thy words.
118:75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.
118:76. O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
118:77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy law is my meditation.
118:78. Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments.
118:79. Let them that fear thee turn to me: and they that know thy testimonies.
118:80. Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not be confounded.
118:81. My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I have very much hoped.
118:82. My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou comfort me?
118:83. For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten thy justifications.
118:84. How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
118:85. The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law.
118:86. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me.
118:87. They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.
118:88. Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
118:89. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven.
118:90. Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth.
118:91. By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.
118:92. Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.
118:93. Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast given me life.
118:94. I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications.
118:95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies.
118:96. I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is exceeding broad.
118:97. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day.
118:98. Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me.
118:99. I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation.
118:100. I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments.
118:101. I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words.