_Alleluia. St. Augustine repeats this word. But it occurs in the Hebrew, &c., at the end of the preceding psalm, of which this is a continuation, shewing how God pardoned his people, and delivered them from captivity, (Calmet) and mankind from sin. (Haydock) (Fathers) (Berthier) --- Glory. Literally... [ Continue Reading ]
_Countries. The Jews from Babylon, and all who were redeemed by Christ. (Calmet) --- He was promised immediately after the fall. [Genesis iii. 15.] (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sea. Hebrew miyam, for which we should read imim "the right," denoting the south. (Calmet) --- But the sea, or ocean, is properly used in the same sense. (Berthier) --- The Ammonites, Philistines, Syrians, and Idumeans, from these four quarters, often reduced the Israelites to servitude, under the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Habitation. So were the Jews distressed at Babylon, (Calmet) as many are forced to wander in the world, and all are involved in sin. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hungry. As both Jews and Gentiles were for the word of God, (Amos viii. 11.) when Christ appeared. (Haydock) --- Their wants cried aloud, (St. Augustine) though they sought him not, Isaias lxv. 1. (Berthier) --- Those who call upon God are relieved by him, in the manner which is most for their welf... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercies. We are unworthy to open our mouths. This chorus is repeated, (ver. 15, 21, 31.) by the people, after the Levites had sung the intermediate sentences. (Calmet) --- The ver. 6, 9, 13, 19., are of the same nature, and refer to different sorts of calamities. (Berthier) --- All the benefits of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Darkness. This second allegory represents the condition of the captives, and of mankind, before Christ's coming. (Calmet) --- The former enjoyed some liberty, Jeremias xxix. 5. --- But the latter were most miserable, (Matthew ix. 15., and Luke iv. 18.) and of these the words are most naturally expl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Exasperated. Hebrew, "changed, or frustrated." This is the source of all misery, (Calmet) as calamities are commonly inflicted on account of sin. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Labours. There were slaves of various descriptions: some were confined to hard labour, and chained down at night. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bonds. Of their passions. See St. Augustine, Confessions viii. 11. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity. Making them alter their conduct. Hebrew seems less correct: "they are foolish on account of their way, and they," &c. Illness is sent to punish sin, Job xxxiii. 19., Matthew ix. 2., and John v. 14. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Word. Jesus Christ, according to the prophetical sense, adopted by the Fathers, (St. Athanasius, or. 3., &c.) though it literally implies, that at God's command the sick were healed, Matthew viii. 7. --- This allegory again represents the state of captivity. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praise. Instead of victims, Psalm xxvi., &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Down to the sea, &c. Captivity is here compared to a tempest. (Calmet) --- The apostles carry the tidings of salvation to all places. Persecutions are raised; but God grants peace to his Church under Constantine. (Eusebius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deep. The fury of tempests. Various nations, and the treasures of the deep. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heavens. So Virgil says: Tollimur in cælum curvato gurgite & iidem_ Subducta ad Manes imos descendimus unda. (\'c6neid iii.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Up. They knew not how to proceed. Ambiguis ars stupet ipsa malis. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Breeze. Hebrew, "silence, or calm."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_For. Even to Jerusalem. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men. We must thank God for having enabled us to repent, ver. 8. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wilderness. God caused his people to pass through the Red Sea, and the Jordan, to possess the fruitful country of Chanaan, part of which had been cursed for the crimes of the Sodomites. (Haydock) --- He has punished Babylon, (Jeremias xxv. 12.) made a straight road from his people, (Isaias xxxv. 8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Barrenness. Or "saltness." (Haydock) --- He alludes to the environs of Sodom, Genesis xiii. 10., and xix. 24. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of birth. A plentiful crop, facient fruges germina. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- Abundance of fruit shall grow in some places, while others are punished on account of sin. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes. Jochonias was humbled, (Haydock) and exalted, with Daniel, &c., 4 Kings xxv. 27. Others explain it of Nabuchodonosor and Baltasar, who were reduced to the state of ignominy and death. (Calmet) --- The Jews experienced the greatest miseries at the last siege of Jerusalem. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sheep. The Gentiles took the place of the obstinate Jews. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mouth. The psalmist saw Babylon before its ruin, (Calmet) at least in spirit. God's judgment strengthen virtue, and repress the wicked. (Haydock) The propagation of the gospel put to silence the oracles of the pagans. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. This is the part of wisdom, and deserves our serious consideration, (Haydock) as Osee (xiv. 10.) and our Saviour admonish, Matthew xi. 15., and xiii. 9., and Mark iv. 9., &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM CVI. (CONFITEMINI DOMINO.) All are invited to give thanks to God for his perpetual providence over men.... [ Continue Reading ]