_Understanding. See Psalm xli. (Menochius) --- David or the Corites composed this piece, to comfort the just under persecution. (Berthier) --- It may allude to the situation of the Jews at Babylon, (Calmet) or under Antiochus Epiphanes, (Ven. Bede) though St. Paul, (Romans viii. 36.) applies ver. 22... [ Continue Reading ]
_Old, in calling Abraham, and rescuing the Hebrews for the Egyptian bondage, &c. (Worthington) --- God formerly protected our Fathers; but how are things changed? (Calmet) --- Gideon uses nearly the same words, Judges vi. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Plantedst them, thy people. See Jeremias ii. 21., and xii. 10., and Ezechiel xvii. 6. --- Out, by means of insects, &c., Wisdom xii. 8., and Josue xxiv. 12. (Calmet) --- The Hebrews were miraculously assisted, (Worthington) without any merit of their own, (Calmet) as all were wicked at first. Yet A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saving ( salutes) the manifold instances of protection. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XLIII. (DEUS AURIBUS NOTRIS.) The Church commemorates former favours, and present afflictions; under which she prays for succour. _ Horn, like bulls. (Worthington) --- This we have done in former times. (Calmet) --- Not man's strength, but God's favour, granteth the victory. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_We glory. Literally, "be praised." (Haydock) --- We have always attributed our success to thee. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now. He foretelleth divers states of the Jews, and of the Church. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To. Literally, "after," post. They were formerly defeated; now it is our turn. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nations. Many never returned from captivity. (Calmet) See Deuteronomy xxviii. 43._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reckoning. Protestants, "thou dost not increase thy wealth by their price." (Haydock) --- Thou art eager to get quit of them, as of the vilest slaves. (Theodoret; Grotius) (Isaias l. 2., and lii. 3.) Exchange. Some copies of the Septuagint read Greek: allalagmasi, "jubilations," with the Ethiopic.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Head, out of contempt. (Menochius) --- The Gentiles propose us as an example of a people fallen a prey to the divine indignation, 4 Kings xix. 21., and Lamentations ii. 15._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Detracteth me. St. Jerome, "blasphemeth" God, while they upbraid us, as a faithless people. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Covenant. Till the passion of Christ, the Jews did not wholly fall from God, and then many were chosen from among them, to found the Christian religion. (Worthington) --- The Corites speak in the name of their faithful brethren, whom no provocation had induced to follow the superstitious practices... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither. Literally, "and or yet." (Haydock) --- But the negative particle is taken (Worthington) from the first part of the verse. (Calmet) --- St. Jerome, "Neither hast thou," &c. (Menochius) --- Yet many adhere to the Hebrew, &c., "And thou hast turned," &c. Though it may be taken in a dangerous... [ Continue Reading ]
_Affliction. Hebrew, or "dragons," (St. Jerome; Menochius) alluding to the deserts, to which the Jews retired, when the Assyrians invaded them. The text may be more applicable to the first Christians, who might truly say, that they had not transgressed. (Houbigant) -- To the martyrs, death was but l... [ Continue Reading ]
_If we. This is a Hebrew idiom, to express, we have not. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slaughter. They will not suffer us to be quiet respecting our religion, striving to delude us: or, if we prove resolute, like Daniel, they expose us to torments. (Calmet) --- This was more fully verified at the first propagation of the gospel, (Romans viii. 36.) as it still continues to be among th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sleepest thou, seeming not to attend to our sufferings. (Menochius) --- End, shall we never be restored to favour? (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dust. We are at death's door, being oppressed with grief, as long as thou dost not assist us. (Worthington) --- We petition in the most fervent (Haydock) and humble posture, Isaias xlix. 23., and Micheas vii. 17. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]