Himself. This intimates, that he was inspired to write. --- Week. Wednesday, on which day Judas sold our Saviour, and his punishment is here foretold. (Worthington) --- "The title is not in Hebrew" and has been added since the times of the Septuagint. (Theodoret) --- It refers to the persecutions of... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XCIII. (DEUS ULTIONUM.) God shall judge and punish the oppressors of his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fatherless. Septuagint places this after widow, and have here the stranger, or "proselyte," (Haydock) including those who were circumcised, or had only renounced idolatry. --- Jeremias and Ezechiel describe the cruelty of the Chaldeans. (Calmet) --- Similar acts of impious rage are but too visible... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of Jacob. A wretched people in captivity. This is spoken insultingly, he knows not, or cannot hinder, their distress, Psalm xiii. 1., and lxxii. 6. (Calmet) --- The insolence and cruelty of infidels are reprobated._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fools. Who talk in this manner, (Haydock) whether you really believe, that God is thus ignorant and inactive; or you only act as if you did. (Berthier) --- There are but few of the former description. But very many, even among Christians, act as if they admitted no Providence. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consider? He does not say, "hath he not eyes?" lest any might attribute members to God. (St. Jerome) "In evil works, mankind thou mayst deceive,_ Thy hidden thoughts the gods above perceive." (Theognis.) _ Greek: Ou leseis de Theous oude logizomenos._ --- Thales being asked, if the actions of me... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rest from the evil days. That thou mayst mitigate the sorrows to which he is exposed, during the short and evil days of his mortality; (Challoner) or mayst protect him, while the wicked are overwhelmed. (Calmet) --- The pious bear afflictions with greater resignation, (Menochius) meditating on the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Until justice be turned into judgment, &c. By being put in execution: which will be agreeable to all the upright in heart. (Challoner) --- They will be round the tribunal, and sit as judges with Christ. Hebrew ci had, "For to," may have been originally ad ci, "Until." (Haydock) --- This does not im... [ Continue Reading ]
_Almost. Or shortly, as the Hebrew means, (Berthier) "within very little." (Worthington) --- Hell. Hebrew, "silence," which is often put for the grave, 1 Kings ii. 9. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me. I was no sooner in danger, than I was relieved. (Calmet) --- Feeding and complaining of my misery, I obtained thy aid. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sorrows. Hebrew, "afflicting thoughts." (Berthier) --- Soul. Our future joy will bear proportion with the sufferings which we endure for the sake of justice, 1 Corinthians xi. 13., and 2 Corinthians i. 3. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee? &c. That is, wilt thou, O God, who are always just, admit of the seat of iniquity; that is, of injustice, or unjust judges, to have any partnership with thee? Thou, who framest, or makest labour in commandment; that is, thou who obligest us to labour with all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Help. Hebrew, "rock." (Berthier) --- Sufferings force us to have recourse to God, whom few remember in the days of prosperity. (St. Augustine)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will destroy them. Hebrew yatsmithem, occurs twice, to denote the certainty of the event, though the Septuagint, &c., omit the repetition. (Haydock) --- Cyrus overturned the cruel empire of Babylon. (Calmet) --- The wicked at the last day shall seek to hide themselves, and will for ever be removed... [ Continue Reading ]