Once, yea twice, i.e. repeatedly (Job 33:14; Job 40:5) has God spoken and the Psalmist heard (Psalms 85:8) the double truth which supplies the answer to such temptations;

That strength belongeth unto God,

And that unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness.

He has the power and He has the will; therefore those who fear Him have nothing to fear. This he emphatically declares to be a truth of revelation, which he has learnt himself from God. "Scit, potest, vult; quid est quod timeamus?"

The sense will be the same if we render, One thing hath God spoken, two things there are that I have heard, and compare for the form of the sentence the numerical proverbs, e.g. Proverbs 6:16 ff; Proverbs 30:15 f.

for thou renderest&c. The punishment of the wicked and the reward of the faithful attest God's power and love. See Romans 2:6 ff, where St Paul quotes the words and expands their meaning.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising