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Psalm lxiii. (Exaudi Deus orationem.)
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1.
David, in distress. (Eusebius, &c.) --- It has no relation to any historical fact. But it expresses the sentiments
of any just man, surrounded with danger. (St. Hilary) --- Yet many apply it to Daniel, in the lion's den, (Muis) to the captives,
(Calmet) or to Jesus Christ and his Church. (St. Augustine, &c.) (Haydock)
Ver. 3.
Malignant. I am encouraged to hope by past experience. (Worthington)
Ver. 4.
Thing, or discourse. This describes the poisonous insinuations of heretics, (Eusebius) or the calumnies of the Jews
against Christ. (Berthier)
Ver. 6.
Them. The snares. (Haydock) --- Houbigant prefers "us," with reason, (Berthier) after the Syriac, Arabic, Cassiodorus,
&c. Yet the Hebrew, &c., retain them, which is very easily explained. (Haydock) --- The most wicked desire
to preserve the reputation of honesty, (Calmet) and flatter themselves that no mortal is conscious of their deceit, and that
even Providence does not regard things below, Psalm x. (Haydock)
Ver. 7.
Search. Or, they have made the most diligent investigation, (Berthier) to no purpose. (Haydock) --- Thus David and
our Saviour were treated. --- Heart. That is, crafty, subtle, deep projects and designs; which nevertheless shall not
succeed; for God shall be exalted in bringing them to nought, by his wisdom and power. (Challoner) --- Hebrew, "both
the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep." (Protestants) (Haydock) --- But, without the
points, the Septuagint is accurate. (Berthier) --- The Jews, with all their deep machinations to prevent the belief of Christ's
resurrection, bringing even sleeping witnesses, only made themselves ridiculous. (St. Augustine) (Haydock) --- Achitophel
was forced to give way, (2 Kings xvii.; Worthington) though he had been considered as an oracle. (Haydock)
Ver. 8.
The arrows of children are their wounds. That is, the wounds, stripes, or blows, they seek to inflict upon the just,
are but like the weak efforts of children's arrows, which can do no execution; and their tongues, that is, their speeches
against them, come to nothing. (Challoner) --- Or, children themselves have wounded these crafty politicians, and exposed
their folly. (Haydock) --- Hebrew is "very perplexed in the last three verses. Let us adhere to the Vulgate and Septuagint,
who generally read more correctly than the present Hebrew." (Calmet) (Berthier) --- Yet St. Jerome gives a very good sense.
(Haydock) --- Wounds. God hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the strong, (Worthington) and he hath
taken the wise in their craftiness. (Menochius)
Ver. 10.
Afraid, at the sight of God's judgments on the Babylonians, &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 11.
Praised. All will begin to esteem the chosen race. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "shall glory." The Jews and Christians (Haydock)
shall esteem themselves honoured by the title of God's people. (Calmet) --- They shall be praised for rightly serving God,
(Worthington) and shall be rewarded by Him (Haydock) with universal applause. (Menochius)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God that he will
bring to nought the machinations of persecutors.
1 Unto the end, a psalm for David.
2 Hear, O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy.
3 Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from the multitude of the workers of iniquity.
4 For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent their bow a bitter thing, 5 to shoot in secret the undefiled.
6 They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness.
They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them?
7 They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search.
Man shall come to a deep heart: 8 and God shall be exalted.
The arrows of children are their wounds: 9 and their tongues against them are made weak.
All that saw them were troubled; 10 and every man was afraid.
And they declared the works of God: and understood his doings.
11 The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him; and all the upright in heart shall be praised.
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