Hebrew Psalm No. 31
(Psalm No. 30 in the Vulgate)
1 To the choirmaster, a psalm of David. David, it seems, sang this psalm in the wilderness of Maon, when he saw himself about to be captured by Saul (1 Samuel 23:24). Christians can use it as a prayer in the various tribulations of body and soul. 2 Lord, in you I have placed my refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, save me. 3 Incline your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress in which I find my salvation. 4 For you are my rock and my fortress, and for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me. All these expressions of rock, stone etc., which serve as fortresses and refuges, are allusions to the way in which war was waged at that time; to protect themselves from enemy attacks, they took refuge in the mountains and on the rocks. 5 You will deliver me from the net they have laid for me, for you are my defense. 6 Into your hands I commit my spirit; you will deliver me, Lord, God of truth. 7 I hate those who worship worthless idols. Those who love vain things, things of nothingness (Ecclesiastes 1, 2), and who place their trust in them, though quite in vain. Often, too, idols are called vanity (Deuteronomy 32:21; Jeremiah 2:5; 10:15). He who serves vanity is an idolater. For me, it is in the Lord that I trust. 8 I will exult with joy and gladness because of your goodness, for you have looked upon my misery, you have seen the anguish of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hands of the enemy, you give my feet free space. You set me free. 10 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is worn out with grief, as are my soul and my bowels. The lives of the righteous are contained within a constant succession of good and evil (of fortunate and unfortunate events). Such are also the destinies of the Church of God on earth. 11 My life is consumed with pain and my years with groaning; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. As punishment for my sins, my bones withered away. 12 All my adversaries have made me an object of reproach, a burden to my neighbors, an object of dread to my friends. Those who see me outside flee from me. My neighbors despise me because of my enemies, and are afraid to associate with me. 13 I am forgotten, like a dead man, far from hearts; I am like a broken vessel which is no longer taken seriously 14 For I have heard the slander of the crowd, the terror that reigns all around, while they plot against me: they devise schemes to take my life. 15 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 16 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. 17 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love. Shine the light of your face upon us. 18 Lord, let me not be put to shame when I call upon you. Let the wicked be put to shame. Let them go down to Sheol in silence. 19 Let the lying lips be silenced, those that speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt. 20 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you show to those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of men. Publicly, for their justification. 21 You shelter them in the sanctuary of your face, from the machinations of men; you hide them in your tent, safe from the tongues that attack them. The face of God is set for God himself. You hide your worshipers, you cover them with your protection in your presence, by your own hand. 22 Blessed be the Lord, for he has shown his grace toward me, by putting me in a fortified city. The fortified city is God himself, namely his protection; for he who is under God's protection is, as in a walled city, safe against his enemies. 23 In my distress I said, «I am cast out from your sight.» But you heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to you. In the turmoil, in the despondency of my spirit, I believed myself, in the midst of dangers, abandoned by you, but you granted my prayer. 24 Love the Lord, all you who are godly toward him. The Lord protects the faithful, but he severely punishes the proud. 25 Be of good cheer and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Hebrew Psalm No. 32
(Psalm No. 31 in the Vulgate)
1 Of David. A pious meditation. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. According to most exegetes, David composed this psalm after his adultery and the death of Uriah, and after the prophet Nathan had informed him that God had forgiven him his sin (2 Samuel 12). 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord does not count iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. No trace of sin remains, for God not only forgives sin, but, in his omnipotence, he also erases its consequences (Theodoret). As Scripture teaches (1 Peter 4:8; Luke 7:47), only love can obtain forgiveness and cover over sins. 3 As long as I remained silent, (because I did not recognize and confess my sin) My bones were wasting away in my groaning every day. Only sincerity in recognizing one's fault within oneself and confessing it outwardly brings peace. 4 For day and night your hand weighed heavily upon me, the sap of my life withered in the heat of summer. Sela. Your hand has weighed heavily upon me, because of the anguish of my guilty conscience. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, «I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,» and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. The confession and forgiveness were all one and the same thing. 6 Therefore, let every pious man pray to you at the opportune time. In the time when we find, in the time when the Lord allows himself to be found, in the time of grace. For there is a time when we seek God, without being able to find him, and that is when the time of patience and patience has passed away (See John 7:34-36). No, when the great waters overflow, they will not reach him. The flooding of great waters is a great misfortune, and here, in particular, it is God's vengeance that follows sin. 7 You are my refuge; you will protect me from distress; you will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 «I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will be your counselor, my eye will be upon you.» These are the words of God, whom the pious penitent here makes speak. 9 Do not be like the unintelligent horse or mule; they must be governed with bit and bridle, otherwise they do not obey. Do not be like unintelligent animals, who only approach humans with a bit and bridle. You sinners, approach the Lord with confidence. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but grace surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and be glad; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Hebrew Psalm No. 33
(Psalm No. 32 in the Vulgate)
1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones! Praise is fitting for the upright. 2 Praise the Lord with the harp; sing to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to his glory a new hymn (a song that has not yet been heard, incomparable, see Revelation 5:9), artfully unite your instruments and voices 4 for the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are accomplished in loyalty. What God says is true, without falsehood, and he keeps all that he promises (Jerome). 5 He loves justice and righteousness; the earth is full of kindness of the Lord. The earth, he said Saint Augustine, This life is full of misery, but also full of mercy. It is through mercy that, during this life, God calls us. the fishermen, May He encourage the negligent, comfort the afflicted, instruct the ignorant, aid those who fight, and leave no one behind. The present time, therefore, is a time of great mercy. After the time of mercy The time of justice will come, when there will be no more room for repentance. 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. Thus, the Lord, the Word, and the Spirit work together in the creation of God. According to the common understanding of the Church Fathers, these words contain an expression of the mystery of the adorable Trinity. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap, and puts the waters of the deep into storehouses. God, at the time of creation, gathered the waters into one place (Genesis 1. 9), and he still keeps them enclosed there at present. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the universe tremble before him. 9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood firm. He is an all-powerful God. 10 The Lord thwarts the plans of the nations, he frustrates the intentions of the peoples. This Almighty God renders vain thoughts and overturns the plots of peoples and princes against the kingdom of God. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand forever, and the thoughts of his heart throughout all generations. The Lord continues to carry out his plans in time and in eternity. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, blessed is the people he has chosen for his inheritance. Regarding the confusion with which pagan peoples are covered by the annihilation of their projects, the Sacred Singer takes a look at the happiness of God's people, and, after having drawn the picture of God's omnipotence (6-11) he moves on to that of his divine providence (13-15). 13 From heaven the Lord looks down; he sees all the children of men, 14 From the place of his dwelling, he observes all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 He who forms the hearts of all, who is attentive to all their actions. And grants them success; for as it is written in what follows, it is not man's strength, but God's that saves. 16 It is not the number of soldiers that gives the king victory, nor is it great strength that makes the warrior triumph. 17 The horse is powerless to bring salvation, and all its strength does not ensure deliverance. The one who in the war He trusts in his horses, in his cavalry, and is deceived. 18 The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his goodness, The Lord has his eyes fixed on everyone, but especially on his people. 19 to deliver their souls from death and to make them live in the time of famine. In famine, in scarcity, and in every kind of need. 20 Our soul waits with confidence for the Lord; he is our help and our shield, 21 for in him our heart finds its joy, for in his holy name we place our trust. In himself, whom we call the faithful and helpful God. 22 Lord, let your grace be upon us as we hope in you.
Hebrew Psalm No. 34
(Psalm No. 33 in the Vulgate)
1 Of David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, and was driven away by him. Abimelech was the common title of the kings of the Philistines. 2 ALEPH. I want to bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. in good times and in bad. Saint Augustine He makes this reflection on this subject: Praise God when he gives you consolations; praise him when he takes them away, because it is he who gives them, and who takes them away; only he never withdraws himself from the one who praises him. 3 BETH. In the Lord my soul will boast: let the humble hear and rejoice. He urges people to praise God with him. 4 GHIMEL. Exalt the Lord with me, let us celebrate his name together. 5 DALETH. I have sought the Lord I begged him to help me. And he answered my prayer and delivered me from all my fears. 6 HE. When we look to him, we are radiant with joy, VAV. And our faces are not covered with shame. 7 ZAÏN. This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his anguish. The sacred singer wants to talk about himself. 8 HETH. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he saves them. Godly people are surrounded by angels as by a camp, so that their enemies cannot do anything against them. (Hebrews 1:14). This is how a camp of angels protected Jacob when he returned from Mesopotamia (Genesis 32). 9 TETH. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 10 YOD. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for there is no want for those who fear him. Those who belong to his people, to his Church. 11 CAPH. Lion cubs can experience famine and hunger But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. They do not lack inner grace; and even what is necessary for them in the temporal order is also given to them (Matthew 6:33). 12 LAMED. Come, my sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 13 MEM. Who is the man who loves life, who desires long days to enjoy happiness? 14 NUN. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit, Avoid evil, especially evil of the tongue, and you will be happy; for you will be perfect (James 1, 26. 3, 2) and being perfect makes you happy. 15 SAMECH. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. Make every effort to achieve peace inner heart (Ps. Hebrews 4:9), and to live in peace with your fellow men. 16 AIN. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cries. 17 PHEA. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. He adopts the attitude of an enemy towards them. 18 TZADÉ. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them and delivers them from all their troubles. 19 QOPH. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; he saves those who are crushed in spirit. 20 RESCH. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. 21 SHIN. He preserves all his bones (his person)None of them will be broken. 22 TALV. Evil kills the wicked, and the enemies of the righteous are punished. 23 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants, and all who take refuge in him are not punished.
Hebrew Psalm No. 35
(Psalm No. 34 in the Vulgate)
1 Of David. Lord, fight against those who fight against me, do the war to those who make me the war. The Sacred Singer addresses his prayer to God, like an unfortunate soul, against his proud and wicked enemies; he vows their downfall, and, certain of being heard, he concludes with thanksgiving. According to the Church Fathers and early Christian exegetes, the one whom David has prayed to is the Messiah in his Passion, about which the ancient Jews (Isaiah 58) were not ignorant; at least, the situation of the unfortunate man who voices his complaints in the Psalm is in perfect accord with the life of Jesus Christ. Those against whom the patient seeks protection, and upon whom he calls for divine vengeance, are his public enemies, the enemies of his dignity, and consequently, the enemies of God. David did only good to his personal enemies (1 Samuel 24; 2 Samuel 16). 2 Take hold of the small and large shield and rise up to help me. God is represented in the figure of a warrior. 3 Draw your spear and block the way of my persecutors; say to my soul, «I am your salvation.» 4 Let those who seek my life be ashamed and confused; let those who plot my downfall be turned back and brought to shame. The enemies who steal life are, in the mind of the Israelite, the public enemies, the enemies of his nation (cf. Jeremiah 19:9, 21:7, 34:21). Let the Christian remember the life of his soul. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, and may the angel of the Lord drive them away before him. 6 May their way be dark and slippery, and may the angel of the Lord pursue them. May darkness and evil paths be an obstacle to their flight, so that punishment may overtake them. 7 For without cause they hid their net for my ruin; without cause they dug the pit to destroy me. 8 May ruin fall upon him unexpectedly; may the net he hid ensnare him; may he fall into it and perish. May he be caught in the net he had hidden 9 And my soul will have joy in the Lord, rejoicing in his salvation. In the salvation that the Lord will have provided for him. 10 All my bones will say, «Lord, who is like you, delivering the afflicted from those stronger than them, the afflicted and the poor from those who plunder them?» All my bones: my entire being. 11 Unjust witnesses are rising up; they accuse me of things I do not know. They accused me of crimes I knew nothing about. Regarding false witnesses of Jesus Christ, see Matthew 26:60. 12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is in despair. They have saddened me, they have widowed my soul, they have deprived me of all external consolation, of all friendly relations, of all compassion. 13 And I, when they were sick, would put on sackcloth, afflict my soul with fasting, and my prayer would return to my breast. I was in distress when misfortune befell them; I bowed my head in prayer, so that my prayer flowed from my mouth into my heart; I prayed with great devotion and fervor. This is how Elijah also prayed, in a humble and devout manner (See 1 Kings 18:42). 14 As if for a friend, for a brother, I dragged myself along slowly, as if mourning a mother, I bowed down sadly. 15 And now that I am faltering, they rejoice and gather together; against me slanderers gather without my knowledge; they tear me apart without ceasing. The beatings, the outrageous speeches. 16 Like unclean parasites with mocking tongues, they gnash their teeth at me. 17 Lord, how long will you look on? Deliver my soul from their persecutions, my life from the fury of these lions. 18 I will praise you in the great assembly; I will extol you among a multitude. 19 Let not those who attack me without cause rejoice over me; let not those who hate me without cause blink their eyes. They understand each other by signs, they give each other secret signs, those who are animated by evil intentions towards me (See Proverbs 6, 13). 20 For their language is not that of peace ; They are plotting treacherous schemes against the peaceful people of the country. Against those who do no harm to anyone. 21 They open their mouths wide against me, saying, “Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen…” An exclamation of malicious joy; we have seen what we have long wished to see. 22 Lord, you see it. Do not remain silent, Lord, do not turn away from me. 23 Awake, rise up to vindicate me, my God and my Lord, to take up my cause. 24 Judge me according to your righteousness, Lord, my God, and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, «Our soul is satisfied,» let them not say, «We have swallowed him up.» 26 Let them be put to shame and confounded together, those who rejoice at my misfortune. Let them be covered with shame and dishonor, those who exalt themselves against me. 27 Let them be in joy And rejoice, those who desire the triumph of my right and who constantly say: «Glory to the Lord, who wills peace of his servant.» The triumph of my right: of my just cause, of my innocence. 28 And my tongue will sing of your righteousness, your praise all day long.
