Lauda, Jerusalem. The church is called upon to praise God for his peculiar graces and favours to his people. In the Hebrew, this psalm is joined to the foregoing.
Againe God is to be praised for his goodnes towards his peculiar people, 4. yea towards al the world: 7. but most abundantly towards his Church.
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.Alleluia. Lodate Dio. Loda, o Gerusalemme, il Signore: loda, o Sionne, il tuo Dio.Alleluia. O Ierusalem praise our Lord: praise thy God ô Sion.Alleluja. Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum; / lauda Deum tuum, Sion. 2Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee.Perocché forti sbarre ha egli messe alle tue porte: ha benedetti i tuoi figliuoli dentro di te.Because he hath strengthened the lockes of thy gates: he hath blessed thy children in thee.Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum; / benedixit filiis tuis in te. 3Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn.Egli ha messa ne' tuoi confini la pace, e di fior di frumento ti pasce.Who hath set thy borders peace: and filleth thee with the fatte of corne.Qui posuit fines tuos pacem, / et adipe frumenti satiat te. 4Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.Egli manda la sua parola alla terra: la sua parola corre velocemente.Who sendeth forth his speach to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.Qui emittit eloquium suum terræ: / velociter currit sermo ejus. 5Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes.Ei da la neve come fiocchi di lana: come cenere sparge la nebbia.Who geueth snow as wool: scatereth mist as ashes.Qui dat nivem sicut lanam; / nebulam sicut cinerem spargit. 6He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?Manda il suo gelo come pezzi di pane: chi può reggere al freddo, ch'ei porta?He casteth his crystal as morseles: before the face of his cold l who shal endure?Mittit crystallum suam sicut buccellas: / ante faciem frigoris ejus quis sustinebit ? 7He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.Manderà i suoi ordini, e farà, ch'i si sciolgano: soffierà lo spirito di lui, e scorreranno le acque.He shal sendforth his word, and shal melt them: his spirit shal blowe, and waters shal flowe.Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea; / flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aquæ. 8Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.Egli, che annunzia la sua parola a Giacobbe, i suoi precetti, e i suoi giudizj ad Israele.Who declareth his word to Iacob: his iustices, and iudgements to Israel.Qui annuntiat verbum suum Jacob, / justitias et judicia sua Israël. 9He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.Non ha fatto così a tutte le nazioni, né ha manifestati ad essi i suoi giudizj. Alleluia.He hath not done in like maner to anie nation: and his iudgements he hath not made manifest to them. Allelu-ia.Non fecit taliter omni nationi, / et judicia sua non manifestavit eis. / Alleluja.
147:1
Haydock
[or 1.] Alleluia. This word is not in Hebrew. (Haydock)
Calmet
Many with the Septuagint add, "of Aggaeus and Zacharias." (Calmet)
Calmet
The Fathers explain it of the Church, and of heaven. (Calmet)
Worthington
Sion. This place was highly favoured before the captivity, and rebuilt afterwards so as to enjoy many blessings. But all this was only a figure of the privileges belonging to the Church, and to the heavenly Sion, the true vision of peace. (Worthington)
147:2
Worthington
[or 2.] Within thee. Jerusalem was better fortified than (Haydock) other cities. But the Church is built upon a rock, and enriched with many graces, while heaven is free from all danger, and its inhabitants secure. (Worthington)
Nehemias repeopled the city, which he had surrounded with walls, (Calmet) despising the sarcasms of his enemies, 2 Esdras 7:4.
147:3
Haydock
[or 3.] Peace. To obtain this, the peace of Jesus Christ must triumph in our hearts, Colossians 3:15. (Haydock)
Calmet
Borders. People perceiving that Assuerus favoured the Jews, durst no longer attack them, 2 Esdras 6:16. (Calmet)
Worthington
They enjoyed peace and plenty. In the Church we have remission of sin in baptism and penance, and the spiritual food of Christ's body and blood in the blessed Eucharist, with the graces of the other sacraments. In heaven peace and joy subsist for ever. (Worthington)
Theodoret
Fat. The best (Haydock) of all sorts of fruit. (Theodoret)
Calmet
The Fathers understand the blessed Eucharist, or the holy Scriptures. (St. Augustine, etc.) (Calmet)
147:4
Worthington
[or 4.] Speech. Rain, (Kimchi) Jesus Christ, (St. Augustine) or the gospel, (St. Hilary; St. Jerome) which was presently propagated over all the earth, Romans 10:18. (Worthington)
Haydock
God's commands are instantly obeyed. (Haydock)
Berthier
No sooner did he speak to Saul, but he was converted, Acts 9:4., and Hebrews 4:12. (Berthier)
147:5
Challoner
[or 5.] Like wool. Because it is white, and light, and covereth the earth as with a fleece, which keeps it warm, and makes it fruitful. On which account also, in the following words, mists (or as it is in the Hebrew, hoar frosts) are compared to ashes, which give a fruitfulness to the ground. (Challoner)
Pliny
Trees and fruits are preserved by the snow resting upon them. Vota arborum frugumque....nives....insidere. (Pliny, [Natural History?] 17:2.)
Worthington
Mists are succeeded by clear weather. By penance and austerity sins are remitted, and devils expelled, Isaias 1:18. (Worthington)
147:6
Calmet
[or 6.] His chrystal. Some understand it of hail, which is as it were ice, divided into bits, or morsels. (Challoner) (Ecclesiasticus 43:22.) (Calmet)
Tirinus
In summer and winter God sends proper moisture for the earth. (Tirinus)
Worthington
The most hardened are sometimes converted: but this must be the effect of grace. (Worthington)
Cold. If it were to continue, all would perish. He therefore sends the warm (Calmet) "south wind." (Syriac)
147:7
Berthier
[or 7.] Wind. "Spirit." The blessed Trinity (St. Jerome) grants compunction. (Berthier)
By preaching and grace conversions are wrought.
147:8
Worthington
[or 8.] Jacob. These spiritual blessings pertain only to the true Church. (Worthington)
147:9
Calmet
[or 9.] Them. He hath not announced his decrees to them. This glory was reserved for Israel, Deuteronomy 4:7. (Calmet)
Berthier
The written law was granted to the latter. Yet God had sufficiently manifested his will to all mankind, so that they must also appear before his tribunal. (St. Chrysostom) (Berthier)
Worthington
Alleluia. Considering that all were in the mass of sin, and that God justly let many perish; those whom he justifies are more bound to praise him; and therefore the prophet concludes this and the following psalms with Alleluia. (Worthington)
Haydock
Christians, and particularly Catholics, are most concerned, since many have rebelled against the light of faith, (Berthier) and abuse the gift of the holy Scriptures. (Haydock)
147:17
He sendeth his crystal.... That is, his ice. Some understand it of hail, which is, as it were, ice, divided into particles or morsels.
147:1
Ierusalem in the latter part of Dauids time, al the time of Salomon, and part of other kings reignes til the captiuitie, had peace & prospered. Againe after the captiuitie, the Citie was repared, the Temple reedified, and the whole land receiued and enioyed manie blessinges. But al this was no more then a figure of the excellent benefites here prophecied, and more euidently verified in Christs Catholique Church: partly here militant in the whole world, and especially in the glorious Ierusalem, and Sion, the perfect vision of peace, and contemplation of God, in eternal life.
The Hebrews ioyne this Psalme vvith the precedent.
147:2
In comparison of other cities, and peoples of the world, the gates of Ierusalem were strongly fensed,
and the citizens blessed: much more the Church of Christ is built vpon a fure rock, her faithful children indued with al spiritual graces; and most of al, heauen it ••l•• is free from al danger of calamitie, and the Sainctes are most secure & most happie, enioying eternal fruit on of God.
147:3
Hath geuen peace in thy borders,
and the very best corne, and al other fruictes: wine, oyle, milke, honey, and the rest. Allegorically in the Church, reconciliation with God, by remission of sinnes, and peace of conscience, in the Sacraments of Baptisme & Penance; vvith the most spiritual food of Christs Bodie and Bloud in the Eucharist, and graces of other Sacraments. In heauen most assured peace and ioy without end.
147:4
This perteyneth most specially to Euangelical doctrine, preached
and quickely receiued in al the world. Rom 10. v. 18.
147:5
Snow nourisheth the earth, making it vvarme by Antiperistasis, as is euident in natural Philosophie,
and noysome ayre is changed into clere vveather. In the Church by penance & austere life men are purged from sinnes and vices, euil spirites are also driuen avvay. If your sinnes shal be as scarlet, they shal be made vvhite as snovv, and if they be redde as vermilion, they shal be vvhite as vvool. Isaie. 1. v. 18.
147:6
Yea some that are hardned in sinne, as yse, or chrystal, shal be melted, broken, or made fitte to be ingraffed in Gods Church. So S. Peter vvas admonished by a vision (Act. •0. v 1•.) to kil and eate. Othervvise vvithout Gods grace geuing remorse and sorovv, no man can ouercome his ovvne vices.
147:7
But Gods vvord preached,
and his grace touching mens hartes,
innumerable are conuerted.
147:8
The Church only enioyeth these spiritual benefites.
147:9
Considering that al mankind vvas in the masse of sinne, and that God letteth manie iustly perish, those to whom he geueth his grace to iustification, are specially bond to praise him.
And therfore the Prophet concludeth this Psalme, and the rest folovving, vvith Alleluia.
147:1
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 19.11
… and the rather because the Psalmist says of the city of God, the subject of this laborious work, “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion: for He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee; who hath made thy borders peace.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 104.12
12. These beasts, then, drink those waters, but passing; not staying, but passing; for all that teaching which in all this time is dispensed passeth.…Unless perchance your love thinketh that in that city to which it is said, “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, praise thy God, O Sion; for He hath made strong the bars of thy gates;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.17
17. “Praise in unison, O Jerusalem, thy God” (
147:2
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 100.8
… How then knowest thou him who is unknown even to himself?…Where then is security? Here nowhere; in this life nowhere, except solely in the hope of the promise of God. But there, when we shall reach thereunto, is complete security, when the gates are shut, and the bars of the gates of Jerusalem made fast;
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 104.32
… and behold it is not yet realized, but is already possessed in hope, and through that very hope we now sing, and say, “The earth is full of Thy creation.” We do not as yet sing this in our country, nor yet in that rest which is promised, the bars of the gates of Jerusalem not being as yet made fast;
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.20
20. He saith, “He hath made strong the bars of thy gates” (
147:3
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.22
… Now we hunger and thirst after righteousness. “They shall be filled.” How shall they be filled? When we have arrived at peace. Therefore when he had said, “Who hath set peace for thy borders,” because there is fulness and no want, he added at once, “and filleth thee with the fat of wheat” (
147:4
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus i.62
… should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” For, according to the predictions in the prophets, foretelling the preaching of the Gospel, “the Lord gave the word in great power to them who preached it, even the King of the powers of the Beloved,” in order that the prophecy might be fulfilled which said, “His words shall run very swiftly.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 45.6
… let us not compare it to His excellent greatness, so let us not reject it with contempt. For I ask, why He compares His “tongue” to “the pen of a writer writing rapidly”? But how swiftly soever the transcriber writes, still it is not comparable to that swiftness of which another Psalm says, “His word runneth very swiftly.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.23
23. “Who sendeth forth His Word to the earth” (
147:5
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.24
… Behold, we are sluggish on this earth, and are as it were frozen here. And just as happens to the flakes of snow, for they freeze above, then fall down; so as love groweth cold, human nature falleth down to this earth, and involved in a sluggish body becometh like snow. But in that snow are predestined sons of God. For, “He giveth snow like wool” (
147:6
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.26
26. “Who sendeth His crystal like morsels of bread” (
147:7
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.27
… “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?.…In the face of His cold who shall stand?” And who shall free himself, if God abandon him? Who is it that freeth? “The grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Are we then to despair? God forbid. For it goeth on, “He shall send out His Word, and melt them” (
147:8
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.28
28. “Announcing His Word unto Jacob, His Righteousnesses and Judgments unto Israel” (
147:9
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 68.10
… And is this the very moving of the earth, when men are troubled, because the Law they cannot fulfil? But if so it is, this is the voluntary rain, whereof in confirmation he saith, “Voluntary rain God severing to Thine inheritance:” because “He hath not done so to any nation, and His judgment He hath not manifested to them.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 147.29
29. “He hath not done so to the whole race” (
147:14
… Elsewhere the "word of God" is described as sent by him: "He sent his word and they were healed" (Ps. 106:20; cf. 147:14-18; Is. 9:8; 55:10-11). These are rhetorical personifications, which nonetheless permitted deeper intuitions. …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.