Eripe me. A prayer to be delivered from the wicked, with confidence in God’s help and protection. It agrees to Christ and his enemies the Jews.
Holie Dauid (being beseeged in his owne house by m•n sent to kil him) confidently prayeth God to deliuer him, 6. and al faithful nations in like danger: 7. and praiseth God.
1Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him. [1 Kings 19.]Non mandare in perdizione: a Davidde: iscrizione da mettere sopra una colonna: quando Saul mandò ad assediar la sua casa per ammazzarlo.Vnto the end, destroy not, to Dauid in the inscription of the title, when Saul sent, and watched his house to kil him. (1. Reg. 19.)In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem, quando misit Saul et custodivit domum ejus ut eum interficeret. 2Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.Salvami da' miei nemici, o mio Dio, e liberami da coloro, che insorgono contro di me.DELIVER me from mine enimies ô my God: and from them that rise vp against me defend me.Eripe me de inimicis meis, Deus meus, / et ab insurgentibus in me libera me. 3Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.Toglimi dalle mani dì quei, che lavorano iniquità, e salvami dagli uomini sanguinari.Deliuer me from them that worke iniquitie: and from bloudy men saue me.Eripe me de operantibus iniquitatem, / et de viris sanguinum salva me. 4For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:Perocché ecco che avran presa l'anima mia: uomini di gran possa son venuti ad assalirmi.Because loe they haue taken my soule: the strong haue falne violently vpon me.Quia ecce ceperunt animam meam; / irruerunt in me fortes. 5Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps.Né ciò, o Signore, per la mia iniquità, né per mia colpa: senza iniquità io corsi, e regolai i miei passi.Neyther is it mine iniquitie, nor my sinne ô Lord: without iniquitie haue I runne, and gone directly.Neque iniquitas mea, neque peccatum meum, Domine; / sine iniquitate cucurri, et direxi. 6Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.Sorgi, e vienimi incontro, e considera. E tu, o Signore, Dio degli eserciti. Dio d'Israele, Svegliati per visitare tutte le nazioni, non far misericordia a verun di coloro, che operano l'iniquità.Ryse vp to meete me, and see: and thou ô Lord the God of powres, God of Israel attend to visite al nations: haue no mercie on al that worke iniquitie.Exsurge in occursum meum, et vide: / et tu, Domine Deus virtutum, Deus Israël, / intende ad visitandas omnes gentes: / non miserearis omnibus qui operantur iniquitatem. 7They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.Verranno alla sera, e patiranno fame canina, e gireranno intorno alla città.They wil returne at euening: and they shal suffer famine as dogges, and shal compasse the citie.Convertentur ad vesperam, et famem patientur ut canes: / et circuibunt civitatem.
8Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us?Ecco che apriranno la loro bocca, avendo un coltello nelle loro labbra (dicendo): Chi ci ha ascoltati?Behold they wil speake in their mouth, and a sworde in their lippes: because who hath heard?Ecce loquentur in ore suo, / et gladius in labiis eorum: quoniam quis audivit ? 9But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.Ma tu, o Signore, ti burlerai di loro: stimerai come un nulla tutte te genti.And thou ô Lord wilt scorne them: thou wilt bring to naught al the nations.Et tu, Domine, deridebis eos; / ad nihilum deduces omnes gentes. 10I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector:La mia fortezza riporrò in te, perché tu se', o Dio, il mio difensore:I wil keepe my strength to thee: because thou art my receiuer:Fortitudinem meam ad te custodiam, / quia, Deus, susceptor meus es: 11My God, his mercy shall prevent me.La misericordia del mio Dio mi preverrà.my God, thy mercie shal preuent.Deus meus misericordia ejus præveniet me. 12God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:Dio mi ha fatto vedere la vendetta de' miei nemici: non gli uccidere; affinchè non se ne scordi il popol mio. Dispergili colla tua possanza, e degradagli, o Signore, protettor mio,God wil shew vnto me concerning mine enimies, kil them not lest sometime my peoples forgete. Disperse them in thy strength: and depose them my protector ô Lord.Deus ostendet mihi super inimicos meos: / ne occidas eos, nequando obliviscantur populi mei. / Disperge illos in virtute tua, / et depone eos, protector meus, Domine: 13For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of,A motivo del delitto della loro bocca, e per le parole delle loro labbra: e siano presi dalla propria lor superbia. E per lo spergiuro, e per la menzogna saran chiamati alla perdizione dall'ira,The sinne of their mouth, the word of their lippes: and let them be taken in their pride. And for cursing and lying they shal be talked ofdelictum oris eorum, sermonem labiorum ipsorum; / et comprehendantur in superbia sua. / Et de execratione et mendacio annuntiabuntur 14When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.che li consuma, ed ei più non saranno. E conosceranno come il Signore regnerà sopra Giacobbe, e fino alla estremità della terra.in consummation: in wrath of comsummation and they shal not be. And they shal know that God wil rule ouer Iacob: and ouer the ends of the earth.in consummatione: / in ira consummationis, et non erunt. / Et scient quia Deus dominabitur Jacob, et finium terræ.
15They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.Si convertiranno alla sera, e saranno affamati come cani, e gireranno attorno alla città.They shal be turned at euening, and shal suffer famine as dogges: and shal compasse the citie.Convertentur ad vesperam, et famem patientur ut canes: / et circuibunt civitatem. 16They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.Eglino andran vagabondi cercando cibo: e se non saran satollati, ancora mormoreranno.They shal be dispersed to eate: and if they be not filled, they wil murmur also.Ipsi dispergentur ad manducandum; / si vero non fuerint saturati, et murmurabunt. 17But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.Ma io canterò la tua fortezza, e inni di letizia offerirò al mattino alla tua misericordia. Perché tu se' stato mia difesa, e mio rifugio nel dì della mia tribolazione.But I wil sing thy strength: and wil exalt thy mercie in the morning. Because thou art become my receiuer, and my refuge, in the day of my tribulation.Ego autem cantabo fortitudinem tuam, / et exsultabo mane misericordiam tuam: / quia factus es susceptor meus, / et refugium meum in die tribulationis meæ. 18Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.Aiuto mio, te io canterò, perché tu, o Dio, tu se' mia difesa: Dio mio, mia misericordia.My helper, I wil sing to thee, because thou art God my receiuer: my God, my mercie.Adjutor meus, tibi psallam, / quia Deus susceptor meus es; / Deus meus, misericordia mea.
58:1
Calmet
Watched. Hebrew, "they (the guards) watched." The psalm relates also to the resurrection of Christ, and vocation of the Gentiles, (Berthier) as well as to the reprobation, and future conversion of the Jews. It seems to be most applicable to the times of Esdras and Nehemias: (2 Esdras 4:1., and 6:1.) one of whom may have composed it. (Calmet)
Haydock
But this is only a conjecture, (Berthier) and Saul's emissaries may be styled Gentiles, (Menochius) because they imitated their manners. (Haydock)
Worthington
Saul sent repeatedly, and went himself to attack David. He gave him Michol with the same design. (Worthington)
Haydock
But God turned her heart another way. (Haydock)
58:4
Worthington
Caught. Hebrew, "laid snares for." Septuagint, "hunted." The enemy wished eagerly to take David, or Nehemias, (Haydock; Calmet) and they seemed to have so surrounded the former, as to be sure of him. (Worthington)
58:5
Calmet
I ran. Hebrew, "they," etc. But the Septuagint would not have made such a mistake, (Berthier) and the Hebrew appears to be incorrect, though we may understand "without iniquity in me, they have run." (Calmet)
Worthington
I gave them no offence. (Worthington)
All this may be well explained of Jesus Christ, who alone could use these expressions with propriety, being without sin.
58:6
Calmet
No mercy. Nehemias uses the like prophetic threats, 2 Esdras 4:5. (Calmet)
St. Augustine
"Every sin must be punished, either by the penitent, or by an avenging God." The prophet supposes that his enemies died impenitent. (St. Augustine)
Eusebius † AD 339
When the gospel was first preached, God visited the world with various afflictions, to make people enter into themselves. (Eusebius)
Worthington
The prophet prays that God would visit all nations with peace, and punish obstinate persecutors of the Catholic Church. (Worthington)
58:7
Haydock
Evening, when they came to take David. But, out of regard for Michol, they providentially waited till he had escaped, 2 Kings xix. (Haydock)
Calmet
Nehemias was obliged to watch continually, 2 Esdras 4:11, 23. (Calmet)
The Jews will embrace the faith at the end of the world, (St. Augustine) or they will be destroyed (St. Hilary) or banished by Titus and Adrian (A.D. 137); the latter of whom forbade them even to look at Jerusalem from an eminence. They could not enter it in the time of Eusebius, (Psalm xlviii.) and St. Jerome. (Soph. 1.)
St. Athanasius
They have a hunger for God's word, of which they have lost the true sense. (St. Athanasius)
Worthington
Persecutors are never satiated, though they labour to destroy, all their lives. (Worthington)
Menochius
They allow themselves no rest. (Menochius)
58:8
Lips. They seek my ruin, 2 Esdras 4:2, etc.
Calmet
Heard. Thus they deny Providence, Psalm (Hebrew) 10:11. (Calmet)
St. Augustine
This thought and the occasion of sin have produced much wickedness. "Whithersoever thou goest, thou art seen by Jesus Christ, who made, redeemed, and died for thee." (St. Augustine, Ser. 161.)
Berthier
A serious consideration of God's presence is the best preservative. (Berthier)
Worthington
The wicked devise all sorts of cruelty, as if there were no God. (Worthington)
58:9
Calmet
Laugh. Permitting them to become ridiculous. (Calmet)
58:10
Berthier
My. Hebrew, "his," which seems incorrect. Chaldean (Calmet) and St. Jerome agree with the Vulgate. Houbigant would also substitute, "My strength, I will sing to thee," which affords a better sense, ver. 17. (Berthier)
Haydock
Yet our version is very plain; I will make all my powers serve thee, and acknowledge that all comes from thee. (Haydock)
Calmet
Such was the admirable humility of Nehemias, who never assumed any glory to himself. (Calmet)
Worthington
David and all just men entertain the same sentiments. We are here assured (Haydock) that the Church and some virtuous souls will persevere, by God's grace. (Worthington)
58:11
Calmet
His mercy. Protestants, "the God of my." Yet the text has "his;" i and v are easily confounded. The Keri here allows "my," which Pagnin translates. St. Jerome, "the mercy of my God;" (Haydock) or "my God, my mercy." (Ep. ad. Sun.) (Calmet)
Berthier
All comes to the same end. These words are most applicable to Jesus Christ. (Berthier)
58:12
Haydock
Over. St. Jerome, "my spies." (Haydock)
Haydock
Forget. Let them suffer a long time, (Menochius) that their punishment may be a greater warning. The ancients read, "thy law," instead of people, and apply this to the Jews, (Calmet) who still preserve the law, and bear witness throughout the world that the prophecies were not a fabrication of Christians. (Haydock)
Eusebius † AD 339
Their exemplary chastisement and continuance, may serve to caution all not to follow their example. Judaei testes iniquitatis suae et veritatis nostrae. (St. Augustine) (Eusebius)
Worthington
"If all the Jews had been converted, we should have had only suspicious witnesses; and if all had been exterminated, we hould have had none." God permits our spiritual adversaries to remain for our trial, (Tertullian) that we may not forget ourselves in prosperity. (Worthington)
Calmet
We may also translate Al, "O God, (as well as not) slay them, that they may attack my people no more;" (see 2 Esdras 4:4.) for what reason could Nehemias have to beg that they might be spared? (Calmet)
Haydock
God might have some. (Haydock)
58:13
St. Augustine
For, is not expressed. Literally, "bring down....the sign," etc. Let not their haughty speeches take effect, or escape punishment. The imprecations of the Jews against themselves, (Haydock) and against Christ, have brought on their destruction. (St. Augustine)
Thus nothing need be supplied.
Calmet
Of. Hebrew, "shall relate;" which has little sense. Laying aside the points, it may have the meaning of the Vulgate. This passage can hardly be applicable to David's persecutors, though it might predict the disasters of Saul. It alludes more to the enemies of Christ, (Berthier) who called down his blood upon themselves, (Matthew 27:25.) and most falsely accused Him. (Calmet)
Menochius
Hence they are become the reproach of men, and are no longer a people. They behold the reign of Christ propagated throughout the world, (ver. 16.; Haydock) while they are wandering about and despised. They once would not serve; boasting that they were children of Abraham, John viii. (Menochius)
58:14
Consumed. At the destruction of Jerusalem, or for opposing Nehemias, 2 Esdras 6:16.
Calmet
Earth. The Jews who were preordained to life, embraced the gospel. (Calmet)
Berthier
How can those know, who are no more? Their condition will be worse than annihilation. They will exist in hell, though no more visible to us. (Berthier)
Worthington
They will know the truth, when it is too late; and when they are on the point of plunging into the abyss. The measure of their crimes being full, they shall be accused and punished. (Worthington)
58:15
Haydock
City. This is a sort of chorus, ver. 7. St. Jerome and Protestants, "Let them bark." (Haydock)
Haydock
It insinuates, that the attacks of the enemies of Nehemias, (Calmet) David, and Christ, were unceasing. (Haydock)
58:16
Haydock
Murmur. Hebrew also, "shall tarry all night." Protestants, "grudge." (Haydock)
Worthington
Finding no oil for their lamps, they will repent like Judas, and blaspheme in hell. (Worthington)
58:17
Menochius
Morning. With earnestness, (Haydock) I will fulfil this duty (Calmet) at the resurrection, (Worthington) in the morning of a glorious immortality. (Menochius)
58:18
Haydock
Helper. St. Jerome, "my strength," virtutem meam tibi cantabo, ver. 10. I will sing, that all I have comes from thy pure mercy. (Haydock)
58:1
King Saul hauing thrise attempted in vaine to kil Dauid, (1. Reg. 18 v 11. &c. 19. v. 9.) sene some of his guard to fetch him, from his owne house, that he might be slaine: but God moued the mind of Michol, to admonish him of the danger, and to helpe him away in saftie, though Saul thought she would haue bene a scandal vnto him (or cause of ruine) by the handes of the Philistians 1. Reg. 18. v. 21. Vpon which occasion Dauid made this Psalme. As he also made others, for perpetual memorie of Gods like benefites, in deliuering him in iminent dangers, VVhen Saul sent three troupes of serieants to kil him, and solowed them himselfe. 1. Reg. 19. v. 20 likevvise vvhen he vvas knovven and bevvrayed before Achis king of Geth 1. Reg. 21. also in Ceila, in the deserts of Ziph, and of Maon. c. 23, in Engaddi, c. 24. in Hachila. c. 26. and againe amongst the Philistians c. 27. and 30.
58:4
They haue so straictly beseged me, that it is now in their haudes, to take away my life.
58:5
Of my part I haue committed no sault against myn enimies, for which they can haue anie iust cause to persecute me.
58:6
The prophet soreseing in spirite, that the Catholique Church shal be vniustly persecuted, prayeth, and teacheth others to pray, that God wil mercifully visite his faithful people of al nations:
and not spare obstinate persecuters.
58:7
Persecuters laboring how much, or how long soeuer, shal at night, that is, in the end of al their wicked endeuoures be vnsatisfied in their desires,
as hungrie dogges that runne hunting al the day, & night also, stil seeking & not finding wherwith to fil their rauenous mouthes and deuouring bellies.
58:8
They threaten and determine to vse al crueltie,
as if there were no God, that heareth, and wil punish it.
58:10
Through Gods grace the Church is stil strong and the vertuous do perseuere.
58:12
God suffereth afflictions to fal vpon his seruants to kepe them exercised, lest in prosperitie they forgete their duties to him.
Depriue them of powre, that they may not do so much euil as they desire.
58:13
After that their iniquitie is complete
they shal be accused and punished for their blasphemies and lies.
58:15
Concordance As. v. 7.
58:16
They shal in vaine seeke oyle for their lampes with the foolish virgins, repent with Iudas, and finding no helpe,
shal continually blaspheme in hel.
58:17
In the resurrection.
58:1
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 130.22
… When one says: “Take away from me the lusts of the appetite, and let not sensual desire take hold on me,” what else is this than, “Lead us not into temptation”? When one says: “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; defend me from them that rise up against me,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.4
4. “Deliver me from mine enemies, my God, and from men rising up upon me, redeem Thou me” (
58:2
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.5
5. “Deliver me from men working iniquity, and from men of bloods, save Thou me” (
58:3
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 30
… as, e.g., God giveth not the Spirit by measure, for as a matter of fact He does not give the Spirit to the Son, nor does He measure It, for God is not measured by God; or again, Not my transgression nor my sin.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.6
6. “For behold they have hunted my soul.…There have rushed upon me strong men” (
58:4
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.7
7. What next? “Neither iniquity is mine, nor sin mine, O Lord” (
58:5
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.8
… Therefore Abraham when tried, became known to himself: and it was said by God, “Now I know,” that is, now I have made thee to know. In like manner as glad is the day because it maketh men glad; and sad is bitterness because it maketh sad one tasting thereof: so God’s seeing is making to see. “Rise up, therefore,” he saith, “to meet me, and see” (
58:6
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Defence Against the Arians (Apologia Contra Arianos) 6
… Notwithstanding this he has no church, nor a people to obey him, but is scouted by them all, like a dog
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 13.9
… But that some of the chief-priests also were present, and that He was put in bonds before the gates of the city, thou hast heard before, if thou rememberest the exposition of the Psalm, which has told the time and the place; how they returned at evening, and hungered like dogs, and encompassed the city
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.14
14. “Let them be converted at the evening” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 60.12
12. “Who will lead Me down into the city of standing round?” ( ver. 9 ). What is the city of standing round? If ye remember already, I have made mention thereof in another Psalm,
58:7
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.15
15. “Behold, themselves shall speak in their mouth, and a sword is on the lips of them” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.7
… 15 ); that is, in order that they may gain others, in order that into their Body they may change believers. “But if they shall not be filled, they shall murmur.” Because above also he had spoken of the murmur of them, saying, “For who hath heard?” “And Thou, O Lord,” he saith, “shall deride them, saying, Who hath heard?”
58:8
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.15
… they have turned them to the nations, and have preached. The Jews did not believe; and nevertheless through believing Jews the Gospel went around the city, and they said, “For who hath heard?” “And Thou, Lord, shall deride them” (
58:9
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 13.21
… For he who loves himself is abandoned to himself, in order that, being overwhelmed with fears and sorrows, he may cry, if there be yet soul in him to feel his ills, in the words of the psalm, “My soul is cast down within me,” and when chastened, may say,” Because of his strength I will wait upon Thee.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Holy Trinity 14.14
… still, by abandoning Him who is above it, in dependence upon whom alone it could guard its own strength, and enjoy Him as its light, to whom it is sung in the Psalm, “I will guard my strength in dependence upon Thee,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Of Holy Virginity 53
… For whoso fears to depart from Him asks and says, “Let there not come to me foot of pride.” Go on in the way of loftiness with the foot of lowliness; Himself lifteth up such as follow in lowly wise, Who thought it not a trouble to come down unto such as lay low. Commit ye His gifts unto Him to keep, “guard ye your strength unto Him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 81.4
… Thou hast shown me Whence I should seek, to Whom attribute what I had received, to Whom I ought to render thanks, to Whom I should run in my thirst, Whereby be filled, and with Whom keep that whereby I should be filled. ‘For my strength will I keep to Thee;’
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.16
… because, O God, my lifter up Thou art.” For where was I, and where am I? Whence hast Thou taken me up? What iniquities of mine hast Thou remitted? Where was I lying? To what have I been raised up? I ought to have remembered these things: because in another Psalm is said, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord hath taken me unto Him.”
58:10
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Enchiridion 32
… For the man’s righteousness of will precedes many of God’s gifts, but not all; and it must itself be included among those which it does not precede. We read in Holy Scripture, both that God’s mercy “shall meet me,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Enchiridion 77
… But if he desired to give alms to it which should make all things clean unto him, he would hate it according to the world, and love it according to God. Now no one gives alms unless he receive what he gives from one who is not in want of it. Therefore it is said, “His mercy shall meet me.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Patience 18
… “It is not therefore of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” It is also their own voice, long ere Christ was come in the flesh, “My God, His mercy shall prevent me.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Nature and Grace 35
… He anticipates us that we may be called; He will follow us that we may be glorified. He anticipates us that we may lead godly lives; He will follow us that we may always live with Him, because without Him we can do nothing. Now the Scriptures refer to both these operations of grace. There is both this: “The God of my mercy shall anticipate me,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius 5
… “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” And our free will can do nothing better for us than to submit itself to be led by Him who can do nothing amiss; and after doing this, not to doubt that it was helped to do it by Him of whom it is said in the psalm, “He is my God, His mercy shall go before me.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius 7
… This is suffered only by “the vessels of wrath,” who are perfected for perdition; in whose very destruction, indeed, God “makes known the riches of His glory on the vessels of His mercy.” Now it is on this account that, after saying, “He is my God, His mercy shall go before me,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius 34
… “Thou shalt come and pass by from the beginning of faith.” Although, therefore, faith procures the grace of producing good works, we certainly do not deserve by any faith that we should have faith itself; but, in its bestowal upon us, in order that we may follow the Lord by its help, “His mercy has prevented us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 2.21
… Nor is its beginning of ourselves, and its perfection of God; but if love is of God, we have the whole of it from God. May God by all means turn away this folly of making ourselves first in His gifts, Himself last,—because “His mercy shall prevent me.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Two Letters Written by Augustin to Valentinus and the Monks of Adrumetum 1.4
… This is altogether a most erroneous opinion; not, indeed, because there is no desert, good in pious persons, or evil in impious ones (for how else shall God judge the world?), but because a man is converted by that mercy and grace of God, of which the Psalmist says, “As for my God, His mercy shall prevent me;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 86.2
… Certainly not. What were we then, but sinful and lost? We had not yet come to believe on Him, in order to lead to His choosing us; for if it were those who already believed that He chose, then was He chosen Himself, prior to His choosing. But how could He say, “Ye have not chosen me,” save only because His mercy anticipated us?
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.17
17. “My God, the mercy of Him shall come before me” (
58:11
Tertullian † AD 220 An Answer to the Jews 13
… “If ye shall have been unwilling, and shall not have been obedient, the glaive shall eat you up.” Whence we prove that the sword was Christ , by not hearing whom they perished; who, again, in the Psalm, demands of the Father their dispersion, saying, “Disperse them in Thy power;”
Tertullian † AD 220 The Five Books Against Marcion 3.23
… In the fifty-eighth Psalm He demands of the Father their dispersion: “Scatter them in Thy power.”
St Hippolytus † AD 235 On the Psalms 5
On Psalm lix. 11 . Concerning the Jews.
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Vanity of Idols: Showing that the Idols are Not Gods, and that God is One, and that Through Christ Salvation is Given to Believers 10
… But how profane became their life, what offence to their violated religion was contracted, even they themselves bear witness, since, although they are silent with their voice, they confess it by their end. Scattered and straggling, they wander about; outcasts from their own soil and climate, they are thrown upon the hospitality of strangers.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Concerning Faith of Things Not Seen 9
… And this very thing which I assert, receive ye after what manner it was prophesied of: “Slay them not,” saith He, “lest at any time they forget Thy law, but scatter them abroad in Thy might.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.17
… the other things are mine own evil things which Thou hast blotted out. I have not first risen up to Thee, but to awake me Thou hast come: for “His mercy shall come before me.” Before that anything of good I shall do, “His mercy shall come before me.” What answer here shall the unhappy Pelagius make? “My God hath shown to me among mine enemies” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.19
19. “Scatter them abroad in Thy virtue” (
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 13.8
… The Divine protection then is inseparably present with us, and so great is the kindness of the Creator towards His creatures, that His Providence not only accompanies it, but actually constantly precedes it, as the prophet experienced and plainly confessed, saying: “My God will prevent me with His mercy.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 13.12
… for he would not obey the command of the blessed Peter who said: “Repent of thine iniquity, and pray God if haply the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity.” It prevents therefore the will of man, for it is said: “My God will prevent me with His mercy;”
58:12
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.1.19
… “And bring them down, my protector, O Lord.” “The transgressions of their mouth, the discourse of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride: and out of cursing and lying shall be declared consummations, in the anger of consummation, and they shall not be” (
58:13
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.5
5. “And they shall know how God shall have dominion of Jacob, and of the ends of the earth” (
58:14
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.6
6. “They shall be converted at evening” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 68.29
… and of such sort not more than three hundred among so great a multitude were found. In which number is the sign of the Cross because of the letter T, which in the Greek numeral characters signifieth three hundred. Of such dogs in another Psalm also said, “They shall be turned at even, and hunger they shall suffer as dogs.”
58:15
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.7
7. “They shall be scattered abroad in order that they may eat” (
58:16
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.7
… from different parts let them come, but with differing not come, those of Circumcision, these of uncircumcision. Far apart were the walls, but before that to the Corner they came: but in the Corner let them hold themselves, and now let the whole Church from both walls, say what? “But I will sing of Thy power, and I will exult in the morning of Thy mercy” (
58:17
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Holy Trinity 15.17
… as it is elsewhere read, “Since from Him is my patience.” For the usage of words itself in Scripture sufficiently refutes this interpretation; for “Thou art my patience” is of the same kind as “Thou, Lord, art my hope,” and “The Lord my God is my mercy,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 59.2.8
8. “My Helper, to Thee I will play, because Thou, O God, art my taker up” (
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.