Confitebimur tibi. There is a just judgment to come: therefore let the wicked take care.
Christ (with his Assessors) wil iudge the whole world, at the last day: in the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life; 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement. 1•. The wicked shal be punished, and the good rewarded.
1Unto the end, corrupt not, a psalm of a canticle for Asaph.Salmo, e cantico di Asaph.Vnto the end, Corrupt not, a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph.In finem, ne corrumpas. Psalmus cantici Asaph. 2We will praise thee, O God: we will praise, and we will call upon thy name. We will relate thy wondrous works:Noi darem laude a te, o Dio: ti darem laude, e invocheremo il tuo nome. Racconterem le tue meraviglie:VVE wil confesse to thee ô God: we wil confesse, and wil inuocate thy name. We wil tel thy meruelouse workes:Confitebimur tibi, Deus, confitebimur, / et invocabimus nomen tuum; / narrabimus mirabilia tua. 3When I shall take a time, I will judge justices.quand'io avrò preso il tempo, io giudicherò con giustizia.when I shal take a time, I wil iudge iustices.Cum accepero tempus, / ego justitias judicabo. 4The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein: I have established the pillars thereof.Si è strutta la terra con tutti i suoi abitatori: io fui che alle colonne di lei diedi saldezza.The earth is melted, and al that dwel in it: I haue confirmed the pillers thereof.Liquefacta est terra et omnes qui habitant in ea: / ego confirmavi columnas ejus. 5I said to the wicked: Do not act wickedly: and to the sinners: Lift not up the horn.Ho detto agli iniqui: Non vogliate operare iniquamente; e ai peccatori: non vogliate alzar le corna.I said to the wicked: doe not wickedly: and to them that offend: Exalt not the horne.Dixi iniquis: Nolite inique agere: / et delinquentibus: Nolite exaltare cornu: 6Lift not up your horn on high: speak not iniquity against God.Non vogliate alzar in alto le vostre corna: non vogliate parlar contro Dio iniquamente.Exalt not your horne on high: speake not iniquitie aganst God.nolite extollere in altum cornu vestrum; / nolite loqui adversus Deum iniquitatem. 7For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert hills:Imperocché né ad oriente, né ad occidente, né sulle montagne deserte (avrete scampo);For neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the desert mountanes:Quia neque ab oriente, neque ab occidente, / neque a desertis montibus: 8For God is the judge. One he putteth down, and another he lifteth up:perocché il giudice è Dio. Egli umilia l'uno, e l'altro esalta,because God is Iudge. This man he humbleth, and him he exalteth,quoniam Deus judex est. / Hunc humiliat, et hunc exaltat: 9For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of strong wine full of mixture. And he hath poured it out from this to that: but the dregs thereof are not emptied: all the sinners of the earth shall drink.perché il Signore ha nella mano un calice di vin pretto, (calice) pieno di amara mistura. E da questo ne mesce in altrove (calice): ma la feccia di esso non è consumata: ne beranno tutti i peccatori della terra.because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord of mere wine ful of mixture. And he hath powred it out of this into that, but yet the dregges therof are not emptied: al the sinners of the earth shal drinke.quia calix in manu Domini vini meri, plenus misto. / Et inclinavit ex hoc in hoc; / verumtamen fæx ejus non est exinanita: / bibent omnes peccatores terræ.
10But I will declare for ever: I will sing to the God of Jacob.Ma io per tutti i secoli annunzierò, e canterò laudi al Dio di Giacobbe.But I wil shewforth for euer: I wil sing to the God of Iacob.Ego autem annuntiabo in sæculum; / cantabo Deo Jacob: 11And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the just shall be exalted.Perocché io spezzerò tutte le corna de' peccatori; ma i giusti alzeranno le loro teste.And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners: and the hornes of the iust shal be exalted.et omnia cornua peccatorum confringam, / et exaltabuntur cornua justi.
74:1
Challoner
Corrupt not. 'Tis believed to have been the beginning of some ode or hymn, to the tune of which this psalm was to be sung. St. Augustine and other Fathers, take it to be an admonition of the Spirit of God, not to faint, or fail in our hope; but to persevere with constancy in good: because God will not fail in his due time, to render to every man according to his works. (Challoner)
Eusebius † AD 339
Symmachus has, "concerning incorruption," (Haydock) whence some have explained the psalm of the general resurrection. (Eusebius)
St. Jerome
The Chaldeans refer it to David, praying that the angel would cease to destroy, (2 Kings xxiv.) while others suppose that he forbids Abisai to hurt Saul, 1 Kings 26:9. (St. Jerome)
Psalm lvi
This and similar difficult terms might resemble the anthems of Church music. (Genebrard) (Berthier) (Psalm lvi.)
Berthier
The psalm is a sequel to the former, (Calmet) or a moral instruction, given by the Son of God, (ver. 3.) after the author had admonished us to attend, and place ourselves in his presence. It is not necessary to suppose that it is written in the form of a dialogue. (Berthier)
74:2
Worthington
Praise. The repetition shews the certainty of the event. Christ and his apostles, who sit as judges, praise the ways of Providence. (Worthington)
Calmet
Hebrew is more obscure. (Calmet)
74:3
Worthington
When I shall take a time. In proper times: particularly at the last day, when the earth shall melt away at the presence of the great judge: the same who originally laid the foundations of it, and, as it were, established its pillars. (Challoner) (Worthington)
Calmet
This is God's answer to the longer prayer of Asaph, in the preceding psalm, which is here concluded. (Calmet)
Symmachus
A time. Hebrew Mohed, "congregation." (Symmachus)
Theodoret
When I shall have delivered my people. (Theodoret)
Calmet
Justices. With the utmost rigour I will punish Babylon. (Calmet)
Worthington
No mere creature knows the time of the general judgment, as Christ, the sovereign judge, does. (Worthington)
Haydock
Then the just themselves will tremble. (Haydock)
74:4
Haydock
Melted. Symmachus and Houbigant, "is strengthened." (Haydock)
After the last fire the earth shall remain, though changed in quality. (Worthington) (2 Peter 3:10.)
Calmet
God destroys and establishes kingdoms. (Calmet)
74:5
Worthington
Wickedly. This is an epitome of Christian doctrine. (Worthington)
God had severely punished Nabuchodonosor, Baltassar, and the priests of Bel. Yet the people would not attend to these salutary admonitions.
Horn. By pride, (Worthington) which is the origin of all evil, (Haydock) and an offence pardoned by God with the greatest difficulty.
74:6
Haydock
God. Hebrew tsavvar means, "neck." But the Septuagint have not seen the a, and translate against God. Literally, "the rock," which is one of his titles; (Berthier) and this seems preferable to "speak not with a stiff neck;" (Calmet) or "with the old neck:" (St. Jerome) though this sense is not contemptible, as the sinner's wonted pride rises against God. (Haydock)
74:7
Haydock
Hills. Hebrew harim, may also be considered as the nominative case; "not from the south are there heights" to which they may flee for succour. (Haydock)
Berthier
Yet most of the ancients agree with us; though is there "refuge," must then be supplied. (Berthier)
None would be able to screen the Babylonians, Jeremias 25:15, 26.
Haydock
Take the cup of the wine of his fury....The king of Sesac (Babylon) shall drink after them. (Haydock)
Calmet
The cup is so great that all shall taste, and the last will have the most bitter portion. (Calmet)
74:9
Homer
Drink. The just themselves shall suffer something. But their part will be comparatively the clear wine, while sinners shall have the dregs. Many suppose that God holds in his had two cups, which he mixes according to each one's deserts. So the Septuagint, Syriac, St. Augustine, etc., seem to intimate. Jupiter is thus represented with two barrels of goods and evils near his throne. (Homer, Iliad xxiv.)
Calmet
But most interpreters suppose that only one chalice is here specified, filled with red wine, the sediment being reserved for sinners, though it was usually thrown away at feasts. Wine was mixed with water in those hot countries. (Calmet)
Haydock
Yet here the mixture is of a different nature. (Haydock)
Fire, (Psalm 10:7.; Menochius) gall, brimestone, etc., compose the bitter chalice of the damned, who will never arrive at the term of their inexpressible misery. In this life, sinners are frequently punished: but their sufferings do not end here. They shall experience a variety of torments in heat and cold, Job xxiv. (Worthington) (Apocalypse 14:10., Isaias 51:17., and Ezechiel 23:34.)
74:10
Calmet
Declare. Septuagint, "rejoice;" as St. Augustine, etc., read, contrary to the Hebrew. (Calmet)
Berthier
Jacob. Christ did all for the glory of his Father. (Berthier)
74:11
Calmet
Just. Zorobabel, (Theodoret) the figure of the Messias. The Jews were shortly after set at liberty by Cyrus, who was the scourge of their oppressors. (Calmet)
Worthington
The virtuous, who use well their free-will, are thus rewarded. (Worthington)
74:1
Corrupt not.... It is believed to have been the beginning of some ode or hymn, to the tune of which this psalm was to be sung. St. Augustine and other fathers take it to be an admonition of the spirit of God, not to faint or fail in our hope: but to persevere with constancy in good: because God will not fail in his due time to render to every man according to his works.
74:3
When I shall take a time.... In proper times: particularly at the last day, when the earth shall melt away at the presence of the great Judge: the same who originally laid the foundations of it, and as it were established its pillars.
74:1
Either this was the beginning of a songue, to the tune wherof this Psalme was song; as some Hebrew Rabbins testifie; or, as S. Augustin and other fathers explicate, the Septuagint do admonish vs, by occasion of this Psalme, not to fa•le in our hope, for that God wil in no case violate his promise no• purpose, but wil render to euerie one in the day of Iudgement, as they deserue.
74:2
Christ with his Apostles, and other assessorie iudges, wil praise and thanke God, for his admirable good prouidence, and gouernement of this world.
This duplication of the same word, confirmeth vs of the assured performance of that, which is here prophecied.
74:3
Christ our singular, principal, and proper Iudge only, and no mere creature, knoweth the determinate time of general iudgement.
74:4
The earth at that time shal be purged with flaming fire:
yet shal not be destroyed, but changed in qualities.
74:5
An epitome, or briefe summe of Christs doctrine, to f•ee from sinne.
be not proud, abuse not the powre you haue, to do what you please.
74:8
VVhen other Iudges sitte on tribunales, some may be absent, or escape from their sentences. but al without exception shal be brought in persons, when Christ God and Man shal iudge.
Some shal haue sentence of eternal paine in hel; some of eternal reward in glorie,
74:9
though (partly in this world, partly in particular iudgement of euerie soule) God hath alreardy, and wil before the last day punish sinners, yet there resteth more punishment, and no impenitent sinners shal escape, but al shal drinke of the bitter cuppe of eternal damnation.
strong wine not delayde with water, but mingled with bitter sharpe thinges, as gal, vinegre, brimstone &c. and so powred into festered woundes, so they shal suffer vntolerable endles paine, mixed with the worme of conscience, losse of glorie, rancor of hart, and eternal desperation.
Varietie of hellish torments, from one extreme to an other: as from snow waters to exceding heate. Iob. 24.
74:11
The iust for wel vsing their powre of free wil, and of al powre geuen them in this life, are rewarded in heauen.
74:1
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Harmony of the Gospels 1.3
… This becomes apparent if (for example) we look to that inscription which was affixed to His cross—“King of the Jews:” in connection also with which, and by a secret instinct, Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” For it had been said aforetime in the Psalms, “Destroy not the writing of the title.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.2
2. “We will confess to Thee, O Lord, we will confess to Thee, and will invoke Thy name” (
74:2
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 28.6
6. Therefore also here: “My time is not yet come; but your time,” that is the glory of the world, “is always ready.” This is the time of which Christ, that is the body of Christ, speaks in prophecy: “When I shall have received the fit time, I will judge righteously.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.5
5. And he saith what? “When I shall have received,” he saith, “the time, I will judge justices” (
74:3
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Hexæmeron 1.9
… Put then a limit to your thought, so that your curiosity in investigating the incomprehensible may not incur the reproaches of Job, and you be not asked by him, “Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?” If ever you hear in the Psalms, “I bear up the pillars of it;”
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Hexæmeron 3.4
Now we must say something about the nature of the firmament, and why it received the order to hold the middle place between the waters. Scripture constantly makes use of the word firmament to express extraordinary strength. “The Lord my firmament and refuge.” “I have strengthened the pillars of it.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.6
6. But now what? “The earth hath flowed down” (
St John of Damascus † AD 749 An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 2.10
… Some, indeed, hold that its seat is the waters: thus the divine David says, To Him Who established the earth on the waters . Others place it in the air. Again some other says, He Who hangeth the earth on nothing . And, again, David, the singer of God, says, as though the representative of God, I bear up the pillars of it
74:4
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.7
7. We have heard now, brethren, that which day by day is not kept secret: let us hear now what He hath cried through these pillars.…He crieth what? “I have said to unjust men, Do not unjustly” (
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.30
… and that the heart which mad joy had flooded may be burnt clean by wholesome sadness: and that what the elation of pride had wounded may be cured by the dejection of a humble life. For hence it is written, I said unto the wicked, Deal not wickedly; and to the transgressors, lift not up the horn (
74:5
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 76.1
… yet because I know that it has been said by the Apostle “let a man not be lifted up with pride lest he fall into the condemnation of the devil,” and that it is written in another passage, “God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble,” there is nothing I have striven so much to avoid from my boyhood up as a swelling mind and a stiff neck,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.8
8. “Be not therefore lifted up: speak not iniquity against God” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.12
… This is, the one He humbleth, the other He exalteth. Sinners would not have their horns to be broken, which without doubt will be broken at the end. Thou wilt not have Him then break them, do thou to-day break them. For thou hast heard above, do not despise it: “I have said to unjust men, Do not unjustly, and to the delinquents, Do not exalt the horn.”
74:6
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.8
… and he said it in that place where He might Himself hear concerning whom he said it. Therefore here also in this Psalm (dearly beloved attend), whereas that which He said, “Do not speak iniquity against God,” this He saw many men do in heart, He hath also added, “for neither from East, nor from West, nor from the deserts of the mountains (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 103.26
… Let Him not be blessed where He ruleth not: “in all places of His dominion.” Let no man perchance say: I cannot praise the Lord in the East, because He hath departed unto the West; or, I cannot praise Him in the West, because He is in the East. “For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the desert hills. And why? God is the Judge.”
74:7
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Creed 10
… And this the Lord did, in order to show it to men; as for His servant, He kept greater things for him in heaven. So then Job who was brought low, He exalted; the devil who was lifted up, He brought low: for “He putteth down one and setteth up another.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 62.13
… His power fear ye, His mercy love ye. Neither so on His mercy rely, as that His power ye despise: nor so the power fear ye, as that of mercy ye despair. With Him is power, with Him mercy. This man He humbleth, and that man He exalteth:
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.8
… Therefore here also in this Psalm (dearly beloved attend), whereas that which He said, “Do not speak iniquity against God,” this He saw many men do in heart, He hath also added, “for neither from East, nor from West, nor from the deserts of the mountains ( ver. 6 ), for God is Judge” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.9
9. “One He humbleth, and another He exalteth” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.11
11. Call ye to mind from whence he came to this: “one He humbleth, and another He exalteth.”
74:8
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 18.25
25. We both believe in and hear of the dregs of the anger of God, the residuum of His dealings with those who deserve it: For the Lord is a God of vengeance.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Christian Doctrine 3.25
… The examples I have adduced are indeed by no means doubtful in their signification, because only plain instances ought to be used as examples. There are passages, however, in regard to which it is uncertain in what sense they ought to be taken, as for example, “In the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red: it is full of mixture.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.10
10. “For the cup in the hand of the Lord of pure wine is full of mixed” (
Theodoret of Cyrus † AD 458 Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyprus 135
… But I have found support in those who care nought for this present life, but await the enjoyment of everlasting blessings, and these furnish me with manifold consolation. But the loving Lord “caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment.”
74:9
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 16.4
… How again “mercy is put in the balance,” as holy Isaiah declares, for goodness is not without discernment, as the first labourers in the vineyard fancied, because they could not perceive any distinction between those who were paid alike: and how anger, which is called “the cup in the hand of the Lord,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.12
12. “But I,” for all drink, but separately I, that is, Christ with His Body, “for ever will rejoice, I will Psalm to the God of Jacob” (
74:10
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 16.4
… For He inclines from severity to indulgence towards those who accept chastisement with fear, and who after a slight affliction conceive and are in pain with conversion, and bring forth the perfect spirit of salvation; but nevertheless he reserves the dregs,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 75.12
12. “But I,” for all drink, but separately I, that is, Christ with His Body, “for ever will rejoice, I will Psalm to the God of Jacob” ( ver. 9 ): in that promise to be at the end, whereof is said, “corrupt not.” “And all the horns of sinners I will break, and there shall be exalted the horns of the Just” (
74:11
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Holy Spirit 1.pref.16
16. There is also a certain water which we put into the basin of our soul, water from the fleece and from the Book of Judges; water, too, from the Book of Psalms. It is the water of the message from heaven. Let, then, this water, O Lord Jesus, come into my soul, into my flesh, that through the moisture of this rain
74:3
v. 3 cum accepero tempus, si sumpsero tempus statutum, ego recta iudicabo, statuto tempore, quando ego momentum temporis eligo, tunc fiet secundum ius et aequitatem iudicium. Ergo tempus iudicii eligitur ex Dei beneplacito, quando sibi videtur opportunum tempus — non ob querelas hominum. Bene notat 7208. ad
74:4
v. 4 liquefacta est terra « haec porro praecedentis psalmi dictis affinia sunt » et recitat 73,5-7 ; si terra et incolae terrae propter iniurias et oppressiones perire videntur, ego confirmavi columnas eius, Deus fundamenta terrae ita stabilivit, ut perire nequeant ; fundamenta autem vel columnae quibus ordo rerum constituitur inter homines est 10811118 ; hane Deus in perpetuum firmavit; saeviant igitur impii (uti 73, 5-7), Deus rectum rerum ordinem potenter restituet. Ita fere explicat Calm. : « 51 vastata iacet Iudaea, si manus meae pondus nunc experitur, illam et restaurare et locupletiorem eflicere quam prius queo ». Brevi : in omni rerum perturbatione firmum manet Dei regimen. Et quomodo columnas terrae, firmum rerum ordinem stabiliverit, explicatur sequentibus : praecipit iustitiam, punit transgressores ; v. ὃ diri iniquis, hebr dixi vesanis ; nolite insanire ; et impiis : nolite exal; tare cornu, nolite superbire, extollere potentiam ; et
74:6
v. 6 nolite extolcollo protervo (hebr), Hier in cervice veteri Sym λαλοῦντες τραχήλῳ ἀνομίαν, Syr ne loquamini collo erecto, targum loquentes in fortitudine et opprobrus; LXX vulg nolite logui adversus Deum iniquitatem, legerunt proin בצור contra petram (Deum) pro hebr בצואר in collo (quam lectionem Aq quinta exprimunt), cf. Iob 15,26 cucurri adversus eum collo erecto. At lectio LXX vulg commendatur parallelismo : extollere in altum (in coelum) — loqui adversus Deum, eamque adoptant Baethgen, Wies. : nolite loqui contra petram (gegen den Fels ; cf. 17,2). Reprehenduntur irrisores cultus Dei, religionis. Haec dicuntur contra contemptores Dei et sanctuarii eius ; οἵ, Ps. 73,3-8.18.23. Deus iustitiam mandavit. Ipse punit transgressores. Ab ipso itaque oppressi auxilium exspectare debent, non ab ulla potestate humana
74:7
v. 7 neque ab oriente, neque ab occidente neque a solitudine montium (Hier) — est aposiopesis : erit vobis auxilium — sed Deus iudez est, hunc humiliat, hunc exaltat, Sym ἀλλ᾽ ὁ θεὸς χριτής,. qui ut iudex, secundum iustitiae normam alios deiicit, alios elevat (1 Reg. 2,7. Iob 5,11). Haec administratio iustitiae exprimitur symbolo : habet Deus calicem in manu, sua cuique portio datur. Hie praeprimis agitur de calice furoris Domini (Ier. 25,15) qui describitur vino meraco usque ad plenum mixtus et ex eo propinabit (Hier); singulis inclinat, ut bibant; inclinat ex hae parte in aliam. partem (Gen.); verumtamen faeces eius epotabunt bibentes omnes impii terrae (ita Hier vertit hebr); bibent calicem usque ad fundum, faeces haurient peccatores, ea scil. quae amarissima et acerrima in calice sunt. v. 11 exemplo declaratur illud : hunc humiliat, hunc exaltat : potentia impiorum conteretur, iusti exaltabuntur; versus perperam in fine ponitur; lege eum post v. 6.
74:14
… In Ps. 74:14, where it is presented as a monster with many heads - Vaccari: "hydra"; cf. the aforementioned Ugaritic text -, the L. is similarly an image of the Egyptian power of the Mosaic age. …
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.