Venite exultemus. An invitation to adore and serve God, and to hear his voice. Praise of a canticle for David himself.
An inuitation to serue and adore Christ our Lord and Messias, 3. aswel for the benefites of creating al thinges, 7. as for his Incarnation, and not to harden our hartes as the Iewes did.
1Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.Lauda, ovver cantico dello stesso Davidde. Venite, esultiamo nel Signore, cantiam le lodi di Dio Salvator nostro:Praise of Canticle, to Dauid him selfe. COME, let vs reioyce to our Lord: let vs make iubilation to God our sauiour.Laus cantici ipsi David. Venite, exsultemus Domino; / jubilemus Deo salutari nostro; 2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.Corriamo a presentarci davanti a lui coll'orazione, e co' salmi celebriamo le sue lodi.Let vs preuent his face in confession: and in Psalmes let vs make iubilation to him.præoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, / et in psalmis jubilemus ei: 3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.Imperocché il Signore è un Dia grande, e un re grande sopra tutti gli Dei.Because our Lord is a great God: and a great King aboue al goddes.quoniam Deus magnus Dominus, / et rex magnus super omnes deos. 4For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.Perocché l'ampiezza tutta della terra egli tiene nella sua mano, e a lui gli altissimi monti appartengono.Because in his hand are the endes of the earth: and the heightes of the mountaines be his.Quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, / et altitudines montium ipsius sunt; 5For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.Perocché di lui è il mare, ed egli lo fece, e dalle mani di lui fu fondata l'arida terra.Because the sea is his, and he made it: and his handes formed the drie land.quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, / et siccam manus ejus formaverunt. 6Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.Venite, adoriamolo, e prostriamoci, e spargiamo lagrime dinanzi al Signore, di cui siamo fattura:Come let vs adore, and fal downe: and wepe before our Lord, that made vs.Venite, adoremus, et procidamus, / et ploremus ante Dominum qui fecit nos: 7For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.Imperocché egli è il Signore Dio nostro, e noi popolo de' suoi paschi, e pecorelle di suo governo.Because he is the Lord our God; and we the people of his pasture, and the shepe of his hand.quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster, / et nos populus pascuæ ejus, et oves manus ejus. 8To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:Oggi se la voce di lui udirete, non vogliate indurare i vostri cuori;To day if ye shal heare his voice, harden not your hartes;Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, / nolite obdurare corda vestra 9As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.Come nel luogo dell'altercazione al di della tentazione nel deserto, dove tentaron me i padri vostri, fecer prova di me, e videro le opere mie.As in the prouocation according to the day of the tentation in the desert: where your fathers tempted me, proued me, and saw my workes.sicut in irritatione, / secundum diem tentationis in deserto, / ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri: / probaverunt me, et viderunt opera mea.
10Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.Per quarant'anni fui disgustato altamente con quella generazione, e dissi: Costoro van sempre errando col cuore.Fourtie years was I offended with that generation, and said: These alwaies erre in hart.Quadraginta annis offensus fui generationi illi, / et dixi: Semper hi errant corde. 11And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.Ed eglino non han conosciutele mie vie; ond'io giurai sdegnato: Non entreranno nella mia requie.And these haue not knowne my waies: as I sware in my wrath: if they shal enter into my rest.Et isti non cognoverunt vias meas: / ut juravi in ira mea: / Si introibunt in requiem meam.
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Worthington
Himself, as David wrote it by inspiration. (Worthington)
Calmet
Complutensian Septuagint, "It is without a title in Hebrew." St. Paul (Hebrews 4:7.) quotes it as the work of David. But this is only done incidentally, and it may have been written by the descendants of Moses, (Psalm lxxxix.; Calmet) as the apostle only says, in David, (Haydock) referring to the psalter, which the common opinion attributed to him. (Calmet)
Berthier
This opinion, it must be owned, acquires hereby great authority, (Haydock) as an inspired writer could not mistake; and Calmet himself, on the epistle to the Hebrews, doubts not but as the drift of the apostle requires, he attributed this psalm to David. (Berthier, T. vi.)
Eusebius † AD 339
It might be used in the removal of the ark (Muis) and contains an exhortation to the Jews to return to the service of God, under king Josias, (Theodoret) or after the captivity, (Calmet) or at the preaching of the gospel. (Eusebius)
Calmet
The Church adopts the version of the Roman psalter in her office books, as they were corrected by St. Pius V, and this psalm was considered as a hymn at the beginning of matins, though the Vulgate is retained in other parts. (Calmet)
Haydock
The variations are not material. (Haydock)
Bellarmine
But this shews that the Church does not condemn every deviation from the Vulgate. (Bellarmine, Diss.)
Haydock
Saviour. St. Jerome, "to the rock, our Jesus." (Haydock)
Worthington
He who created us, has also been our Saviour. (Worthington)
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Come. Earlier than usual, (Menochius) before the day be far spent; praeoccupemus, to shew our diligence in prayer, (Haydock) and to obtain God's favour, as Aman was first at the palace of Assuerus, Esther 6:4.
Calmet
This sentence has probably determined the Church to place it at the beginning of matins. (Calmet)
Haydock
Let not others get before us in performing this duty. (Haydock)
Council of Trent
We cannot prevent God's grace by an good works, since without it we can do nothing (Worthington) as we ought. (Council of Trent)
Haydock
Thanksgiving. St. Jerome literally, "in confession." (Haydock)
St. Jerome
The same word, exomologesei, is used for sacramental confession; (Berthier) and this, or at least contrition, (Haydock) ought to go before our expressions of praise, Ecclesiasticus 15:9. (Theodoret) (St. Jerome)
Berthier
The prophet exhorts us both to lament and to praise. (St. Augustine) (Berthier)
Worthington
Psalms and music. (Worthington)
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Berthier
Gods. Complutensian Septuagint, "the earth." But the best editions agree with us, and God must be acknowledged superior to all angels, etc. Some copies of the Septuagint, St. Augustine, etc., add, "for the Lord will not cast off his people," (Calmet) which seems to be taken from Psalm 93:14. (Berthier)
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Ends. Hebrew, "depths."
Are his. This is grandeur, that "he beholds," as in the Roman psalter. (Berthier) (Isaias 40:15., and 45:18.)
Virgil (Geor. 4.) says: Deum, namque ire per omnes Terrasque et tractusque maris, coelumque profundum.
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Haydock
Formed. Like a potter, plasmaverunt, (St. Jerome; Calmet) or "have laid the foundations of the dry land." (St. Augustine; Roman Breviary) (Haydock)
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Berthier
And weep. Hebrew also, "bend the knee;" though this sense would seem less proper, after he had mentioned prostration. Tears of contrition and tenderness may accompany our canticles. (Berthier)
Worthington
Kneeling in prayer is a posture pleasing to God, Philippians 2:(Worthington)
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Berthier
The Lord is not in the Hebrew or Septuagint. (Berthier)
Calmet
The people. Roman Psalter and Syriac, "his people, and the sheep of his pasture, taken from Psalm 99:3. (Calmet)
Berthier
God is the only shepherd, who creates his sheep. (Berthier)
Worthington
He feedeth us, and it is most just that we should adore him. (Worthington)
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Haydock
To-day. St. Paul beautifully illustrates this passage, Hebrews 4:(Haydock)
He follows not the present Hebrew punctuation, which would join half this verse with the preceding.
Berthier
His. God speaks of the Messias according to the apostle, who intimates that to-day comprises all the life of man, Hebrew 37:13. (Berthier)
Calmet
Harden not. Man is the author of his own obduracy, (Theodoret) which God only permits. (St. Augustine) (Calmet)
Worthington
We have free will, and may resist God's grace, as we may also consent to it, and thus co-operate to our first justification. (Council of Trent, Session 6:5.) (Worthington)
Haydock
the captives (Calmet) and first Christians were exhorted not to imitate the depravity of the ancient Jews. (Haydock)
Worthington
Though a man may have frequently resisted the Holy Ghost, he may still repent. (Worthington)
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Calmet
Provocation, (irritatione.) Roman Breviary exacerbatione. Hebrew meriba, "contradiction," (St. Jerome; Haydock) at Raphidim; (Exodus 17:7.) unless this be styled temptation, (Massa) and the former provocation was that at Cades, Numbers 20:13. (Calmet)
Berthier
The Israelites murmured frequently. But that rebellion which took place at the return of the spies, and which causes God to swear that the guilty should never enter the land of promise, seems to be chiefly meant, Numbers xiv. (Berthier)
Worthington
They murmured on account of the desire of water and flesh-meat, though they were abundantly supplied with manna, which answered every purpose. Thus some require to communicate under both kinds, as if one did not contain as much as both. (Worthington)
Menochius
Proved me; to know by experience if I were so powerful as to work miracles; and I condescended to gratify them, (Calmet) or I have done it already. (Menochius)
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Haydock
Offended. Hebrew and Septuagint, "disgusted." Roman Psalter, St. Augustine, etc., "I was very near to;" (Calmet) ready to punish, and eye-witness of their infidelity. St. Paul reads prosochthisa, infensus fui, "I was against, or disgusted with," and seems to refer the forty years to the Jews, who saw God's works. (Haydock)
Berthier
But there is a variation in the Greek copies, as some omit, For which cause; and Hebrews 3:10., and 5:17, intimates, that the indignation of God was roused for forty years, at intervals, as often as the people rebelled. (Berthier)
Worthington
The apostle also plainly shews, that this psalm was written long after that period, and consequently not by Moses, as the Jews would now assert. He limiteth a certain day, saying in David: To-day, after so long a time, etc., Hebrews 4:7. (Worthington)
Haydock
Always. Hebrew, "a people of those who err in the heart are they." (Montanus) (Haydock)
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St. Jerome
So. Roman Psalter and Milan, "to whom." Both occur in St. Paul, and answer the Hebrew asher, (Berthier) quibus. (St. Jerome)
Worthington
Not. Literally, "if they shall." The Israelites were excluded from a settled abode in Chanaan, on account of their repeated transgressions, particularly at Cades; (Numbers xiv.) and Christians, who do not continue faithful to the law of Jesus Christ, can never expect to enter heaven, Hebrews iii., and 4:(Worthington)
Haydock
David made the like observation to his subjects; and clearly speaks of the heavenly repose to which the virtuous alone are entitled. (Haydock)
Haydock
St. Paul takes great pains to inculcate this truth, and shews that the return from captivity could not answer the import of the promises made by David in God's name. (Berthier) (Haydock)
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Praise songue with voices:
inspired to Dauid, & written by him.
This Inuitation is most fitly ordayned by the Church for the proeme or beginning of Mattins.
VVith great and solemne exultation:
God our Creator, is also our Protector & Sauiour.
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Let vs be more diligent, and preuent our accustomed time. For no man can preuent Gods grace with anie good worke, who first preuenteth vs; els we can neither doe, nor thincke anie good thing.
not only in singing his praise with voice, but also with musical instruments.
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So also Isaias (c. 45. v. 23.) and S. Paul (Philip. 2.) teach that kneeling or bowing the knees, as an external religious ceremonie. is acceptable to God.
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It is most iust and necessarie that we adore God, because he made vs, and al this world for vs, hath also redemed vs, and made vs his people, as shepe of his pasture, and as a Pastor feedeth and gouerneth vs.
of his making.
94:8
8. Harden not your hartes.] VVhatsoeuer God proposeth by preaching, or It is in mans freewil to resist good motions. inspiration to a sinner, it resteth stil in the powre of his freewil, to harden his harte, and to reiect al such good motions, and so he doth not only frustrate Gods grace, and hinder his owne iustification, but also increaseth his former sinnes. But by not resisting, when deliberating therupon he could resist, he disposeth Concil. Triden. Sess. 6. c. 5 himselfe and cooperateth to first iustification. And therfore the royal Prophet here admonisheth, and earnestly exhorteth al men, to do this which God hath put in our powre, not to harden our owne hartes, when we heare his voice, by resisting and reiecting his grace freely offered, without al merite of our part.
Though some haue often repelled, and resisted Gods grace, yet if they receiue it being offered againe, it wil auaile them to remission of sinnes.
94:9
The Israelites in the desert tempted God, by desiring water, and flesh, of voluptuous concupiscence without necessitie. For Manna did both extinguish their thirst, and tasted vnto them, whatsoeuer they desired. Exo. 16. That also which was left vngathered when the sunne waxed hotte, melted (v. 21.) and serued their cattel for drincke. So this tentation was a figure of those, which require to communicate vnder both kindes, as if one did not conteine as much as both.
94:10
By this mention of the offence of fourtie yeares, as long before passed, is conuinced that Moyses writte not this Psalme, who died in the very fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert. And S Paul citing the wordes of this Psalme. (Heb. 4.) manifestly acknowlegeth Dauid the writter therof, and that it was written long after Moyses time in these wordes: (v 7) Againe he limiteth a certaine day; To day, in Dauid saying after so long time, as is aboue saide. To day if you shal heare his voice, do not obdurate your hartes. For if Iesus (that is Iosue) had geuen them rest, he would neuer speake of an other day afterward
Being greatly offended, I approched nere vnto them, in punishing the offenders.
94:11
Those that murmured died in the desert, and entered not into the promised land, euen so those that finally offend Christ, shal not enter into euerlasting rest. Heb. 3. &. 4.
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St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 6
… But the saints, as they live to the Lord also keep the feast to Him, saying, ‘I will rejoice in Thy salvation,’ and, ‘my soul shall be joyful in the Lord.’ The commandment is common to them, ‘Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord ’—so that they also may be gathered together, to sing that common and festal Psalm, ‘Come, let us rejoice
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 11
… So Paul wishing us to be ever in this disposition, commands, saying, ‘Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks .’ Not therefore separately, but unitedly and collectively, let us all keep the feast together, as the prophet exhorts, saying, ‘O come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto God our Saviour
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 40
… Thus you will make two very great gains; you will make known to the other his sin, and you will deliver yourself from evil company. But if David the Great say unto you, Come and let us rejoice in the Lord;
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.2
… What likeness? That after which we were created, which by sinning we had corrupted in ourselves, which we have received again through the remission of sins, which is renewed in us in the mind within, that it may be engraved a second time as if on coin, that is, the image of our God upon our soul, and that we may return to His treasures.…
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St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 16.14
14. Come then, all of you, my brethren, let us worship and fall down, and weep before the Lord our Maker; let us appoint a public mourning, in our various ages and families, let us raise the voice of supplication; and let this, instead of the cry which He hates, enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Let us anticipate His anger by confession;
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 14.6
6. Let us now, I pray you, take courage at His love to man, and let us show forth an anxious repentance, before the day come on, which permits us not to profit thereby. For as yet all depends on us, but then He that judges hath alone control over the sentence. “Let us therefore come before His face with confession;”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 36
And (even) this (He seeks), only that we may not become unprofitable, since even without this He could have freed us from them: but like as we (with the same view) devise and arrange many things for our servants to do, so does He in the matter of our salvation. “Let us anticipate His face with thanksgiving.” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on First Corinthians 23
[7.] Considering therefore the greatness of His mercy, let us here make Him propitious unto us, and “let us come before His face by a full confession,” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on Second Corinthians 9
… For these things when applied in excess become then especially light, making the release speedy ; since the body sufficeth not unto intensity at once and long continuance of suffering; but both meet together, both prolongation and excess, alike in the good and the grievous. Whilst we have time then, “let us come before His presence with confession,” (
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 21
… xc. 10 ; [LXX. lxxxix. 10].) The day of judgment is near. Let us fear. “A brother doth not redeem; shall man redeem?” ( Ps. xlix. 7 ; [LXX. xlviii. 8].) There we shall repent much, “but in death no man shall praise Him.” ( Ps. vi. 5 ; [LXX. 6].) Wherefore he saith, “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 45.9
… they were therefore done “quickly.” The day of Judgment also will be here “quickly.” Do thou anticipate its “quick” coming. It is to come “quickly;” do thou become converted yet more “quickly.” The Judge’s face will appear: but observe thou what the Prophet says, “Let us come before” (let us “prevent”) “His face with confession.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 68.37
… But by that which he saith, “shall prevent the hands of Him,” he saith this, shall prevent the vengeance of Him: to wit, by turning to Him, in order that their sins may be forgiven, lest by continuing sinners they be punished. Which thing also in another Psalm is said, “Let us come before the face of Him in confession.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.4
4. “Let us prevent His face by confession” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 119.19
… But if we understand night of the whole of this world’s duration; we indeed cry unto God at midnight, and prevent the fulness of time in which He will restore us what He hath promised, as is elsewhere read, “Let us prevent His presence with confession.”
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.29
… For it is evident that it has been His will to hide from His own judgment those whom in anticipation He has made judges of themselves. For hence it is written, Let us come beforehand before the face of the Lord in confession (
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St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 9.23
… And regarding the name itself, if they see fit to call such blessed and immortal creatures gods, this need not give rise to any serious discussion between us, since in our own Scriptures we read, “The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken;” and again, “Confess to the God of gods;” and again, “He is a great King above all gods.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.5
… but usually in passages of strong feeling a well-known word is repeated, not to make it more familiar, but that the very repetition may strengthen the impression made: for it is repeated that we may understand the feeling of the speaker.…Hear now: “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (
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St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 3.10.3
… “My help is from God, who made heaven and earth;” and again: “In His hand are the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His. For the sea is His, and He did Himself make it; and His hands founded the dry land. Come ye, let us worship and fall down before Him, and weep in the presence of the Lord who made us; for He is the Lord our God.”
St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Hexæmeron 1.9
… Let us then reply to ourselves, and let us reply to those who ask us upon what support this enormous mass rests, “In His hands are the ends of the earth.”
St Gregory of Nyssa † AD 395 On the Making of Man 22.4
4. Man, then, was made in the image of God; that is, the universal nature, the thing like God; not part of the whole, but all the fulness of the nature together was so made by omnipotent wisdom. He saw, Who holds all limits in His grasp, as the Scripture tells us which says, “in His hand are all the corners of the earth
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Against Marcionists and Manichæans 3
… For the exceeding measure of His lovingkindness and the magnitude of His con descension were full of awe, and needed much preparation to be accepted. For consider what a great thing it was to hear and to learn that God the ineffable, the incorruptible, the unintelligible, the invisible, the incomprehensible, in whose hand are the ends of the earth,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch 9.8
8. And who is there that must not feel astonished and amazed at these things; and confidently pronounce that they are not the works of nature, but of that Providence which is above nature? Therefore one speaks thus: “Who hangeth the earth upon nothing.” And another observes, “In His hands are the corners of the earth.”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 22.39
For our salvation the Son of God is made the Son of Man. Nine months He awaits His birth in the womb, undergoes the most revolting conditions, and comes forth covered with blood, to be swathed in rags and covered with caresses. He who shuts up the world in His fist
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.6
6. What doth the Psalm add? “In His hand are all the corners of the earth” (
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Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 7.69
… For this is the method they adopt, in order by means of incantations and magical arts to invoke the demons, and induce them to further their wishes. Wherefore, the worship of all demons would be inconsistent in us who worship the Supreme God; and the service of demons is the service of so-called gods, for “all the gods of the heathen are demons.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 13.17
… Who, O Lord, unless Thou, saidst, Let the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear, which “thirsteth after Thee”? For the sea also is Thine, and Thou hast made it, and Thy hands prepared the dry land.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 11.34
… For “the sea is His,” as the psalm says, “and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 13.3
3. Now what I have said as to anger, hold fast as a rule in all your temptations. A temptation has sprung up; it is the wind; thou art disturbed; it is a wave. Awake up Christ then, let Him speak with thee. “Who is this, since the winds and the sea obey Him?” Who is this, whom the sea obeyeth? “The sea is His, and He made it.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.7
… thirst for the grace of God: that as a sweet shower it may come upon thee, may find in thee fruit. He alloweth not the waves to cover what He hath sown. “And His hands prepared the dry land.” Hence also therefore let us shout unto the Lord.
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St Basil the Great † AD 379 The Letters 46.6
6. We can escape now. While we can, let us lift ourselves from the fall: let us never despair of ourselves, if only we depart from evil. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. “O come, let us worship and fall down; let us weep before Him.”
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 16.14
14. Come then, all of you, my brethren, let us worship and fall down, and weep before the Lord our Maker;
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Holy Spirit 3.12
… Or what else did they who saw His glory say at that time, except, “O come let us worship and fall down before Him”?
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 2.11
89. Let us likewise deal kindly, let us persuade our adversaries of that which is to their profit, “let us worship and lament before the Lord our Maker.”
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Concerning Repentance 2.11
… Is it that you may sin yet more? Then because God is good you are evil, and “despise the riches of His goodness and long-suffering.” But the goodness of the Lord ought rather to draw you to repentance. Wherefore holy David says to all: “Come, let us worship and fall down before Him, and mourn before our Lord Who made us.”
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 51.7
… “You have done that which was spoken of to King David by the prophet.” For if you listen obediently to this, and say: “I have sinned against the Lord,” if you repeat those words of the royal prophet: “O come let us worship and fall down before Him, and mourn before the Lord our God, Who made us,”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 84.6
… and one may atone for sin by a frank confession. You have followed me when I have gone astray; follow me also now that I have been brought back. In youth we have wandered; now that we are old let us mend our ways. Let us unite our tears and our groans; let us weep together, and return to the Lord our Maker.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 16.4
… as this giant is said to have been a “hunter against the Lord.” This has been misunderstood by some through the ambiguity of the Greek word, and they have translated it, not “against the Lord,” but “before the Lord;” for ἐναντίον means both “before” and “against.” In the Psalm this word is rendered, “Let us weep before the Lord our Maker.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.15
… But with what men as sheep does He fill the cities as He promised? those which He finds, or those which He makes? Let us interrogate the Psalm; lo, it answers; let us hear: “O come, let us worship and fall down before Him: and let us weep before the Lord who made us; because He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.8
8. “O come, let us worship, and fall down to Him; and mourn before the Lord our Maker” (
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St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 13.31
… not that thy deeds are worthy of good cheer; but that the King is here, dispensing favours. The request reached unto a distant time; but the grace was very speedy. Verily I say unto thee, This day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise; because to-day thou hast heard My voice, and hast not hardened thine heart
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 82
But about not despairing, it is said, “Doth he fall, and not arise? Doth he turn away, and not return?” and, “I do not will the death of the sinner, so much as that he should turn and live:” and, “To-day if ye will hear His voice:”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 28
… cxliii. 2 ), and thou wilt be straightway made lowly. And if thou be a sinner, and hast despaired of thyself, thou wilt hear him continually singing, “To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 29
… This it would be absolutely useless to do, unless we believe, with perfect propriety, that Almighty God is able to turn to belief wills that are perverse and opposed to faith. Man’s free will is addressed when it is said, “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount 2.7
… in this temporal life. For we shall be so abundantly provided with spiritual food after this life unto eternity, that it will not then be called daily bread; because there the flight of time, which causes days to succeed days, whence it may be called to-day, will not exist. But as it is said, “To-day, if ye will hear His voice,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.9
… and come and follow Me”? They performed this bidding: shorn they came. And because those who believe in Christ are baptized, what is there said? “which come up from the washing;” that is, come up from the cleansing. “Whereof every one beareth twins.” What twins? Those two commandments, wherefrom hang all the Law and the Prophets.
94:8
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Instructions to Catechumens 2.1
… For it is possible, it is indeed possible for him who has been very slothful, by using diligence for the future to recover the whole loss of the time that is past. Wherefore, He says, “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 31
Lest, however, it should be thought that men themselves in this matter do nothing by free will, it is said in the Psalm, “Harden not your hearts;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.10
10. Therefore, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (
94:9
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 An Exhortation to Theodore After His Fall 1
… And not only by what was done to these men, but also by the words of the prophet does God destroy the counsels of despair, speaking on this wise: “To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.11
11. “As in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers proved Me” (
94:10
St Peter of Alexandria † AD 311 Fragments from the Writings of Peter 5.3
… for from the beginning, and before the advent of Christ, they seem to have so done. Hence, when the Lord reproves them by the prophet, He says, “They do always err in their heart; and I have sworn in My wrath that they shall not enter into My rest.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.12
12. “Forty years long was I very near unto this generation, and said, It is a people that do always err in their hearts; for they have not known My ways” (
94:11
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 95.13
13. …We began with exulting joy: but this Psalm hath ended with great fear: “Unto whom I sware in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest” (
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great 13.31
… In which abundance of exultation we believe that we shall speedily be confirmed, who rejoice that the Benignity of your Piety has arrived at imperial supremacy. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad (
94:12
… Ps. 1, 2; 19, 7; 37, 31; 40, 8; 94, 12; 119, 1, 18 etc.). …
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.