Dominus regnavit. The reign of the Lord in Sion: that is, of Christ in his church.
Christ reigneth, notwithstanding his enimies repine, is adored (5. also his footestoole) 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate.
1A psalm for David himself. The Lord hath reigned, let the people be angry: he that sitteth on the cherubims: let the earth be moved.Salmo dello stesso Davidde. Il Signore già regna; fremano i popoli: regna quegli, che siede sui Cherubini; sia in agitazione la terra.A Psalme to Dauid himselfe. OVR Lord hath reigned, let peoples be angrie: he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs, let the earth be moued.Psalmus ipsi David. Dominus regnavit: irascantur populi; / qui sedet super cherubim: moveatur terra. 2The lord is great in Sion, and high above all people.Il Signore è grande in Sionne: egli è eccelso sopra tutti quanti i popoli.Our Lord great in Sion: and high aboue al peoples.Dominus in Sion magnus, / et excelsus super omnes populos. 3Let them give praise to thy great name: for it is terrible and holy:Diano gloria al nome tuo grande, perché egli è terribile, e santo,Let them confesse to thy great name: because it is terrible, and holie.Confiteantur nomini tuo magno, / quoniam terribile et sanctum est, 4And the king’s honour loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared directions: thou hast done judgment and justice in Jacob.e il re glorioso ama la giustizia. Tu preparasti precetti rettissimi: esercitasti il giudizio, e la giustizia nel popolo di Giacobbe.And the honour of the king loueth iudgement. Thou hast prepared directions: thou hast done iudgement and iustice in Iacob.et honor regis judicium diligit. / Tu parasti directiones; / judicium et justitiam in Jacob tu fecisti. 5Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is holy.Esaltate il Signore Dio nostro, e adorate lo sgabello de' piedi suoi, perché è santo.Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstoole: because it is holie.Exaltate Dominum Deum nostrum, / et adorate scabellum pedum ejus, / quoniam sanctum est. 6Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them:Mosè e Aronne suoi sacerdoti; e Samuele un di quegli, che invocavano il nome di lui, Invocavano il Signore, e questi gli esaudiva:Moyses, and Aaron in his priestes: and Samuel among them, that inuocate his name: They inuocated our Lord and he heard them:Moyses et Aaron in sacerdotibus ejus, / et Samuel inter eos qui invocant nomen ejus: / invocabant Dominum, et ipse exaudiebat eos; 7He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them.dalla colonna di nube ad essi parlava. Osservavano i suoi comandamenti, e le cerimonie da lui ad essi ordinate.in a piller of a cloud he spake to them. They kept his testimonies, & the precept which he gaue them.in columna nubis loquebatur ad eos. / Custodiebant testimonia ejus, / et præceptum quod dedit illis.
8Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions.Signore Dio nostro, tu gli esaudivi: tu, o Dio, fosti ad essi propizio, benché tu facesti vendetta di tutte le loro mancanze.O Lord our God thou heardest them: God thou wast propitious to them, and taking vengeance vpon al their inuentions.Domine Deus noster, tu exaudiebas eos; / Deus, tu propitius fuisti eis, / et ulciscens in omnes adinventiones eorum. 9Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for the Lord our God is holy.Esaltate il Signore Dio nostro, e adoratelo nel suo monte santo: perché santo egli è il Signore Dio nostro.Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore ye in his holie mount: because the Lord our God is holie.Exaltate Dominum Deum nostrum, / et adorate in monte sancto ejus, / quoniam sanctus Dominus Deus noster.
98:1
Calmet
Himself. There is no title in Hebrew. Hence many have attributed it to Moses, with the preceding psalms. But the name of Samuel destroys this pretension, and most people suppose that David wrote it at the removal of the ark. (Calmet)
Berthier
Others refer it to the return from captivity, (Theodoret) or to the dedication of the second temple, (Calmet) and the reign of the Messias. (Berthier)
Psalm ii
Angry. Though many enemies rage, and the whole earth be stirred up to oppose the reign of Christ, he shall still prevail. (Challoner) (Psalm ii.)
Haydock
His will shall be done, (Worthington) for He sitteth on the Cherubim. (Haydock)
Calmet
Ferrand infers from this expression, that the psalm cannot regard the times after the captivity, as the ark existed no more. But this is not clear; and, at any rate, this idea might still be retained, as God is represented on a chariot drawn by Cherubim, Ezechiel 10:1., and Daniel 3:55. (Calmet)
98:4
Calmet
Loveth judgment. Requireth discretion. (Calmet)
Calmet
Hebrew, "the king's strength loveth judgment." He does nothing unjustly, as the enemy is forced to confess. (Calmet)
Theodoret
This is the highest glory of a king. (Theodoret)
St. Augustine
God requires that we should honour him, by correcting our faults. (St. Augustine)
Challoner
Directions. Most right and just laws to direct men. (Challoner)
Haydock
Jacob. There God principally instructed mankind, and punished the perverse. Other nations he seemed to have left to themselves. (Haydock)
98:5
Challoner
Adore his foot-stool. The ark of the covenant was called, in the Old Testament, God's foot-stool: over which he was understood to sit, on his propitiatory, or mercy-seat, as on a throne, between the wings of the Cherubim, in the sanctuary: to which the children of Israel paid a great veneration. But as this psalm evidently relates to Christ, and the New Testament, where the ark has no place, the holy Fathers understand this text of the worship paid by the Church to the body and blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries: in as much as the humanity of Christ is, as it were, the foot-stool of the divinity. So St. Ambrose, 50:3. de Spiritu Sancto, C. 12., and St. Augustine upon this psalm. (Challoner)
Worthington
The last mentioned holy Doctor inculcates the obligation of adoring Jesus Christ in the blessed Eucharist, and refutes the Capharnaites, etc., John vi. (Worthington)
Berthier
The Jews adored God, shewing a relative honour, by prostrating themselves before the ark, in the same manner as Catholics do before holy images. (Berthier)
Calmet
It is. Septuagint and some psalters, "he is holy." (Calmet)
Berthier
Hebrew is ambiguous. (Berthier)
St. Augustine
"I discover how I may adore the foot-stool,...without impiety. Christ took flesh of Mary,...and give it us to eat for our salvation. But none eats that flesh, till he have first adored it." (St. Augustine)
98:6
Worthington
Moses and Aaron among his priests. By this it is evident, that Moses also was a priest, and indeed the chief priest, in as much as he consecrated Aaron, and offered sacrifice for him, Leviticus viii. So that his pre-eminence over Aaron makes nothing for lay church headship. (Challoner) (Worthington)
Calmet
Samuel is only mentioned as a Levite. See 1 Kings 25:1. (Calmet)
98:7
Berthier
Cloud. As he did to Samuel in the night. (Berthier)
Worthington
Them. By their example, the psalmist insinuates, that priests in the new law shall pray for the people. (Worthington)
98:8
Calmet
All their inventions. That is, all the enterprizes of their enemies against them, as in the case of Core, Dathan, and Abiron. (Challoner) (Numbers xvi.) (Worthington) Syriac, "injuries." The failings of these great men were punished in mercy. (Calmet)
Houbigant
Thou hast made them harmless in all their works. (Houbigant)
98:9
Berthier
Mountain. On Sion, or in the Catholic Church. (Berthier)
St. Augustine
"Those who do not adore on this mountain, are not heard unto eternal life." (St. Augustine)
98:1
Let the people be angry.... Though many enemies rage, and the whole earth be stirred up to oppose the reign of Christ, he shall still prevail.
98:4
Loveth judgment.... Requireth discretion.—Ibid. Directions.... Most right and just laws to direct men.
98:5
Adore his footstool.... The ark of the covenant was called, in the Old Testament, God’s footstool: over which he was understood to sit, on his propitiatory, or mercy seat, as on a throne, between the wings of the cherubims, in the sanctuary: to which the children of Israel paid a great veneration. But as this psalm evidently relates to Christ, and the New Testament, where the ark has no place, the holy fathers understand this text, of the worship paid by the church to the body and blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries: inasmuch as the humanity of Christ is, as it were, the footstool of the divinity. So St. Ambrose, L. 3. De Spiritu Sancto, c. 12. And St. Augustine upon this psalm.
98:6
98:8
All their inventions.... that is, all the enterprises of their enemies against them, as in the case of Core, Dathan, and Abiron.
98:1
Though manie enimies do rage, and impugne Christ:
though the whole earth be trubled thervvith, yet Christ vvho sitteth Lord ouer the highest Angels, Cherubins and Seraphins, obteyneth the victorie, reigneth, and doth his vvil in al the earth.
98:4
Requireth discretion.
in fauour of thyn elect people.
98:5
5. Adore his footestoole] For so much as al Expositors, also the Hebrevv Rabbins, Christs humanitie is his footestoole, adored in the Eucharist. affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias, that should redeme mankind; and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ; but vvas only a figure of him, the footestoole of Messias here mentioned, must nedes be something perteyning to him: and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie. And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration, not only of the shorte time, he conuersed vvith men in this life, vvhen very fevv adored him, the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. Which S Ambrose teacheth (lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto. c. 12.) in these plaine vvordes. By S. Ambrose. the footstoole must be vnderstood the earth, by the earth the flesh of Christ. VVhich vve also at this day adore in the Mysteries, and vvhich the Apostles adored in our Lord Iesus. S. Augustin more largely vpon this Psalme, I am made S. Augustin. doubtful (saith he) I feare to adore the earth, lest he condeme me that made heauen and earth. Againe I feare not to adore the footstoole of my Lord, because the Psalme saith to me: Adore his footstoole. I seeke vvhat is his footstoole, and the Scripture (Isaiae. 66.) telleth me, the earth is his footstoole. Doubtful I turne myself vnto Christ, because I seeke him here, and I finde hovv vvithout impietie the earth may be adored, vvithout impietie his footstoole may be adored. For he tooke earth of earth, because flesh is of earth, and he tooke flesh of the flesh of (the B. virgin) Marie. And because he vvalked here The receiuers of the B. Sacrament do sinne if they do not adore it. in the same flesh, and gaue the very flesh to vs to eate, vnto saluation, and no man eateth that flesh, onles he first adore it: it is found hovv such a footstoole of our Lord may be adored: and not only vve doe not sinne in adoring, but vve should sinne in not adoring. Thus farre S. Augustin. Further instructing, not to cōce•ue of Christs flesh, as •he Capharnaites did, that he would cute it in peeces from his bodie, and geue them portions therof. His very flesh is geuen and eaten, not in fleshlie maner, but in sacramental. See Annotations. Ioan. 6.
Hebrevv Doctors expound this of the Arke in the old testament, but the Doctors of the Church vnderstand Christs humanitie, in the holie Eucharist.
98:6
Here it is euident (and S. Augustin sayth this place taketh avvay al doubt) that Moyses vvas a Priest, against those that for maintaining the heresie of Laiheadshippe, denie it.
• 23. in Leuit.
By example of their praying and obtaining, the Psalmist confirmeth his prophecie, that Priestes of the new Testament shal pray, and obtaine mercie of Christ for the Church.
98:8
God reuenged the machinations made against them, punishing the rebellion of chore, Dathan and Abyron. Num. 16.
98:1
St Justin Martyr † AD 165 Dialogue with Trypho 64
… Exalt the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet; for He is holy. Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name; they called on the Lord, and He heard them. In the pillar of the cloud He spake to them; for they kept His testimonies and His commandments which He gave them.’
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.33.13
… and there is no one who can hide himself from His heat,” they announced that very truth of His being taken up again to the place from which He came down, and that there is no one who can escape His righteous judgment. And those who said, “The Lord hath reigned; let the people be enraged: [even] He who sitteth upon the cherubim; let the earth be moved,”
St Ephrem the Syrian † AD 373 Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh 13.5
5. In the first year, that is chieftain over the treasures and Dispenser of abundant blessings, let the Cherubim who bare up the Son in glory,
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 63.24
… David the prophet warns us that we should be imitators of holy Aaron, and has set him amongst the Saints of God to be imitated by us, saying: “Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those that call upon His Name.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.2
2. “The Lord is King, be the people angry” (
98:2
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.4
4. “The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people” (
98:3
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.6
6. All these very people, over whom Thou art great in Sion, “Let them confess unto Thy Name, which is great” (
98:4
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 21.22
… For our Lord would have nothing done to His honour and glory without being tempered by judgment, for “the honour of a king loveth judgment,”
98:5
St Gregory of Nyssa † AD 395 On the Holy Spirit 1
… still when one shall have reached the highest limit of human faculties, the utmost height and magnificence of idea to which the mind can ever attain, even then one must believe it is far below the glory that belongs to
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Holy Spirit 3.11
76. But they worship not only His Godhead but also His Footstool, as it is written: “And worship His footstool, for it is holy.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.8
… ye are not to eat this body which ye see; nor to drink that blood which they who will crucify Me shall pour forth. I have commended unto you a certain mystery; spiritually understood, it will quicken. Although it is needful that this be visibly celebrated, yet it must be spiritually understood.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.11
… thou dost caress him, that he may not faint; thou strikest him, that he may not perish. “O magnify the Lord our God, and worship Him upon His holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy.” As he said above, “O magnify the Lord our God and fall down before His footstool:”
98:6
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 43.72
… Uz, he was both tempted, and overcame, and at the close of his struggles gained splendid honour, having been shaken by none of his many assailants, and having gained a decisive victory over the efforts of the tempter, and put to silence the unreason of his friends, who knew not the mysterious character of his affliction. “Moses and Aaron among His priests.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 3
… but, for committing one sin only, he was bitterly punished; and with good reason; for this fault was attended with injury to the rest. Not in regard that the sin was public, but because it was the sin of a spiritual Ruler ( ίερέως ) cf. S.); for in truth we do not pay the same penalty for public and for hidden faults. (Aug in
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.23
… Hence it was that his mother made for him a linen ephod, that is, a linen garment to go over the shoulders, which was the proper dress of the Levites and of the inferior order. And so he is not named in the Psalms among the priests, but among those who call upon the name of the Lord:
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants 2.25
Although there are some men who are so eminent in righteousness that God speaks to them out of His cloudy pillar, such as “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.9
9. “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among such as call upon His Name: these called upon the Lord, and He heard them” (
98:7
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.9
9. “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among such as call upon His Name: these called upon the Lord, and He heard them” ( ver. 6 ). “He spake unto them out of the cloudy pillar” (
98:8
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants 2.25
… the latter of whom is much praised for his piety and purity in the Scriptures of truth, from his earliest childhood, in which his mother, to accomplish her vow, placed him in God’s temple, and devoted him to the Lord as His servant;—yet even of such men it is written, “Thou, O God, wast propitious unto them, though Thou didst punish all their devices.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.9
… He Himself used to speak out of the cloud, which was not then understood: He hath spoken in His own footstool, and the words of His cloud have been understood. “They kept His testimonies, and the law that He gave them.”…“Thou heardest them,” he saith, “O Lord our God: Thou wast forgiving to them, O God” (
98:9
St Gregory of Nyssa † AD 395 Against Eunomius 2.14
… For since the appellation of “Spirit,” and that of “Holy,” are by the Scriptures equally applied to the Father and the Son (for “God is a Spirit ,” and “the anointed Lord is the Spirit before our face ,” and “the Lord our God is Holy
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 99.11
… Boast not therefore, Pagan, that when thou criest unto God, God sendeth rain, for He sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. He hath heard thee in temporal things: He heareth thee not in things eternal, unless thou hast worshipped in His holy hill. “Worship Him upon His holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy.”…
98:5
Ark (of the Covenant), Ark of the Testimony
… The Ark was therefore felt not as a representation of God, but as his throne, the place of his presence, "the footstool of his feet" (Ps. 98:5); which explains how, since Yahweh was certainly quite distinct from the Ark (II Kings 6:12; I Kings 8:10, etc.), in its presence Yahweh was acclaimed (Num. 10:35 ff.; I Sam. 4:7; 6:20, 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.