Expositions on the Book of Psalms 26
26.0 Psalm XXVI PL 36, 127
Of David himself.
26.1 Psalm XXVI PL 36, 197
1. It may be attributed to David himself, not the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus, but the whole Church now perfectly established in Christ.
[vers. 1.] Tiro Christi loquitur, cum accedit ad fidem. Dominus illuminatio mea et salutaris meus, quem timebo? Dominus mihi et notitiam sui et salutem dabit, quis me auferet ei? Dominus protector vitae meae, a quo trepidabo? Dominus repellet omnes impetus et insidias hostis mei, a nullo trepidabo.
26.2 PL 36, 197
2. “Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence” (ver. 1). Judge me, O Lord, for, after the mercy which Thou first showedst me, I have some desert of my innocence, the way whereof I have kept. “And trusting in the Lord I shall not be moved.” And yet not even so trusting in myself, but in the Lord, I shall abide in Him.
[vers. 2.] Dum appropinquant super me nocentes, ut edant carnes meas: dum accedunt ad cognoscendum me nocentes, et insultandum, ut se mihi praeferant mutanti me in melius; ut maledico dente non me consumant, sed potius carnalia desideria mea. Qui tribulant me inimici mei: non solum qui me tribulant amico animo reprehendentes, et a proposito revocare volentes, sed etiam inimici mei. Ipsi infirmati sunt, et ceciderunt: dum ergo id agunt studio defendendi sententiam suam, infirmi facti sunt ad credenda meliora; et verbum salutis, per quod facio quod eis displicet, odisse coeperunt.
26.3 PL 36, 197
3. “Prove me, O Lord, and try me” (ver. 2). Lest, however, any of my secret sins should be hid from me, prove me, O Lord, and try me, making me known, not to Thee from whom nothing is hid, but to myself, and to men. “Burn my reins and my heart.” Apply a remedial purgation, as it were fire, to my pleasures and thoughts. “For Thy mercy is before mine eyes” (ver. 3). For, that I be not consumed by that fire, not my merits, but Thy mercy, whereby Thou hast brought me on to such a life, is before my eyes. “And I have been pleasing in Thy truth.” And since my own falsehood hath been displeasing to me, but Thy truth pleasing, I have myself been pleasing also with it and in it.
[vers. 3.] Si consistant adversum me castra, non timebit cor meum: adversus me autem si contradicentium conspirans multitudo consistat, non timebit cor meum, ut in eorum partes transfugiam. Si insurgat in me bellum, in hac ego sperabo: si exsurgat in me persecutio hujus saeculi, in hac, quam cogito petitionem, figam spem meam.
26.4 PL 36, 197
4. “I have not sat with the council of vanity” (ver. 4). I have not chosen to give my heart to them who endeavour to provide, what is impossible, how they may be blessed in the enjoyment of things transitory. “And I will not enter in with them that work wickedly.” And since this is the very cause of all wickedness, therefore I will not have my conscience hid, with them that work wickedly.
[vers. 4.] Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram: unam enim petitionem petii a Domino, hanc requiram. Ut inhabitem in domo Domini omnes dies vitae meae: ut quamdiu in hac vita sum, nullae adversitates me excludant de numero eorum qui unitatem et veritatem dominicae fidei per orbem terrarum tenent. Ut contempler delectationem Domini: eo fine scilicet, ut in fide perseveranti appareat mihi species delectabilis, quam facie ad faciem contempler. Et protegar templum ejus: et absorpta morte in victoriam, immortalitate induar, effectus templum ejus.
26.5 PL 36, 197
5. “I have hated the congregation of evil doers.” But to arrive at this council of vanity, congregations of evil doers are formed, which I have hated. “And I will not sit with the ungodly” (ver. 5). And, therefore, with such a council, with the ungodly, I will not sit, that is, I will not place my consent. “And I will not sit with the ungodly.”
[vers. 5.] Quoniam abscondit me in tabernaculo suo in die malorum meorum: quoniam abscondit me in dispensatione incarnati Verbi sui in tempore tentationum, quibus mortalis vita mea subjacet. Protexit me in abscondito tabernaculi sui: protexit me, corde credentem ad justitiam .
26.6 PL 36, 197
6. “I will wash mine hands amid the innocent” (ver. 6). I will make clean my works among the innocent: among the innocent will I wash mine hands, with which I shall embrace Thy glorious gifts. “And I will compass Thy altar, O Lord.”
[vers. 6.] In petra exaltavit me: et ut manifestum etiam fieret ad salutem, quod credidi, in sua firmitate fecit eminere confessionem meam, Et nunc ecce exaltavit caput meum super inimicos meos: quid mihi servat in finem, quando et nunc cum corpus mortuum est propter peccatum , sentio ecce mentem meam servire legi Dei, nec duci captivam sub rebellante lege peccati ? Circuivi, et immolavi in tabernaculo ejus hostiam jubilationis: consideravi orbem credentem in Christum; et in eo quod pro nobis temporaliter Deus humiliatus est, gaudens laudavi eum: tali enim hostia delectatur. Cantabo et psallam Domino: corde atque opere laetabor in Domino.
26.7 PL 36, 198
7. “That I may hear the voice of Thy praise.” That I may learn how to praise Thee. “And that I may declare all Thy wondrous works” (ver. 7). And after I have learnt, I may set forth all Thy wondrous works.
[vers. 7.] Exaudi, Domine, vocem meam, qua clamavi ad te: exaudi, Domine, vocem interiorem, quam in aures tuas forti intentione direxi. Miserere mei, et exaudi me: miserere mei, et exaudi me in ea.
26.8 PL 36, 198
8. “O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house:” of Thy Church. “And the place of the habitation of Thy glory” (ver. 8): where Thou dwellest, and art glorified.
[vers. 8.] Tibi dixit cor meum: Quaesivi vultum tuum. Non enim hominibus me ostentavi; sed in secreto ubi solus audis, tibi dixit cor meum: Quaesivi non a te aliquod extra te praemium, sed vultum tuum. Vultum tuum, Domine, requiram: huic inquisitioni perseveranter instabo; non enim vile aliquid, sed vultum tuum, Domine, requiram, ut gratis te diligam, quia pretiosius aliquid non invenio.
26.9 PL 36, 198
9. “Destroy not my soul with the ungodly” (ver. 9). Destroy not then, together with them that hate Thee, my soul, which hath loved the beauty of Thy house. “And my life with the men of blood.” And with them that hate their neighbour. For Thy house is beautified with the two commandments.
[vers. 9.] Ne avertas vultum tuum a me: ut inveniam quod quaero. Ne declines in ira a servo tuo: ne te quaerens, in aliud incurram. Quid enim hac poena gravius amanti et quaerenti veritatem vultus tui? Adjutor meus esto: quando hanc inveniam, nisi tu adjuves? Ne derelinquas me, neque despicias me, Deus salutaris meus: neque contemnas quod mortalis aeternum audet inquirere; ut enim Deus sanas plagam peccati mei.
26.10 PL 36, 198
10. “In whose hands is wickedness.” Destroy me not then with the ungodly and the men of blood, whose works are wicked. “Their right hand is full of gifts” (ver. 10). And that which was given them to obtain eternal salvation, they have converted into the receiving this world’s gifts, “supposing that godliness is a trade.”
[vers. 10.] Quoniam pater meus et mater mea dereliquerunt me: quoniam regnum saeculi hujus et civitas saeculi hujus, ex quibus temporaliter et mortaliter natus sum, dereliquerunt me quaerentem te, et despicientem quae promittebant, cum id quod quaero dare non possent. Dominus autem assumpsit me: Dominus autem, qui potest ipse dare mihi se, assumpsit me.
26.11 PL 36, 198
11. “But I have walked in mine innocence: deliver me, and have mercy on me” (ver. 11). Let so great a price of my Lord’s Blood avail for my complete deliverance: and in the dangers of this life let not Thy mercy leave me.
[vers. 11.] Legem mihi constitue, Domine, in via tua: ad te igitur tendenti, et tantam professionem perveniendi ad sapientiam a timore inchoanti, legem mihi constitue, Domine, in via tua, ne aberrantem disciplina tua deserat. Et dirige me in semita recta propter inimicos meos: et dirige me in rectitudine angustiarum ejus; non enim inchoare sufficit, cum inimici, donec perveniatur, non quiescant.
26.12 PL 36, 198
12. “My foot hath stood in uprightness.” My Love hath not withdrawn from Thy righteousness. “In the Churches I will bless Thee, O Lord” (ver. 12). I will not hide Thy blessing, O Lord, from those whom Thou hast called; for next to the love of Thee I join the love of my neighbour.
[vers. 12.] Ne tradideris me in animas tribulantium me: ne sinas tribulantes me satiari de malis meis. Quoniam insurrexerunt mihi testes iniqui: quoniam insurrexerunt in me falsa de me dicentes, ad amovendum et revocandum me abs te, quasi gloriam ab hominibus quaeram. Et mentita est iniquitas sibi. Itaque iniquitas mendacio suo delectata est. Nam me non movit, cui ex hoc promissa est merces major in coelis.