Expositions on the Book of Psalms 54
54.1 Psalm LIV PL 36, 628
1. The title of this Psalm hath fruit in the prolixity thereof, if it be understood: and because the Psalm is short, let us make up our not having to tarry over the Psalm by tarrying over the title. For upon this dependeth every verse which is sung. If any one, therefore, observe that which on the front of the house is fixed, secure he will enter; and, when he shall have entered, he will not err. For this on the post itself is prominently marked, namely, in what manner within he may not be in error. The title thereof standeth thus: “At the end, in hymns, understanding to David himself, when there came the Ziphites, and said to Saul, Behold, is not David hidden with us?” That Saul was persecutor of the holy man David, very well we know: that Saul was bearing the figure of a temporal kingdom, not to life but to death belonging, this also to your Love we remember to have imparted. And also that David himself was bearing the figure of Christ, or of the Body of Christ, ye ought both to know and to call to mind, ye that have already learned. What then of the Ziphites? There was a certain village, Ziph, whereof the inhabitants were Ziphites, in whose country David had hidden himself, when Saul would find and slay him. These Ziphites then, when they had learned this, betrayed him to the king his persecutor, saying, “Behold, is not David hidden with us?” Of no good to them indeed was their betrayal, and to David himself of no harm. For their evil disposition was shown: but Saul not even after their betrayal could seize David; but rather in a certain cave in that very country, when into his hands Saul had been given to slay, David spared him, and that which he had in his power he did not. But the other was seeking to do that which he had not in his power. Let them that have been Ziphites take heed: let us see those whom to us the Psalm presenteth to be understood by the occasion of those same men.
[vers. 1.] Psalmi hujus titulus est: In finem, in hymnis, intellectus ipsi David. Quis sit finis commemoramus breviter, quia nostis. Finis enim Legis Christus est, ad justitiam omni credenti . Intentio ergo dirigatur in finem, dirigatur in Christum. Quare finis dicitur? Quoniam quidquid agimus, ad illum referimus; et cum ad eum pervenerimus, ultra quod quaeramus non habebimus. Dicitur enim finis qui consumit, dicitur finis qui perficit. Aliter quippe intelligimus cum audimus, Finitus est cibus qui manducabatur; et aliter intelligimus cum audimus, Finita est vestis quae texebatur: in utroque audimus, Finitum est; sed cibus ut jam non esset, vestis ut perfecta esset. Finis ergo noster perfectio nostra esse debet; perfectio nostra Christus. In illo enim perficimur, quia ipsius capitis membra sumus. Et dictus est finis Legis, quia sine illo nemo perficit Legem. Cum ergo auditis in Psalmis, In finem, multi enim psalmi ita superscripti sunt, non sit vestra cogitatio in consumptionem, sed in consummationem.
54.2 PL 36, 628
2. If we inquire then by what word is translated Ziphites, we find, “Men flourishing.” Flourishing then were certain enemies to holy David, flourishing before him hiding. We may find them in mankind, if we are willing to understand the Psalm. Let us find here at first David hiding, and we shall find his adversaries flourishing. Observe David hiding: “For ye are dead,” saith the Apostle to the members of Christ, “and your life is hid with Christ in God.” These men, therefore, that are hiding, when shall they be flourishing? “When Christ,” he saith, “your life, shall have appeared, then ye also with Him shall appear in glory.” When these men shall be flourishing, then shall be those Ziphites withering. For observe to what flower their glory is compared: “All flesh is grass, and the honour of flesh as the flower of grass.” What is the end? “The grass hath withered, and the flower hath fallen off.” Where then shall be David? See what followeth: “But the Word of the Lord abideth for ever.”…
In hymnis: in laudibus. Sive enim tribulemur et angustemur, sive laetemur et exsultemus, ille laudandus est, qui et in tribulationibus erudit, et in laetitia consolatur. Laus enim Dei a corde et ore christiani recedere non debet: non ut laudet in prosperis, et maledicat in adversis; sed quemadmodum psalmus ille praescribit, Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore, semper laus ejus in ore meo . Gaudes, agnosce patrem blandientem; tribularis, agnosce patrem emendantem. Sive blandiatur, sive emendet, eum erudit cui parat haereditatem.
54.3 PL 36, 628
3. These men sometimes are observed of the weak sons of light, and their feet totter, when they have seen evil men in felicity to flourish, and they say to themselves, “Of what profit to me is innocence? What doth it advantage me that I serve God, that I keep His commandments, that I oppress no one, from no one plunder anything, hurt no one, that what I can I bestow? behold, all these things I do, and they flourish, I toil.” But why? Wouldest thou also wish to be a Ziphite? They flourish in the world, wither in judgment, and after withering, into fire everlasting shall be cast: wouldest thou also choose this? Art thou ignorant of what He hath promised thee, who to thee hath come, what in Himself here He displayed? If the flower of the Ziphites were to be desired, would not Himself thy Lord also in this world have flourished? Or indeed was there wanting to Him the power to flourish? Nay but here He chose rather amid the Ziphites to hide, and to say to Pontius Pilate, as if to one being himself also a flower of the Ziphites, and in suspicion about His kingdom, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Therefore here He was hidden: and all good men are hidden here, because their good is within, it is concealed, in the heart it is, where is faith, where charity, where hope, where their treasure is. Do these good things appear in the world? Both these good things are hidden, and the reward of these good things is hidden.…
Quid est ergo, Intellectus ipsi David? Erat quidem David, ut novimus, propheta sanctus, rex Israel, filius Jesse : sed quia ex ejus semine venit ad salutem nostram secundum carnem Dominus Jesus Christus , saepe isto nomine ille figuratur, et David pro Christo in figura ponitur, propter originem carnis ipsius. Nam secundum aliquid filius est David, secundum aliquid Dominus est David: filius David secundum carnem, Dominus David secundum divinitatem. Si enim per ipsum facta sunt omnia , per ipsum et ipse David factus est, ex cujus semine venit ad homines. Proinde cum interrogasset Dominus Judaeos, cujus filium Christum esse dicerent; responderunt: David. Vidit eos remansisse in carne, et amisisse divinitatem; et corrigit eos quaestione proposita: Quomodo ergo ipse David in spiritu dicit eum Dominum, Dixit Dominus Domino meo, Sede ad dexteram meam, quoadusque ponam inimicos tuos sub pedibus tuis? Si ergo ille in spiritu Dominum eum dicit, quomodo filius ejus est Quaestionem proposuit, non filium negavit. Audistis Dominum; dicite quomodo filius sit: audistis filium; dicite quomodo Dominus sit. Hanc quaestionem solvit fides catholica. Quomodo Dominus? Quia in principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Quomodo filius? Quia Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis . Quia ergo David in figura Christus est, Christus autem, ut saepe commemoravimus Charitatem Vestram, et caput et corpus est: nec nos a Christo alienos dicere debemus, cujus membra sumus, nec nos quasi alterum computare; quia erunt duo in carne una. Sacramentum hoc magnum est, ait Apostolus, ego autem dico in Christo et in Ecclesia . Quia ergo totus Christus caput et corpus est; cum audimus, Intellectus ipsi David, intelligamus et nos in David. Intelligant membra Christi, et in membris suis intelligat Christus, et membra Christi intelligant in Christo: quia caput et membra unus Christus. Caput in coelo erat, et dicebat, Quid me persequeris Nos cum illo in coelo per spem, ipse nobiscum in terra per charitatem. Ergo, intellectus ipsi David. Admoneamur cum audimus, et intelligat Ecclesia: pertinet enim ad nos magna cura intelligendi in quo malo nunc sumus, et de quo malo ut liberemur optamus, reminiscentes orationis dominicae, ubi in fine dicimus, Libera nos a malo . Inter multas ergo tribulationes hujus saeculi, plangit aliquid psalmus iste de intellectu. Ille cum isto non plorat, qui non habet intellectum. Porro autem, charissimi, meminisse debemus ad imaginem Dei nos esse factos, nec alibi quam in ipso intellectu. Nam in multis rebus a bestiis superamur: ubi autem homo ad imaginem Dei factum se novit, ibi aliquid in se agnoscit amplius esse quam datum est pecoribus. Consideratis vero omnibus rebus quas habet homo, invenit se eo proprie discretum a pecore, quod ipse habeat intellectum. Unde quosdam contemnentes in se quod proprium et praecipuum a Conditore acceperunt, increpat ipse Conditor dicens: Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus, quibus non est intellectus . Et alio loco dicit: Homo in honore positus. In quo honore, nisi quia factus ad imaginem Dei? Ergo, in honore positus non intellexit, ait, comparatus est jumentis insensatis, et similis factus est illis . Agnoscamus ergo honorem nostrum, et intelligamus. Si intelligimus, videmus non esse istam regionem gaudendi, sed gemendi; non jam exsultandi, sed adhuc plangendi. Sed etsi exsultatio quaedam habitat in cordibus nostris, nondum est in re, sed in spe. Ex promisso laetamur, quia scimus non nos fallere promittentem. Verum quod attinet ad praesens tempus, in quo malo, in quibus angustiis simus audite; et si viam istam tenetis, quod auditis in vobis agnoscite. Quisquis enim nondum tenet iter pietatis, miratur quia talia gemunt membra David: non enim videt in se ista. Quamdiu et in se ista non videt nondum est ibi: non sentit quod corpus sentit; quia praeter corpus est: incorporetur, et sentiet. Dicat ergo et audiamus, audiamus et dicamus:
54.4 PL 36, 629
4. “O God, in Thy name make me safe, and in Thy virtue judge me” (ver. 1). Let the Church say this, hiding amid the Ziphites. Let the Christian body say this, keeping secret the good of its morals, expecting in secret the reward of its merits, let it say this: “In Thy virtue judge me.” Thou hast come, O Christ, humble Thou hast appeared, despised Thou hast been, scourged hast been, crucified hast been, slain hast been; but, on the third day hast risen, on the fortieth day into Heaven hast ascended: Thou sittest at the right hand of the Father, and no one seeth: Thy Spirit thence Thou hast sent, which men that were worthy have received; fulfilled with Thy love, the praise of that very humility of Thine throughout the world and nations they have preached: Thy name I see to excel among mankind, but nevertheless as weak to us hast Thou been preached. For not even did that Teacher of the Gentiles say, that among us he knew anything, “Save Christ Jesus, and Him crucified;” in order that of Him we might choose the reproach, rather than the glory of the flourishing Ziphites. Nevertheless, of Him he saith what? “Although He died of weakness, yet He liveth of the power of God.” He came then that He might die of weakness, He is to come that He may judge in the power of God: but through the weakness of the Cross His name hath been illustrious. Whosoever shall not have believed upon the name made illustrious through weakness, shall stand in awe at the Judge, when He shall have come in power. But, lest He that once was weak, when He shall have come strong, with that fan send us to the left hand; may He “save us in His name, and judge us in His virtue.” For who so rash as to have desired this, as to say to God, for instance “Judge me”? Is it not wont to be said to men for a curse, “God judge thee”? So evidently it is a curse, if He judge thee in His virtue; and shall not have saved thee in His name: but when in name precedent He shall have saved thee, to thy health in virtue consequent He shall judge. Be thou without care: that judgment shall not to thee be punishment, but dividing. For in a certain Psalm thus is said: “Judge me, O God, and divide my cause from the nation unholy.”…
[vers. 2-5.] Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam, et ne despexeris precem meam: intende mihi, et exaudi me. Satagentis, solliciti, in tribulatione positi, verba sunt ista. Orat multa patiens, de malo liberari desiderans: superest ut audiamus in quo malo sit; et cum dicere coeperit, agnoscamus ibi nos esse, ut communicata tribulatione, conjungamus orationem. Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea, et conturbatus sum. Ubi contristatus? ubi conturbatus? In exercitatione mea, inquit. Homines malos quos patitur commemoraturus est, eamdemque passionem malorum hominum exercitationem suam dixit. Ne putetis gratis esse malos in hoc mundo, et nihil boni de illis agere Deum. Omnis malus aut ideo vivit ut corrigatur, aut ideo vivit ut per illum bonus exerceatur. Utinam ergo qui nos modo exercent, convertantur, et nobiscum exerceantur: tamen quamdiu ita sunt ut exerceant, non eos oderimus; quia in eo quod malus est quis eorum, utrum usque in finem perseveraturus sit, ignoramus; et plerumque cum tibi videris odisse inimicum, fratrem odisti, et nescis. Diabolus et angeli ejus in Scripturis sanctis manifestati sunt nobis, quod ad ignem aeternum sint destinati. Ipsorum tantum desperanda est correctio: contra quos habemus occultam luctam, ad quam luctam nos armat Apostolus, dicens: Non est nobis colluctatio adversus carnem et sanguinem, id est adversus homines quos videtis; sed adversus principes et potestates et rectores mundi, tenebrarum harum . Ne forte cum dixisset, mundi, intelligeres daemones esse rectores coeli et terrae; mundi dixit, tenebrarum harum; mundi dixit, amatorum mundi; mundi dixit, impiorum et iniquorum; mundi dixit, de quo dicit Evangelium: Et mundus eum non cognovit . Si enim mundus non cognovit lucem, quia lux in tenebris lucet, et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt, et ipsae tenebrae quae non comprehenderunt lucem praesentem, mundi nomine appellantur; harum tenebrarum sunt illi rectores. De ipsis ergo rectoribus habemus determinatam Scripturarum sententiam, quod omnino inde reditus alicujus eorum sperandus non est. At vero de ipsis tenebris quarum illi rectores sunt, non sumus certi ne forte qui erant tenebrae, fiant lux. Fidelibus quippe jam factis dicit Apostolus, Fuistis aliquando tenebrae, nunc autem lux in Domino : tenebrae in vobis, lux in Domino. Ergo, fratres, omnes mali, cum mali sunt, exercent bonos. Ecce enim breviter audite, et intelligite. Si bonus es, inimicum non habebis nisi malum. Porro tibi ea regula bonitatis praefixa est, ut imiteris bonitatem Patris tui, qui facit solem suum oriri super bonos et malos, et pluit super justos et injustos . Neque enim tu habes inimicum, et Deus non habet. Tu quidem eum habes inimicum qui tecum creatus est; ille vero cum quem creavit. Inimicos ergo Dei malos et iniquos saepe in Scripturis legimus: et parcit eis ille qui non habet quod illi imputet inimicus, cui omnis inimicus ingratus est; ab illo enim habet quidquid boni habet. Ab ipso enim habet misericordiam, quidquid est etiam unde tribulatur. Ad hoc enim tribulatur, ne superbiat; ad hoc tribulatur, ut humilis agnoscat excelsum. Tu ergo inimico tuo, quem intolerabiliter pateris, quid praestitisti? Si ille eum habet inimicum qui ei tanta praestitit, et facit solem suum oriri super bonos et malos, et pluit super justos et injustos; tu qui nec solem potes oriri facere, nec super terras pluere, aliquid unum servare inimico non potes, ut sit tibi pax in terra homini bonae voluntatis Ergo quoniam haec tibi dilectionis regula figitur, ut imitans Patrem diligas inimicum: Diligite enim, inquit, inimicos vestros : in hoc praecepto quomodo exercereris, si nullum inimicum patereris? Vides ergo prodesse tibi aliquid: et quod Deus parcit malis, prosit tibi ad habendam misericordiam; quia et tu forte si bonus es, ex malo factus es bonus; et si Deus non parceret malis, nec tu qui gratias ageres, appareres. Parcat ergo aliis qui pepercit et tibi. Non enim cum transieris, intercludenda est via pietatis.
54.5 PL 36, 631
5. “O God, hearken to my prayer, in Thy ears receive the words of my mouth” (ver. 2).…To Thee may my prayer attain, driven forth and darted out from the desire of Thy eternal blessings: to Thy ears I send it forth, aid it that it may reach, lest it fall short in the middle of the way, and fainting as it were it fall down. But even if there result not to me now the good things which I ask, I am secured nevertheless that hereafter they will come. For even in the case of transgressions a certain man is said to have asked of God, and not to have been hearkened to for his good. For privations of this world had inspired him to prayer, and being set in temporal tribulations he had wished that temporal tribulations should pass away, and there should return the flower of grass; and he saith, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” The very voice of Christ it is, but for His members’ sake. “The words,” he saith, “of my transgressions I have cried to Thee throughout the day, and Thou hast not hearkened: and by night, and not for the sake of folly to me:” that is, “and by night I have cried, and Thou hast not hearkened; and nevertheless in this very thing that Thou hast not hearkened, it is not for the sake of folly to me that Thou hast not hearkened, but rather for the sake of wisdom that Thou hast not hearkened, that I might perceive what of Thee I ought to ask. For those things I was asking which to my cost perchance I should have received.” Thou askest riches, O man; how many have been overset through their riches? Whence knowest thou whether to thee riches may profit? Have not many poor men more safely been in obscurity; having become rich men, so soon as they have begun to blaze forth, they have been a prey to the stronger? How much better they would have lain concealed, how much better they would have been unknown, that have begun to be inquired after not for the sake of what they were, but for the sake of what they had! In these temporal things therefore, brethren, we admonish and exhort you in the Lord, that ye ask not anything as if it were a thing settled, but that which God knoweth to be expedient for you. For what is expedient for you, ye know not at all. Sometimes that which ye think to be for you is against you, and that which ye think to be against you is for you. For sick ye are; do not dictate to the physician the medicines he may choose to set beside you. If the teacher of the Gentiles, Paul the Apostle, saith, “For what we should pray for as we ought, we know not,” how much more we? Who nevertheless, when he seemed to himself to pray wisely, namely, that from him should be taken away the thorn of the flesh, the angel of Satan, that did buffet him, in order that he might not in the greatness of the revelations be lifted up, heard from the Lord what? Was that done which he wished? Nay, in order to that being done which was expedient, he heard from the Lord, I say, what? “Thrice,” he saith, “I besought the Lord that He would take it from me; and He said to me, My Grace sufficeth for thee: for virtue in weakness is made perfect.” Salve to the wound I have applied; when I applied it I know, when it should be taken away I know. Let not a sick man draw back from the hands of the physician, let him not give advice to the physician. So it is with all these things temporal. There are tribulations; if well thou worshippest God, thou wilt know that He knoweth what is expedient for each man: there are prosperities; take the more heed, lest these same corrupt thy soul, so that it withdraw from Him that hath given these things.…
Unde ergo iste orat positus inter malos, quorum inimicitiis exercebatur? quid ait? Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea, et conturbatus sum. Cum extendit dilectionem ut diligat inimicos, affectus est taedio, multorum inimicitiis, multorum rabie circumlatratus, et quadam humana infirmitate succubuit. Vidit se jam incipere penetrari mala persuasione diabolica, ut odium inducat adversum inimicos: reluctans odio ut perficeret ipsam dilectionem, in ipsa pugna et lucta turbatus est. Ejus enim vox est et in alio psalmo: Turbatus est prae ira oculus meus. Et quid ibi sequitur? Inveteravi in omnibus inimicis meis . Veluti in tempestate et fluctibus mergi coeperat, sicut Petrus . Ille enim calcat fluctus hujus saeculi, qui diligit inimicos. Christus in mari ambulabat intrepidus, cujus omnino de corde auferri non poterat inimici dilectio: qui pendens in cruce dicebat, Pater, ignosce illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt . Et Petrus voluit ambulare. Ille tanquam caput, Petrus tanquam corpus: quia super hanc petram, inquit, aedificabo Ecclesiam meam. Jussus est ambulare, et ambulabat gratia jubentis, non viribus suis. Sed cum videret ventum validum, timuit; et mergi jam coeperat, conturbatus in exercitatione sua. A quo vento valido? A voce inimici, et a tribulatione peccatoris. Ergo quomodo ille clamavit in fluctibus, Domine, pereo, salva me ; talis et hujus vox praecessit, Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam, et ne despexeris precem meam: intende mihi, et exaudi me. Quare? quid enim pateris? quid gemis? Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea. Exerceri me quidem inter malos posuisti, sed nimis exsurrexerunt supra vires meas: tranquilla perturbatum, manum extende mergenti. Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea, et conturbatus sum a voce inimici, et a tribulatione peccatoris: quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitatem, et in ira adumbrabant me. Audistis fluctus et ventos: tanquam humiliato insultabant, et ille orabat; undique illi strepitu insultationis saeviebant, at ille intus invocabat quem non videbant.
54.6 PL 36, 632
6. “For aliens have risen up against me” (ver. 3). What “aliens”? Was not David himself a Jew of the tribe of Judah? But the very place Ziph belonged to the tribe of Judah; it was of the Jews. How then “aliens”? Not in city, not in tribe, not in kindred, but in flower.…But see the Ziphites, see them for a time flourishing. With reason “alien” sons. Thou amid the Ziphites hiding saidst what? “Blessed the people whereof the Lord is its God.” Out of this affection this prayer is being sent forth into the ears of the Lord, when it is said, “for aliens have risen up against me.”
Cum aliquid tale patitur christianus, non debet facile velut odio ire in eum a quo patitur, et velle ventum vincere; sed convertere se ad orationem, ne amittat dilectionem. Neque enim timendum est ne aliquid faciat homo inimicus. Quid enim facturus est? Multa mala dicturus, opprobria jaculaturus, in conviciis saeviturus: sed quid tibi? Gaudete, inquit, et exsultate quoniam merces vestra magna est in coelis . Ille in terra geminat convicia, tu in coelo lucra. Sed saeviat amplius, possit et aliquid amplius: quid te securius, cui dictum est, Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt. animam autem non possunt occidere ? Quid est ergo timendum quando pateris inimicum? Ne conturbetur tibi dilectio qua diligis inimicum. Etenim inimicus ille homo, caro et sanguis, quod videt in te appetit. Alius autem inimicus occultus, rector harum tenebrarum quas tu pateris in carne et sanguine, alterum occultum tuum petit, thesauros tuos interiores depraedari et vastare molitur. Duos ergo inimicos constitue tibi ante oculos; unum apertum, et alterum occultum: apertum, hominem; occultum, diabolum. Homo ille hoc est quod tu secundum naturam humanam, secundum fidem autem et dilectionem nondum quod tu, sed poterit esse quod tu. Cum ergo sint duo, unum vide, alterum intellige; unum dilige, alterum cave. Namque et inimicus ille quem vides, hoc in te vult humiliare unde vincitur. Verbi gratia, si divitiis tuis vincitur, pauperem te vult facere; si honore tuo vincitur, humilem te vult facere; si viribus tuis vincitur, debilem te vult facere: ea ergo attendit in te vel dejicere vel auferre quibus vincitur. Et ille occultus inimicus illud tibi vult tollere unde vincitur. Homo enim hominem vincis humana felicitate, diabolum autem vincis inimici dilectione. Quomodo ergo homo ambit auferre tibi, et detruncare, aut evertere felicitatem qua vincitur, sic et diabolus hominem vult vincere auferendo unde vincitur. Sed cura in corde servare inimici dilectionem, qua diabolum vincis. Saeviat homo quantum potest, auferat quidquid potest; si diligitur aperte saeviens, victus est occulte saeviens.
54.7 PL 36, 632
7. “And mighty men have sought after my soul.” For in a new manner, my brethren, they would destroy the race of holy men, and the race of them that abstain from hoping in this world, all they that have hope in this world. Certainly commingled they are, certainly together they live. Very much to one another are opposed these two sorts: the one of those that place no hope but in things secular, and in temporal felicity, and the other of those that do firmly place their hope in the Lord God. And though concordant are these Ziphites, do not much trust to their concord: temptations are wanting; when there shall have come any temptation, so as that a person may be reproved for the flower of the world, I say not to thee he will quarrel with the Bishop, but not even to the Church Herself will he draw near, lest there fall any part of the grass. Wherefore have I said these words, brethren? Because now gladly ye all hear in the name of Christ, and according as ye understand, so ye shout out at the word; ye would not indeed shout at it unless ye understood. This your understanding ought to be fruitful. But whether it is fruitful, temptation doth try; lest suddenly when ye are said to be ours, through temptation ye be found aliens, and it be said, “Aliens have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my soul.” Be not that said which followeth, “They have not set forth God before their face.” For when will he set God before his face, before whose eyes there is nought but the world? namely, how he may have coin upon coin, how flocks may be increased, how barns may be filled, how it may be said to his soul, “Thou hast many good things, be merry, feast, take thy fill.” Doth he set before his face Him, that unto one so boasting and so blooming with the flower of the Ziphites saith, “Fool” (that is, “man not understanding,” “man unwise”), “this night shall be taken from thee thy soul; all these things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?”
At iste conturbatus et contristatus orabat, tanquam turbato prae ira oculo suo. Ira vero fratris si fuerit inveterata, jam odium est. Ira turbat oculum, odium exstinguit: ira festuca est, odium trabes est. Aliquando odisti et corripis irascentem; in te est odium, in illo ira quem corripis: merito tibi dicitur, Ejice primum trabem de oculo tuo, et sic videbis ejicere festucam de oculo fratris tui . Nam ut noveritis quantum intersit inter iram et odium: quotidie homines irascuntur filiis suis; date qui oderint filios suos. Conturbatus iste orabat et contristatus, luctans adversus omnia convicia omnium conviciatorum; non ut aliquem eorum convicium referendo vinceret, sed ne aliquem eorum odisset. Hinc orat, hinc petit. A voce inimici, et a tribulatione peccatoris: quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitatem, et in ira adumbrabant me. Cor meum conturbatum est in me. Hoc est illud alibi dictum: Turbatus est prae ira oculus meus . Et si oculus turbatus est, quid sequitur? Et metus mortis cecidit super me. Vita nostra dilectio est: si vita dilectio, mors odium est. Cum coeperit homo timere ne oderit quem diligebat, mortem timet; et acriorem mortem, et interiorem mortem, qua occiditur anima, non corpus. Attendebas hominem saevientem in te: quid erat facturus, contra quem tibi securitatem tuus Dominus dederat, dicens, Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt ? Ille saeviendo corpus occidit, tu odio habendo animam occidisti; et ille corpus alienum, tu animam tuam. Metus ergo mortis cecidit super me.
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8. “For behold, God helpeth me” (ver. 4). Even themselves know not themselves, amid whom I am hiding. But if they too were to set God before their face, they would find in what manner God helpeth me. For all holy men are helped by God, but within, where no one seeth. For in like manner as the conscience of ungodly men is a great punishment, so a great joy is the very conscience of godly men. “For our glory this is,” saith the Apostle, “the testimony of our conscience.” In this within, not in the flower of the Ziphites without, doth glory that man that now saith, “For behold God helpeth me.” Surely though afar off are to be those things which He promiseth, this day have I a sweet and present help; to-day in my heart’s joy I find that without cause certain say, “Who doth show to us good things? For there is signed upon us the light of Thy countenance, O Lord, Thou hast put pleasantness into my heart.” Not into my vineyard, not into my flock, not into my cask, not into my table, but “into my heart.” “For behold God helpeth me.” How doth He help thee? “And the Lord is the lifter up of my soul.”
[vers. 6-8.] Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et contexerunt me tenebrae. Et dixi. Qui audit fratrem suum, in tenebris est usque adhuc. Si dilectio lumen est, odium tenebrae . Et quid sibi ait in illa infirmitate positus, et in illa exercitatione turbatus? Quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columbae, et volabo, et requiescam? Aut mortem optabat, aut solitudinem desiderabat. Quamdiu, inquit, id mecum agitur, id mihi praecipitur ut inimicos diligam, convicia istorum crebrescentia et adumbrantia me, commovent oculum meum, perturbant lumen meum, appetunt cor meum, interficiunt animam meam. Vellem ut abirem, sed infirmus sum, ne manendo augeam peccata peccatis: aut certe separarer paululum a genere humano, ne patiatur vulnus meum crebras plagas, ut sanatum exercitationi reddatur. Fit hoc, fratres, et surgit plerumque in animo servi Dei desiderium solitudinis, non ob aliud nisi propter turbam tribulationum et scandalorum, et dicit: Quis mihi dabit pennas? Videt se sine pennis, an potius ligatis pennis? Si desunt, dentur; si ligatae sunt, solvantur: quia etiam qui solvit pennas avi, aut dat aut reddit illi pennas suas. Non enim habebat eas tanquam suas, quibus volare non poterat. Ligatae pennae onus faciunt. Quis, inquit, dabit mihi pennas sicut columbae, et volabo, et requiescam? Requiescet, ubi? Duos dixi sensus hic esse: aut sicut ait Apostolus, Dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo enim magis optimum. Etenim et ipse quamvis fortis, quamvis magnus, quamvis corde robustissimus, quamvis in Christo miles invictus, in exercitatione sua, quantum legimus, conturbatus est, et ait: De caetero nemo mihi molestus sit . Tanquam diceret de illo psalmo: Taedium detinuit me a peccatoribus derelinquentibus legem tuam . Conatur ergo homo plerumque corrigere homines distortos, pravos, pertinentes quidem ad curam suam, sed in quibus deficiat omnis humana industria et vigilantia: corrigere non potest, pati necesse est. Et qui corrigi non potest tuus est, aut consortio generis humani, aut plerumque ecclesiastica communione; intus est, quid facies? quo ibis? quo te separabis, ut ista non patiaris? Sed adesto, loquere, exhortare, blandire, minare, corripe. Feci omnia, quidquid virium habui impendi et expressi, nihil me video profecisse; omnis opera insumpta est, dolor remansit. Quomodo ergo requiescet cor meum a talibus, nisi ut dicam, Quis dabit mihi pennas? sicut columbae tamen, non sicut corvo. Columba a molestiis quaerit avolationem, sed non amittit dilectionem. Columba enim pro signo dilectionis ponitur, et in ea gemitus amatur. Nihil tam amicum gemitibus quam columba: die noctuque gemit, tanquam hic posita ubi gemendum est. Quid ergo dicit iste dilector? Convicia hominum ferre non possum, stridunt, rabie feruntur, accenduntur iracundia, in ira adumbrant me; prodesse illis non possum: utinam requiescam alicubi ab eis separatus corpore, non amore; ne in me conturbetur ipsa dilectio: verbis meis et collocutione mea prodesse non possum, orando pro eis forsitan prodero, Dicunt ista homines, sed plerumque ita ligantur ut volare non possint. Forte enim non ligantur visco, sed ligantur officio. Si autem ligantur cura et officio, et deserere non possunt, dicant: Optabam dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, multo enim magis optimum; manere in carne necessarium propter vos . Columba religata affectu, non cupiditate, volare non poterat propter implendum officium, non propter parvum meritum. Tamen desiderium in corde necesse est ut sit: nec patitur hoc desiderium, nisi qui coeperit ambulare angustam illam viam ; ut noverit quia non desunt Ecclesiae persecutiones, etiam in hoc tempore quando tranquillitas videtur Ecclesiae ab his quidem persecutionibus, quas martyres nostri passi sunt. Non autem desunt persecutiones, quia verum est illud: Omnes qui volunt pie vivere in Christo, persecutionem patientur . Non pateris persecutionem: non vis pie vivere in Christo. Vis probare verum esse quod dictum est? Incipe pie vivere in Christo. Quid est, pie vivere in Christo? Ut pertineat ad viscera tua quod ait Apostolus: Quis infirmatur, et ego non infirmor? quis scandalizatur, et ego non uror Aliorum infirmitates, aliorum scandala, persecutiones illi fuerunt. Numquid ergo desunt hoc tempore? Plures abundant illis qui eas curant. Et plerumque de longinquo videtur homo, et dicitur, Bene est illi. Et ille qui dicit, aut sua gustat, et aliena non potest; aut apud se quod gustet non habet, et alteri gustanti, imo devoranti non compatitur. Incipiat ergo pie vivere in Christo, et probet quod dicitur: incipit desiderare pennas, elongare, fugere, et manere in deserto.
54.9 PL 36, 634
9. “Turn away evil things unto mine enemies” (ver. 5). So however green they are, so however they flourish, for the fire they are being reserved. “In Thy virtue destroy Thou them.” Because to wit they flourish now, because to wit they spring up like grass: do not thou be a man unwise and foolish, so that by giving thought to these things thou perish for ever and ever. For, “Turn Thou away evil things unto mine enemies.” For if thou shalt have place in the body of David Himself, in His virtue He will destroy them. These men flourish in the felicity of the world, perish in the virtue of God. Not in the same manner as they flourish, do they also perish: for they flourish for a time, perish for everlasting: flourish in unreal good things, perish in real torments. “In Thy strength destroy,” whom in Thy weakness Thou hast endured.
Unde enim putatis, fratres, servis Dei impleta esse deserta? Si bene illis esset inter homines, recederent ab hominibus? Et tamen quid faciunt et ipsi? Ecce elongant fugientes, manent in deserto: sed numquid singillatim? Tenet eos charitas, ut cum multis maneant: et de ipsis multis existunt qui exerceant. Quia in omni congregatione multitudinis necesse est ut inveniantur mali. Deus enim qui novit exercendos nos, miscet nobis et non perseveraturos, aut certe ita simulatos, ut nec inchoaverint in quo perseverare deberent. Novit enim necessarium esse nobis ut feramus malos, et proficiat quod boni sumus; diligamus inimicos, corripiamus, castigemus, excommunicemus, cum dilectione a nobis etiam separemus. Videte enim quid dicat Apostolus: Si quis autem non obaudit verbo nostro per epistolam, hunc notate, et nolite commisceri cum eo. Sed ne subreperet tibi ex hoc iracundia, et turbaret oculum tuum, Non, inquit, ut inimicum eum existimetis, sed corripite ut fratrem, ut erubescat . A quo indixit separationem, non praecidit dilectionem. Vivit ille oculus, vivit vita tua. Etenim amissa dilectio, mors tua. Hanc ille amittere timuit qui dixit: Metus mortis cecidit super me. Itaque ne amittam dilectionis vitam, quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columbae, et volabo, et requiescam? Quo iturus es? quo volaturus? ubi requieturus? Ecce elongavi fugiens, et mansi in deserto. In quo deserto? Ubicumque fueris, congregabunt se caeteri, desertum tecum petent, affectabunt vitam tuam, tu repellere non potes societatem fratrum: miscentur tibi etiam mali; adhuc tibi exercitatio debetur. Ecce elongavi fugiens, et mansi in deserto. In quo deserto? Si forte in conscientia, quo nullus hominum intrat, ubi nemo tecum est, ubi tu et Deus es. Nam si in deserto, in aliquo loco, quid facies de congregantibus se? Non enim a genere humano separatus esse poteris, quamdiu in hominibus vivis. Attende potius consolatorem illum Dominum et regem, imperatorem et creatorem nostrum, creatum etiam inter nos: attende quia duodecim suis miscuit unum quem pateretur.
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10. “Voluntarily I will sacrifice to Thee” (ver. 6). Who can even understand this good thing of the heart, at another’s speaking thereof, unless in himself he hath tasted it? What is, “Voluntarily I will sacrifice to Thee”?… For what sacrifice here shall I take, brethren? or what worthily shall I offer to the Lord for His mercy? Victims shall I seek from flock of sheep, ram shall I select, for any bull in the herds shall I look out, frankincense indeed from the land of the Sabæans shall I bring? What shall I do? What offer; except that whereof He speaketh, “Sacrifice of praise shall honour Me”? Wherefore then “voluntarily”? Because truly I love that which I praise. I praise God, and in the self-same praise I rejoice: in the praise of Himself I rejoice, at whom being praised, I blush not. For He is not praised in the same manner as by those who love the theatrical follies is praised either by a charioteer, or a hunter, or actor of any kind, and by their praisers, other praisers are invited, are exhorted, to shout together: and when all have shouted, ofttimes, if their favourite is overcome, they are all put to the blush. Not so is our God: be He praised with the will, loved with charity: let it be gratuitous (or voluntary) that He is loved and that He is praised. What is “gratuitous”? Himself for the sake of Himself, not for the sake of something else. For if thou praisest God in order that He may give thee something else, no longer freely dost thou love God. Thou wouldest blush, if thy wife for the sake of riches were to love thee, and perchance if poverty should befall thee, should begin to think of adultery. Seeing that therefore thou wouldest be loved by thy partner freely, wilt thou for anything else love God? What reward art thou to receive of God, O covetous man? Not earth for thee, but Himself He keepeth, who made heaven and earth. “Voluntarily I will sacrifice to Thee:” do it not of necessity. For if for the sake of anything else thou praisest God, out of necessity thou praisest.…These things also which He hath given, because of the Giver are good things. For He giveth entirely, He giveth these temporal things: and to certain men to their good, to certain men to their harm, after the height and depth of His judgments.…“Voluntarily I will sacrifice to Thee.” Wherefore “voluntarily”? Because gratis. What is gratis? “And I will confess to Thy name, O Lord, for it is a good thing:” for nothing else, but because a “good thing” it is. Doth he say, “I will confess to Thy name, O Lord,” because Thou givest me fruitful manors, because Thou givest me gold and silver, because Thou givest me extended riches, abundant money, most exalted dignity? Nay. But what? “For it is a good thing.” Nothing I find better than Thy name.
[vers. 9.] Dicit, Ecce elongavi fugiens, et mansi in deserto. Forte iste, ut dixi, fugerit ad conscientiam suam, ibi aliquantum desertum invenerit ubi requiesceret. Sed illa dilectio conturbat eum: solus erat in conscientia, sed non solus in charitate; intus consolabatur conscientia, sed forinsecus tribulationes non relinquebant. Itaque in se quietus, ex aliis pendens, cum conturbaretur adhuc, quid ait? Exspectabam eum qui me salvum faceret a pusillanimitate et tempestate. Mare est, tempestas est: nihil tibi restat nisi exclamare, Domine, pereo . Porrigat manum ille qui fluctus calcat intrepidus, sublevet trepidationem tuam, firmet in se securitatem tuam, alloquatur te intus, et dicat tibi: Me attende, quid pertulerim: fratrem malum forte pateris, aut inimicum forinsecus pateris; quos non passus sum? Fremebant forinsecus Judaei, intrinsecus discipulus tradebat. Saevit ergo tempestas, sed ille salvos facit a pusillanimitate et tempestate. Forte navis tua ideo turbatur, quia ille in te dormit. Saeviebat mare, turbabatur navicula in qua discipuli navigabant, Christus autem dormiebat: tandem aliquando visum est illis quia inter illos dormiebat ventorum imperator et creator; accesserunt et excitaverunt Christum: imperavit ventis, et facta est tranquillitas magna . Merito ergo forte turbatur cor tuum, quia excidit tibi in quem credideris: intolerabiliter pateris, quia non venit tibi in mentem quid pro te pertulerit Christus. Si in mentem non tibi venit Christus, dormit: excita Christum, recole fidem. Tunc enim in te dormit Christus, si oblitus es passiones Christi: tunc in te vigilat Christus, si meministi passionum Christi. Cum autem pleno corde intuitus fueris quid ille fuerit passus, nonne aequo animo et tu tolerabis? et fortasse gaudens, quia inventus es in aliqua similitudine passionum regis tui. Cum ergo ista cogitans consolari et gaudere coeperis, ille surrexit, ille ventis imperavit: ideo facta est tranquillitas. Exspectabam eum qui me salvum faceret a pusillanimitate et tempestate.
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11. “For out of all tribulation Thou hast delivered me” (ver. 7). For this cause I have perceived how good a thing is Thy name: for if this I were able before tribulations to acknowledge, perchance for me there had been no need of them. But tribulation hath been applied for admonition, admonition hath redounded to Thy praise. For I should not have understood where I was, except of my weakness I had been admonished. “Out of all tribulations,” therefore, “Thou hast delivered me. And upon mine enemies mine eye hath looked back:” upon those Ziphites “mine eye hath looked back.” Yea, their flower I have passed over in loftiness of heart, unto Thee I have come, and thence I have looked back upon them, and have seen that “All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass:” as in a certain place is also said, “I have seen the ungodly man to be exalted and raised up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and, lo! he was not.” Wherefore “he was not”? Because thou hast passed by. What is, “because thou hast passed by”? Because not to no purpose hast thou heard “Lift up thy heart;” because not on earth, where thou wouldest have rotted, thou hast remained; because thou hast lifted thy soul to God, and thou hast mounted beyond the cedars of Lebanon, and from that elevation hast observed: and “Lo! he was not;” and thou hast sought him, and there hath not been found place for him. No longer is labour before thee; because thou hast entered into the sanctuary of God, and hast understood for the last things. So also here thus he concludeth. “And upon mine enemies mine eye hath looked back.” This do ye therefore, brethren, with your souls; lift up your hearts, sharpen the edge of your mind, learn truly to love God, learn to despise the present world, learn voluntarily to sacrifice the offerings of praise; to the end that, mounting beyond the flower of the grass, ye may look back upon your enemies.
[vers. 10.] Submerge, Domine, et divide linguas eorum. Attendit tribulantes se et adumbrantes se, et optavit hoc, non de ira, fratres. Qui se male extulerunt, expedit eis ut submergantur: qui male conspiraverunt, expedit eis ut linguae eorum dividantur: ad bonum consentiant, et concordent linguae illorum. Si autem in idipsum adversum me susurrabant, ait, omnes inimici mei , perdant idipsum in malo; dividantur linguae eorum, non sibi consentiant. Submerge, Domine, et divide linguas eorum. Submerge, quare? Quia se extulerunt. Divide, quare? Quia in malum conspiraverunt. Turrem illam recordare superborum factam post diluvium: quid dixerunt superbi? Ne pereamus diluvio, faciamus altam turrem . Superbia se munitos esse arbitrabantur, exstruxerunt altam turrem; et Dominus divisit linguas ipsorum. Tunc se coeperunt non intelligere: hinc facta est origo linguarum multarum. Antea enim una lingua erat; sed una lingua concordibus proderat, una lingua hominibus proderat: at ubi illa collectio in conspirationem superbiae praecipitata est, pepercit illis Deus ut divideret linguas, ne se intelligendo perniciosam facerent unitatem. Per superbos homines divisae sunt linguae, per humiles Apostolos congregatae sunt linguae: spiritus superbiae dispersit linguas, Spiritus sanctus congregavit linguas. Quando enim Spiritus sanctus venit super discipulos, omnium linguis locuti sunt, ab omnibus intellecti sunt : linguae dispersae, in unum congregatae sunt. Ergo si adhuc saeviunt et gentiles sunt, expedit eis divisas habere linguas. Volunt unam linguam, veniant ad Ecclesiam; quia et in diversitate linguarum carnis, una est lingua in fide cordis. Submerge, Domine, et divide linguas eorum.