True happines consisteth in fearing God, keping his commandments, 5. and in doing workes of mercie. 10. The contrarie bringeth to miserie.
1Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.Alleluia: Del ritorno di Aggeo, e di Zaccaria. Beato l'uomo, che teme il Signore: egli avrà cari oltre modo i suoi comandamenti.Alleluia, Of the returne of Aggeus, and Zacharie. BLESSED is the man that feareth our Lord: he shal haue great delight in his commandmentes.Alleluja, reversionis Aggæi et Zachariæ. Beatus vir qui timet Dominum: / in mandatis ejus volet nimis. 2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.La sua posterità sarà potente sopra la terra: il secolo dei giusti sarà benedetto.His seede shal be mightie in the earth: the generation of the righteous shal be blessed,Potens in terra erit semen ejus; / generatio rectorum benedicetur. 3Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.Gloria, e ricchezze nella casa di lui: e la sua giustizia dura perpetuamente.Glorie, and riches in his house: and his iustice abideth for euer and euer.Gloria et divitiæ in domo ejus, / et justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi. 4To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.È nata tralle tenebre la luce per gli uomini di retto cuore: il misericordioso, il benigno, il giusto.Light is risen vp in darkenes to the righteous: he is merciful, and pitiful, and iust.Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: / misericors, et miserator, et justus. 5Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment:Fortunato l'uomo che è compassionevole, e da in prestito: e con saggezza dispensa le sue parole:Acceptable is the man, that is merciful and lendeth, that shal dispose his wordes in iudgement:Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat; / disponet sermones suos in judicio: 6Because he shall not be moved for ever.perocché egli non sarà mai vacillante.Because he shal not be moued for euer.quia in æternum non commovebitur. 7The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:Il giusto sarà in memoria eternamente: non temerà di udire sinistre parole. Il suo cuore è disposto a sperar nel Signore:The iust shal be in eternal memorie: he shal not feare at the hearing of euil. His hart is readie to hope in our Lord, his hart is confirmed:In memoria æterna erit justus; / ab auditione mala non timebit. / Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, 8His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.il suo cuore è costante: ei non vacillerà, e neppur farà caso de' suoi nemici.he shal not be moued til he looke ouer his enemies.confirmatum est cor ejus; / non commovebitur donec despiciat inimicos suos.
9He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.A mani piene ha dato ai poveri: la giustizia di lui dura in perpetuo: la sua robusta virtù sarà esaltata nella gloria.He distributed, he gaue to the poore: his iustice remaineth for euer and euer his horne shal be exalted in glorie.Dispersit, dedit pauperibus; / justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi: / cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria. 10The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.Vedrallo il peccatore, e avranne sdegno, digrignerà i denti, e si consumerà: il desiderio de' peccatori andrà in fumo.The sinner shal see, and wil be angrie, he shal gnash his teeth and pine away: the desire of sinners shal perish.Peccator videbit, et irascetur; / dentibus suis fremet et tabescet: / desiderium peccatorum peribit.
111:1
Challoner
Of the returning, etc. This is in the Greek and Latin, but not in the Hebrew. It signifies, that this psalm was proper to be sung at the time of the return of the people from their captivity: to inculcate to them, how happy they might be, if they would be constant in the service of God. (Challoner)
Yet all Greek copies have not this title, (Haydock) but only Alleluia, with the Hebrew, Syriac, etc.
Worthington
It might be composed by Aggaeus, etc., as it relates to the captivity, (ver. 4.) and to the overthrow of Babylon, (ver. 10.; Calmet) or David might thus describe the happiness of the virtuous, (Berthier) and give the captives to understand, that sin was the source of all temporal as well as spiritual miseries. (Worthington)
St. Chrysostom
Delight. We must love God for his own sake. (St. Chrysostom)
Worthington
Those who sincerely fear God, will take great delight in keeping his commandments. (Worthington)
111:2
Calmet
Earth. Temporal rewards were proposed to the carnal Jews; but the more enlightened knew what was to be most desired. They sought after the riches, mentioned by the apostle, 1 Corinthians 1:5., and 1 Timothy 6:18. (Calmet)
Haydock
The just and their seed shall prosper, (Worthington) at least in the next world. (Haydock)
111:3
Calmet
Justice. Or mercy shall be for ever remembered by men, and rewarded by God. (Calmet)
111:4
St. Augustine
Darkness. Christ appeared when the world was most corrupt. (St. Augustine)
God rescued his people from captivity.
Haydock
He is. St. Augustine and St. Chrysostom add, "The Lord God is," etc., in which sense this is commonly explained, (Calmet) though it may also refer to the just man. (Haydock)
111:5
Haydock
Acceptable. Literally, "joyful." Chrestos, "beneficent." (Haydock)
Menochius
Give, and it shall be given to you. [Luke 6:38.] (Menochius)
St. Chrysostom
Judgment. And by liberal alms, prepared for the great accounting day. (St. Chrysostom)
111:7
Haydock
Hearing. Though detraction may assail him, he shall not fear, (Calmet) since God is the judge. (Haydock)
Haydock
He shall have no cause to apprehend being condemned, (St. Jerome) nor be disturbed about "news," because his goods are in a place of safety, (St. Chrysostom, etc.) where thieves cannot steal. (Haydock)
111:8
Haydock
Until. Not that he will be disturbed afterwards, (Psalm 109:1.; Calmet) when his enemies shall be punished. (Haydock)
Calmet
The captives saw the fall of Babylon. (Calmet)
111:9
Calmet
Poor. We must know whom we ought to relieve. Though we may be allowed to retain what is necessary, (2 Corinthians 8:13., and 9:11.) yet the saints have often very laudably stripped themselves, to clothe others, abandoning perishable goods, that they might obtain heaven. (Calmet)
Worthington
Justice. Works of mercy are so called, because they concur to man's justification. (Worthington)
Calmet
Horn. Power, etc. Cyrus, and the best of his successors, honoured the Jews. (Calmet)
St. Chrysostom
The liberality of the just towards the indigent, is far more glorious than that which prompts the vain to give shews, etc. (St. Chrysostom)
Berthier
The praise of the latter is presently at an end. (Berthier)
111:10
Haydock
The wicked. The devil, enraged to see the converts to Christianity, (St. Athanasius) or the Jews, (St. Chrysostom) instigated by him. (Haydock)
Calmet
All the damned shall repine at the happiness of the elect, (St. Augustine) as the Babylonians did, when they beheld the prosperity of those who had been captives. (Calmet)
111:1
The Septuagint Interpreters added this mention of Aggeus and Zacharie, returning from captiuitie, to signifie that this Psalme was very proper, & meete to be cōmended to the people at that time. wherby they might lerne, that their sinnes were the cause of their captiuitie, and of al their miseries: and if they desired temporal, or spiritual prosperitie, they must obserue the meanes here prescribed to obtayne the same.
He that sincerly feareth God, wil take great delight in keping his commandments.
This Psalme is also composed by the Alphaber, as the next before.
Concordanza Psal. 1.
111:2
So doing he and his shal prosper.
111:3
The iust shal not only prosper in this world but also in the next.
111:4
God wil also comfort the iust in tribulations.
111:5
That shal geue discrete and wholsome counsel to the afflicted.
111:9
Workes of mercie are also called iustice, because they concurre to mans iustification,
Concordanza 2. Cor. 9•.
and to his saluation.
111:1
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 1.1.1
… For in saying “the fear of the Lord,” which seems to be common to all, he has described the chief mark of reverence for God. As, however, fear itself is the beginning of wisdom and the source of blessedness—for they that fear the Lord are blessed
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.2
… for it is written: “Blessed is the man whom Thou instructest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law.” We find elsewhere also: “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, he will rejoice greatly in His commandments.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. City of God 22.18
… is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.” But even if this should be referred to the form in which each one shall rise, what should hinder us from applying to the woman what is expressly said of the man, understanding both sexes to be included under the general term “man?” For certainly in the saying, “Blessed is he who feareth the Lord,”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 4
… “Behold the Lamb of God; behold Him who taketh away the sin of the world!” Let there not be presumptuous confidence of men upon men: let not the sparrow flee to the mountains, but let it trust in the Lord; and if it lift its eyes to the mountains, from whence cometh aid to it, let it understand that its aid is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.2
2. “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he will have great delight in His commandments” (
111:2
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.3
3. Next follows, “His seed shall be mighty upon earth” (
Giovanni Cassiano † 435 d.C. The Conferences of John Cassian 3.9
… “The poor and needy shall praise thy name.” Those riches are good, to acquire which is the work of great virtue and merit, and the righteous possessor of which is praised by David who says “The generation of the righteous shall be blessed: glory and riches are in his house, and his righteousness remaineth for ever:”
111:3
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.2
… and his justice abideth for ever and ever.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.3
… What is more mighty, than that the same kingdom should be worth treasures to the rich man, and a cup of cold water to the poor?…“Glory and riches shall be in his house” (
111:4
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.4
4. “Unto the right-hearted there ariseth up light in the darkness” (
Teodoreto di Cirro † 458 d.C. Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyprus 147
… Long ago the divine Moses exclaimed “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me.” And the divine David cries “The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.”
111:5
san Gregorio Nazianzeno † 389 d.C. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 43.68
… This is manifest from his actual conduct and sufferings. For when he had been sentenced to banishment on behalf of the truth, the only notice which he took of it was, to bid one of his servants to take his writing tablet and follow him. He held it necessary, according to the divine David’s advice, to guide his words with discretion,
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.2
… He speaks thus: “Blessed is the man that showeth pity and lendeth, he will guide his affairs with discretion, surely he shall not be moved for ever, the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.8
… We find this stated also in our writers, for David says: “The just showeth mercy and lendeth.” What the just lends, he says elsewhere: “A good man is he that showeth mercy and lendeth, he will guide his words with discretion.”
Tirannio Rufino † 411 d.C. A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 33
… For this is what the Prophet said of the man who is blessed, that, “He ordereth his words in judgment.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.4
… be thou sweet, be merciful and lend. For the Lord is just in this manner, that He judgeth without mercy him who hath not shown mercy; but, “Sweet is the man who is merciful and lendeth” (
111:6
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.5
5. He therefore who doth these things, “shall guide his words with discretion.” His deeds themselves are the words whereby he shall be defended at the Judgment; which shall not be without mercy unto him, since he hath himself shown mercy. “For he shall never be moved” (
111:7
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. On the Holy Trinity 1.13
… of which evil hearing “the righteous man shall not be afraid”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.5
… He therefore shall hear, “Come, ye blessed of My Father;” for, “the generation of the right ones shall be blessed.” Thus, “the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.” “He will not be afraid of any evil hearing; for his heart standeth fast and believeth in the Lord” (
111:8
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. Homilies on First Corinthians 21
… But if you give a little silver, you think as much of it as if you had laid out all you have, not knowing that not the giving but the giving liberally, this is true almsgiving. Wherefore also it is not those simply who give whom the prophet proclaims and calls happy, but those who bestow liberally. For he doth not say simply, He hath given, but what? (
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. On the Holy Trinity 1.8
… For the text continues, “For He must reign, until He hath put all enemies under His feet;” as though, when He had so put them, He would no more reign. Neither do they perceive that this is said in the same way as that other text, “His heart is established: He shall not be afraid, until He see His desire upon His enemies.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.5
… Nor is he broken down by any temptations: “His heart is established, and will not shrink, until he see beyond his enemies” (
111:9
san Tascio Cecilio Cipriano † 258 d.C. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.2
… The whole day he is merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is in blessing.” Of this same thing in the fortieth Psalm: “Blessed is he who considereth over the poor and needy: in the evil day God will deliver him.” Also in the cxith Psalm: “He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness shall remain from generation to generation.”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 1.25
118. The chief amongst ourselves have stated that prudence lies in the knowledge of the truth. But who of them all excelled Abraham, David, or Solomon in this? Then they go on to say that justice has regard to the whole community of the human race. So David said: “He hath dispersed abroad and given to the poor, His righteousness remaineth for ever.”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.2
… He speaks thus: “Blessed is the man that showeth pity and lendeth, he will guide his affairs with discretion, surely he shall not be moved for ever, the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” And further: “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his justice endureth for ever.”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus 1.60
… For what he gave to the poor he offered to God, since “he that distributeth to the poor lendeth unto God;” and by requiring what was just, he left them not a little, but the whole. For this is the total sum of justice, to sell what one has and give to the poor. For he who “hath dispersed, and hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever.”
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 75.4
4. From these facts you in your wisdom will realize how worthy of praise our dear Lucinius shewed himself when he shut his ears that he might not have to hear the judgement passed upon blood shedders, and dispersed all his substance and gave to the poor that his righteousness might endure for ever.
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 6.12
… And for the most part their mockings are of such avail, that they make the weak to be ashamed of the name of Christ. Hence it is said, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me before men, of him will I be ashamed before My Father.” But now whosoever would fulfil those sublime commands, to disperse, to give to the poor, that his righteousness may endure for ever;
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.6
… “what the Lord hath prepared for them that love Him.” How great is the value of this which is not seen, and it is bought for so much as each man is able to give for it. On this account he also “dispersed abroad, and gave to the poor” (
papa san Gregorio I Magno † 604 d.C. The Book of Pastoral Rule 3.21
… Whence also the Truth himself, when speaking of the caution required in shewing mercy, says, Take heed that ye do not your justice before men ( Matth. vi. 1 ). The Psalmist also, in agreement with this sentence, says, He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his justice endureth for ever (
111:10
Sulpicio Severo † 420 d.C. The Doubtful Letters of Sulpitius Severus 1.5
After him, there will stand up David worthy of his descendant the Lord, and declare: “I, Lord, proclaimed thee by every means; I set forth that only thy name was to be worshiped; I said, ‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord’; I said too, ‘The saints shall be joyful in glory’; and I said, ‘The desire of the wicked
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. The Confessions 8.2
… I wish to be made a Christian.” But he, not containing himself for joy, accompanied him. And having been admitted to the first sacraments of instruction, he not long after gave in his name, that he might be regenerated by baptism,—Rome marvelling, and the Church rejoicing. The proud saw, and were enraged; they gnashed with their teeth, and melted away!
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 70.4
… but there is not wanting the roar of persecutors, they have turned their assaults into thoughts. In these thoughts, as in a bottomless pit, the devil hath been bound, he roareth and breaketh not forth. For it hath been said concerning these times of the Church, “The sinner shall see, and shall be angry.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 79.13
… There is also another kind of vengeance; that wherein the Church’s enlargement and fruitfulness in this world after so great persecutions, wherein they supposed she would utterly perish, the sinner and unbeliever and enemy seeth, and is angry; “with his teeth he shall gnash, and shall pine away.”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 112.7
7. “The ungodly shall see it, and he shall be angered” (
111:1
v. 1 ab auditione mala, a nuntio malo (qualis repetito allatus fuit ad Iob) non timebit ; non est cur timeat, ne quando rumor, nuntius perniciosus sibi afferatur; nam paratum, firmatum cor eius, confisum in Domino, Sym ἑδραία ἡ χαρδίχ αὐτοῦ ἀμέριυνος ἐν Κυρίῳ firmum sine sollicitudine. Etsi quando adversarios experiatur, v. 8 confirmatum sufvideat inimicos suos, donec videat ultionem fieri ; 57,11 laetabitur 108tus, cum viderit vindictam. Vir ille timens Deum etiam in liberalitate et largitate imitatur Deum (110,5) v. 9 dispersit, abunde largitus est, dedit pauperibus ; iustitia eius vide ad
111:3
v. 3 ; insuper cornu eius, dignitas, auctoritas eius et potentia eminet in gloria, in aestimatione et honore apud alios; cf. 1 Reg. 3,1; Ps. 14,11; 88, 18.25. Plane diversa est sors impii ; v. 10 peccator, רשע opponitur timenti Deum, videbit conditionem felicem et honoratam probi viri (cornu eius exaltatum v. 9) et irascitur, stomachatur, fert indigne; imo agitur furore, quem prodit : dentibus suis frendet (Hier) e£ fabescit, ira et invidia quasi rumpitur et consumitur, perit; desiderium peccatorum peribit ; cf. 1,5 iter impiorum peribit, Timens Deum exaltabitur in gloria — impius peribit; cf. 36, 12.13.
111:5
… Il Vecchio Testamento lo contiene espressamente, ad es., in Deut. 15, 11; Tob. 4, 7-12; Ps. 40, 1-4; proclama benedetto chi viene in aiuto del povero (cf., ad es., Ps. 111, 5-9; Prov. 14, 21; 22, 9); afferma che l'e. ottiene tutte le grazie, non esclusa la cancellazione dei peccati (cf., ad es., Tob. 4, 7-9; 12, 9; Eccli. 3, 33; 7, 36; Dan. 4, 24); è preferibile …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione 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')). Pubblico dominio.