Expositions on the Book of Psalms 51
51.1 Psalm LI PL 36, 599
1. Neither must this multitude’s throng be defrauded, nor their infirmity burthened. Silence we ask, and quiet, in order that our voice, after yesterday’s labour, be able with some little vigour to last out. It must be believed, that your love hath met together in greater numbers to-day for nothing else, but that ye may pray for those whom an alien and perverse inclination doth keep away. For we are speaking neither of heathens nor of Jews, but of Christians: nor of those that are yet Catechumens, but of many that are even baptized, from the Laver of whom ye do no wise differ, and yet to their heart ye are unlike. For to-day how many brethren of ours we think of, and deplore their going unto vanities and lying insanities, to the neglect of that to which they have been called. Who, if in the very circus from any cause they chance to be startled, do immediately cross themselves, and stand bearing It on the forehead, in the very place, from whence they had withdrawn, if they had borne It in heart. God’s mercy must be implored, that He may give understanding for condemning these things, inclination to flee them, and mercy to forgive. Opportunately, then, of Penitence a Psalm to-day has been chanted. Speak we even with the absent: there will be to them for our voice your memory. Neglect not the wounded and feeble, but that ye may more easily make whole, whole ye ought to abide. Correct by reproving, comfort by addressing, set an example by living well, He will be with them that hath been with you. For now that ye have overpassed these dangers, the fountain of God’s mercy is not closed. Where ye have come they will come; where ye have passed they will pass. A grievous thing it is indeed, and exceeding perilous, nay ruinous, and for certain a deadly thing, that witting they sin. For in one way to these vanities doth he run that despiseth the voice of Christ; in another way, he that knoweth from what he is fleeing. But that not even of such men we ought to despair, this Psalm doth show.
Psalmus brevis est, de quo loquendum suscepimus Charitati Vestrae: sed titulum habet aliquantulum negotiosum. Patienter ergo sustinete nos, donec illum enodemus, ut possumus, quantum adjuverit Dominus. Neque enim passim praetereunda sunt haec; quandoquidem placuit fratribus, non tantum aure et corde, sed et stylo excipienda quae dicimus: ut non auditorem tantum, sed et lectorem etiam cogitare debeamus. Nata est quidem occasio psalmo huic ex re quadam gesta, quam vobis etiam fecimus recitari de libro Regnorum. Saül enim rex non ad permanendum electus a Domino, sed secundum populi cor durum et malum datus ad eorum correptionem, non ad utilitatem , secundum illam sententiam sanctarum Scripturarum, quae ait de Deo, Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam, propter perversitatem populi : cum ergo talis esset Saül, persequebatur David , in quo Deus praefigurabat regnum salutis aeternae, et quem Deus elegerat permansurum in semine suo; quandoquidem futurus erat rex noster, rex saeculorum cum quo regnaturi sumus in aeternum, ex semine ipsius David secundum carnem . Cum ergo David Deus elegisset, et praeelegisset, et praedestinasset ad regnum, noluit et ipsum David ante regnum tenere, quam primo a persequentibus liberaret; ut etiam in hoc ipso figuraret nos, id est corpus ejus, cujus corporis caput Christus . Porro enim si ipsum caput nostrum sine primo peracto labore in terra, in coelo regnare noluit, neque levare sursum corpus quod deorsum accepit, nisi per tribulationis viam; quid audent membra sperare, capite suo magis se posse esse felicia? Si patremfamilias Beelzebub vocaverunt, quanto magis domesticos ejus ? Non ergo speremus molliorem viam: qua praecessit eamus, qua duxit sequamur. Si enim a vestigio ejus aberravimus, perimus. In hoc ergo David quid praefigurabatur, videtis: ergo et in Saül quid praefigurabatur, videtis: regnum malum in Saül, regnum bonum in David: mors in Saül, et vita in David. Etenim nos non persequitur nisi mors, de qua in fine triumphabimus, dicentes: Ubi est, mors, contentio tua? ubi est, mors, aculeus tuus ? Quid est quod dico, non nos persequitur nisi mors? Quia nisi mortales essemus, non esset quod nobis faceret inimicus. Numquid enim Angelis quidquam facit? Ergo etiam ipsa mors, a qua maxime habemus persecutionem, cujus finitur in fine contentio cum resurrexerimus a mortuis, sicut finita est in capite nostro, sic finietur et in nobis, si justi fuerimus inventi. Nam mortuus ille mortis interfector fuit, et magis in illo mors mortua est, quam ipse in morte.
51.2 PL 36, 600
2. For there is written over it the title thereof, “A Psalm of David himself, when there came to him Nathan the prophet, when he went in unto Bersabee.” Bersabee was a woman, wife of another. With grief indeed we speak, and with trembling; but yet God would not have to be hushed what He hath willed to be written. I will say then not what I will, but what I am obliged; I will say not as one exhorting to imitation, but as one instructing you to fear. Captivated with this woman’s beauty, the wife of another, the king and prophet David, from whose seed according to the flesh the Lord was to come, committed adultery with her. This thing in this Psalm is not read, but in the title thereof it appeareth; but in the book of Kings it is more fully read. Both Scriptures are canonical, to both without any doubt by Christians credit must be given. The sin was committed, and was written down. Moreover her husband in war he caused to be killed: and after this deed there was sent to him Nathan the prophet; sent by the Lord, to reprove him for so great an outrage.
Denique etiam nomen ipsum si attendamus, non est sine mysterio. Nam Saül interpretatur Petitio, hoc est appetitio. Quid enim dubitare debemus nos nobis fecisse mortem istam? A peccato enim hominis nata est mors. Merito ergo ipse sibi homo appetivit mortem, et ideo petitio nomen est mortis. Nam sicut scriptum est, Deus mortem non fecit, nec laetatur in perditione vivorum. Creavit enim Deus ut essent omnia, et sanabiles fecit nationes orbis terrarum. Et unde mors tanquam quaereres: Impii autem manibus, inquit, et verbis accersierunt illam, et aestimantes illam amicam defluxerunt . Ergo appetendo illam defluxerunt, et in mortem irruerunt, aestimantes illam sibi esse amicam: quomodo aestimavit populus amicum, et petivit regem inimicum. Extorsit enim populus a Domino habere regem, et datus est Saül, tanquam dati essent illi in manus suas, qui manibus et verbis accersierunt mortem, et figurata est in ipso Saüle ipsa mors. Ideo psalmus ille septimus decimus sic habet titulum: In die qua liberavit eum Dominus de manu omnium inimicorum ejus, et de manu Saül. Dixit primo, omnes inimicos ejus; et postea, de manu Saül: quia novissima inimica destruetur mors . Quid est, Et de manu Saül? Quoniam exemit nos ab inferis et de manu mortis liberavit nos.
51.3 PL 36, 601
3. What men should beware of, we have said; but what if they shall have fallen they should imitate, let us hear. For many men will to fall with David, and will not to rise with David. Not then for falling is the example set forth, but if thou shalt have fallen for rising again. Take heed lest thou fall. Not the delight of the younger be the lapse of the elder, but be the fall of the elder the dread of the younger. For this it was set forth, for this was written, for this in the Church often read and chanted: let them hear that have not fallen, lest they fall; let them hear that have fallen, that they may rise. So great a man’s sin is not hushed, is proclaimed in the Church. There men hear that are ill hearers, and seek for themselves countenance for sinning: they look out for means whereby they may defend what they have made ready to commit, not how they may beware of what they have not committed, and they say to themselves, If David, why not I too? Thence that soul is more unrighteous, which, forasmuch as it hath done it because David did, therefore hath done worse than David. I will say this very thing, if I shall be able, more plainly. David had set forth to himself none for a precedent as thou hast: he had fallen by lapse of concupiscence, not by the countenance of holiness: thou dost set before thine eyes as it were a holy man, in order that thou mayest sin: thou dost not copy his holiness, but dost copy his fall. Thou dost love that in David, which in himself David hated: thou makest thee ready to sin, thou inclinest to sin: in order that thou mayest sin thou consultest the book of God: the Scriptures of God for this thou hearest, that thou mayest do what displeaseth God. This did not David; he was reproved by a Prophet, he stumbled not over a Prophet. But others hearing to their health, by the fall of a strong man measure their weakness: and desiring to avoid what God condemneth, from careless looking do restrain their eyes. Them they fix not upon the beauty of another’s flesh, nor make themselves careless with perverse simpleness; they say not, “With good intent I have observed, of kindness I have observed, of charity I have long looked.” For they set before themselves the fall of David, and they see that this great man for this purpose hath fallen, in order that little men may not be willing to look on that whereby they may fall. For they restrain their eyes from wantonness, not readily do they join themselves in company, they do not mingle with strange women, they raise not complying eyes to strange balconies, to strange terraces. For from afar David saw her with whom he was captivated. Woman afar, lust near. What he saw was elsewhere, in himself that whereby he fell. This weakness of the flesh must be therefore minded, the words of the Apostle recollected, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.” He hath not said, let there not be; but, “let there not reign.” There is sin in thee, when thou takest pleasure; there reigneth, if thou shalt have consented. Carnal pleasure, especially if proceeding unto unlawful and strange objects, is to be bridled, not let loose: by government to be tamed, not to be set up for government. Look and be without care, if thou hast nothing whereby thou mayest be moved. But thou makest answer, “I contain with strong resolution.” Art thou any wise stronger than David?
Cum ergo Saül persequeretur virum sanctum David, confugit David ubi tutum putavit: transiens per sacerdotem quemdam Achimelech, accepit ab eo panes. Ubi figuravit etiam personam, non tantum regis, sed et sacerdotis: quia manducavit panes propositionis, quos, sicut dicit Dominus in Evangelio, non licebat manducare nisi solis sacerdotibus . Postea coepit eum quaerere Saül, et iratus est suis quod nemo eum sibi vellet prodere. Hoc modo lectum est in libro Regnorum. Erat autem ibi Doech quidam, quando venerat ille ad Achimelech sacerdotem, princeps pastorum Saül, Idumaeus. Qui cum adesset quando Saül irascebatur suis, quod nullus illi vellet prodere David, prodidit ubi eum vidisset. Misit continuo Saül, exhibuit sacerdotem et omnes ejus, et jussit occidi. Nemo ausus est hominum regis Saül, nec jubente rege, mittere manum in sacerdotes Domini: sed ille qui prodiderat, sicut Judas, qui a proposito suo non recessit, et usque in finem perseveravit de illa radice fructus ferre, (quales, nisi quales fert arbor mala?) occidit Doech iste manu sua, jubente rege, sacerdotem et omnes ejus: deinde debellata est civitas etiam sacerdotum . Invenimus ergo Doech istum inimicum regi David et sacerdoti Achimelech. Unus homo est Doech, sed genus hominum est Doech: sicut David et corpus ipsum regis et sacerdotis, tanquam unus homo et duae personae, sed tamen unum genus hominum. Proinde in isto tempore, et in isto saeculo videamus haec duo genera, ut pertineat ad utilitatem nostram, vel quod cantamus, vel quod cantari audimus. Modo videamus Doech, modo videamus corpus regis et sacerdotis, modo videamus corpus hominum adversus regem et sacerdotem.
51.4 PL 36, 601
4. He admonisheth, moreover, by such an example, that no one ought to lift himself up in prosperous circumstances. For many fear adverse circumstances, fear not prosperous circumstances. Prosperity is more perilous to soul than adversity to body. First, prosperity doth corrupt, in order that adversity may find something to break. My brethren, stricter watch must be kept against felicity. Wherefore, see ye after what manner the saying of God amid our own felicity doth take from us security: “Serve ye,” He saith, “the Lord in fear, and exult unto Him with trembling.” In exultation, in order that we may render thanks; in trembling, lest we fall. This sin did not David, when he was suffering Saul for persecutor. When holy David was suffering Saul his enemy, when he was being vexed by his persecutions, when he was fleeing through divers places, in order that he might not fall into his hands, he lusted not for her that was another’s, he slew not husband after committing adultery with wife. He was in the infirmity of his tribulation so much the more intimate with God as he seemed more miserable. Something useful is tribulation; useful the surgeon’s lancet rather than the devil’s temptation. He became secure when his enemies were overthrown, pressure was removed, swelling grew out. This example therefore doth avail to this end, that we should fear felicity. “Tribulation,” he saith, “and grief I found, and on the name of the Lord I called.”
Primo nomina ipsa attendite quam mystica sint. Doech interpretatur Motus: Idumaeus interpretatur Terrenus. Jam videte quale genus hominum significet Doech iste motus: non ergo perseverans in aeternum, sed emigrandus. Terrenus: quid exspectatis de homine terreno aliquos fructus? Coelestis homo erit in aeternum. Est ergo regnum terrenum, ut breviter dicam et cito insinuem, hodie in isto saeculo, ubi est et regnum coeleste. Peregrinos habet cives suos utrumque regnum, regnum terrenum et regnum coeleste, regnum eradicandum et regnum in aeternum plantandum. Modo in hoc saeculo cives utriusque regni permixti sunt: corpus regni terreni, et corpus regni coelestis commixtum est. Regnum coeleste gemit inter cives regni terreni, et aliquando (nam et hoc tacendum non est) quodammodo regnum terrenum angariat cives regni coelorum, et regnum coeleste angariat cives regni terreni. Utrumque vobis de Scriptura Dei demonstrabimus. Daniel et tres pueri in Babylonia praepositi sunt negotiis regis : Joseph in Aegypto secundus a rege positus est administrare rempublicam , de qua republica erat populus ille Dei liberandus: in ipsa republica angariam quodammodo faciebat Joseph, sicut illi tres pueri, sicut Daniel. Manifestum est ergo quod usurparat sibi ad opera sua, id est ad opera regni sui, non ad facta sua mala, regnum terrenum cives regni coelorum. Quid et regnum coelorum, quomodo usurpat in hoc saeculo ad tempus cives regni terreni? Nonne de his Apostolus dicit, quod non caste Evangelium annuntiabant, sed terrena desiderantes regnum coelorum praedicabant; sua quaerebant, et Christum annuntiabant? Et ut noveritis quod et ipsi ad opus regni coelorum, tanquam mercenarii assumpti sunt, Apostolus gaudens de illis dicit: Sunt qui per invidiam et contentionem Christum annuntiant non caste, existimantes tribulationem se suscitare vinculis meis. Quid enim dum omni modo sive per occasionem sive per veritatem Christus annuntietur? Et in hoc gaudeo, sed et gaudebo . De talibus etiam Christus annuntiat, dicens: Pharisaei et Scribae super cathedram Moysi sederunt. Quae dicunt, facite; quae autem faciunt, facere nolite: dicunt enim, et non faciunt . Quae dicunt, pertinent ad David; quae autem faciunt, pertinent ad Doech. Per illos me audite, illos imitari nolite. Ista duo genera hominum sunt hodie in terra. De his duobus generibus hominum cantat psalmus iste.
51.5 PL 36, 602
5. But it was done; I would say these words to those that have not done the like, in order that they should watch to keep their uncorruptness, and that while they take heed how a great one has fallen, they that be small should fear. But if any that hath already fallen heareth these words, and that hath in his conscience any evil thing; to the words of this Psalm let him advert; let him heed the greatness of the wound, but not despair of the majesty of the Physician. Sin with despair is certain death. Let no one therefore say, If already any evil thing I have done, already I am to be condemned: God pardoneth not such evil things, why add I not sins to sins? I will enjoy this word in pleasure, in wantonness, in wicked cupidity: now hope of amendment having been lost, let me have even what I see, if I cannot have what I believe. This Psalm then, while it maketh heedful those that have not believed, so doth not will them that have fallen to be despaired of. Whoever thou art that hast sinned, and hesitatest to exercise penitence for thy sin, despairing of thy salvation, hear David groaning. To thee Nathan the prophet hath not been sent, David himself hath been sent to thee. Hear him crying, and with him cry: hear him groaning, and with him groan; hear him weeping, and mingle tears; hear him amended, and with him rejoice. If from thee sin could not be excluded, be not hope of pardon excluded. There was sent to that man Nathan the prophet, observe the king’s humility. He rejected not the words of him giving admonition, he said not, Darest thou speak to me, a king? An exalted king heard a prophet, let His humble people hear Christ.
[vers. 1, 2.] Habet autem Psalmi titulus: In finem intellectus David, cum venit Doech Idumaeus, et nuntiavit Saül: Venit David in domum Abimelech: cum legamus eum venisse in domum Achimelech. Et fortasse quod non absurde sentimus propter similitudinem nominis, et unius syllabae differentiam, vel potius unius litterae, variati sunt tituli. In codicibus tamen Psalmorum cum inspiceremus, magis Abimelech quam Achimelech invenimus. Et quoniam in alio loco habes evidentissimum psalmum, non dissimilitudinem nominis, sed prorsus diversum nomen insinuantem; quandoquidem David ante regem Achis, non ante regem Abimelech immutavit faciem suam, et dimisit eum, et abiit: titulus autem Psalmi sic scriptus est, Quando immutavit vultum suum coram Abimelech : ipsa magis mutatio nominis in mysterium facit intentos, ne tanquam res historiae persequaris, et sacrata vela contemnas. Discussum nomen in psalmo illo, quod est Abimelech, invenitur interpretatum, Patris mei regnum. Quomodo autem patris sui regnum dimisit David, et abiit, nisi quomodo Christus regnum Judaeorum dimisit, et ad Gentes transivit? Hinc fortassis etiam propheticus spiritus adscribens titulum psalmo huic, voluit ut non diceret Achimelech, sed Abimelech, quia quando venit David ad patris sui regnum, tunc est proditus; hoc est quando venit Dominus noster Jesus Christus ad regnum Judaeorum institutum a Patre suo, de quo dicit, Auferetur a vobis regnum Dei, et dabitur genti facienti fructus ejus et justitiam , tunc est proditus morti, quam significat Saül. Non est autem occisus, sicut nec Isaac, cum et ipse passionem Domini figuraret; nec tamen sine sanguine figura transacta est, vel ibi illius arietis , vel hic Achimelech sacerdotis. Neque enim occidi oportuit eos, quos tunc resurgere non oportebat: sed eorum vitam a mortis periculo, verumtamen effuso sanguine, liberans Jesus resurrectionem potius significabat, quae hoc modo in illis figurabatur, quia vero Domino servabatur. Plura hinc dici possent, si illarum rerum gestarum in hoc sermone suscepissemus tractanda mysteria.
51.6 PL 36, 603
6. Hear therefore these words, and say thou with him: “Have pity upon me, O God, after Thy great mercy” (ver. 1). He that imploreth great mercy, confesseth great misery. Let them seek a little mercy of Thee, that have sinned in ignorance: “Have pity,” he saith, “upon me, after Thy great mercy.” Relieve a deep wound after Thy great healing. Deep is what I have, but in the Almighty I take refuge. Of my own so deadly wound I should despair, unless I could find so great a Physician. “Have pity upon me, O God, after Thy great mercy: and after the multitude of Thy pities, blot out my iniquity.” What he saith, “Blot out my iniquity,” is this, “Have pity upon me, O God.” And what he saith, “After the multitude of Thy pities,” is this, “After Thy great mercy.” Because great is the mercy, many are the mercies; and of Thy great mercy, many are Thy pitying. Thou dost regard mockers to amend them, dost regard ignorant men to teach them, dost regard men confessing to pardon. Did he this in ignorance? A certain man had done some, aye many evil things he had done; “Mercy,” he saith, “I obtained, because ignorant I did it in unbelief.” This David could not say, “Ignorant I did it.” For he was not ignorant how very evil a thing was the touching of another’s wife, and how very evil a thing was the killing of the husband, who knew not of it, and was not even angered. They obtain therefore the mercy of the Lord that have in ignorance done it; and they that have knowing done it, obtain not any mercy it may chance, but “great mercy.”
Nunc jam audiamus ista duo genera hominum, quandoquidem de titulo isto, etsi operosius et fortasse loquacius, tamen ut Dominus concessit, exitum est. Duo genera hominum attendite: unum laborantium, alterum eorum inter quos laboratur; unum de terra, alterum de coelo cogitantium; unum in profundum cor mittentium, alterum cor Angelis conjungentium; unum sperantium de terrenis quibus pollet hic mundus, alterum praesumentium de coelestibus quae promisit non mendax Deus. Sed mixta sunt ista genera hominum. Invenimus modo civem Jerusalem, civem regni coelorum administrare aliquid in terra; ut puta, purpuram gerit, magistratus est, aedilis est, proconsul est, imperator est, rempublicam gerit terrenam: sed cor sursum habet, si christianus est, si fidelis est, si pius est, si contemnens in quibus est, et sperat in quo nondum est. De quo genere fuit illa sancta mulier Esther, quae cum esset uxor regis, ventum est ad periculum deprecandi pro civibus suis; et cum oraret coram Deo, ubi mentiri non posset, in oratione sua dixit, ita sibi fuisse illa ornamenta regalia sicut pannum menstruatae . Non ergo desperemus de civibus regni coelorum, quando eos videmus aliqua gerere Babyloniae negotia, aliquid terrenum in republica terrena: nec rursus continuo gratulemur omnibus hominibus quos videmus agere negotia coelestia; quia et filii pestilentia sedent aliquando in cathedra Moysi, de quibus dicitur, Quae dicunt facite; quae autem faciunt, facere nolite: dicunt enim, et non faciunt. Illi in terrenis rebus levant cor in coelum, isti in coelestibus verbis trahunt cor in terra. Veniet autem tempus ventilabri, quando utrumque diligentissime discernatur, ne granum aliquod transeat in acervum paleae comburendum, ne una stipula transeat ad massam in horreo recondendam . Quamdiu ergo nunc permixtum est, audiamus hinc vocem nostram, id est civium regni coelorum (hoc enim affectare debemus, tolerare hic malos, quam tolerari a bonis); et conjungamus nos huic voci, et aure, et lingua, et corde, et opere. Quod si fecerimus, nos hic loquimur in his quae audimus. Dicatur ergo primo de corpore malo regni terreni.
51.7 PL 36, 604
7. “More and more wash me from mine unrighteousness” (ver. 2). What is, “More and more wash”? One much stained. More and more wash the sins of one knowing. Thou that hast washed off the sins of one ignorant. Not even thus is it to be despaired of Thy mercy. “And from my delinquency purge Thou me.” According to the manner in which He is physician, offer a recompense. He is God, offer sacrifice. What wilt thou give that thou mayest be purged? For see upon whom thou callest; upon a Just One thou callest. He hateth sins, if He is just; He taketh vengeance upon sins, if He is just; thou wilt not be able to take away from the Lord God His justice: entreat mercy, but observe the justice: there is mercy to pardon the sinner, there is justice to punish the sin. What then? Thou askest mercy; shall sin unpunished abide? Let David answer, let those that have fallen answer, answer with David, and say, No, Lord, no sin of mine shall be unpunished; I know the justice of Him whose mercy I ask: it shall not be unpunished, but for this reason I will not that Thou punish me, because I punish my sin: for this reason I beg that Thou pardon, because I acknowledge.
[vers. 3.] Quid gloriatur in malitia qui potens est? Attendite, fratres mei, gloriam malignitatis, gloriam hominum malorum. Quae est gloria? Quid gloriatur in malitia qui potens est? id est, qui in malitia potens est, quid gloriatur? Opus est potentem esse, sed in bonitate, non in malitia. Aliquid magnum est gloriari in malitia? Aedificare domum paucorum est, destruere quivis ignarus potest. Seminare frumenta, excolere segetem, exspectare donec maturescat, et in ejus fructu in quo laboravit gaudere, paucorum est: una scintilla omnem segetem incendere quivis potest. Suscipere infantem, natum nutrire, educare, ad juvenilem aetatem perducere, magnum officium est: occidere illum uno puncto temporis quivis potest. Ergo ea quae ad destructionem fiunt, facillime fiunt. Qui gloriatur, in Domino glorietur : qui gloriatur, in bonitate glorietur. Gloriaris, quia potens es in malo. Quid facturus es, o potens, quid facturus es, multum te jactans? Occisurus es hominem: hoc et scorpius, hoc et una febris, hoc et fungus malus. Hucne redacta est omnis potentia tua, ut malo fungo coaequetur? Hoc ergo faciunt boni cives Jerusalem, qui non in malitia, sed in bonitate gloriantur: primo ut non in se, sed in Domino glorientur; deinde ut ea quae ad aedificationem faciunt, studiose faciant, et talia faciant quae valeant ad permanendum; quae autem faciunt ad destructionem, faciant propter disciplinam proficientium, non propter oppressionem innocentium. Huic ergo potentiae comparatum corpus illud terrenum, quare non audiat ex his verbis, Quid gloriatur in malitïa qui potens est?
51.8 PL 36, 604
8. “For mine iniquity I acknowledge, and my delinquency is before me ever” (ver. 3). I have not put behind my back what I have done, I look not at others, forgetful of myself, I pretend not to pull out a straw from my brother’s eye, when there is a beam in my eye; my sin is before me, not behind me. For it was behind me when to me was sent the Prophet, and set before me the parable of the poor man’s sheep. For saith Nathan the Prophet to David, “There was a certain rich man having very many sheep; but a poor man his neighbour had one little ewe sheep, which in his bosom and of his own food he was feeding: there came a stranger to the rich man, nothing from his flock he took, for the lithe ewe sheep of the poor man his neighbour he lusted; her he slew for the stranger: what doth he deserve?” But the other being angry doth pronounce sentence: then the king, evidently knowing not wherein he had been taken, declared the rich man deserving of death, and that the sheep be restored fourfold. Most sternly and most justly. But his sin was not yet before him, behind his back was what he had done: his own iniquity he did not yet acknowledge, and therefore another’s he did not pardon. But the Prophet, being for this purpose sent, took from his back the sin, and before his eyes placed it, so that he might see that sentence so stern to have been pronounced against himself. For cutting and healing his heart’s wound, he made a lancet of his tongue.…
[vers. 4.] In iniquitate tota die injustitiam cogitavit lingua tua. In iniquitate tota die, id est toto tempore, sine lassitudine, sine intervallo, sine pausatione. Et quando non facis, cogitas; ut quando aliquid mali abest a manibus, a corde non absit: aut facis malum, aut dum non potes facere, dicis malum, hoc est, maledicis: aut quando nec hoc potes, vis et cogitas malum. Tota die ergo, id est sine intermissione. Exspectamus huic homini poenam. Parva sibi poena est? Minaris ei: tu eum ei minaris, quo cum vis mittere in malum? Dimitte illum in se. Ut multum saevias, subjecturus es bestiis: in seipsum pejor est bestiis. Bestia enim lacerare corpus ejus potest: ipse cor suum sanum relinquere non potest. Interius in se ipse saevit, et tu exterius plagas inquiris? Imo ora Deum pro illo, ut liberetur a se. Verumtamen in hoc psalmo, fratres mei, non oratio est pro malis, aut contra malos, sed prophetia quid sit eventurum malis. Non itaque putetis ex malevolentia Psalmum aliquid dicere: dicitur enim in spiritu prophetiae.
51.9 PL 36, 605
9. “Against Thee alone have I sinned, and before Thee an evil thing have I done” (ver. 4). What is this? For before men was not another’s wife debauched and husband slain? Did not all men know what David had done? What is, “Against Thee alone have I sinned, and before Thee an evil thing have I done.” Because Thou alone art without sin. He is a just punisher that hath nothing in Him to be punished; He is a just reprover that hath nothing in Him to be reproved. “That thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and conquer when Thou art judged.” To whom he speaketh, brethren, to whom he speaketh, is difficult to understand. To God surely he speaketh, and it is evident that God the Father is not judged. What is, “And conquer when Thou art judged”? He seeth the future Judge to be judged, one just by sinners to be judged, and therein conquering, because in Him was nothing to be judged. For alone among men could truly say the God-Man, “If ye have found in Me sin, say.” But perchance there was what escaped men, and they found not what was really there, but was not manifest. In another place He saith, “Behold there cometh the Prince of the world,” being an acute observer of all sins; “Behold,” He saith, “there cometh the Prince of this world,” with death afflicting sinners, presiding over death: for, “By the malice of the devil death came into the world.” “Behold,” He saith, “there cometh the Prince of the world:”—He said these words close upon His Passion:—“and in Me he shall find nothing,” nothing of sin, nothing worthy of death, nothing worthy of condemnation. And as if it were said to Him, Why then dost Thou die? He continueth and saith, “But that all men may know that I do the will of My Father; arise, let us go hence.” I suffer, He saith, undeserving, for men deserving, in order that them I may make deserving of My Life, for whom I undeservedly suffer their death. To Him then, having no sin, saith on the present occasion the Prophet David, “Against Thee only have I sinned, and before Thee an evil thing have I done, that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and conquer when Thou art judged.” For Thou overcomest all men, all judges; and he that deemeth himself just, before Thee is unjust: Thou alone justly judgest, having been unjustly judged, That hast power to lay down Thy life, and hast power again to take it. Thou conquerest, then, when Thou art judged. All men Thou overcomest, because Thou art more than men, and by Thee were men made.
Quid ergo sequitur? Tota potentia tua, et tota cogitatio iniquitatis tota die, et meditatio malignitatis in lingua tua sine intermissione, quid egit? quid fecit? Sicut novacula acuta fecisti dolum. Ecce quid faciunt sanctis mali; capillos radunt. Quid est quod dixi? Si sint tales cives Jerusalem qui audiant vocem Domini sui, regis sui dicentis, Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt, animam autem non possunt occidere ; qui audiant vocem, quae modo ex Evangelio recitata est, Quid prodest homini si totum mundum lucretur, se autem ipsum detrimentum faciat , contemnunt omnia praesentia bona, insuper et ipsam vitam. Et quid factura est novacula Doech homini meditanti in hac terra regnum coelorum; et futuro in regno coelorum, habenti secum Deum, et permansuro cum Deo? quid est factura illa novacula? Capillos rasura, calvum factura est. Et hoc ad Christum pertinet, qui in loco Calvariae crucifixus est. Facit et filium Core, quod interpretatur Calvitium. Nam isti capilli superflua rerum temporalium significant. Qui quidem capilli non superflue facti sunt a Deo in corpore hominum, sed ad aliquod ornamentum: tamen quia sine sensu praeciduntur, illi qui haerent corde in Domino, sic habent ista terrena tanquam capillos. Sed aliquando et aliquid boni de capillis operandum est, quando frangis panem esurienti, egenum sine lecto inducis in domum tuam, si videris nudum, vestis : postremo etiam ipsi martyres imitantes Dominum, sanguinem pro Ecclesia fundentes, audientes vocem illam, Sicut Christus animam suam pro nobis posuit, sic et nos debemus pro fratribus animas ponere , quodammodo de capillis suis bene nobis fecerunt, id est de his rebus quas potest amputare vel radere illa novacula. Quia ergo et de ipsis capillis boni aliquid fieri potest significavit et illa mulier peccatrix, quae cum flevisset super pedes Domini, capillis suis tersit, quos lacrymis rigavit . Quid significans? Quia cum misertus fueris alicujus, debes et subvenire, si potes. Cum enim misereris, tanquam lacrymas fundis: cum subvenis, capillis tergis. Et si hoc cuicumque, quanto magis pedibus Domini? Qui sunt pedes Domini? Evangelistae sancti, de quibus dictum est, Quam speciosi sunt pedes eorum qui annuntiant pacem, qui annuntiant bona ! Ergo acuat sicut novaculam linguam suam Doech; acuat dolum quantum potest: ablaturus est superflua temporalia; numquid necessaria sempiterna?
51.10 PL 36, 606
10. “For, behold, in iniquities I was conceived” (ver. 5). As though he were saying, They are conquered that have done what thou, David, hast done: for this is not a little evil and little sin, to wit, adultery and man-slaying. What of them that from the day that they were born of their mother’s womb, have done no such thing? even to them dost thou ascribe some sins, in order that He may conquer all men when He beginneth to be judged. David hath taken upon him the person of mankind, and hath heeded the bonds of all men, hath considered the offspring of death, hath adverted to the origin of iniquity, and he saith, “For, behold, in iniquities I was conceived.” Was David born of adultery; being born of Jesse, a righteous man, and his own wife? What is it that he saith himself to have been in iniquity conceived, except that iniquity is drawn from Adam? Even the very bond of death, with iniquity itself is engrained? No man is born without bringing punishment, bringing desert of punishment. A Prophet saith also in another place, “No one is clean in Thy sight, not even an infant, whose life is of one day upon earth.” For we know both by the Baptism of Christ that sins are loosed, and that the Baptism of Christ availeth the remission of sins. If infants are every way innocent, why do mothers run with them when sick to the Church? What by that Baptism, what by that remission is put away? An innocent one I see that rather weeps than is angry. What doth Baptism wash off? what doth that Grace loose? There is loosed the offspring of sin. For if that infant could speak to thee, it would say, and if it had the understanding which David had, it would answer thee, Why heedest thou me, an infant? Thou dost not indeed see my actions: but I in iniquity have been conceived, “And in sins hath my mother nourished me in the womb.”
Apart from this bond of mortal concupiscence was Christ born without a male, of a virgin conceiving by the Holy Ghost. He cannot be said to have been conceived in iniquity, it cannot be said, In sins His mother nourished Him in the womb, to whom was said, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Virtue of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” It is not therefore because it is sin to have to do with wives that men are conceived in iniquity, and in sins nourished in the womb by their mother; but because that which is made is surely made of flesh deserving punishment. For the punishment of the flesh is death, and surely there is in it liability to death itself. Whence the Apostle spoke not of the body as if to die, but as if dead: “The body indeed is dead,” he saith, “because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” How then without bond of sin is born that which is conceived and sown of a body dead because of sin? This chaste operation in a married person hath not sin, but the origin of sin draweth with it condign punishment. For there is no husband that, because he is an husband, is not subject to death, or that is subject to death for any other reason but because of sin. For even the Lord was subject to death, but not on account of sin: He took upon Him our punishment, and so looseth our guilt. With reason then, “In Adam all die, but in Christ shall all be made alive.” For, “Through one man,” saith the Apostle, “sin hath entered into this world, and through sin death, and so hath passed unto all men, in that all have sinned.” Definite is the sentence: “In Adam,” he saith, “all have sinned.” Alone then could such an infant be innocent, as hath not been born of the work of Adam.
[vers. 5.] Dilexisti malitiam super benignitatem. Ante te erat benignitas, ipsam diligeres. Non enim aliquid eras erogaturus, aut quod diligeres de longinqua navigatione allaturus eras. Benignitas ante te, iniquitas ante te: compara, et elige. Sed forte habes oculum quo videas malignitatem, et non habes oculum quo videas benignitatem. Vae iniquo cordi! Quod pejus est, avertit se ne videat quod videre potest. Quid enim de talibus alio loco dictum est? Noluit intelligere ut bene ageret. Non enim dictum est, non potuit; sed noluit, inquit, intelligere ut bene ageret, clausit oculos a luce praesenti. Et quid sequitur? Iniquitatem meditatus est in cubili suo , hoc est in interiore secreto cordis sui. Tale quid objicitur huic Doech Idumaeo, maligno corpori, mortui terreno, non permanenti, non coelesti. Dilexisti malitiam super benignitatem. Nam vis nosse quam videat malus utrumque, et illud potius eligat, hinc se avertat? Quare clamat quando inique aliquid patitur? Quare tunc exaggerat quantum potest iniquitatem, et laudat benignitatem, reprehendens eum qui in illo operatus est malignitatem super benignitatem? Sit ergo regula sibi ad vivendum: de seipso judicabitur. Porro si faciat quod scriptum est, Diliges proximum tuum tanquam teipsum ; et, Quae vultis ut faciant vobis homines bona, haec et vos facite illis ; apud se habet unde noverit, quia quod in se non vult fieri, non debet facere alteri . Dilexisti malitiam super benignitatem. Inique, inordinate, perverse vis levare aquam super oleum; demergetur aqua, oleum supereminebit. Ponere vis sub tenebris lucem; fugabuntur tenebrae, lux manebit. Super coelum terram vis collocare; pondere suo cadet terra in locum suum. Tu ergo mergeris diligendo malitiam super benignitatem. Nam nunquam benignitatem malitia superabit. Dilexisti malitiam super benignitatem: iniquitatem magis quam loqui aequitatem. Ante te est aequitas, ante te est iniquitas: unam linguam habes, quo vis eam vertis; quare ergo potius ad iniquitatem, et non ad aequitatem? Cibos amaritudinis non das ventri tuo, et cibos iniquitatis das linguae tuae malignae? Sicut eligis quo vescaris, sic elige quod loquaris. Praeponis ergo iniquitatem aequitati, et praeponis malitiam benignitati: tu quidem praeponis, sed supra esse quid potest nisi benignitas et aequitas? Sed tu imponendo te quodammodo super ea quae necesse est ut deorsum eant, non illa facies esse supra bona, sed tu cum eis mergeris in mala.
51.11 PL 36, 606
11. “For, behold, truth Thou hast loved: uncertain and hidden things of Thy wisdom, Thou hast manifested to me” (ver. 6). That is, Thou hast not left unpunished even the sins of those whom Thou dost pardon. “Truth Thou hast loved:” so mercy Thou hast granted first, as that Thou shouldest also preserve truth. Thou pardonest one confessing, pardonest, but only if he punisheth himself: so there are preserved mercy and truth: mercy because man is set free; truth, because sin is punished. “Uncertain and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast manifested to me.” What “hidden things”? What “uncertain things”? Because God pardoneth even such. Nothing is so hidden, nothing so uncertain. For this uncertainty the Ninevites repented, for they said, though after the threatenings of the Prophet, though after that cry, “Three days and Nineve shall be overthrown:” they said to themselves, Mercy must be implored; they said in this sort reasoning among themselves, “Who knoweth whether God may turn for the better His sentence, and have pity?” It was “uncertain,” when it is said, “Who knoweth?” on an uncertainty they did repent, certain mercy they earned: they prostrated them in tears, in fastings, in sackcloth and ashes they prostrated them, groaned, wept, God spared. Nineve stood: was Nineve overthrown? One way indeed it seemeth to men, and another way it seemed to God. But I think that it was fulfilled that the Prophet had foretold. Regard what Nineve was, and see how it was overthrown; overthrown in evil, builded in good; just as Saul the persecutor was overthrown, Paul the preacher builded. Who would not say that this city, in which we now are, was happily overthrown, if all those madmen, leaving their triflings, were to run together to the Church with contrite heart, and were to call upon God’s mercy for their past doings? Should we not say, Where is that Carthage? Because there is not what there was, it is overthrown: but if there is what there was not, it is builded. So is said to Jeremiah, “Behold, I will give to thee to root up, to dig under, to overthrow, to destroy,” and again, “to build, and to plant.” Thence is that voice of the Lord, “I will smite and I will heal.” He smiteth the rottenness of the deed, He healeth the pain of the wound. Physicians do thus when they cut; they smite and heal; they arm themselves in order to strike, they carry steel, and come to cure. But because great were the sins of the Ninevites, they said, “Who knoweth?” This uncertainty had God disclosed to His servant David. For when he had said, before the Prophet standing and convicting him, “I have sinned:” straightway he heard from the Prophet, that is, from the Spirit of God which was in the Prophet, “Thy sin is put away from thee.” “Uncertain and hidden things” of His wisdom He manifested to him.
[vers. 6.] Propter hoc sequitur in Psalmo, Dilexisti omnia verba submersionis. Eripe ergo te, si potes, a submersione. Naufragium fugis, et plumbum amplecteris! Si non vis mergi, tabulam apprehende, ligno portare, crux te perducat. Nunc vero quia Doech es Idumaeus, motus et terrenus, quid facis? Dilexisti omnia verba submersionis, linguam dolosam. Haec praecessit, verba submersionis secuta sunt linguam dolosam. Quid est lingua dolosa? Ministra fallaciae est lingua dolosa, aliud in corde gestantium, aliud ore promentium. Sed in his subversio, in his submersio.
51.12 PL 36, 607
12. “Thou shalt sprinkle me,” he saith, “with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed” (ver. 7). Hyssop we know to be a herb humble but healing: to the rock it is said to adhere with roots. Thence in a mystery the similitude of cleansing the heart has been taken. Do thou also take hold, with the root of thy love, on thy Rock: be humble in thy humble God, in order that thou mayest be exalted in thy glorified God. Thou shalt be sprinkled with hyssop, the humility of Christ shall cleanse thee. Despise not the herb, attend to the efficacy of the medicine. Something further I will say, which we are wont to hear from physicians, or to experience in sick persons. Hyssop, they say, is proper for purging the lungs. In the lung is wont to be noted pride: for there is inflation, there breathing. It was said of Saul the persecutor as of Saul the proud, that he was going to bind Christians, breathing slaughter: he was breathing out slaughter, breathing out blood, his lung not yet cleansed. Hear also in this place one humbled, because with hyssop purged: “Thou shalt wash me,” that is, shalt cleanse me: “and above snow I shall be whitened.” “Although,” he saith, “your sins shall have been like scarlet, like snow I will whiten.” Out of such men Christ doth present to Himself a vesture without spot and wrinkle. Further, His vesture on the mount, which shone forth like whitened snow, signified the Church cleansed from every spot of sin.
[vers. 7.] Propterea Deus destruet te in finem: etsi nunc videris virere tanquam fenum in agro ante aestum solis. Omnis enim caro fenum, et claritas hominis ut flos feni: fenum aruit, et flos decidit; verbum autem Domini manet in aeternum . Ecce quo te teneas, ad quod manet in aeternum. Nam ad fenum et ad florem feni si te tenueris, quoniam fenum arescet, et flos decidet, destruet te Deus in finem: etsi non modo, certe in finem destruet, quando illud ventilabrum venerit, et acervus paleae a massa separatus fuerit. Nonne massa in horrea, et palea in ignem ? Nonne totus iste Doech ad sinistram stabit, quando dicturus est Dominus, Ite in ignem aeternum qui paratus est diabolo et angelis ejus ? Destruet ergo te Deus in finem: evellet te, et emigrabit te de tabernaculo tuo. Modo ergo Doech iste Idumaeus est in tabernaculo: sed servus non manet in domo in aeternum . Operatur et iste aliquid boni, etsi non factis suis, saltem verbis Dei, ut in Ecclesia quando sua quaerit , saltem quae Christi sunt dicat. Sed emigrabit te de tabernaculo tuo. Amen dico vobis, perceperunt mercedem suam . Et radicem tuam de terra viventium. Ergo in terra viventium nos debemus habere radicem. Radix nostra ibi sit. In occulto est radix: fructus videri possunt, radix videri non potest. Radix nostra charitas nostra, fructus nostri opera nostra: opus est ut opera tua de charitate procedant, tunc est radix tua in terra viventium. Inde eradicabitur iste Doech, nec omnino poterit ibi permanere, quia nec altius ibi fixit radicem: sed quomodo illa semina in petra, etsi radicem ejiciant, tamen quia humorem non habent, sole orto continuo arescunt . At vero illi qui altius figunt radicem, quid audiunt ab Apostolo? Flecto genua mea pro vobis ad Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ut sitis in charitate radicati et fundati. Et quia ibi jam radix, Ut possitis, inquit, comprehendere quae sit altitudo, latitudo, longitudo et profundum; scire etiam supereminentem scientiam charitatis Christi, ut impleamini in omnem plenitudinem Dei . Talibus fructibus digna est tanta radix, tam simplex, tam germinans, in germina tam alte fundata. At vero hujus radix eradicatur de terra viventium.
51.13 PL 36, 607
13. But where is humility from hyssop? Hear what followeth: “To my hearing Thou shall give exultation and gladness, and bones humbled shall exult” (ver. 8). I will rejoice in hearing Thee, not in speaking against Thee. Thou hast sinned, why defendest thou thyself? Thou wilt speak: suffer thou; hear, yield to divine words, lest thou be put to confusion, and be still more wounded: sin hath been committed, be it not defended: to confession let it come, not to defence. Thou engagest thyself as defender of thy sin, thou art conquered: no innocent patron hast thou engaged, thy defence is not profitable to thee. For who art thou that defendest thyself? Thou art meet to accuse thyself. Say not, either, “I have done nothing;” or, “What great thing have I done?” or, “Other men as well have done.” If in doing sin thou sayest thou hast done nothing, thou wilt be nothing, thou wilt receive nothing: God is ready to give indulgence, thou closest the door against thyself: He is ready to give, do not oppose the bar of defence, but open the bosom of confession. “To my hearing Thou shalt give exultation and gladness.”…
[vers. 8.] Et videbunt justi, et timebunt, et super eum ridebunt. Quando timebunt? quando ridebunt? Intelligamus ergo et discernamus duo ista tempora satis utiliter timendi et ridendi. Quamdiu enim sumus in hoc saeculo, nondum est ridendum, ne postea ploremus. Legimus quid servetur in finem huic Doech; legimus, et quia intelligimus et credimus, videmus, sed timemus. Hoc ergo dictum est, Videbunt justi, et timebunt. Quamdiu videmus quid eventurum sit in finem malis, quare timemus? Quia dixit Apostolus, In timore et tremore vestram ipsorum operamini salutem : quia dictum est in psalmo, Servite Domino in timore, et exsultate ei cum tremore . Quare, cum timore? Quapropter qui se putat stare, videat ne cadat . Quare, cum tremore? Quia dicit alibi: Fratres, si praeoccupatus fuerit homo in aliquo delicto, vos qui spirituales estis, instruite hujusmodi in spiritu lenitatis, intendens teipsum ne et tu tenteris . Ergo justi qui sunt modo, qui vivunt ex fide, sic vident istum Doech quid illi eventurum sit, ut tamen timeant et sibi: quid enim sunt hodie, sciunt; quid cras futuri sint, nesciunt. Modo ergo videbunt justi, et timebunt. Quando autem ridebunt? Quando transierit iniquitas, quando transvolaverit, sicut jam ex magna parte transvolavit tempus incertum, quando fugatae fuerint tenebrae hujus saeculi, in quibus modo non ambulamus nisi ad lucernam Scripturarum, et ideo timemus tanquam in nocte. Ambulamus enim ad prophetiam, de qua dicit apostolus Petrus: Habemus certiorem prophetiticum sermonem, cui bene facitis intendentes, sicut lucernae lucenti in obscuro loco, donec dies lucescat, et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris . Quamdiu ergo ad lucernam ambulamus, necesse est ut cum timore vivamus. Cum autem venerit dies noster, id est manifestatio Christi, de qua idem dicit Apostolus, Cum Christus apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso in gloria ; tunc justi ridebunt istum Doech. Non est enim jam subveniendi locus: non quomodo nunc, quando vides hominem injuste viventem, vis cum illo laborare ut corrigas; quia qui injustus est, conversus poterit justus esse, quomodo et justus aversus potest injustus esse. Itaque nec de te praesumas, nec de illo desperes; et da operam quantum potes, si benignus es, si non diligis malitiam super benignitatem, ut ambulantem hominem in via mala et errantem corrigas ad viam bonam. Tunc vero cum venerit judicii tempus, correctionis locus non erit, sed tantum damnationis: et erit ibi poenitentia, sed infructuosa, quia sera. Vis ut sit frutuosa? Non sit sera: hodie te corrige. Reus es, ille judex est: corrige reatum, et gaudebis ad judicem. Hodie enim hortatur te, ne judicet te; et qui judex tuus futurus est, ipse est hodie advocatus tuus. Tunc ergo, fratres, restat ridendi tempus. Nam ipsam irrisionem iniquorum quae futura est justis, significavit liber ille Sapientiae. In suis enim, in quorum animas transfert se sapientia, factura est quod dixit: Increpabam, et non exaudiebatis; loquebar, et meis sermonibus non intendebatis; et ego vestrae perditioni superridebo . Hoc fiet tunc a justis in istum Doech. Modo autem videamus et timeamus, ne hoc simus quod in eum dicimus: et si hoc eramus, hoc esse desinamus, ut modo timentes, postea rideamus.
51.14 PL 36, 609
14. “Turn Thou away Thy face from my sins, and all mine iniquities blot out” (ver. 9). For now bones humbled exult, now with hyssop cleansed, humble I have become. “Turn Thou away Thy face,” not from me, but “from my sins.” For in another place praying he saith, “Turn not away Thy face from me.” He that would not that God’s face be turned away from himself, would that God’s face be turned away from his sins. For to sin, when God turneth not Himself away, he adverteth: if he adverteth, he animadverteth. “And all mine iniquities blot out.” He is busied with that capital sin: he reckoneth on more, he would have all his iniquities to be blotted out: he relieth on the Physician’s hand, on that “great mercy,” upon which he hath called in the beginning of the Psalm: “All mine iniquities blot out.” God turneth away His face, and so blotteth out; by “turning away” His face, sins He blotteth out. By “turning towards,” He writeth them. Thou hast heard of Him blotting out by turning away, hear of Him by turning towards, doing what? “But the countenance of the Lord is upon men doing evil things, that He may destroy from the earth the remembrance of them:” He shall destroy the remembrance of them, not by “blotting out their sins.” But here he doth ask what? “Turn away Thy face from my sins.” Well he asketh. For he himself doth not turn away his face from his own sins, saying, “For my sin I acknowledge.” With reason thou askest and well askest, that God turn away from thy sin, if thou from thence dost not turn away thy face: but if thou settest thy sin at thy back, God doth there set His face. Do thou turn sin before thy face, if thou wilt that God thence turn away His face; and then safely thou askest, and He heareth.
[vers. 9.] Quid autem tunc dicent qui ridebunt? Et super eum ridebunt, et dicent: Ecce homo qui non posuit Deum adjutorem suum. Videte corpus terrenum. Quantum habebis, tantus eris. Proverbium avarorum, rapacium, innocentes opprimentium, res alienas invadentium, commendata negantium. Quale hoc proverbium? Quantum habebis, tantus eris; id est, quantum habueris pecuniae, quantum acquisieris, tanto plus poteris. Ecce homo qui non posuit Deum adjutorem suum, sed speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum. Non dicat pauper forte malus: Ego non sum de hoc corpore. Audivit enim Prophetam dicentem, Speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum: continuo si pauper est, attendit pannos suos, respexit juxta se forte divitem in populo Dei orantius vestitum, et ait in corde suo, De isto dicit, numquid de me? Noli inde te excipere, noli separare, nisi videris et timueris, ut postea rideas. Nam quid tibi prodest, si eges facultate et ardes cupiditate? Quando Dominus noster Jesus Christus abeunti a se illi diviti contristato dixerat, Vade, vende omnia quae habes, et da pauperibus, et habebis thesaurum in coelo: et veni, sequere me, et magnam desperationem divitibus praenuntiarat, ut diceret facilius posse camelum transire per foramen acus, quam divitem intrare in regnum coelorum; nonne continuo discipuli contristati sunt, dicentes apud seipsos: Quisnam poterit salvari ? Ergo quando dicebant, Quisnam poterit salvari? divites paucos attendebant; latebat eos tanta pauperum multitudo? Non sibi poterant dicere: Si difficile est, imo impossibile ut intrent divites in regnum coelorum, sicut impossibile est ut intret camelus per foramen acus, omnes pauperes intrent in regnum coelorum, divites soli excludantur? Quot sunt enim divites? At vero pauperum millia innumerabilia. Non enim tunicas inspecturi sumus in regno coelorum; sed vestis cujusque fulgor justitiae deputabitur: erunt ergo pauperes aequales Angelis Dei; induti stolis immortalitatis, fulgebunt, sicut sol in regno Patris sui : quid nobis est de divitibus paucis sollicitos esse aut laborare? Non hoc senserunt Apostoli: sed cum Dominus hoc dixisset, Facilius est camelum transire per foramen acus, quam divitem intrare in regnum coelorum: illi apud se direntes, Quisnam poterit salvari? quid attenderunt? Non facultates, sed cupiditates. Viderunt enim etiam ipsos pauperes, etsi non habentes pecuniam, tamen habere avaritiam. Et ut noveritis non pecuniam in divite, sed avaritiam condemnari, advertite quod dico: respicis illum divitem stantem juxta te; et forte in illo est pecunia et non est avaritia, in te non est pecunia et est avaritia. Pauper ulcerosus, aerumnosus, linctus a canibus, non habens opem, non habens escam, non habens forte ipsam vestem, ablatus est ab Angelis in sinum Abrahae . Eia tu pauper gaudes modo, numquidnam tibi et ulcera optanda sunt? Nonne patrimonium tuum sanitas est? Non est in hoc Lazaro meritum paupertatis, sed pietatis. Nam vides qui sublatus est, non vides quo sublatus est. Quis est sublatus ab Angelis? Pauper, aerumnosus, ulcerosus. Quo sublatus est? In sinum Abrahae. Lege Scripturas, et invenies divitem Abraham . Ut noveris, quia non divitiae culpantur: habebat Abraham multum auri, argenti, pecorum, familiae; dives erat, et in ejus sinum Lazarus pauper sublatus est. In sinum divitis pauper: an potius ambo Deo divites, ambo a cupiditate pauperes?
51.15 PL 36, 610
15. “A clean heart create in me, O God” (ver. 10). “Create”—he meant to say, “as it were begin something new.” But, because repentant he was praying (that had committed some sin, which before he had committed, he was more innocent), after what manner he hath said “create” he showeth. “And a right spirit renew in my inner parts.” By my doing, he saith, the uprightness of my spirit hath been made old and bowed. For he saith in another Psalm, “They have bowed my soul.” And when a man doth make himself stoop unto earthly lusts, he is “bowed” in a manner, but when he is made erect for things above, upright is his heart made, in order that God may be good to him. For, “How good is the God of Israel to the upright of heart!” Moreover, brethren, listen. Sometimes God in this world chastiseth for his sin him that He pardoneth in the world to come. For even to David himself, to whom it had been already said by the Prophet, “Thy sin is put away,” there happened certain things which God had threatened for that very sin. For his son Abessalom against him waged bloody war, and many ways humbled his father. He was walking in grief, in the tribulation of his humiliation, so resigned to God, that, ascribing to Him all that was just, he confessed that he was suffering nothing undeservedly, having now an heart upright, to which God was not displeasing. A slanderous person and one throwing in his teeth harsh curses he patiently heard, one of the soldiers on the opposite side, that were with his unnatural son. And when he was heaping curses upon the king, one of the companions of David, enraged, would have gone and smitten him; but he is kept back by David. And he is kept back how? For that he said, God sent him to curse me. Acknowledging his guilt he embraced his penance, seeking glory not his own, praising the Lord in that good which he had, praising the Lord in that which he was suffering, “blessing the Lord alway, ever His praise was in his mouth.” Such are all the upright in heart: not those crooked persons who think themselves upright and God crooked: who when they do any evil thing, rejoice; when they suffer any evil thing, blaspheme; nay, if set in tribulation and scourging, they say from their distorted heart, “O God, what have I done to Thee?” Truly it is because they have done nothing to God, for they have done all to themselves. “And an upright spirit, renew in my inner parts.”
Quid ergo in hoc Doech culpat Scriptura? Non dixit, Ecce homo qui fuit dives; sed, Ecce homo qui non posuit Deum adjutorem suum, sed speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum. Non quia habuit divitias, sed quia in ipsis speravit, et in Deo non speravit, ideo damnatur, ideo punitur, ideo movetur de tabernaculo, tanquam motus ille terrenus, sicut pulvis quem projicit ventus a facie terrae ; ideo exstirpatur radix ejus de terra viventium. Numquid huic similes sunt divites, de quibus Paulus apostolus loquitur: Praecipe divitibus hujus mundi, non superbe sapere, sicut Doech; neque sperare in incerto divitiarum, sicut ipse speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum; sed in Deo vivo, non quomodo iste qui non posuit Deum adjutorem suum? Denique illis quid praecepit? Divites sint in operibus bonis; facile tribuant, communicent . Et quid, si facile tribuerint, si communicaverint non habenti? Intrabunt per foramen acus? Intrabunt plane: nam et pro illis jam ipse camelus intravit. Ipse enim prior intravit, quem sicut camelum nemo sarcina passionis oneraret, nisi se ipse in terram deponeret. Quia et ipse hoc dixit, Quod hominibus impossibile est, Deo facile est . Damnetur ergo iste Doech, timeant de illo modo justi, rideant super eum postea justi. Merito enim damnatur, qui non posuit Deum adjutorem suum, sicut tu: qui forte habes pecuniam; sed de Deo praesumis, non de pecunia. Et speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum: similis factus est illis qui cum dicerent, Beatus populus cui haec sunt, id est ista terrena, retulit continuo iste qui insultat huic Doech, Beatus populus cujus est Dominus Deus ipsius. Nam illa in quibus dixerunt beatum populum, enumerat Psalmus. Locuti sunt enim tanquam filii alieni, tanquam iste Doech Idumaeus, id est terrenus: Os eorum locutum est vanitatem; dextera eorum, dextera iniquitatis. Quorum filii ipsorum sicut novellae constabilitae in juventute sua: filiae eorum compositae, et ornatae sicut similitudo templi: cellaria eorum plena, eructantia ex hoc in hoc: oves eorum fecundae, multiplicantes in exitibus suis; boves eorum crassi: non est ruina sepis, nec exitus, neque clamor in plateis eorum . Quasi magnam felicitatem videntur habere pacis terrenae. Sed ille qui terrenus est, etiam motus est, id est tanquam pulvis quem projicit ventus a facie terrae. Denique quid in illis reprehenditur? Non quia ista habuerint; nam et boni habent ista: sed quid? Hoc intendite; ne passim divites reprehendatis, et rursus ne de paupertate et de egestate praesumatis. Si enim non est praesumendum de divitiis, quanto magis non est praesumendum de paupertate, sed de Deo vivo? In quo ergo isti notantur? Quia beatum dixerunt populum cui haec sunt. Ideo filii alieni, ideo os eorum locutum est vanitatem, et dextera eorum dextera iniquitatis. Tu autem quid? Beatus populus cujus est Dominus Deus ipsius.
51.16 PL 36, 611
16. “Cast me not forth from Thy face” (ver. 11). Turn away Thy face from my sins: and “cast me not forth from Thy face.” Whose face he feareth, upon the face of the Same he calleth. “And Thy Holy Spirit take not away from me.” For in one confessing there is the Holy Spirit. Even now, to the gift of the Holy Spirit it belongeth, that what thou hast done displeaseth thee. The unclean spirit sins do please; the Holy One they displease. Though then thou still implore pardon, yet thou art joined to God on the other part, because the evil thing that thou hast committed displeaseth thee: for the same thing displeaseth both thee and Him. Now, to assail thy fever, ye are two, thou and the Physician. For the reason that there cannot be confession of sin and punishment of sin in a man of himself: when one is angry with himself, and is displeasing to himself, then it is not without the gift of the Holy Spirit, nor doth he say, Thy Holy Spirit give to me, but, “Take not away from me.”
[vers. 10.] Ergo isto damnato qui speravit in multitudine divitiarum suarum, et praevaluit in vanitate sua: quid enim vanius eo qui putat plus valere nummum quam Deum? Ergo isto damnato qui dixit beatum populum cui haec sunt: tu qui dicis, Beatus populos cujus est Dominus Deus ipsius, quid de te sentis? quid tibi speras? Ego autem, jam modo corpus illud audi; Ego autem sicut oliva fructifera in domo Dei. Non unus homo loquitur, sed oliva illa fructifera, unde amputati sunt superbi rami, et insertus humilis oleaster . Sicut oliva fructifera in domo Dei, speravi in misericordia Dei. Ille quid? In multitudine divitiarum suarum: ideo radix ejus evelletur de terra viventium. Ego autem quia sicut oliva fructifera in domo Dei, cujus radix nutritur, non eradicatur, speravi in misericordia Dei. Sed forte modo? Nam et hinc errant homines aliquando. Deum quidem colunt, et non sunt jam similes isti Doech: sed quamvis de Deo praesumant, ad temporalia tamen; ut dicant sibi, Colo Deum meum, qui me facturus est divitem in terra, qui mihi filios daturus est, qui mihi uxorem daturus est. Talia quidem non dat nisi Deus, sed non vult se propter talia diligi Deus. Ideo enim saepe ista dat et malis, ut aliud ab illo discant quaerere boni. Quomodo ergo tu dicis, Speravi in misericordia Dei? Forte ad temporalia adipiscenda? Imo in aeternum, et in saeculum saeculi. Quod dixit in aeternum, repetere voluit adjiciendo in saeculum saeculi, ut confirmaret ibi repetendo, quam fundatus esset in dilectione regni coelorum, et in spe aeternae felicitatis.
51.17 PL 36, 611
17. “Give back to me the exultation of Thy salvation” (ver. 12). “Give back” what I had; what by sinning I had lost: to wit, of Thy Christ. For who without Him can be made whole? Because even before that He was Son of Mary, “In the beginning He was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;” and so, by the holy fathers a future dispensation of flesh taken upon Him, was looked for; as is believed by us to have been done. Times are changed, not faith. “And with Principal Spirit confirm me.” Some have here understood the Trinity in God, Itself God; the dispensation of Flesh being excepted therefrom: since it is written, “God is a Spirit.” For that which is not body, and yet is, seemeth to exist in such sort as that it is spirit. Therefore some understand here the Trinity spoken of: “In upright Spirit,” the Son; in “Holy Spirit,” Holy Ghost; in “Principal Spirit,” Father. It is not any heretical opinion, therefore, whether this be so, or whether “upright Spirit” He would have to be taken of man himself (when He saith, “An upright spirit renew in my inner parts”), which I have bowed and distorted by sinning, so that in that case the Holy Spirit be Himself the Principal Spirit: which also he would not have to be taken away from him, and thereby would have himself to be confirmed therein.
[vers. 11.] Confitebor tibi in saeculum quoniam fecisti. Quid fecisti? Doech damnasti, David coronasti. Confitebor tibi in saeculum quoniam fecisti. Magna confessio, quoniam fecisti. Quid fecisti, nisi haec ipsa quae supra dicta sunt, ut tanquam oliva fructifera in domo Dei, sperarem in misericordia Dei, in aeternum, et in saeculum saeculi? Tu fecisti: impius justificare se non potest. Sed quis est qui justificat? Credenti, inquit, in eum qui justificat impium . Quid enim habes quod non accepisti? Si autem accepisti, quid gloriaris quasi non acceperis , quasi ex te habeas? Absit ut ego sic glorier, ait iste qui oppositus est contra Doech, qui tolerat Doech in terra, donec emigret ille de tabernaculo, et eradicetur de terra viventium. Non glorior quasi non acceperim, sed in Deo glorior. Et confitebor tibi quoniam fecisti, id est, quia tu fecisti, non ex meritis meis, sed ex misericordia tua. Ego enim quid feci? Si recolas, prius fui blasphemus et persecutor et injuriosus. Tu autem quid fecisti? Sed misericordiam consecutus sum, quia ignorans feci . Confitebor tibi in saeculum quoniam fecisti.
51.18 PL 36, 612
18. But see what he annexeth: “With Principal Spirit,” he saith, “confirm Thou me.” Wherein “confirm”? Because Thou hast pardoned me, because I am secure, that what Thou hast forgiven is not to be ascribed, on this being made secure and with this grace confirmed, therefore I am not ungrateful. But I shall do what? “I would teach unrighteous men Thy ways” (ver. 13). Being myself of the unrighteous (that is, one that was myself an unrighteous man, now no longer unrighteous; the Holy Spirit not having been taken away from me, and I being confirmed with Principal Spirit). “I would teach unrighteous men Thy ways.” What ways wilt thou teach unrighteous men? “And ungodly men to Thee shall be converted.” If David’s sin is counted for ungodliness, let not ungodly men despair of themselves, forasmuch as God hath spared an ungodly man; but let them take heed that to Him they be converted, that His ways they learn. But if David’s deed is not counted for ungodliness, but this is properly call ungodliness, namely, to apostatize from God, not to worship one God, or never to have worshipped, or to have forsaken, Him whom one did worship, then what he saith hath the force of superabundance, “And ungodly men shall to Thee be converted.” So full art thou of the fatness of mercy, that for those converted to Thee, not only sinners of any sort, but even ungodly, there is no cause for despair. Wherefore? That believing on Him that justifieth an ungodly man, their faith may be counted for righteousness.
Et exspectabo nomen tuum, quia jucundum es. Amarum est saeculum, sed nomen tuum jucundum. Et si dulcia quaedam sunt in saeculo, sed cum amaritudine digeruntur. Praeponitur nomen tuum, non solum magnitudine, sed etiam jucunditate. Narraverunt etenim mihi injusti delectationes suas, sed non sicut lex tua, Domine . Neque enim si nihil dulce esset martyribus, tantas tribulationum amaritudines aequo animo sustinerent. Amaritudo eorum a quovis sentiebatur, dulcedinem eorum non facile quisquam gustare poterat. Nomen ergo Dei jucundum est amantibus Deum super omnes jucunditates. Exspectabo nomen tuum, quia jucundum est. Et cui probas quia jucundum est? Da mihi palatum cui jucundum est. Lauda mel quantum potes, exaggera dulcedinem ejus quibus valueris verbis: homo nesciens quid sit mel, nisi gustaverit, quid dicas nescit. Ideo magis ad experimentum te invitans psalmus, quid ait? Gustate, et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus . Gustare non vis, et dicis, Jucundum est? Quid jucundum est? Si gustasti, in fructu tuo inveniatur, non in solis vocibus, tanquam tantummodo in foliis, ne maledicto Domini arescere tanquam illa ficulnea merearis . Gustate, inquit, et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus. Gustate, et videte: tunc videbitis, si gustaveritis. Homini autem non gustanti, unde probas? Laudando jucunditatem nominis Dei, quantacumque dixeris, verba sunt: aliud est gustus. Verba laudis ejus audiunt et impii: non autem gustant quam jucundum est, nisi sancti. Proinde iste sentiens dulcedinem nominis Dei, et volens explicare, et volens ostendere, nec inveniens quibus: etenim sanctis non opus est ut ostendat, quia et ipsi gustant et norunt; impii autem sentire non possunt quod gustare nolunt: quid ergo facit de jucunditate nominis Dei? Tulit se continuo a turbis impiorum: Et exspectabo, inquit, nomen tuum, quia jucundum est in conspectu sanctorum tuorum. Jucundum est nomen tuum, sed non in conspectu impiorum: ego quam dulce sit scio, sed his qui gustarunt.
51.19 PL 36, 599
19. “Deliver me from bloods, O God, God of my health” (ver. 14). The Latin translator hath expressed, though by a word not Latin, yet an accuracy from the Greek. For we all know that in Latin, sanguines (bloods) are not spoken of, nor yet sanguina (bloods in the neuter), nevertheless because the Greek translator hath thus used the plural number, not without reason, but because he found this in the original language the Hebrew, a godly translator hath preferred to use a word not Latin, rather than one not exact. Wherefore then hath he said in the plural number, “From bloods”? In many bloods, as in the origin of the sinful flesh, many sins he would have to be understood. The Apostle having regard to the very sins which come of the corruption of flesh and blood, saith, “Flesh and blood shall not possess the kingdom of God.” For doubtless, after the true faith of the same Apostle, that flesh shall rise again and shall itself gain incorruption, as He saith Himself, “This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.” Because then this corruption is of sin, by the name thereof sins are called. In like manner as both that morsel of flesh and member which playeth in the mouth when we articulate words is called a tongue, and that is called a tongue which by the tongue is made, so we call one tongue the Greek, another the Latin; for the flesh is not diverse, but the sound. In the same manner, then, as the speech which is made by the tongue is called a tongue; so also the iniquity which is made by blood is called blood. Heeding, then, his many iniquities, as in the expression above, “And all my iniquities blot out,” and ascribing them to the corruption of flesh and blood, “Free me,” he saith, “from bloods:” that is, free me from iniquities, cleanse me from all corruption.…Not yet is the substance, but certain hope. “And my tongue shall exult of Thy righteousness.”
51.20 PL 36, 599
20. “O Lord, my lips Thou shalt open, and my mouth shall tell of Thy praise” (ver. 15). “Thy praise,” because I have been created: “Thy praise,” because sinning I have not been forsaken: “Thy praise,” because I have been admonished to confess: “Thy praise,” because in order that I might be secured I have been cleansed.
51.21 PL 36, 599
21. “Because if Thou hadst willed sacrifice, I would have given it surely” (ver. 16). David was living at that time when sacrifices of victim animals were offered to God, and he saw these times that were to be. Do we not perceive ourselves in these words? Those sacrifices were figurative, foretelling the One Saving Sacrifice. Not even we have been left without a Sacrifice to offer to God. For hear what he saith, having a concern for his sin, and wishing the evil thing which he hath done to be forgiven him: “If Thou hadst willed,” he saith, “sacrifice, I would have given it surely. With holocausts Thou wilt not be delighted.” Nothing shall we therefore offer? So shall we come to God? And whence shall we propitiate Him? Offer; certainly in thyself thou hast what thou mayest offer. Do not from without fetch frankincense, but say, “In me are, O God, Thy vows, which I will render of praise to Thee.” Do not from without seek cattle to slay, thou hast in thyself what thou mayest kill. “Sacrifice to God is a spirit troubled, a heart contrite and humbled God despiseth not” (ver. 17). Utterly he despiseth bull, he-goat, ram: now is not the time that these should be offered. They were offered when they indicated something, when they promised something; when the things promised come, the promises are taken away. “A heart contrite and humbled God despiseth not.” Ye know that God is high: if thou shalt have made thyself high, He will be from thee; if thou shalt have humbled thyself, He will draw near to thee.
51.22 PL 36, 599
22. See who this is: David as one man was seeming to implore; see ye here our image and the type of the Church.
“Deal kindly, O Lord, in Thy good will with Sion” (ver. 18). With this Sion deal kindly. What is Sion? A city holy. What is a city holy? That which cannot be hidden, being upon a mountain established. Sion in prospect, because it hath prospect of something which it hopeth for. For Sion is interpreted “prospect,” and Jerusalem, “vision of peace.” Ye perceive then yourselves to be in Sion and in Jerusalem, if being sure ye look for hope that is to be, and if ye have peace with God. “And be the walls of Jerusalem builded.” “Deal kindly, O Lord, in Thy good will with Sion, and be the walls of Jerusalem builded.” For not to herself let Sion ascribe her merits: do Thou with her deal kindly, “Be the walls of Jerusalem builded:” be the battlements of our immortality laid, in faith and hope and charity.
51.23 PL 36, 599
23. “Then Thou shalt accept the sacrifice of righteousness” (ver. 19). But now sacrifice for iniquity, to wit, a spirit troubled, and a heart humbled; then the sacrifice of righteousness, praises alone. For, “Blessed they that dwell in Thy house, for ever and ever they shall praise Thee:” for this is the sacrifice of righteousness. “Oblations and holocausts.” What are “holocausts”? A whole victim by fire consumed. When a whole beast was laid upon the altar with fire to be consumed, it was called a holocaust. May divine fire take us up whole, and that fervour catch us whole. What fervour? “Neither is there that hideth himself from the heat thereof.” What fervour? That whereof speaketh the Apostle: “In spirit fervent.” Be not merely our soul taken up by that divine fire of wisdom, but also our body; that it may earn their immortality; so be it lifted up for a holocaust, that death be swallowed into victory. “Oblations and holocausts.” “Then shall they lay upon thine altar calves.” Whence “calves”? What shall He therein choose? Will it be the innocence of the new age, or necks freed from the yoke of the law?…