THE PSALMES OF DAVID Translated from the Vulgat M.DCC. PREFACE IT would be superfluous to say any thing in commendation of the Psalms of David every body knows in what veneration they have been with the whole Church of God in all times and places Most of the holy fathers observe that they alone containe the whole substance of the old Testament for all that Moses delivers by way of history or by way of precept and all that the rest of the Prophets have writ to exhort to vertue and to deterr from vices or to prophecy things to come is to be found in the Psalms succinctly distinctly sett forth And this I may say is not only the sense of all the holy Fathers in generall but even of Jesus Christ himself and of his Apostles who upon all occasions of establishing their Doctrine And proving him to be the Messias most usually cite texts out of the Psalms S. Basil says They are a perfect summe of all Theologie S. Bas. Praem in Psal. To. 1. They propheâ—y things to come They are a history of things past They prescribe rules how â—e wought to live and how wee are to be saved Much more to the same purpose is said by that holy Father S. Austin tells us that David was inspired by the holy Ghost to teach all the faithfull the language they are to use in addressing themselves to God They are to pray as he prays S. Aug. in Psal. 30. to greive as he greives to rejoyce as he rejoyceth to hope as he hopes to fear as he fears c. All the rest of the holy Doctors and Fathers are full of such expressions as these concerning the Psalms For which reason it is that the Church of God in all ages has made the Psalms to be the principall part of Christian devotion by makeing dayly use of them in the publick liturgies and by obliging all Ecclesiasticks to recite them all over once every week and allso by recommending them to the faithfull in generall for their privat devotions The more generally they are used the more necessary it seemes to be that they should be well understood since light in the understanding contributes much to fervour in the heart and in the will wherfor the labour Gods grace assisting therunto may prove not unprofitable which hath been imploy'd in this present Translation of the Psalms out of the vulgate to render them as clear and intelligible in our language as the letter of the Texte will permitt for in every Translation of scâ—ipture ther is an obligation of sticking close to the Letter when ever it can be done without losing the sense of the Text But so it is that in some places the Latine Text of the Psalms rigouroutly translated word by word would yeeld a scarse untelligible sense in the language into which it is translated and wher that happens it seems reasonable that such a latitude and liberty should be allow'd as is necessary to make the sense of the Text as it is generally understood by the most approved Authors intelligible to the Reader espicially in a Translation intended only for the privat devotions of Lay persons This Translater thought he could not chuse a better guide to direct him in giving such passages their due sense then the learned Card. Bellarmin in his excellent Treatise upon the Psalms And that he has accordingly follow'd his Guide may be seen by any who will take the pains to compare one with the other I may also add that this work has been revised and corrected by some persons who are the most propper judges of such writings yet still it may very well be that the faults were too many to be all of them spy'd and amended however if the defects which still remain may prove a motive to some abler hand to undertake the work and translate the Psalms in a more exact perfect manner this Translater will think himself verz happy and his pains well bestow'd A TABLE OF THE PSALMS Reduced under severall heads according to the different matters principally contain'd in each of them that so they may be more usefull for the privat devotion of every Christian as his occasions shall require PSALMS HISTORICALL OF the creation of the world Of the actions of the Patriarks The captivity in Egypt The passage of the children of Israel thorough the red sea Their peregrination in the desert and their entrantrance into the land of promise Ps. 8. 77. 103. 104. 105. 113. 134. PSALMS PROPHETICALL Of Christs first coming his spirituall Kingdome Ps. 2. 44. 71. 84. 88. 92. 109. Of his passion and death Ps. 21. 40. 108. Of his resurrection and Ascension Ps. 15. 17. 23. 67. 96. Of the conversion of Nations and establishment of the Church Ps. 28. 46. 47. 64. 66. 67. 75. 86. 110. 146. PSALMS OF INSTTUCTION For all the faithfull in generall Ps. 1. 14. 36. 77. 100. 118. For Kings and Iudges in particular 74. 81. 10. PSALMES Of thanksgiving to God for his benefits Ps. 9. 17. 29. 33. 88. 115. 117. 143. Of praising him for all his works and mercys Ps. 8. 65. 74. 91. 102. 144. 145. Of raising up our hearts to God Ps. 41. 83. 94. 118. 136. Of comfort Ps. 24. 36. 65. Of Gods protection of the just Ps. 30. 62. 63. 120. 124. PSALMES In time of affliction and persecution Ps. 7. 11. 12. 16. 24. 43. 53. 56. 59. 68. 76. 79. 85. 87. 139. 141. To appease Gods anger Ps. 6. 37. 73. 76. 40. To deplore the sufferings of the Church Ps. 78. 79. 82. To implore the mercy of God Ps. 25. 27. 38. 69. 76. 85. 142. Against prefering creatures to God the Creator Ps. 48. 51. 54. 55. 113. Against calumnys Ps. 25. 30. 34. 51. Against being scandalised at the prosperity of the wicked Ps. 72. A Psalm of resignation to the will of God Ps. 61. The seaven Penitentiall Psalms 6. 31. 37. 50. 101. 129. 142. APPROBATIO OMNIS scriptura divinitus inspirata utilis est ad docendum ad Tim. 2. c. 3. n. 16. si qua tamen sacrarum paginarum pars prae caeteris utilior dici queat hoc Psalmorum libri singulare privilegium videtur quaecunque enim utilia sunt inquit sanctus Basilius ex omnibus continet Cum historicis gesta praeterita narrat Praefafatime in Psalmis ex interpretatione Rufini cum prophetis futura predicit cum Ecclesiaste concionatur cum Evangelistis profundissima fidei arcana revelat exponit nulla est virtus ad quam non hortatur nullum vitium a quo non deterret verbisque ignitis legentium corda divina amoris flammâ passim accendit nulla est aetas quam non dirigit nullus status quem non suffulcit incipientibus ut docet idem S. Basil. primum efficitur elementum proficientibus incrementum perfectis stabile firmamentum totius Ecclesiae vox una ut ergo tam sancta documenta tamque divina praesidia veluti nocturna
countenance covers me all over 18 At the voice of those who insult and reproach me And at the sight of my enemy who persecuts me 19 All these things are come upon us and yet wee have not been forgetfull of thee nor have wee acted unjustly against thy covenant 20 And our heart has not gone backwards And thou hast not turn'd aside our steps from thy way 21 Thou hast humbled us in a place of affliction And the shadow of death has cover'd us 22 If wee have forgotten the name of our God if wee have stretched forth our hands to a strange God 23 Will not God ask an account of these things for he knows the secrets of the heart 24 But since for thee wee are every day put to death And look'd upon as sheep destin'd for slaughter 25 Rise up O Lord why do'st thou sleep rise up and do not cast us off for ever 26 Why do'st thou turn away thy face do'st thou forget our poverty and affliction 27 For our soul is brought down even to the dust And our belly 's are glued to the earth 28 Rise up O Lord and help us for the glory of thy name redeem us PSALME XXXXIV Eructavit cor meum S. Chrisostome S. Austin and almost all the interpreters agree that this Psalm is a kind of a spirituall Epithalamium representing the sacred union between Iesus Christ his spouse the Church S. Paul likewise in his Epistle to the Hebrews makes use of this Psalm to shew the everlasting reign of the only son of the father over his Elect. Some have thought that Salomon is the author and that it was made upon the occasion of his mariage with the daughter of Pharah tho others attribute it to David But all agree in this that the true sense of it intended by the holy Ghost regards the mistery of the Incarnation and the union sf the word with human nature 1 MY heart has thrown out a good word Psalm 44. I adress my works to the King 2 My tongue shall move like the pen of a fastwriting scrivener 3 Shining thou art in beauty above all the sons of men grace is diffused over thy lips therfore hath God blessed thee for ever 4 Gird thy sword on thy thigh thou who art all powerfull 5 Arm'd with thy majesty and thy beauty go on prosperouslly and reign 6 According to truth mildnes and justice And thy right hand shall make wonderfull progres 7 Thy arrows are sharp Nations shall fall under thee into the hearts of the Kings enemies thy arrovvs shall light 8 Thy Throne O God! is established for ever the scepter of thy Kingdome is the scepter of equity and justice 9 Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity therfore hath God thy God anointed thee with the oyle of gladnes preferably to all that partake with thee 10 The sent of Mirrhe Cinnamon and cashia issued from thy garments and from thy yvory mansions for which the daughters of King have delighted thee in thy splendor 11 At thy right hand stands the queen in cloth of gold with variety of ornaments 12 Hearken daughter and see and be attentive with thy ears And forget thy country and the house of thy father 13 And the King will be taken with thy beauty for he is thy Lord and God and Nations shall adore him 14 And the daughters of Tyrus and all the rich of the laÌ„d shall come before thee with presents And offer their petitions 15 The cheif glory of this daughter of the King is from within in fringes of gold imbroider'd attire 16 After her Virgins shall be brought to the King those that are neerest her shall be brought to thee 17 They shall be brought with joy and triumph they shall be led into the Temple of the King 18 In room of thy fathers sons shall be born to thee thou shalt make them Princes over all the earth 19 They shall remember thy name from generation to generation 20 And therefore through out all ages the people shall publish thy praises PSALME XXXXV Deus noster refugium Since almost all the fathers agree that this Psalm according to the litterall sense regards the Church persecuted by the Infidels and deliâ—er'd from persecutions by the assistance of our Lord wee ought rather to adhere to this opinion then to that of some other interpreters who apply this Psalm only to David victorious over hâ—s enemies 1 GOd is our refuge Psalm 45. and our strength he is our support in our afflictions which ly heavy upon us 2 Therfore wee will not fear should the earth shake And should the mountans be overturn'd into the midle of the fea 3 The waves in a violent commotion have roar'd the force of the tempest made the mountains tremble 4 The river abounding with water brings gladnes to the city of God the most high has sanctified his Tabernacle 5 God is in the midle of it and it wil remain firme from the beginning of the morning God wil protect it 6 The Nations are in commotion and the Kingdoms are tottering at the voice of our Lord the whole earth did tremble 7 But the Lord of hosts is with us And the God of Jacob is our protector 8 Come and see the works of our Lord the wonders he has done upon the earth in making war cease from one end of it to the other 9 He will break the bow and the weapons in pieces And the bucklers he will cast into the fire 10 Be at rest and behold that I am God I will be exalted amongst the Nations and I will be exalted over all the earth 11 The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our protector PSALME XXXXVI Omnes gentes plaudite All the interpreters agree that the sense of the holy Ghost in this Psalm is concerning the triumph of Iesus Christ in his Ascension and the conversion of all the faithfull that are to follow him Tho some there are who think this Psalm was made upon the solemn translation of the ark into the Temple which Salomon had built for it 1 ALl yee Nations Psalm 46. clap your hands with Jubily and exclamations of joy give praise to God 2 For our Lord is the high and the terrible one the great King over all the earth 3 He has subdued the Nations for us And lay'd the Gentils under our feet 4 He hath given us an inheritance of his own Chusing the beauty of Jacob which he loved 5 God is ascended in triumph And our Lord with the foun'd of trumpets 6 Sing praises to our God sing sing praises to our King sing 7 For God is the King of the whole earth sing with understanding 8 God will reign over the Nations God sits upon his holy Throne 9 The Princes of the people are assembled and united with the God of Abraham because the potent Gods of the earth have been excessively elevated PSALME XXXXVII Magnus Dominus S. Ambroise S.
thanksgiving and with voice and instrument let us celebrate his glory 3 For God is the great Lord And the great king over all the Gods 4 For the whole earth from one end to the other is in his hand And the highest mountains belong to him 5 For his is the sea And he made it And his hands formed the dry Land 6 Come Let us adore and fall down And let us weep before our Lord who has made us 7 For he is the Lord our God and we are the people nourish'd in his pastures and the sheep guided by his hand 8 If today you shall hear his voyce harden not your hearts 9 As in the time of provocation and in the day of temptation in the desert wher your fathers tempted me they made tryall of me and beheld my works 10 For forty years together I was offended with that generation and said The heart of this people goes allways wrong 11 And they have not known my ways Therfor I swore in my anger they shall not enter into my place of rest PSALME LXXXXV Cantate Domino Vnder the litterall sense of this Psalme which expresses the greatnes of God rais'd infinitly aboue the Gods of the Nations and Victorious over all the Enemies of his people All interpreters agree that in the prophetick sense it contains the mistery of the comming of the Messias and of the establishment of the kingdom of Iesus-Christ which is his Church upon the earth 1 SIng to our Lord a new canticle Psalm 95. sing to our Lord over all the Earth 2 Sing to our Lord and bless his holy name From day to day set forth his saving mercy 3 Proclaime his glory amongst the people of the earth 4 For great is our Lord and infinitly praise-worthy he is terrible aboue all the Gods 5 For all the Gods of the Gentils are divells But our Lord is the Creator of the Heavens 6 Glory beauty shine out before him sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary 7 Ye Countries and nations I make offerings to our Lord of glory and honour offer to our Lord the glory due to his name 8 Take your victimes and go into his house Adore our Lord at the entrance of his holy Tabernacle 9 Let the whole earth tremble before him Tell the nations that our Lord is he who reigns 10 For he has setled the earth And it shall not be moved The people thereof he will judge with equity 11 Let the heavens rejoyce and the earth be transported with joy Let the sea alike be moued and all that fill it The feilds will have gladnes and all that is in them 12 Then will all the trees of the woods shew their joy in the presence of our Lord Because he comes because he comes to judge the earth 13 He will judge the whole earth with equity And all nations according to his truth PSALME LXXXXVI Dominus regnavit It is probable that David made this Psalme after some signall victory gain'd upon his Enemies for which he magnifys the power and mercy of God At the same time he does very plainly foretell the establishment of the spirituall kingdom of Iesus-Christ And he exhorts all men to prepare themselves for it by hatred to sin and loue to justice 1 OUr Lord does reign Psalm 96. let the earth rejoyce Let all the Islands be glad 2 Clouds and darknes are round about him justice and judgement support his Throne 3 Fire will go before him and he will consume his enemys round about him 4 His lightnings appeared over all the earth at the fight thereof the earth trembled 5 The mountains melted like wax in the presence of our Lord so did the whole earth in the presence of our Lord. 6 The heavens have declared his justice And all people of the earth have seen his glory 7 Let all be confounded who adore graven images And who glory in their jdols 8 Adore him all his Angels Sion has heard and has rejoiced 9 And the daugherts of Juda have been fill'd with joy by reason of thy judgements o Lord 10 For thou art the supreme Lord over all the earth Thou art infinitly rais'd aboue all the Gods 11 All you that love our Lord be haters of evill our Lord takes care of the souls of his saints he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner 12 Light is risen upon the just And joy upon the upright of heart 13 Let all the just rejoyce in our Lord And celebrate the memory of his Hollines PSALME LXXXXVII Cantate Domino This Psalme seemes to have been made upon the same occasion and upon the same subject with the last And has the same spirituall and prophetick meaning 1 Sing to our Lord a new hymne Psalm 97. For he has done wonderfull things 2 We are saved by the might of his right hand and by the strength of his holy arm 3 Our Lord has made known his saving power in the sight of the nations he has manifested his justice 4 He has remembred his mercys and the making good his promises to the house of Israel 5 The whole earth has seen the saving mercy of our God 6 Joyfully sing all ye inhabitants of the earth the praises of God sing and be transported with joy sing and play upon your instruments 7 Sing to our Lord upon the harp and the Psaltery with trumpets and cornets 8 Sound forth your joy in the presence of our Lord our king Let the sea rejoyce and all it contains and the whole world with the inhabitants thereof 9 The rivers will joyn their applause and the mountains will shew their joy at the sight of our Lord because he comes to judge the earth 10 He will judge the earth according to justice And the people thereof with equity PSALME LXXXXVIII Dominus regnavit irascantur It is probable David made this Psalme at the time when the Ark was placed upon mount Sion It contains an exhortation to the people that they should reverence the glory of God residing in the Ark and adore him with humble fear as the holy Prophets in former times had done 1 OUr Lord reigns Psalm 98. Let the Nations be angry he reigns who sits upon the Cherubins Let the earth tremble 2 Our Lord is great in Sion And supreme over all the people of the world 3 Let them give glory to thy great name because it is terrible and holy And the glory of a king is loue of justice 4 Thou hast establish'd just laws Thou hast executed judgement and justice in Jacob. 5 Magnify the glory of the Lord our God And adore his footstool because it is holy 6 Moses and Aron were of the number of his preists Samuell was amongst thos who call'd upon his name 7. They call'd upon the Lord and he heard them in the pillar of the Cloud he spoke to them 8 They Kept his ordinances and the precept which he gave them 9 O Lord our God! thou