Psalms 91 Commentary

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Strings, upon. Hebrew, “on the hasor, and on the nabel, on the higaion with the cinnor.” Yet the ten stringed instrument seems to have been the same with the psaltery, or nobol. (Haydock) — Bellarmine thinks and is redundant, and was not in the copies of the Septuagint, or it is only explanatory, as we know that the psaltery had ten strings, Psalm xxxii. 2., and cxliii. 9. (Menochius) — The matter is of small consequence. (Berthier) — Eusebius seems to insinuate, that instruments were not used in the Church of his time. (Calmet) — The observance of the commandments, and mortification, signified by the harp, are requisite. (Worthington)

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;”

Rejoice. Admiring thy providence, (Calmet) or the Messias. “What are all things compared with thee, O Lord!” (St. Augustine; Conf. x. 4.)

“Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

Deep. We cannot easily explain thy ways, (Menochius) in exalting some, and depressing thy people. (Calmet) (Romans xi. 33.)

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

Things. Pretended sages hence take occasion to blaspheme whatsoever things they know not, Jude 10. The wise adore God in silence, (Haydock) and confess, that the misery of the just here proves a future life, while the wicked prosper, to be more tormented. (Eusebius) — Carnal men, who think only of present things, see not this. (Menochius)

“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.”

Appear. Hebrew, “flourish.” Still they are but as grass, (Haydock) short-lived, and of small utility. The just resembles the palm-tree, ver. 13. (Calmet)

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

Enemies. The Babylonians, (Calmet) or all the wicked at the last day. (Berthier) — This shews God’s power, and insures the exaltation of the just. (Menochius)

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”

Mercy. Hebrew and some copies of the Septuagint have “oil,” an emblem of mercy, Proverbs xxi. 20. (Berthier) — “I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” (Protestants) — “My old age shall be like a verdant olive.” (Houbigant) (Symmachus) — Those who have a good conscience, expect final happiness. (Worthington)

“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Me. I shall live to hear of the vengeance which God will take, Psalm cxi. 9. (Calmet) — The just pray for sinners here; but must approve of God’s judgment. (Berthier)

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. adder: or, asp”

Palm-tree. Septuagint phoinix, means also a “Phœnician, or the Phœnix” bird, of which the ancients have said so much, Job xxix. 18., (Calmet) and of which Tertullian, (de Res. xiii.) and St. Ambrose, (de fid. Res.) seem to understand this passage. (Amama) — But it must be explained in the sense of the Vulgate, as the Hebrew Tamar evinceth. This tree, and the cedar, were the most famous in those countries; the former for its fruit, and the latter for buildings and duration. The palm-tree will shoot forth again, after it has been cut down or burnt, (Pliny, [Natural History?] xiii. 14.) so the just will rise up from oppression. (Calmet)

“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”

Courts. In the Church triumphant, as well as in the militant. (Worthington) — The piety of the faithful induces strangers to embrace the truth. (Berthier)

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

Well treated. Or affected. (Worthington) — Bene patientes, eupathountes, “flourishing,” (Grotius) tranquil, (St. Augustine) or in a prosperous condition. (Berthier) — Erasmus, to shew the utility of consulting the originals, informs us, what a multiplicity of authors he consulted in vain, to know the import of this word. (Amama) — “They shall be fat and covered with leaves,” (St. Jerome) alluding to the aforesaid comparison.

“With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. long: Heb. length of days”

In him. The general judgment will set this in the clearest light. At present, the ways of Providence may be mysterious, ver. 6. (Haydock)