“Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us:”
Have. He has pointed out the conditions for prayer, and now he gives a model. The Jews were at this time dispersed and subservient to the Egyptians or Syrians, which greatly afflicted them. (Calmet) — And shew. Greek, (2.) “send.”
“And send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee.”
That. Roman Greek omits the rest. But Grabe retains, “all nations which seek not after thee.” (Haydock) — This prayer implies a prediction of the Gentiles’ conversion, as the psalms do frequently in like terms, Psalm lxiv. (Worthington)
“As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou magnified among them before us.”
Sanctified, by chastising us, or by protecting our fathers in the desert.
“Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we.”
End of our sufferings. The malice of our enemies is at the height.
“Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and inherit thou them, as from the beginning.”
Escapeth the sword, Deuteronomy xxxii. 36. He foretells the event, or wishes that they may be chastised, in order that they may enter into themselves, and adore the true God.
“O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn.”
Other lord. The Syrian and Egyptian monarchs sometimes claimed divine honours, Daniel vii. 25., and xi. 36. (Calmet)
“O be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy rest.”
That. Greek transposes the rest, and has only, and thou, &c. (Haydock)
“Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glory:”
First-born. Exodus iv. 22. Wives, children, and servants, were called after their lord or father, Isaias iv. 1., and lxiii. 19., and Jeremias vii. 10.
“Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.”
Rest, where the temple is built, 2 Paralipomenon vi. 41., and Psalm cxxxi. 8.
“Reward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found faithful.”
Words, predictions, as heretofore; or with thy favours.
“The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than another.”
Thee. The Jews were more faithful after the captivity. The author seems to beg for the coming of the Messias.
“As the palate tasteth divers kinds of venison: so doth an heart of understanding false speeches.”
People, which thou hast prescribed, Numbers vi. 24. (Calmet) — Direct. Greek, “All shall know.” — Art. Greek, “Lord art the God of ages.” (Haydock) — Here the prayer ends. (Calmet) — The author continues to instruct. (Haydock)
“A froward heart causeth heaviness: but a man of experience will recompense him.”
Another. Thus act discreetly in the pursuit of knowledge. The good may be distinguished from bad, as easily as venison can from other meats. (Calmet) — As there is a difference of meats, so must discretion be used in words, in the choice of a wife, &c. (Worthington)
“The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance, and a man loveth nothing better.”
Resist. Greek, “requite it,” as it deserves. (Haydock)
“If there be kindness, meekness, and comfort, in her tongue, then is not her husband like other men.”
Man. Yet in marriage the temper of the person is to be considered.
“He that getteth a wife beginneth a possession, a help like unto himself, and a pillar of rest.”
More. Love is the most violent of all the passions, and nothing can afford greater content than a virtuous and consoling wife, chap. xxvi. 21. (Calmet)
“Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to city? so who will believe a man that hath no house, and lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him?”
Good, is not in Greek, but the context shews that it is necessary. (Haydock) — By concord small possessions increase, as by discord the greatest are lost. (Worthington)
Want. If he be not so at first, servants will soon ruin his affairs.
Rest, or abode with his wife and family. The Jews in general married, and such as delayed were deemed suspicious characters, Proverbs xxvii. 8. (Calmet)