1 A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.
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VERS. 1.-- *Exult ye,* etc. The crooked man praises God when it is well with him; he blasphemes when it is ill: the upright man always, like Job.
2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
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VERS. 2.-- *On the harp.* It sounds from below, and is of the earth, whence we may praise, that is, prosperity and adversity, which are ours from him. *On the psaltery.* When thou attendest to the higher things which he has given thee, the heavenly doctrine. By *the harp* the flesh is understood, by *the psaltery* charity: to which the ten precepts of the law belong: three in the first table toward God, seven in the second toward the neighbour.
3 Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
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VERS. 3.-- *Sing ye to him,* etc. As if to say, what more shall I say? Be glad especially over the incarnation. *A new canticle.* Because it does not suffice, unless your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees. *Sing ye a new canticle.* Of the incarnation, over which the world exults, of which the Angels sang.
4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.
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VERS. 4.-- *For it is right.* He has set out the manner of praise: now, why is he to be praised? *And all his works.* Lest anyone think that he has come to faith by merits, since in faith are all the works which God loves, that is, rewards, because he does not work save in the faithful; whence: *Thy faith hath made thee whole*. Or, all works are right, etc., *as far as* because he remains wicked, and the more wicked for this, that he sees the just man favour him. *In faith.* As if in outward things, if a man has been faithful for the sake of justice, He will add inward faith, whom not knowing he feared; whence: who will not give him the things that are his own, who was faithful in another's? God is faithful in giving to man what he promised: man is faithful in believing him that promises, and by the promise God is our debtor.
5 He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
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VERS. 5.-- *The earth.* The Church everywhere upon the earth.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth:
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VERS. 6.-- *By the word.* That is, by the wisdom of God the Father. *The heavens.* The Apostles were fully instructed, by conversing with him even bodily: and afterward *all their power,* once had, was strengthened by the Spirit of the Son, through the heavens made firm he gathers and consolidates men into the unity of faith, hope and charity. *The bottle,* the Church, in which is dead flesh. *Even the depths,* that is, those deep in the darkness of vices, he sets among those who are a treasure, whence wisdom enriches others. *The earth.* The heavens do not need mercy, etc., *as far as* which he works. *Their power.* Since they were among wolves, etc., *as far as* licence.
7 Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying up the depths in storehouses.
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VERS. 7.-- *As in a bottle.* According to the letter: as he shuts in the sea by its shores, so he shuts within the Church the wavering peoples; and in the treasures of his wisdom he places the deep heights, that he may prove who searches the Scriptures with a zeal for godliness.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.
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VERS. 8.-- *Let all the earth fear.* The Church out of the sea, etc., *as far as* but let the earth fear the Lord. Let it fear — nay rather, let them be moved by the hand of mercy out of the likeness of one asleep. *By him,* because he himself created it: and therefore he governs it profitably, because something is moved by the devil also, but what is moved by God is moved profitably, therefore *by him. Let them be moved.* Not by the terrors of men, etc., *as far as* power not save from God.
9 For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were created.
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VERS. 9.-- *He spoke and they were made.* He notes creation and formation together. He commanded the re-creation.
10 The Lord bringeth to nought the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
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VERS. 10.-- *He scatters the counsels.* That the counsels against himself, as those of the Jews, and against his own, may have no effect. *Of the Gentiles.* When he destroyed idolatry. *Of the peoples.* Of the Jews, whose will, though fulfilled, was yet reproved by the resurrection. *Of the princes.* Of tyrants or of demons.
11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
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VERS. 11.-- *But the counsel of the Lord,* etc. The secret of the incarnation, in which he took counsel for man. *Standeth for ever.* Because it is unto the obtaining of eternal salvation for us. *The thoughts.* Predestination, in which all things are laid up, which also so abide as they were foreseen.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.
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VERS. 12.-- *Blessed is the nation.* He calls him blessed who has come to the worship of God: which happens in Christian times, in which the Gentiles are converted, these are the just and the upright whom praise becomes. All blessedness is in the mind, etc., *as far as* blessed is the people that has God for its possessor.
13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.
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VERS. 13.-- *From heaven.* From the man Christ. He looked forth in the coming of the Son and saw mercifully, not the sins, from which he turns away his face; but he saw all the children of men, that is, all who wish to be born again unto a new life. How did he choose? etc., *as far as* he inspired every good will.
14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.
15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.
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VERS. 15.-- *He hath fashioned.* He formed them with the hand of grace. *Severally,* giving to single ones certain single things. Whence nevertheless the unity of the body, that is, of the Church, may come to be. *Severally,* that is, not out of Adam, as some say that a soul comes from a soul, and he knows them all at once, and all their acts.
16 The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.
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VERS. 16.-- *The king is not saved.* Thus are the just made, but neither, once made, are they saved by their own strength. Not only spiritual things are from God, but outward things also. No one has anything except from him, because neither the powerful, like a king, nor the strong, etc., *as far as* even if he be in great abundance of strength.
17 Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength.
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VERS. 17.-- *The horse is deceitful.* An animal in whose swiftness or strength trust is put, figuratively, any greatness of the world whereof men are proud: but the higher thou art lifted up upon it, the heavier thou fallest. Or, *the horse* is the body of a man, however comely and well formed, yet it is deceitful for bodily health, and for spiritual. Or, *the horse* is worldly happiness, which carries men, and while it hurries too much, the horse falls and destroys its rider. *The horse,* human wisdom. *A giant,* someone proud, lifting himself up against God.
18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.
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VERS. 18.-- *Behold the eyes.* In his own strength no one is saved, but: Behold whence salvation is, *the eyes,* etc. *The eyes,* the regard of the godhead, which will protect them. *Them that fear him.* To fear the Lord and always to hope are joined together.
19 To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.
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VERS. 19.-- *That he may deliver,* etc. These are the two desires of the faithful man: that in the judgment he may be snatched from death, and that here he may be fed with spiritual things, where there is want of them.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.
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VERS. 20.-- *Our soul waiteth for the Lord.* What he thinks of the things aforesaid, as it were a conclusion.
21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.
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VERS. 21.-- *For in him.* Because to those who were absent he sent his name through faith. *We have hoped.* That we shall come to God, not by our own merits. Because in him — lest anyone murmur about patience — he adds the gift, namely that he is glad here in the Lord. And we hope in the name of Christ, whom the Prophet, glad and patient, awaited as one to come: *We have hoped.* It notes a continuous time, because it is not lawful to leave off, whence the weary soul can always be refreshed. *Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,* etc. He desires that the incarnation be accomplished, that he may be able to be perfect. *In thee.* He says this to the end that every superstition and depravity be shut out.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.