The Church, often (3. and much) impugned, is not overcome. 4. Her persecutors are destroyed, 6. contemned, 8. and cursed.The Church often ( 3. and much ) impugned, is not ouertome. 4. Her perſecuters are deſtroyed, 6. contemned, 8. and curſed.✦

A gradual Canticle. Often have they me from my youth, let Israel now say:A gradual Canticle. a OFTEN haue they impugned me b from my youth, let Iſrael now ſay:Canticum graduum. Sæpe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea, dicat nunc Israël ;

2Often have they impugned me from my youth: but they have not prevailed against me.Often haue they impugned me from my youth: c but they haue not preuailed againſt me.sæpe expugnaverunt me a juventute mea : etenim non potuerunt mihi.

3Sinners have builded upon my back: they have prolonged their iniquity.Sinners d haue builded vpon my backe: they haue e prolonged their iniquitie.Supra dorsum meum fabricaverunt peccatores ; prolongaverunt iniquitatem suam.

1609 margind Persecutors not being able to overthrow, or suppress the Church, have laid great weighty burdens of tribulations upon her back, which she hath patiently and strongly borne, e they have still persisted, one sort after another, but with longanimity the Church hath stood fast, and constantly passed through all distresses. In moral sense sinners build iniquity upon the back of the Church, yea and upon God's back, when they presume to sin, trusting in the end to be absolved by virtue of holy Sacraments left in the Church. Likewise when they excuse their sins, imputing the cause to other creatures of God, whereby they are allured; which is in effect (saith S. Augustine) to accuse God, and to build iniquities on God's back, who made those creatures.d Perſecuters not being able to ouerthrow, or ſuppreſſe the Church, haue laide great weightie burdens of tribulations vpon her backe, which ſhe hath patiently and ſtrongly borne, e they haue ſtil perſiſted, one ſorte after an other, but with longanimitie the Church hath ſtood faſt, and conſtantly paſſed through al diſtreſſes. In moral ſenſe ſinners build iniquitie vpon the back of the Church, yea and vpon Gods back, when they preſume to ſinne, truſting in the end to be abſolued by vertue of holie Sacraments leift in the Church. Likewiſe when they excuſe their ſinnes, imputing the cauſe to other creatures of God, wherby they are allured. which is in effect ( ſaith S. Auguſtin) to accuſe God, and to build iniquities on Gods back, who made thoſe creatures.

4Our just Lord will cut the necks of sinners:f Our iuſt Lord wil cut the neckes of ſinners:Dominus justus concidit cervices peccatorum.

5let them all be and turned backward, that hate Sion.let them al g be confounded and h turned backward, that hate Sion.Confundantur, et convertantur retrorsum omnes qui oderunt Sion.

6Let them be made as grass in the tops of houses: which is withered before it be plucked up.Let them be made as graſſe in the toppes of houſes: which is withered before it be plucked vp.Fiant sicut fœnum tectorum, quod priusquam evellatur exaruit :

7Whereof the reaper hath not filled his hand, and he that gathereth the sheaves his bosom.Wherof the reaper hath not filled his hand, and he that gathereth the ſheaues his boſome.de quo non implevit manum suam qui metit, et sinum suum qui manipulos colligit.

8And they said not that passed by: The blessing of our Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of our Lord.And they ſayd not that paſſed by: The bleſſing of our Lord be vpon you: we haue bleſſed you in the name of our Lord.Et non dixerunt qui præteribant : Benedictio Domini super vos. Benediximus vobis in nomine Domini.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 128 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 128 of 150