The Psalmist earnestly prayeth God to give him leave, and to shew him where, to build a Temple. But more especially prayeth for, and prophesieth the coming of Christ, the promised Son of David, 14. signifying God's promise thereof, and of establishing his Church.The Pſalmiſt earneſtly prayeth God to geue him leaue, & to ſhew him where, to build a Temple. But more eſpecially prayeth for, and prophecieth the coming of Chriſt, the promiſed Sonne of Dauid, 14. ſignifying Gods promiſe therof, and of eſtabliſhing his Church.✦

A gradual Canticle. REMEMBER David O Lord, and all his meekness:A gradual Canticle. REMEMBER a Dauid ô Lord, and al his meekenes:Canticum graduum. Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus :

2As he sware to our Lord, vowed a vow to the God of Jacob.As he ſware to our Lord, b vowed a vowe to the God of Iacob.sicut juravit Domino ; votum vovit Deo Jacob :

3If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house, if I shall ascend into the bed of my couch.c If I ſhal enter into the tabernacle of my houſe, if I ſhal aſcend into the bed of my couch.Si introiero in tabernaculum domus meæ ; si ascendero in lectum strati mei ;

4If I shall give sleep to mine eyes, and slumbering to mine eye lids:If I ſhal geue ſleepe to mine eies, and ſlumbering to mine eie liddes:si dedero somnum oculis meis, et palpebris meis dormitationem,

5And rest to my : until I find a place for our Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.And reſt to my temples: vntil I finde a place for our Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Iacob.et requiem temporibus meis, donec inveniam locum Domino, tabernaculum Deo Jacob.

6Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.Behold we haue heard of it d in Ephrata: we haue found it in e the fildes of the wood.Ecce audivimus eam in Ephrata ; invenimus eam in campis silvæ.

1609 margind It was revealed to David, that the Temple should be built, in that part of Jerusalem, which looketh towards Bethleem (otherwise called Ephrata) where our Saviour was born. · e Within Jerusalem, which is compassed with woods. In this vision also the whole form of the Temple was revealed unto him, as he testifieth. 1 Par. 28:19. All things, quoth he, came written with the hand of our Lord unto me: that I might understand all the works of the pattern.d It was reueled to Dauid, that the Temple ſhould be built, in that part of Ieruſalem, which looketh towards Bethleem (otherwiſe called Ephrata) where our Sauiour was borne. · e Within Ieruſalem, which is compaſſed with woodes. In this viſion alſo the whole forme of the Temple was reueled vnto him, as he teſtifieth. 1. Par. 28. v. 19. Al thinges, quoth he, came written with the hand of our Lord vnto me: that I might vnderſtand al the workes of the paterne.

7We will enter into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood.f We wil enter into his tabernacle: we wil g adore in the place where his feete ſtood.Introibimus in tabernaculum ejus ; adorabimus in loco ubi steterunt pedes ejus.

1609 marginf Holy David moved with exceeding devotion, repaired to the place, where God's Temple should be built: · g and adored God, where the Propitiatory, as a footstool representing God's presence, should stand. What marvel then if devotion move Christians, to visit the holy places, where our Saviour, God and Man was Incarnate, was born, suffered death, was buried, ascended into heaven, or any other place where his feet stood.f Holie Dauid moued with exceding deuotion, repared to the place, where Gods Temple ſhould be built: g & adored God, where the Propitiatorie, as a footſtoole repreſenting Gods preſence, ſhould ſtand. What meruel then if deuotion moue Chriſtians, to viſite the holie places, where our Sauiour, God and Man was Incarnate, was borne, ſuffered death, was buried, aſcended into heauen, or anie other place where his feete ſtood.

8Arise Lord into thy rest, thou and the ark of thy sanctification.h Ariſe Lord into thy reſt, thou and i the arke of thy ſanctification.Surge, Domine, in requiem tuam, tu et arca sanctificationis tuæ.

1609 marginh O God, leaving Silo, Gabaon, and the like places, come into thy holy Temple. · i With the Ark of covenant, where thou sanctifiest thy people. And here again the Prophet illuminated with a higher Mystery, and inflamed with more devotion, prayeth for Christ's coming into the world, and that after his Passion he will rise, not only in glory of soul, but also of body, prefigured by the Ark of testimony, which was in the tabernacle, and after in the Temple.h O God, leauing Silo, Gabaon, and the like places, come into thy holie Temple. i With the Arke of conenant, where thou ſanctifieſt thy people. And here againe the Prophet illuminated with a higher Myſterie, and inflamed with more deuotion, prayeth for Chriſtes coming into the world, and that after his Paſſion he wil riſe, not only in glorie of ſoule, but alſo of bodie, prefigured by the Arke of teſtimonie, which was in the tabernacle, and after in the Temple.

9Let thy Priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.Let thy Prieſtes be clothed with k iuſtice: & let thy l ſainctes reioyce.Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam, et sancti tui exsultent.

10For David thy servant's sake, turn not away the face of thy Christ.m For Dauid thy ſeruants ſake, n turne not away the face of thy Chriſt.Propter David servum tuum non avertas faciem christi tui.

11Our Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not disappoint it: Of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy .Our Lord o hath ſworne truth to Dauid, and p he wil not diſapoint it: q Of the fruite of thy wombe I wil ſet vpon thy ſeate.Juravit Dominus David veritatem, et non frustrabitur eam : De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam.

1609 margino Henceforth to the end of this Psalm, the Prophet relateth God's revelation to him: That he hath truly promised with an oath, · p and will perform, · q to set one of David's sons upon his Throne: which was not only fulfilled in Salomon, who reigned in great peace, and builded the Temple, but especially in Christ the Son of David, to whom our Lord God gave the seat of David his father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:32-33. By this promise S. Peter also proveth Christ's Resurrection. Acts 1:30.o Henceforth to the end of this Pſalme, the Prophet relateth Gods reuelation to him: That he hath truly promiſed with an oath, p and wil performe, q to ſette one of Dauids ſonnes vpon his Throne: which was not only fulfilled in Salomon, who reigned in great peace, and builded the Temple, but eſpecially in Chriſt the Sonne of Dauid, to whom our Lord God gaue the ſeate of Dauid his father, & he ſhal reigne in the houſe of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdom there ſhal be no end. Luc. 1. v. 32. 33. By this promiſe S. Peter alſo proueth Chriſts Reſurrection. Act. 1. v. 30.

12If thy children shall keep my testament, and these my testimonies which I will teach them: Their children also even for ever, shall sit upon thy seat.r If thy children ſhal keepe my teſtament, and theſe my teſtimonies which I wil teach them: Their children alſo euen for euer, ſhal ſit vpon thy ſeate.Si custodierint filii tui testamentum meum, et testimonia mea hæc quæ docebo eos, et filii eorum usque in sæculum sedebunt super sedem tuam.

13Because our Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for an habitation to himself.Becauſe our Lord hath choſen Sion: he hath choſen it for an habitation to himſelf.Quoniam elegit Dominus Sion : elegit eam in habitationem sibi.

14This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell because I have chosen it.This is my ſ reſt for euer and euer: here wil I dwel becauſe I haue choſen it.Hæc requies mea in sæculum sæculi ; hic habitabo, quoniam elegi eam.

15Blessing I will bless her widow: her poor I will fill with .Bleſſing I wil bleſſe her t widow: her v poore I wil fil with breades.Viduam ejus benedicens benedicam ; pauperes ejus saturabo panibus.

16Her Priests I will clothe with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with joyfulness.Her w Prieſtes I wil clothe with ſaluation: and her x ſainctes ſhal reioyce with ioyfulnes.Sacerdotes ejus induam salutari, et sancti ejus exsultatione exsultabunt.

17Thither will I bring forth a horn to David, I have prepared a lamp to my Christ.y Thither wil I bring forth a horne to Dauid, I haue prepared z a lampe to my Chriſt.Illuc producam cornu David ; paravi lucernam christo meo.

18His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.His enemies I wil clothe with confuſion: but vpon him ſhal my ſanctification floriſh.Inimicos ejus induam confusione ; super ipsum autem efflorebit sanctificatio mea.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 131 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 131 of 150