God is, and for ever ought to be praised, 3. for his immense, infinite, glorious Majesty, marvellous works, merciful benefits; for his power, wisdom, justice, 19. who will reward the good, and destroy the wicked.God is, and for euer ough̄ to be praiſed, 3. for his immenſiue, infinite, glorious Maieſtie, meruelous workes, merciful benefites; for his powre, wiſdom, iuſtice, 19. who wil reward the good, and deſtroy the wicked.✦

A praising, to David himself. I will exalt thee my God the king: and I will bless thy name for ever, and for ever and ever.a Prayſing, to Dauid himſelfe. I Wil exalt thee my God b the king : and I wil bleſſe thy name c for euer, and d for euer and euer.¶Laudatio ipsi David. Exaltabo te, Deus meus rex, et benedicam nomini tuo in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.

1609 marginBy this title, Esdras signifieth that the Holy Ghost, who indited all the Psalms to God's praise, more specially in these seven last suggested to David, and by him to all God's servants, that all their other service must tend, and be directed to the praise of God: and that therein we must continue, and finally rest, as in the sabbath of the seventh day, signified (as St. Bede supposeth) by these seven last Psalms of praise, eternally praising our Lord God. For which principal end both Angels and Men, yea and all other creatures were made. · King, is the proper epithet of Christ, the Son of God, to whom, in his humanity, God the Father promised the Church of all nations for his kingdom. Psal. 2. in whom also the whole Blessed Trinity is praised. All the time of this world they praise God, & after in eternity.Gods Maieſtie excelleth al thinges. the 1. key. · a By this title, Eldras ſignifieth that the Holie Ghoſt, vvho indited al the Pſalmes to Gods praiſe, more ſpecially in theſe ſeuen laſt ſuggeſted to Dauid, and by him to al Gods ſeruants, that al their other ſeruice muſt tend, and be directed to the praiſe of God: and that therin vve muſt continevv, and finally reſt, as in the ſabbath of the ſeuenth day, ſignified (as S. Beda ſuppoſeth) by theſe ſeuen laſt Pſalmes of praiſe, eternally praiſing our Lord God. For vvhich principal end both Angels and Men, yea and al other creatures vvere made. · b King, is the proper epitheton of Chriſt, the Sonne of God, to vvhom, in his humanitie, God the Father promiſed the Church of al nations for his kingdom. Pſal. 2. in vvhom alſo the vvhole Bleſſed Trinitie is praiſed. c Al the time of this vvorld they praiſe God, d & after in eternitie.

2Every day will I bless thee: and will praise thy name, for ever, and for ever and ever.Euerie day wil I bleſſe thee : and wil praiſe thy name, for euer, and for euer and euer.Per singulos dies benedicam tibi, et laudabo nomen tuum in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.

3Great is our Lord and exceeding laudable, and of his greatness there is no end.Great is our Lord and exceding laudable, and of his greatnes there is no end.Magnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis, et magnitudinis ejus non est finis.

4Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall pronounce thy power.Generation and generation ſhal praiſe thy workes : and they ſhal pronounce thy powre.Generatio et generatio laudabit opera tua, et potentiam tuam pronuntiabunt.

5They shall speak the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy marvellous works.They ſhal ſpeake the magnificence of the glorie of thy holines : and ſhal tel thy meruelous workes.Magnificentiam gloriæ sanctitatis tuæ loquentur, et mirabilia tua narrabunt.

6And they shall tell the force of thy things: and shall declare thy greatness:And they ſhal tel the force of thy e terrible thinges : and ſhal declare thy greatnes :Et virtutem terribilium tuorum dicent, et magnitudinem tuam narrabunt.

7They shall utter the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and in thy justice they shall rejoice.They ſhal vtter the memorie of the abundance of thy ſwetnes : and in thy iuſtice they ſhal reioyce.Memoriam abundantiæ suavitatis tuæ eructabunt, et justitia tua exsultabunt.

8Our Lord is and merciful: patient and very merciful.Our Lord is pitiful and merciful : patient and very merciful.Miserator et misericors Dominus : patiens, et multum misericors.

9Our Lord is sweet to all: and his are over all his works.Our Lord is ſweete to al : and his f commiſerations are ouer al his workes.Suavis Dominus universis, et miserationes ejus super omnia opera ejus.

10Let all thy works o Lord confess to thee: and let thy saints bless thee.Let al thy workes o Lord confeſſe to thee : and let thy g ſainctes bleſſe thee.Confiteantur tibi, Domine, omnia opera tua, et sancti tui benedicant tibi.

11They shall tell the glory of thy kingdom: and shall speak thy might.They ſhal tel the glorie of thy kingdom : and ſhal ſpeake thy might.Gloriam regni tui dicent, et potentiam tuam loquentur :

12That they may make thy might known to the children of men: and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom.That they may make thy might knowne to the children of men : and the glorie of the magnificence of thy kingdom.ut notam faciant filiis hominum potentiam tuam, et gloriam magnificentiæ regni tui.

13Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all worlds: and thy dominion in all generation and generation. Our Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works.Thy kingdom is a kingdom h of al worldes : and thy dominion in al generation and generation. Our Lord is faithful in al his wordes : and holie in al his workes.¶Regnum tuum regnum omnium sæculorum ; et dominatio tua in omni generatione et generationem. Fidelis Dominus in omnibus verbis suis, et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis.

14Our Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are bruised.Our Lord i lifteth vp al that fal : and ſetteth vp al that are bruiſed.Allevat Dominus omnes qui corruunt, et erigit omnes elisos.

15The eyes of all hope in thee O Lord: and thou givest their in time .The eies of al hope in thee ô Lord : and thou geueſt their meate in time conuenient.Oculi omnium in te sperant, Domine, et tu das escam illorum in tempore opportuno.

16Thou openest thy hand: and fillest every living creature with blessing.Thou openeſt thy hand : and filleſt k euerie liuing creature with bleſſing.Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne animal benedictione.

17Our Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.Our Lord is iuſt in al his wayes : and holie in al his workes.Justus Dominus in omnibus viis suis, et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis.

18Our Lord is near to all that him: to all that invocate him in truth.Our Lord is neere to al that inuocate him : to al that inuocate him in truth.Prope est Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum, omnibus invocantibus eum in veritate.

19He will do the will of them that fear him, and will hear their prayer, and save them.He wil doe the wil of them that feare him, and wil heare their prayer, and ſaue them.Voluntatem timentium se faciet, et deprecationem eorum exaudiet, et salvos faciet eos.

20Our Lord keepeth all that love him: and he will destroy all sinners.Our Lord keepeth al that loue him : and he wil deſtroy al ſinners.Custodit Dominus omnes diligentes se, et omnes peccatores disperdet.

21My mouth shall speak the praise of our Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever, and for ever and ever.My mouth ſhal ſpeake the prayſe of our Lord : and let al fleſh bleſſe his holie name for euer, and for euer and euer.Laudationem Domini loquetur os meum ; et benedicat omnis caro nomini sancto ejus in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi.

Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament

1I will exalt thee. As this Psalm is the first of the seven, which contain more particular instruction of perpetually praising God: so it is the seventh of those, which are composed in order of the Alphabet, to wit, the 24. 33. 36. 110. 111. 118. and this 144, Of which the three former want some letters: signifying (as Cassiodorus interpreteth) such in God's Church, as sing his praises, but with some imperfections: the other four have the perfect Alphabet, signifying those, that sing God's praises with perfect devotion. Which only four St. Jerome calleth Alphabetical Psalms. Epist. ad Paulam Urbicam, & Proæm. in Lament. Ierem.I wil exalt thee. As this Pſalme is the firſt of the ſeuen, vvhich conteyne more particular inſtruction of perpetually praiſing God: ſo it is the ſeuenth of thoſe, vvhich are compoſed in order of the Alphabet, tovvitte, the 24. 33. 36. 110. 111. 118. and this 144, Of vvhich the three former vvant ſome letters: ſignifying (as Caſſiodorus interpreteth) ſuch in Gods Church, as ſing his praiſes, but vvith ſome imperfections: the other foure haue the perfect Alphabet, ſignifying thoſe, that ſing Gods praiſes vvith perfect deuotion. Which only foure S. Ierom calleth Alphabetical Pſalmes. Epiſt. ad Paulam Vrbicam, & Proæm. in Lament. Ierem.

The seven last Psalms pertain more specially to praises. This Psalm and other six are composed in order of the Alphabet.

The ſeuen laſt Pſalmes perteyne more ſpecially to prayſes. This Pſalme and other ſix are compoſed in order of the Alphabet.

13Our Lord is faithful. This verse is not now in the ordinary Hebrew text, and therefore either the same is defective, or else this Psalm should seem not to be composed with a perfect Alphabet in the fountain tongue. For here it wanteth the letter Nun. But seeing St. Jerome counteth this one of the four Alphabetical Psalms, omitting the other three, which consist of unperfect Alphabets, it is very probable that this verse was once in the Hebrew text, as it is both in Greek & Latin. Whereby amongst other places, appeareth, that there is no certainty, to correct the Greek, or Latin Bible by the Hebrew, which is now extant; but rather by them that may be supplied, which the Hebrew wanteth.Our Lord is faithful. This verſe is not novv in the ordinarie Hebrevv text, and therfore either the ſame is defectiue, or els this Pſalme ſhould ſeme not to be compoſed vvith a perfect Alphabet in the fountaine tongue. For here it vvanteth the letter Nun. But ſeing S. Ierom counteth this one of the foure Alphabetical Pſalmes, omitting the other three, vvhich conſiſt of vnperfect Alphabets, it is very probable that this verſe vvas once in the Hebrevv text, as it is both in Greke & Latin. Wherby amongſt other places, appeareth, that there is no certaintie, to correct the Greke, or Latin Bible by the Hebrevv, vvhich is novv extant; but rather by them that may be ſupplied, vvhich the Hebrevv vvanteth.

It is probable that the Hebrew text now wanteth a verse in this Psalm. And therefore is not more certain than the Greek or Latin.

It is probable that the Hebrevv text novv vvanteth a verſe in this Pſalme. And therfore is not more certaine then the Greke or Latin.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 144 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 144 of 150

Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament