Under the form of prayer, the Psalmist describeth the shortness of man's life and other calamities. 7. God's strict judgment. 13. but first his comfortable mercy: 16. and perpetual regard of his own work.Vnder the forme of prayer, the Pſalmiſt deſcribeth the ſhortnes of mans life and other calamites. 7. Gods ſtrict iudgement. 13. but firſt his comfortable mercie: 16. and perpetual regard of his owne worke.✦

A prayer of Moyses the man of God. Lord, thou art made a refuge for us: from generation unto generation.A prayer ^a of Moyſes the man of God. Lord, thou art made ^a refuge for vs: b from generation vnto generation.Oratio Moysi, hominis Dei. Domine, refugium factus es nobis a generatione in generationem.

1609 marginHead note: Man rightly created fell by sin into miseries. the 2. key. · Moyses. Some Expositors think Moyses was the author of this Psalm, and of the ten next following. But others hold that David was author of all, and that Moyses his name is here put in the title by Esdras, because this Psalm is like to the prayer of Moyses, when the people provoked God's wrath by their sins in the desert. And because man's creation, fall, punishment, and God's mercy towards him, are here described: which Moyses first writ, as going before the written law. And that Moyses made not this Psalm is probably gathered by the 10. verse, where the ordinary age of men is described to be (in strength and vigour) seventy years, or of some fourscore: and the greater part (of the one or the other) is in labour and sorrow. And it is evident (Deut. 34.) that Moyses lived in all an hundred and twenty years, and his eye was not dim, neither were his teeth moved. So Aaron, Josue, and others commonly lived longer than is here mentioned. But David was old and impotent at seventy years. 3. Reg. 1. S. Hilarion, living near seventy years in his hermitage, S. Remigius governing the Church of Rheims, seventy years, and the like are accounted to have been full of days, and such as lived longer are reputed extraordinary. Again it is more evidently proved that Moyses was not author of the 94. and 95. Psalms. · generation. Always from the beginning of the world to the end.Man rightly created fel by ſinne into miſeries. the 2. key. · a Some Expoſitors thincke Moyſes was the author of this Pſalme, and of the tenne next folowing. But others hold that Dauid was author of al, and that Moyſes his name is here put in the title by Eſdras, becauſe this Pſalme is like to the prayer of Moyſes, when the people prouoked Gods wrath by their ſinnes in the deſert. And becauſe mans creation, fal, puniſhmẽt, and Gods mercie towards him, are here deſcribed: which Moyſes firſt writte, as going before the written law. And that Moyſes made not this Pſalme is probably gethered by the 10. verſe, where the ordinarie age of men is deſcribed to be (in ſtreingth and vigore) ſeuentie yeares, or of ſome fourſcore: and the greater part (of the one or the other) is in labour and ſorow. And it is euident ( Deut. 34. ) that Moyſes liued in al an hundred and twentie yeares, and his eye was not dimme, neither were his teeth moued. So Aaron, Ioſue, and others commonly liued longer then is here mentioned. But Dauid was old and impotent at ſeuentie yeares. 3. Reg. 1. S. Hilarion, liuing neere ſeuentie yeares in his heremitage, S. Remigius gouerning the Church of Rhemes, ſeuentie yeares, and the like are accounted to haue bene ful of dayes, and ſuch as liued longer are reputed extraordinarie. Agane it is more euidenly proued that Moyſes was not author of the 94. and 95. Pſalmes. · b Alwayes from the beginning of the world to the end.

2Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world formed: from everlasting even unto everlasting thou art God.Before c the mountaines were made, or the earth and the world formed: d from euerlaſting euen vnto euerlaſting thou art God.Priusquam montes fierent, aut formaretur terra et orbis, a sæculo et usque in sæculum tu es, Deus.

3Turn not away man into : thou saidst: Be ye children of men.Turne not away man into humiliation: thou ſaidſt: Be conuerted ye children of men.Ne avertas hominem in humilitatem : et dixisti : Convertimini, filii hominum.

4Because a thousand years before thine eyes, are as yesterday, that is past.Becauſe f a thouſand years before thine eies, are as yeſterday, that is paſt.Quoniam mille anni ante oculos tuos tamquam dies hesterna quæ præteriit : et custodia in nocte

5And as a in the night, things that are counted nothing shall their years be.And as a watch in the night, thinges that are counted nothing ſhal their years be.quæ pro nihilo habentur, eorum anni erunt.

6In the morning as an herb he shall pass, in the morning he shall flourish, and pass: in the evening he shall fall, be hardened, and withered.In g the morning as an herbe he ſhal paſſe, in the morning he ſhal floriſh, and paſſe: in h the euening he ſhal fal, be hardened, and withered.Mane sicut herba transeat ; mane floreat, et transeat ; vespere decidat, induret, et arescat.

7Because we have in thy wrath, and in thy fury we are troubled.Becauſe we haue faynted in thy wrath, and in thy furie we are trubled.Quia defecimus in ira tua, et in furore tuo turbati sumus.

8Thou hast put our iniquities in thy sight: our age in the light of thy countenance.Thou haſt put i our iniquities in thy ſight: our * age in the light of thy countinance.Posuisti iniquitates nostras in conspectu tuo ; sæculum nostrum in illuminatione vultus tui.

9Because all our days have failed: and in thy wrath we have failed. Our years shall be considered as a spider:Becauſe al our daies haue failed: and in thy wrath we haue failed. Our yeares ſhal be conſidered k as a ſpyder:Quoniam omnes dies nostri defecerunt, et in ira tua defecimus. Anni nostri sicut aranea meditabuntur ;

10the days of our years in them, are seventy years. And if in strong ones eighty years: and the more of them, labour and sorrow. Because mildness is come upon us: and we shall be chastised.the daies of our yeares in them, are l ſeuentie yeares. And if in ſtrong ones m eightie years: and the more of them, labour and ſorrow. Becauſe n mildnes is come vpon vs: and we ſhal be chaſtiſed.dies annorum nostrorum in ipsis septuaginta anni. Si autem in potentatibus octoginta anni, et amplius eorum labor et dolor ; quoniam supervenit mansuetudo, et corripiemur.

1609 marginseventy. · eighty. These numbers literally shew the shortness of the longer sort of men's lives. Mystically, seven signify the rest after labours of this world, and pertain to the old testament: eight signify the reward in the resurrection, pertaining to the new testament. Which multiplied by ten, a perfect number, make seventy and eighty. Which joined together make an hundred and fifty. The number of all these Psalms. · mildness. It is of God's mild providence, that man's life is short, for that many if they were sure, or had probability to live long, would presume to sin more.k Mans life as brickle as a ſpiders web: or mans life waſteth continually, as a ſpider waſteth her ſelf by ſpinning, and conſuming her owne ſubſtance. · l m Theſe numbers literarly ſhew the ſhortnes of the longer ſorte of mens liues. Myſtically, ſeuen ſignifie the reſt after laboures of this world, and perteyn to the old teſtament: eight ſignifie the reward in the reſurrection, perteyning to the new teſtament. VVhich multiplied by tenne, a perfect number, make ſeuentie and eightie. VVhich ioyned together make an hundred and fiftie. The number of al theſe Pſalmes. · n It is of Gods milde prouidence, that mans life is ſhort, for that manie if they were ſure, or had probabilitie to liue long, would preſume to ſinne more.

11Who knoweth the power of thy wrath: and for fearo Who knoweth the powre of thy wrath: and for feareQuis novit potestatem iræ tuæ, et præ timore tuo iram tuam

12to number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men learned in heart, in wisdom.to number thy wrath? So make thy righthand knowne: and men learned in hart, in wiſedome.dinumerare ? Dexteram tuam sic notam fac, et eruditos corde in sapientia.

13Turn O Lord, how long? and be entreated for thy servants.Turne ô Lord, how long? and be intreated for thy ſeruants.Convertere, Domine ; usquequo ? et deprecabilis esto super servos tuos.

14We are in the morning with thy mercy: and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.p We are repleniſhed in the morning with thy mercie: and we haue reioyced, and are delighted al our daies.Repleti sumus mane misericordia tua ; et exsultavimus, et delectati sumus omnibus diebus nostris.

15We have rejoiced for the days wherein thou hast humbled us: the years, wherein we have seen evils.q We haue reioyced for the daies wherin thou haſt humbled vs: the yeares, wherin we haue ſeene euils.Lætati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humiliasti ; annis quibus vidimus mala.

16Look upon thy servants, and upon thy works: and direct their children.Looke vpon r thy ſeruants, and vpon thy workes: and ſ direct their children.Respice in servos tuos et in opera tua, et dirige filios eorum.

17And let the brightness of our Lord God be upon us, and direct thou the works of our hands over us: and the work of our hands do thou direct.And t let the brightnes of our Lord God be vpon vs, and v direct thou the workes of our handes ouer vs: and w the worke of our handes doe thou direct.Et sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos, et opera manuum nostrarum dirige super nos, et opus manuum nostrarum dirige.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 89 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 89 of 150