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 ouercome. 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. Often have they me from my youth, let Israel now say:A gradual Canticle. ^aOFTEN haue they impugned me ^bfrom 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 have they impugned me from my youth: but they have not prevailed against me.Often haue they impugned me from my youth: ^cbut 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 have builded upon my back: they have prolonged their iniquity.Sinners ^dhaue builded vpon my backe: they haue ^eprolonged 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:Our just Lord will cut the necks of sinners: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 all be and turned backward, that hate Sion.let them al ^gbe confounded and ^hturned 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 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 :

7 the reaper not filled his hand, and he that the sheaves his bosom.Whereof 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 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. Also available: Plantin Louvain (Latin).

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

Chapter 128 of 150