God's knowledge, 7. and presence (10. without the help, or hindrance of any thing) extendeth to all things, times, and places. 17. he giveth exceeding great honour to his saints, 20. the wicked, as enemies to God are justly hated, 23. the just pray for God's perpetual direction.Gods knowlege, 7. and presence (10. without the helpe, or hinderance anie thing) extendeth to al thinges, times, and places. 17. he geueth exceeding great honour to his sainctes, 20. the wicked, as enimies to God are iustly hated, 23. the iust pray for Gods perpetual direction.✦

Unto the end, a Psalm of David. Lord thou hast proved me, and hast known me:Unto the end, a Psalm of David. Lord thou hast proved me, and hast known me:Vnto ^athe end, a Psalme of Dauid. LORD thou ^bhast proued me, and hast knowen me:In finem, psalmus David. Domine, probasti me, et cognovisti me ;

1609 marginGods special providence of his servants. the 5. key.Gods special prouidence of his seruantes. the 5. key.By this part of the title [to the end] is signified (as is noted Psal. 4.) that the matter contained in the Psalm, pertaineth to the new Testament.a By this part of the title [to the end] is signified (as is noted Psal. 4.) that the matter conteined in the Psalme, perteyneth to the newe Testament.God who knoweth all things most absolutely and perfectly, without discourse or searching, yet, as it were, maketh experimental trial of his servants, to make them in some sort to know him, and to know themselves. And so here, holy David or other faithful man, acknowledgeth God's Omniscience, that is, perfect knowledge of all things, without exception, past, present, and to come: all works, words, thoughts, and whatsoever can be, though it never was nor shall be, in general and in particular.b God who knoweth al thinges most absolutly and perfectly, without discourse or searching, yet, as it were, maketh experimental trial of his seruants, to make them in some sorte to know him, and to know themselues. And so here, holie Dauid or other faithful man, acknowlegeth Gods Omniscience, that is, perfect knowlege of al thinges, without exception, past, present, & to come : al workes, wordes, thoughtes, and whatsoeuer can be, though it neuer was nor shal be, in general and in particular.

2thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.thou hast knowen my sitting downe, and my rising vp.tu cognovisti sessionem meam et resurrectionem meam.

3Thou hast understood my far off: my path, and my thou hast searched out.Thou hast understood my far off: my path, and my thou hast searched out.Thou hast vnderstood my cogitations far of: my path, and ^cmy corde thou hast searched out.Intellexisti cogitationes meas de longe ; semitam meam et funiculum meum investigasti :

4And thou hast foreseen all my ways: because there is not a word in my tongue.And thou hast foreseen all my ways: because there is not a word in my tongue.And thou hast foresene al my wayes: because there is not a word in my ^dtongue.et omnes vias meas prævidisti, quia non est sermo in lingua mea.

5Behold O Lord thou hast known all the last things, and them of old: thou hast formed me, and hast put thy hand upon me.Behold O Lord thou hast known all the last things, and them of old: thou hast formed me, and hast put thy hand upon me.Behold ô Lord thou hast knowen al the last thinges, & them of old: thou hast formed me, and hast put thy hand vpon me.Ecce, Domine, tu cognovisti omnia, novissima et antiqua. Tu formasti me, et posuisti super me manum tuam.

6Thy knowledge is become marvellous of me: it is made great, and I can not reach to it.Thy knowledge is become marvellous of me: it is made great, and I can not reach to it.Thy knowledge is ^ebecome meruelous of me: it is made great, and I can not reach to it.Mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me ; confortata est, et non potero ad eam.

7 shall I go from thy spirit? and shall I flee from thy face?Whither shall I go from thy spirit? and whither shall I flee from thy face?^fWhither shal I goe from thy spirit? and whither shal I flee from thy face?Quo ibo a spiritu tuo ? et quo a facie tua fugiam ?

8If I shall ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.If I shall ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.If I shal ascend into heauen, thou art there: if I descend into hel, thou art present.Si ascendero in cælum, tu illic es ; si descendero in infernum, ades.

9If I shall take my wings early, and dwell in the extreme parts of the sea:If I shall take my wings early, and dwell in the extreme parts of the sea:If I shal take my winges early, and dwel in the extreme partes of the sea:Si sumpsero pennas meas diluculo, et habitavero in extremis maris,

10 also shall thy hand conduct me: and thy right hand shall hold me. thither also shall thy hand conduct me: and thy right hand shall hold me.Certes thither also shal thy hand conduct me: and thy right hand shal hold me.etenim illuc manus tua deducet me, et tenebit me dextera tua.

11And I said: Perhaps darkness shall tread over me: and the night is mine illumination in my delights.And I said: Perhaps darkness shall tread over me: and the night is mine illumination in my delights.^gAnd I sayd: Perhaps darknes shal treade ouer me: and the night is mine illumination in my delightes.Et dixi : Forsitan tenebræ conculcabunt me ; et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.

12For darkness shall not be darkened from thee, and the night shall be lightened as the day: as the darkness thereof, so also the light thereof.For darkness shall not be darkened from thee, and the night shall be lightened as the day: as the darkness thereof, so also the light thereof.For darkenes shal not be darkened from thee, and the night shal be lightened as the day: as the darkenes therof, so also the light therof.Quia tenebræ non obscurabuntur a te, et nox sicut dies illuminabitur : sicut tenebræ ejus, ita et lumen ejus.

13Because thou hast possessed my : thou hast received me from my mother's womb.Because thou hast possessed my : thou hast received me from my mother's womb.Because thou hast possessed ^hmy reynes: thou hast receiued me from ⁱmy mothers wombe.Quia tu possedisti renes meos ; suscepisti me de utero matris meæ.

14I will confess to thee, because thou art terribly magnified: thy works are marvellous, and my soul exceedingly.I will confess to thee, because thou art terribly magnified: thy works are marvellous, and my soul knoweth exceedingly.I wil confesse to thee, because thou art terribly magnified: thy workes are meruelous, & my soule knoweth excedingly.Confitebor tibi, quia terribiliter magnificatus es ; mirabilia opera tua, et anima mea cognoscit nimis.

15My bone is not hid from thee, which thou madest in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.My bone is not hid from thee, which thou madest in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.My ^kbone is not hid from thee, which thou madest in secrete: and my substance in the lower partes of the earth.Non est occultatum os meum a te, quod fecisti in occulto ; et substantia mea in inferioribus terræ.

16Mine thine eyes have seen, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no man in them.Mine thine eyes have seen, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no man in them.^lMine imperfection thine eies haue sene, & in thy booke al shal be written: ^mdaies shal be formed, & no man in them.Imperfectum meum viderunt oculi tui, et in libro tuo omnes scribentur. Dies formabuntur, et nemo in eis.

17But to me thy friends O God are become honourable exceedingly: their is exceedingly strengthened.But to me thy friends O God are become honourable exceedingly: their is exceedingly strengthened.ⁿBut to me thy frendes ô God are become honorable exceedingly: their principalitie is exceedingly strengthned.Mihi autem nimis honorificati sunt amici tui, Deus ; nimis confortatus est principatus eorum.

1609 marginNew translators pervert this place, translating [thoughts] for [friends] contrary to the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and all ancient Fathers, only pretending, that the same word in the Chaldee tongue also signifieth thoughts.Newe translaters peruert this place, translating [thoughts] for [frendes] contrarie to the Hebrew, Greke, and Latin, and al ancient Fathers, only pretending, that the same word in the Chaldee tongue also signifieth thoughts.Above all considerations it most exceedeth, that God so high and infinite, honoureth his humble poor servants so exceedingly, that it seemeth to themselves, far more then can be due. For he rewardeth even over and above merits; which merits also are founded in God's mercy given without merit.n Aboue al considerations it most excedeth, that God so high and infinite, honoreth his humble poore seruants so exceedingly, that it semeth to themselues, farre more then can be due. For he rewardeth euen ouer & aboue merites ; which merites also are founded in Gods mercie geuen without merite.

18I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and I am yet with thee.I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and I am yet with thee.^oI wil number them, and they shal be multiplied aboue the sand: ^pI rose vp and I am yet with thee.Dinumerabo eos, et super arenam multiplicabuntur. Exsurrexi, et adhuc sum tecum.

19If thou shalt kill sinners O God: ye men of blood depart from me.If thou shalt kill sinners O God: ye men of blood depart from me.^qIf thou shalt kil sinners ô God: ^rye men of blood depart from me.Si occideris, Deus, peccatores, viri sanguinum, declinate a me :

20Because you say in thought: they shall receive thy cities in vain.Because you say in thought: they shall receive thy cities in vain.^sBecause you say in thought: they ^tshal receiue thy cities in vayne.quia dicitis in cogitatione : Accipient in vanitate civitates tuas.

21Did not I hate them, that hate thee O Lord: and away because of thine enemies?Did not I hate them, that hate thee O Lord: and away because of thine enemies?^vDid not I hate them, that hate thee ô Lord: and ^wpyned away because of thine enemies?Nonne qui oderunt te, Domine, oderam, et super inimicos tuos tabescebam ?

22with perfect hatred did I hate them: they are become enemies to me.with perfect hatred did I hate them: they are become enemies to me.^xwith perfect hatred did I hate them: they are become ^yenemies to me.Perfecto odio oderam illos, et inimici facti sunt mihi.

23Prove me O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.Prove me O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.^zProue me ô God, and know my hart: examine me, and know my pathes.Proba me, Deus, et scito cor meum ; interroga me, et cognosce semitas meas.

24And see, if the way of iniquity be in me: and conduct me in the everlasting way.And see, if the way of iniquity be in me: and conduct me in the everlasting way.And ^asee, if the way of iniquitie be in me: ^band conduct me in the euerlasting way.Et vide si via iniquitatis in me est, et deduc me in via æterna.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Also available: Plantin Louvain (Latin).

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 138 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 138 of 150