The Church prayeth that her children may avoid sinful words, 4. not make excuses of sins committed, not communicate with others in sin, nor to hearken to flatterers: 6. but to pray that they may amend (the Psalmist by the way prophesieth that many shall be converted) 8. though sometimes persecution be great, the Church faileth not.The Church prayeth that her children may auoide sinful wordes, 4. not make excuses of sinnes committed, not communicate with others in sinne, nor to harken to flatterers : 6. but to pray that they may amend ( the Psalmist by the way prophecieth that manie shal be conuerted) 8. though sometimes persecution be great, the Church faileth not.✦

A Psalm of David. Lord I have cried to thee, hear me: attend to my voice, when I shall cry to thee.A Psalm of David. Lord I have cried to thee, hear me: attend to my voice, when I shall cry to thee.A Psalme of Dauid. LORD I haue cried to thee, heare me: attend to my voice, when I shal crie to thee.Psalmus David. Domine, clamavi ad te : exaudi me ; intende voci meæ, cum clamavero ad te.

2Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the elevation of my hands as evening sacrifice.Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the elevation of my hands as evening sacrifice.Let my prayer be directed as a incense in thy sight: the eleuation of my handes as ^beuening sacrifice.Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo ; elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum.

1609 marginIn these words the Church prayeth, offering incense in her solemn Offices.In these wordes the Church prayeth, offering incense in her solemne Offices.As the sum of incense is sweet and ascendeth upwards: so the Church prayeth that her petitions may be grateful, and ascend to God. In the old testament morning sacrifice was rather more solemn, and more frequent, but the Prophet seemeth to allude unto Christ's Sacrifice, which he was to offer towards evening on the Cross; and the same also in unbloody manner, the evening before his Passion, in the Eucharist.a As the sume of incense is swete and ascendeth vpwards : so the Church prayeth that her petitions may be gratful, and ascend to God. b In the old testament morning sacrifice was rather more solemne, and more frequent, but the Prophet semeth to allude vnto Christs Sacrifice, which he was to offer towards euening on the Crosse ; and the same also in vnbloudie maner, the euening before his Passion, in the Eucharist.

3Set O Lord a watch to my mouth: and a door round about to my lips.Set O Lord a watch to my mouth: and a door round about to my lips.Set ô Lord ^ca watch to my mouth: and ^da doore round about to my lippes.Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiæ labiis meis.

4Decline not my heart into words of malice, to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not with the chief of them.Decline not my heart into words of malice, to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not with the chief of them.Decline not my hart ^einto wordes of malice, to make excuses in sinnes. With men that worke iniquitie: and I wil not communicate with the chiefe of them.Non declines cor meum in verba malitiæ, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis ; cum hominibus operantibus iniquitatem, et non communicabo cum electis eorum.

5The just shall rebuke me in mercy, and shall me: but let not the oil of a sinner my head.The just shall rebuke me in mercy, and shall me: but let not the oil of a sinner my head.The iust shal rebuke me in mercie, and ^fshal reprehend me: but let not the oyle of a sinner ^gfatte my head.Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me : oleum autem peccatoris non impinguet caput meum. Quoniam adhuc et oratio mea in beneplacitis eorum :

6Because, yet also my prayer is in their good pleasures: their judges are swallowed up joined to the rock. They shall hear my words because they have prevailed:Because, yet also my prayer is in their good pleasures: their judges are swallowed up joined to the rock. They shall hear my words because they have prevailed:Because, ^hyet also my prayer is in their ⁱgood pleasures: ^ktheir Iudges are swalowed vp ioyned to the rocke. ^lThey shal heare my wordes ^mbecause they haue preuailed:absorpti sunt juncti petræ judices eorum. Audient verba mea, quoniam potuerunt.

1609 marginThe Church ceaseth not to pray for sinners, though as yet they take pleasure in their sins, but the very chiefest of them, which seem most potent, if they remain obstinate to their death, shall then perish, as men thrown against rocks.h The Church ceaseth not to pray for sinners, i though as yet they take pleasure in their sinnes, k but the very chiefest of them, which seme most potent, if they remaine obstinate to their death, shal then perish, as men throwne against rockes.They shall then hear and understand, that the prayers of the Church are effectual, obtaining grace of constancy to her children, not to fear any persecution, nor any kind of death; obtaining also justification of their cause, when the persecuters shall see that the words, and doctrine of the Church are true, and prevail in true judgement, as true, modest, peaceable, not seditious, turbulent, nor against the commonwealth.l They shal then heare and vnderstand, that the prayers of the Church m are effectual, obtaining grace of constancie to her children, not to feare anie persecution, nor anie kind of death ; obtayning also iustificatiô of their cause, when the persecuters shal see that the wordes, and doctrin of the Church are true, and preuaile in true iudgement, as true, modest, peaceable, not seditious, turbulent, nor against the commonwealth.

7as the of the earth is broken out upon the earth.as the of the earth is broken out upon the earth.ⁿas the grossenes of the earth is broken out vpon the earth.Sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram, dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum.

8Our bones are near to hell: for to thee O Lord, Lord are mine eyes; in thee have I hoped, take not away my soul.Our bones are near to hell: for to thee O Lord, Lord are mine eyes; in thee have I hoped, take not away my soul.Our ^obones are dissipated ^pnere to hel: ^qfor to thee ô Lord, Lord are mine eies; in thee haue I hoped, take not away my soule.Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei ; in te speravi, non auferas animam meam.

9Keep me from the snare, which they have set for me: and from the scandals of them that work iniquity.Keep me from the snare, which they have set for me: and from the scandals of them that work iniquity.Keepe me from ^rthe snare, which they haue set for me: and from ^sthe scandals of them that worke iniquitie.Custodi me a laqueo quem statuerunt mihi, et a scandalis operantium iniquitatem.

10Sinners shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.Sinners shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.^tSinners shal fal in his net: ^vI am alone vntil I passe.Cadent in retiaculo ejus peccatores : singulariter sum ego, donec transeam.

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

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 140 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 140 of 150