God is also to be praised by his peculiar people, for particular benefits. 4. and for his omnipotent power, wisdom, goodness, in creating, and governing this whole world, 11. and most special benignity towards those that trust in him.God is also to be praised by his peculiar people, for particular benefites. 4. & for his omnipotent powre, wisdom, goodnes, in creating, and gouerning this whole world, 11. and most special benignitie towards those that trust in him.✦

Alleluia. Praise ye our Lord because Psalm is good: to our God let there be pleasant, and praise.Alleluia. Praise ye our Lord because Psalm is good: to our God let there be pleasant, and praise.Alleluia. PRAYSE ye our Lord because Psalme ^ais good: to our God let there be pleasant, and comelie praise.Alleluja. Laudate Dominum, quoniam bonus est psalmus ; Deo nostro sit jucunda, decoraque laudatio.

2Our Lord building up Jerusalem: will gather together the of Israel.Our Lord building up Jerusalem: will gather together the of Israel.Our Lord building vp Ierusalem: ^bwil gather together the dispersions of Israel.Ædificans Jerusalem Dominus, dispersiones Israëlis congregabit :

3Who the contrite of heart: and bindeth up their .Who healeth the contrite of heart: and bindeth up their .Who ^chealeth the contrite of hart: and bindeth vp their sores.qui sanat contritos corde, et alligat contritiones eorum ;

4Who the multitude of stars: and names to them all.Who numbereth the multitude of stars: and giveth names to them all.Who ^dnumbereth the multitude of starres: and ^egeueth names to them al.qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, et omnibus eis nomina vocat.

1609 marginBesides experience of every one, that shall behold the firmament in a clear night, the holy Scripture (Gen. 15:5) sheweth, that the stars are innumerable to man. For albeit Ptolemy and other Astronomers numbereth certain more notorious stars, which serve especially for some knowledge in the science of Astronomy, numbering 349 such in the Zodiac; 316 in the South part thereof; and 360 on the North part, which are in all 1025. Yet all acknowledge that no man can come near to any probable conjecture of the whole number, nor is able to attain any perfect knowledge of their natural influences, and special properties. And therefore the Psalmist proposeth here the admirable, and unsearchable knowledge of God: who both most exactly knoweth the number, and so perfectly their nature, that his divine Omniscience giveth to every star a proper name, according to their singular differences and properties.d Besides experience of euerie one, that shal behold the firmament in a clere night, the holie Scripture (Gen. 15. v. 5.) sheweth, that the starres are innumerable to man. For albeit Ptolomæy and other Astronomers numbereth certaine more notorious starres, which serue especially for some knowlege in the science of Astronomie, numbering 349. such in the Zodiach; 316. in the South part therof; and 360. on the North part, which are in al 1025. Yet al acknowlege that no man can come nere to anie probable coniecture of the whole number, nor is able to attaine anie perfect knowlege of their natural influences, and special proprietes. And therfore the Psalmist proposeth here the admirable, and vnsearchable knowlege of God : who both most exactly knoweth the number, e and so perfectly their nature, that his diuine Omniscience geueth to euerie starre a proper name, according to their singular differences and proprieties.

5Great is our Lord, and great is his strength: and of his wisdom there is no number.Great is our Lord, and great is his strength: and of his wisdom there is no number.Great is our Lord, and great is his strength: and of his ^fwisdom there is no number.Magnus Dominus noster, et magna virtus ejus, et sapientiæ ejus non est numerus.

6Our Lord receiving the meek: and humbling sinners even to the ground.Our Lord receiving the meek: and humbling sinners even to the ground.Our Lord receiuing the meeke: & humbling sinners euen to the ground.Suscipiens mansuetos Dominus ; humilians autem peccatores usque ad terram.

7Sing ye to our Lord in : sing ye to our God on harp.Sing ye to our Lord in : sing ye to our God on harp.Sing ye to our Lord in confession: sing ye to our God on harpe.Præcinite Domino in confessione ; psallite Deo nostro in cithara.

8Who the heaven with clouds: and rain for the earth. Who forth grass in the mountains: and herb for the service of men.Who covereth the heaven with clouds: and prepareth rain for the earth. Who bringeth forth grass in the mountains: and herb for the service of men.Who ^gcouereth the heauen with cloudes: and prepareth rayne for the earth. Who bringeth forth grasse in the mountaines: and herbe for the seruice of men.Qui operit cælum nubibus, et parat terræ pluviam ; qui producit in montibus fœnum, et herbam servituti hominum ;

9Who to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.Who geueth to beastes their foode: and to ^hthe young rauens that cal vpon him.qui dat jumentis escam ipsorum, et pullis corvorum invocantibus eum.

1609 marginBoth sacred and profane authors testify, that ravens seeing their young ones, either without feathers, or to have whitish, unlike to theirs, as suspecting that they are not their own birds, but of some other kind, leave them destitute of meat; therefore God the author of nature, and conserver of all kinds of creatures, by his special providence, feedeth them: either by a certain dew hanging near them in the air, as Isidore supposeth; or by little beasts, or flies, sent by God's providence, which they catching into their mouths, are nourished and brought up, as St. Chrysostom teacheth, ser. in Elias; or by what other means soever, all agree that young ravens are neglected by their parents, and are fed marvellously by God's ordinance; by which example the Psalmist sheweth, that much more God hath care of men: especially of such men (saith St. Chrysostom, Hom. in hunc Psalm.) as honour him with hymns and praises, whom also he hath called to be his peculiar people, and his own portion or inheritance.h Both sacred and prophane auctors testifie, that rauens seing their yong ones, either without fethers, or to haue whitish, vnlike to theirs, as suspecting that they are not their owne birdes, but of some other kinde, leaue them destitute of meate; therfore God the auctor of nature, and conseruer of al kindes of creatures, by his special prouidence, feedeth them : either by a certaine dew hanging nere them in the ayre, as Isidorus supposeth; or by litle beastes, or flees, sent by Gods prouidence, which they catching into their mouthes, are nourished and brought vp, as S. Chrysostom teacheth, ser. in Heliam; or by what other meanes soeuer, al agree that yong rauens are neglected by their parents, and are fedde meruelously by Gods ordinance; by which example the Psalmist sheweth, that much more God hath care of men : especially of such men (saith S. Chrysostom.) as honour him with hymnes and praises, whom also he hath called to be his peculiar people, and his owne portion or inheritance.

10He shall not have pleasure in the strength of an horse: nor in the legs of a man shall he be well pleased.He shall not have pleasure in the strength of an horse: nor in the legs of a man shall he be well pleased.He shal not haue pleasure in the strength of an horse: nor in the legges of a man shal he be wel pleased.Non in fortitudine equi voluntatem habebit, nec in tibiis viri beneplacitum erit ei.

11Our Lord is well pleased toward them that fear him: and in them, that hope upon his mercy.Our Lord is well pleased toward them that fear him: and in them, that hope upon his mercy.Our Lord is wel pleased toward them that feare him: and in them, that hope vpon his mercie.Beneplacitum est Domino super timentes eum, et in eis qui sperant super misericordia ejus.

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

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 146 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 146 of 150