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

1609 marginMoyses. 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.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.generation. Always from the beginning of the world to the end.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 the mountains were made, or the earth and the world formed: from everlasting even unto everlasting thou art God.Before ^cthe mountaines were made, or the earth and the world formed: ^dfrom 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.Turn 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 a thousand years before thine eyes, are as yesterday, that is past.Because ^fa 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 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 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 ^gthe morning as an herbe he shal passe, in the morning he shal florish, and passe: in ^hthe 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 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 our iniquities in thy sight: our age in the light of thy countenance.Thou hast put ⁱour 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 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 ^kas 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 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 ^lseuentie yeares. And if in strong ones ^meightie years: and the more of them, labour and sorrow. Because ⁿmildnes 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 margink Man's life as brickle as a spiders web: or man's life wasteth continually, as a spider wasteth her self by spinning, and consuming her own substance.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 sort of men's lives. Mystically, seven signify the rest after laboures of this world, and perteyn 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.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 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.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.seventy. · 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 the power of thy wrath: and for fearWho knoweth the power of thy wrath: and for fear^oWho 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 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.Turn 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.We are in the morning with thy mercy: and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.^pWe 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 thou hast humbled us: the years, we have seen evils.We have rejoiced for the days wherein thou hast humbled us: the years, wherein we have seen evils.^qWe 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.Look upon thy servants, and upon thy works: and direct their children.Looke vpon ^rthy seruants, and vpon thy workes: and ^sdirect 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 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 ^tlet the brightnes of our Lord God be vpon vs, and ^vdirect thou the workes of our handes ouer vs: and ^wthe 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. Also available: Plantin Louvain (Latin).

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

Chapter 89 of 150