Whosoever faithfully and firmly trusteth in God's providence, is secure from all dangers of secret, subtle, and open enemies. 7. his adversaries shall come to ruin. 11. Angels shall defend him. 13. no kind of serpent, nor beast shall hurt him. 14. God himself assureth him of his protection, and of eternal salvation.Whosoeuer faithfully and firmly trusteth in Gods prouidence, is secure from al dangers of secrete, sutle, and open enimies. 7. his aduersaries shal come to ruine. 11. Angels shal defend him. 13. no kind of serpent, nor beast shal hurt him. 14. God himself assureth him of his protection, and of eternal saluation.✦

A praise of a Canticle to David. He that in the help of the Highest, shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven.A praise of a Canticle to David. He that dwelleth in the help of the Highest, shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven.Prayse of a ^bCanticle to Dauid. He ^cthat dwelleth in the helpe of the Highest, shal abide in the protection of the God of heauen.Laus cantici David. Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei cæli commorabitur.

2He shall say to our Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God I will hope in him.He shall say to our Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God I will hope in him.He shal say to our Lord: Thou art my protectour, and my refuge: my God I wil hope in him.Dicet Domino : Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum ; Deus meus, sperabo in eum.

3Because he delivered me from the snare of the hunters, and from the sharp word.Because he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters, and from the sharp word.Because he hath deliuered me from ^dthe snare of the hunters, and from ^ethe sharpe word.Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium, et a verbo aspero.

4With his shoulders shall he overshadow thee: and under his wings thou shalt hope.With his shoulders shall he overshadow thee: and under his wings thou shalt hope.With his shoulders shal he ouershadowe thee: and vnder his winges thou shalt hope.Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi, et sub pennis ejus sperabis.

5With shield shall his truth thee: thou shalt not be afraid of the fear in the night.With shield shall his truth thee: thou shalt not be afraid of the fear in the night.With shilde shal his truth compasse thee: thou shalt not be afrayed ^fof the feare in the night.Scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus : non timebis a timore nocturno ;¶

6Of the arrow flying in the day, of walking in darkness: of invasion, and the midday devil.Of the arrow flying in the day, of walking in darkness: of invasion, and the midday devil.Of ^gthe arrow flying in the day, ^hof busines walking in darkenes: of inuasion, and the midday diuel.a sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris, ab incursu, et dæmonio meridiano.

1609 marginarrow. Open persecution threatening present death, except men deny the truth which they know.g Open persecution threatning present death, except men denie the truth which they know.business. circumvention of crafty enemies by subtle arguing, and drawing men into error, and so to decline from Catholic Religion,h circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing, and drawing men into error, and so to decline from Catholique Religion,invasion. long torments, even to death, except God's servants will relent, and deny the truth, which they assuredly believe, and know in their conscience, that they are bound to profess it.i long torments, euen to death, except Gods seruants wil relent, and denie the truth, which they assuredly beleue, and know in their conscience, that they are bond to professe it.

7A thousand shall fall on thy side, and ten thousand: on thy right hand: but to thee it shall not approach.A thousand shall fall on thy side, and ten thousand: on thy right hand: but to thee it shall not approach.A ^kthousand shal fal on thy syde, & ^lten thousand: on thy righthand: but to thee it shal not approch.Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem millia a dextris tuis ; ad te autem non appropinquabit.

8But thou shalt consider with thine eyes: and shalt see the of sinners.But thou shalt consider with thine eyes: and shalt see the of sinners.But thou shalt consider with thine eies: and shalt see the retribution of sinners.Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis, et retributionem peccatorum videbis.

9Because thou O Lord art my hope: thou hast made the Highest thy refuge.Because thou O Lord art my hope: thou hast made the Highest thy refuge.Because ^mthou ô Lord art my hope: thou hast made the Highest thy refuge.Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea ; Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum.

10There shall no evil come to thee: and scourge shall not approach to thy tabernacle.There shall no evil come to thee: and scourge shall not approach to thy tabernacle.There shal no euil come to thee: and scourge shal not approch to thy tabernacle.Non accedet ad te malum, et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo.

11Because he given his Angels charge of thee: that they keep thee in all thy ways.Because he hath given his Angels charge of thee: that they keep thee in all thy ways.Because he hath geuen ⁿhis Angels charge of thee: ^othat they keepe thee in al thy waies.Quoniam angelis suis mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.

1609 marginAngels. Angels have protection of men by God's ordinance. keep. The devil corruptly allegeth this scripture (Mat. 4) omitting the latter part of this verse: which showeth when Angels protect just men, to wit, when they walk in a right path, observing ordinary course in their actions, not in giving themselves headlong into needless danger, as the same devil proposed to our Saviour, to cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Such falling is not the way of the just, but of Lucifer, that fell from heaven. So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal.n Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance . o The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture (Mat. 4) omitting the latter part of this verse: which sheweth when Angels protect iust men, to witte, when they walke in a right path, obseruing ordinarie course in their actions, not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger, as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour, to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple. Such falling is not the way of the iust, but of Lucifer, that fel from heauen. So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal.

12In their hands they shall bear thee: lest perhaps thou knock thy foot against a stone.In their hands they shall bear thee: lest perhaps thou knock thy foot against a stone.In their handes they shal beare thee: lest perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone.In manibus portabunt te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.

13Upon the asp, and the basilisk thou shalt walk: and thou shalt tread upon the lion, and the dragon.Upon the asp, and the basilisk thou shalt walk: and thou shalt tread upon the lion, and the dragon.Vpon the aspe, and the basiliscus thou shalt walke: & thou shalt tread vpon the lion, and the dragon.Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis, et conculcabis leonem et draconem.

14Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he known my name.Because he hath hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name.^pBecause he hath hoped in me, I wil deliuer him: I wil protect him, because he hath knowne my name.Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum ; protegam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen meum.

15He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: with him I am in tribulation: I will deliver him, and will glorify him.He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: with him I am in tribulation: I will deliver him, and will glorify him.He shal crie to me, and I wil heare him: with him I am in tribulation: I wil deliuer him, and ^qwil glorifie him.Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum ; cum ipso sum in tribulatione : eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum.

16With length of days I will him: and I will show him my salvation.With length of days I will him: and I will show him my salvation.With length of daies I wil replenish him: and I wil shew him my saluation.Longitudine dierum replebo eum, et ostendam illi salutare meum.

Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament

5Thou shalt not be afraid. S. Augustine here observeth four manners of tempting the faithful to fall from true Religion. Sometimes with temptation that is but light and obscure, which the Prophet here calleth fear in the night: when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion, or apprehension of temporal afflictions, not knowing that they fall into eternal damnation, by fleeing from worldly, or bodily calamities. Sometimes the temptation threateneth present death to them that are well instructed in the truth, and know that they must confess it even to death, which the Prophet calleth an arrow flying in the day: when the faithful clearly seeth what danger hangeth over him, to wit, present death if he stand constant, and damnation if he deny his faith. Sometimes the temptation is more vehement, but yet obscure, which he calleth, business walking in darkness: when by subtle endeavours, framing arguments in excuse of sin, men are persuaded that they may lawfully take some oath, or do some other thing, which indeed is not lawful: and so by earnest, and subtle persuasions they ignorantly decline from Catholic Religion, or commit other grievous sins. But the greatest and manifest temptation is called invasion and midday devil: when persecutors seeing neither more easy persuasions can deceive God's servants, nor present death force them to deny the truth, they then assault them more vehemently, and more dangerously with long, and continual afflictions, not remitting their cruelty till the afflicted either yield to their will, or die in long torments. And by these two latter kinds of persecution many are overthrown, which were constant in the former. For whiles tyrants proposed dangers to simple people, and deceived some, yet threatening present death to others, that were better instructed, and confirmed in Religion, innumerable persevered, and gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholic faith. But by subtle arguing of hard points of Christian doctrine or practice; and by long torments many have been seduced, blindly falling into errors, and many wittingly have denied the truth, which they clearly believed in their hearts, to avoid this midday devil, the extremity of long manifest, and grievous afflictions. Nevertheless in all these temptations God protecteth them that firmly trust in him. Those (saith this holy Father) have failed, which presumed of themselves, which dwelt not in the help of the Highest, and in protection of the God of heaven: which said not to our Lord: Thou art my Protector, and my refuge, which trusted not under the shadow of his wings, but relied, or attributed much to their own strength.Thou shalt not be afraid. S. Augustin here obserueth foure maners of tempting the faithful to fal from true Religion. Sometimes with tentation that is but light and obscure, which the Prophet here calleth feare in the night: when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion, or apprehension of temporal afflictions, not knowing that they fal into eternal damnation, by fleing from worldlie, or bodilie calamities. Sometimes the tentation threatneth present death to them that are wel instructed in the truth, and know that they must confesse it euen to death, which the Prophet calleth an arrow flying in the day: when the faithful clerly seeth what danger hangeth ouer him, to witte, present death if he stand constant, and damnation if he denie his faith. Somtimes the tentation is more vehement, but yet obscure, which he calleth, busines walking in darknes: when by sutle endeuoures, framing arguments in excuse of sinne, men are perswaded that they may lawfully take some oath, or do some other thing, which in dede is not lawful: and so by earnest, and sutle perswasions they ignorantly decline from Catholique Religion, or committe other greuous sinnes. But the greatest and manifest tentation is called inuasion & midday diuel: when persecuters seing neither more easie perswasions can deceiue Gods seruants, nor present death force them to denie the truth, they then assault them more vehemently, and more dangerously with long, and continual afflictions, not remitting their crueltie til the afflicted either yeld to their wil, or dye in long torments. And by these two latter kindes of persecution manie are ouerthrowne, which were constant in the former. For whiles tyrants proposed dangers to simple people, and deceiued some, yet threatning present death to others, that were better instructed, and confirmed in Religion, innumerable perseuered, & gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholique faith. But by sutle arguing of hard pointes of christian doctrin or practise; and by long torments manie haue bene seduced, blindly falling into errors, and manie wittingly haue denied the truth, which they clerly beleued in their hartes, to auoide this midday diuel, the extremitie of long manifest, and greuous afflictions. Neuertheles in al these tentations God protecteth them that firmly trust in him. Those (saith this holie Father) haue failed, which presumed of themselues, which dwelt not in the helpe of the Highest, and in protection of the God of heauen: which said not to our Lord: Thou art my Protector, and my refuge, which trusted not vnder the shadow of his winges, but relied, or attributed much to their owne streingth.

Four sorts of persecution for the Catholic faith. (marked 1–4 in the margin).God leaveth none but those that first leave him.

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

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 90 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 90 of 150

Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament