The Book of Psalms

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

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- Chapter 21 -

After the battle

(Proverbs 21:1-31)

Unto the end. A Psalm of David.

In your virtue, Lord, the king will rejoice, and over your salvation, he will exult exceedingly.

You have granted him the desire of his heart, and you have not cheated him of the wish of his lips.

For you have gone ahead of him with blessings of sweetness. You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.

He petitioned you for life, and you have granted him length of days, in the present time, and forever and ever.(a)

Great is his glory in your salvation. Glory and great adornment, you will lay upon him.

For you will give him as a blessing forever and ever. You will make him rejoice with gladness in your presence.(b)

Because the king hopes in the Lord, and in the mercy of the Most High, he will not be disturbed.

May your hand be found by all your enemies. May your right hand discover all those who hate you.

You will make them like an oven of fire, in the time of your presence. The Lord will stir them up with his wrath, and fire will devour them.

You will destroy their fruit from the earth and their offspring from the sons of men.

For they have turned evils upon you; they have devised plans, which they have not been able to accomplish.

For you will make them turn their back;(c) with your remnants, you will prepare their countenance.(d)

Be exalted, Lord, by your own power. We will play music and sing psalms to your virtues.(e)

Footnotes

(a)20:5 This expression ‘in sæculum, et in sæculum sæculi’ refers both to the here and now on earth, and to eternity. So his prayer for long life is answered by a long life on earth in his own generation (in sæculum), and in eternity (in sæculum sæculi).(Conte)

(b)20:7 He himself is given to the people as a blessing upon them. The text is not merely saying that he is given blessings, but that he is given as a blessing. The one given as a blessing is Christ, foreshadowed by David.(Conte)

(c)20:13 Turn their back:an idiomatic expression which refers to the back as a point of weakness, as in battle when one’s enemy turns their back to you.(Conte)

(d)20:13 With your remnants you will prepare their countenance:Or you shall set thy remnants against their faces. That is, you shall make them see what punishments remain for them hereafter from thy justice. Instead of remnants, St. Jerome renders it funes, that is, cords or strings, viz., of the bow of divine justice, from which God directs his arrows against the faces of his enemies.(Challoner)

(e)20:14 Play music and sing psalms:The word ‘psallemus’ can refer to playing a musical instrument or to singing psalms. The word ‘cantabimus’ can refer to singing songs or playing a musical instrument. The overall meaning of those two words used together, in this context, is to play musical instruments and to sing psalms or hymns to God.(Conte)