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36:1 [Miserere nostri, Deus omnium, et respice nos, et ostende nobis lucem miserationum tuarum :
*H Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the light of thy mercies:


Ver. 1. Have. He has pointed out the conditions for prayer, and now he gives a model. The Jews were at this time dispersed and subservient to the Egyptians or Syrians, which greatly afflicted them. C. — And shew. Gr. (2.) "send."

Τῷ φοβουμένῳ Κύριον οὐκ ἀπαντήσει κακὸν, ἀλλʼ ἐν πειρασμῷ καὶ πάλιν ἐξελεῖται.
36:2 et immitte timorem tuum super gentes quae non exquisierunt te, ut cognoscant quia non est deus nisi tu, et enarrent magnalia tua.
*H And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that they may shew forth thy wonders.


Ver. 2. That. Gr. Rom. omits the rest. But Grabe retains, "all nations which seek not after thee." H. — This prayer implies a prediction of the Gentiles' conversion, as the psalms do frequently in like terms. Ps. lxiv. W.

Ἀνὴρ σοφὸς οὐ μισήσει νόμον, ὁ δὲ ὑποκρινόμενος ἐν αὐτῷ, ὡς ἐν καταιγίδι πλοῖον.
36:3 Alleva manum tuam super gentes alienas, ut videant potentiam tuam.
Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy power.
Ἄνθρωπος συνετὸς ἐμπιστεύσει νόμῳ, καὶ ὁ νόμος αὐτῷ πιστὸς ὡς ἐρώτημα δικαίων.
36:4 Sicut enim in conspectu eorum sanctificatus es in nobis, sic in conspectu nostro magnificaberis in eis :
*H For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou shalt be magnified among them in our presence,


Ver. 4. Sanctified, by chastising us, or by protecting our fathers in the desert.

Ἑτοίμασον λόγον, καὶ οὕτως ἀκουθήσῃ, σύνδησον παιδείαν καὶ ἀποκρίθητι.
36:5 ut cognoscant te, sicut et nos cognovimus quoniam non est deus praeter te, Domine.
That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there is no God beside thee, O Lord.
Τροχὸς ἁμάξης σπλάγχνα μωροῦ, καὶ ὡς ἄξων στρεφόμενος ὁ διαλογισμὸς αὐτοῦ.
36:6 Innova signa, et immuta mirabilia.
Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.
Ἵππος εἰς ὀχείαν ὡς φίλος μῶκος, ὑποκάτω παντὸς ἐπικαθημένου χρεμετίζει.
36:7 Glorifica manum et brachium dextrum.
Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.
Διατί ἡμέρα ἡμέρας ὑπερέχει, καὶ πᾶν φῶς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ ἀφʼ ἡλίου;
36:8 Excita furorem, et effunde iram.
Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.
Ἐν γνώσει Κυρίου διεχωρίσθησαν, καὶ ἠλλοίωσε καιροὺς καὶ ἑορτάς·
36:9 Tolle adversarium, et afflige inimicum.
Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.
ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ἀνύψωσε καὶ ἡγίασε, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἔθηκεν εἰς ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν.
36:10 Festina tempus, et memento finis, ut enarrent mirabilia tua.
*H Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy wonderful works.


Ver. 10. End of our sufferings. The malice of our enemies is at the height.

Καὶ ἄνθρωποι πάντες ἀπὸ ἐδάφους, καὶ ἐκ γῆς ἐκτίσθη Ἀδάμ.
36:11 In ira flammae devoretur qui salvatur : et qui pessimant plebem tuam inveniant perditionem.
*H Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and let them perish that oppress thy people.


Ver. 11. Escapeth the sword. Deut. xxxii. 36. He foretells the event, or wishes that they may be chastised, in order that they may enter into themselves, and adore the true God.

Ἐν πλήθει ἐπιστήμης Κύριος διεχώρισεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἠλλοίωσε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν.
36:12 Contere caput principum inimicorum, dicentium : Non est alius praeter nos.
*H Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is no other beside us.


Ver. 12. Other lord. The Syrian and Egyptian monarchs sometimes claimed divine honours. Dan. vii. 25. and xi. 36. C.

Ἐξ αὐτῶν εὐλόγησε καὶ ἀνύψωσε, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἡγίασε, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤγγισεν· ἀπʼ αὐτῶν κατηράσατο, καὶ ἐταπείνωσε, καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ στάσεως αὐτῶν.
36:13 Congrega omnes tribus Jacob, ut cognoscant quia non est deus nisi tu, et enarrent magnalia tua, et haereditabis eos sicut ab initio.
*H Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that there no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou shalt inherit them as from the beginning.


Ver. 13. That. Gr. transposes the rest, and has only, and thou, &c. H.

Ὡς πηλὸς κεραμέως ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ, πᾶσαι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν αὐτοῦ· οὕτως ἄνθρωποι ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτοὺς, ἀποδοῦναι αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ.
36:14 Miserere plebi tuae, super quam invocatum est nomen tuum, et Israel quem coaequasti primogenito tuo.
* Footnotes
  • * Exodus 4:22
    And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son, my firstborn.
*H Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.


Ver. 14. First-born. Ex. iv. 22. Wives, children, and servants, were called after their lord or father. Is. iv. 1. and lxiii. 19. Jer. vii. 10.

Ἀπέναντι τοῦ κακοῦ τὸ ἀγαθὸν, καὶ ἀπέναντι τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ζωὴ, οὕτως ἀπέναντι εὐσεβοῦς ἀμαρτωλός.
36:15 Miserere civitati sanctificationis tuae, Jerusalem, civitati requiei tuae.
*H Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, the city of thy rest.


Ver. 15. Rest, where the temple is built. 2 Par. vi. 41. Ps. cxxxi. 8.

Καὶ οὕτως ἔμβλεψον εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ὑψίστου, δύο δύο ἓν κατέναντι τοῦ ἑνός.
36:16 Reple Sion inenarrabilibus verbis tuis, et gloria tua populum tuum.
*H Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy glory.


Ver. 16. Words, predictions, as heretofore; or with thy favours.

Κᾀγὼ ἔσχατος ἠγρύπνησα, καὶ κατεκληρονόμησα αὐτοὺς καθὼς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς.
36:17 Da testimonium his qui ab initio creaturae tuae sunt, et suscita praedicationes quas locuti sunt in nomine tuo prophetae priores.
Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.
Ἐλέησον λαὸν, Κύριε, κεκλημένον ἐπʼ ὀνόματί σου, καὶ Ἰσραὴλ ὃν πρωτογόνῳ ὡμοίωσας.
36:18 Da mercedem sustinentibus te, ut prophetae tui fideles inveniantur : et exaudi orationes servorum tuorum,
*H Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,


Ver. 18. Thee. The Jews were more faithful after the captivity. The author seems to beg for the coming of the Messias.

Οἰκτείρησον πόλιν ἁγιάσματός σου Ἱερουσαλὴμ, πόλιν καταπαύματός σου.
36:19 secundum benedictionem Aaron de populo tuo : et dirige nos in viam justitiae, et sciant omnes qui habitant terram quia tu es Deus conspector saeculorum.]
* Footnotes
*H According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of all ages.


Ver. 19. People, which thou hast prescribed. Num. vi. 24. C. — Direct. Gr. "All shall know." — Art. Gr. "Lord art the God of ages." H. — Here the prayer ends. C. — The author continues to instruct. H.

Πλῆσον Σιὼν ἆραι τὰ λόγιά σου, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης σου τὸν λαόν σου.
36:20 [Omnem escam manducabit venter : et est cibus cibo melior.
*H The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.


Ver. 20. Another. Thus act discreetly in the pursuit of knowledge. The good may be distinguished from bad, as easily as venison can from other meats. C. — As there is a difference of meats, so must discretion be used in words, in the choice of a wife, &c. W.

Δὸς μαρτύριον τοῖς ἐν ἀρχῇ κτίσμασί σου, καὶ ἔγειρον προφητείας τὰς ἐπʼ ὀνόματί σου·
36:21 Fauces contingunt cibum ferae, et cor sensatum verba mendacia.
The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.
δὸς μισθὸν τοῖς ὑπομένουσί σε, καὶ οἱ προφῆταί σου ἐμπιστευθήτωσαν.
36:22 Cor pravum dabit tristitiam, et homo peritus resistet illi.
*H A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.


Ver. 22. Resist. Gr. "requite it," as it deserves. H.

Εἰσάκουσον, Κύριε, δεήσεως τῶν ἱκετῶν σου, κατὰ τὴν εὐλογίαν Ἀαρὼν περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου, καὶ γνώσονται πάντες οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι σὺ Κύριος εἶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν αἰώνων.
36:23 Omnem masculum excipiet mulier : et est filia melior filia.
*H A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than another.


Ver. 23. Man. Yet in marriage the temper of the person is to be considered.

Πᾶν βρῶμα φάγεται κοιλία, ἔστι δὲ βρῶμα βρώματος κάλλιον.
36:24 Species mulieris exhilarat faciem viri sui, et super omnem concupiscentiam hominis superducit desiderium.
*H The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, and a man desireth nothing more.


Ver. 24. More. Love is the most violent of all the passions, and nothing can afford greater content than a virtuous and consoling wife. C. xxvi. 21. C.

Φάρυγξ γεύεται βρώματα θήρας, οὕτως καρδία συνετὴ λόγους ψευδεῖς.
36:25 Si est lingua curationis, est et mitigationis et misericordiae : non est vir illius secundum filios hominum.
If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.
Καρδία στρεβλὴ δώσει λύπην, καὶ ἄνθρωπος πολύπειρος ἀνταποδώσει αὐτῷ.
36:26 Qui possidet mulierem bonam inchoat possessionem : adjutorium secundum illum est, et columna ut requies.
*H He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.


Ver. 26. Good, is not in Greek, but the context shews that it is necessary. H. — By concord small possessions increase, as by discord the greatest are lost. W.

Πάντα ἄῤῥενα ἐπιδέξεται γυνὴ, ἔστι δὲ θυγάτηρ θυγατρὸς κρείσσων.
36:27 Ubi non est sepes, diripietur possessio : et ubi non est mulier, ingemiscit egens.
*H Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.


Ver. 27. Want. If he be not so at first, servants will soon ruin his affairs.

Κάλλος γυναικὸς ἱλαρύνει πρόσωπον, καὶ ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν ἐπιθυμίαν ἀνθρώπου ὑπεράγει.
36:28 Quis credit ei qui non habet nidum, et deflectens ubicumque obscuraverit, quasi succinctus latro exiliens de civitate in civitatem ?]
*H Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that skippeth from city to city.


Ver. 28. Rest, or abode with his wife and family. The Jews in general married, and such as delayed were deemed suspicious characters. Prov. xxvii. 8. C.

Εἰ ἔστιν ἐπὶ γλώσσης αὐτῆς ἔλεος καὶ πραΰτης, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς καθʼ υἱοὺς ἀνθρώπων.
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