PSALM 51__

PSALM 52__

PSALM 53__

PSALM 54__

7. And I said: “who will give me wings like a dove, to fly away and be at rest?”

2. Wings of the Holy Dove are the contemplation of bodies and incorporeals, through which the nous is elevated to rest in knowledge of the Blessed Trinity. [KG 3.56]

7.  καὶ εἶπα· τίς δώσει μοι πτέρυγας ὡσεὶ περιστερᾶς, καὶ μετασθήσομαι καὶ καταπαύσω;

2. πτέρυγές εἰσι τῆς ἁγίας περιστερᾶς ἡ θεωρία σωμάτων καὶ ἀσωμάτων, δι' ἧς ὑψωθεὶς ὁ νοῦς καταπαύει εἰς γνῶσιν τῆς ἁγίας Τριάδος. [Rond/PG 12.1466]

10. Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen lawlessness and slander in the city:

3. Those who build a city from wickedness and false teaching also cause ignorance and the confusion of tougues that hinders their evil deeds, just as those in Chalame also erected the tower. [KG 4.53]

10. Καταπόντισον, Κύριε, καὶ καταδίελε τὰς γλώσσας αὐτῶν, ὅτι εἶδον ἀνομίαν καὶ ἀντιλογίαν ἐν τῇ πόλει.
    3. Τοῖς ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ψευδῶν δογμάτων πόλιν οἰκοδομοῦσιν ἀγνωσία ἐπισυμβαίνει καὶ σύγχυσις γλωσσῶν παύουσα αὐτοὺς τῆς κακῆς ἐνεργείας  καθάπερ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Χαλάμῃ τὸν πύργον κατασκευάσασιν. [PG 12.1468]

PSALM 55__

2. Have mercy on me, O God, for man has trodden me down: all the day the one warring has afflicted me.

 1. While the terrestrial demons tread us down, the subterranean demons rise up to engulf us: thus it is said,  You have set a limit which they shall not pass: nor shall they return again to cover the earth (cf Sch 8 on Ps 103.9)

2.Ἐλέησόν με, ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι κατεπάτησέ με ἄνθρωπος· ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν πολεμῶν ἔθλιψέ με, κ. τ. ἑ.

 α´. Οἱ μὲν ἐπίγειοι δαίμονες καταπατοῦσιν ἡμᾶς· οἱ δὲ καταχθόνιοι ἐὰν ἀναβῶσι, καλύπτουσιν ἡμᾶς· διὸ εἴρηται· ̧ Ὅριον ἔθου ὃ οὐ παρελεύσονται, οὐδὲ ἐπιστρέψουσι καλύψαι τὴν γῆν.ς

PSALM 56__

PSALM 57__

PSALM 58__

PSALM 59__

Psalm 60

PSALM 60__

2.1. Hear, O God, my supplication,

1. Supplication is prayer offered with pleading for its attainment by one in some need . [=Origen, On Prayer, 14.2]

2[1].  εἰσάκουσον, ὁ θεὸς, τῆς δεήσεώς μου

  1. δέησίς ἐστιν ἐλλείποντός τινος μεθ' ἱκεσίας περὶ τοῦ ἐκείνου τυχεῖν ἀναπεμπομένη εὐχή. [=P2{1}]

2.2.  be attentive to my prayer

2.  Prayer is offered up by him in a loftier sense with glorification  for [the attainment] higher things.. [=Origen, ibid.]  (=Sch.1 on Ps.85.1)

2[2].  πρόσχες τῇ προσευχῇ μου.

  2. προσευχὴ  ἐστιν ἡ μετὰ δοξολογίας περὶ μειζόνων μεγαλοφυέστερον ἀναπεμπομένη ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. [P2{2}]

3.1.  from the ends of the earth I have cried to you

 3. How is it that David being in Judah, says, from the ends of the earth I have cried to you? Well, perhaps this bespeaks coming forth from the earth that symbolically signifies vice.

3[1]. ἀπὸ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς πρὸς σὲ ἐκέκραξα

  3. πῶς ἐν τῇἸουδαίᾳ ὢν ὁ  Δαυὶδ, λέγει ἀπὸ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς πρὸς σὲ ἐκέκραξα; ἢ τάχα ἐξελθὼν τὴν κακίαν νῦν τροπικῶς γῆν ὀνομαζομένην ταῦτά φησιν. [=P3{2}]

3.3. You have exalted me on a rock.

 4. But the rock was Christ (1Cor 4.2)

3[3]. ἐν πέτρᾳ ὕψωσάς με.

  4. ἡ δὲ πέτρα ἦν ὁ Χριστός. [= Pitra 60:3{2}]

6.2. You have given an inheritance to those who fear you.

 5. Heritage means knowledge of God.

6[2] ἔδωκας κληρονομίαν τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸ ὄνομά σου

  5. κληρονομίαν λέγει γνῶσιν θεοῦ.

8.2. His mercy and truth - who will seek [them] out?

 6. For who, it says, will search out the logos concerning providence and judgement?

8[2]. ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν αὐτοῦ τίς ἐκζητήσει;

  6. τίς γὰρ, φησὶ, τὸν περὶ προνοίας καὶ κτίσεως λόγον ἐξιχνιάσει; [= Pitra 60:7-8{3}]

9 Thus will I sing a psalm to your name from age to age, so that I may pay my vows from day to day.

7.  The one promising but not fulfilling the vows to God is not in the day that is [un]to [the next] day: for the first day is turning away from vice, while the second is accomplishing the good.

9.  οὕτως ψαλῶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, τοῦ ἀποδοῦναί με τὰς εὐχάς μου ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας.

   7. Ὁ ὑπισχνούμενος καὶ μὴ ἀποδιδοὺς τὰς εὐχὰς τῷ Θεῷ, οὐκ ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐξ ἡμέρας· πρώτη γὰρ ἡμέρα ἐστὶ τὸ ἐκκλῖναι ἀπὸ κακοῦ, δευτέρα τὸ ποιῆσαι τὸ ἀγαθόν. [= Pitra 60:9]

PSALM 61__

61.11. If wealth should flow in, do not set your heart upon them.

 6. This is to be said to those who are greedy.

61·11̔3̓ Πλοῦτος ἐὰν ῥέῃ, μὴ προστίθεσθε καρδίαν.

 6. τοῦτο λεκτέον πρὸς τοὺς πλεονεκτοῦντας. [͂Pitra 61·11] Αnt 3.22

v. 12 Once has God spoken; these two things have I heard: ¹³that power is of God; and yours, O Lord is the mercy ; for you will reward each one according to his works.

12. Ἅπαξ ἐλάλησεν ὁ Θεὸς, δύο ταῦτα ἤκουσα, 13 ὅτι τὸ κράτος τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ σοί, κύριε, τὸ ἔλεος, ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.῾.

 ζ´ Τὸν λόγον ἅπαξ ἐλάλησεν ὁ Θεὸς, τὸν [1488] περὶ προνοίας καὶ κρίσεως ἔχοντα λόγον· τοῦτο γὰρ δηλοῦται ἐκ τῶν ἐπιφερομένων ῥητῶν.

13 and mercy to thee, O Lord; for thou wilt render to every man according to his works.

13. Ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

 ζ´. Τὸν περὶ προνοίας καὶ κρίσεως ἔχων λόγον· τοῦτο γὰρ δηλοῦται ἐκ τῶν ἐπιφερομένων ῥητῶν.

PSALM 62__

4. For your mercy is better than lives.

  2. The life of man consists of holy knowledge, but the mercy of God is the contemplation of beings. Many of the wise of this world have promised us knowledge, but the mercies of God are better than lives [= KG 1.73]

4(1). ὅτι κρεῖσσον τὸ ἔλεός σου ὑπὲρ ζωὰς

2. ἡ μὲν ζωὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁγία γνῶσις ὑπάρχει· τὸ δὲ ἔλεος κυρίου ἡ τῶν γεγονότων θεωρία ἐστίν· πολλοὶ δὲ ἡμῖν τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου σοφοὶ καθυπέσχοντο γνώσεις, ἀλλὰ κρεῖσσον τὸ ἔλεος κυρίου ὑπὲρ ζωάς.

10-11. But they sought my soul in vain; they shall go down into the deepest parts of the earth. 10 They be delivered into the power of the sword; they shall be portions for foxes.

 4.  So we believed that they may be saved - those going down into the deepest parts of the earth .

10. [αὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς μάτην ἐζήτησαν τὴν ψυχήν μου, ] Εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὰ κατώτατα, τῆς γῆς· κ. τ. ἑ. [11 παραδοθήσονται εἰς χεῖρας ῥομφαίας, μερίδες ἀλωπέκων ἔσονται.]

 δ´. Ἵνα πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν τῷ κατελθόντι εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς.

 5. Now the subterranean demons are here named foxes, to which the terrestrial demons will be handed over for punishment.

 ε´. Τοὺς καταχθονίους δαίμονας νῦν ἀλώπεκας ὀνομάζει, οἷς καὶ παραδίδονται πρὸς κόλασιν οἱ ἐπίγειοι δαίμονες.

PSALM 63__

PSALM 64__

10. The river of God is filled with water

 5.  The knowledge of God is filled with reasoning natures if rivers of living waters flow from the womb [koilia] of the believer in Christ (Jn 7.38).  For Scripture customarily calls the reasoning natures “waters”.  And David, too, says the waters above the heavens praise the Lord, (cf. Ps 148:4)

10.  ὁ ποταμὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπληρώθη ὑδάτων

  5.  ἡ γνῶσις ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπληρώθη φύσεων λογικῶν, εἴπερ ποταμοὶ ῥέουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας τοῦ πιστεύσαντος  Χριστῷ·   ὕδατα δὲ ἔθος λέγειν τῇ γραφῇ τὰς φύσεις τὰς λογικὰς·  καὶ γὰρ ὁ Δαυὶδ λέγει αἰνεῖν τὰ ὕδατα τὰ ὑπεράνω τῶν οὐρανῶν τὸν κύριον. [Pitra 64.10.   DEAU 288z]

PSALM 65__

PSALM 66__

PSALM 67__

14 If you sleep among the midst of portions, you shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and the hinder parts of her back with the paleness of gold.

 10. The portions and the wings are the Old and New Testament; or action and contemplation; or again knowledge of corporeals and incorporeals: for the knowledge of God is different from that of the Christ whom He has sent (cf.Jn 17:3)

14(1-2). ἐὰν κοιμηθῆτε ἀνα μέσον τῶν κλήρων, πτέρυγες περιστερᾶς περιηργυρωμέναι

18 The chariot of God is [attended by] ten thousands

 12. The chariot of God are the pure souls upon which he arises: for He rode [mounted on] the cherubim and flew. (Ps 17:11)

18̔1̓.  τὸ ἅρμα τοῦ Θεοῦ μυριοπλάσιον

 12. ἅρμα Θεοῦ ψυχαὶ καθαραὶ, ἐφ' ἃς ἐπιβαίνει· ̧ἐπέβη ς γὰρ ̧ἐπὶ χερουβὶμ, καὶ ἐπετάσθη. ς῾Πσ 17·11̓[͂PG 12.1508]

19. Having ascended on high, you have led captivity captive; [you have received gifts in men].

 13. The captivity of Christ is the rising up of reasoning natures from vice and ignorance to virtue and knowledge.

 13bis. Paul says concerning Christ: Having ascended on high he led captive captives, and he gave gifts to men (Eph. 4:8).  I call gifts the gifts of the Holy Spirit

19.  ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος, ᾐχμαλώτευσας αἰχμαλωσίαν· [ἔλαβες δόματα ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ]

 13. Αἰχμαλωσία ἐστὶ Χριστοῦ, φύσεως λογικῆς ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἐπ' ἀρετὴν καὶ γνῶσιν ἐπάνοδος. [͂PG 12.1508-1509]

 13 bis.  ὁ Παῦλός φησι περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ̧̓Αναβὰς εἰς ὕψος, ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν· καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα εν̓ ἀνθρώποις· ς δόματα λέγων τὰ χαρίσματα τοῦ πνεύματος του  ἁγίου. [͂PG 12.1508-1509]

32. Ambassadors shall come from Egypt; Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God.

 19. The Egyptians allude to the disposition towards vice; while the Ethiopians indicate the habit [of vice]. [KG 6.49]

32. Ἥξουσι πρέσβεις ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, Αἰθιοπία προφθάσει χεῖρα αὐτῆς τῷ θεῷ

19. τὴν μὲν διάθεσιν τῆς κακίας διὰ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ᾐνίξατο· τὴν δὲ ἕξιν διὰ τῶν Αἰθιόπων δεδήλωκεν. [= PG 12.1510]

PSALM 68__

15. Do not let the flood of water drown me, nor the deep swallow me up: and let not the well close its mouth on me.

 10. Here some subterranean reasoning nature is called a well, into which many of the souls have fallen.

15. μή με καταποντισάτω καταιγὶς ὕδατος, μηδὲ καταπιέτω με βυθός,] Μηδὲ συσχέτω ἐπ' ἐμοῦ φρέαρ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, κ. τ. ἑ.

 ι´. Ἐνταῦθα φύσιν τινὰ λογικὴν καταχθόνιον εἴρηκε φρέαρ, ἐν ᾧ πολλαὶ τῶν ψυχῶν ἐμπεπτώκασιν.

36(2). and the cities of Juda shall be built up.

 23.  Cities of Judah mean reasoning souls

36(2). καὶ οἰκοδομηθήσονται αἱ πόλεις τῆςἸουδαίας

23. ψυχὰς λογικὰς λέγει πόλεις τῆς Ἰουδαίας. [PG 12.1518]

PSALM 69__

PSALM 70__

v.4 O my God Deliver me from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the transgressor of the law, and the unjust.

 2.  Satan is called a sinner, a trangressor of the law and unjust: sinner through the worst habit; transgressor of the law through his disobeying the natural law; but unjust through his turning away from the knowledge of God.

4. Ὁ Θεός μου, ῥῦσαί με ἐκ χειρὸς ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ἐκ χειρὸς παρανομοῦντος καὶ ἀδικοῦντος, κ. τ. ἑ.

 β´. Τὸν Σατανᾶν λέγει ἁμαρτωλὸν, καὶ παράνομον καὶ ἄδικον· ἁμαρτωλὸν μὲν διὰ τὴν χειρίστην ἕξιν· παράνομον δὲ διὰ τὸ παραβῆναι τὸν φυσικὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ· ἄδικον δὲ διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν ἀποστερεῖν τῆς γνώσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ.

[70.] 8(1-2). Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn your glory; [your greatness all the day long].

  3.  If the grace of God does not fill the soul it is not able to hymn the glory of god.  For the nous is called the mouth of the soul, while glory [is] the Son of God.

8.  Πληρωθήτω τὸ στόμα μου αἰνέσεως, ὅπως ὑμνήσω τὴν δόξαν σου, [ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν μεγαλοπρέπειάν σου]

 3.Ἐαν μὴ πληρωθῇ ὁ νοῦς χάριτος Θεοῦ, ὑμνῆσαι τὴν δόξαν Θεοῦ οὐ δύναται. Στόμα γὰρ τῆς ψυχῆς τὸν νοῦν ὠνόμασε, δόξαν δὲ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ.

v. 18(2) Until I show forth your arm
to all the generation that is to come

 6. The arm of God is the Christ.,

70·18̔2̓. Ἕως ἂν ἀπαγγείλω τὸν βραχίονά σου
πάσῃ τῇ γενεᾷ τῇ ἐρχομένῃ

 6. βραχίων τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ Χριστός. [͂PG 12.1522]

[70.] v. 20 and you brought me back again from the depths of the earth.

 8. The depths here name the place of the subterranean demons; for some of the demons are called depths on account of the boundlessness of their wickedness.

70.20̔3̓. καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀβύσσων τῆς γῆς πάλιν ἀνήγαγές με

 8.  ἄβυσσον νῦν ὠνόμασε τὸ χωρίον τῶν καταχθονίων δαιμόνων. εἰσὶ δέ τινες οἳ καὶ αὐτοὺς τοὺς δαίμονας ἀβύσσους λέγουσι διὰ τὸ ἀπέραντον τῆς κακίας αὐτῶν. [͂PG  12.1521]

[70.] 22.  For I will also give thanks to you, on the instrument of psalmody, [for] your truth.

 9. The instrument of psalmody is the pure soul.

22.  Καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἐξομολογήσομαι ἐν σκεύει ψαλμοῦ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου, κ. τ. ἑ.

 θ´. Σκεῦος ψαλμοῦ ψυχὴ καθαρά.

PSALM 71__

1 for Solomon.

 1. For Solomon the son of David: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David “(Mt 1:1) For Solomon is interpreted as meaning “peaceful;” for he is our peace.   

1. Εἰς Σαλομὼν, κ. τ. ἑ.

 α´. Εἰς Σαλομὼν τὸν υἱὸν  Δαυῒδ· ̧Βίβλος γὰρ γενέσεωςἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ  Δαυΐδ. ς Σαλομὼν γὰρ ἑρμηνεύεται εἰρηνικός· αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν.

3. Let the mountains raise up peace

 2. for “blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9)

3. Ἀναλαβέτω τὰ ὄρη εἰρήνην, κ. τ. ἑ.

 β´.  ̧ Μακάριοι γὰρ οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί. ς

9 Before him the Ethiopians shall prostrate, and his enemies lick the dust 10 The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall bring gifts: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall offer presents:

 6. The people of Tarshish  are Ethiopic.  Furthermore the of Tarshish signifies the color of hyacinth.  Just as we have from the prophet and they had the appearance of beryl [tharseis] (cf. Ez 1:16).   But in Jonah Tarshish also signifies the people. (cf Jon 1:3, 5:2) .  Saba, however, is a city of India from which came the queen of the South to Solomon (1Ki 10:1) . Of  Tharsis  thus has the meaning of  scouts [who] reconnoiter  mirth and joy

9. Ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ προσπεσοῦνται Αἰθίοπες, καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ χοῦν λείξουσι. Βασιλεῖς Θαρσὶς καὶ αἱ νῆσοι, κ. τ. ἑ. [δῶρα προσοίσουσιν, βασιλεῖςἈράβων καὶ Σαβα δῶρα προσάξουσιν·]

 ς´. Θαρσεῖς ἔθνος Αἰθιοπικόν ἐστιν. Ἔτι τὸ Θαρσεῖς σημαίνει τὸ χρῶμα τὸ ὑακίνθινον. ὡς παρὰ τῷ προφήτῃ ἔχομεν· ̧Ὁμοίωμα αὐτῶν ὡς Θαρσεῖς. ς Σημαίνει δὲ παρὰ τῷἸωνᾷ καὶ Ταρσὸν τὴν πόλιν. Σαβὰ δὲ πόλις τῆςἸνδίας, ἀφ' ἧς ἦλθεν ἡ βασίλισσα νότου πρὸς Σαλομῶντα. Θαρσεῖς δὲ ἑρμηνεύεται κατάσκοποι, κατασκοπὴ εὐφροσύνης καὶ χαρᾶς.

15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Arabia,

 9. Christ lives in those who receive Him: for “I live” he says,  “yet not I: for Christ lives in me. (Gal 2:20) 

15.  Καὶ ζήσεται, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ χρυσίου τῆςἈραβίας, κ. τ. ἑ.

 θ´. Ζῇ Χριστὸς ἐν τοῖς δεχομένοις αὐτόν· ̧Ζῶ ς γὰρ, φησὶν, ̧οὐκέτι ἐγώ· ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός. ς

PSALM 72__

11 and is there knowledge in the Most High?”

 7. This is there knowledge in the Most High comes before [asking] whether the Lord knows and take notice of human [affairs] (Cf. Zech 9:1).

11. καὶ εἰ ἔστι γνῶσις ἐν τῷ ὑψίστῳ

 ζ´. Τὸ, ̧Εἰ ἔστι γνῶσις ἐν τῷὙψίστῳ, ς ἀντὶ τοῦ, Εἰ γινώσκει ὁ Κύριος καὶ ἐφορᾷ τὰ ἀνθρώπινα.

v. 14 And I was plagued the whole day

 8. Before being made pure.

 9. Research this also.

72·14̔1̓ καὶ ἐγενόμην μεμαστιγωμένος ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν

 8. ἀντὶ τοῦ καθαρὸς ἐγενόμην. [͂PG 12.1528]

 9.  ζητήσεις καὶ τοῦτο. [͂ Pitra 72·14]

v. 16(1) And I undertook to understand this.

 10.

72.16̔1̓ καὶ ὑπέλαβον τοῦ γνῶναι τοῦτο

 10. καὶ ἐπείρασα τοῦ γνῶναι.

v. 16(2). it is [too] laborious for me.

 11. Laborious it is to comprehend the logos concerning providence.

72·16̔2̓ κόπος ἐστὶν ἐναντίον μου

 11. κόπος ἐστὶ τοῦ γνῶναι τὸν λόγον τὸν περὶ προνοίας. [͂PG 12.1528]

v. 17.  Until I enter the sanctuary of God, and understand their ends.

 12.  When we “enter the sanctuary of God,” then we will understand the logos which concerns providence.

72·17̔1̓ ἕως εἰσέλθω εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον τοῦ θεου

 12. ὅταν εἰσέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ τηνικαῦτα τὸν λόγον τὸν περὶ προνοίας γνωσόμεθα. [͂PG 12.1528]

[72.] 20. O Lord; in your city you will bring their image to nothing.

 13. He is an image of sin - the old man corrupt because of deceitful lusts (Eph 4:22;) ,

20.  Κύριε, ἐν τῇ πόλει σου τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτῶν ἐξουδενώσεις, κ. τ. ἑ.

 ιγ´. Εἰκών ἐστι τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ ὁ παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος ὁ φθειρόμενος κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης· ὃν ἐξουδενεῖ διὰ τῆς αὐτοῦ γνώσεως.

[72.] 21 For my heart was enkindled, and my kidneys were changed:

 14. Heart bespeaks the intellectual [faculty], while kidneys are the [faculty] subject to passion, from which is born the desiring [faculty] and the irascible [faculty] [Sch.16 on Ps.17.29;  Sch.1 on Ps.25.2]

21.  ὅτι ἐξεκαύθη ἡ καρδία μου
  καὶ οἱ νεφροί μου ἠλλοιώθησαν

 14. καρδίαν μὲν λέγει τὸ διανοητικὸν, νεφροὺς δὲ τὸ παθητικὸν ἀφ' οὗ τίκτεται τό τε ἐπιθυμητικὸν καὶ τὸ θυμικόν. [͂PG 12.1528]

[72.] 23  and I am always with you.

 15.  With God is said to be: first, the one who knows the Holy Trinity; and next after him one who contemplates the logoi concerning the intelligible [beings]; third, then, is one who also sees the incorporeal beings; and then fourth is one who understands the contemplation of the ages; while one who has attained apatheia of his soul is justly to be accounted fifth. [= KG 1.70]

72.23.  καὶ ἐγὼ διαπαντὸς μετὰ σοῦ.

 15.  μετὰ θεοῦ λέγεται εἶναι, πρῶτος μὲν ὁ τὴν ἁγίαν γινώσκων Τριάδα, καὶ μετ' αὐτὸν ὁ τοὺς λόγους τοὺς περὶ τῶν νοητῶν θεωρῶν, τρίτος δὲ πάλιν ὁ καὶ αὐτὰ τὰ ἀσώματα βλέπων, καὶ πάλιν τέταρτος ὁ τὴν θεωρίαν ἐπιστάμενος τῶν αἰώνων· ὁ δὲ τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπάθειαν κεκτημένος, πέμπτος ἂν συγκαταχθείη δικαίως. [cf Pitra 72·23]

27. You have destroyed all who : [lustfully] wander away from you

 18. The one who [lustfully] wanders away from God  [is] he who has given himself over to the worship of the demons.

27. Ἐξωλόθρευσας πάντα τὸν πορνεύοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ, κ. τ. ἑ.

 ιη´. Οὗτος πορνεύει ἀπὸ Θεοῦ, ὁ ἐπιδεδωκὼς ἑαυτὸν τῇ τῶν δαιμόνων λατρείᾳ.

PSALM 73__

17. The summer and the spring  - you made them.

 8. Why are the fall and the winter passed over?  Because it is said that summer is set next to fall, and winter [next to] spring: and while spring is the season [kairos] of beginning [genesis], summer is the season of fulfillment [teleiosis].

17.  Θέρος καὶ ἔαρ σὺ ἐποίησας αὐτά

 8. διὰ τί παρῆκε τὸ μετόπωρον καὶ τὸν χειμῶνα˙ φασὶ τοίνυν ἀντικεῖσθαι τὸ μὲν θέρος τῷ μετοπώρῳ, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα τῷ ἔαρι· καὶ τὸ μὲν ἔαρ ἐστὶ καιρὸς γενέσεως, τὸ δὲ θέρος καιρὸς τελειώσεως.  [=PG 12.1532]

19. Do not give over to the wild beasts the souls that confess to You.

 9. If the demons are said to be wild beasts, and thumos has mastery in the wild beasts, then thumos has mastery in demons.  And in Job we read: The wild beasts shall be at peace with you. (Job 5.23) [cf. KG 1.53]

19(1).  μὴ παραδῷς τοῖς θηρίοις ψυχὴν ἐξομολογουμένην σοι

9. εἰ θηρία λέγεται τὰ δαιμόνια, ἐν δὲ τοῖς θηρίοις ἐπικρατεῖ ὁ θυμὸς, ἐν τοῖς δαίμοσιν ἄρα ἐπικρατεῖ ὁ θυμός. καὶ ἐν τῷ Ἰὼβ λέγει·Θῆρες ἄγριοι εἰρηνεύσουσί σοι. [PG 12.1532; Ant 4.45]

PSALM 74__

PSALM 75__

4. There he has broken the powers of the bows, shield, sword, and battle.

 3. Bow signifies the demons, by whom the fiery arrows are shot.  The fiery arrow is the impassioned [tempting]-thought, which is also called shield and sword.

4. ἐκεῖ συνέτριψεν τὰ κράτη τῶν τόξων, ὅπλον, καὶ ῥομφαίαν, καὶ πόλεμον

3.  τόξα νῦν τοὺς δαίμονας ὀνομάζει, ἀφ' ὧν τὰ πεπυρωμένα βέλη ἐκπέμπονται· βέλος δὲ πεπυρωμένον ἐστὶν ὁ ἐμπαθὴς λογισμός· τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὅπλον καὶ ῥομφαία καλεῖται. [PG 12.1536]

PSALM 76__

3.  In the day of my affliction I searched for the Lord . . .

 1.  Through the praktike in this present age we search for the Lord.

3  ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς μου τὸν Θεὸν ἐξεζήτησα

 1. διὰ τῆς πρακτικῆς ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι τὸν  Θεὸν ἐκζητοῦμεν. [͂PG 12.1537] [cf.Αντ  6.24]

2b-3. my soul refused to be comforted.  [I remembered God . and rejoiced]

 2. Nothing comforts the soul so much as the memory of God.

3̔3̓ ᾿̓Απηνήνατο παρακληθῆναι ἡ ψυχή μου
  [ἐμνήσθην τοῦ Θεοῦ͂ καὶ εὐφράνθην.]

 2. Οὐδὲν οὕτω παρακαλεῖ ψυχὴν ὡς μνήμη Θεοῦ. [͂PG 12.1537]

4(1)  I remembered God and rejoiced.

 3. The memory of God rejoices the soul.  But those forgetful of this mourn bitterly.

4̔1̓ ἐμνήσθην τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εὐφράνθην

 3. μνήμη θεοῦ εὐφραίνει ψυχήν.  ὁ δὲ ἐπιλαθόμενος αὐτῆς πενθήσει πικρῶς. [cf Pitra 76.4]

5. My eyes were preoccupied with keeping watch . . .

 4. This is characteristic of many vigils.

5̔1̓ προκατελάβοντο φυλακὰς οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου

 4. τοῦτο γνώρισμά ἐστι πολλῆς ἀγρυπνίας. [͂PG 12.1537]

6.  I considered the days of old and remembered everlasting years  . . .

 5. He who has knowledge of the uncertain and hidden things (Ps. 50:8) of God - he it is who keeps in rememberance the former ages, and the years in them, and the days of old in which they consist.

6  διελογισάμην ἡμέρας ἀρχαίας
 καὶ ἔτη αἰώνια ἐμνήσθην καὶ ἐμελέτησα

 5.  ὁ̔ τὰ ἄδηλα καὶ τὰ κρύφια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐγνωκὼς, οὗτος καὶ τὰς μνήμας ἔχει τῶν παρελθόντων αἰώνων, καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐτῶν, καὶ τὰς ἐξ ὧν ταῦτα συνέστηκεν ἀρχαίας ἡμέρας. [͂PG 12.1540]

9. Will he cut off His mercy for ever . . .

 6. As if cutting off his mercy towards some,  [yet] it is said elsewhere: “Reach forth with your mercy towards those who know you.”(Ps 35:11)

9̔1̓  ἢ εἰς τέλος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἀποκόψει

 6.  ὡς κόπτοντος αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔλεος ἐπί τισιν, εἴρηται ἀλλαχοῦ τὸ,  ̧παράτεινον τὸ ἔλεός σου τοῖς γινώσκουσί σε.ς [͂PG 12.1540]

11.  And I said, Now I have begun; this is the change of the right hand of the Most High.

 7. Change here bespeaks the return from evil and ignorance to virtue and knowledge. [cf sch 4 InPs 45; 2 in ps 113; 2 in ps 120, etc.];

11̔2̓  αὕτη ἡ ἀλλοίωσις τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ ὑψίστου

 7.  ἀλλοίωσιν λέγει ἐνταῦθα τὴν ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ἀγνωσίας ἐπ' ἀρετὴν καὶ γνῶσιν ἐπάνοδον. [͂PG 12.1540]

13(2) .And I will meditate on your doings

 8.  Meditation is constant study and colloquy concerning something.

13̔2̓  καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασίν σου ἀδολεσχήσω

 8.  ἀδολεσχία ἐστὶν ἡ περί τι συνεχὴς διατριβὴ καὶ ὁμιλία. [͂ Pitra 76.13]

14.  O God, your way is in the holy [place];

 9. Either: in every holy place is the way of God; or, in the Christ is His word.

14̔1̓  ὁ θεὸς, ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ἡ ὁδός σου·

 9. ἤτοι ἐν παντὶ ἁγίῳ ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ἢ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ. [͂PG 12.1540]

15. You are the God who works wonders

 10. This is the Christ; for Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. (1Cor 1:24).

15  σὺ εἶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν θαυμάσια
ἐγνώρισας ἐν τοῖς λαοῖς τὴν δύναμίν σου

 10. τουτέστι τὸν Χριστόν· Χριστὸς γὰρ θεοῦ δύναμις καὶ θεοῦ σοφία. [cf PG 12.1540.34]

16.  You have redeemed with your right arm your people.

 11. The right arm of God is the Christ, by whom he effects the good things in him, the things which comes into being according to his desire.

16̔1̓  ἐλυτρώσω ἐν τῷ βραχίονί σου τὸν λαόν σου

 11. βραχίων τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ Χριστὸς δι' οὗ ἠνέργησεν τὰ ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγαθὰ, τὰ κατὰ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτοῦ γεγονότα. [͂Pitra 76, 16.1]

17.  The waters saw you, O God,
  the waters saw you

 12.  Now the waters signify the reasoning nature.

17̔1-2̓  εἴδοσάν σε ὕδατα, ὁ θεὸς,
   εἴδοσάν σε ὕδατα.

 12.  νῦν τὰ ὕδατα λογικὰς φύσεις σημαίνει. [͂Pitra 76, 17.1-2]

[76.] 17². . .the depths were shaken.

 13. The depths indicate the subterranean powers which were shaken at the arrival of the Christ.

76·17̔3̓  καὶ ἐτεράχθησαν ἄβυσσοι, πλῆθος ἤχους ὑδάτων

 13. αἱ ἄβυσσοι τὰς καταχθονίους δυνάμεις δηλοῦσιν, αἵτινες ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐταράχθησαν. [͂PG 12.1540]

19. The voice of your thunder wheeled around

 14. The wheel signifies either this present age or or the sensible world, or the pure and everlasting, soul, if it is true that evil lies in wait at the corner.  (Pr 7:12)

19̔1̓. φωνὴ τῆς βροντῆς σου ἐν τῷ τροχῷ

 14..  ὁ τροχὸς ἢ τὸν αἰῶνα σημαίνει τοῦτο ἢ τὸν κόσμον τὸν αἰσθητὸν, ἢ τὴν καθαρὰν καὶ αἰώνιον ψυχὴν, εἴπερ ἡ κακία παρὰ γωνίαν παρεδρεύει. [͂PG 12.1540.43]

v. 21.  You guided your people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

 15.  According to Moses, philosophy is divided into four [parts]: [first,] into the historical; and [second,] that properly called the legislative, [“instructive”] (cf. Ex.24:12), which may be [concerned] with its own ethical matters; the third  is the liturgical, which is the contemplation of nature; and the fourth is [concerned] with the whole expression of theologike.

76·21   ὡδήγησας ὡς πρόβατα τὸν λαόν σου
 ἐν χειρὶ Μωϋσῆ καὶἈαρών.

 15.  ἡ κατὰ Μωσέα φιλοσοφία τετραχῆ τέμνεται, εἰς τὸ ἱστορικὸν, καὶ τὸ κυρίως λεγόμενον νομοθετικὸν, ἅπερ ἂν εἴη τῆς ἠθικῆς πραγματείας ἴδια, τὸ τρίτον τε εἰς τὸ ἱερουργικὸν, ὅ ἐστιν ἤδη τῆς φυσικῆς θεωρίας, καὶ τέταρτον ἐπὶ πᾶσι τὸ θεολογικὸν εἶδος.

We are then to take the law in a certain fourfold sense: [1] as a type of something evident; [2] or as a revealed [visible]  sign  [3] or as a commandment instituted for proper living; [4] or fortelling, like a prophecy.  By this system, then, did Moses and Aaron lead the people, the people journeying from vice to virtue.

τετραχῶς δὲ ἡμῖν ἐκληπτέον καὶ τοῦ νόμου τὴν βουλὴν ὡς τύπον τινὰ δηλοῦσαν, ἢ ὡς σημεῖον ἐμφαίνουσαν, ἢ ὡς ἐντολὴν κυροῦσαν εἰς πολιτείαν ὀρθὴν ἢ θεσπίζουσαν ὡς προφητείαν. ταύτῃ τῇ μεθόδῳ Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἀαρὼν ὁδηγοῦσι τὸν ἀπὸ κακίας ἐπ' ἀρετὴν ὁδεύοντα λαόν. [cf Pitra 76.21.1-15]

PSALM 77__

PSALM 78__

v. 7(2). and have laid waste his place

 2. The place of the knowledge of God: and the place of the knowledge of God is the nous.

78·7̔2̓.  καὶ τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν.

 2. τόπος γνώσεως Θεοῦ· καὶ νοῦς τόπος γνώσεως Θεοῦ.῾cf.Pitra 78·2̓

PSALM 79__

PSALM 80__

3 Take a psalm, and bring a drum

 1. Take spiritual teaching and bring about the death of [your] earthly members. (Col. 3:5)

3.  λάβετε ψαλμὸν, καὶ δότε τύμπανον

 1.  λάβετε διδασκαλίαν πνευματικὴν, καὶ δότε νέκρωσιν μελῶν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. [͂Pitra 80·3̔4̓]

10 There shall be no new god in you

 4. New God is one who cannot cause anything to exist, or one who is united to evil. [=KG 5.49]

10.  οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ θεὸς πρόσφατος

4. πρόσφατός ἐστι Θεὸς ὁ μηδὲν οὐσιῶσαι δυνάμενος, ἢ ὁ τῇ κακίᾳ πεποιωμένος. [PG 12.1544] [=KG 5.49]

PSALM 81__

PSALM 82__

PSALM 83__

3 my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.

 1. Courts of the Lord are contemplations of the bodies of beings.  For it is into these courts that we first [enter]; after which we enter into the temple of God, which is the contemplation of incorporeal [beings] [cf. KG 6.49]

3.  ἐπιποθεῖ καὶ ἐκλείπει ἡ ψυχή μου εἰς τὰς αὐλὰς τοῦ Κυρίου

1. αὐλαὶ κυρίου αἱ θεωρίαι τῶν γεγονότων σωμάτων εἰσίν· ἐν ταύταις γὰρ ἡμᾶς δεῖ γενέσθαι τὸ πρότερον, εἰθ' οὕτως εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅστις ἐστιν ἡ θεωρία τῶν ἀσωμάτων.  [Pitra 83.3(2)]

5 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall praise thee for ever and ever.

4. David himself desires to enter into the courts of the Lord; (Ps 83:3) He blesses those who dwell in the house of the Lord

5. μακάριοι οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου

 4.  αὐτὸς μὲν ὁ Δαυὶδ ἐπιθυμεῖ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς αὐλὰς τοῦ Κυρίου, μακαρίζει δὲ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Κυρίου. [͂PG 12.1545]

6 Blessed is the man whose support is from you, O Lord: in his heart he is disposed to ascend, 7 in the valley of tears, in the place which be has set.

 5. These very ascents of knowledge in the heart come to pass through the support of God, while the valley of tears is the human body, or the related present world.

6. μακάριος ἀνήρ, οὗ ἐστιν ἡ ἀντίλημψις αὐτοῦ παρὰ σοῦ, κύριε·   ἀναβάσεις ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ διέθετο῾7̓ ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἔθετο.

 5. αἱ ἀναβάσεις αὐταὶ τῶν γνώσεων τῇ καρδίᾳ ἐπισυμβαίνουσιν ἐκ τῆς ἀντιλήψεως τοῦ  Θεου·  κοιλὰς δὲ κλαυθμῶνός ἐστιν, ἤτοι τὸ ἀνθρώπινον σῶμα ἢ τὸ συγγενὲς τούτου κόσμος. [cf Π6-7]

8. For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue to virtue: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion.

8   Πορεύσονται ἐκ δυνάμεως εἰς δύναμιν.

 ς´. Σύγκρισις ἁγίας γνώσεως πρὸς γνῶσιν ἀνθρωπίνην·

PSALM 84__

Psalm_85

PSALM 85__

1. A prayer of David

 1. Prayer is offered up by him in a loftier sense with glorification  for [the attainment] higher things.

(=Sch.2 on Ps.60.1) [=Origen, On Prayer, 14.2]

85[1.1]. προσευχὴ τῷ Δαυίδ.

  1. προσευχὴ ἐστιν ἡ μετὰ δοξολογίας περὶ μειζόνων μεγαλοφυέστερον ἀναπεμπομένη ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. [cf.P1; =Sch 2 on Ps. 60.1]

v. 9[1]. All the nations you have made shall come,
       and worship before you,  Lord

 5.  

85.9[1]  πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ὅσα ἐποίησας ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιόν σου κύριε

 5. Τίνι γὰρ εἶπεν ποτὲ ὁ Πατήρ· Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου; ἕως ἄν θῷ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου.

v. 9[2]. And shall glorify your name, Lord

 6. If ‘all the nations will come and adore the name of the Lord,’ ‘will come’ also signifies the people who desire wars: that is, if all reasoning natures are to adore before the presence of the Lord and hereafter glorify His name, which indicates the Father Who is already present within him. [KG 6.27]

9[2].  [καὶ δοξάσουσι τὸ ὄνομά σου, Κύριε.]

  6 Εἰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἥξει καὶ προσκυνήσει τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, ἥξει δηλονότι καὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ τοὺς πολέμους θέλοντα· εἰ δὲ τοὕτω πᾶσα ἄρα φύσις λογικὴ προσκυνήσει ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ δοξάσει τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, ὅπερ σημαίνει τὸν ἐν αὐτῷ ὑπάρχοντα Πατέρα.

v. 11 Lead me, Lord, in your way
  and I will walk in your truth

 7. ‘I am the way’ says the Christ; and again, ‘I am the truth’ (Jn 14:6).  He prays therefore that God may first become for him like a way, which is to say like virtue; then afterwards like truth, which pertains to contemplation.

85·11.  ὀδήγησόν με, κύριε, τῇ ὁδῷ σου  καὶ πορεύσομαι ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου.

 7. ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς, φησὶν ὁ Χριστός· καὶ πάλιν· ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀλήθεια. εὔχεται τοίνυν πρῶτον μὲν ἐν αὐτῷ γενέσθαι ὡς ὁδὸν τὸν θεόν, τουτέστιν ὡς ἀρετήν, ἔπειτα δὲ ὡς ἀλήθειαν, ὅπερ ἐστι τῆς θεωρίας. Pitra 85·11

PSALM 86__

PSALM 87__

   Psalm 88

PSALM 88__

3.  Εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔλεος οἰκοδομηθήσεται· ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἑτοιμασθήσεται ἡ ἀλήθειά σου

5.2.   [[Διεθέμην διαθήκην τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς μου, ὤμοσα Δαυὶδ τῷ δούλῳ μου·]]Ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ἑτοιμάσω τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οἰκοδομήσω εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν τὸν θρόνον σου.

6.1 Ἐξομολογήσονται οἱ οὐρανοὶ τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, κύριε

v. 7. And who will be like the Lord
 among the sons of God?

 4. No reasoning nature is like the Christ: for while [reasoning nature] knows the contemplation of beings, he [the Christ] understands how everything was created.  For I call ‘Christ’ the lord who, with [the] divine word has come to dwell [among us].

88.7 καὶ τίς ὁμοιωθήσεται τῷ κυρίῳ
 ἐν υἱοῖς θεοῦ;

 4. οὐδεμία λογικὴ φύσις ὁμοία ἐστι τῷ Χριστῷ· ἡ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γεγονότων θεωρίαν γινώσκει· ὁ δὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ἐπίσταται τὸν τὰ πάντα ποιήσαντα. Χριστὸν δέ φημι τὸν μετὰ θεοῦ λόγου ἐπιδημήσαντα κύριον. [cf Pitra 88·9, λι. 9-12̓ ]

v. 9.2. You are mighty, O Lord, and your truth encompasses you.

 5. It is not the Christ who encompasses the knowledge of the Father; rather that [knowledge] encompasses the Christ.  But I believe this saying contains a great and very deep contemplation which I would love to explore, but which the rules of the scholia forbid. [Rules of scholia: Sch 317 on Prov. 3:26; Sch 42 on Eccl 5:17]

88.9.2. δυνατὸς εἶ, Κύριε, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθειά σου κύκλῳ σου.

5. οὑχ ὁ Χριστὸς κυκλοῖ τὴν γνῶσιν τὴν τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἀλλ' αὐτὴ κυκλοῖ τὸν Χριστόν· πολλὴν δὲ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ ῥητῷ καὶ βαθυτάτην θεωρίαν ἀποκεῖσθαι νομίζω, ἣν ὁ ἐξαπλῶσαι βουλόμενος, παρελεύσεται τοὺς τῶν σχολίων κανόνας. (cf Pitra 88:9, li. 12-17)

10. σὺ δεσπόζεις τοῦ κράτους τῆς θαλάσσης, τὸν δὲ σάλον τῶν κυμάτων αὐτῆς σὺ καταπραΰνεις.

  6. Αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐπιτιμῶν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ ποιῶν γαλήνην μεγάλην, ἵνα φθάσαντες οἱ ἐμπλέοντες ἀπελθεῖν [[δύνωνται]] εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐφ' ἣν σπεύδουσιν. (cf Pitra 13.3)

20.1  Τότε ἐλάλησας ἐν ὁράσει τοῖς υἱοῖς σου

  10. Τότε ἐλάλησας διὰ τῶν ἁγίων προφητῶν περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου. [cf PG 12.1549]

  v. 21.2.  with my holy oil I have anointed him.

 11. The holy oil signifies the knowledge of God; even more it indicates the Essential Knowledge.

21.2.  ἐν ἐλαίῳ ἁγίῳ μου ἔχρισα αὐτὸν

11. τὸ ἅγιον ἔλαιον τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ γνῶσιν σημαίνει, μᾶλλον δὲ τὴν οὐσιώδη γνῶσιν δηλοῖ. (=PG  12.1549A)

v. 26 And I will set his hand in the sea;
  and his right hand in the rivers.

 14. Although  the hand of the Christ is placed in the sea, his right hand is in the rivers. However if it is so inclined, a river [may] become a sea. And so if the river is unguarded, the river of living water flowing from His womb [koilia] (Jn 7.38)  [may] become [a] sea.

26.  καὶ θήσομαι ἐν θαλάσσῃ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ποταμοῖς δεξιὰν αὐτου

  14.  ἐν μὲν τῇ θαλάσσῃ τίθεται ἡ χεὶρ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἐν δὲ τοῖς ποταμοῖς ἡ δεξιὰ αὐτοῦ. πλὴν, ἐὰν θελήσῃ, ἡ θάλασσα, γίνεται ποταμός· καὶ πάλιν ὁ ποταμὸς ἐὰν μὴ τηρήσῃ τὸν ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥέοντα ποταμὸν τοῦ ζῶντος ὕδατος, γίνεται θάλασσα. [= PG 12.1549; PG 27.389]

PSALM 89__

v. 3. Do not turn a man back to humility

 1.  Sometimes a man is turned back to humility, when [God] abandons him on account of his sin.

3.  μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς ἄνθρωπον εἰς ταπείνωσιν

 1.  τότε ἀποστρέφεσθαι ἄνθρωπόν εἰς ταπείνωσιν, ὅταν διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐγκατελίπῃ αὐτόν. [cf Pitra 3·1]

v. 12 To number your right hand, that it be made known.

 6  Let him number your right hand known not regarding punishment, but rather  regarding love of mankind.

12̔1̓.  ἐξαριθμήσασθαι τὴν δεξιάν σου οὕτως γνώρισόν

 6. μὴ ἐπὶ κολάσει, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ γνωρισάσθω σου ἡ δεξιά. [͂PG 12.1552]

 7. This [text] is beneficial for thosewho have repented of vice and hold knowledge in high esteem

 7. Χρήσιμον τοῦτο πρὸς τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς κακίας μετανοήσαντας καὶ καταξιωθέντας γνώσεως. [͂Π14-15̔2̓]

 8. This should be said to those who have repented and hold knowledge in high esteem

 8. τοῦτο λεκτέον ἐπὶ τῶν μετανοησάντων καὶ γνώσεως καταξιωθέντων. [-]

PSALM 90__

PSALM 91__

v. 4. On the twelve-stringed psaltery with songs on the kithara.

 2. Psalter[y] [i.e.harp or psalter]is the pure nous moved [i.e. plucked] by spiritual knowledge. Kithara is the praktike soul moved by the commandments of the Christ.

[= KG 6.48;  = KG 6.46] [cf. sch.4 in Ps 23:7: gates mean the virtues… sch 12 in Prov 1:20-21 The gates of the wise are the praktike virtues. Sch.1 in Ps 99:4; 4:  Sch 4 in Ps 117:19;  Sch 5 in Ps 117.20]

4.  Ἐν δεκαχόρδῳ ψαλτηρίῳ μετ' ᾠδῆς ἐν κιθάρᾳ

v. 12. And my eye has seen my enemies, and my ear will hear the wicked who rise against me.

 7. This passage is useful for those demons who become visible to us and [thus]  tempt us to be terrified.

91·12. καὶ ἐπεῖδεν ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐπανισταμένοις ἐπ' ἐμὲ πονηρευομένοις εἰσακούσεται τὸ οὖς μου.

 7. Χρήσιμον τὸ ῥητὸν πρὸς τοὺς ἐμφανιζομένους δαίμονας ἡμῖν καὶ πειρωμένους ἡμᾶς ἐκφοβεῖν. [͂ Pitra 91·12]

PSALM 92__

v. 1. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself beautifully

 1. For it is fitting for Him to reign until all his enemies are put beneath his feet (Ps. 109.1)

1.[3]. ὁ κύριος ἐβασίλευσεν, εὐπρέπειαν ἐνεδύσατο

  1. δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν ἄχρις οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτου.͂ [cf Pitra 92.2̔3̓]

v. 3.The rivers have lifted up, O Lord

 2. The holy reasoning natures are called “rivers” because rivers of living waters flow from their hearts (Jn. 7.38)

3.[1].  ἐπῆραν οἱ ποταμοὶ, κύριε

 2. φύσεις λογικὰς ἁγίας ποταμοὺς ὀνομάζει, διὰ τὸ ῥεῖν ἐκ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν ποταμοὺς ὕδατος ζῶντος. [͂ PG 12.1553]

v. 4. the billows of the sea are astonishing

 3. The soul becomes wondrous [when] raised high [into the air] and separated from the waves of this [present] life.

4.[2].  θαυμαστοὶ οἱ μετεωρισμοὶ τῆς θαλάσσης

3. θαυμαστὴ γίνεται ψυχὴ ἀρθεῖσα μετάρσιος καὶ χωρισθεῖσα τῶν τοῦ βίου τούτου κυμάτων. [͂ PG 12.1555]

v. 5.   holiness becomes you house, O Lord, unto endless days

 4. This The house of the Lord [is] a pure soul. for it is said,  I will dwell with them and walk with them (2Cor 6.16).

5.[2]. τῷ οἴκῳ σου πρέπει ἁγίασμα, κύριε, εἰς μακρότητα ἡμερῶν

 4. οἶκος κυρίου, ψυχὴ καθαρὰ· ἐνοικήσω γὰρ, φησὶν, ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω. [cf Pitra 92.4-5̔3̓]

PSALM 93__

13. And make him calm from evil days.

 6. [For] The days of evil, read the days of judgement, in which those taught by him, [and] purified from [their] passions will enjoy knowledge, remaining undisturbed.

13̔2̓.  τοῦ πραῦναι αὐτὸν ἀφ' ἡμερῶν πονηρῶν

 6. ἡμέρας πονηρὰς τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς κρίσεως λέγει ἐν αἷς ὁ παιδευόμενος ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, καθαρὸς γενόμενος ἀπὸ παθῶν ἀπολαύσει τῆς γνώσεως, ἀτάραχος διαμένων. [͂ PG 12.1553]

v. 18.  Your mercy, Lord, comes to my aid.

 9. Here ‘the mercy’ of Christ signifies his providence, by which a man is either helped or abandoned.  But helped in order to stimulate him [on];  and abandoned to turn him back.

18̔2̓  τὸ ἔλεός σου, κύριε, βοήθει μοι

 9. ἐνταῦθα τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὴν πρόνοιαν αὐτοῦ σημαίνει, δι' ἣν ἄνθρωπος βοηθεῖται ἤτοι καὶ ἐγκαταλείπεται. ἀλλὰ βοηθεῖται μὲν ἐνεργούσης αὐτῆς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἐγκαταλείπεται δὲ ὑποχωρούσης αὐτῆς. [cf PG 12.1553]

PSALM 94__

v. 4.  For in his hands are the ends of the earth

 1.  Now, ‘hands’ mean the providence of God.

94.4̔1̓.  ὅτι ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς

 1. χεῖρα νῦν τὴν πρόνοιαν λέγει τοῦ Θεοῦ.῟PG 12.1555̓

PSALM 95__

PSALM 96__

[pp. 208-214]

v. 1.3. 

 1. 

1.3. εὐφρανθήτωσαν νῆσοι πολλαὶ

1. Νῆσός ἐστι νοῦς ἀκλινὴς ὑπὸ τῶν τοῦ βίου τούτου κυμάτων περικτυπούμενος.

v. 3.1. 

 2. 

3.1 πῦρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ προπορεύσεται

2. Τὸ πῦρ τοῦτο καίει ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην, τουτέστι τὰς ἕξεις τὰς μοχθηράς.

v. 4.1. 

 3. 

4.1. ἔφαναν αἱ ἀστραπαὶ αὐτοῦ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ

3. Ἀστραπή ἐστι διδασκαλία πνευματικὴ ἀπὸ τῶν νοητῶν νεφελῶν γινομένη, αἷς πολλάκις ἐντέλλεται κύριος ὀργιζόμενος τοῖς ἀνθρώποις μὴ βρέξαι ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ὑετόν, ἵνα γένηται λιμὸς οὐκ ἄρτου οὐδὲ ὕδατος, ἀλλὰ λιμὸς τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι λόγον κυρίου.

v. 5.1. 

 4. 

5.1. τὰ ὄρη ἐτάκησαν ὡσεὶ κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου κυρίου

4. Ὅπερ πήγνυσιν ὁ βορρᾶς, τοῦτο τήκει ὁ νότος· διὸ καλῶς λέγει ἡ νύμφη ἐν τοῖς Ἄισμασιν τῶν ᾀσμάτων· Ἐξεγείρου βορρᾶ καὶ ἔρχου, νότε, διάπνευσον κῆπόν μου καὶ ῥευσάτωσαν ἀρώματα.

v. 7.1.  Let all those who worship the carved images be ashamed.

 5. The carved image is worshiped either because of its nature or because of its shape. And if it is worshiped because of its nature, explain why all stones are not adorable. If it is because of its shape and not its nature that the sculpture is worshiped, note, then, that every shape requires a body to exist, while God requires nothing to exist: thus the shape is not God, and if it is not God, it does not merit worship. Again, the shape has gender or quality; but of God there is neither gender nor quality: the shape is therefore not God. And if one should say that it is what is signified by the sculpted image that merits worship, then explain what is signified, the body or something incorporeal. If it is the body, then it does not merit worship, because nothing that is made up of the four elements merits worship because of its corruptible character. If one says that it is the incorporeal, ask whether it possesses knowledge or does not possess it. 

7.1. αἰσχυνθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ προσκυνοῦντες τοῖς γλυπτοῖς

5. Τὸ γλυπτὸν ἤτοι διὰ τὴν φύσιν προσκυνητὸν ἢ διὰ τὸ σχῆμα. Καὶ εἰ μὲν διὰ τὴν φύσιν ἐστὶ προσκυνητόν, λεγέτωσαν διὰ τί μὴ πάντες οἱ λίθοι προσκυνητοί. Εἰ δὲ διὰ τὴν γλυφὴν τὸ σχῆμα προσκυνητὸν καὶ οὐχ ἡ φύσις, ἀλλὰ πᾶν σχῆμα σώματος προσδέεται πρὸς τὸ εἶναι, ὁ δὲ θεὸς οὐδενὸς χρῄζει πρὸς τὸ ὑπάρχειν, οὐκ ἆρα τὸ σχῆμα θεός· εἰ δὲ μὴ θεός, οὐ προσκυνητόν. Πάλιν· τοῦ σχήματος γένος ἢ ποιότης, τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔστι γένος ἢ ποιότης, οὐκ ἄρα τὸ σχῆμα θεός. Καὶ εἰ μὲν τὸ σημαινόμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ γλυπτοῦ λέγοιεν εἶναι προσκυνητόν, εἰπάτωσαν τί τὸ σημαινόμενον, πότερον σῶμά ἐστιν ἢ ἀσώματον. Καὶ εἰ μὲν σῶμα, οὐ προσκυνητόν — οὐδὲν γὰρ τῶν συνεστώτων ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων στοιχείων προσκυνητὸν διὰ τὸ εἶναι φθαρτόν. Εἰ δὲ ἀσώματον λέγοιεν, πάλιν ἐρώτησον πότερον ἔχει γνῶσιν ἢ οὐκ ἔχει·

v. 10. 

 6.   

10. οἱ ἀγαπῶντες τὸν κύριον, μισεῖτε πονηρά

6. Τουτέστιν οἱ ἀγαπῶντες τὴν γνῶσιν, μισεῖτε πονηρά.

v. 12.2. 

 7.   

12.2. καὶ ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῇ μνήμῃ τῆς ἁγιωσύνης αὐτοῦ

7. [Ἐξομολογεῖσθε μνημονεύοντες τῆς ἁγιωσύνης αὐτοῦ.]

PSALM 97__

v. 8. 

 1. 

2(2).  ἐναντίον τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτου

1. « δικαιοσύνη γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν. » [= PG 12.1557]

v. 8. 

 2. 

3(3).  εἴδοσαν πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

2.  ἐὰν μήτις γένηται ἐν τοῖς πέρασι τῆς γῆς, οὐ δύναται ἰδεῖν τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὁ γὰρ τοιοῦτος οὐκ ἐστὶν ἐν σαρκὶ, ἀλλ' ἐν πνεύματι. [= Pitra 3]

v. 6.  Sing to the Lord with a harp, with a harp, and the voice of a psalm With trumpets of metal, and the sound of a trumpet of horn

  3. The trumpet of horn is a symbol of victory, for the Hebrews won victory over the cities by means of a trumpet of horn (Jdg 7.18-20).  And Joab also was victorious over Absolom with a trumpet of horn. (2Sam 18.16).  If so, then according to the apostle it may be said I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2Tim 4.7), thus victorious with David’s trumpet of horn in receiving the sought-for kingdom of our Christ.

6(1).  ἐν σάλπιγξιν ἐλαταῖς καὶ φωνῇ σάλπιγγος κερατίνης.

3. ἡ κερατίνη σάλπιγξ σύμβολον νίκης ἑστιν, οἱ γὰρ Ἐβραῖοι νικῶντες ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις τῇ κερατίνῃ ἐσάλπιζον· οὕτως καὶ Ἰωὰβ νικήσας τὸν Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἐσάλπισεν τῇ κερατίνῃ. εἴ τις οὖν κατὰ τὸν ἀπόστολον δύναται εἰπεῖν· τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα, οὗτος νικήσας τὸν ζητοῦντα λαβεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡμῶν τοῦ Δαυὶδ ἐσάλπισεν τῇ κερατίνῃ. [only VG 754]

ἅμα δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ἰστέον ὅτι πολλαχοῦ τὸ κέρας νοὺς λέγεται τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ὡς τό· ὑψωθήσεται ὡς μονοκέρωτος τὸ κέρας μου, δηλοντι ὁ νοῦς. ὑψοῦται γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ ὄντι ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις ἀκολουθῶν. [cf Pitra 5-6(2-3)]

v. 8. The rivers shall clap their hands together.

  4. If the gifts of the Holy Spirit are said to be “rivers” as in [the text] Rivers of living waters will flow from His womb [koilias] (Jn 7.38), then it is fitting to say of those who are participants in those rivers that they are also rivers. And symbolically the [term] together is what they should all be: [that is,] that there be no division among them.

8(1). ποταμοὶ κροτήσουσι χειρὶ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ.

4. εἰ τὰ χαρίσματα τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου ποταμοὶ λέγονται κατὰ τό· «ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος, » καλῶς οἱ μεθέξοντες τούτων τῶν ποταμῶν καὶ αὐτοὶ ποταμοὶ λέγονται. σημειωτέον δὲ καὶ τὸ « ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ » εἶναι τοὺς ποταμοὺς ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγωσι πάντες, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν αὐτοῖς σχίσματα. [= PG 12.1557]

PSALM 98__

4[3]. You have prepared righteousness.

 1. “righteousness” [describes] the righteous, which are the virtues. [=PG 12.1557]

4[3]. σὺ ἡτοίμασας εὐθύτητας

 1. εὐθύτητας ἤτοι τοὺς εὐθεῖς, ἤτοι τὰς ἀρετάς. [=PG 12.1557]

5. and worship at the footstool of his feet.

 2. The footstool of his feet refers to something like the flesh of the Christ, which may be worshiped because of the Christ; while Christ may be worshipped because of the Divine Word within Him. [= KG 5.48]

5. καὶ προσκυνεῖτε τῷ ὑποποδίῳ τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ

 2. τὸ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν εἶπόν τινες εἶναι τὴν σάρκα τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἥτις διὰ τὸν Χριστόν ἐστι προσκυνητή· ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς προσκυνητὸς διὰ τὸν ἐν αὐτῷ Λόγον θεοῦ. [=PG 12.1557]

6. and Samuel among them that call upon his name

 3. Thus they are called “justice” who act justly, and “truth” who do not lie, and “love” who do not hate.

6. καὶ Σαμουὴλ ἐν τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτου

  3. οὗτος ἐπικαλεῖται τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὁ δικαιοπραγῶν, καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ὁ μὴ ψευδόμενος καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην ὁ μὴ μισῶν. [=PG 12.1557]

7. He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud

 4. the pillar and the cloud are reasoning natures through whom the Lord speaks to the saints

7. ἐν στύλῳ νεφέλης ἐλάλει πρὸς αὐτοὺς

  4. ὁ στῦλος καὶ ἡ νεφέλη λογικαὶ φύσεις εἰσίν δι' ὧν ἐλάλει πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους ὁ κύριος. [=PG 12.1557]

9. Exalt the Lord our God

 5. By means of a pure nous one naturally exalts God.

9. ὑψοῦτε κύριον τὸν θεὸν ἡμῶν

  5. ὑπὸ καθαροῦ νοῦ πέφυκεν ὑψοῦσθαι θεός. [=PG 12.1557]

PSALM 99__

4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving

 1. The gates of wisdom are the virtues; for through them we enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

4.  εἰσέλθετε εἰς τὰς πύλας αὐτου ἐν ἐξομολογήσει

  1. πύλαι σοφίας, ἀρεταί· διὰ γὰρ αὐτῶν εἰσερχόμεθα εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. [= PG 12.1557]

   PSALM_100

PSALM 100__

[SC 615, 222-229

1 Of mercy and judgment will I sing to you, O Lord

 1. He wishes to sing of the logos of providence and judgment.

1(2). ἐλεος καὶ κρίσιν ᾄσομαί σοι, κύριε

  1. τὸν περὶ προνοίας καὶ κρίσεως ᾆσαι θέλει λόγον. [=PG 12.1557]

2. I will sing [a psalm] and I will be wise in blameless ways. When will you come to me?

 2. The one saying to God, When will you come to me, recounts how and in what way he prepared to receive him.  But take note of this: that apart from God it is impossible to comprehend the logos of providence and judgment; and therefore the one who wishes to grasp this logos  cries to God for assistance, that this will especially bless him.

2(1). ψαλῶ καὶ συνήσω ἐν ὁδῷ ἀμώμῳ· πότε ἥξεις πρός με;

  2. Ὁ εἰρηκὼς τῷ θεῷ πότε ἥξεις πρός με, τίνα καὶ πόσα εὐτρέπισεν πρὸς ὑποδοχὴν αὐτοῦ καταλέγει. Πλὴν τοῦτο ἰστέον ὅτι χωρὶς θεοῦ τὸν περὶ προνοίας καὶ κρίσεως λόγον νοῆσαι τῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐστίν, διόπερ καὶ οὗτος βουλόμενος ἐφάψασθαι τοῦ λόγου τούτου, θεὸν καλεῖ πρὸς βοήθειαν, ἑαυτὸν ὡς ἔνι μάλιστα μακαρίσας.  [cf Pitra 2(2)b]

 3. A saying of one who posesses apatheia.

4.2.ἐκκλίνοντος ἀπ' ἐμοῦ τοῦ πονηροῦ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκον

§3. Ἀπαθοῦς ὁ λόγος

5. The one secretly slandering his neighbor - him I have expelled.

 4. This saying is useful for slanderers.

5(1). τὸν καταλαλοῦντα λάθρα τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ, τοῦτον ἐξεδίωκον

  4. χρήσιμον τὸ ῥητὸν πρὸς τοὺς καταλαλοῦντας. [=PG 12.1557]

5(2),  The proud of eye and insatiable of heart – with him I will not dine.    

 5. Pride is an imitation of magnanimity or preparedness.

5(2).  ὑπερηφάνῳ ὀφθαλμῷ καὶ ἀπλήστῳ καρδίᾳ, τούτῳ οὐ συνήσθιον.

  5.  ὑπερηφανία ἐστὶν μίμησις μεγαλοψυχίας ἢ προποίησις. [cf Pitra 100.5e]

6. My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me [He who walked in a perfect way - this one ministered to me.]

 6. The saying is to be directed towards priestly ministries exercised for themselves by most wicked servants

100:6. οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἐπὶ τοὺς πιστοὺς τῆς γῆς τοῦ συγκαθῆσθαι αὐτοὺς μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ. [πορευόμενος ἐν ὁδῷ ἀμώμῳ, οὗτός μοι ἐλειτούργει]

  6. Χρηστέον τῷ ῥητῷ  πρὸς τοὺς ἱερατικοὺς ὑπηρετουμένους ὑπὸ δούλων πονηροτάτων. [=PG 12.1557]

8(2) that I might utterly destroy from the city of the Lord all workers of lawlessness.

 7. Here city of the Lord means his own soul, in which he has put to death all unlawful [tempting-] thoughts.

8(2). τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι ἐκ πόλεως κυρίου πάντας τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀνομίαν.

  7. νῦν πόλιν Κυρίου λέγει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν, ἐν ᾗ πάντας ἀπέκτεινε λογισμοὺς παρανόμους. [=PG 12.1557]