Augustine of Hippo — Commentary on Scripture

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

"From the beginning I have known," he says, "as concerning Your testimonies, that You have grounded them for ever" [Psalm 119:152]...What are these testimonies, save those wherein God has declared that He will give an everlasting kingdom unto His sons? And since He has declared that He will give this in His only-begotten Son, he said that the testimonies themselves were grounded for ever. For that which God has promised through them, was everlasting. And for this reason the words, "You have grounded them," are rightly thus understood, because they are shown to be true in Christ. [1 Corinthians 3:11] Whence then did the Psalmist know this in the beginning, save because the Church speaks, which was not wanting to the earth from the commencement of the human race, the first-fruits whereof was the holy Abel, himself sacrificed in testimony of the future blood of the Mediator that should be shed by a wicked brother? [Genesis 4:8] For this also was at the beginning, "They two shall be one flesh:" [Genesis 2:24] which great mystery the Apostle Paul expounding, says, "I speak concerning Chr…

"From the beginning I have known," he says, "as concerning Your testimonies, that You have grounded them for ever" [Psalm 119:152]...What are these testimonies, save those wherein God has declared that He will give an everlasting kingdom unto His sons? And since He has declared that He will give this in His only-begotten Son, he said that the testimonies themselves were grounded for ever. For that which God has promised through them, was everlasting. And for this reason the words, "You have grounded them," are rightly thus understood, because they are shown to be true in Christ. [1 Corinthians 3:11] Whence then did the Psalmist know this in the beginning, save because the Church speaks, which was not wanting to the earth from the commencement of the human race, the first-fruits whereof was the holy Abel, himself sacrificed in testimony of the future blood of the Mediator that should be shed by a wicked brother? [Genesis 4:8] For this also was at the beginning, "They two shall be one flesh:" [Genesis 2:24] which great mystery the Apostle Paul expounding, says, "I speak concerning Christ and the Church." [Ephesians 5:32]

Resch

Psalms 119:153

RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Let no man, set in Christ's body, imagine these words to be alien from himself, since in truth it is the whole body of Christ placed in this humble state that speaks: "O consider my humiliation, and deliver me: for I forget not Your law" [Psalm 119:153]. In this place we cannot understand any law of God so suitably, as that whereby it is immutably determined that "every one that exalts himself, shall be abased; and every one that humbles himself; shall be exalted."

Psalms 119:154

Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

"Avenge Thou," he says, "my cause, and deliver me" [Psalm 119:154]. The former sentence is here almost repeated. And what is there said, "For I do not forget Your law," agrees with what we read here, "Quicken me, according to Your word." For these words are the law of God, which he has not forgot, so that he has abased himself, and will therefore be exalted. But the words, "Quicken me," pertain to this very exaltation; for the exaltation of the saints is everlasting life.

Psalms 119:155

Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

"Health," he says, "is far from the ungodly: for they regard not Your righteousnesses" [Psalm 119:155]. This separates you, that what they have not done, you have done, that is, you have regarded the righteousnesses of God. But "what have you that you have not received?" [1 Corinthians 4:7] Are you not he who a little before said, "I will keep Your righteousnesses"? Thou therefore hast received from Him, unto whom you called, the power to keep them. He therefore does Himself separate you from those from whom health is far, because they have not regarded the righteousnesses of God.

Psalms 119:156

Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

This he saw himself also. For I should not see it, save I saw it in Him, save I were in Him. For these are the words of the Body of Christ, whose members we are. He saw this, I say, and at once added, "Great are Your mercies, O Lord" [Psalm 119:156]. Even our seeking out Your righteousnesses, then, comes of Your mercies. "Quicken me according to Your judgment." For I know that Your judgments will not be upon me without Your mercy.

Psalms 119:157

Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

"Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me; yet do I not swerve from Your testimonies" [Psalm 119:157]. This has been realized: we know it, we recollect it, we acknowledge it. The whole earth has been crimsoned by the blood of Martyrs; heaven is flowery with the crowns of Martyrs, the Churches are adorned with the memorials of Martyrs, seasons distinguished by the birthdays of Martyrs, cures more frequent by the merits of Martyrs. Whence this, save because that has been fulfilled which was prophesied of that Man who has been spread abroad around the whole world. We recognize this, and render thanks to the Lord our God. For thou, man, you have yourself said in another Psalm, "If the Lord Himself had not been on our side, they would have swallowed us up quick." Behold the reason why you have not swerved from His testimonies, and hast won the palm of your heavenly calling amid the hands of the many who persecuted and troubled you.

Psalms 119:158

I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

"I have seen," he says, "the foolish, and I pined" [Psalm 119:158]: or, as other copies read, "I have seen them that keep not covenant:" this is the reading of most. But who are they who have not kept covenant, save they who have swerved from the testimonies of God, not bearing the tribulation of their many persecutors? Now this is the covenant, that he who shall have conquered shall be crowned. They who, not bearing persecution, have by denial swerved from the testimonies of God, have not kept the covenant. These then the Psalmist saw, and pined, for he loved them. For that jealousy is good, springing from love, not from envy. He adds in what respect they had failed to keep the covenant, "Because they kept not Your word." For this they denied in their tribulations.

Psalms 119:159

Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

And he commends himself as differing from them, and says, "Behold, how I have loved Your commandments" [Psalm 119:159]. He says not, I have not denied Your words or testimonies, as the Martyrs were urged to do, and, when they refused, suffered intolerable torments: but he said this wherein is the fruit of all sufferings; for, "if I give up my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing." [1 Corinthians 13:3] The Psalmist, praising this virtue, says, "Behold, how I have loved Your commandments." Then he asks his reward, "O Lord, quicken me, according to Your mercy." These put me to death, do Thou quicken me. But if a reward be asked of mercy, which justice is bound to give; how much greater is that mercy, which enabled him to gain the victory, on account of which the reward was sought for?

Psalms 119:160

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

"The beginning," he says, "of Your words is truth; all the judgments of Your righteousness endure for evermore" [Psalm 119:160]. From truth, he says, Your words do proceed, and they are therefore truthful, and deceive no man, for in them life is announced to the righteous, punishment to the ungodly. These are the everlasting judgments of God's righteousness.

Schin

Psalms 119:161

SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

We know what persecutions the body of Christ, that is, the holy Church, suffered from the kings of the earth. Let us therefore here also recognise the words of the Church: "Princes have persecuted me without a cause: and my heart has stood in awe of You" [Psalm 119:161]. For how had the Christians injured the kingdoms of the earth, although their King promised them the kingdom of heaven? How, I ask, had they injured the kingdoms of earth? Did their King forbid His soldiers to pay and to render due service to the kings of the earth? Says He not to the Jews who were striving to calumniate Him, "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's"? [Matthew 22:21] Did He not even in His own Person pay tribute from the mouth of a fish? [Matthew 17:24-26] Did not His forerunner, when the soldiers of this kingdom were seeking what they ought to do for their everlasting salvation, instead of replying, Loose your belts, throw away your arms, desert your king, that you may wage war for the Lord, answer, "Do violence to no man: neither accuse any falsely: and…

We know what persecutions the body of Christ, that is, the holy Church, suffered from the kings of the earth. Let us therefore here also recognise the words of the Church: "Princes have persecuted me without a cause: and my heart has stood in awe of You" [Psalm 119:161]. For how had the Christians injured the kingdoms of the earth, although their King promised them the kingdom of heaven? How, I ask, had they injured the kingdoms of earth? Did their King forbid His soldiers to pay and to render due service to the kings of the earth? Says He not to the Jews who were striving to calumniate Him, "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's"? [Matthew 22:21] Did He not even in His own Person pay tribute from the mouth of a fish? [Matthew 17:24-26] Did not His forerunner, when the soldiers of this kingdom were seeking what they ought to do for their everlasting salvation, instead of replying, Loose your belts, throw away your arms, desert your king, that you may wage war for the Lord, answer, "Do violence to no man: neither accuse any falsely: and be content with your wages"? [Luke 3:14] Did not one of His soldiers, His most beloved companion, say to his fellow soldiers, the provincials, so to speak, of Christ, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers"? Does he not enjoin the Church to pray for even kings themselves? [1 Timothy 2:1-2] How then have the Christians offended against them? What due have they not rendered? In what have not Christians obeyed the monarchs of earth? The kings of the earth therefore have persecuted the Christians without a cause. They too had their threatening words: I banish, I proscribe, I slay, I torture with claws, I burn with fires, I expose to beasts, I tear the limbs piecemeal. But heed what he has subjoined: "And my heart has stood in awe of Your word." My heart has stood in awe of these words, [Matthew 10:28] "Fear not them that kill the body," etc. I have scorned man who persecutes me, and have overcome the devil that would seduce me.

Psalms 119:162

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Then follows, "I am as glad of Your word as one that finds great spoils" [Psalm 119:162]. By the same words he conquered, of which he stood in awe. For spoils are stripped from the conquered; as he was overcome and despoiled of whom it is said in the Gospel, "except he first bind the strong man." [Matthew 12:29] But many spoils were found, when, admiring the endurance of the Martyrs, even the persecutors believed; and they who had plotted to injure our King by the injury of His soldiers, were gained over by Him in addition. Whoever therefore stands in awe of the words of God, fearing lest he be overcome in the contest, rejoices as conqueror in the same words.

Psalms 119:163

I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

"As for iniquity, I hate and abhor it; but Your law have I loved" [Psalm 119:163]. That awe, therefore, of His word did not create hatred of those words, but maintained his love unimpaired. For the words of God are no other than the law of God. Far be it therefore that love perish through fear, where fear is chaste. Thus fathers are at once feared and loved by affectionate sons; thus does the chaste wife at once fear her husband, lest she be forsaken by him, and loves him, that she may enjoy his love. If then the human father and the human husband desire at once to be feared and loved; much more does our Father who is in heaven, [Matthew 6:9] and that Bridegroom, "beautiful beyond the sons of men," not in the flesh, but in goodness. For by whom is the law of God loved, save by those by whom God is loved? And what that is severe has the father's law to good sons? [Hebrews 12:6] Let the Father's judgments therefore be praised even in the scourge, if His promises be loved in the reward.

Psalms 119:164 · 2 passages

Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

The seven loaves signify the sevenfold working of the Holy Spirit; the four thousand people, the church established under the four Gospels; the seven baskets of fragments, the perfection of the church. This number, you see, stands for perfection extremely often. I mean, how come it says, "Seven times a day shall I praise you"? Is a person going wildly astray who does not praise God that number of times? So what else can be the meaning of "seven times a day shall I praise you," but "I shall never cease from praising"? You see, when he says seven times he signifies the whole of time; that is why the ages unfold in the weekly round of seven days. So what else can "seven times a day shall I praise you" mean but his "praise is always in my mouth"?

Such was, assuredly, the conduct of the Psalmist, who says, "Seven times a day do I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments" [Psalm 119:164]. The words "seven times a day," signify "evermore." For this number is wont to be a symbol of universality; because after six days of the divine work of creation, a seventh of rest was added; [Genesis 2:2] and all times roll on through a revolving cycle of seven days. For no other reason it was said, "a just man falls seven times, and rises up again:" [Proverbs 24:16] that is, the just man perishes not, though brought low in every way, yet not induced to transgress, otherwise he will not be just. For the words, "falls seven times," are employed to express every kind of tribulation, whereby man is cast down in the sight of men: and the words, "rises up again," signify that he profits from all these tribulations. The following sentence in this passage sufficiently illustrates the foregoing words: for it follows, "but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Not to be deprived of strength in any evils, is therefore the falling seven times, and…

Such was, assuredly, the conduct of the Psalmist, who says, "Seven times a day do I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments" [Psalm 119:164]. The words "seven times a day," signify "evermore." For this number is wont to be a symbol of universality; because after six days of the divine work of creation, a seventh of rest was added; [Genesis 2:2] and all times roll on through a revolving cycle of seven days. For no other reason it was said, "a just man falls seven times, and rises up again:" [Proverbs 24:16] that is, the just man perishes not, though brought low in every way, yet not induced to transgress, otherwise he will not be just. For the words, "falls seven times," are employed to express every kind of tribulation, whereby man is cast down in the sight of men: and the words, "rises up again," signify that he profits from all these tribulations. The following sentence in this passage sufficiently illustrates the foregoing words: for it follows, "but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Not to be deprived of strength in any evils, is therefore the falling seven times, and the rising again of the just man. Justly has the Church then praised God seven times in a day for His righteous judgments; because, when it was time that judgment should begin at the house of God, [1 Peter 4:17] she did not faint in all her tribulations, but was glorified with the crowns of Martyrs.

Psalms 119:165 · 2 passages

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

"Great is the peace," he says, "that they have who love Your law: and there is no offense to them" [Psalm 119:165]. Does this mean that the law itself is not an offense to them that love it, or that there is no offense from any source unto them that love the law? But both senses are rightly understood. For he who loves the law of God, honours in it even what he does not understand; and what seems to him to sound absurd, he judges rather that he does not understand, and that there is some great meaning hidden: thus the law of God is not an offense to him...

But whom does the church burn as the moon by night? They who have caused schisms. Hear this very same thing stated by the apostle: "Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is scandalized and I am not burned?" How then is there no scandal in him who loves his brother? Because he who loves his brother endures all things for the sake of unity, because in the unity of love is brotherly loving. If some wicked person or other, or someone supposedly or allegedly wicked, offends you, do you desert so many good people? What sort of brotherly loving is it as has appeared in these people? When they accuse the Africans, they have deserted the world. Were there no saints in the world? Or was it possible for them to be condemned by you unheard? But, if you loved your brother, there would be no scandal in you. Hear the psalm, the one that says, "Much peace have they who love your law and there is no scandal to them." It said that they who love the law of God have much peace and for that reason there is no scandal to them. Those therefore who suffer scandal lose peace. And who did it say do not suffer sc…

But whom does the church burn as the moon by night? They who have caused schisms. Hear this very same thing stated by the apostle: "Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is scandalized and I am not burned?" How then is there no scandal in him who loves his brother? Because he who loves his brother endures all things for the sake of unity, because in the unity of love is brotherly loving. If some wicked person or other, or someone supposedly or allegedly wicked, offends you, do you desert so many good people? What sort of brotherly loving is it as has appeared in these people? When they accuse the Africans, they have deserted the world. Were there no saints in the world? Or was it possible for them to be condemned by you unheard? But, if you loved your brother, there would be no scandal in you. Hear the psalm, the one that says, "Much peace have they who love your law and there is no scandal to them." It said that they who love the law of God have much peace and for that reason there is no scandal to them. Those therefore who suffer scandal lose peace. And who did it say do not suffer scandal or do not cause it? Those loving the law of God.

Psalms 119:166

LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

"I have waited," he says, "for Your saving health, O Lord, and have loved Your commandments" [Psalm 119:166]. For what would it have profited the righteous of old to have loved the commandments of God, save Christ, who is the saving health of God, had freed them; by the gift of whose Spirit also they were able to love the commandments of God? If therefore they who loved God's commandments, waited for His saving health; how much more necessary was Jesus, that is, the saving Health of God, for the salvation of those that did not love His commandments? This prophecy may suit also the Saints of the period since the revelation of grace, and the preaching of the Gospel, for they that love God's commandments look for Christ, that "when Christ, our life, shall appear, we" may then "appear with Him in glory." [Colossians 3:4]

Psalms 119:167

My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

"My soul has kept Your testimonies, and I have loved them exceedingly:" or, as some copies read, "has loved them," understanding, "my soul" [Psalm 119:167]. The testimonies of God are kept, while they are not denied. This is the office of Martyrs, for testimonies are called Martyria in Greek. But since it profits nothing, even to be burnt with flames without charity, [1 Corinthians 13:3] he adds, "and I have loved them exceedingly."...For he who loves, keeps them in the Spirit of truth and faithfulness. But generally, while the commandments of God are kept, they against whose will they are kept become our foes: then, indeed, His testimonies also must be kept courageously, lest they be denied when the enemy persecutes.

Tau

Psalms 119:168

I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

After the Psalmist, then, had declared that he had done both these things, he ascribes unto God his having been enabled to do so, by adding, "because all my ways are in Your sight." He says therefore, "I have kept Your commandments and Your testimonies; because all my ways are in Your sight" [Psalm 119:168]. As much as to say, Had You turned away Your face from me, I should have been confounded, nor could I keep Your commandments and testimonies. "I have kept them," then, because "all my ways are in Your sight." With a look favouring and aiding man, he meant it to be understood that God sees his ways: according to the prayer, "O hide not Thou Your face from me."...

Tau

Psalms 119:169

TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

Let us now hear the words of one praying: since we know who is praying, and we recognise ourselves, if we be not reprobate, among the members of this one praying. "Let my prayer come near in Your sight, O Lord" [Psalm 119:169]: for, "The Lord is near unto them that are of a contrite heart." "Give me understanding, according to Your word." He claims a promise. For he says, "according to Your word," which is to say, according to Your promise. For the Lord promised this when He said, "I will inform you."