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Psalms 105

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Psalms chapter 105 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.

31 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (2) follow the text.

Psalms 105

1(106) Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι χρηστὸς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.

2Who shall tell the mighty acts of the Lord? who shall cause all his praises to be heard?Τίς λαλήσει τὰς δυναστείας τοῦ Κυρίου, ἀκουστὰς ποιήσει πάσας τὰς αἰνέσεις αὐτοῦ;

3Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times.Μακάριοι οἱ φυλάσσοντες κρίσιν, καὶ ποιοῦντες δικαιοσύνην ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ.

4Remember us, O Lord, with the favor you have to your people: visit us with your salvation;Μνήσθητι ἡμῶν Κύριε ἐν τῇ εὐδοκίᾳ τοῦ λαοῦ σου, ἐπίσκεψαι ἡμᾶς ἐν τῷ σωτηρίῳ σου·

5that we may behold the good of your elect, that we may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that we may glory with your inheritance.τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἐν τῇ χρηστότητι τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν σου, τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ἐν τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ τοῦ ἔθνους σου, τοῦ ἐπαινεῖσθαι μετὰ τῆς κληρονομίας σου.

6We have sinned with our fathers, we have transgressed, we have done unrighteously.Ἡμάρτομεν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, ἠνομήσαμεν, ἠδικήσαμεν.

7Our fathers in Egypt understood not your wonders, and remembered not the multitude of your mercy; but provoked him as they went up by the Red Sea.Οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ οὐ συνῆκαν τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, καὶ οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν τοῦ πλήθους τοῦ ἐλέους σου· καὶ παρεπίκραναν ἀναβαίνοντες ἐν τῇ ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ.

8Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might cause his mighty power to be known.Καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτοὺς ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ, τοῦ γνωρίσαι τὴν δυναστείαν αὐτοῦ.

9And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up: so he led them through the deep as through the wilderness.Καὶ ἐπετίμησε τῇ ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ ἐξηράνθη· καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἀβύσσῳ ὡς ἐν ἐρήμῳ·

10And he saved them out of the hand of them that hated them, and redeemed them out of the hand of the enemy.Καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς μισούντων, καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθροῦ.

11The water covered those that oppressed them: there was not one of them left.Ἐκάλυψεν ὕδωρ τοὺς θλίβοντας αὐτοὺς, εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐχ ὑπελείφθη.

12Then they believed his words, and celebrated his praise.Καὶ ἐπίστευσαν τοῖς λόγοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾔνεσαν τὴν αἴνεσιν αὐτοῦ.

13They made haste, they forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel.Ἐτάχυναν, ἐπελάθοντο τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ, οὐχ ὑπέμειναν τὴν βουλὴν αὐτοῦ.

14And they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the dry land.Καὶ ἐπεθύμησαν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, καὶ ἐπείρασαν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ἀνύδρῳ.

15And he gave them their request, and sent fullness into their souls.Καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὸ αἴτημα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε πλησμονὴν εἰς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν.

16They provoked Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the holy one of the Lord.Καὶ παρώργισαν Μωυσῆν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ, καὶ Ἀαρὼν τὸν ἅγιον Κυρίου.

17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and closed upon the congregation of Abiron.Ἠνοίχθη ἡ γῆ καὶ κατέπιε Δαθὰν, καὶ ἐκάλυψεν ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν Ἀβειρών.

18And a fire was kindled in their congregation, and a flame burnt up the sinners.Καὶ ἐξεκαύθη πῦρ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ φλὸξ κατέφλεξεν ἁμαρτωλούς.

19And they made a calf in Choreb, and worshipped the graven image,Καὶ ἐποίησαν μόσχον ἐν Χωρὴβ, καὶ προσεκύνησαν τῷ γλυπτῷ·

20and they changed their glory into the similitude of a calf that feeds on grass.Καὶ ἠλλάξαντο τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν ἐν ὁμοιώματι μόσχου ἔσθοντος χόρτον.

21They forgot God that saved them, who had wrought great deeds in Egypt;Ἐπελάθοντο τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ σώζοντος αὐτοὺς, τοῦ ποιήσαντος μεγάλα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ,

22wondrous works in the land of Cham, and terrible things at the Red Sea.θαυμαστὰ ἐν γῇ Χὰμ, καὶ φοβερὰ ἐπὶ θαλάσσης ἐρυθρᾶς.

23So he said that he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn him away from the fierceness of his anger, so that he should not destroy them.Καὶ εἶπε τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι αὐτοὺς, εἰ μὴ Μωυσῆς ὁ ἐκλεκτὸς αὐτοῦ ἔστη ἐν τῇ θραύσει ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι ἀπὸ θυμοῦ ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ, τοῦ μὴ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι.

24Moreover they set at nothing the desirable land, and believed not his word.Καὶ ἐξουδένωσαν γῆν ἐπιθυμητὴν, καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν τῷ λόγῳ αὐτοῦ.

25And they murmured in their tents: they listened not to the voice of the Lord.Καὶ ἐγόγγυσαν ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτῶν, οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου.

26So he lifted up his hand against them, to cast them down in the wilderness;Καὶ ἐπῇρε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, τοῦ καταβαλεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ,

27and to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the countries.καὶ τοῦ καταβαλεῖν τὸ σπέρμα αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ διασκορπίσαι αὐτοὺς ἐν ταῖς χώραις.

28They were joined also to Beelphegor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. And they provoked him with their devices;Καὶ ἐτελέσθησαν τῷ Βεελφεγὼρ, καὶ ἔφαγον θυσίας νεκρῶν.

29and destruction, was multiplied among them.Καὶ παρώξυναν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπληθύνθη ἐν αὐτοῖς ἡ πτῶσις.

30Then Phinees stood up, and made atonement: and the plague ceased.Καὶ ἔστη Φινεὲς καὶ ἐξιλάσατο, καὶ ἐκόπασεν ἡ θραῦσις.

31And it was counted to him for righteousness, to all generations for ever.Καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην, εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.

32They provoked him also at the water of Strife, and Moses was hurt for their sakes;Καὶ παρώργισαν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀντιλογίας, καὶ ἐκακώθη Μωυσῆς διʼ αὐτούς·

33for they provoked his spirit, and he * spoke unadvisedly with his lips.Ὅτι παρεπίκραναν τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ διέστειλεν ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτοῦ.

34They destroyed not the nations which the Lord told them to destroy;Οὐκ ἐξωλόθρευσαν τὰ ἔθνη ἃ εἶπε Κύριος αὐτοῖς.

35but were mingled with the heathen, and learned their works.Καὶ ἐμίγησαν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἔμαθον τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν.

36And they served their graven images; and it became an offense to them.Καὶ ἐδούλευσαν τοῖς γλυπτοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτοῖς εἰς σκάνδαλον.

37And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,Καὶ ἔθυσαν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν τοῖς δαιμονίοις,

38and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan; and the land was † defiled with blood.καὶ ἐξέχεαν αἷμα ἀθῶον, αἷμα υἱῶν αὐτῶν καὶ θυγατέρων, ὧν ἔθυσαν τοῖς γλυπτοῖς Χαναάν· καὶ ἐφονοκτονήθη ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς αἵμασι,

39and was polluted with their works; and they went a whoring with their own devices.καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐπόρνευσαν ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτῶν.

40So the Lord was very angry with his people, and he abhorred his inheritance.Καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐβδελύξατο τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ.

41And he delivered them into the hands of their enemies; and they that hated them ruled over them.Καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν, καὶ ἐκυρίευσαν αὐτῶν οἱ μισοῦντες αὐτούς.

42Ands their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought down under their hands.Καὶ ἔθλιψαν αὐτοὺς οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐταπεινώθησαν ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν.

43Many a time he delivered them; but they provoked him by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquities.Πλεονάκις ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτοὺς, αὐτοὶ δὲ παρεπίκραναν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ βουλῇ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐταπεινώθησαν ἐν ταῖς ἀνομίαις αὐτῶν.

44You the Lord looked upon their affliction, when he heard their petition.Καὶ εἶδε Κύριος ἐν τῷ θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς, ἐν τῷ αὐτὸν εἰσακοῦσαι τῆς δεήσεως αὐτῶν.

45And he remembered his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercy.Καὶ ἐμνήσθη τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετεμελήθη κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ ἐλέους αὐτοῦ.

46And he caused them to be pitied in the sight of all who carried them captive.Καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς οἰκτιρμοὺς ἐναντίον πάντων τῶν αἰχμαλωτευσάντων αὐτούς.

47Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise.Σῶσον ἡμᾶς Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐπισυνάγαγε ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν, τοῦ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ ὀνόματί σου τῷ ἁγίῳ, τοῦ ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι ἐν τῇ αἰνέσει σου.

48Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting; and all the people shall say, Amen, Amen.Εὐλογητὸς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος· καὶ ἐρεῖ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς, γένοιτο, γένοιτο.

Translator's Notes

These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.

The Fathers on Psalms 105

Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.

On Psalms 105:1
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

2. But I find these two Psalms, the CVth and CVIth so connected, that in one of them, the first, the people of God is praised in the person of the elect, of whom there is no complaint, whom I imagine to have been there in those with whom God was well pleased; but in the following Psalm those are mentioned among the same people who have provoked God; though the mercy of God was not wanting even to these.…This…

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On Psalms 105:2–3
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

3. “Who can express the mighty acts of the Lord?” (ver. 2). Full of the consideration of the Divine works, while he entreateth His mercy, “Who,” he saith, “can express the mighty acts of the Lord, or make all His praises heard?” We must supply what was said above, to make the sense complete here, thus, “Who shall make all His praises heard?” that is, who is sufficient to make all His praises heard? “Shall make”…

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On Psalms 105:4–5
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

5. Next, since God justifieth, that is, maketh men righteous, by healing them from their iniquities, a prayer followeth: “Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people” (ver. 4): that is, that we may be among those with whom Thou art well pleased; since God is not well pleased with them all. “O visit me with Thy salvation.” This is the Saviour Himself, in whom sins are forgiven,…

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On Psalms 105:6–8
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

6. But let us hear what they next confess: “we have sinned with our fathers: we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly” (ver. 6). What meaneth “with our fathers”?…“Our fathers,” he saith, “regarded not Thy wonders in Egypt” (ver. 7); and many other things also, he doth relate of their sins. Or is, “we have sinned with our fathers,” to be understood as meaning, we have sinned like our fathers, that is, by imitating…

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On Psalms 105:9
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

7. “He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up” (ver. 9). We do not read that any voice was sent forth from Heaven to rebuke the sea; but he hath called the Divine Power by which this was effected, a rebuke: unless indeed any one may choose to say, that the sea was secretly rebuked, so that the waters might hear, and yet men could not. The power by which God acteth is very abstruse and mysterious, a power…

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On Psalms 105:10
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

8. “And He saved them from the hating ones” (ver. 10). Some translators, in order to avoid an expression unusual in Latin, have rendered the word, by a circumlocution, “And He saved them from the hand of those that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.” What price was given in this redemption? Is it a prophecy, since this deed was a figure of Baptism, wherein we are redeemed from the hand of…

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On Psalms 105:11
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

9. “As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them: there was not one of them left” (ver. 11); not of all the Egyptians, but of those who pursued the departing Israelites, desirous either of taking or of killing them.

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On Psalms 105:12
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

10. “Then believed they in His words” (ver. 12). The expression seemeth barely Latin, for he saith not “believed His word,” or “on His words,” but “in His words;” yet it is very frequent in Scripture. “And praised praise unto Him;” such an expression as when we say, “This servitude he served,” “such a life he lived.” He is here alluding to that well-known hymn, commencing, “I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath…

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On Psalms 105:13
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

11. “They acted hastily: they forgot His works” (ver. 13): other copies read more intelligibly, “They hastened, they forgot His works, and would not abide His counsel.” For they ought to have thought, that so great works of God towards themselves were not without a purpose, but that they invited them to some endless happiness, which was to be waited for with patience; but they hastened to make themselves happy…

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On Psalms 105:14
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

12. Lastly, “And they lusted a lust in the wilderness, and they tempted God in the dry land” (ver. 14). The “dry land,” or land without water, and “desert,” are the same: so also are, “they lusted a lust,” and, “they tempted God.” The form of speech is the same as above, “they praised a praise.”

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On Psalms 105:15
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

13. “And He gave them their desire, and sent fulness withal into their souls” (ver. 15). But He did not thus render them happy: for it was not that fulness of which it is said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” In this passage he doth not speak of the rational soul, but of the soul as giving animal life to the body; to the substance of which belong meat…

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On Psalms 105:16
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

14. “And they angered Moses in the tents, and Aaron the saint of the Lord” (ver. 16). What angering, or, as some have more literally rendered it, what provocation, he speaketh of, the following words sufficiently show.

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On Psalms 105:17
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

15. “The earth opened,” he saith, “and swallowed up Dathan, and covered over the congregation of Abiram” (ver. 17): “swallowed up” answereth to “covered over.” Both Dathan and Abiram were equally concerned in a most sacrilegious schism.

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On Psalms 105:18
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

16. “And the fire was kindled in their company; the flame burnt up the sinners” (ver. 18). This word is not in Scripture usually applied to those, who, although they live righteously, and in a praiseworthy manner, are not without sin. Rather, as there is a difference between those who scorn and scorners, between men who murmur and murmurers, between men who are writing and writers, and so forth; so Scripture is…

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On Psalms 105:19–20
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

17. “And they made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the graven image” (ver. 19). “Thus they changed their glory, in the similitude of a calf that eateth hay” (ver. 20). He saith not “into” the likeness, but “in” the likeness. It is such a form of speech as where he said “and they believed in His words.” With great effect in truth he saith not, they changed the glory of God when they did this; as the Apostle also…

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On Psalms 105:21–22
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

18. “They forgat God who saved them” (ver. 21). How did He save them? “Who did so great things in Egypt: Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and fearful things in the Red Sea” (ver. 22). The things that are wondrous, are also fearful; for there is no wonder without a certain fear: although these might be called fearful, because they beat down their adversaries, and showed them what they ought to fear.

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On Psalms 105:23
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

19. “So He said, He would have destroyed them” (ver. 23). Since they forgot Him who saved them, the Worker of wondrous works, and made and worshipped a graven image, by this atrocious and incredible impiety they deserved death. “Had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breaking.” He doth not say, that he stood in the breaking, as if to break the wrath of God, but in the way of the breaking, meaning the…

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On Psalms 105:24
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

20. “Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land” (ver. 24). But had they seen it? How then could they scorn that which they had not seen, except as the following words explain, “and believed not in His words.” Indeed, unless that land which was styled the land that flowed with milk and honey, signified something great, through which, as by a visible token, He was leading those who understood His wondrous works…

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On Psalms 105:25
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

21. “But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord” (ver. 25); who strongly forbade them to murmur.

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On Psalms 105:26–27
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

22. “Then lift He up His hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness” (ver. 26); “to cast out their seed among the nations: and to scatter them in the lands” (ver. 27).

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On Psalms 105:28–29
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

23. “They were initiated also unto Baalpeor;” that is, were consecrated to the Gentile idol; “and ate the offerings of the dead” (ver. 28). “Thus they provoked Him to anger with their own inventions; and destruction was multiplied among them” (ver. 29). As if He had deferred the lifting up of His hand which was to cast them down in the desert, and to cast out their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in…

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On Psalms 105:30
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

24. “Then stood up Phineas, and appeased Him, and the shaking ceased” (ver. 30). He hath related the whole briefly, because he is not here teaching the ignorant, but reminding those who know the history. The word “shaking” here is the same as “breaking” before. For it is one word in the Greek. Lastly, so great was their wickedness, in being consecrated to the idol, and eating the sacrifices of the dead (that is,…

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On Psalms 105:31
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

25. “And that was counted unto him for righteousness among all posterities for evermore” (ver. 31). God counted this unto His Priest for righteousness, not only as long as posterity shall exist, but “for evermore;” for He who knoweth the heart, knoweth how to weigh with how much love for the people that deed was done.

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On Psalms 105:32–33
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

26. “And they angered Him at the waters of strife: so that Moses was vexed for their sakes” (ver. 32); “because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake doubtfully with his lips” (ver. 33). What is spake doubtfully? As if God, who had done so great wonders before, could not cause water to flow from a rock. For he touched the rock with his rod with doubt, and thus distinguished this miracle from the rest, in…

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On Psalms 105:34–36
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

27. But they of whose iniquities this Psalm speaketh, when they had entered into that temporal land of promise, “destroyed not the heathen, which the Lord commanded them” (ver. 34); “but were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works” (ver. 35). “Insomuch that they worshipped their idols, which became to them an offence” (ver. 36). Their not destroying them, but mingling with them, became to them an offence.

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On Psalms 105:37–39
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

28. “Yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils” (ver. 37); “and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan” (ver. 38). That history doth not relate that they offered their sons and daughters to devils and idols; but neither can that Psalm lie, nor the Prophets, who assert this in many passages of their rebukes. But the…

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On Psalms 105:40
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

29. “Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His own people” (ver. 40). Our translators have been unwilling to use the word anger, for the Greek θυμὸς; though some have used it; while others translate by “indignation” or “mind.” Whichever of these terms be adopted, passion doth not affect God; but the power of punishing hath assumed this name metaphorically from custom.

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On Psalms 105:41–43
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

30. “Insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance; and He gave them over into the hand of the heathen: and they that hated them were lords over them” (ver. 41): “and their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought low under their hands” (ver. 42). Since he hath called them the inheritance of God, it is clear that He abhorred them, and gave them over into their enemies’ hands, not in order to their perdition,…

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On Psalms 105:44–45
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

31. Nevertheless, God, full of mercy, forsook them not. “And He saw when they were in adversity, when He heard their complaint” (ver. 44). “And He thought upon His covenant, and repented, according to the multitude of His mercies” (ver. 45). He saith, “He repented,” because He changed that wherewith He seemed about to destroy them. With God indeed all things are arranged and fixed; and when He seemeth to act upon…

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On Psalms 105:46
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

32. So “He gave them unto compassions, in the sight of all that had taken them captive” (ver. 46). That they might not be vessels of wrath, but vessels of mercy. The compassions unto which He gave them are named in the plural for this reason, I imagine, because each one hath a gift of his own from God, one in one way, another in another. Come then, whosoever readest this, and dost recognise the grace of God, by…

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On Psalms 105:47–48
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

33. “Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations (other copies read, “from the heathen”); that we may give thanks unto Thy holy Name, and make our boast of Thy praise” (ver. 47). Then he hath briefly added this very praise, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end” (ver. 48): by which we understand from everlasting to everlasting; because He shall be praised…

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