Psalms 88
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 88 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.
39 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (7) follow the text.
Psalms 88
1(89) A Psalm of instruction for Aetham the Israelite.Συνέσεως Αἰθὰμ τῷ Ἰσραηλίτῃ.
2I will sing of your mercies, O Lord, for ever: I will declare your truth with my mouth to all generations.Τὰ ἐλέη σου Κύριε εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ᾄσομαι, εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν ἀπαγγελῶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου ἐν τῷ στόματί μου.
3For you have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: your truth shall be established in the heavens.Ὅτι εἶπας, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔλεος οἰκοδομηθήσεται, ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἑτοιμασθήσεται ἡ ἀλήθειά σου·
4I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I swore to David my servant.Διεθέμην διαθήκην τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς μου, ὤμοσα Δαυὶδ τῷ δούλῳ μου.
5I will * establish your seed for ever, and build up your throne to all generations. Pause.Ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ἑτοιμάσω τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οἰκοδομήσω εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν τὸν θρόνον σου· διάψαλμα.
6The heavens shall declare your wonders, O Lord; and your truth in the assembly of the saints.Ἐξομολογήσονται οἱ οὐρανοὶ τὰ θαυμάσιά σου Κύριε, καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ἁγίων.
7For who in the † heavens shall be compared to the Lord? and who shall be likened to the Lord among the sons of God?Ὅτι τίς ἐν νεφέλαις ἰσωθήσεται τῷ Κυρίῳ; καὶ τίς ὁμοιωθήσεται τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν υἱοῖς Θεοῦ;
8God is glorified in the council of the saints; great and terrible toward all that are round about him.Ὁ Θεὸς ἐνδοξαζόμενος ἐν βουλῇ ἁγίων, μέγας καὶ φοβερὸς ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς περικύκλῳ αὐτοῦ.
9O Lord God of hosts, who is like to you? you are mighty, O Lord, and your truth is round about you.Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων, τίς ὅμοιός σοι; δυνατὸς εἶ Κύριε, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθειά σου κύκλῳ σου.
10You rule the power of the sea; and you calm the tumult of its waves.Σὺ δεσπόζεις τοῦ κράτους τῆς θαλάσσης, τὸν δὲ σάλον τῶν κυμάτων αὐτῆς σὺ καταπραΰνεις.
11You have brought down the proud as one that is slain; and with the arm of your power you have scattered your enemies.Σὺ ἐταπείνωσας ὡς τραυματίαν ὑπερήφανον, καὶ ἐν τῷ βραχίονι τῆς δυνάμεώς σου διεσκόρπισας τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου.
12The heavens are your, and the earth is your: you have founded the world, and the fullness of it.Σοί εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοὶ, καὶ σή ἐστιν ἡ γῆ, τὴν οἰκουμένην καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς σὺ ἐθεμελίωσας.
13You have created the north and the ‡ west: Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name.Τὸν Βοῤῥᾶν καὶ θάλασσας σὺ ἔκτισας, Θαβὼρ καὶ Ἑρμὼν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ἀγαλλιάσονται.
14Your is the mighty arm: let your hand be strengthened, let your right hand be exalted.Σὸς ὁ βραχίων μετὰ δυναστείας· κραταιωθήτω ἡ χείρ σου, ὑψωθήτω ἡ δεξιά σου.
15Justice and judgment are the establishment of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face.Δικαιοσύνη καὶ κρίμα ἑτοιμασία τοῦ θρόνου σου· ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθεια προπορεύσονται πρὸ προσώπου σου.
16Blessed is the people that knows the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance.Μακάριος ὁ λαὸς ὁ γινώσκων ἀλαλαγμόν· Κύριε ἐν τῷ φωτὶ τοῦ προσώπου σου πορεύσονται,
17And in your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted.καὶ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ἀγαλλιάσονται ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, καὶ ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ὑψωθήσονται.
18For you are the boast of their strength; and in your good pleasure shall our horn be exalted,Ὅτι τὸ καύχημα τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτῶν σὺ εἶ, καὶ ἐν τῇ εὐδοκίᾳ σου ὑψωθήσεται τὸ κέρας ἡμῶν·
19for our help is of the Lord; and of the Holy One of Israel, our king.ὅτι τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ ἀντίληψις, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰσραὴλ βασιλέως ἡμῶν.
20Then you spoke in vision to your children, and said, I have laid help on a mighty one; I have exalted one chosen out of my people.Τότε ἐλάλησας ἐν ὁράσει τοῖς υἱοῖς σου, καὶ εἶπας, ἐθέμην βοήθειαν ἐπὶ δυνατὸν, ὕψωσα ἐκλεκτὸν ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ μου.
21✡ I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by my holy § mercy.Εὗρον Δαυὶδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου, ἐν ἐλέει ἁγίῳ ἔχρισα αὐτόν.
22For my hand shall support him; and my arm shall strengthen him.Ἡ γὰρ χείρ μου συναντιλήψεται αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ βραχίων μου κατισχύσει αὐτόν.
23The enemy shall have no advantage against him; and the son of transgression shall not hurt him again.Οὐκ ὠφελήσει ἐχθρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ υἱὸς ἀνομίας οὐ προσθήσει τοῦ κακῶσαι αὐτόν.
24And I will hew down his foes before him, and put to flight those that hate him.Καὶ συγκόψω ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς μισοῦντας αὐτὸν τροπώσομαι.
25But my truth and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted.Καὶ ἡ ἀλήθειά μου καὶ τὸ ἔλεός μου μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου ὑψωθήσεται τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ.
26And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.Καὶ θήσομαι ἐν θαλάσσῃ χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ποταμοῖς δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ.
27He shall call upon me, saying, You are my Father, my God, and the helper of my salvation.Αὐτὸς ἐπικαλέσεταί με, πατήρ μου εἶ σὺ, Θεός μου καὶ ἀντιλήπτωρ τῆς σωτηρίας μου.
28And I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.Κᾀγὼ πρωτότοκον θήσομαι αὐτὸν, ὑψηλὸν παρὰ τοῖς βασιλεῦσι τῆς γῆς.
29I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenant shall be firm with him.Εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα φυλάξω αὐτῷ τὸ ἔλεός μου, καὶ ἡ διαθήκη μου πιστὴ αὐτῷ.
30And I will establish his seed for ever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.Καὶ θήσομαι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ ὡς τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
31If his children should forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;Ἐὰν ἐγκαταλίπωσιν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ τὸν νόμον μου, καὶ τοῖς κρίμασί μου μὴ πορευθῶσιν·
32if they should profane my ordinances, and not keep my commandments;ἐὰν τὰ δικαιώματά μου βεβηλώσωσι, καὶ τὰς ἐντολάς μου μὴ φυλάξωσιν·
33I will visit their transgressions with a rod, and their sins with scourges.Ἐπισκέψομαι ἐν ῥάβδῳ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν μάστιξι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.
34But my mercy I will not utterly remove from him, nor wrong my truth.Τὸ δὲ ἔλεός μου οὐ μὴ διασκεδάσω ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ μὴ ἀδικήσω ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μου,
35Neither will I by any means profane my covenant; and I will not make void the things that proceed out of my lips.οὐδὲ μὴ βεβηλώσω τὴν διαθήκην μου, καὶ τὰ ἐκπορευόμενα διὰ τῶν χειλέων μου οὐ μὴ ἀθετήσω.
36Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie to David.Ἅπαξ ὤμοσα ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ μου, εἰ τῷ Δαυὶδ ψεύσομαι.
37His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me;Τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μενεῖ, καὶ ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος ἐναντίον μου,
38and as the moon that is established for ever, and as the faithful witness in heaven. Pause.καὶ ὡς ἡ σελήνη κατηρτισμένη εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ ὁ μάρτυς ἐν οὐρανῷ πιστός· διάψαλμα.
39But you have cast off and set at nothing, you have rejected your anointed.Σὺ δὲ ἀπώσω καὶ ἐξουδένωσας, ἀνεβάλου τὸν χριστόν σου.
40You have overthrown the covenant of your servant; you have profaned his sanctuary, casting it to the ground.Κατέστρεψας τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ δούλου σου, ἐβεβήλωσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτοῦ.
41You have broken down all his hedges; you have made his strong holds a terror.Καθεῖλες πάντας τοὺς φραγμοῦς αὐτοῦ, ἔθου τὰ ὀχυρώματα αὐτοῦ δειλίαν.
42All that go by the way have spoiled him: he is become a reproach to his neighbors.Διήρπασαν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ διοδεύοντες ὁδὸν, ἐγενήθη ὄνειδος τοῖς γείτοσιν αὐτοῦ.
43You have exalted the right hand of his enemies; you have made all his enemies to rejoice.Ὕψωσας τὴν δεξιὰν τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ, εὔφρανας πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ.
44You have turned back the help of his sword, and have not helped him in the battle.Ἀπέστρεψας τὴν βοήθειαν τῆς ῥομφαίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἀντελάβου αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ.
45You have deprived him of ** glory: you have broken down his throne to the ground.Κατέλυσας ἀπὸ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτὸν, τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν γῆν κατέῤῥαξας,
46You have shortened the days of his †† throne: you have poured shame upon him. Pause.ἐσμίκρυνας τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ, κατέχεας αὐτοῦ αἰσχύνην· διάψαλμα.
47How long, O Lord, will you turn away, for ever? shall your anger flame out as fire?Ἕως πότε Κύριε ἀποστρέφῃ εἰς τέλος; ἐκκαυθήσεται ὡς πῦρ ἡ ὀργή σου;
48Remember what my being is: for have you created all the sons of men in vain?Μνήσθητι τίς ἡ ὑπόστασίς μου· μὴ γὰρ ματαίως ἔκτισας πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων;
49What man is there who shall live, and not see death? shall any one deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Pause.Τίς ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ζήσεται καὶ οὐκ ὄψεται θάνατον; ῥύσεται τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς ᾅδου; διάψαλμα.
50Where are your ancient mercies, O Lord, which you swore to David in your truth?Ποῦ ἐστι τὰ ἐλέη σου τὰ ἀρχαῖα, Κύριε, ἃ ὤμοσας τῷ Δαυὶδ ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου;
51Remember, O Lord, the reproach of your servants, which I have borne in my bosom, even the reproach of many nations;Μνήσθητι Κύριε τοῦ ὀνειδισμου τῶν δούλων σου οὗ ὑπέσχον ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ μου πολλῶν ἐθνῶν·
52wherewith your enemies have reviled, O Lord: wherewith they have reviled the recompense of your anointed.οὗ ὠνείδισαν οἱ ἐχθροί σου Κύριε, οὗ ὠνείδισαν τὸ ἀντάλλαγμα τοῦ χριστοῦ σου.
53Blessed be the Lord for ever. So be it, so be it.Εὐλογητὸς Κύριος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· 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.
- v. 4*Gr. prepare.
- v. 6†Gr. clouds.
- v. 12‡Gr. sea.
- v. 20✡Acts 13:22
- v. 20§Heb. and Alex. oil, see Ps. 91. (92) 10.
- v. 44**Gr. purification.
- v. 45††Alex. time.
The Fathers on Psalms 88
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 88:2Saint Augustine of Hippo1. Understand, beloved, this Psalm, which I am about to explain, by the grace of God, of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be of good cheer, because He who promised, will fulfil all, as He has fulfilled much: for it is not our own merit, but His mercy, that gives us confidence in Him. He Himself is meant, in my belief, by “the understanding of Æthan the Israelite:” which has given this Psalm its title. You…
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On Psalms 88:3Saint Augustine of Hippo3. “For Thou hast said, Mercy shall be built up for ever” (ver. 2). It is this that I sing: this is Thy truth, for the making known of which my mouth serveth. In such wise Thou sayest, I build, as not to destroy: for some Thou destroyest and buildest not; and some whom Thou destroyest Thou dost rebuild. For unless there were some who were destroyed to be rebuilt, Jeremiah would not have written, “See, I have this…
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On Psalms 88:4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “Thou hast said, I have made a covenant with My chosen” (ver. 3). What covenant, but the new, by which we are renewed to a fresh inheritance, in our longing desire and love of which we sing a new song. “I have made a covenant with My chosen,” saith the Psalmist: “I have sworn unto David My servant.” How confidently does he speak, who understands, whose mouth serves truth! I speak without fear; since “Thou hast…
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On Psalms 88:5Saint Augustine of Hippo5. Let us see then what God hath sworn. “I have sworn,” He saith, “to David My servant; thy seed will I establish for ever” (ver. 4). But what is the seed of David, but that of Abraham. And what is the seed of Abraham? “And to thy seed,” He saith, “which is Christ.” But perhaps that Christ, the Head of the Church, the Saviour of the body, is the seed of Abraham, and therefore of David; but we are not Abraham’s…
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On Psalms 88:6Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “O Lord, the very Heavens shall praise Thy wondrous works” (ver. 5). The Heavens will not praise their own merits, but Thy wondrous works, O Lord. For in every act of mercy on the lost, of justification of the unrighteous, what do we praise but the wondrous works of God? Thou praisest Him, because the dead have risen: praise Him yet more, because the lost are redeemed. What grace, what mercy of God! Thou seest…
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On Psalms 88:7Saint Augustine of Hippo7. “For who is he among the clouds, who shall be compared unto Thee, Lord!” (ver. 6). Is this to be the praise of the Heavens, is this to be their rain? What? are the preachers confident, because “none among the clouds shall be compared unto the Lord”? Does it appear to you, brethren, a high ground of praise, that the clouds cannot be compared with their Creator? If it is taken in its literal, not in its mystical…
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On Psalms 88:8Saint Augustine of Hippo8. …“God is very greatly to be feared in the counsel of the righteous, and to be had in dread of all them that are round about Him” (ver. 7). God is everywhere; who therefore are round about Him, who is everywhere? For if He has some round about Him, He is represented as finite on every side. Moreover, if it is truly said to God and of God, “of His greatness there is no end;” who remain, who are round about Him,…
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On Psalms 88:9Saint Augustine of Hippo9. “O Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto Thee? Thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side” (ver. 8). Great is Thy power: Thou hast made Heaven and earth, and all things that in them are: but greater still is thy loving-kindness, which has shown forth Thy truth to all around Thee. For if Thou hadst been preached only on the spot where Thou didst deign to be born, to suffer, to rise again, to ascend; the truth…
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On Psalms 88:10Saint Augustine of Hippo10. …For ye have heard, like men accustomed to the watering of the clouds of God, “Thy truth” then “is in the circuit of Thee.” But when without persecutions, when without opposition, since it is said, that “He was born for a sign which shall be spoken against”? Since then that nation, where Thou didst deign to be born, and to dwell, was as a land separated from the waves of the heathen, so that it appeared dry…
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On Psalms 88:11Saint Augustine of Hippo11. Lastly, what hast Thou done in the sea itself, to pacify its rage, and to weaken it? “Thou hast humbled the proud as one that is wounded” (ver. 10). There is a certain proud serpent in the sea, of which another passage of Scripture speaks, “I will command the serpent, and he shall bite him;” and again, “There is that Leviathan, whom Thou hast made to mock him,” whose head He bruises above the water. “Thou,”…
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On Psalms 88:12–13Saint Augustine of Hippo12. “The heavens are thine, the earth also is Thine” (ver. 11). From Thee, over Thy earth they rain. Thine are the heavens, by whom is preached Thy truth in circuit of Thee; “Thine is the earth,” which has received Thy truth in circuit of Thee; and what has resulted from that rain? “Thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.” “Thou hast created the north and the seas” (ver. 12).…
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On Psalms 88:14Saint Augustine of Hippo14. “Thou hast a mighty arm” (ver. 13). Let no man arrogate anything to himself. “Thou hast a mighty arm:” by Thee we were created, by Thee we have been defended. “Thou hast a mighty arm: strong be Thy hand, and high be Thy right hand.”
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On Psalms 88:15Saint Augustine of Hippo15. “Righteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy seat” (ver. 14). Thy righteousness and judgment will appear in the end: they are now hidden. Of Thy righteousness it is treated in another Psalm, “on the hidden things of the Son.” There will then be a manifestation of Thy righteousness and judgment: some will be set on the right, others on the left hand: and the unbelieving will tremble, when they see…
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On Psalms 88:16–17Saint Augustine of Hippo16. In all these things shall we not rejoice? or shall we contain our joy? or shall words suffice for our gladness? or shall the tongue be able to express our rejoicing? If therefore no words suffice, “Blessed is the people, O Lord, that knoweth glad shouting” (ver. 15). O blessed people! dost thou conceive aright, dost thou understand, glad shouting? For except thou understand glad shouting, thou canst not be…
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On Psalms 88:18Saint Augustine of Hippo17. “For Thou art the glory of their strength: and in Thy good pleasure Thou shalt lift up our horns” (ver. 17): because it has seemed good to Thee, not because we are worthy.
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On Psalms 88:19Saint Augustine of Hippo18. “For of the Lord is our taking up” (ver. 18). For I was moved like a heap of sand, that I might fall; and I should have fallen, had not the Lord taken me up. “For of the Lord is (our) taking up: and of the Holy One of Israel our King.” Himself is thy taking up, Himself thy illumination: in His light thou art safe, in His light thou walkest, in His righteousness thou art exalted. He took thee up, He guards thy…
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On Psalms 88:20Saint Augustine of Hippo19. “Thou spakest sometime in vision unto Thy sons, and saidst” (ver. 19). Thou spakest in thy vision. Thou didst reveal this to Thy Prophets. For this reason Thou spakest in vision, that is, in revelation: whence Prophets were called seers. They saw something within, which they were to speak without: and secretly they heard what they preached openly. Then “Thou spakest in vision unto Thy sons, and saidst, I have…
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On Psalms 88:21Saint Augustine of Hippo20. “I have found David My servant:” that David from David’s seed: “with My holy oil have I anointed Him” (ver. 20): for it is said of Him, “God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”
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On Psalms 88:22Saint Augustine of Hippo21. “My hand shall hold Him fast, and My arm shall strengthen Him” (ver. 21): because there was a taking up of man; because flesh was assumed in the Virgin’s womb, because by Him who in the form of God is coequal with the Father, the form of a servant was taken, and He became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.
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On Psalms 88:23Saint Augustine of Hippo22. “The enemy shall not be able to do him violence” (ver. 22). The enemy rages indeed but he shall not be able to do Him violence: he is wont to hurt, but he shall not hurt. How then shall he afflict Him? he will exercise Him, but he shall not hurt Him. There shall be profit in his raging; for those against whom he rages shall be crowned in their conquering. For how is he conquered, if he rages not against us?…
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On Psalms 88:24Saint Augustine of Hippo23. “I will cut in pieces His enemies before His face” (ver. 23). They are cut in pieces from their conspiracy, and in that they believe they are cut in pieces; for they believe by degrees; as when the calf’s head was ground small, they will come to be the drink of God’s people. For Moses ground down the calf’s head, and sprinkled it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. All the unbelieving…
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On Psalms 88:25Saint Augustine of Hippo24. “My truth also and My mercy is with Him” (ver. 24). All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. Remember, as much as ye can, how often these two attributes are urged upon us, that we render them back to God. For as He showed us mercy that He might blot out our sins, and truth in fulfilling His promises; so also we, walking in His path, ought to give back to Him mercy and truth; mercy, in pitying the…
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On Psalms 88:26Saint Augustine of Hippo25. “I will set His hand also in the sea” (ver. 25): that is, He shall rule over the Gentiles; “and His right hand in the floods.” Rivers run into the sea: avaricious men roll onwards into the bitterness of this world: yet all these kinds of men will be subject to Christ.
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On Psalms 88:27–28Saint Augustine of Hippo26. “He shall call me, Thou art My Father, and the lifter up of My salvation” (ver. 26). “And I will make Him my first-born; higher than the kings of the earth” (ver. 27). Our Martyrs, whose birthdays we are celebrating, shed their blood on account of these things, which were believed though not yet seen; how much more brave ought we to be, as we see what they believed? For they had not yet seen Christ raised on…
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On Psalms 88:28Saint Augustine of Hippo28. “His seed will I make to endure world without end” (ver. 29). Not only for this world, but unto the world without end: whither His seed, which is His heritage, the seed of Abraham, which is Christ, will pass. But if ye are Christ’s, ye are also Abraham’s seed: and if ye are destined His heirs for ever, “He will establish His seed unto world without end: and His throne as the days of Heaven.” The thrones of…
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On Psalms 88:29Saint Augustine of Hippo27. “My mercy will I keep for Him for ever: and my Testament faithful with Him” (ver. 28). On His account, the Testament is faithful: in Him the Testament is mediated: He is the Sealer, the Mediator of the Testament, the Surety of the Testament, the Witness of the Testament, the Heritage of the Testament, the Coheir of the Testament.
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On Psalms 88:31–33Saint Augustine of Hippo29. This is a strong pledge of the promise of God. The sons of this David are the children of the Bridegroom; all Christians therefore are called His sons. But it is much indeed that God promises, that if Christians, that is, “If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments” (ver. 30); “if they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments” (ver. 31); I will not spurn them, nor will I send them…
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On Psalms 88:34Saint Augustine of Hippo30. “Nevertheless, My mercy will I not utterly take from Him” (ver. 33). From whom? From that David to whom I gave these promises, whom “I anointed with my holy oil of gladness above His fellows.” Do you recognise Him from whom God will not utterly take away His mercy? That no one may anxiously say, since He speaks of Christ as Him from whom He will not take away His mercy, What then will become of the sinner?…
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On Psalms 88:35Saint Augustine of Hippo31. “My covenant will I not profane, nor reject the thing that is gone out of my lips” (ver. 34). Because his sons sin, I will not on this account be found false: I have promised; I will do. Suppose they choose to sin even as past hope, and so fall into sins as to offend their Father’s countenance, and deserve to be disinherited; is it not still God Himself, of whom it is said, “From these stones” He “will raise…
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On Psalms 88:36–38Saint Augustine of Hippo32. Listen for thy confirmation in hope, for thy security, if thou knowest thyself to be among the members of Christ. “I have sworn once by My holiness that I will not lie unto David” (ver. 35). Dost thou wait till God swear a second time? How often is He to swear, if in one oath He is false? One oath He made for our life, who sent His Only One to die for us. “I have sworn once by My holiness, that I will not lie…
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On Psalms 88:39–41Saint Augustine of Hippo33. These promises, so sure, so firm, so open, so unquestioned, were made concerning Christ. For although some are mysteriously veiled, yet some are so clear, that all that is obscure is easily revealed by them. Such being the case, see what follows: “But Thou hast approved and brought to nothing and forsaken Thine Anointed” (ver. 38). “Thou hast overthrown the testament of Thy servant, and profaned His holiness…
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On Psalms 88:42–44, 46Saint Augustine of Hippo34. Even David himself knew this. Consider his words; “Thou hast rejected and brought him down to nothing.” Where then is Thy promise? “Thou hast put off Thine anointed.” This expression cheers us, among much that is sorrowful: for the promise of God is still valid; for Thou hast put off Thine Anointed, not taken Him away. See then what was the fate of that David, in whom the ignorant hoped for the fulfilment of…
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On Psalms 88:47Saint Augustine of Hippo35. Let us therefore see whether God fulfils His promises. After these stern penalties which have been recorded as having been inflicted upon this people and kingdom, that God might not be supposed to have fulfilled His promises in it, and so not to grant another kingdom in Christ, of which kingdom there shall be no end; the Prophet addresses Him in these words, “Lord, how long wilt Thou hide Thyself unto the…
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On Psalms 88:48Saint Augustine of Hippo36. “O remember what my substance is” (ver. 47). That David, who was placed among the Jews in the flesh, in Christ in hope, speaks “Remember what is my substance.” For not because the Jews fell away, did my substance fail: for from that people came the Virgin Mary, and from her the flesh of Christ; that Flesh sins not, but purifies sins; there, saith David, is my substance. “O remember what my substance is.” For…
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On Psalms 88:49Saint Augustine of Hippo37. “What man is he that shall live, and shall not see death?” (ver. 48). For being raised from the dead He dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over Him. And as in another Psalm it is said, “Thou shalt not leave my soul in Hell, neither shalt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption,” the Apostolic teaching takes up this testimony, and in the Acts of the Apostles thus argues against the unbelieving;…
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On Psalms 88:50Saint Augustine of Hippo38. But in the very faith in Christ great difficulties occurred, and the heathen in their rage long said, “When shall he die, and his name perish?” On account of these then who have now long believed in Christ, but were destined to doubt for some time, these words follow, “Lord, where are Thy old loving-kindnesses?” (ver. 49). We have now acknowledged Christ our purifier, we now possess Him in whom Thy promises…
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On Psalms 88:51Saint Augustine of Hippo39. “Remember, Lord, the rebuke that Thy servants have” (ver. 50). Even while Christ was living, and while He was sitting on His Father’s right hand, reproaches were cast against the Christians: they long were reproached with the name of Christ. That widowed one who brought forth, and whose children were more than those of the married wife, heard ill names, heard reproaches: but the Church, multiplied as she is,…
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On Psalms 88:52Saint Augustine of Hippo40. “Wherewith Thine enemies have blasphemed Thee, O Lord” (ver. 51), both Jews and Pagans. “Wherewith they have blasphemed.” Wherewith have they blasphemed Thee? “With the change of Thine Anointed.” They objected that Christ died, and was crucified. Madmen, what is your reproach? Although there is now no one to use it: yet supposing some still remaining that so speak, what is your reproach? that Christ died? He…
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On Psalms 88:53Open Psalms 88 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo41. They have blasphemed the change of Christ; but what dost thou answer? “The blessing of the Lord for evermore. Amen and Amen” (ver. 52). Thanks to His mercy, thanks to His grace. We express our thanks: we do not give them, nor return them, nor repay them: we express our thanks in words, while in fact we retain our sense of them. He saved us for no reward, He heeded not our impieties: He searched us out when we…
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