The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 387

The church of G.o.d is invincible: her persecutors come to nothing.

128:1. A gradual canticle. Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

128:2. Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

128:3. The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity.

128:4. The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners:

128:5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

128:6. Let them be as gra.s.s upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up:

128:7. Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.

128:8. And they that pa.s.sed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Psalms Chapter 129

De profundis.

A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of G.o.d. The sixth penitential psalm.

129:1. A gradual canticle. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord:

129:2. Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

129:3. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

129:4. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: 129:5. my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

129:6. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

129:7. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

129:8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalms Chapter 130

Domine, none est.

The prophet's humility.

130:1. A gradual canticle of David. Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

130:2. If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. 130:3. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

Psalms Chapter 131

Memento, Domine.

A prayer for the fulfilling of the promise made to David.

131:1. A gradual canticle. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.

131:2. How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the G.o.d of Jacob:

131:3. If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:

131:4. If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

131:5. Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the G.o.d of Jacob.

131:6. Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.

We have heard of it in Ephrata... When I was young, and lived in Bethlehem, otherwise called Ephrata, I heard of G.o.d's tabernacle and ark, and had a devout desire of seeking it; and accordingly I found it at Cariathiarim, the city of the woods: where it was till it was removed to Jerusalem. See 1 Par. 13.

131:7. We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood.

131:8. Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.

131:9. Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.

131:10. For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed.

131:11. The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne.

131:12. If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.

131:13. For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.

131:14. This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.

131:15. Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

131:16. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.

131:17. There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

131:18. His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.

Psalms Chapter 132

Ecce quam bonum.

The happiness of brotherly love and concord.

132:1. A gradual canticle of David. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity: