1 In finem. Psalmus David, canticum Jeremiæ et Ezechielis populo transmigrationis, cum inciperent exire.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Say we, therefore, ourselves also: "Hearken, O God, to my prayer, while I am troubled; from fear of the enemy deliver my soul" [Psalm 64:1]. Enemies have raged against the Martyrs: for what was that voice of Christ's Body praying? For this it was praying, to be delivered from enemies, and that enemies might not have power to slay them.
2 Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 What, really, does our spiritual father intend to teach? "I will teach you the fear of the Lord." When he ordered us above to fear the Lord, he also showed the profit that comes from fear, saying, "Those who fear him do not lack anything." At present also, they hand down to us a certain teaching of divine fear.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "You have protected me from the gathering together of malignants, and from the multitude of men working iniquity" [Psalm 64:2]. Now upon Himself our Head let us look. Like things many Martyrs have suffered: but nothing does shine out so brightly as the Head of Martyrs; in Him rather let us behold what they have gone through.
3 Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "For they have whet like a sword their tongues" [Psalm 64:3]. Which says another Psalm also, "Sons of men; their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword." Let not the Jews say, we have not killed Christ.
4 Verba iniquorum prævaluerunt super nos, et impietatibus nostris tu propitiaberis.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They have bended the bow, a bitter thing, in order that they may shoot in secret One unspotted" [Psalm 64:4]. The bow he calls lyings in wait. For he that with sword fights hand to hand, openly fights: he that shoots an arrow deceives, in order to strike. For the arrow smites, before it is foreseen to come to wound. But whom could the lyings in wait of the human heart escape?
5 Beatus quem elegisti et assumpsisti: inhabitabit in atriis tuis. Replebimur in bonis domus tuæ; sanctum est templum tuum,
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They told, in order that they might hide traps: they said, Who shall see them?" [Psalm 64:5]. They thought they would escape Him, whom they were killing, that they would escape God. Behold, suppose Christ was a man, like the rest of men, and knew not what was being contrived for Him: does God also know not? O heart of man! Wherefore have you said to yourself, Who sees me?
6 mirabile in æquitate. Exaudi nos, Deus, salutaris noster, spes omnium finium terræ, et in mari longe.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "They have searched out iniquity, they have failed, searching searchings:" that is, deadly and acute designs. Let Him not be betrayed by us, but by His disciple: let Him not be killed by us, but by the judge: let us do all, and let us seem to have done nothing. ...But what befell them? "They failed searching searchings." Whence?
7 Præparans montes in virtute tua, accinctus potentia;
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Arrows of infants have been made the strokes of them" [Psalm 64:7]. Where is that savageness? Where is that roar of the lion, of the people roaring and saying, "Crucify, Crucify"? Where are the lyings in wait of men bending the bow? Have not "the strokes of them been made the arrows of infants"? You know in what manner infants make to themselves arrows of little canes.
8 qui conturbas profundum maris, sonum fluctuum ejus. Turbabuntur gentes,
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "And the tongues of them have been made weak upon them." Let them whet now their tongues like a sword, let them confirm to themselves malignant discourse. Deservedly to themselves they have confirmed it, because "the tongues of them have been made weak upon them." Could this be strong against God?
9 et timebunt qui habitant terminos a signis tuis; exitus matutini et vespere delectabis.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "And every man feared" [Psalm 64:9]. They that feared not, were not even men. "Every man feared;" that is, every one using reason to perceive the things which were done. Whence they that feared not, must rather be called cattle, rather beasts savage and cruel. A lion ramping and roaring is that people as yet.
10 Visitasti terram, et inebriasti eam; multiplicasti locupletare eam. Flumen Dei repletum est aquis; parasti cibum illorum: quoniam ita est præparatio ejus.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "The just person will take delight in the Lord and hope in him, and all the upright of heart shall be praised." We have certainly sung this with voice and heart. Christian consciences and tongues have spoken these words to God: The just one will take delight not in the world but in the Lord.
11 Rivos ejus inebria; multiplica genimina ejus: in stillicidiis ejus lætabitur germinans.
12 Benedices coronæ anni benignitatis tuæ, et campi tui replebuntur ubertate.
13 Pinguescent speciosa deserti, et exsultatione colles accingentur.
14 Induti sunt arietes ovium, et valles abundabunt frumento; clamabunt, etenim hymnum dicent.