Psalms 55 · The Lantern

For the Leader; with string-music. Maschil of David.

Give ear, O G-d, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my complaint, and will moan;

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they persecute me.

My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

As for the person who wishes to be lifted up by the hand of Christ, let him first fly away himself, let him have his own wings, for one who flees from the world has wings. And if he does not have wings of his own—and perhaps only the individual who is able to fly has them—if then he does not have his own, let him get them from the one who has them.

Typologically, however, the desert where John [the Baptist] remained separated from the allurements of the world designates the lives of the saints, who, whether they live as solitaries or mingled with the crowds, always reject the desires of the present world with the whole intention of their minds.

"And I said: Who will give?" Above, the Psalmist set forth the affliction of heart that he suffered; now he sets forth the remedy he applied. And this remedy is above all the pursuit of contemplation, especially because in the works of the active life he is afflicted again. Gregory says: The evils that press upon us here compel us to go to God.

And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah

I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.'

Destroy, O L-rd, and divide their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.

Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression and guile depart not from her broad place.

But what especially strengthens us in our desire for union with you is the account of your reverences' zeal for orthodoxy—the fact that neither by a vast number of treatises nor by subtlety of sophisms was your firmness of heart overcome, but that you recognized those who were making innovations contrary to the teachings of the apostles and did not consent to cover over in sile…

"For if an enemy had upbraided me" [Psalm 55:12]. And indeed above he was "troubled in his exercise" by the voice of the enemy and by the tribulation of the sinner, perhaps being placed in that city, that proud city that was building a tower, which was "sunk," that divided might be the tongues: give heed to his inward groaning because of perils from false brethren.

"If my enemy." Here he describes the malice of a certain singular and principal person in the multitude. And perhaps it refers to Saul, or to Doeg the Edomite. And first he sets forth an evil that could be tolerated in some way. Second, he sets forth an evil that is intolerable. It is tolerable in some way that a man should suffer persecution from enemies.

For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I could have borne it; neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and my familiar friend;

We took sweet counsel together, in the house of G-d we walked with the throng.

One of old used to say that those only descend alive into Hades who are instructed in the knowledge of things divine; for he who has not tasted of the words of life is dead.

"Let there come death upon them, and let them go down unto Hell living" [Psalm 55:15]. How has he cited and has made us call to mind that first beginning of schism, when in that first people of the Jews certain proud men separated themselves, and would without have sacrificed? A new death upon them came: the earth opened herself, and swallowed them up alive.

"Let death come upon them." Here he asks that a just punishment be applied to them. And first he asks that punishment be inflicted. Second, he shows the guilt, at "Because there are iniquities." Concerning the first, it should be known that here is referred to the history found in Num. 16, when Dathan and Abiram made a sedition.

May He incite death against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in their dwelling, and within them.

As for me, I will call upon G-d; and HaShem shall save me.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.

He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.

G-d shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah, such as have no changes, and fear not G-d.

He hath put forth his hands against them that were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.

If it does not make you weary, let me point out, as briefly as possible, specific references to prophecy in the Gospels, so that those who are being instructed in the basic elements of the faith may have these testimonies written on their hearts, lest they should be surprised by any doubt they may entertain concerning the things that they believe.

"His discourses have been softened above oil, and themselves are darts" [Psalm 55:21]. For certain things in the Scriptures were seeming hard, while they were obscure; when explained, they have been softened. For even the first heresy in the disciples of Christ, as it were from the hardness of His discourse arose.

Moreover there is this by the great favour of Almighty God; that among those who are divided from the doctrine of Holy Church there is no unity, since every kingdom divided against itself shall not stand.

Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to t…

Furthermore, just as Peter, after their having been scandalized by the hardness, as they thought, of the discourse of the Lord, even then said, "to whom shall we go?" so he hath added, "Cast upon the Lord thy care, and He shall Himself nourish thee up." A little one thou art, not yet thou understandest the secret things of words: perchance from thee the bread is hidden, and as…

If you believe that God makes provision for you, why be anxious and concerned about temporal affairs and the needs of your flesh? But if you do not believe that God makes provision for you, and for this reason you take pains to provide for your need separately from Him, then you are the most wretched of all men. Why even be alive or go on living in such a case?

Cast thy burden upon HaShem, and He will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.

But Thou, O G-d, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit; men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days; but as for me, I will trust in Thee.

Psalms55