Bellarmine on Psalm 95 : Verse 10

Verse 10

For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice.

Etenim correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur; judicabit populos in aequitate.

He proves this kingdom rightly belongs to Christ for two reasons: firstly, because He is the one who, as God, made, confirmed and established the world, so that it cannot be moved; for it is just that He who made the world should Himself reign over the world. The Hebrew expression has a meaning of to establish, to confirm, to direct, and this same word is found in Psalm XCII where we read: “For he hath established the world which shall not be moved.”[1] And so this part of the verse can be referred to the creation of the world : the words hath corrected will mean the same, that He established the world so firmly that it cannot be moved; but the same word may also be interpreted as applying to the correction of morals through the best of laws and principles; and so the sense will then be that Christ in law and in justice ought to reign over the world because, through His Evangelical law which forbids all vices, He corrected the corrupt principles of the of the gentiles so that there can be no further disturbance if those laws are followed and observed. For one precept of the Lord, that of love, were it to be observed, would correct the whole of the earth and establish it in complete peace. A second reason is found in the words which follow: “he will judge the people with justice,” that is, not only has He corrected the world with His most holy laws, but He will also in His time judge the world most justly: for He will grant most ample rewards unto them who keep the law of the Gospel; and the most just of punishments unto them who refuse.

[1] The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. For he hath established the world which shall not be moved. Laus cantici ipsi David, in die ante sabbatum, quando fundata est terra. Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est : indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinxit se. Etenim firmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur. [Ps. XCII]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.