Bellarmine on Psalm 96 : Title and theme

Title and subject matter

Titulus et argumentum

For the same David, when his land was restored again to him.

Huic David, quando terra ejus restituta est. 

The Hebrew codices do not have this title, hence either it was left out through the carelessness of the scribes, or else it was added by the Septuagint translators: it is however in the Greek and Latin versions and is commented on by the ancient Fathers. In the Greek books, the word καθίστατο means constituted rather than restored, but the sense is the same; for when the land which his son Absalom had taken was restored to David, it was then that the land itself was constituted, that is, what previously had fluctuated was now established and confirmed; in this the land is called possession of the land, or earthly kingdom. But it seems that the Psalm is not to be interpreted as referring literally to the restoration or establishment of David’s kingdom: for we read nothing of this in the Psalm; but it seems that the holy prophet, moved by the Holy Spirit on the occasion of the restoration of his land, sang of the restoration and establishment of the Church in all its perfection, which will come to pass after the last judgement, when, all the persecutions having been taken away, and all Christ’s enemies having been placed under His feet, the Church will enjoy perfect peace and tranquillity, and Christ Himself will reign in peace over every creature.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.