Title and subject matter
Among the Hebrews, this Psalm did not have a title because it is not a new Psalm but a continuation of the previous Psalm; but we are following the Septuagint Translators who begin here with the title Alleluia, and it is probable that in the ancient Hebrew codices which the Septuagint translators themselves had, this was a new Psalm with its own title. As far as the subject matter is concerned, the Prophet urges God’s people to praise Him for the many good things which have Him as their origin : the things which are spoken here apply firstly to the earthly Jerusalem, as St. Chrysostom teaches; and they apply still more to the Christian Church, as St. Chrysostom and St. Jerome teach; but they apply most perfectly to the heavenly Jerusalem, which is how St. Hilary and St. Augustine explain this Psalm.
Verse 1
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.
Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum; lauda Deum tuum, Sion.
Jerusalem is the holy city; Sion is the nobler part of this city, where the Lord’s temple was built, and (the word) is used for the whole of the city itself; hence it means the same to say
Praise O Jerusalem and
Praise O Sion. If these words are applied to the heavenly Jerusalem, nothing could be more fittingly said; for that heavenly city has no-one working, either looking out for himself and for the things necessary to sustain life, or carrying out works of charity for others, since in that city no-one is poor or needy; and so everyone always has the time they can devote, and truly devote, to praising God. Rightly, therefore, is it said: “Praise the Lord,” as you are free from all other occupation; “praise thy God,” because you, before every other city, enjoy the Lord’s favours; finally, for it has been granted to you to see, or rather to understand, the beauty and the outstanding excellence of the Lord. The, Church journeying as an exile on earth, should also praise the Lord; but the Church cannot do all of these things, nor do them all the time, because she is frequently has cause for anxiety and many things trouble her. And if the Church herself cannot offer up praise always and in all things, much less could the synagogue of the Jews.
Verse 2
Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee.
Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum, benedixit filiis tuis in te.
This is the reason why Jerusalem ought to praise the Lord, because He gave her security and abundance, in which the height of all good things consists : for security without abundance is security in penury, and abundance without security is abundance filled with fear and danger. God has therefore strengthened the gates of Jerusalem, so that she cannot be stormed by any force, and those who are within are safe, because nothing evil will enter and nothing good will leave, no foe will be admitted and no friend will be excluded, and into this city so well
fortified, the divine blessing has introduced an abundance of all good things : for God has not blessed the children of Jerusalem with just this or that blessing, but rather with an absolute blessing, that is, as the Apostle is wont to say, “with (all) spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”
[1] But these two are perfectly suited to the heavenly Jerusalem, where security is for eternity and the blessing is the enjoyment of the supreme good. They are also to be found in a certain way, but not in all, in the Church journeying in exile on earth : “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,”
[2] and there is not lacking in her many blessings; but meanwhile many wicked enter into her and many good desert her, He has mixed chaff with the wheat, bad fish with the good, goats with the lambs. Finally, they [security and abundance] are found, but very imperfectly, in the earthly Jerusalem : for, situated in the mountains and surrounded by mountains, she seemed to be adequately defended, and she was sometimes filled with people and resources; but more than once she was overthrown and destroyed by fire, showing that it is not chiefly of her that it is said here : “He hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates;” but rather what is said in
Lamentations ii : “Her gates are sunk into the ground: he hath destroyed, and broken her bars: and the bulwark hath mourned, and the wall hath been destroyed together.”
[3] In this time, there was not an abundance of good things , as we read in the same text : “They said to their mothers: Where is corn and wine? when they fainted away as the wounded in the streets of the city: when they breathed out their souls in the bosoms of their mothers.”
[4][1] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui benedixit nos in omni benedictione spirituali in caelestibus in Christo. [Ephes. I 3]
[2] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam. [Matth. Xvi 18]
[3] The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Sion: he hath stretched out his line, and hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: and the bulwark hath mourned, and the wall hath been destroyed together.Her gates are sunk into the ground: he hath destroyed, and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more, and her prophets have found no vision from the Lord. Defixae sunt in terra portae ejus, perdidit et contrivit vectes ejus; regem ejus et principes ejus in gentibus : non est lex, et prophetae ejus non invenerunt visionem a Domino. Cogitavit Dominus dissipare murum filiae Sion; tetendit funiculum suum, et non avertit manum suam a perditione : luxitque antemurale, et murus pariter dissipatus est. [Lament. ii. 8 -9]
[4] They said to their mothers: Where is corn and wine? when they fainted away as the wounded in the streets of the city: when they breathed out their souls in the bosoms of their mothers. Matribus suis dixerunt : Ubi est triticum et vinum? cum deficerent quasi vulnerati in plateis civitatis, cum exhalarent animas suas in sinu matrum suarum. [Lament. ii. 12]
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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