The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 115
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 116 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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Alleluia. I believed, wherefore I have spoken: But I was greatly afflicted.
Ἀλληλούϊα. Ἐπιστεύσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐταπεινώθην σφόδρα.
..."I believed," saith he, "and therefore did I speak. But I was sorely brought down" (ver. 10). For he suffered many tribulations, for the sake of the word which he faithfully held, faithfully preached; and he was sorely brought down; as they feared who loved the praise of men better than that of God. But what…
And I said in mine amazement, Every man is a liar.
Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα ἐν τῇ ἐκστάσει μου, πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης.
"I said in my trance, All men are liars" (ver. 11). By trance he meaneth fear, which when persecutors threaten, and when the sufferings of torture or death impend, human weakness suffereth. For this we understand, because in this Psalm the voice of Martyrs is heard. For trance is used in another sense also, when the…
What shall I render to the Lord For all the things wherein he has rewarded me?
Τί ἀνταποδώσω τῷ Κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἀνταπέδωκέ μοι;
"What," he asketh, "what reward shall I give unto the Lord, for all the benefits that He hath returned unto me?" (ver. 12). He saith not, for all the benefits that He hath done unto me but "for all the benefits that He hath returned unto me." What deeds then on the man's part had preceded, that all the benefits of God…
I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.
Ποτήριον σωτηρίου λήψομαι, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι· Τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω, ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.
But this man seeks what he may return unto the Lord, and finds not, save out of those things which the Lord Himself returns. "I will receive," he says, "the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord". "My vows will I render to the Lord, before all His people". Who has given you the cup of salvation, which…
I will pay my vows to the Lord, In the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.
Τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ.
O Lord, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid: Thou hast burst my bonds asunder.
Ὦ Κύριε ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς, καὶ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου, διέῤῥηξας τοὺς δεσμούς μου.
Let therefore the slave purchased at so great a price confess his condition, and say, "Behold, O Lord, how that I am Thy servant: "I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid." ...This, therefore, is the son of the heavenly Jerusalem, which is above, the free mother of us all. And free indeed from sin she is, but…
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of praise, And will call upon the name of the Lord.
Σοὶ θύσω θυσίαν αἰνέσεως, καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι·
"I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of praise." For I have not found any deserts of mine, since Thou hast broken my bonds asunder; I therefore owe Thee the sacrifice of praise; because, although I will boast that I am Thy servant, and the son of Thy handmaid, I will glory not in myself, but in Thee, my Lord, who hast…
I will pay my vows unto the Lord, In the presence of all his people,
Τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω, ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ,
"I will pay my vows unto the Lord". What vows will you pay? What victims have you vowed? What burnt-offerings, what holocausts? Do you refer to what you have said a little before, "I will receive the cup of salvation, and will call upon the Name of the Lord;" and, "I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving"?…
In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of thee, Jerusalem.
ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου, ἐν μέσῳ σου Ἱερουσαλήμ.
"In the courts," he saith, "of the Lord's house." What is the Lord's house, the same is the Lord's handmaid: and what is God's house, save all His people? It therefore followeth, "In the sight of all His people." And now he more openly nameth his mother herself. For what else is His people, but what followeth, "In the…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.