| Psalms 79:1
| Unto the end, for them that shall he changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm.
| Testimony, or instruction, (Calmet) and proof of the psalmist's faith. (Haydock) --- Psalm. Vatican Septuagint, St. Augustine, etc., add, "for (or against) the Assyrian:" whence some have inferred that it relates to the captivity of Israel. But as Benjamin is also mentioned, it seems rather to speak of the captives of Babylon, (Calmet) or of all Jews and Christians in distress. (Berthier) --- The faithful pray for the coming of the Messias, ver. 2, 4, 16. (Haydock) (Fathers) (Calmet)
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| Psalms 79:2
| Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim, shine forth
| Joseph. He mentions these two as persons dear to God. All the tribes were equally led away captives, and the distinction of kingdoms was not regarded. (Calmet) --- All Israel is denoted by Joseph, who composed two tribes, having the double portion; (Worthington; Menochius) and ruling in Egypt. (Bellarmine)
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| Psalms 79:3
| before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.
| Manasses. These three tribes followed the ark in the desert, (Numbers 2:18.) and might better see the majesty shining over it. (Worthington) (Calmet) --- Let all be united once more in the divine service. (Muis) --- Samaria, and Jerusalem in part, were in the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, (Menochius) and Manasses occupied both sides of the Jordan. (Haydock)
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| Psalms 79:4
| Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved.
| Saved. This chorus occurs three (Worthington) or four times. (Calmet) --- With God's grace, we shall be able to act virtuously. (St. Jerome) --- Thou canst easily rescue us from our misery. Be pleased to send us the Messias, thy substantial image, 2 Corinthians 4:4., and Colossians 1:15. If thou assist us, we may co-operate to obtain salvation. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 79:5
| O Lord, God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy servant?
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| Psalms 79:6
| How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure?
| Measure. Hebrew shalish, "three-fold." (St. Jerome) --- The capacity of this measure is not determined. It might be the seah, or the third part of an epha, which would be very abundant, speaking of tears; though small to contain the earth, Isaias 40:12. (Calmet) --- Penitents must eat little. (St. Jerome) --- Yet their sorrow must be moderated by hope. (Eusebius) See Osee 9:4. (Calmet) --- God punishes so as not to destroy us. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 79:7
| Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.
| At us. See Psalm 78:4. (Haydock) --- Such was the condition of Jeremias, 15:10. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "have scoffed among themselves." Chaldean and St. Jerome agree with us. Scorn is more difficult to bear than poverty. Hence to comfort himself, the psalmist repeats, O God, etc. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 79:8
| O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
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| Psalms 79:9
| Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the Gentiles and planted it.
| Vineyard. Thy Church and people. (Worthington) (Isaias 5:1., Osee 10:1., and Matthew 20:2.)
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| Psalms 79:10
| Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof, and it filled the land.
| Sight. Hebrew, "Thou didst dig before it," (Montanus) making the ground ready. (Calmet) --- The cloud went before the Israelites. (Worthington) --- Land of promise. (Haydock)
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| Psalms 79:11
| The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
| God. The highest cedars were surpassed by the branches, or even by the smallest shoots (arbusta) of this vine. (Haydock) --- Most powerful nations were forced to submit to David. (Theodoret) --- The Israelites were exceedingly multiplied, (Worthington) and enjoyed the fruits of the country, Micheas 4:4. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 79:12
| It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the river.
| River Euphrates, from the Mediterranean, Red, and Indian seas. (Haydock) (Deuteronomy 11:24.)
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| Psalms 79:13
| Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way, do pluck it?
| It? Thou hast withdrawn thy protection. The temple is destroyed, and all plunder with impunity, because thy vineyard has not rendered good fruit, Jeremias 2:21.
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| Psalms 79:14
| The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild beast hath devoured it.
| Singular. The wild boar, which does not go with other beasts. Nabuchodonosor is here designated, (Calmet) or Salmanasar, and all persecutors, (Berthier) particularly the devil, who goes about like a roaring lion, [1 Peter 5:8.] and stirs up his agents to disturb the world. Hence the enemy becomes more cruel than any wild beast. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 79:15
| Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:
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| Psalms 79:16
| And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the Son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
| And look down upon "the Messias," (Chaldean) the true vine, John 15:1., and Matthew 21:33. (Calmet) --- Of man, is not in Hebrew, only, ver. 18. (Haydock) --- Some perfection was wanting in the Church of the Old Testament.
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| Psalms 79:17
| Things set on fire and dug down, shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
| Things set on fire, etc. So this vineyard of thine, almost consumed already, must perish if thou continue thy rebukes. (Challoner) --- Things, would imply that incensa is in the neuter plural. But this is not the case in Septuagint or Hebrew. (Berthier) --- St. Jerome has succensam, "Look down upon the vine or root, (17) burn up and without any branches. Let them perish at," etc., who have thus treated it. (Haydock)
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| Psalms 79:18
| Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the Son of man, whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
| The man of thy right hand. Christ, (Challoner) where he sits, (Calmet) being as man in the highest place of heaven, Matthew 26:64., and 12:32. (Haydock) --- Who else could redeem Israel? (Calmet) --- Zorobabel was only a figure of Him. (Haydock) --- Christ's birth was miraculous, (Menochius) and he was appointed by the right hand of God to do great things; and, as man, is moved to take compassion on the distresses of his people. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 79:19
| And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call upon thy name.
| From thee. This is our fixed determination for the future. (Haydock) --- Will call. Hebrew, "Shall be called by thy name," (St. Jerome; Haydock) thy people. (Symmachus) (Calmet) --- But the Vulgate is equally correct, invocabimus. (Montanus) (Protestants) (Haydock)
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| Psalms 79:20
| O Lord God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be saved.
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