Ps 140 v 10 - Fix your eyes on heaven

 Verse 10 of Psalm 140 provides a link to the previous psalm's references to traps, snares and the plots of evil men. 

 Looking at the Latin

10	V	Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: * et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.
	OR	custodi me a laqueo quem statuerunt mihi et ab scandalis operantibus iniquitatem
	NV	Custodi me a laqueo, quem statuerunt mihi, et a scandalis operantium iniquitatem.
	JH	Custodi me de manibus laquei quod posuerunt mihi, et de offendiculus operantium iniquitatem.
	Sept	φύλαξόν με ἀπὸ παγίδος ἧς συνεστήσαντό μοι καὶ ἀπὸ σκανδάλων τῶν ἐργαζομένων τὴν ἀνομίαν

[Key: V=Vulgate; OR=Old Roman; NV=Neo-Vulgate; JH=St Jerome's translation from the Hebrew; Sept=Septuagint]

 Phrase by phrase: 

Custódi me a láqueo quem statuérunt mihi et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.

Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.

 Word by word 

Custódi (guard) me a (from) láqueo (the trap) quem (which) statuérunt (they have set) mihi (for me) et (and) a (from) scándalis (the traps) operántium (the workers) iniquitátem (of sin). 

Key vocab 

custodio, ivi or ii, itum, ire to guard, watch, keep;to maintain, to hold steadfastly
laqueus, ei, m., a noose for capturing animals; a snare, trap
statuo, ui, utum, ere 3 to set, place, establish; to change, still, calm; to be determined, resolved
scandalum, i, n. lit., a trap, snare, that which causes one to stumble, a stumbling-block
opero are avi atum – form of operor, to work; operantium= plural genitive participle
iniquitas, atis, f iniquity, injustice, sin. 

Selected translations 

DR	Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
Brenton	Keep me from the snare which they have set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
MD	Preserve me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the pitfalls of evil men.
RSV	Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers!
Cover	Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me, and from the traps of the wicked doers.
Knox	Preserve me from the ambush they have laid for me, from the snares of the wrong-doers.
Grail	From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe: keep me from the snares of those who do evil.

  [Key: DR=Douay-Rheims Challoner; MD=Monastic Diurnal; RSV=Revised Standard Version; Cover=Coverdale]

What are the snares and stumbling blocks?

Today's verse can be read in multiple ways.

First, if we can see it as a prayer of the agony in the garden, both for the knowledge for himself and for grace for his disciples, in facing the upcoming traps set by his persecutors.

Secondly, it can be read more broadly as a request for grace for us all as we face the trials and temptations of this life.

St Augustine, for example, argues that the trap referred to here is the pleasures of this world:

What was the trap? If you consent, I spare you. In the trap was set the bait of the present life; if the bird love this bait, it falls into the trap: but if the bird be able to say, The day of man have I not desired...

 Other commentators interpret the verse more generally.  St Jerome, for example, points to the dangers of heresy, demonic influence, and most especially the temptation to pride, which can undermine even our attempts at Lenten penances:

Vice is certainly the next door neighbor to virtue. A trap is set for me in almsgiving if I stretch out my hand in order to be seen by men and, while appearing to do a good work, I fall into imperfection and sin. If I give away an undergarment to a brother for the benefit of those who are looking on, a demon has laid a snare for me...therefore, in the very path in which we are striving to walk, that is, in the virtues, in almsgiving, that we may perform these acts to be seen by men and win their vain applause, in fasts, in prayer, in haircloth that we may show off ourselves. The man who wears haircloth ought to be lamenting his sins and not pluming himself in the sight of others. 

The need for grace in facing the unexpected

There are some temptations and traps though, we can readily guard ourselves against; others though, can be unexpected, and it is for these that we especially need God's help, St John Chrysostom argued:

Here he is not referring simply to schemes but to hidden traps of the kind not easy to guard against and detect; hence they require in particular even grace from on high. For this reason, then, he brings his theme to a close with a prayer, concluding with it as he had opened with it, showing that on the one hand what is his to offer is this - hope in God, always looking to God, shunning their gatherings, hating their evil desires - and on the other hand what comes from God help, assistance, rendering him proof against wiles difficult to detect. This is what virtue consists of, in fact: both application of our zeal and support from God's assistance. 

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David.	A psalm of David.
1 Dómine, clamávi ad te, exáudi me: * inténde voci meæ, cum clamávero ad te.	I have cried to you, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to you.
2  Dirigátur orátio mea sicut incénsum in conspéctu tuo: * elevátio mánuum meárum sacrifícium vespertínum.	2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in your sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3  Pone, Dómine, custódiam ori meo: * et óstium circumstántiæ lábiis meis.	Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4  Non declínes cor meum in verba malítiæ: * ad excusándas excusatiónes in peccátis.	4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins.
5  Cum homínibus operántibus iniquitátem: * et non communicábo cum eléctis eórum	With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them
6  Corrípiet me justus in misericórdia, et increpábit me: * óleum autem peccatóris non impínguet caput meum.	5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head.
7  Quóniam adhuc et orátio mea in beneplácitis eórum: * absórpti sunt juncti petræ júdices eórum.	For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
8  Audient verba mea quóniam potuérunt: * sicut crassitúdo terræ erúpta est super terram.	They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground:
9  Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 8 But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
10  Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: * et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.	9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
11  Cadent in retiáculo ejus peccatóres: * singuláriter sum ego donec tránseam.	10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

For notes on the final verse of Psalm 140, continue on here.

Ps 140 v9 - Fix your eyes on Christ

 Verse 9 of Psalm 140 is a request for the grace of perseverance and fortititude.

  Looking at the Latin

9	V	Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.
	OR	dissipata sunt ossa nostra secus infernum quia ad te Domine Domine oculi mei in te speravi ne auferas animam meam
	NV	dissipata sunt ossa eorum ad fauces inferni. Quia ad te, Domine, Domine, oculi mei; ad te confugi, non effundas animam meam.
	JH	sic dissipata sunt ossa nostra in ore inferi.  Quia ad te, Domine Deus, oculi mei: in te speraui ; ne euacues animam meam.
	Sept	διεσκορπίσθη τὰ ὀστᾶ ἡμῶν παρὰ τὸν ᾅδην ὅτι πρὸς σέ κύριε κύριε οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἐπὶ σὲ ἤλπισα μὴ ἀντανέλῃς τὴν ψυχήν μου

[Key: V=Vulgate; OR=Old Roman; NV=Neo-Vulgate; JH=St Jerome's translation from the Hebrew; Sept=Septuagint]

Note that the Neo-Vulgate opts for an alternative text tradition (not, in this case, the Masoretic) in relation to whose bones are in question here: most of the earlier versions suggest that it is ‘our’ bones that are scattered: it is our soul that we are asking God to preserve.  But the neo-Vulgate,  prefers to interpret the verse as referring to ‘their’ (sinners) bones, and make the request to preserve our lives. 

Phrase by phrase 

Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.

Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.

 Word by word 

Dissipáta sunt (they have scattered) ossa (bones) nostra (our) secus (alongside of) inférnum (hell): * quia (for, but) ad (to) te (you), Dómine (O Lord), Dómine (O Lord), óculi (eyes) mei (my) [=my eyes are on you]: in te (you) sperávi (I have hoped), non (not) áuferas (you take away/destroy) ánimam (soul) meam (my). 

Key vocabulary 

dissipo, are avi, atum,  scatter, disperse; frustrate, bring to naught; break, annul, make void
os, ossis, n., a bone, mostly pi. ossa, lum.  a member of the body, or, the members, one’s whole being, one's spirit, strength
secus, prep, with acc. by, beside, along, near, on
infernus, i, m. Sheol; the nether world, the underworld, the grave, the kingdom of the dead, hell
aufero, abstuli, ablatum, auferre to take or bear away; to destroy. 

English translations 

DR	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
Brenton	our bones have been scattered by the [mouth of] the grave. For mine eyes are to thee, O Lord God: I have hoped in thee; take not away my life.
MD	So their bones are scattered on the brink of hell: But to you, O Lord, my Lord, I turn my eyes, in Thee I hope, take not away my life.
RSV	so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward thee, O LORD God; in thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Cover	Our bones lie scattered before the pit, like as when one graveth and diggeth up the ground. But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God; in thee is my trust. O cast not out my soul.
Knox	a people whose bones lie scattered at the grave’s mouth, [like seed when the earth is cloven into furrows].To thee these eyes look, my Lord, my Master; in thee I trust; let not my life be forfeit.
Grail	so their bones were strewn at the mouth of the grave. To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned: in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

  [Key: DR=Douay-Rheims Challoner; MD=Monastic Diurnal; RSV=Revised Standard Version; Cover=Coverdale]

The blood and bones of the saints

There are several ways of interpreting this verse, and one offered by St Augustine is that the blood and bones of the righteous lying on the ground ties to the farming analogy of the previous verse, and suggests that the death of the martyrs acts as the fertiliser that brings forth the Church: 

We know that everything that is refuse is the fatness of the earth. The things which are, as it were, contemptible to men, enrich the earth....Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. 

As it is contemptible to the world, so is it precious to the husbandman. For he knows the use thereof, and its rich juice; he knows what he desires, what he seeks, whence the fertile crop arises; but this world despises it. 

Do you not know that God has chosen the contemptible things of the world, and those which are not, like as those which are, that the things which are may be brought to nought?  From the dunghill was Peter lifted up, and Paul; when they were put to death, they were despised: now, the earth having been enriched by them, and the cross of the Church springing up, behold, all that is noble and chief in the world, even the emperor himself, comes to Rome, and whither does he hasten? To the temple of the emperor, or the memorial of the fisherman?

The virtue of fortitude

But bones are also seen as the strongest part of the body, and so often representing strength and courage.

In this verse then, the reference to our bones lying on the bring of hell can also be interpreted as saying that so oppressed are we, that we are on the brink of falling into hell. St Augustine pointed out that the path of the martyr is not easy, and not all succeed in reaching the crown thus we must focus on Christ as our model and help:

For they were tortured in persecutions, and many failed. It occurs to him that many have failed, many have been in hazard, and as it were in the midst of the tribulation of persecution is sent forth the voice of one praying;

Trust in God

The key point of the verse then, is that in the face of difficulties and persecution, or even martyrdom, we must keep our eyes focused on Christ.

St John Chrysostom says:

Even if countless troubles beset us, he is saying - wars, battles, deaths, gates of Hades -we do not let go the holy anchor; instead, we cling to the hope of your assistance, and abandoning weapons and strategies we look to freedom from that source, your grace. In you I hoped: do not blot out my soul

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David.	A psalm of David.
1 Dómine, clamávi ad te, exáudi me: * inténde voci meæ, cum clamávero ad te.	I have cried to you, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to you.
2  Dirigátur orátio mea sicut incénsum in conspéctu tuo: * elevátio mánuum meárum sacrifícium vespertínum.	2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in your sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3  Pone, Dómine, custódiam ori meo: * et óstium circumstántiæ lábiis meis.	Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4  Non declínes cor meum in verba malítiæ: * ad excusándas excusatiónes in peccátis.	4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins.
5  Cum homínibus operántibus iniquitátem: * et non communicábo cum eléctis eórum	With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them
6  Corrípiet me justus in misericórdia, et increpábit me: * óleum autem peccatóris non impínguet caput meum.	5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head.
7  Quóniam adhuc et orátio mea in beneplácitis eórum: * absórpti sunt juncti petræ júdices eórum.	For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
8  Audient verba mea quóniam potuérunt: * sicut crassitúdo terræ erúpta est super terram.	They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground:
9  Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 8 But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
10  Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: * et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.	9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
11  Cadent in retiáculo ejus peccatóres: * singuláriter sum ego donec tránseam.	10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

For notes on the next verse of this psalm, continue on here.

Psalm 140 v8 - The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church

 Today's verse of Psalm 140 is another that is hard to understand by just looking at the words; we have to do some work to get at the true meaning.

Looking at the Latin 

8	V	Audient verba mea quoniam potuerunt: * sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram.
	OR	audient verba mea quoniam potuerunt sicut crassitudo terrae eructuat super terram
	NV	audient verba mea, quoniam suavia erant. Sicut frusta dolantis et dirumpentis in terra,
	JH	et audient uerba mea, quoniam decora sunt. Sicut agricola cum scindit terram,
	Sept	ἀκούσονται τὰ ῥήματά μου ὅτι ἡδύνθησαν ὡσεὶ πάχος γῆς διερράγη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

 [Key: V=Vulgate; OR=Old Roman; NV=Neo-Vulgate; JH=St Jerome's translation from the Hebrew; Sept=Septuagint]

Phrase by phrase 

Audient verba mea quoniam potuerunt: sicut crassitudo terræ erupta est super terram.

They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground

 Word by word 

Audient (they shall hear) verba (words) mea (my) quoniam (as/because) potuerunt (they are powerful/they shall prevail): sicut (just as) crassitudo (a clod) terræ (of earth) erupta est (is broken up) super (on) terram (the ground). 

Key vocabulary 

possum, potui, posse (1) to be able, to have power (2) to prevail, attain
crassitudo – inis f thickness, a clod
erumpo ere rupi ruptum (3) to break up, crush 

It should be noted that St John Chrysostom supplies several different text variants for the second phrase, which Robert Hill translates variously as: 

• As thickness of earth is smashed on the ground, our bones were scat­tered near Hades;
• Like a farmer harrowing the soil, so our bones were scattered in the mouth of Hades;
• Like someone breaking up and cleaving the soil, our bones were cast into Hades; and
• Like someone improving and digging up the soil, our bones were scattered near Hades.

Selected English translations

DR	They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground:
Brenton	they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. As a lump of earth is crushed upon the ground
MD	They shall hear that my words have prevailed: as clods of earth thrown upon the ground.
RSV	then they shall learn that the word of the LORD is true. As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land,
Cover	that they may hear my words, for they are sweet.
Knox	a people whose bones lie scattered at the grave’s mouth, like seed when the earth is cloven into furrows
Grail	then they understood that my words were kind. As a millstone is shattered to pieces on the ground

 [Key: DR=Douay-Rheims Challoner; MD=Monastic Diurnal; RSV=Revised Standard Version; Cover=Coverdale]

The truth will prevail

The first half of the verse can be read as a statement that ultimately, many who reject Christ, or twist his meanings into heresy will eventually be converted.  St Jerome puts it thus:

The Lord himself says: They who came to me were won over, and they delighted in my words and were converted to me in my Church. 

Similarly, St Augustine argues it means that the truth will win out in the end, over the clever lies and conceits of those who work evil:

My Words have prevailed over their words. They have spoken clever things, I true things. To praise one who talks well is one thing, to praise One who speaks truth is another. 

Ploughing stone hearts

The key question is, though, what brings about this change of heart?

There are several different interpretations of this part of the verse, depending on whether you see it as connected to what came before, or what comes next.

St Robert Bellarmine's explanation is the most simple and compelling I think, seeing it as an analogy to the farmer plowing hard soil in order to make it ready to be planted:

An allusion to “My prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased;” by which he gives us to understand that many unfortunate souls, who prided themselves on their sins, would hear his words, and be converted to God through them; for as the hardest soil is entered by the plough, so the heart of man, however hardened it may be, will be entered and stirred up by the power and the efficacy of the word of God. Those poor souls, already alluded to, will hear my words; for these words were most effectual in moving them; as effectual as a spade or a plough, to enter into and turn up the thick, sluggish clay. 

St Augustine ties the verse to what follows, seeing the reference in the next verse to 'our bones' lying on ground as carrying forward the farming analogy to the martyrs as fertiliser for the Church:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Fear not those who kill the body, etc. He gave them fear, He suggested hope, He kindled love. Fear not death, He says. Do ye fear death? I die first. Fear ye, lest a hair of your head perish? I first rise again in the flesh uninjured. Rightly have ye heard His Words, for they have prevailed. They spoke, and were slain; they fell, and yet stood. 

And what was the result of so many deaths of martyrs, save that those words prevailed, and the earth being, so to speak, watered by the blood of Christ's witnesses, the cross of the Church shot up everywhere? How have they prevailed? We have said already, when they were preached by men who feared not. Feared not what? Neither banishment, nor losses, nor death, nor crucifixion: for it was not death alone that they did not fear; but even crucifixion, a death than which none was thought more accursed. It the Lord endured, that His disciples might not only not fear death, but not even that kind of death. When then these things are said by men that fear not, they have prevailed.

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Psalmus David.	A psalm of David.
1 Dómine, clamávi ad te, exáudi me: * inténde voci meæ, cum clamávero ad te.	I have cried to you, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to you.
2  Dirigátur orátio mea sicut incénsum in conspéctu tuo: * elevátio mánuum meárum sacrifícium vespertínum.	2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in your sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3  Pone, Dómine, custódiam ori meo: * et óstium circumstántiæ lábiis meis.	Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4  Non declínes cor meum in verba malítiæ: * ad excusándas excusatiónes in peccátis.	4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins.
5  Cum homínibus operántibus iniquitátem: * et non communicábo cum eléctis eórum	With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them
6  Corrípiet me justus in misericórdia, et increpábit me: * óleum autem peccatóris non impínguet caput meum.	5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head.
7  Quóniam adhuc et orátio mea in beneplácitis eórum: * absórpti sunt juncti petræ júdices eórum.	For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
8  Audient verba mea quóniam potuérunt: * sicut crassitúdo terræ erúpta est super terram.	They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground:
9  Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: * quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.	Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 8 But to you, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in you have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
10  Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: * et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.	9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity.
11  Cadent in retiáculo ejus peccatóres: * singuláriter sum ego donec tránseam.	10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

For the next part in this series on Psalm 140, continue on here.