Chapter XCIII · Location 93 of 150
Chapter 93 · Open to readFrom Psalms · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Psalms Chapter 93 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
The lament describes killings and denies the oppressors’ claim that God does not see. The edition explains God as requiring diligent labor in His commandments. Mercy and comfort are recalled while destruction of oppressors remains future.
Chapter breakdown
Deus ultionum is the incipit. The heading says God shall judge and punish oppressors; the inscription is a psalm for David on the fourth day of the week. The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongs and has acted freely; the following request asks Him to rise as earth's judge and reward the proud. The speaker asks how long sinners glory and speak injustice. They brought God's people low and afflicted inheritance, slain widow and stranger and murdered fatherless, saying God will not see or understand. They deny awareness; the text does not say they deny God's existence.
Senseless people and fools are called to understand and be wise. Questions ask whether the maker of ear and eye will hear and consider and the chastiser of nations and teacher of knowledge rebuke. God knows vain human thoughts. One God shall instruct and teach from law is blessed, that rest may come from evil days until a pit is dug for wicked people. The note interprets rest as mitigating mortality's sorrows. God will not cast off people or forsake inheritance until justice turns into judgment with upright hearts near it; the note explains execution agreeable to them.
The speaker asks who rises with him against evildoers and says without God's help his soul had almost dwelt in hell, without substituting silence of the grave. If he said his foot moved, mercy assisted; comforts gave joy amid many heart sorrows. He asks whether the seat of iniquity sticks to God, who frames labor in commandment. The note asks whether a just God would partner with unjust judges, and answers that it is God — not the judges — who obliges diligent labor in keeping the commandments.
They will hunt the just person's soul and condemn innocent blood. God is refuge and help of hope, not a newly imported rock epithet. He will render their iniquity and destroy them in malice. Future judgment remains future, with no invented particular tribunal, verdict or completed overthrow.
The story inside
Opening: The lament describes killings and denies the oppressors’ claim that God does not see. Development: The edition explains God as requiring diligent labor in His commandments. Conclusion: Mercy and comfort are recalled while destruction of oppressors remains future.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1The lament describes killings and denies the oppressors’ claim that God does not see.
- 2The edition explains God as requiring diligent labor in His commandments.
- 3Mercy and comfort are recalled while destruction of oppressors remains future.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 63660–63664
93:1. The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge hath acted freely. 93:2. Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Lines 63683–63687
93:9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider? 93:10. He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teacheth man knowledge?
Lines 63712–63718
93:17. Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in hell. 93:18. If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me. 93:19. According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul.
