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Atlas of Saints

Psalms

Chapter 18 · Douay–Rheims / Challoner

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Chapter XVIII · Location 18 of 150

Chapter 18 · Open to read

From Psalms · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)

What does Psalms Chapter 18 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Heavens and firmament proclaim glory through speech and knowledge imagery. The psalm praises law, testimony, justices, commandment, fear and judgments. The speaker requests cleansing of secret sins and sparing from those of others.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Coeli enarrant. The separate heading describes God's glory shown by His works and His law's excellence and desirability. The inscription is unto the end, for David. The psalm says heavens show God's glory and the firmament His hands' work. Day utters speech to day and night knowledge to night; there are no speeches or languages where their voices are not heard. Their sound goes through earth and words to the world's ends. God set His tabernacle in the sun. It is like a bridegroom from a chamber and a giant rejoicing to run, with its circuit from heaven's end to the other and nothing hidden from its heat.

The Lord's unspotted law converts souls, faithful testimony gives wisdom to little ones, right justices rejoice hearts and a lightsome commandment enlightens eyes. Holy fear endures forever and judgments are true and justified, desirable above gold and many precious stones, sweeter than honey and honeycomb. The servant keeps them with great reward.

The speaker asks who understands sins and requests cleansing of secret ones and sparing from those of others. If these do not have dominion, he will be spotless and cleansed from the greatest sin. He hopes his words may please God and says his heart's meditation is always in His sight, addressing Him as helper and redeemer. The admitted wording does not substitute presumptuous sins for those of others.

The story inside

Opening: Heavens and firmament proclaim glory through speech and knowledge imagery. Development: The psalm praises law, testimony, justices, commandment, fear and judgments. Conclusion: The speaker requests cleansing of secret sins and sparing from those of others.

Lessons worth keeping

  1. 1
    Heavens and firmament proclaim glory through speech and knowledge imagery.
  2. 2
    The psalm praises law, testimony, justices, commandment, fear and judgments.
  3. 3
    The speaker requests cleansing of secret sins and sparing from those of others.

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.

  1. Lines 58733–58734

    The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.
  2. Lines 58736–58736

    Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge.
  3. Lines 58752–58753

    The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.
  4. Lines 58761–58762

    More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.
  5. Lines 58767–58767

    Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord:
  6. Lines 58773–58775

    And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight. O Lord, my helper and my Redeemer.

Location: chapter 18 of 150 · 12%

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