Chapter XXXV · Location 35 of 150
Chapter 35 · Open to readFrom Psalms · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Psalms Chapter 35 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
The psalm describes the unjust person’s inner resolve, guile and bed-planning. Mercy, truth, justice and life are praised through cosmic and shelter images. Future trust and abundance accompany a final protective request and fallen-workers declaration.
Chapter breakdown
The Latin incipit is Dixit injustus. The separate heading concerns sinners' malice and God's goodness; the inscription is unto the end, for God's servant David. The psalm describes an unjust person resolving inwardly to sin, without fear of God before his eyes. He acted deceitfully so iniquity might be found unto hatred; the separate note explains this as hateful to God. Mouth words are iniquity and guile, he would not understand to do well and devised iniquity on his bed, setting himself on ways not good and not hating evil. No time of night or clinical account of self-blinding is given.
The speaker addresses mercy in heaven, truth reaching clouds, justice like God's mountains and judgments a great deep. God will preserve men and beasts. Multiplied mercy leads to children's future trust beneath His wings, inebriation with His house's plenty and drinking of His pleasure's torrent. With Him is life's fountain and in His light they shall see light.
He asks mercy extended to those knowing God and justice to upright hearts, with pride's foot kept away and the sinner's hand not moving him. The last declaration says workers of iniquity are fallen, cast out and could not stand, without identifying a witnessed scene or adding permanently to the wording.
The story inside
Opening: The psalm describes the unjust person’s inner resolve, guile and bed-planning. Development: Mercy, truth, justice and life are praised through cosmic and shelter images. Conclusion: Future trust and abundance accompany a final protective request and fallen-workers declaration.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1The psalm describes the unjust person’s inner resolve, guile and bed-planning.
- 2Mercy, truth, justice and life are praised through cosmic and shelter images.
- 3Future trust and abundance accompany a final protective request and fallen-workers declaration.
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 59731–59732
The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Lines 59737–59737
Unto hatred.... That is, hateful to God.
Lines 59745–59746
O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to the clouds.
Lines 59754–59755
They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.
Lines 59757–59758
For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light.
