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God, Israel from all his tribulations. "But I think this psalm was spoken by the blessed David, when he had many uprisings of enemies. For which reason he also makes mention of old and new sins, and begs to be delivered from them. And he introduces a profitable exhortation for men. [And the present psalm is especially fitting for those called from the gentiles, and has much consistency with the one before it.] "To you, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul. O my God, in you I have trusted, may I not be put to shame forever. Neither let my enemies laugh at me." Surrounded on all sides by countless foes, to you, Master, I offer my soul, and I am dependent on your help, beseeching that I not live perpetually in shame, and be an object of rejoicing for my enemies. "For all who wait for you shall not be put to shame. [4] Let them be ashamed who transgress without cause." I have, he says, a sufficient pledge of hope, those who have already believed in you, and have enjoyed your favor. For you are accustomed to provide for these, but to put to shame those who live in transgression. But it is fitting to note, that not those who sin, but those who transgress without cause, he said are filled with shame. For not all transgress 80.1037 in the same way; for some slip either from some circumstance, or from natural weakness; but others take pleasure in transgressions, and devise others. "Your ways, O Lord, make known to me, and your paths teach me. [5] Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and I have waited for you all the day." And I first beseech to discern your ways, and to learn the paths that lead to you, so that I may perpetually travel your unerring and true course. Then through these things I beseech to learn, that you are my Savior; for I perpetually await the loving-kindness from you. For he has put 'all the day' instead of 'always'; and he wishes to teach that he does not now hold this opinion, and now receive another in its place. 6, 7. "Remember your compassions, O Lord, and your mercies, for they are from of old. The sins of my youth and of my ignorance do not remember; according to your mercy remember me." Gently, he says, and with loving-kindness you always manage mankind; and now I beseech to enjoy this goodness, and that you might remember your loving-kindness, not my sin; and in remembering me, O Master, do so mercifully, not justly. For this he also entreated in the sayings: According to your great mercy, remember me; not my sin, but remember me with loving-kindness. [But the phrase 'the sins of my youth and of my ignorance do not remember' has this meaning: for he speaks of the people in Egypt; for there I committed idolatry; therefore, do not remember those sins, but your loving-kindness, through which even then you showed mercy, using loving-kindness on those who were ignorant.] "For your goodness' sake, O Lord." For not because of my worth, but because of your loving-kindness, I beseech to obtain this. 8. "Good and upright is the Lord." Not simply, he says, have I used these words, but knowing that the Master is not only just, but also loving. And this the divine Scripture teaches us everywhere. Such is the verse: Mercy and judgment I will sing to you, O Lord." And: "The Lord is merciful and compassionate, and just, and our God has mercy." And: "God is a just judge, and strong, and long-suffering, and does not bring on wrath every day." "Therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way. [9] He will guide the meek in judgment, he will teach the meek his ways." This Symmachus interpreted more clearly: Therefore he will show a way to sinners. 80.1040 For using goodness, he does not immediately punish sinners, but also shows them the straight way, and instructs them in the law of repentance; and indeed he also teaches those who use meekness and simplicity to discern the nature of things, and prepares them to know all his dispensations; so that

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Θεὸς, τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ πα σῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ. "Ἐγὼ δὲ ἡγοῦμαι τοῦτον εἰρῆσθαι τὸν ψαλμὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ μακαρίου ∆αβὶδ, ἡνίκα πολλὰς ἔσχε πολεμίων ἐπαναστάσεις. Οὗ δὴ χάριν καὶ παλαιῶν καὶ νέων ποιεῖται μνήμην ἁμαρτημάτων, καὶ τούτων ἀπαλλαγῆναι παρακα λεῖ. Εἰσηγεῖται δὲ καὶ παραίνεσιν ἀνθρώποις ὠφέ λιμον. [Ἁρμόζει δὲ μάλιστα ὁ προκείμενος ψαλ μὸς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν κεκλημένοις, καὶ πολλὴν ἀκολου θίαν ἔχει πρὸς τὸν πρὸ αὐτοῦ.] "Πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ἦρα τὴν ψυχήν μου. Ὁ Θεός μου, ἐπὶ σοὶ πέποιθα, μὴ καταισχυνθείην εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Μηδὲ καταγελασάτωσάν με οἱ ἐχθροί μου." Πάντοθεν ὑπὸ μυρίων περιστοιχιζόμενος δυσμενῶν, σοὶ τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ, ∆έσποτα, προσφέρω ψυχὴν, καὶ τῆς σῆς βοηθείας ἐξήρτημαι, μὴ δι ηνεκῶς ἐν αἰσχύνῃ διάγειν, καὶ ἐπίχαρτος εἶναι τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἀντιβολῶν. "Καὶ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ὑπομένοντές σε οὐ μὴ καται σχυνθῶσιν. [δʹ.] Αἰσχυνθήτωσαν οἱ ἀνομοῦντες δια κενῆς." Ἔχω, φησὶ, τῆς ἐλπίδος ἐχέγγυον ἱκα νὸν, τοὺς ἤδη σοι πεπιστευκότας, καὶ τῆς σῆς ῥοπῆς ἀπολαύσαντας. Τούτων μὲν γὰρ εἴωθας προμηθεῖ σθαι, καταισχύνειν δὲ τοὺς παρανομίᾳ συζῶντας. Ἐπισημήνασθαι δὲ προσήκει, ὅτι οὐ τοὺς ἁμαρτάνον τας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς διακενῆς ἀνομοῦντας, αἰσχύ νης ἔφησεν ἀναπίμπλασθαι. Οὐ γὰρ πάντες πλημ 80.1037 μελοῦσιν ὁμοίως· οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἢ ἐκ περιστάσεώς τι νος, ἢ ἐκ φυσικῆς ὀλισθαίνουσιν ἀσθενείας· οἱ δὲ καὶ ἐφήδονται ταῖς παρανομίαις, καὶ ἐπινοοῦσιν ἑτέ ρας. "Τὰς ὁδούς σου, Κύριε, γνώρισόν μοι, καὶ τὰς τρί βους σου δίδαξόν με. [εʹ.] Ὁδήγησόν με ἐπὶ τὴν ἀλή θειάν σου, καὶ δίδαξόν με, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Σωτήρ μου, καὶ σὲ ὑπέμεινα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν." Ἐγὼ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἱκετεύω τὰς σὰς ὁδοὺς διαγνῶναι, καὶ τὰς πρός με φερούσας τρίβους μαθεῖν, ὥστε διηνε κῶς τὴν ἀπλανῆ σου καὶ ἀληθῆ πορείαν ὁδεύειν. Ἔπει τα δι' αὐτῶν ἱκετεύω τῶν πραγμάτων μαθεῖν, ὅτι Σωτὴρ ὑπάρχεις ἐμός· τὴν γὰρ παρὰ σοῦ φιλανθρω πίαν προσμένω διηνεκῶς. Τὸ γὰρ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀεὶ τέθεικεν· καὶ διδάξαι βούλεται, ὡς οὐ νῦν μὲν ταύτην ἔχει τὴν γνώμην, νῦν δὲ ἑτέ ραν ἀντὶ ταύτης εἰσδέχεται. ʹ, ζʹ. "Μνήσθητι τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου, Κύριε, καὶ τὰ ἐλέη σου, ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνός εἰσιν. Ἁμαρτίας νεότητός μου καὶ ἀγνοίας μου μὴ μνησθῇς, κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου μνήσθητί μου." Ἡμέρως, φησὶν, ἀεὶ καὶ φιλανθρώπως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους οἰκονομεῖς· ταύ της καὶ νῦν ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς ἀγαθότητος ἱκετεύω, καὶ μνήμην σοι γενέσθαι τῆς σῆς φιλανθρωπίας, μὴ τῆς ἐμῆς ἁμαρτίας· καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν δὲ μνήμην ποιούμενος, ∆έσποτα, φιλοικτιρμόνως ποίησαι, μὴ δικαίως. Τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ῥητοῖς παρεκά λεσε· Κατὰ τὸ μέγα ἔλεός σου, μνήσθητί μου σύ· μὴ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου, ἀλλ' ἐμοῦ μνήσθητι φιλανθρώ πως. [Τὸ δὲ ἁμαρτίας νεότητός μου καὶ ἀγνοίας μὴ μνησθῇς, ταύτην ἔχει τὴν διάνοιαν· φησὶ γὰρ τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ· καὶ γὰρ εἰδωλολάτρησα ἐκεῖ· μὴ οὖν ἐκείνων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων μνησθῇς, ἀλλὰ τῆς σῆς φιλανθρωπίας, δι' ἧς καὶ τότε ἀγνοοῦντας φιλανθρωπίᾳ χρησάμενος ἠλέησας.] "Ἕνεκεν τῆς χρηστότητός σου, Κύριε." Οὐ γὰρ διὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀξίαν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν σὴν φιλανθρωπίαν, τούτου τυχεῖν ἱκε τεύω. ηʹ. "Χρηστὸς καὶ εὐθὺς ὁ Κύριος." Οὐχ ἁπλῶς, φησὶ, τούτοις ἐχρησάμην τοῖς λόγοις, ἀλλ' εἰδὼς ὡς οὐ μόνον δίκαιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ φιλάνθρωπος ὁ ∆εσπό της. Τοῦτο δὲ πανταχοῦ ἡμᾶς ἡ θεία διδάσκει Γρα φή. Τοιοῦτόν ἐστι τό· Ἔλεον καὶ κρίσιν ᾄσομαί σοι, Κύριε." Καί· "Ἐλεήμων καὶ οἰκτίρμων ὁ Κύριος, καὶ δίκαιος, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐλεεῖ." Καί· "Ὁ Θεὸς κριτὴς δίκαιος, καὶ ἰσχυρὸς, καὶ μακρόθυ μος, καὶ μὴ ὀργὴν ἐπάγων καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν." "∆ιὰ τοῦτο νομοθετήσει ἁμαρτάνοντας ἐν ὁδῷ. [θʹ.] Ὁδηγήσει πραεῖς ἐν κρίσει, διδάξει πραεῖς ὁδοὺς αὑτοῦ." Τοῦτο σαφέστερον ὁ Σύμμαχος ἡρμή νευσε· ∆ιὰ τοῦτο ὑποδείξει ἁμαρτάνουσιν ὁδόν. 80.1040 Ἀγαθότητι γὰρ χρώμενος, οὐκ εὐθὺς κολάζει τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν εὐθεῖαν αὐτοῖς ὁδὸν ὑποδείκνυσι, καὶ τῆς μετανοίας ἐκπαιδεύει τὸν νό μον· καὶ μὲν δὴ καὶ τοὺς πραότητι καὶ ἁπλότητι κεχρημένους διακρίνειν διδάσκει τῶν πραγμάτων τὴν φύσιν, καὶ πάσας αὑτοῦ τὰς οἰκονομίας εἰδέναι παρασκευάζει· ἵνα