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of me." With hymns, he says, I repay the benefactor, both the one who received my prayer, and the one who bestowed mercy. [For he does not cease exhorting those who believe in him to praise him continually.]

INTERPRETATION OF THE 66TH PSALM. 1. "To the end, in hymns. A psalm of a song for David." This psalm has a clear

meaning, and does not require many words for interpretation; for it proclaims the incarnation of the Word of God, and his saving epiphany, and the salvation of all the nations. 2. "May God have compassion on us, and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us, and have mercy on us." The Prophet, having seen with the eyes of the spirit the salvation that was to come to all men through the divine epiphany, beseeches that this be granted as quickly as possible, so that we may all reap the blessing that grows from it; [and he says, "May God have compassion on us," and not only this but also "bless us"; for in reality, he not only blessed, but also had mercy; saving us through his coming from the Virgin. For this is what he says, "May he make his face shine upon us." For we have seen him face to face; but nevertheless having become man; not wearing some other form, but we have seen the very God the Word, unchangeably born of a Virgin.] Then through the following words he teaches us this more clearly. 3. "That we may know thy way upon the earth." So that, he says, those who dwell on the earth may also be taught the way that leads to you, and be guided to it. And lest anyone should suppose that these things are said concerning the land of the Jews, he reasonably added, "Thy salvation among all nations." I beseech, he says, that your face may appear; so as to enlighten even the nations sitting in darkness, and to draw them to salvation. 80.1373 4, 5. "Let the peoples give praise to thee, O God; let all the peoples give praise to thee. Let the nations be glad and rejoice; for thou wilt judge the peoples with uprightness, and guide the nations on the earth." For this very reason it is fitting for all peoples, and the nations throughout the world, to be glad and to dance, and to recount your benefactions. For they have known that none of the things that exist are uncared for, nor without a guardian; but you are the judge of all, rendering just verdicts; guiding the wandering to the truth, and punishing those unwilling to be persuaded. 6. "Let the peoples give praise to thee, O God; let all the peoples give praise to thee." He did not simply use tautology; but to make the hearers more eager, [and showing that he is God and Savior of all.] 7. The earth has given its fruit." For those from it no longer are ignorant of the God over all; who, according to the Prophet, "found out all the way of knowledge; after this he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men;" for whose sake, they offer to him the sweetest fruit of piety. "May God bless us, our God. [8.] May he bless us." Just as he twice stirred up the nations to hymnody, so twice he sought the blessing for them. However, it is fitting to know that when men bless God, they offer him words only, but are not able to benefit him by deed; but God, when he blesses, confirms his words by deed, and provides an abundance of all kinds of good things to those who are blessed. Then he teaches how it is possible to receive the divine blessing. "And let all the ends of the earth fear him." For he who is reverently disposed toward the divine laws, and fears the future judgment, serves God through the observance of these things; and the divine service brings blessing. And so the end itself enjoined not the Jews, but all men, to have the divine fear; and it teaches that he himself is our God, who has wrought the salvation of believers. Let the impious heretics be ashamed, who do not confess him God from God, the only-begotten Son to the Father

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ἐμοῦ." Ὕμνοις, φησὶ, τὸν εὐεργέτην ἀμείβομαι, καὶ τὴν προσευχήν μου δεξάμενον, καὶ τὸν ἔλεον δωρησά μενον. [Αὐτὸν γὰρ ἀνυμνεῖν διηνεκῶς τοῖς εἰς αὐ τὸν πιστεύουσι παρακελευόμενος οὐ παύεται.]

ΕΡΜΗΝ. ΤΟΥ Ξςʹ ΨΑΛΜΟΥ. αʹ. "Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ἐν ὕμνοις. ψαλμὸς ᾠδῆς τῷ ∆α βίδ." Οὗτος ὁ ψαλμὸς σαφῆ

τὴν διάνοιαν ἔχει, καὶ πολ λῶν λόγων εἰς ἑρμηνείαν οὐ δεῖται· προκηρύττει γὰρ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγου τὴν ἐνανθρώπησιν, καὶ τὴν σωτήριον ἐπιφάνειαν, καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἁπάντων τὴν σωτηρίαν. βʹ. "Ὁ Θεὸς οἰκτειρήσαι ἡμᾶς, καὶ εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς· ἐπιφάναι τὸ πρόσωπον αὑτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐλεήσαι ἡμᾶς." Θεασάμενος ὁ Προφήτης τοῖς τοῦ πνεύματος ὀφθαλμοῖς τὴν ἐσομένην πᾶσιν ἀνθρώ ποις σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς θείας ἐπιφανείας, ἱκετεύει ταύτην ὅτι τάχιστα παρασχεθῆναι, ἵνα τὴν ἐκ ταύτης φυομένην εὐλογίαν τρυγήσωμεν ἅπαντες· [λέγει δὲ ὅτι "Ὁ Θεὸς οἰκτειρήσαι ἡμᾶς," καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μό νον ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς· τῷ ὄντι γὰρ, οὐ μό νον εὐλόγησεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἠλέησεν· σώσας ἡμᾶς διὰ τῆς ἐκ Παρθένου παρουσίας. Τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει, Ἐπι φάναι τὸ πρόσωπον αὑτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς. Εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτὸν πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἀλλ' ὅμως ἄνθρω πον γενόμενον· οὐχ ἕτερόν τινα φορέσαντα, ἀλλ' αὐ τὸν Θεὸν Λόγον ἀτρέπτως ἐκ Παρθένου γενόμενον εἴ δομεν.] Εἶτα διὰ τῶν ἐπαγομένων ταύτην ἡμᾶς δι δάσκει σαφέστερον. γʹ. "Τοῦ γνῶναι ἐν τῇ γῇ τὴν ὁδόν σου." Ὥστε, φησὶ, καὶ τοὺς τὴν γῆν οἰκοῦντας τὴν πρὸς σὲ φέ ρουσαν ὁδὸν διδαχθῆναι, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν ποδηγη θῆναι. Καὶ ἵνα μή τις ὑπολάβῃ περὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίων ταῦτα λέγεσθαι γῆς, εἰκότως προστέθεικε, "Ἐν πᾶ σιν ἔθνεσι τὸ σωτήριόν σου." Ἱκετεύω, φησὶ, τὸ σὸν ἐπιφανῆναι πρόσωπον· ὥστε καταυγάσαι καὶ τὰ ἐν σκότῳ καθήμενα ἔθνη, καὶ πρὸς σωτη ρίαν ἑλκῦσαι. 80.1373 δʹ, εʹ. "Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ, ὁ Θεὸς, ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ πάντες. Εὐφραν θήτωσαν καὶ ἀγαλλιάσθωσαν ἔθνη· ὅτι κρι νεῖς λαοὺς ἐν εὐθύτητι, καὶ ἔθνη ἐν τῇ γῇ ὁδηγή σεις." ∆ιά τοι τοῦτο προσήκει καὶ λαοὺς ἅπαντας, καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἔθνη, εὐφραίνεσθαι καὶ χορεύειν, καὶ τὰς σὰς εὐεργεσίας διεξιέναι. Ἔγνω σαν γὰρ ὅτι οὐδὲν τῶν ὄντων ἀτημέλητον, οὐδὲ ἀκηδεμόνευτον· ἀλλὰ πάντων ὑπάρχεις κριτὴς, δικαίας ἐκφέρων τὰς ψήφους· καὶ ὁδηγῶν μὲν τοὺς πλανωμένους πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν, τοὺς δὲ πεί θεσθαι μὴ βουλομένους κολάζων. ʹ. "Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ, ὁ Θεὸς, ἐξ ομολογησάσθωσάν σοι λαοὶ πάντες." Οὐχ ἁπλῶς τὴν ταυτολογίαν τέθεικεν· ἀλλὰ προθυμοτέρους τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἐργαζόμενος, [καὶ δεικνὺς, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστι Θεὸς καὶ Σωτὴρ ἁπάντων.] ζʹ. Γῆ ἔδωκε τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς." Οὐκ ἔτι γὰρ ἀγνοοῦσιν οἱ ἐξ αὐτῆς τὸν ἐπὶ πάντων Θεόν· ὃς, κατὰ τὸν Προφήτην, "ἐξεῦρε πᾶσαν ὁδὸν ἐπιστήμης· μετὰ τοῦτο ἐπὶ γῆς ὤφθη, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀνθρώ ποις συνανεστράφη·" οὗ δὴ χάριν, τὸν ἥδιστον αὐ τῷ προσφέρουσι τῆς εὐσεβείας καρπόν. "Εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν. [ηʹ.] Εὐλογήσαι ἡμᾶς." Ὥσπερ δὶς τὰ ἔθνη πρὸς ὑμνῳδίαν διήγειρεν, οὕτω δὶς αὐτοῖς τὴν εὐλογίαν ἐζήτησεν. Εἰδέναι μέντοι προσήκει, ὡς εὐλογοῦν τες ἄνθρωποι τὸν Θεὸν, λόγους αὐτῷ προσφέρουσι μόνους, ἔργῳ δὲ αὐτὸν εὐεργετῆσαι οὐ δύνανται· ὁ δὲ Θεὸς εὐλογῶν, βεβαιοῖ τοὺς λόγους τῷ ἔργῳ, καὶ παντοδαπῶν ἀγαθῶν παρέχει τοῖς εὐλογουμένοις φοράν. Εἶτα διδάσκει πῶς δυνατὸν τῆς θείας εὐλογίας τυχεῖν. "Καὶ φοβηθήτωσαν αὐτὸν πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς." Ὁ μὲν γὰρ εὐλαβῶς περὶ τοὺς θείους διακείμενος νόμους, καὶ τὸ μέλλον δειμαίνων κρι τήριον, διὰ τῆς τούτων φυλακῆς τὸν Θεὸν θεραπεύει· ἡ δὲ θεία θεραπεία τὴν εὐλογίαν προσφέρει. Καὶ αὐτὸ τοίνυν τὸ τέλος οὐκ Ἰουδαίοις, ἀλλὰ πᾶσιν ἀν θρώποις τὸν θεῖον ἔχειν εἰσηγήσατο φόβον· καὶ παι δεύει ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ τὴν σωτηρίαν τῶν πιστευόντων πραγματευσάμενος. Αἰσχυνέ σθωσαν οἱ δυσσεβοῦντες αἱρετικοὶ, καὶ μὴ ὁμολογοῦν τες αὐτὸν Θεὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ, τὸν μονογενῆ τῷ Πατρὶ Υἱὸν