Psalms 113

1 alleluia in exitu Israhel de Aegypto domus Iacob de populo barbaro

2 facta est Iudaea sanctificatio eius Israhel potestas eius

3 mare vidit et fugit Iordanis conversus est retrorsum

4 montes exultaverunt ut arietes colles sicut agni ovium

5 quid est tibi mare quod fugisti et tu Iordanis quia conversus es retrorsum

6 montes exultastis sicut arietes et colles sicut agni ovium

7 a facie Domini mota est terra a facie Dei Iacob

8 qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum et rupem in fontes aquarum

9 non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam

10 super misericordia tua et veritate tua nequando dicant gentes ubi est Deus eorum

11 Deus autem noster in caelo omnia quaecumque voluit fecit

12 simulacra gentium argentum et aurum opera manuum hominum

13 os habent et non loquentur oculos habent et non videbunt

14 aures habent et non audient nares habent et non odorabuntur

15 manus habent et non palpabunt pedes habent et non ambulabunt non clamabunt in gutture suo

16 similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea et omnes qui confidunt in eis

17 domus Israhel speravit in Domino adiutor eorum et protector eorum est

18 domus Aaron speravit in Domino adiutor eorum et protector eorum est

19 qui timent Dominum speraverunt in Domino adiutor eorum et protector eorum est

20 Dominus memor fuit nostri et benedixit nobis benedixit domui Israhel benedixit domui Aaron

21 benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum pusillis cum maioribus

22 adiciat Dominus super vos super vos et super filios vestros

23 benedicti vos Domino qui fecit caelum et terram

24 caelum caeli Domino terram autem dedit filiis hominum

25 non mortui laudabunt te Domine neque omnes qui descendunt in infernum

26 sed nos qui vivimus benedicimus Domino ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum

Psalms 113 Commentary

Chapter 113

An exhortation to praise God.

- God has praise from his own people. They have most reason to praise him; for those who attend him as his servants, know him best, and receive most of his favours, and it is easy, pleasant work to speak well of their Master. God's name ought to be praised in every place, from east to west. Within this wide space the Lord's name is to be praised; it ought to be so, though it is not. Ere long it will be, when all nations shall come and worship before him. God is exalted above all blessing and praise. We must therefore say, with holy admiration, Who is like unto the Lord our God? How condescending in him to behold the things in the earth! And what amazing condescension was it for the Son of God to come from heaven to earth, and take our nature upon him, that he might seek and save those that were lost! How vast his love in taking upon him the nature of man, to ransom guilty souls! God sometimes makes glorious his own wisdom and power, when, having some great work to do, he employs those least likely, and least thought of for it by themselves or others. The apostles were sent from fishing to be fishers of men. And this is God's constant method in his kingdom of grace. He takes men, by nature beggars, and even traitors, to be his favourites, his children, kings and priests unto him; and numbers them with the princes of his chosen people. He gives us all our comforts, which are generally the more welcome when long delayed, and no longer expected. Let us pray that those lands which are yet barren, may speedily become fruitful, and produce many converts to join in praising the Lord.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 113

With this psalm begins the great "Hallel", which ends with Psalm 118; and was used to be sung at the Jewish festivals, particularly at the feast of tabernacles and of the passover; and is thought by some to be the hymn sung by Christ and his apostles, after the celebration of the Lord's supper; in which there are many things pertinent to that occasion as well as to the above feasts. This psalm is a song of praise for redemption by Christ, to be sung in Gospel times, when the name of the Lord should be known among all nations, from the rising to the setting sun. It is thought by some to be an abridgment of the song of Hannah, 1Sa 2:1-10, there is an agreement.