Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 20:8

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"They have been bound, and fallen" [Psalm 20:8]. And therefore were they bound by the lust of temporal things, fearing to spare the Lord, lest they should lose their place by "the Romans:" [John 11:48] and rushing violently on the stone of offense and rock of stumbling, they fell from the heavenly hope: to whom the blindness in part of Israel has happened, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and wishing to establish their own. …

Exposition on Psalm 20 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"They." Here the diverse outcome is set forth, which is the outcome of the wicked. Jerome has "bowed down," and then it is clear, because bowing down is the way to falling, and so the power of the world gradually fails. Or "bound," because temporal goods bind, and especially sinners: Wis. 14: "The creatures of God were made for hatred and as a snare for the feet of the foolish," that is, of sinners. Hence he says, "And they have fallen," because in the end they shall be crushed: Is. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗