Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 97:7

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Confounded be all they that worship carved images" [Psalm 97:7]. Hath not this come to pass? Have they not been confounded? Are they not daily confounded? For carved images are images wrought by the hand. Why are all who worship carved images confounded? Because all people have seen His glory. All nations now confess the glory of Christ: let those who worship stones be ashamed. …

Exposition on Psalm 97 ↗

Jerome

"Let all be confounded who worship graven images." If the prophet is blessed, being blessed he never knew how to curse; and therefore in that which he says, "Let them be confounded," it is not against them, but for them: for he prays that they may be confounded in their error, and be converted to the true and only God, the Creator.

Homily 73, on Psalm 96 (Alternate Series) ↗

Bonaventure

Why did the Lord place the figment of the human mind among idolatry, since a figment is nothing in reality? An idol is nothing; rather, it is referred to that which exists in estimation. Concerning idolatry with respect to the figment of the human mind, it is said in the Psalm: Let all be confounded who adore graven things, and who glory in their idols. That man is inclined to adore his own figment and thus to glory in adoring it — this is the supreme perversion.

Collationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 2 ↗