Fathers

Psalms 19

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Psalms 19:4

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

… the Scythian, and Barbarian, and Indian, and Egyptian, and every man that walks upon the earth, shall hear this voice; for not by means of the ears, but through the sight, it reaches our understanding. And of the things that are seen, there is one uniform perception; and there is no difference, as is the case with respect to languages. …

Homilies Concerning The Statues 9:5 ↗

Gregory of Nyssa

Yet how can such declaring and showing forth be other than words, and how is it that no voice addresses itself to the ear? Is the prophet contradicting himself, or is he stating an impossibility, when he speaks of words without sound, and declaration without language, and announcement without voice? …

Answer To Eunomius' Second Book ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Their sound is gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world" [Psalm 19:4].

Exposition on Psalm 19 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"In the sun." Above, the Psalmist made mention of the heavens; and here, to show the praise of the Creator, he treats of the sun. And just as by the heavens the apostles are understood, so by the sun Christ is understood: Mal. 4: "To you who fear my name, the sun of justice shall arise." And certain prophecies speak this of Christ under the figure of the sun; therefore he first sets forth the figure through which he begins to explain the truth about Christ. Concerning the figure he sets forth three things. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

Concerning the second allegory, about the blessed Virgin Mary, it is said in the Psalm: "He has pitched a tent there for the sun." Wherefore she is "as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun, as awe-inspiring as bannered troops." Hence she is a vessel able to contain light: "The sun, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High — shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven."

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13 ↗