ST BRUNO OF SEGNI: COMMENTARY ON PSALM 6
[Argument]
The faithful pray that He may become a benevolent judge for them, recounting their own miseries by which they are afflicted and groan, and separating themselves from the company of sinners, they desire to have no share with them.
[Title]
To the end, with stringed instruments, for the eighth. Of David.
[Commentary on the Title]
"To the end" is already well known. A hymn is a praise of the Divinity, composed according to the rules of a certain meter. Indeed, a hymn is properly a song of praise, not of just anyone, but of God. If any of these elements is lacking, it is not called a hymn. For whether it is not sung, or is sung but not in praise, or is in praise but not of God, it does not deserve to be called a hymn. "For the eighth," however, signifies the coming of the Lord, when, the week of this age having ended, He will come to judge the world. Hence, this psalm begins with great trembling, saying: O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Ps 6:1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
This psalm is the first of the penitential psalms. It is followed by Psalms 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142. There are seven, because sins are forgiven in seven ways: namely, by baptism, martyrdom, almsgiving, forgiving a brother's offenses, converting a sinner, the abundance of charity, and pure repentance; to these must also be added communion of the Body of Christ. Indeed, for those who search diligently, perhaps other modes of forgiveness may also be found. But do not think that the ancient fathers assigned the number seven to the penitential psalms without reason.
[Commentary] For the prophet does not beseech the Lord that he may not be rebuked, since it is written, "Whom I love, I rebuke," but that he may not be condemned at the judgment. "Anger" is long-lasting indignation; "wrath" is a swift kindling of the mind, but wrath is more vehement. The Lord is never moved, but remains in just tranquility even when punishing. These things are said of God in figurative language.
Ps 6:2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are vexed.
[Commentary] The confession of weakness moves the mercy of God, from whom remedies are easily obtained when sins are laid bare. "Bones" here signify strength; when this fails, the vigor of the mind slips away, just as the body becomes weak when the bones of the body are shattered.
Ps 6:3. My soul also is sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?
[Historical/Literal Note] He says his soul is troubled, namely, by repentance, for the purpose of amendment.
[Commentary] He says "sore" so that the merciful Christ may not allow the help to be delayed too long. "How long?" implies: "How long do you delay showing mercy? You are not accustomed to forget the prayers of supplicants unto the end."
[Alternatively] Or: "How long do you not deliver, correct, and amend my soul, which is vehemently troubled?"
Ps 6:4. Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
[Commentary] When he says "Return," he asks for a relaxation of vengeance, that God may not demand from us the punishments we deserve. "Deliver" means from impending torment. He asks to be saved, not according to his own merits, but because of divine mercy, in which, when hope is firmly fixed, pardon is more easily obtained.
Ps 6:5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
[Commentary] We rightly call the faithless forgetful of God, for they have no confidence in confession.
[Historical/Literal Note] "Death," therefore, is mortal sin; "hell" (the grave) is the blindness of despair
[Commentary] Or: After temporal death, there is no confession leading to pardon, much less in hell. Therefore, "who shall give thee thanks?" implies: "who will confess to thee for pardon in hell, where no forgiveness is found?"
Ps 6:6. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
[Commentary] "Groaning" is so called because it is a doubled mourning, when we remember our evils and are terrified by fear of future punishment. "Bed" refers to bodily pleasure, which a person can wash with tears if he happens to weep over it through heavenly inspiration. "Couch" signifies the heap of sins, which a person waters with tears so that by the same most wholesome rain sins may be blotted out. Moreover, a "bed" is named from chosen and soft herbs, upon which the bodies of those resting were anciently laid to sleep. "To water" signifies more abundantly than "to wash." He who daily waters his couch with tears cannot have the pomp of lusts steal into his thoughts.
Ps 6:7. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
[Commentary] "Eye" is so called as if "quicker light," because it quickly looks upon what is presented, or because what is hidden by covering eyelids is kept secret. Hence, here he calls the eye of the heart troubled, that is,
[Historical/Literal Note] the entire ruling faculty of my heart has trembled. "Waxed old" means: I have remained in the antiquity of the old man, Adam. "Among all mine enemies" means among demonic spirits or among our own sins, which are called enemies because they lead our souls to the abyss and flatter us mortally to that end.
Ps 6:8. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
[Commentary] The prophet asks the company of evildoers to depart from him so that he may serve his Lord more securely, so that having fled from such things, he who had sinned through evil association might appear most devoted to the Lord's commands. In this way also he proves that he has come to full correction, because he willed to separate himself from the society of the wicked. Hence it follows: "The Lord hath heard..."
Ps 6:9. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.
[Commentary] "Supplication" is frequent prayer offered with piety, and it is supplication alone that is fitting when excessive and obtains what is urgently sought. It is not without meaning that in a single petition he says three times that the Lord has granted what he asked, namely, to show that the holy Trinity was present to his request.
Ps 6:10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them be turned back, and be ashamed suddenly.
[Commentary] When he says "let them be ashamed," he desires sinners to be enlightened by such compunction that they may be ashamed of what they previously did and amend. "Let them be sore vexed" means by fear of the future judgment. By saying "mine," he relaxed his hatred, to whom a multitude of offenses had been forgiven. "Let them be turned back" means that they may not be permitted to go where they are tending, that is, to sin.
[Historical/Literal Note] Let them be ashamed, not lightly but vehemently; not tomorrow, but quickly.
[Commentary] And see how this penitent, immediately heard and freed from sins, obeying the rule of the Gospel, prays for his enemies that they may be converted, so that just as he himself received pardon, so his carnal enemies may happen to return to the grace of the Lord.
[PRAYER FROM PSALM 6]
God, Hearer of all, hear the suppliant voice of our weeping, and grant perpetual safety to our weaknesses, so that as you deign to look upon the groaning of our toil, you may always console us with your mercy. Through [Christ our Lord].
CONTINUE
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