Continuing my posts of patristic texts coinciding with this Sunday’s Psalm study.
Hallelouia.
Praise God among his saints;
praise him in the firmament of his power!
Praise him for his acts of dominance;
praise him according to the abundance of his greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with harp and lyre!
Praise him with drum and dance;
praise him with strings and instrument!
Praise him with tuneful cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let all breath praise the Lᴏʀᴅ!
Hallelouia. (Psalm 150 LXX*)
He is God not only of Jews, according to the divine apostle, but also of nations. Actually, in the hundred and forty-fourth psalm† he said, “Let all flesh bless his holy name,” and here, Let all breath praise the Lord. In the former case, however, he did not summon only flesh, nor in this case only breath. Rather, through both the one and the other he urges both body and spirit to sing the praises of the God of all. The conclusion of the whole work of the Psalms is admirable, and in keeping with the purpose of inspired composition: inspired composition urges those who have attained it to sing the praises of the Benefactor. We do not, however, only hear the words, but here we also perceive the realization: in each city and village, in fields and on borders, on mountains and hills, and in completely uninhabited wasteland, the praises of the God of all are sung.
* New English Translation of the Septuagint
† I.e., Psalm 145.
Praise God among his saints;
praise him in the firmament of his power!
Praise him for his acts of dominance;
praise him according to the abundance of his greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with harp and lyre!
Praise him with drum and dance;
praise him with strings and instrument!
Praise him with tuneful cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let all breath praise the Lᴏʀᴅ!
Hallelouia. (Psalm 150 LXX*)
He is God not only of Jews, according to the divine apostle, but also of nations. Actually, in the hundred and forty-fourth psalm† he said, “Let all flesh bless his holy name,” and here, Let all breath praise the Lord. In the former case, however, he did not summon only flesh, nor in this case only breath. Rather, through both the one and the other he urges both body and spirit to sing the praises of the God of all. The conclusion of the whole work of the Psalms is admirable, and in keeping with the purpose of inspired composition: inspired composition urges those who have attained it to sing the praises of the Benefactor. We do not, however, only hear the words, but here we also perceive the realization: in each city and village, in fields and on borders, on mountains and hills, and in completely uninhabited wasteland, the praises of the God of all are sung.
Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on the Psalms 150
* New English Translation of the Septuagint
† I.e., Psalm 145.
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