Psalm 128
Happy each one who fears Yahweh, * who walks in his ways! The fruit of your labor, yes, you shall eat; * happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
Like a fruitful vine shall be your wife * within your house,
your children like olive shoots * around your table.See how the Reliable blesses * the man who fears Yahweh. May Yahweh of Zion bless you!
Enjoy the prosperity of Jerusalem * all the days of your life.
Enjoy the children of your children, * the peace of Israel's Most High.
1. A gradual canticle.
128:0 This is Psalm 128 in the whole Psalter, the 28th in the third part, the 9th Gradual Psalm, the 4th of those pertaining to the pursuit of good. Since there has already been a treatment of firmness of purpose (Ps 125), devotion in action (Ps 126), and right intention (Ps 127), here there is treated diligence in acting well, which is founded in fear of the Lord, which makes one love, according to Job 9:28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know thou wilt not hold me innocent. —Qoheleth 7:19 He who fears God neglects nothing (Vul). He is speaking here of divine fear, and the good it does for the soul, arousing diligence in doing good. The title has previously been explained.
The Psalm has two parts, in which he declares blessed those who fear God, (1) with regard to happiness in general, (2) with regard to benefits coming from fear of the Lord in spiritual things: "The fruit of your labor". In the first, he (1) declares blessed those who fear God, (2) assigns a reason why: "who walks".
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
Happy each one who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways!128:1 The idea is: Everything must be referred to God and a reward is expected from him after death, but one cannot get this without great carefulness, which is generated by fear of the Lord. So happy each one who fears Yahweh. —Ps 112:1 Happy the man who fears Yahweh. —Prov 28:14 Happy the man who fears Yahweh always. —Qoheleth 8:12 I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. —Sir 40:17 Goodness [Albert: fear of the Lord] will never be cut off. One obvious reason is, as Augustine says, that he is happy who has all he desires. Yet —Ps 34:9 Those who fear him will lack nothing.
The reason is that such a person walks in his ways, and the first step in walking in the Lord's way is to recede from evil —Sir 1:27 (Vul) Fear of the Lord expels sin — and afterwards to do good —Sir 15:1 He who fears Yahweh will do this (Albert: good). —Sir 23:27 Nothing is better than the fear of Yahweh, nothing more salutary than to obey his commandments. Is that not Paradise? And that comes about by fear of the Lord. And this is signified by walking , which is a swift and easy motion. As a result, —Prov 4:11—12 I lead you on straightforward paths. When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.
2. For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
The fruit of your labor, yes, you shall eat; happiness and prosperity shall be yours.128:2.1.1.1 Here are the reasons [above: "benefits"] in particular, (1) regarding merits, (2) regarding rewards: "May Yahweh of Zion". In the first, he (1) mentions their merits, (2) shows that these are the cause of the happiness which they have in hope: "See how the Reliable". In the first, there are their merits with reference to (1) [their labor], (2) their sensuality, which must be subject to reason: "Like a fruitful vine", (3) their action: "your children". In the first, there is (1) the happiness enjoyed by reason in good work, (2) real happiness at the homeland in the future: "and prosperity". The idea is: They are blessed who fear the Lord and walk in his ways, and you, who fear the Lord, you shall eat, nourishing yourself inwardly and taking delight in suffering, the fruit of your labor, which you already enjoy by hope. For the soul that delights in good works and is nourished by them already possesses eternal goods by certain hope. Therefore Paul said —2 Tim 2:6 It is the hard—working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. —2 Tim 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And the Lord said —John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life. —Is 3:10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. —Wis 3:15 The fruit of good works is, not "will be" glorious. What kind of reward? —Prov 15:15 A cheerful heart, which comes from good works, has a continual feast.
This can also be understood of bodily labor. Happy is he who feeds himself by the work of his own hands. —1 Thes 4:11 Work with your own hands, as we have charged you. And Paul said of himself —Acts 20:34 These hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In this way he drove away from himself the evil of destitution. —Prov 12:11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread.
And prosperity shall be yours, that is, an eternal reward in the future. —Sir 6:20 In cultivating wisdom you will labor but little, and soon, after this life which does not last at all, you will eat of her fruits. —Wis 10:17 She gave holy men the reward of their labors. That is specified in Mt 19:29 He will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
3. Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.
Like a fruitful vine shall be your wife within your house,128:2.1.1.2 Here is the reward with respect to sensuality. I do not mean that there is merit in sensuality, but there is in reason regulating it, so that it abounds in well ordered good works. The idea is: You are happy for delighting in good works according to reason. These are not few, because your wife, that is, your sensuality which must be subject to reason, is like a fruitful vine, because of so many good works, within your house, as it is at hand, ready to serve you. Such a man is truly happy —Sir 26:1 Happy is the husband of a good wife. A woman is good when she is properly subject to her husband, according to Gen 3:16 He shall rule over you. —Zech 8:12 The vine, the soul in that part which deals with earthly things, shall yield its fruit. It will do so abundantly —1 Cor 15:58 Always abounding in the work of the Lord. —1 Thes 4:1 Do as you are doing, that you may do so more and more. Or the wife can be understood as wisdom, which is the wife of the just man and bears fruit in that man like a very fruitful vine. —Wis 8:2 I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty. She bears fruit in the just, so that it could be said —Sir 24:17 I bud forth delights like the vine.
Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
your children like olive shoots around your table.128:2.1.1.3 Here is the merit of external action, and he takes up (1) the multiplication of good works done in faith and charity, (2) the delight that this gives to reason: "around your table". The idea is: You are happy when you fear the Lord, for then reason within is happy and the sensual part abounds in good works. Likewise, your children, that is, your external good works, are like olive shoots, with the green of faith and the oil of charity. These two must be in olives; otherwise they do not taste good. As far as faith is concerned, —Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please him. Nor can one do without charity —1 Cor 13:3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. —Prov 11:28 The righteous will flourish like a green leaf. —Jer 11:16 "A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit" is what Yahweh called you. And that is around your table, which would be circular, so that you may feed from your produce.
Or your children are the faithful and just, who are born from the marriage between Christ and the Church, and are peaceful like young olive plants —Gen 8:11 The dove came back to him with a freshly plucked olive leaf, a sign of reconciliation. And that is around your table, not only (1) the altar, at which they partake, but also (2) the dinner table, which is a table of bodily refreshment which God gives to his own, but also to the evil —2 Sam 9:10 Mephibosheth your master's son shall always eat at my table. —Sir 6:10 There is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble. (3) sacred Scripture —Ps 23:5 You prepare a table before me. —Prov 9:2 Wisdom has mixed her wine, she has set her table. (4) the Eucharist —1 Cor 10:21 You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. This is real participation in the reality of the sacrament, although only in a sacramental way. (5) the real [heavenly] refreshment —Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.
4. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
See how the Reliable blesses the man who fears Yahweh.128:2.1.2 He shows that the meritorious action just described is the cause of the happiness which the man who fears God has in hope. The idea is: You will eat the fruit of your labor, and your wife will be fruitful like a vine, and your children will be like young olive trees. Thus shall the man, who has these merits because of his fear of the Lord, be blessed. His blessing is held now in hope, and it comes from the meritorious work he did because he fears Yahweh. —Sir 1:11 He who fears Yahweh will have a happy end; even on the day of his death he will be blessed. —Sir 25:15 (Vul) Happy is the man who has the gift of fear of the Lord.
5. May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
May Yahweh of Zion bless you! Enjoy the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.128:2.2.1.1 This is about the reward of those who fear the Lord by their desire and choice. He wishes such a person the eternal reward of: (1) obtaining every good, (2) being free from every evil: "the peace". In the first, he wishes him the presence of good (1) absolutely, (2) with regard to others: "Enjoy the children". In the first, he wishes him happiness (1) in his affection, (2) in his intellect: "Enjoy the prosperity".
The idea is: The one who fears God has these things presently by merit; so you who fear the Lord, may Yahweh bless you, from Zion, which is heaven —Prov 10:22 The blessing of Yahweh makes rich. —Mt 25:34 Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Or: May Yahweh of Zion bless you, that is, the Lord who came from Zion, being born of the Jews. —Ps 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shown forth. —Tob 9:6 May the Lord grant heavenly blessing to you. —Deut 33:16 May the favor of Him who dwells in the bush come upon the head of Joseph. —Prov 3:33 Yahweh blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Secondly, may he bless not only your affectivity, but also your intellect, as you enjoy the prosperity of the heavenly Jerusalem all the days of your life, that is constantly and continuously. That cannot apply to the goods of the present life, which constantly go away. But the intellect will be satisfied —Is 60:5 Then you will see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice. This vision is eternal life —John 17:7 This is eternal life, to know you. For he is all good —Is 33:17 You will see the king in his beauty.
6. And mayst thou see thy children's children,
Enjoy the children of your children,128:2.2.1.2 Here he wishes him glory in and from others. The idea is: May the Lord bless you by infusing consolation in your affection and illuminating your intellect with knowledge. May you also see the children of your children, whether natural or spiritual, glorified in heaven. —Tob 9:11 (Vul) May you see the children of your children to the third and fourth generation. For it is a great glory to see one's physical sons there, but much more those one has spiritually engendered. —1 Thes 2:19 What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? In either interpretation, the glory of old men is their grandchildren. These are the fruits of his good works, which he wants to see [videre] —Prov 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands.
peace upon Israel.
the peace of Israel's Most High.128:2.2.2 Here he wishes him the removal of every evil. For true peace removes and expels all evil and bitter things. The idea is: May you see your sons and take pride in them, and see true peace, which excludes all evil, upon Israel. That is the peace asked for above —Ps 122:7 Let there be peace within your walls.
Note that there is (1) peace of reconciliation, which is peace between Israel and others, such as the Lord makes between angels and men, or between men who are different in faith and rite, (2) peace of the chest (pectoris), which is peace in Israel —Luke 2:14 Peace on earth among men with whom he is pleased. It is clear that he is talking about peace of the chest, for there is frequently much tribulation on the outside —John 14:27 Peace I leave with you. And there is the (3) peace of eternity, which he prays for here, and that is peace upon Israel —Is 66:12 I will extend peace to her like a river. —Gal 6:16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. —Phil 4:7 The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. May he bring us to that and pour it upon us, who is blessed for all ages. Amen.