Deuteronomy 33:11
Bless, O Lord, his strength, and receive the works of his hands. Strike the backs of his enemies, and let not them that hate him rise.
Open Deuteronomy 33:11 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Benedic, Domine, fortitudini ejus : et opera manuum illius suscipe. Percute dorsa inimicorum ejus : et qui oderunt eum, non consurgant.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- εὐλόγησον, Κύριε, τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ δέξαι· κὰταξον ὀσφὺν ἐχθρῶν ἐπανεστηκότων αὐτῷ, καὶ οἱ μισοῦντες αὐτὸν μὴ ἀναστήτωσαν.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- בָּרֵ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ חֵיל֔וֹ וּפֹ֥עַל יָדָ֖יו תִּרְצֶ֑ה מְחַ֨ץ מָתְנַ֧יִם קָמָ֛יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו מִן יְקוּמֽוּן
Haydock's commentary
Rise. The martial prowess of the Machabees, who were of this tribe, was conspicuous. (Menochius)
As the Levites had no portion with the rest, but were to live by tithes, &c., Moses begs that God would bless their labours, (Calmet) and suffer none to defraud them of their right. (Haydock)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Ambrose On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter L. The Levites ought to be utterly free from all earthly desires. What their virtues should be on the Apostle's own showing, and how great their purity must be. Also what their dignity and duty is, for the carrying out of which the chief virtues are necessary. He states that these were not unknown to the philosophers, but that they erred in their order. Some are by their nature in accordance with duty, which yet on account of what accompanies them become contrary to duty. From whence he gathers what gifts the office of the Levites demands. To conclude, he adds an exposition of Moses' words when blessing the tribe of Levi
268. If any one makes known the just works of the Lord, and offers Him incense, then: “Bless, O Lord, his strength; accept the work of his hands,” that he may find the grace of the prophetic blessing with Him Who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.