Psalms 114:1
I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.
Open Psalms 114:1 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Alleluja. Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem orationis meæ.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- Ἁλληλουιά. Ἠγάπησα ὅτι εἰσακούσεται ὁ θεὸς τῆς φωνῆς τῆς δεήσεώς μου,
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 116:1
- אָ֭הַבְתִּי כִּֽי יִשְׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֑ה אֶת ק֝וֹלִ֗י תַּחֲנוּנָֽי
Haydock's commentary
Alleluia occurs in Hebrew at the end of the foregoing psalm, (Haydock) with which this and the following have an intimate connexion, alluding to the liberation of the captives. Hammond discovers some Chaldeisms, which confirms the supposition that it was composed about that time. (Calmet)
Yet this does not deter Muis, &c., from ascribing the psalm to David, reigning in peace, (Haydock) though others think he alludes to some of his persecutions, and it certainly appears to be of the same nature with the 55th [psalm], which was written after his escape from Achis. (Calmet)
The sentiments of our Saviour, or of his Church under persecution, (St. Augustine) or those of a saint entering into glory, are here expressed. (St. Jerome)
The faithful sigh after their heavenly country. (Berthier)
Christ speaks here as in the 21st psalm. (Houbigant)
Prayer. He always hears me, which prompts me to love. (Worthington)
Because. Hebrew ci maybe rendered "therefore," as in the next psalm, ver. 1., and Luke vii. 47. (Calmet)
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 Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm CXVI
1. “I have loved, since the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer” ( ver. 1 ). Let the soul that is sojourning in absence from the Lord sing thus, let that sheep which had strayed sing thus, let that son who had “died and returned to life,” who had “been lost and was found;” let our soul sing thus, brethren, and most beloved sons. Let us be taught, and let us abide, and let us sing thus with the Saints: “I have loved: since the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.” Is this a reason for having loved, that the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer? and do we not rather love, because He hath heard, or that He may hear? What then meaneth, “I have loved, since the Lord will hear”? Doth he, because hope is wont to inflame love, say that he hath loved, since he hath hoped that God will listen to the voice of his prayer?