Psalms 121:3
Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Jerusalem, quæ ædificatur ut civitas, cujus participatio ejus in idipsum.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- Ἰερουσαλὴμ οἰκοδομουμένη ὡς πόλις ἧς ἡ μετοχὴ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 122:3
- יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥ם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו
Haydock's commentary
Together. Well built and inhabited. The Jews throughout the world considered it as their most dear country. (Calmet)
The participation of spiritual graces (Psalm cxviii. 63., &c.) is a great comfort to Catholics, (Worthington) who look upon the chair of St. Peter at Rome as the centre of unity. (Haydock)
David established order in Jerusalem, when he had made the conquest, and various families contributed to the rebuilding of it. (Berthier)
All the tribes were united under the dominion of David. (Houbigant)
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 On the Holy Trinity, The Will of God is the Higher Cause of All Corporeal Change. This is Shown by an Example
8. I will bring forward an example, if I can, that this may be plainer. There is, we know, in the human body, a certain bulk of flesh and an outward form, and an arrangement and distraction of limbs, and a temperament of health; and a soul breathed into it governs this body, and that soul a rational one; which, therefore, although changeable, yet can be partaker of that unchangeable wisdom, so that “it may partake of that which is in and of itself;” as it is written in the Psalm concerning all saints, of whom as of living stones is built that Jerusalem which is the mother of us all, eternal in the heavens. For so it is sung, “Jerusalem is builded as a city, that is partaker of that which is in and of itself.” For “in and of itself,” in that place, is understood of that chiefest and unchangeable good, which is God, and of His own wisdom and will. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm CXXII
4. “Jerusalem that is being built as a city” ( ver. 3 ). Brethren, when David was uttering these words, that city had been finished, it was not being built. It is some city he speaketh of, therefore, which is now being built, unto which living stones run in faith, of whom Peter saith, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house;” that is, the holy temple of God. What meaneth, ye are built up as lively stones? Thou livest, if thou believest: but if thou believest, thou art made a temple of God; for the Apostle Paul saith, “The temple of God is holy, which temple are ye.” This city is therefore now in building; stones are cut down from the hills by the hands of those who preach truth, they are squared that they may enter into an everlasting structure. …