Psalms 144:9
The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Open Psalms 144:9 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Suavis Dominus universis, et miserationes ejus super omnia opera ejus.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- χρηστὸς Κύριος τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν, καὶ οἱ οἰκτειρμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 145:9
- טוֹב יְהוָ֥ה לַכֹּ֑ל וְ֝רַחֲמָ֗יו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָֽׂיו
Haydock's commentary
Works. The people of Israel (ver. 10., and Psalm lxxxix. 18.; Ferrand) and all mankind, who are all invited to embrace the true faith, and the mercy of God. (Calmet)
The effects of mercy shine forth above all his other works, in the redemption, and in the recalling of sinners, when they have gone astray. (Worthington)
This sense is good, but not literal. His mercy extends to all. (Berthier)
Yet he punishes the reprobate for ever, chastising their works. (St. Augustine)
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 CXLV
7. “Merciful and pitiful is the Lord; long-suffering, and very merciful” ( ver. 8 ). “Sweet is the Lord to all, and His compassions reach into all His works” ( ver. 9 ). Were He not such as this, there would be no seeking to recover us. Consider thyself: what didst thou deserve, O sinner? Despiser of God, what didst thou deserve? See if aught occur to thee but penalty, if aught occur to thee but punishment. Thou seest then what was due to thee, and what He hath given, who gave gratis. …
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 12.18-24
God would have her rather than sacrifices. Much does He discourse concerning her: so He loves her. “He will relieve” (it is said) “the widow” and “the fatherless” ( Ps. cxlvi. 9 ) and the poor. God wishes to be called from her. “The Lord is pitiful and merciful, long-suffering, and of great mercy” ( Ps. cxlv. 8 ), and true. The mercy of God is over all the earth. She hath saved the race of mankind (see Ps. cxlv. 9 ): For unless she had pitied us, all things would have perished. “When we were enemies” (see Rom. v. 10 ), she “reconciled” us, she wrought innumerable blessings; she persuaded the Son of God to become a slave, and to empty Himself [of His glory]. ( Phil. ii. 7 .)