Psalms 17:38
I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will not turn again till they are consumed.
Open Psalms 17:38 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Persequar inimicos meos, et comprehendam illos ; et non convertar donec deficiant.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καταδιώξω τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου καὶ καταλήμψομαι αὐτούς, καὶ οὐκ ἀποστραφήσομαι ἕως ἂν ἐκλίπωσιν·
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 18:38
- אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְלֹֽא אָ֝שׁוּב עַד כַּלּוֹתָֽם
Haydock's commentary
I will. Bellarmine would supply "I said I will;" and thus all is connected. But these future victories relate more to Jesus Christ. (Berthier)
David also continued making fresh conquests, (Haydock) and so entirely subdued his enemies all around, that they were not able to make head, even against his successor.
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 The Correction of the Donatists, Chapter 2
11. But this, I say, I forbear to urge. Yet one point I must press: If the true Church is the one which actually suffers persecution, not the one which inflicts it, let them ask the apostle of what Church Sarah was a type, when she inflicted persecution on her hand-maid. For he declares that the free mother of us all, the heavenly Jerusalem, that is to say, the true Church of God, was prefigured in that woman who cruelly entreated her hand-maid. But if we investigate the story further, we shall find that the handmaid rather persecuted Sarah by her haughtiness, than Sarah the handmaid by her severity: for the handmaid was doing wrong to her mistress; the mistress only imposed on her a proper discipline in her haughtiness. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm XVIII
38. “I will follow up mine enemies, and seize them” ( ver. 37 ). I will follow up my carnal affections, and will not be seized by them, but will seize them, so that they may be consumed. “And I will not turn, till they fail.” And from this purpose I will not turn myself to rest, till they fail who make a tumult about me.