Psalms 55:8
For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces, O God,
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- pro nihilo salvos facies illos ; in ira populos confringes.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ὑπὲρ τοῦ μηθενὸς σώσεις αὐτούς, ἐν ὀργῇ λαοὺς κατάξεις. ὁ θεός,
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 56:8
- עַל אָ֥וֶן פַּלֶּט לָ֑מוֹ בְּ֝אַ֗ף עַמִּ֤ים הוֹרֵ֬ד אֱלֹהִֽים
Haydock's commentary
For nothing shalt thou save them. That is, since they lie in wait to ruin my soul, thou shalt for no consideration favour or assist them, but execute thy justice upon them. (Challoner)
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 LVI
11. “For nothing Thou shalt save them” ( ver. 7 ). He hath taught us even for these very men to pray. However “they shall sojourn and hide,” however deceitful they be, however dissemblers and liers in wait they be; do thou pray for them, and do not say, Shall God amend even such a man, so evil, so perverse? Do not despair: give heed to Him whom thou askest, not him for whom thou askest. The greatness of the disease seest thou, the might of the Physician seest thou not? “They shall sojourn and hide: as my soul hath undergone.” Undergo, pray: and there is done what? “For nothing Thou shalt save them.” Thou shalt make them safe so as that nothing to Thee it may be, that is, so that no labour to Thee it may be. With men they are despaired of, but Thou with a word dost heal; Thou wilt not toil in healing, though we are astounded in looking on. …