Psalms 63:7
They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall come to a deep heart:
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Scrutati sunt iniquitates ; defecerunt scrutantes scrutinio. Accedet homo ad cor altum,
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἐξηραύνησαν ἀνομίαν, ἐξέλιπον ἐξεραυνῶντες ἐξεραυνήσει· προσελεύσεται ἄνθρωπος καὶ καρδία βαθεῖα,
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 64:7
- יַֽחְפְּֽשׂוּ עוֹלֹ֗ת תַּ֭מְנוּ חֵ֣פֶשׂ מְחֻפָּ֑שׂ וְקֶ֥רֶב אִ֝֗ישׁ וְלֵ֣ב עָמֹֽק
Haydock's commentary
Search. Or, they have made the most diligent investigation, (Berthier) to no purpose. (Haydock)
Thus David and our Saviour were treated.
Heart. That is, crafty, subtle, deep projects and designs; which nevertheless shall not succeed; for God shall be exalted in bringing them to nought, by his wisdom and power. (Challoner)
Hebrew, "both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep." (Protestants) (Haydock)
But, without the points, the Septuagint is accurate. (Berthier)
The Jews, with all their deep machinations to prevent the belief of Christ's resurrection, bringing even sleeping witnesses, only made themselves ridiculous. (St. Augustine) (Haydock)
Achitophel was forced to give way, (2 Kings xvii.; Worthington) though he had been considered as an oracle. (Haydock)
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 XLII
12. “Deep calleth unto deep with the voice of thy water-spouts” ( ver. 7 ). I may perhaps finish the Psalm, aided as I am by your attention, whose fervour I perceive. As for your fatigue in hearing, I am not greatly solicitous, since you see me also, who speak, toiling in the heat of these exertions. Assuredly it is from your seeing me labouring, that you labour with me: for I am labouring not for myself, but for you. “Deep calleth unto deep with the voice of thy water-spouts.” It was God whom he addressed, who “remembered him from the land of Jordan and Hermon.” It was in wonder and admiration he spake this: “Abyss calleth unto abyss with the voice of Thy water-spouts.” What abyss is this that calls, and to what other abyss? Justly, because the “understanding” spoken of is an “abyss.” For an “abyss” is a depth that cannot be reached or comprehended; and it is principally applied to a gr …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm LXIV
9. “They have searched out iniquity, they have failed, searching searchings” ( ver. 6 ): that is, deadly and acute designs. Let Him not be betrayed by us, but by His disciple: let Him not be killed by us, but by the judge: let us do all, and let us seem to have done nothing.…