Psalms 73:20
Have regard to thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Respice in testamentum tuum, quia repleti sunt qui obscurati sunt terræ domibus iniquitatum.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἐπίβλεψον εἰς τὴν διαθήκην σου, ὅτι ἐπληρώθησαν οἱ ἐσκοτωμένοι τῆς γῆς οἴκων ἀνομιῶν.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 74:20
- הַבֵּ֥ט לַבְּרִ֑ית כִּ֥י מָלְא֥וּ מַחֲשַׁכֵּי אֶ֝֗רֶץ נְא֣וֹת חָמָֽס
Haydock's commentary
The obscure of the earth. Mean and ignoble wretches have been filled, that is, enriched, with houses of iniquity, that is, with our estates and possessions, which they have unjustly acquired. (Challoner)
Or the captives may thus complain, that they are forced to live among infidels, in constant danger of transgressing the law, (Calmet) while their children are brought up in sin, (Berthier) and ignorance. (Haydock)
Infidels are full of all sorts of iniquity, which they hide in their conscience. (Worthington)
Injustice is often the method of becoming rich. (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 LXXIV
20. “Have regard unto Thy Testament” ( ver. 20 ). Fulfil that which Thou hast promised: the tables we have, for the inheritance we are looking. “Have regard unto Thy Testament,” not that old one: not for the sake of the land of Canaan I ask, not for the sake of the temporal subduing of enemies, not for the sake of carnal fruitfulness of sons, not for the sake of earthly riches, not for the sake of temporal welfare: “Have regard unto Thy Testament,” wherein Thou hast promised the kingdom of Heaven. …