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Psalms 87:1

A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite.

Challoner: MahelethA musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.-- Ibid.

Challoner: UnderstandingOr a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.

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The verse in its languages

Vulgate (Clementine): Canticum Psalmi, filiis Core, in finem, pro Maheleth ad respondendum. Intellectus Eman Ezrahitæ.
Septuagint (Swete): ᾨδὴ ψαλμοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς Κόρε· εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ μαελὲθ τοῦ ἀποκριθῆναι· συνέσεως Αἱμὰν τῷ Ἰσραηλείτῃ.
Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 88:1: שִׁ֥יר מִזְמ֗וֹר לִבְנֵ֫י קֹ֥רַח לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל מָחֲלַ֣ת לְעַנּ֑וֹת מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְהֵימָ֥ן הָאֶזְרָחִֽי

Haydock's commentary

Maheleth. A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another, (Challoner) in doleful music. (Worthington)

See Psalm xli., and lii. (Menochius)

Hebrew may imply, "on infirmity, (Montanus) or sorrow," from ele. (Berthier)

The subject is very mournful, and relates to the captives, and to Christ's suffering. (Calmet)

Understanding. Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman, the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name. (Challoner)

We read of Eman, a descendant of Juda by Zara, (1 Paralipomenon ii. 6.; Calmet) and if he composed this piece, as the Jews and Lightfoot improbably suppose, it must be the most ancient (Calmet) writing extant. (Haydock)

There was a son of Joel, and a seer of king David, of the same name, 1 Paralipomenon vi. 33., and xxv. 1. But they are not styled Ezrahites. This person was probably the brother of Ethan, the Ezrahite, who might be young under David, and a man of consummate wisdom under his successor, 3 Kings iv. 31. The psalm may express the sentiments of David, or of any other under tribulation, as well as those of Jesus Christ, (Berthier) who speaks herein, (Houbigant) and who expects that we should answer him by an imitation of his virtues. (St. Augustine) (Worthington)

The Ezrahite. Hebrew haezrachi. (Haydock)

Septuagint, &c., read incorrectly, "Israelite," (Calmet) and some copies have "Aitham," or Ethan, as in the following psalm, instead of Eman. (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.