Psalms 88:15
Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face:
Open Psalms 88:15 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- justitia et judicium præparatio sedis tuæ : misericordia et veritas præcedent faciem tuam.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- δικαιοσύνη καὶ κρίμα ἑτοιμασία τοῦ θρόνου σου· ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθεια προπορεύσεται πρὸ προσώπου σου.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 89:15
- צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ
Haydock's commentary
Preparation. Hebrew, "basis."
Face. Like guards. (Menochius)
He extols the mercy, and still more the fidelity of God. (Calmet)
Whether he punished, or reward, all tends to promote his glory, and is perfectly just. (Worthington)
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
Clement of Alexandria The Instructor, Chapter IX. That It is the Prerogative of the Same Power to Be Beneficent and to Punish Justly. Also the Manner of the Instruction of the Logos
There is a twofold species of fear, the one of which is accompanied with reverence, such as citizens show towards good rulers, and we towards God, as also right-minded children towards their fathers. “For an unbroken horse turns out unmanageable, and a son who is let take his own way turns out reckless.” The other species of fear is accompanied with hatred, which slaves feel towards hard masters, and the Hebrews felt, who made God a master, not a father. And as far as piety is concerned, that which is voluntary and spontaneous differs much, nay entirely, from what is forced. “For He,” it is said, “is merciful; He will heal their sins, and not destroy them, and fully turn away His anger, and not kindle all His wrath.” See how the justice of the Instructor, which deals in rebukes, is shown; and the goodness of God, which deals in compassions. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm LXXXIX
15. “Righteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy seat” ( ver. 14 ). Thy righteousness and judgment will appear in the end: they are now hidden. Of Thy righteousness it is treated in another Psalm, “on the hidden things of the Son.” There will then be a manifestation of Thy righteousness and judgment: some will be set on the right, others on the left hand: and the unbelieving will tremble, when they see what now they mock at, and believe not: the righteous will rejoice, when they shall see what they now see not, yet believe. “Righteousness and judgment are the preparation of Thy seat:” especially in the Day of Judgment. …