Psalms 96:2
Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Nubes et caligo in circuitu ejus ; justitia et judicium correctio sedis ejus.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- νεφέλη καὶ γνόφος κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ, δικαιοσύνη καὶ κρίμα κατόρθωσις τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 97:2
- עָנָ֣ן וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל סְבִיבָ֑יו צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֽוֹ
Haydock's commentary
Clouds. We could not bear the blaze of the divine majesty, Psalm xvii. 12. Christ veiled himself in our human nature, (Theodoret) in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. (St. Jerome) (Calmet)
God gave the law with terror; and so he will come to judge with integrity. (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
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm XCVII
4. “Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat” ( ver. 2 ).…The Lord Himself saith: “For judgment I am come into this world; that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind.” They who seem unto themselves to see, who think themselves wise, who think healing not needful for them, that they may be made blind, may not understand. And that “they which see not may see;” that they who confess their blindness may obtain to be enlightened. Let there be therefore “clouds and darkness round about Him,” for those who have not understood Him: for those who confess and humble themselves, “righteousness and judgment are the direction of His seat.” He called those who believe in Him His seat: for from them hath He made Himself a seat, since in them Wisdom sitteth; for the Son of God is the Wisdom of God. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm CVI
4. But unless there were some difference between judgment and righteousness, we should not read in another Psalm, “Until righteousness turn again unto judgment.” The Scripture, indeed, loveth to place these two words together; as, “Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His seat;” and this, “He shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day;” where there is apparently a repetition of the same sentiment. And perhaps on account of the resemblance of signification one may be put for the other, either judgment for righteousness, or righteousness for judgment: yet, if they be spoken of in their proper sense, I doubt not that there is some difference; viz. that he is said to keep judgment who judgeth rightly, but he to do righteousness who acts righteously. …
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Matthew XVI. 28
Wherefore out of the cloud? Thus doth God ever appear. “For a cloud and darkness are round about Him;”and, “He sitteth on a light cloud;”and again, “Who maketh clouds His chariot;”and, “A cloud received Him out of their sight;”and, “As the Son of Man coming in the clouds.”
St Ephrem the Syrian Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh, Hymn II
Glory to Him Who sowed His Light in the darkness, and was reproached in His hidden state, and covered His secret things. He also stripped and took off from us the clothing of our filthiness. Glory be to Him on high, Who mixed His salt in our minds, His leaven in our souls. His Body became Bread, to quicken our deadness.