Lecture 22

^3:64^ Thau. You shall render them a recompense, O Lord, according to the works of their hands.

^3:65^ Thau. I shall give them a buckler of heart, your labor.

^3:66^ Thau. You shall persecute them in anger, and shall destroy them from under the heavens, O Lord.

66. Here he asks for revenge against his enemies. And because of his confidence in his prayer being heard, he sets forth more a prediction than a prayer; whence, he does two things.

First, he predicts the just retribution of sinners: you shall render them, namely, punishments. According to the works of their hands give to them: render to them their reward (Ps 27:4).

Second, he sets forth the determination of their punishment:

and first, as to its duration: I will give them your labor, that is, the sin in which they made you suffer. I am weary of bearing them (Isa 1:14): a buckler of heart, that is, for their sins you will reward them by putting on their hearts a shield, namely, a hardness, so that they are not penetrated by the arrows of your grace, in the sword of your word. His body is like molten shields (Job 41:6).

Second, as to the punishment of the body: you shall persecute them, with various afflictions, and then, you shall destroy, by death and eternal damnation; under the heavens, those who wanted to be in the heavens. Bring upon them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy them (Jer 17:18). So shall you pursue them with your tempest: and shall trouble them in your wrath (Ps 82:16).