Hesychius of Jerusalem

In his own words on Psalms

• Psalms 6:2

  According to the spiritual meaning, the bones are the companion virtues of a reasonable spirit that will draw one to discernment. There are steadfastness, discretion and the temperance that is strength according to God, justice, and, in short, absolutely every type of excellence, which, when they are not found in us (that is, properly provided and in order), it is inevitable that the spirit, since it does not have fitting strength, is thoroughly stirred up with those inordinate passions that are in it.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 6:2

• Psalms 8:1

  The church says, "O Lord, our Lord." For after the recognition of Christ when one is freed from the slavery of idolatry, one begins to call on God and the Lord. Always the whole earth truly is full of the marvelous creations, the works of God. And even more marvelous the name of that One, namely, Christ, has been made wonderful among all the nations and foreign peoples through faith in him.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 8:2

• Psalms 13:1

  The forgetfulness of God [would be] a very serious thing, even temporarily. It would mean death, the loss of immortality.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 13:1

• Psalms 16:8

  Do you see the equal worth of the Son with the Father? Sometimes the Son is said to stand or to sit on the right; now they grant the right to the Father, so that you may say that there is one power, that of the Father (the begetter) and that of the begotten (the Son), even if now he is humbled on account of the flesh.

  Large COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 16:7

• Psalms 17:12

  The demons surround our mind and try to entangle it like a wild beast, … and the richest baits are sinners who themselves have been allured by desires.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 17:9

• Psalms 17:14

  Here the psalmist is not criticizing the children's food, as some would think (for those things that enter the mouth do not make a person unclean), but he regards those to whom God has given many offspring unwise when they leave behind them not excellence but their evils as an inheritance.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 17:14

• Psalms 33:5

  He places kindness before judgment because God uses kindness, then judgment against those who continue in sin.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 33:5

• Psalms 33:16

  The king is not saved through much strength. In vain we care for the strength of the body, and we rashly judge our power from the ones near us, friends and money: for nothing except help sent from heaven is able to save us. Take the example from Goliath or Pharaoh. He, a giant, although he was the strongest, was overcome easily by the simple boy David. The other [Pharaoh] pursued Israel with large chariots and a multitude of horses; he has the sea for a grave.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 33:16

• Psalms 35:16

  Certain ones say the power of the teeth is the evil of speech. He wanted his Father to be a witness against those who blasphemed him.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 35:16

• Psalms 39:2

  When he was silent he ceased from good, that is, from the meditation of the Law, which is the teacher of good. When the grief of the sin renewed, the wound from sin became more serious, as when we lead others from meditation on the Law. It becomes a festering sore, having applied no medicine from divine precepts. And so he has not stood in silence, but when he had returned to his senses, he cast out that very thing bringing such harm to his spirit. He shows this by "my heart grew hot."

  Large COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 39:3

• Psalms 41:3

  May the Lord help him. That even in the present time the truth of these prophetic promises may be found. Many, laboring in sickness and disease, when they leave behind their own poor and needy works, are changed for the better. For if even on a future day judgment triumphs over mercy, what a marvel it would be, if also he would turn away by his rich mercy the death which we await, and he would restore strength? Surely this is the frailty of spirit, which is received in the inner man, wherein he has determined hands or the strength to do things. Even crippled knees are healed that were not strong before to walk on the way to life. Then the mercy bequeathed to the poor heals and revives the spirit held back by its grave disease of folly and brought to death from its sin. He, therefore, immediately added: "I said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, because I have sinned against you."

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 41:4

• Psalms 45:3

  By "sword" he means the cross, using it just like a sword. He hangs amid two enemies, namely, the devil and death. By "thigh" he means the flesh, using the part for the whole.… He says the cross girds itself with the flesh, being powerful in appearance and beauty, so that by this (i.e., his humanity) he takes up our suffering; and by that (i.e., his divinity) he overcomes suffering, as if to have no part in it. We may be able to understand appearance and beauty as mercy. For there is nothing so fitting of God than to deliver his special creation. And "bend the bow" against the enemies, and "prosper" the faithful, and "rule" everywhere, so you may subdue the enemies; you may crown the faithful, because this is fitting of a judge and king.

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 45:5

• Psalms 50:9

  The Jews, hearing these things, did not believe, and they doubted they were able to happen. Now the word is proven. They no longer have the place of their sacrifice, since the temple has been destroyed, the altar collapsed and all their administration carried away, even the city overturned, in which it was necessary to sacrifice according to law.

  Large COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 50:8

• Psalms 50:14

  Be as companions of angels. Imitate the seraphim in glory. Tell the glory of God to the heavens; offer the burnt offering while one praises God continuously. Perhaps "sacrifice of praise" means "virtues" through which God is praised, that is, blessed and glorified, especially when he said to the apostles, "Let your light shine before all people."

  LARGE COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 50:14