Volume 4

Interpretation of the Old Testament.

(Continued.)

Interpretations on the Psalms.

of Missouri, Ohio and other States.

Foreword.

In Walch's old edition, this volume contains 2983 colums, of which only 385 are originally written in German, namely "der Psalter deutsch", "die Summarien über die Psalmen" and "di

fourth part of the complete writings of Luther.

(Continued.) . Luther's work on the first 22 Psalms (operationes in psalmos). 1519-1521... 198

Index of the Psalms Explained in the Fourth Part

The Ninth Psalm.

Dear God, how great is the diversity in the interpretation of this title. One understands the death of Absalom, another the death of Goliath, another a musical instrument, another

The tenth Psalm. *)

1. there is (in my judgment) no psalm which has so actually, abundantly and clearly depicted the character, the manners, the works, the words, the meaning, the fortune (fortunam) o

The eleventh Psalm. *)

The holy fathers understood this psalm of the heretics, and rightly so; but by heretics we must understand all. who teach a righteousness other than the righteousness that is valid

The twelfth Psalm.

1. the octava or the zither of eight strings has been abundantly spoken of in the 6th Psalm. In this Psalm speaks the enraged love, which we call the zeal for God, as the apostle 2

The thirteenth Psalm.

V. 1-3: To sing a psalm of David. O Lord, how long will you forget me? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I be troubled in my soul, and daily fear in my heart

The fourteenth Psalm.

I. These two verses are one in the Hebrew, and the words [in the Vulgate]: Non est usque ad unum [there is also not one] are superfluous in this place, since they stand [in the Heb

The fifteenth Psalm.

1. this psalm follows in better order the previous one, for as in the latter the pattern or example of the wicked is described, such as the Jews gave in the time of Christ and Even

The sixteenth psalm

1 This word has been treated in many ways. The old Latin Bible has, as Augustine says: Tituli inscriptio, because the same Hebrew expression also means a mark or sign, so therefore

The seventeenth Psalm.

1. a new title, "a prayer of David", by which it is sufficiently indicated what this psalm is about, which, as it seems to me, is not unlike what is treated in the fifth psalm and

The eighteenth Psalm.

V. 1, 2: A psalm to sing unto David the servant of the Lord, which spake the words of this song unto the Lord in the days when the Lord delivered him out of the hand of his enemies

The nineteenth Psalm.

1) That this psalm is to be understood from the ministry of the gospel is taught and enforced by Paul when he says Rom. 10:18: "Have they not heard it? For their sound has gone out

The twentieth Psalm.

1 Almost everyone interprets this Psalm of Christ. But it seems to me that this interpretation is too remote to be called literal. Therefore, I believe that this psalm, according t

The twenty-first Psalm.

This psalm is almost in all things the same as the preceding one, so that even here I am not entirely sure whether it is to be understood of Christ alone, or of any king, and it is

[Afterword by Luther to the interpretation of the first 21 Psalms.]

Here I conclude the second decade of the whole Psalter and freely and sincerely confess that I have undertaken very much beyond my strength and do not have this glory of the apostl

Luther's letter to Conrad Pellican at Basel.*)

[End of February] 1521. To the man distinguished by godliness and scholarship, Conrad Pellican, Franciscan, his superior in Christ, Martin Luther sends his greetings.

The twenty-second Psalm. *)

The title of this psalm is translated by the Septuagint as follows: In finem pro susceptione matutina, Psalmus David. But what caused them to make susceptionem or assumtionem out o

4. D. Martin Luther's short interpretation on the first 25 Psalms.*)

Started May 4, finished probably September 25, 1580.

The first Psalm.**)

I. This first psalm belongs to the third commandment, for it praises and extols to us the practice of the divine word, that we should gladly hear, learn and read the same. For this

The second psalm.

Why do the nations rage, and the people speak in vain? The kings of the land rebel, and the lords counsel with one another against the Lord and his anointed. The world can tolerate

The third Psalm.

1 David did not make this psalm when he fled [from Absalom], but after that danger he made a general thing out of his own, and put the history of his danger into this psalm, as an

The fourth Psalm.

1. is an exhortation to faith against temptations and plagues, especially those of fate. For the saints must suffer evil, and not only be persecuted, but also be challenged in all

The fifth psalm.

1. the word "inheritance" is often taken for a reward, fruit, usefulness, as Ps. 127, 3.: "Behold, children are a gift (hereditas) of the Lord." Thus this Psalm is called "for inhe

The sixth Psalm.

Now this is a very high psalm, which we poor people do not understand, and which belongs only to the great saints. The third psalm is about persecution, the fourth about tribulatio

The seventh Psalm.

Apart from these temptations that we have had, there is still one left, namely, sedition, which also the Christians have to suffer. With the title Christ also had to die, as now th

The other part of the Psalm.

V. 12. God is a righteous judge, and a God who daily prophesies. 16 Until now he has acted on his own behalf before God, has offered himself in judgment, has prayed and comforted h

The eighth Psalm.

This psalm is about the kingdom of Christ. For it was fitting that he should add a psalm of consolation after so many trials of the faithful. And the first verse teaches that the k

The Ninth Psalm.

1. the title of this psalm has been acted in many ways. But that I have Germanized, XXX XXXXX [Almuth Labben], high [to] sing, that I understand of the children's voice, of the mot

The tenth Psalm.

(1) Almost all ancient teachers understood this psalm to be about the Antichrist, because it is actually written against the papacy. That is why it has no title, so that it would b

The eleventh Psalm.

(1) This psalm is a complaint against the wicked teachers who persecute the godly. He describes them as very sure and proud heads, like stones and demons, who want to banish him an

The twelfth Psalm.

1. 1) This psalm is also against the false teachers, so that we may see how much harder a battle we have against the devils than against the persecutions. For there are not so many

The thirteenth Psalm.

1. 1) This psalm is about the affliction of a single person, for it is directed against the spirit of sadness, which is a very great affliction. It describes the thoughts of a sorr

The fourteenth Psalm.

1. this is also one of the right Psalms, because it does nothing else than to punish the whole world, as Paul explains it in the epistle to the Romans, Cap. 3, 19, that the whole w

The fifteenth Psalm.

(1) This is also a strange psalm, that he begins to dispute with our Lord God, and asks him. But he does this in order to give his doctrine the more prestige, that it is decided by

The sixteenth Psalm.

1. 1) Now this is the third psalm of the person of Christ, and of his suffering and resurrection. He says of him that he first suffered and then was glorified, although he does not

The seventeenth Psalm.

1. 1) This psalm is also against the ungodly nature and hypocrisy. And it appears from this that the dear prophet had more to do with the members of his household than with the ene

The eighteenth Psalm.

(1) This will of course be the last psalm that David made, as can be seen from the other book of Samuel, Cap. 22, 1. ff. that he made it shortly before he died. He never had peace

The nineteenth Psalm.

1. 1) This psalm is about the gospel being spread throughout the world. In the past it was interpreted in various ways, one in this way and another in another. But this is the cont

The twentieth Psalm.

1. 1) This is a clear text for the authorities, and this is an excellent passage to confirm this status, namely the authorities, because it contains their rightful praise. First, t

The twenty-first Psalm.

(1) The Jews understand this psalm par excellence of the king, as if it were a song of joy at the victories of which he spoke in the previous psalms; but it seems to me to be too s

The twenty-second Psalm.

1. 1) The title of this psalm is: Pro susceptione. Augustinus has broken himself hard over this title; however, because it is not translated so rightly, he has erred. For according

The twenty-third Psalm.

1. 1) This is a thanksgiving and promise of both temporal and spiritual goods, namely of the temporal government and the priesthood. But especially it is a thanksgiving of common p

The twenty-fourth Psalm.

1. 1) Content. This is a prophecy how the Gentiles shall be called without the law, and that in a hidden way. According to this calling he abolishes the old law. (2) In order that

The twenty-fifth Psalm.

The psalm is private and of private matters, for there is nothing in it about public preaching or worldly rule, for it is simply a prayer of the conscience of an individual, in whi

5. D. Martin Luther's short interpretation of several other Psalms,

Laid out in 1530 and in the following years. Translated from Latin.

The twenty-ninth Psalm.

1. is even a prophetic psalm, from the preaching of the gospel, and contains in itself how all the saints and worldly wise piety and righteousness are rejected, and the righteousne

The forty-second Psalm.*)

V. 2. 3. As the deer cries out for fresh water, so my soul cries out to you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come to see the face of God? The summa

The forty-fifth Psalm.

V. 2. 3. My heart sings a fine song, I will sing of a king, my tongue is a pen of a good writer. You are the most beautiful. 1. 1) According to the manner of orators, he first draw

The fifty-first Psalm.*)

The content of this psalm is that one does not come to the forgiveness of sins by works, but only by grace; or, that works do not justify, but only faith. Therefore, there is no ot

Division of this Psalm.

The first part is a prayer for the forgiveness of sins. After that he explains the right kind of sin. Finally, he adds some promises, as [v. 19]: "The sacrifices that please God" 2

The fifty-sixth Psalm.

V. 2. God, have mercy on me, for men want to sink me; daily they quarrel and fear me. Our Lord God has never struck anyone dead; but he can certainly withdraw his hand, and leave r

The eighty-first psalm.

1. This is a thanksgiving for the fruits. V. 2. Sing joyfully to God.

The hundred and twenty-eighth Psalm.

V. 1-3 Blessed is he who fears the Lord and walks in his ways. You will be nourished by the work of your hands; good for you, you will do well. Your wife will be like etc. 1. 1) Who

A mocking poem [sarcasmus) against Epicurus

by the same author. Who wants to live in a good säuisch. Like Epicurus is the goal, he thinks nothing of God and man. Believe that it is not God who judges and judges.

The one hundred and thirty-third Psalm.

This psalm is a praise of spiritual unity, how useful and lovely it is. In particular, it teaches how it is to be preserved and what good it brings. (2) Just as the holy oil is not

The one hundred and thirty-seventh Psalm.

V. 1. 2. By the waters of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. Our harps we hung on the willows that are within. (1) Our worship is at a low ebb, and we are here in aff

The one hundred and forty-seventh Psalm,

[from the twelfth verse to the end]. *) V. 12. Praise, Jerusalem, the Lord; praise, Zion, your God.

The one hundred and forty-eighth Psalm.

V. 1. Praise, you heavens, the Lord, praise him on high. 1. This is a common thanksgiving for all the benefits of God.

6. D. Martin Luther's short interpretation on the 23rd, 24th and the beginning of the 25th Psalm.*)

Newly translated from Latin.

The twenty-third Psalm.

1. it praises the Church Christ, her Shepherd, for the instruction, government and refreshment of the Sacrament. 2. dominus regit me ["the Lord governs me", in the Vulgate] is bett

The twenty-fourth Psalm.

This psalm shows which is the true righteousness and which is the right people of God, against the hope of righteousness from the ceremonies, especially among the Jews. 2. plenitud

The twenty-fifth Psalm.

1. is a prayer of Christ in the person of His Church, as Augustine says, asking for forgiveness of sins and grace and deliverance from enemies. V. 1. Aleph. I long for you, O Lord

7 Luther's Interpretation of the Seven Penitential Psalms

[Title and preface of the first edition of 1517. ]

The seven penitential psalms

with German interpretation, according to the written sense, to Christ's and God's grace, next to his same true knowledge, thoroughly judged. [Printed in March or April 1517.]

The first penitential psalm,

(1) To explain this psalm, there are a few things to remember. The first: In all suffering and trials, man should first run to God and recognize and accept that everything is sent

The other penitential psalm,

in number the thirty-second. 3) Jenaer (1): their vice or.

The third penitential psalm,

in the number of the thirty-eighth. 1.a ) This psalm paints most clearly the manner, word, work, thoughts and gestures of a true repentant heart.

The fourth penitential psalm,

in number the fifty-first. 5. to you alone I am a sinner and an offender in your sight, so that you alone may be justified in your words and overcome (or stand) when you are judged

The fifth penitential psalm,

in the number of one hundred and two. 1. the "prayer" is that he desires mercya ); the "cry" is that he declares his misery; as then follows:

The sixth penitential psalm,

in the number of one hundred and thirty. 3) Lead - maintain.

The seventh penitential psalm,

in the number of one hundred and forty-third. 1. all psalms, all scriptures call toa ) grace, praise grace, seek Christ, and praise God's work alone, all men's work.

Luther's interpretation of the fifteen songs in the higher choir, Ps. 120 to 134.)

Declared 1531 to 27 Oct. 1533. Published 1540. Newly translated from the Latin.

Interpretations of the fifteen songs in the higher choir,

In the entrance to my lectures I have often indicated beforehand with what intention we set out to interpret the holy Scriptures, namely, not because we wish to bring forward somet

From the title of the songs in the higher choir.

First of all, the question arises here about the title of these psalms, why they have the inscription: "Songs in the higher choir" (psalmi graduum [StufenpfalmenP, or as others tra

The hundred and twenty-third Psalm. *)

I believe that this psalm is an invocation of divine help against evil tongues, or against the harm that evil tongues, that is, heretics, do to the church when they teach against r

The one hundred and twenty-first Psalm.

The previous psalm was a prayer for the preservation of pure doctrine against the tongues of heretics and ungodly opinions, for this is the greatest and main battle of Satan agains

The hundred and twenty-second Psalm.

Although the name of the author is not given for these Psalms, 1) the manner of speech sufficiently indicates that they originate from David, the best and highest poet. For there a

The one hundred and twenty-third Psalm.

This psalm, as you see, is quite short, therefore it is a suitable example, which shows that the power of prayer is not in many words, but in the spirit. For even a few words can c

The one hundred and twenty-fourth Psalm.

That this psalm was written by David proves firstly the fervor of faith in theology, secondly the peculiarity in grammar. For these are the two main pieces that he has before other

The one hundred and twenty-fifth Psalm.

The preceding psalm was a thanksgiving and a sacrifice of praise for the saints to know that they are being helped faithfully and in due time; this psalm, which follows, has almost

The one hundred and twenty-sixth Psalm.

Theologians argue about what kind of captivity this psalm is talking about. Some understand it of the Babylonian captivity, others, like the Jews, of the Roman. Some cry that it is

The one hundred and twenty-seventh Psalm.

This psalm has the title: "Solomon's", and it is indeed probable that Solomon is the author of it. Because we see in all books of Solomon that he is in truth a teacher of the world

The hundred and twenty-eighth Psalm.

In the previous psalm, the prophet taught about the two states, namely, the world and the domestic regime; here he also acts almost the same, but in a different way. For although h

The hundred and twenty-ninth Psalm.

This psalm has two parts. In the first, he gives thanks for the constant defense and salvation of God's people; in the second, he prays against the adversaries, and in praying, he

The One Hundred and Thirty-Third Psalm.

We also count this psalm among those that are particularly outstanding. For it deals with the most important doctrine for our salvation, namely justification, the pure knowledge of

The one hundred and thirty-first Psalm.

This psalm speaks of almost the same subject as the previous psalm, except that it expresses a little more clearly the contrast by which it shows that the heart is depressed by the

The one hundred and thirty-second Psalm.

This psalm, whether it was written by Solomon, as some think, or by David, is a prayer for the kingdom and the priesthood. For these are the two most noble gifts in this life and i

The one hundred and thirty-third Psalm.

Although this psalm is short, it is also bright and clear enough as far as the matter and the meaning are concerned, with the exception of two foreign (barbaris) or rather holy and

The one hundred and thirty-fourth Psalm.

This is the last psalm among those which have the title: "Songs in the higher choir." In them you have heard many important and useful teachings, almost of all the articles of the