Volume 5

Interpretations of the Psalms

(continued),

Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.

of Missouri, Ohio and other States.

Foreword.

While the previous volume contained the interpretations Luther gave on groups of psalms, this volume brings his explanations on individual psalms. The only exception to this is the

Content

Open this section of Luther's works.

The fifth part of Luther's complete writings.

Dr. Martin Luther's Interpretation of the Old Testament. VI Interpretations on the Psalms.

Index of the Psalms Explained in the Fifth Part

by order of the number.

VI. D. Martin Luther's Interpretation on the Psalms.

(Continued.)

9. interpretation of the four psalms of consolation,

namely the 37th 62nd 94th and 109th Psalms, to Queen Mary in Hungary.*) The Most Serene Highborn Women, Mary, Queen of Hispania etc., Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, my most gracious

The 37th Psalm of David,*)

To comfort those who are impatient that the wicked do evil, and yet so long remain unpunished in great happiness. 1.How immediately the prophet takes hold of and strikes the though

The 62nd Psalm.

A Psalm of David for Jeduthun to sing high. (1) This psalm was made by David and arranged to be sung by Jeduthun the singer and his companions "on high," that is, with a bright voi

The 94th Psalm.

V. 1. Lord, God of vengeance, break forth, God of vengeance. (1) This psalm, as may well be understood, is a common prayer of all God's pious children and spiritual people against

The 109th Psalm.

To sing a psalm of David on high. 2) What the "singing up" is, is said above [Ps. 62, § 1]. David made the psalm in the spirit of Christ, who speaks the whole psalm in his own pers

10. interpretation of the second psalm. *)

Explained in public lecture from March 1531; printed 1548. Short preface [Luther's) on the second Psalm.**)

Interpretation of the second Psalm,

publicly recited by Martin Luther in 1531,*) in the month of March. This second Psalm, as we learn from the Acts of the Apostles [Cap. 4, 25. ff.], served to offer God the first pr

11. interpretation of the eighth psalm.*)

[Preface by D. Georgius Cölestinus.] To the noble, strict and honorable Curt von Arnim, churfürstlichen Brandenburgischen Hofmarschalle, and Berndt von Arnim, Gebrüdern, Erbsässen

The eighth Psalm of David.

1 Let us speak a little of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For he hath commanded us to remember him until he come. So he also deserved it for us, that we should never forget

12. sermon on the kingdom of Christ,

from the eighth Psalm. *) Delivered at Merseburg, August 6, 1545, printed in 1546.

13. interpretation of the 23rd Psalm.*)

Laid out (probably) 1535; printed 1538.

The 23rd Psalm,

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He feedeth me in a green pasture, and leadeth me beside the still waters.

14. a sermon on the 26th Psalm,

at Wittenberg, the Friday after Jubilate, when Duke Frederick, Elector, died and was buried.*) May 12, 1525.

15. interpretation of the 37th Psalm of David,

to teach and comfort a Christian man against the mutiny of the wicked and sacrilegious Gleissner.") Issued August 12, 1521.

The seventh*) and thirtieth Psalm

of the royal prophet David, To quench the anger and displeasure in the challenge of the wicked and the wanton.

16. interpretation of the 45th Psalm.*)

Explained in lectures in 1532 and 1533. Issued towards the end of 1533. ALS retranslated from Latin.

Lecture D. Martin Luther on the 45th Psalm,

started in 1532. As I have already said before, I have decided to select a few Psalms for the interpretation, because my work is too uncertain due to my state of health and my busi

17) Interpretation of the 51st Psalm. *)

Explained in lectures in 1532, published in 1538. Newly translated from the Latin.

The psalm Miserere mei Deus.

For Christ's glory and for the benefit of the Church, this glorious interpretation of the venerable Father D. Martin Luther on the fifty-first Psalm has been published. Last spring

18. sermon on the 65th Psalm,

at Dessau before the Princes of Anhalt.*) Held in July 1534, issued 1534.

The 65th Psalm,

By D. Mart. Luth. at Dessau before the princes of Anhalt in 1534. Because there is now a time when it is necessary to call upon God and pray, especially for a gracious weather and

The 65th Psalm.

[1. A Psalm of David, to be sung to song]. 2 God, you are praised in the silence of Zion, and vows are paid to you.

19. German interpretation of the 68th Psalm,

from the Easter Day, Ascension and Pentecost.*) Versaht in May 1521, printed in 1521.

The 68th **) Psalm of the Easter Day, Ascension Day and Pentecost Day.

V. 2. 1) GODa ) arise, that his enemies may be scattered, and his haters flee from his presence. b) When Christ died, God acted as if he were asleep and did not see the raging Jews

21. interpretation of the 82nd Psalm.*)

[A Psalm Assaph.] 1. God stands in the community of God, and is judge among the gods.

22. interpretation of the 90th Psalm. *)

Explained in lectures in 1533 and 1534; printed in 1541. Newly translated from the Latin.

Interpretation of the 90th Psalm,

by Doctor Martin Luther at the school in Wittenberg in 1534 in a public lecture. Since God has called us to be teachers of the churches, I have often said this about our ministry:

What this psalm is about.

The whole human race is so deeply fallen and blinded by original sin that man does not only not know himself and God, but also not even his misfortune, which he feels and suffers;

From the title of the psalm.

Now the title is easy: "A Prayer of Moses." Jerome notes among other things in this Psalm that in the Psalms it is an established custom that always the ten following Psalms come f

23. interpretation of the 101st Psalm. *)

[1. A Psalm of David.] Bon grace and justice will I sing, and praise thee, O Lord.

[Interpretation of the 101st Psalm.] *)

V. 1. I will sing of grace and justice, and praise you, O Lord. 3. soon in the beginning he gives such a teaching to the kings and princes that they should praise and thank God whe

24. first interpretation of the 110th Psalm.*)

[Georg Spalatin's letter.] Georgius Spalatinus wishes salvation and bliss to the honorable and wise gentleman, Hieronymus Ebner, Losunger 1) at Nuremberg.

The hundred and tenth Psalm*)

of the kingdom and priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ, prophesied and described by King David. 1. 4) God said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

9)B. Augustine:

5) Handwriting: "word". The first print: "warn". 6) Print: from.

25. second interpretation of the 110th Psalm. *)

Preached in 1538, printed in 1539.

The 110th Psalm, Dixit Dominus,

preached and interpreted in 1539. **) 1. this is the right high main psalm made by our dear Lord Jesus Christ, in which both, his person, who he is, namely both, David's promised s

26. interpretation of the 111th Psalm.*)

Open this section of Luther's works.

The hundred and eleventh Psalm interpreted. 1530.

To the strict and firm Caspar von Kokeritz 1) zum Sees, my favorable dear lord and friend. Grace and peace in Christ, our Lord and Savior! Faithful, steadfast, dear Lord and friend

The hundred and eleventh Psalm.

We know well how God instituted the feast of Easter for the people of Israel, in which they were to annually praise His wonders and give thanks for the redemption that He had broug

27. interpretation of the 112th Psalm,*)

of riches, honor and pleasure, as the righteous make good use of them and the wicked abuse them. Preached and gone out Anno 1526.

28. interpretation of the 117th Psalm. *)

To the strict and honorable Hans von Sternberg, knight, my favorable lord and friend. Grace and peace in Christ our Lord. Exalted, honorable, favorable Lord and friend! I recently

The 117th Psalm.

Praise the Lord, all nations; praise him, all peoples. For his goodness and faithfulness are over us forever, alleluia.

29. interpretation of the 118th Psalm.*)

Versaht 13 to 26 June, issued in August 1530. [D. Caspar Creutziger's] preface.

[D. Martin Luther's attribution.]

To the venerable Lord, Friedrichen, Abbot of St. Ilgen, 1) at Nuremberg, my favorable lord and patron. Grace and peace in Christ our Lord and Savior - Venerable, dear Lord and Patr

The beautiful Confitemini, in number the 118th Psalm.

V. 1. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is kind and his goodness endures forever. This verse is a common thanksgiving for all the benefits that God the Lord shows to all the world, d

30. 119th Psalm. *)

useful to pray for the word of God against the great enemy of it, the pope and man's doctrine, translated by D. Martin Luther. Issued about October 1521.

31. interpretation of the 120th Psalm. *)

in a Christian letter of consolation to the people of Miltenberg, how they should take revenge on their enemies. February 1524.

The 120th Psalm.

1. I called to the Lord in my distress, and he heard me. 2 Lord, save my soul from evil mouths and false tongues.

32. interpretation of the 127th Psalm,*)

to the Christians at Riga in Liefland. D. Martin Luther to all dear friends in Christo, in Riga and in Liefland.

The 127th Psalm.

1 Where the Lord buildeth not the house, they that build it labor in vain. Where the Lord does not keep the city, the watchman watches in vain. 2 It is in vain that ye rise up earl

33. interpretation of the 147th Psalm.*)

provided in December 1531, dated January 1532.

The 147th Psalm, Lauda Jerusalem.

To the strict and honorable Hans Löser, hereditary marshal of Saxony, my favorable lord and good friend. Grace and peace in Christ, strict, honorable, dear lord and friend. When I

The 147th Psalm.*)

12. Praise, O Jerusalem, the Lord; praise, O Zion, your God. 013 For he maketh strong the bars of thy gates, and blesseth thy children within.

34. short interpretation on the 19th Psalm,*)

It was written in Latin by Philipp Melanchthon and later Germanized by Georg Spalatin. Written probably in 1524; printed in 1531.

35a. A sermon on Psalm 68:19,

from the power of the Ascension of Christ.*) Held on the day after the Ascension, May 31, 1527. Printed 1527.

35b. A comforting sermon about the fruit and power of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ,

on the saying of the 68th Psalm, v. 19: Thou art ascended on high etc., attracted and explained by St. Paulum Eph. 4, 8. Preached by D. Atari. Luth. Anno 1527.*) The day after the A

VII. Interpretation of the preacher

Finished in lectures in November 1526. Printed in 1532. Newly translated from Latin.

Ecclesiastes Solomon

Preface by Doctor Martin Luther on Ecclesiastes, laid out from the school in Wittenberg.

The Ecclesiastes of Solomon with notes by D. Martin Luther.*)

This book is one of the most difficult books of the whole Scripture, which no one has yet completely recovered; indeed, it has been so corrupted by the improper interpretations of

The first chapter.

V. 1. These are the words of Ecclesiastes, 1) the son of David, king of Jerusalem. The title Ecclesiastes or "Preacher" is, I believe, to refer more to the name of the book than to

The second chapter.

V. 1 I said in my heart, "Well, I will live well and have good days. But behold, that was also vain. In the previous chapter, he showed that the worries and troubles and suggestion

The third chapter.

V. 1. To every thing there is a season, and to every purpose under heaven there is an hour. Here, too, Solomon speaks of human works, that is, of those that were done according to

The fourth chapter.

V. 1. I turned and looked at 1) all the wronged under the sun: and, behold, there were tears of them that were wronged, and had no comforter; and they that wronged them were too mi

The fifth chapter.

Cap. 4, 17. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and come that thou mayest hear. This is better than the sacrifice of fools, for they know not what evil they do. The

The sixth chapter.

V. 1. 2. It is a calamity that I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men. One to whom God has given riches, goods and honor, and lacks none that his heart desires; and

The seventh chapter.

V. 2. 3. A good rumor is better than good ointment; and the day of death, neither the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of lamentation than to go to the house of drunke

The eighth chapter.

V. 2. I wait for the mouth of the king, and the oath of God. We have seen that Solomon in this book deals with sending people away from doing. Since he does this, it requires no le

The ninth chapter.

V. 1. For I have taken all these things to heart, to search out all these things, that the righteous and the wise are, and their subjects in the hand of God. But no man knoweth nei

The tenth chapter.

Cap. 9, 17. This means that the words of the wise are more valid among the silent than the shouts of the lords among the fools. The sum of this passage is that Solomon wants to com

The eleventh chapter.

Cap. 10, 20. Do not curse the king in your heart, and do not curse the rich man in your bedchamber; for the birds of the air carry the voice, and the fitties repeat it. The previou

The twelfth chapter.

Cap. 11:9 So rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be of good cheer in your youth. After describing a rare bird, namely such a man who has lived all the time of his

VIII Brief Interpretation of the Song of Songs.*)

Explained in lectures probably as early as 1526, in print dated 1538. Newly translated from Latin.

D. Martin Luther's short and very clear interpretation on the Song of Songs. *)

We have undertaken to interpret this book, not because we have the desire to show our erudition, as some do, who spend all their work on the dark books, because this may serve to m

The first chapter.

V. 1. the Song of Songs [Solomon]. Now the Song of Songs takes its name either from its subject matter, because it deals with the greatest of all human works, namely, worldly rule,

The second chapter.

The first chapter contained a thanksgiving for the establishment of the kingdom and its glorious adornment; likewise, the consolation that the authorities should use in civil dange

The third chapter.

V. 1. in my bed. So far we have heard how Solomon generally sang about his worldly regime, in which he had the service of God, which was ordered by God Himself, now he gradually be

The fourth chapter.

V. 1. Behold, my friend, you are beautiful. In the third chapter, we heard the voice of the bride praising and thanking God for the kingdom ordered by Solomon. In this chapter, the

The fifth chapter.

This is a prayer of the people who recognize the benefits and gifts of God. For it asks that the beloved may come into the garden that he has so adorned with praises, that is, that

The sixth chapter.

Cap. 5, 17. Where has your friend gone? The bride, sad because she lost her bridegroom, looked for him in other cities, but did not find him. Those, however, promise her that they

The seventh chapter.

V. 1. How beautiful is your walk in your shoes, you prince's daughter. Here he describes in a poem the secular regiment, which is so orderly and adorned, and presents it as if it w

The eighth chapter.

We have said at the beginning [in the preface] that this book of Solomon is, as it were, a song, in which he sings of the benefits of God, which are shown to his people through the

IX. D. Martin Luther's translation of the prayer of Solomon, 1 Kings 3:5-14.)

As King Solomon prays a princely prayer to God, to all princes and lords for a good example. V. 5. In the city of Gideon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and said to hi