PSALM CXVIII. (BEATI .) Of the excellence of virtue, consisting in the love and observance of the commandments of God. Iniquity. Hebrew, "lying." Let me not imitate the wicked. (Haydock) --- Remit the punishment of my sins, (Psalm cvi. 17.; Calmet) --- also original sin, and its effects. (St. Hilary) --- Protect me from falling. (Worthington) Heart. Man runs, but God must impart grace. (Worthington) --- An enlarged heart sometimes denotes the capacity of understanding, 3 Kings iv. 29. (Calmet) --- But it is a singular mercy of God to make us love his commands. (St. Augustine) Always. Hebrew hekeb, means also, "for the reward," (Pagnin; Haydock; ver. 112.) or step by step. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- Make me love thy commandments. (Worthington) Heart. Enable me to keep and to understand thy law, ver. 1, 2. (Worthington) --- We must observe what we know, that we may receive greater lights. (Haydock) Desired. Free-will concurs with grace. (Worthington) Covetousness. Either of money, or any unlawful object, 1 Timothy vi. 10. (Haydock) The word is very comprehensive. (Berthier) --- Batsah is rendered mammon by the Chaldean. (Calmet) Vanity. Idols, worldly prosperity, &c., (Psalm xxxvi. 1, 7.; (Calmet) shews, (St. Ambrose) and all dangerous objects. (Haydock) --- We must pray that God will take away the occasions of sin, and help us to advance in virtue. (Worthington) Reproach. Hidden sins of thought, (St. Ambrose) or the sarcasms of the Babylonians. (Calmet) --- Sin is odious, because it is contrary to God's law, which is most delightful. (Worthington) --- The saints have been often ridiculed, Jeremias xx. 7., and Acts xxvi. 24. (Haydock) Quicken. The just prays for greater perfection, and for perseverance. (Worthington)