Chapter LXXIII.—[The words] “From the wood” have been cut out of Ps. xcvi.
“And from the ninety-fifth (ninety-sixth) Psalm they have taken away this short saying
of the words of David: ‘From the wood.’458 For when the passage said, ‘Tell ye among the
nations, the Lord hath reigned from the wood,’ they have left, ‘Tell ye among the nations,
the Lord hath reigned.’ Now no one of your people has ever been said to have reigned as
God and Lord among the nations, with the exception of Him only who was crucified, of
whom also the Holy Spirit affirms in the same Psalm that He was raised again, and freed
from [the grave], declaring that there is none like Him among the gods of the nations: for
they are idols of demons. But I shall repeat the whole Psalm to you, that you may perceive
what has been said. It is thus: ‘Sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the
earth. Sing unto the Lord, and bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great,
and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all the gods. For all the gods of the nations
are demons but the Lord made the heavens. Confession and beauty are in His presence;
holiness and magnificence are in His sanctuary. Bring to the Lord, O ye countries of the
nations, bring to the Lord glory and honour, bring to the Lord glory in His name. Take
sacrifices, and go into His courts; worship the Lord in His holy temple. Let the whole earth
be moved before Him: tell ye among the nations, the Lord hath reigned.459 For He hath es-
tablished the world, which shall not be moved; He shall judge the nations with equity. Let
the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad; let the sea and its fulness shake. Let the fields and
all therein be joyful. Let all the trees of the wood be glad before the Lord: for He comes, for
He comes to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people
with His truth.’ ”
Here Trypho remarked, “Whether [or not] the rulers of the people have erased any
portion of the Scriptures, as you affirm, God knows; but it seems incredible.”
“Assuredly,” said I, “it does seem incredible. For it is more horrible than the calf which
they made, when satisfied with manna on the earth; or than the sacrifice of children to
demons; or than the slaying of the prophets. But,” said I, “you appear to me not to have
heard the Scriptures which I said they had stolen away. For such as have been quoted are
more than enough to prove the points in dispute, besides those which are retained by us,460
and shall yet be brought forward.”
458 These words were not taken away by the Jews, but added by some Christian.—Otto. [A statement not
proved.]
459 It is strange that “from the wood” is not added; but the audacity of the copyists in such matters is well
known.—Maranus.
460 Many think, “you.”
Chapter LXXIII.—[The words] “From the wood” have been cut out of Ps. xcvi.
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Chapter LXXIII.—[The words] “From the wood” have been cut out of Ps. xc…