I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Read Chapter 120
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
8. "With them that hated peace, I was peaceful" (ver. 7). But howsoever ye may hear, most beloved brethren, ye will not be able to prove how truly ye sing, unless ye have begun to do that which ye sing. How much soever I say this, in whatsoever ways I may expound it, in whatsoever words I may turn it, it entereth not into the heart of him in whom its operation is not. Begin to act, and see what we speak. Then tears flow forth at each word, then the Psalm is sung, and the heart doeth what is sung in the Psalm ... Who are they who hate peace? They who tear asunder unity. For had they not hated peace, they would have abode in unity. But they separated themselves, forsooth on this account, that they might be righteous, that they might not have the ungodly mixed with them. These words are either ours or theirs: decide whose. The Catholic Church saith, Unity must not be lost, the Church of God must not be cut off. God will judge afterwards of the wicked and the good ...This we also say: Love...
Peaceable. Hebrew, "I spoke peaceable, and they warlike things. (St. Jerome)
Literally, "I was peace, and when I spoke, they flew to war. "(Haydock)
Cause. This is easily understood from the context, (Berthier) though not expressed in the original. (Haydock)
