Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them.
Read Chapter 126
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
3. "Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation" (ver. 2). That mouth, brethren, which we have in our body, how is it "filled with joy"? It useth not to be "filled," save with meat, or drink, or some such thing put into the mouth. Sometimes our mouth is filled; and it is more that we say. to your holiness, when we have our mouth full, we cannot speak. But we have a mouth within, that is, in the heart, whence whatsoever proceedeth, if it is evil, defileth us, if it is good, cleanseth us. For concerning this very mouth ye heard when the Gospel was read. For the Jews reproached the Lord, because His disciples ate with unwashen hands. They reproached who had cleanness without; and within were full of stains. They reproached, whose righteousness was only in the eyes of men. But the Lord sought our inward cleanness, which if we have, the outside must needs be clean also. "Cleanse," He saith, "the inside," and "the outside shall be clean also." ...
4. But let us retu...
Shall. Or "did "(Calmet) though the future is here well employed. (Berthier)
The prophet uses both tenses, shewing the certainty of the event. (Worthington)
It would require some time before the Gentiles would become sufficiently acquainted with the concerns of the Jews. (Berthier)
As soon as they did, they expressed their admiration, while the former were careful not to imitate the conduct of those who murmured at leaving Egypt. (St. Chrysostom)
