I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
17. "As a Neighbour, as our Brother, so I pleased Him: as one mourning and sorrowful, so I humbled myself" (ver. 14). Now looketh He back to His Own Body: let us now look to this. When we rejoice in prayer, when our mind is calmed, not by the world's prosperity, but by the light of Truth: (who perceiveth this light, knoweth what I say, and he seeth and acknowledgeth what is said, "As a Neighbour, as our Brother, so I pleased Him"): even then our soul pleaseth God, not placed afar off, for, "In Him," saith one, "we live and move and have our being," but as a Brother, as a Neighbour, as a Friend. But if it be not such that it can so rejoice, so shine, so approach, so cleave unto Him, and seeth itself far off thence, then let it do what followeth, "As one mourning and sorrowful, so I humbled Myself. As our Brother, so I pleased Him," said He, drawing near; "As one mourning and sorrowful, so I humbled Myself," said He, removed and set afar off. ...Did not Peter draw near, when he said, "Th...
Please, complacebam, "treat lovingly. "(Haydock)
Vulgate follows the regimen of the Septuagint euerestoun, which may govern an accusative case. Hebrew is plainer, "I walked "(Berthier) or "behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother. "(Protestants) (Haydock)
So. Septuagint seem to have explained am, "truly "instead of mother; as the points would determine the Hebrew, "like one who bewails his mother "(Berthier) or, "like a mother mourning, I bowed down in grief. "(St. Jerome)
An ancient Greek interpreter has, "like one mourning for a brother born of the same mother. "I felt the affliction of my enemies and sympathized with them, endeavouring to alleviate their distress as much as possible. (Calmet)
Such was the conduct of David, the figure of the Messias; so that the expressions which seem too strong, must not be taken for imprecations. (Berthier)
Christ was the good Samaritan who relieved the wounded man, Luke x. (Worthington)
St. Paul admonishes us to weep with th...
