Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before my face.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
10. "O Lord, lead me forth in Thy justice because of mine enemies" (ver. 8). He has here sufficiently plainly declared that he is on his onward road, that is, in progress toward perfection, not yet in perfection itself, when he desires eagerly that he may be led forth. But, "in Thy justice," not in that which seems so to men. For to return evil for evil seems justice: but it is not His justice of whom it is said, "He maketh His sun to rise on the good and on the evil:" for even when God punishes sinners, Hedoes not inflict His evil on them, but leaves them to their own evil. "Behold," the Psalmist says, "he travailed with injustice, he hath conceived toil, and brought forth iniquity: he hath opened a ditch, and digged it, and hath fallen into the pit which he wrought: his pains shall be turned on his own head, and his iniquity shall descend on his own pate." When then God punishes, He punishes as a judge those that transgress the law, not by bringing evil upon them from Himself, but dr...
Enemies. Hebrew, "observers. "They are always on the watch to discover any fault. Grant me thy preventing grace. (Berthier)
Let me not stumble, (Haydock) but cause me to walk cheerfully in thy paths. (Calmet)
If thou approve, it matters not how much world lings blame me. (St. Augustine)
