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17:1 [Magna sunt enim judicia tua, Domine, et inenarrabilia verba tua : propter hoc indisciplinatae animae erraverunt.
*H For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.


Ver. 1. Souls. The Egyptians, who were punished with horrible darkness, as they had followed an unjust, dark, and cruel policy against the Hebrews.

17:2 Dum enim persuasum habent iniqui posse dominari nationi sanctae, vinculis tenebrarum et longae noctis compediti, inclusi sub tectis, fugitivi perpetuae providentiae jacuerunt.
*H For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.


Ver. 2. Providence, and day-light, like incorrigible slaves, in prison. C. — The Egyptians were three days in darkness, (Ex. x. 22.) and the Gentiles continued without faith in God, till after Christ's resurrection. W. — Only few served him, before that glorious event.

* Footnote * Exodus 10 : 23 No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where he was: but wheresoever the children of Israel dwelt, there was light.
17:3 Et dum putant se latere in obscuris peccatis, tenebroso oblivionis velamento dispersi sunt, paventes horrende, et cum admiratione nimia perturbati.
*H And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.


Ver. 3. Sins. This interior darkness was punished with the exterior one. C. — Forgetfulness. Of each other, being concerned only for themselves, (H.) or they seemed to be forgotten by Providence, or buried in Lethean, most dismal obscurity. The interpreter thus mentions Cocytus, without sanctioning poetical fables. Job xxi. 33. M. — Exceeding. Greek, "spectres." C.

17:4 Neque enim quae continebat illos spelunca sine timore custodiebat, quoniam sonitus descendens perturbabat illos, et personae tristes illis apparentes pavorem illis praestabant.
For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.
17:5 Et ignis quidem nulla vis poterat illis lumen praebere, nec siderum limpidae flammae illuminare poterant illam noctem horrendam.
And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.
17:6 Apparebat autem illis subitaneus ignis, timore plenus ; et timore perculsi illius quae non videbatur faciei, aestimabant deteriora esse quae videbantur.
*H But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:


Ver. 6. Fire. Like lightning, which would not allow them leisure to distinguish objects. C.

17:7 Et magicae artis appositi erant derisus, et sapientiae gloriae correptio cum contumelia.
*H And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.


Ver. 7. Rebuked. Or chastised. H. — The magicians could not imitate this miracle, nor secure themselves from its horrors. C.

* Footnote * Exodus 7 : 22 And the magicians of the Egyptians with their enchantments did in like manner; and Pharao's heart was hardened, neither did he hear them, as the Lord had commanded.
* Footnote * Exodus 8 : 7 And the magicians also, by their enchantments, did in like manner, and they brought forth frogs upon the land of Egypt.
17:8 Illi enim qui promittebant timores et perturbationes expellere se ab anima languente, hi cum derisu pleni timore languebant.
For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.
17:9 Nam etsi nihil illos ex monstris perturbabat, transitu animalium et serpentium sibilatione commoti, tremebundi peribant, et aerem quem nulla ratione quis effugere posset, negantes se videre.
*H For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.


Ver. 9. Fear. the Egyptians kept serpents in their houses, and fed them. But now, neglecting to shew this attention, they were affrighted with their hissing. — Air. Or could live. They seemed to wish for death, (C.) like the damned, but it fled from them. H.

17:10 Cum sit enim timida nequitia, dat testimonium condemnationis : semper enim praesumit saeva, perturbata conscientia :
*H For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.


Ver. 10. Things. The wicked are most cowardly. C. — "Crimes may be safe; they cannot be secure." Sen. ep. xcvii.

17:11 nihil enim est timor nisi proditio cogitationis auxiliorum.
*H For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from thought.


Ver. 11. Thought. And giving way to despair, when it is extreme.

17:12 Et dum ab intus minor est exspectatio, majorem computat inscientiam ejus causae, de qua tormentum praestat.
*H And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.


Ver. 12. Expectation. Or fear. Such an one is filled with a mortal anxiety.

17:13 Illi autem qui impotentem vere noctem, et ab infimis et ab altissimis inferis supervenientem, eumdem somnum dormientes,
But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep,
17:14 aliquando monstrorum exagitabantur timore, aliquando animae deficiebant traductione : subitaneus enim illis et insperatus timor supervenerat.
*H Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.


Ver. 14. Them. From the sight of spectres, and remorse of conscience.

17:15 Deinde si quisquam ex illis decidisset, custodiebatur in carcere sine ferro reclusus.
*H Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison without irons.


Ver. 15. Irons. Darkness forced them to stay where they were. C.

17:16 Si enim rusticus quis erat, aut pastor, aut agri laborum operarius praeoccupatus esset, ineffugibilem sustinebat necessitatem ;
For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.
17:17 una enim catena tenebrarum omnes erant colligati. Sive spiritus sibilans, aut inter spissos arborum ramos avium sonus suavis, aut vis aquae decurrentis nimium,
*H For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,


Ver. 17. Birds. Nothing can afford comfort to the affrighted. M.

17:18 aut sonus validus praecipitatarum petrarum, aut ludentium animalium cursus invisus, aut mugientium valida bestiarum vox, aut resonans de altissimis montibus echo : deficientes faciebant illos prae timore.
Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.
17:19 Omnis enim orbis terrarum limpido illuminabatur lumine, et non impeditis operibus continebatur.
For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and none were hindered in their labours.
17:20 Solis autem illis superposita erat gravis nox, imago tenebrarum quae superventura illis erat : ipsi ergo sibi erant graviores tenebris.]
But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.
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