Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God.2 God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour.3 For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.4 For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety.5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God.6 For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom.7 For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God.8 Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God.9 For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.
Garment. Hebrew, “cloak,” (Sanctius) such as were worn by people under no disgrace, chap. iv. 20. Thamar had one very costly, 2 Kings xiii. 18. (Calmet) — Justice, or mercy. God is bound to fulfill his gracious promises. (Worthington)
Piety. Thus shall Jerusalem be distinguished after the captivity; but still more so when Christ shall appear, and give peace to his Church, after the ages of persecution.
Children. Greek, “the throne.” The return of the captives was a triumph, Isaias xlvi. 20., and xlix. 22. They had abundance of horses, &c., 1 Esdras ii. 66. Darius gave them a convoy of 1000 horsemen. (3 Esdras v. 2.) (Josephus, Antiquities xi. 4.)
Diligently, without stumbling under the pillar of God’s protection, Isaias xl. 3. (Calmet) Ad vos qua veniet, tumidi subsidite montes Et faciles curvis vallibus este viæ. (Ovid, Am. ii. 16.)
Woods. This is a poetical description. They shall pass through the sands of Arabia, as if they were under a delightful shade. Bible Text & Cross-references: Jerusalem is invited to rejoice, and behold the return of her children out of their captivity. 1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God. 2 God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. 3 For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven. 4 For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. 5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: *and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God. 6 For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee, exalted with honour, as children of the kingdom. 7 For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys, to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. 8 Moreover, the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree, have overshadowed Israel, by the commandment of God. 9 For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.
The psalm's verse numbering differs between the modern lectionary and the Douay-Rheims this library hosts, so the text isn't matched verse-for-verse here yet.
Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy;5 For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now.6 Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.9 And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:10 That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ,11 Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
For, so long as there is not implanted in you any one lust which is able to torment you, behold, ye live in God. I rejoice in you, and offer supplication on account of you, Ephesians, a Church which is renowned in all ages. For those who are carnal are not able to do spiritual things, nor those that are spiritual carnal things; in like manner as neither can faith [do] those things which are foreign to faith, nor want of faith [do] what belongs to faith. For those things which ye have done in the flesh, even these are spiritual, because ye have done everything in Jesus Christ.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina;†2 Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert.3 And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;†4 As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.†5 Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
In the word of prophecy, spoken to the Jews alone, the Jewish kingdom only is mentioned, as, The vision of Esaias, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Is. 1:1.) But in the Gospel which was to be proclaimed to the whole world, the empire of Tiberius Cæsar is mentioned, who seemed the lord of the whole world. But if the Gentiles only were to be saved, it were sufficient to make mention only of Tiberius, but because the Jews also must believe, the Jewish kingdom therefore, or Tetrarchies, are also introduced, as it follows, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod tetrarch, &c.
Jordan is the same as descending, for there descends from God a river of healing water. But what parts would John be traversing but the country lying about Jordan, that the penitent sinner might soon arrive at the flowing stream, humbling himself to receive the baptism of repentance. For it is added, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Or, a way must be prepared in our heart for the Lord, for the heart of man is large and spacious if it has become clean. For imagine not that in the size of the body, but in the virtue of the understanding, consists that greatness which must receive the knowledge of the truth. Prepare then in thy heart by good conversation a way for the Lord, and by perfect works pursue the path of life, that so the word of God may have free course in thee.
For when Jesus had come and sent His Spirit, every valley was filled with good works, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which if thou hast, thou wilt not only cease to become a valley, but will begin also to be a mountain of God.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)