From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.
George Leo Haydock
Divide them from the few, &c. That is, cut them off from the earth, and the few trifling things thereof; which they are so proud of, or, divide them from the few; that is, from thy elect, who are but few; that they may no longer have it in their power to oppress them. It is not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but, as many other similar passages in the psalms, by way of a prediction, or prophecy of what should come upon them, in punishment of their wickedness. — Thy hidden stores: thy secret treasures, out of which thou furnishest those earthly goods, which with a bountiful hand thou hast distributed both to the good and the bad. (Challoner) — Of children. Hebrew, “their children are satiated.” (Houbigant) (Berthier) — Some copies read ueion , (Roman Septuagint) instead of uion . “They have been filled with hogs’ flesh.” The mistake was easy in Greek. (Calmet) St. Jerome agrees with the Vulgate. (Haydock) — A numerous family was the great desire of the Jews. David is willing to forego every temporal advantage, and only prays that he may live in his own country, and attend the divine worship in the tabernacle. This was the glory of Israel, ver. 15., and 1 Kings iv. 21. (Calmet) — He predicts the final separation of the wicked from the elect, which sometimes begins in this life. Their worldly joys are hidden or disapproved by God. (Worthington) — They feed on the poor servants of our Lord, (Haydock) whose life is hidden. (Menochius)
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.