Thomas Aquinas, on Ps 8:2

“O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens.”

“Then when he says "Out of the mouths," he shows that it is most manifest. And first he shows the manifestation. Second, the reason for it, at "For I shall see." That it is manifest he proves, because that is manifest which is implanted in all people, however simple they may be, as if by a kind of natural knowledge. For there is a twofold kind of people who follow the natural and right instinct, namely the simple and the wise. That the wise should know God is not a great thing; but that the simple should, that is remarkable. But there are some who pervert the natural instinct: and these repel the knowledge of God: Ps. 81: "They did not know," that is, they willed not to know, "nor did they understand," etc. Job 22: "They said to God, Depart from us; we do not want the knowledge of your ways." But God brings it about that through those, that is, through the simple, who follow the natural instinct, those who pervert the natural instinct are confounded. By "infants" the simple are designated: 1 Pet. 2: "As newborn infants, reasonable, without guile," etc. He says therefore: admirable indeed is your name, yet in such a way that "out of the mouths of infants and sucklings you have perfected praise," you who inwardly prompt them to this: and this "on account of your enemies," who oppose your knowledge and understanding: Phil. 3: "Enemies of the cross of Christ," etc. "That you may destroy the enemy and the avenger," every persecutor. Or Pharaoh who would take vengeance against one confessing your name: 2 Cor. 10: "Destroying counsels, and every height that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." Or the tyrant who assails your holy name with arms: 1 Pet. 2: "That by doing well you may silence the ignorance of imprudent men." Christ did this: for in Mt. 21, concerning the children of the Hebrews, Christ responded that from their words praise was perfected, who by the prompting of the Holy Spirit were praising: which nonetheless seemed to be done childishly. This applies when the simple acknowledge God, and others pervert the studies of natural knowledge, lest they know God himself. Likewise this applies to the apostles who were without learning and uneducated: Acts 4: "Simple as doves": Mt. 10: "And as sheep in the midst of wolves"; and they destroyed all the enemies of Christ. 1 Cor. 1: "The foolish things of the world God has chosen, that he might confound the wise, and the weak things," etc.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.