Thomas Aquinas, on Ps 33:18

“The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.”

“Second, when he says, "The Lord is near," he shows how the eyes of the Lord are upon the just. And concerning this he does three things. First, he presents the merit of the just. Second, their impending danger, at "Many are the tribulations." Third, the help given to them, at "And from all these." Concerning the first he does two things, according to the twofold merit of the just by which they earn the mercy of God. He touches first upon the merit of contrition for sins; and with regard to this he says, "The Lord is near," etc. Ps. 144: "The Lord is near to all who call upon him." Some are truly miserable yet do not recognize it; hence they are not contrite; and therefore they do not obtain mercy: Rev. 3: "You say that you are rich and have been enriched and need nothing; and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." For it is necessary that they recognize their misery by groaning in heart; and therefore he says, "To those who are troubled in heart." Behold, contrition for sins: Is. 66: "To whom shall I look, if not to the poor and the contrite in spirit?" etc. Mt. 5: "Blessed are those who mourn," etc. As to the second he says, "And he will save the humble of spirit." He says "of spirit," not of words: because Sir. 19: "There is one who humbles himself wickedly, and his interior," etc. "The humble," therefore, "of spirit," who have true humility in their heart, "he will save": Prov. 29: "He will uphold the humble of spirit."”

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